Helvetica Typography and 20th Century - 2093 Words

Name: Shane Crudden 2A Module: Design Theory Title: 20th Century Visual Communication Date of submission: 13/12/10 Word Count: 1939 Typography: Helvetica. â€Å"The 20th century was a time of social, cultural and technological revolution and change. Inevitably this had an effect on visual communication of the time.† One of the key factors in typography that I believe to be central to the development and progression of visual communication in the 20th century is the typeface Helvetica. â€Å"The Helvetica typeface is one of the most ubiquitous design classics of all time in 2007 it was their 50th anniversary.† â€Å"Eduard Hoffman and Max Miedinger a feculence designer who had been an employee of the Hass type family in Munchenstein in†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"It was not until the development of the Leica camera in the 1920’s that the war photographer achieved a state of mobility and speed appropriate to the subject.† It helped keep a record of the violent times in the war. Before the Leica, cameras were big and heavy and taking pictures was limited. Due to the invention of the Leica camera photography has changed. The Leica camera is light compact and you had more freedom and flexibility. You were now able to take photos from all different angles. The Leica was the first 35mm compact camera and was developed and manufactured at the Leitz company by Oskar Barnack. â€Å"it had the distinctive size of the Ermanox and a wide aperture on its excellent Leitz lenses, but more important, used a length of 35mm motion picture film. This allowed the sequential shooting of up to 36 exposures, instead of the single image taken in the Ermanox. The impact on professional as well as amateur photography was profound† A man who used the Leica was Alexandr Mikhailovich Rodchenko a painter and a photographer. â€Å"In 1927 Rodchenko bought himself a Leica which, because of its handy format and quick operation, became his preferred tool for his work. This camera enabled him to realize to excess his ideas of unusual camera positions, severe foreshortenings of perspective, and views of surprising details. Increasingly Rodchenkos photography was dominated by the artistic element of the line. He likedShow MoreRelatedHelvetica: Typography and 20th Century2087 Words   |  9 PagesModule: Design Theory Title: 20th Century Visual Communication Date of submission: 13/12/10 Word Count: 1939 Typography: Helvetica. â€Å"The 20th century was a time of social, cultural and technological revolution and change. Inevitably this had an effect on visual communication of the time.† One of the key factors in typography that I believe to be central to the development and progression of visual communication in the 20th century is the typeface Helvetica. â€Å"The Helvetica typeface is one of the mostRead MoreGraphic Design Style Of The Victorian Era1681 Words   |  7 PagesIn the past years, their have been dramatic changes that have influenced the development of graphic design since the 19th century. Going back to 1900, after the Industrial Revolution in the Victorian Era there was a social and economic change as the world developed. There was the first printed book and first movable type, there were new printing press, first san-serifs, and first brand loyalty. 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Postmodernist designers explored the subjectivity of design, the open-ended attitude towards design, the history and politicalRead MoreThe Bauhaus And Its Impact On Architecture1800 Words   |  8 Pagespropaganda material of the German Communist Party. † In 1933, the teachers at the Bauhaus had decided to hold a meeting and together agreed to close the school down. The initial reasoning for the development of the arts school stemmed from the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution. During this time, industries transitioned from handmade crafting to machine manufacturing. Industries began manufacturing cheaper copies of handmade luxury goods which ultimately lead to a loss of need for the artsRead MoreGraphic Design Of The Bauhaus School2872 Words   |  12 PagesTypography has evolved throughout recent centuries to become one of the most exciting and adaptable forms of communication in graphic design. One of the most important stepping stones in the development of typography was the ground-breaking art school called the Bauhaus. During this remarkable period of change, nestled between the two World Wars, the Bauhaus helped to break the limits of traditional text and paved the way for modern typographic design. This innovative art school was opened in 1919Read MoreEssay about Summary of History of Graphic Design by Meggs14945 Words   |  60 Pagesare logograms meaning that each character represents an entire word (like $ = dollar). - Paper, a Chinese invention, is attributed with the high government official Ts’ai Lun. - Ts’ai Lun’s method of making paper was unchanged until nineteenth century England. - After the invention of paper, the Chinese also began to use it for wrapping presents, wallpaper, napkins and toilet paper. - Printing was invented by the Chinese. - The first method of printing was block printing, using stamps. - Rubbings

Initiatives For Financial Inclusion Of India - 2000 Words

INITIATIVES FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN INDIA Dr. DilipChellani and Dr. Ramamurthy N Introduction: For the first time, the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) envisaged inclusive growth as a key objective as well as a strategy for economic development. Financial inclusion (FI) can therefore be very well called as 21st century banking. Its main aim is to extend the banking and financial services to every persons (or class of people), Projects (activities in various sectors) and places/parts (rural/semi urban or urban area) of the country. According to 2011 Census of India, out of the total 121 crorepopulation, rural India population is around 83.3 crores (nearly 70%) with round 2/3rd of total rural population is dependent upon agriculture as source of income and livelihood. We have 6.27 lakh villages with 99.7% of total rural population living there in. The population spread in Indian villages is presented in the following table. The population spread in villages There are now only total 1831 number of villages in India with population more than 10000 persons. (Definition of rural area in banking business is a place with population up to 10000 persons and in insurance business it is a place with population up to 5000 persons.) The strong saving habit of people in India is such that even the relatively low income families tend to save about a third of their annual earnings. The rural savings to income ratio is much higher than that of the urban population. Further, weShow MoreRelatedThe Growth And Poverty Improvement Of A Country Essay1539 Words   |  7 Pages INTRODUCTION Finance is assumed to be one of the most important tools for the growth and poverty improvement in a country. Financial inclusion is a vision for every country to achieve so that it can provide quality services to its citizens. Govt. Has introduces many schemes to achieve the aim of Inclusive growth and abandoned access to Financial services. 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The general public sector banks (PSBs), which are the base of the keeping money area in India representRead MoreInternal Guide External Guide For Jammu And Kashmir Bank Limited Srinagar1197 Words   |  5 PagesProject Report On â€Å"FINANCIAL INCLUSION [PRADHAN MANTRI JAN-DHAN YOJANA (PMJDY)] WITH REFERENCE TO JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED SRINAGAR† By RAIEES BASHIR USN 1HK13MBA06 Submitted to VISVESVARAYATECHNOLOGICALUNIVERSITY, BELGAUM In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Under the guidanceRead MoreTheoretical Background Of Study On Financial Inclusion Essay2243 Words   |  9 PagesTheoretical Background of Study Introduction: Financial inclusion is the new concept which helps to attain the sustainable development of the country. It provides banking and financial services to all people in a fair, visible and reasonable manner at affordable cost. The poorer income Households often lack to access bank account and have to spend time money for several visits to achieve the banking services. Financial inclusion is help to the sustainable societal and economic improvement of

Debut Albums and Dewy Sweet Air free essay sample

The Falls Two hundred yards downstream the noise of the falls, muffled by Interwoven trees and undergrowth Is reduced to a quiet murmur. She can hear the soothing repetition of the water as it surges to the river below. She feels a captivating warmth as she wanders along the rivers edge. As she draws near to the falls the continuous pouring water overwhelms the sounds of the wind, insects, and night frogs living in the marshes. Its a natural sound that never seems to cease.Curiosity takes over, forcing ere to quicken her pace. In the first bend of the river the water runs strong. The uneven bed of stones, gravel, and sunken logs make the surface ripple and glitter in the late afternoon sun. On either side of the river, masses of plants blossom vividly, ranging from saffron, crimson, and a greenish-white. The odors expelled from within them smell of sweet honey and citrus. We will write a custom essay sample on Debut Albums and Dewy Sweet Air or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It fills the air as does the hum of Insects hovering and gliding over them.Every so often a fish rises to the surface to gulp down a fly, disappear and eave only widening circles that soon fade away. At close quarters to the falls there is a whole new array of sounds: booming, gurgling, pattering of spray, sudden spurts and bubbling come and go as the water is thrown off the stones from up above. A soft, gentle mist begins to form on her arms as she moves closer. With a deep breathe; the crisp, fresh air fills her lungs. As she closes her eyes to take yet another breathe, she can taste the dewy sweet air on her tongue.The falls beckon her to come even closer. She pauses while building the rage to step onto the wet, rigid, slippery rocks in order to move forward toward the raging water. With each step, the fear of falling consumes her. As she enters the frigid water she gasps. There she stands, directly In front of the magnificent waterfall in awe. She can barely make out her reflection in the shimmering, mirror Like wall of water. She becomes overwhelmed, and can hardly breathe. A flock of large birds flies overhead making a path of shadows in their wake. She feels like a part of nature as she stands ND absorbs her surroundings. She decides to venture over to the side of the waterfall to see what lies behind it. To her amazement, she realizes she can get through to the other side. The hidden cavern that lies behind allows her to feel a certain safety. It looks like the cavern was chiseled away from the rocks behind by many years of water flowing through it. A sandy brown color covers the walls of the cavern; the air heavy with moisture. She turns around to look at the water from a new perspective. Her eyes widen as she sees whole rainbow of colors flowing through the falls. There Is no detail In the way everything looks outside of the cavern; the landscape seems to blend together creating one big masterpiece. As afternoon approaches she can see the sun creep towards the surface of the cavern. She is reluctant to leave her special paradise which she feels is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Here she finds her inner peace and a sense of tranquility. She makes herself a promise on this day to return to this magical landmark as often as possible.

William Blake Nurses Songs Essays - , Term Papers

William Blake Nurse's Songs T. S. Eliot once said of Blake's writings, ?The Songs of Innocence and the Songs of Experience are the poems of man with a profound interest in human emotions, and a profound knowledge of them.? (Grant 507) In these books of poetry and art, written and drawn by William Blake himself, are depictions of the poor, the colored, the underdog and the child's innocence and the man's experience. The focus of my paper will be on Blake's use of simple language, metaphors and drawings to show the two different states of the human spirit: innocence and experience. I hope to show this through two poems: the ?Nurse's Song? of innocents and the ?NURSES Song? of experience. In the first poem, the poem representing innocence, the nurse is in the background image as a pretty, young woman, sitting and reading by a tree. Her mood is peaceful and at rest ?When the voices of children are heard on the green / And laughing is heard on the hill.? (Blake 23) The drawing and the poem also convey a sense of peace and trust. The children are na?ve and vulnerable to the pain, the sorrow, and the evils of the perverted world; yet their faith in the fact that they are protected by the nurse, like a lamb by his shepherd, is clear from their play. The nurse herself trusts that the children are safe from perversions because of their voices and laughter. The picture shows this trust of the children through their carefree play, holding hands and dancing in a ring. In the next stanza, the nurse seems to step into her knowledge of experience: Then come home my children, the sun is gone down And the dews of night arise Come Come Leave off play, and let us away Till the morning appears in the skies. (ll. 5-8) She asks them to come in, so as to protect them from the dangers, or maybe just from exposure, to the night and its dampness. Her concern for what the darkness brings can only mean she has experienced the night before. The very minute this stanza begins, a weeping willow tree appears on the right side of the lines. It does not go away until the drama is over and the children get to stay out and continue their play. Just as quickly as the nurse expresses her concern, the children in their innocence express their desire to play more. The children, with their wise innocence, proclaim it is still light out; and not only do they know it, but the sheep still grazing and the birds still flying know it too. With this, the nurse gives in to them, and the children are victorious. By her giving in to them, she shows love and understanding for their knowledge of what is around them. In so doing, she shows that innocence obtains knowledge just as well as an experienced adult. Therefore, would it not be safe to assume that without the corruption of certain experiences the soul can still be knowledgeable and wise? As the poem ends, the echo of laughter and shouting again rules the hills. By returning to the echoing laughter of children, Blake returns the reader to the innocence felt in the beginning. In addition, by using the word ?echoed? to describe how the children's play reverberates throughout the hills, he gives the children's innocence eternity. The innocence and joy these children possess are mirrored in ?Infant Joy.? ?Infant Joy? is about a baby who is just two days old. There is a short dialogue between the baby and the baby's mother: ?I happy am/ Joy is my name, /Sweet joy befall thee!? (ll. 3-5), which describes the simplest form of innocence and joy Blake could ever portray. The poem continues with the sweetness and innocence that a baby represents. The nurse of experience reacts quite differently to the children in their play and the baby of joy. In this poem, a healthy, middle aged nurse brushes a boy's hair. A little girl sits down behind the boy. The illustration shows no sign of carefree play and gives off the impression that these children are repressed. Surrounding the picture is a

References Essays - Australia Day, Indigenous Australians

References Essays - Australia Day, Indigenous Australians References Amnesty International. (2017, January 24). 'WHY I DIDN'T CELEBRATE AUSTRALIA DAY': 9 INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS DISCUSS WHY THE DATE SHOULD CHANGE . Retrieved from Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.org.au/australia-day-change-the-date-2017/ Australia Today. (2017). INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS . Retrieved from Australia Today: https://www.australiaday.com.au/about/indigenous-australians/ IndegenousX. (2017). Why we need to change the date of Australia Day . Retrieved from IndegenousX: http://indigenousx.com.au/why-we-need-to-change-the-date-of-australia-day/#.WOoMHkV95dh Lui, N. (2014, January 25). Australia Day is a time for mourning, not celebration . Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/26/australia-day-is-a-time-for-mourning-not-celebration The Conversation. (2015, January 25). The day I don't feel Australian? That would be Australia Day . Retrieved from The Conversation: http://theconversation.com/the-day-i-dont-feel-australian-that-would-be-australia-day-36352 The Conversation. (2017, January 25). Changing Australia Day is pointless - and there is much to celebrate . Retrieved from The Conversation: http://theconversation.com/changing-australia-day-is-pointless-and-there-is-much-to-celebrate-71010 Waxman, O. B. (2017, January 25). What to Know About the History Behind Australia Day . Retrieved from Time: http://time.com/4644497/australia-day-2017-history-origins/

The Guide of Successful Essay Leadership Writing Great Writing Inspires

The Guide of Successful Essay Leadership Writing Great Writing Inspires The Guide of Successful Essay Leadership Writing: Great Writing Inspires Recently, leadership has sparked off numerous debates among researchers. As such, it is the subject of most extensive researches and literature reviews. For example, in Harvard Business Review the study by David Rooke and William R. Torbert concludes that there are seven leadership transformations due to   a number of personal changes and external interventions. It is very common for students to be asked to write leadership essays even if they are not pursuing a course in leadership. The subject of leadership cuts across different scholarly disciplines, either Psychology, Management or Sociology. The following guide will help you write a compelling essay on leadership. 1.   Identify Your Area of Focus In most cases, an essay on leadership may require your personal reflection on what leadership is. In some instances, you may be asked to demonstrate how you exhibit leadership traits. In other cases, you may be given a scenario and asked to be in shoes of a leader and demonstrate leadership styles needed for that situation. Once you have instructions, you need to identify your area of focus. This will ensure that you remain within the scope of a write-up. 2.   Have a Strong Introduction The introduction gives you an opportunity to wow your readers. This part is aimed at grabbing their attention. However, it can also be the point where you lose them because they lose interest in reading the rest of a leadership essay. A strong introduction acts as a steering point. If you are doing a review, you can choose a memorable quote and incorporate it in the introduction section. 3.   Have a Concise Thesis Statement A thesis statement needs to be brief and clear. Try to confine your ideas to not more than two sentences. The statement is what sums up the argument you should make in the essay. The thesis statement should also have a punch. In most cases, tutors will look at the thesis statement when deciding how to grade your paper. 4.   Provide Rich Content in the Body The body of the content should be rich and comprehensive. Students make the mistake of giving shallow statements without supporting their information. Inasmuch as you are supposed to give your views, ensure that you have research to back it up. Read the article by David G. Jensenon at Science on different leadership styles to cement your views. You can also cite contrary views to your argument. The reader should follow your line of thoughts and see how you reasonably come to a conclusion. The body should have several paragraphs of a content. These paragraphs must have a clear flow of thoughts connected with suitable transition words like ‘Firstly’, ‘Secondly’, ‘Thirdly’. It is important to have a rough draft before you begin to write the final leadership essay. 5.   Follow Essay Writing Instructions and Guidelines Tutors award high marks for following all instructions and working within the guidelines provided. Many students rush to finish an essay or research paper forgetting to carefully look through its instructions. Once your paper is complete, double-check the instructions given by your tutor. Look out for which referencing style is required, either APA, MLA or Chicago. It is also important to ensure that your paper is free of grammatical, spelling and punctuation mistakes. The guideline above serves as a blueprint to help you write an essay on leadership that is supposed to lead you to success. Do so in such a way as to inspire the other people by your writing. If you are at a loss what to do in a particular essay, feel free to address our custom essay writing service with academic professionals. Just rely on their quick help in writing, proofreading and editing.

Compensation And Employment Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Compensation And Employment Ethics - Essay Example You don't necessarily know the inherent assumptions which went into the design of the software, nor do you know with certainty what its limitations are. These computer programs and the computers themselves are wonderful tools but don’t use them blindly. The E&C contractor lost the job, one that was worth over $500 million. I don't know but I would not be surprised if some engineers also lost their jobs – they should have. In this case, blind faith in a piece of software cost the firm a lot of money. In another set of circumstances, this type of error could have cost lives. Protection of the public, the basis for requiring the engineering â€Å"seal† in the first place, is only afforded when an engineer qualified in the relevant discipline is responsible for all aspects of planning, design, and field supervision of the project. Engineering is an exciting field, and one of the best things about it is the wide range of career opportunities it affords. However, as professionals, engineers must remain vigilant so that they do not overestimate their abilities in fields outside their chosen discipline. The American Society of Civil Engineers serves my field of study. In order to be a member of the society, one must be certified as a land surveyor or engineer intern and licensed in the US as an L.S or P.E. additionally, one must have a bachelor’s and master’s degree from an ABET/EAC accredited civil engineering school. the society requires engineers to comply with the ASCE code of ethics It was ethical for Most to decline the job since someone cannot be forced to undertake a job he feels uncomfortable with. Also, Ball acted ethically by highlighting that Most had the required qualifications. This is because lying to the administrative board would have been unethical.

Influence of Drilling Fluid on oil Recovery in Homogenous Reservoirs Essay

Influence of Drilling Fluid on oil Recovery in Homogenous Reservoirs - Essay Example Needless to say, as significant as 70 percent produce of mines in the world, produce water contaminated by metals, which come from acid mines drainage and process streams (Srivastava & Majunder, 2008). The waste water, such as that containing metal and sulphate contaminates, are accompanied by far reaching environmental consequences. Moreover, the costs associated with managing these consequences are significant. This paper gives an overview of water contamination in the mining industries, followed by an exploration of the common methods under development and operation. Considering that current water treatment techniques have varied limitations, this paper proposes a way forward for mining industries to avoid water contamination. There are various elements within the earth crust, which include hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, sodium, magnesium, phosphorous, sulphur, chlorine, potassium and calcium. These constitute 99 percent of the earth living matter. On the other hand, there are fourteen essential elements. These include boron, fluorine, silicon, manganese, iron, cobalt, and copper, among others. Metals such as Mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, copper manganese and zinc are not essential, and their interaction with the aquatic environment is hazardous. On the other hand, heavy metals are a class of metallic elements that contain relatively high densities whose low concentrations are highly toxic. The atomic metals have atomic weight that range from 63.5 to 2006. Heavy metals can are additionally classified as toxic metals, precious metals and radio-nuclide. Radionuclides include uranium and thorium. Precious metals include silver and gold, among others (Srivastava & Majunder, 2008). Acid solutions resu lt from the interaction of the ground or of surface water with the acidic materials, such as pyrites that are found in rocks at the mines, piles of earthen refuse and auger holes. The iron sulphide mineral pyrites are usually found near subsurface coal seams, together with compounds containing aluminium and manganese, among other metals. In the presence of oxygen, rainwater or ground waters contact sulphur to form sulphuric acid. Acid concentration in the acid mine drainage can reach as significant levels such as ten thousand times the neutral water. Evidently, this presents a powerful leaching agent with the potential of dissolving significant amounts of metal substances, as well as additional leaching substances that are common at most mine sites. Rock layers and earth above the coalmines contain traces of metals such as iron, aluminium and manganese, but can also contain other heavy metals such as lead and cadmium (Han & Chan, 2006). These metals dissolve in the acid mine drainag e and are washed into water sources through run off. Eventually, such metal concentrations harm aquatic organisms such as fish. For instance, dissolved iron precipitates can kill aquatic organisms that serve as food for fishes. Iron precipitate can result in fish gill clogging. Additionally, iron precipitation in the drainage channels alter aquatic food chains; thereby adversely affecting fish populations. Treatment of waste water The concern for environmental scientists has been to establish possible ways of regulating hazardous metal concentrations and mitigate associated environmental concerns. Methods in the treatment of the acid mine drainage can be broadly categorized into two; active treatment and passive treatment methods. Active techniques entail mechanical addition of the alkaline solutions with the aim of raising PH concentrations besides precipitating metals. Passive treatment

Organizational Structure Essay Example for Free

Organizational Structure Essay This research focuses on the job satisfaction level of employees at Emirates Technical Thermal Systems (ETTS), a construction company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The data collected was examined in relation to the existing organizational structure within the business, which is primarily a hierarchal one. The study includes information collected from three employee levels at ETTS, which include management, employees, and laborers. The relationship between position in the work organization and job satisfaction for every level of the hierarchal distribution has been studied carefully; both primary and secondary research has been conducted in order to best indicate where the problems lie, and the best ways of improving the current situations. The outcome and findings from this research have indicated a clear imbalance across the current structure of the company. Job satisfaction is high amongst management, and consistently decreases at the lower levels of the employee ladder. Job satisfaction plays an important role in the overall productivity of any given industry. Given the growing concern within ETTS regarding the aspect of performance, quality of work, and workforce issues, little attention has been paid to workers at the lower levels of the organization hierarchy. Introduction: There are many aspects of an organization and job role which come into play when analyzing the contributing factors to job satisfaction. In this research paper, a focus was placed on company structure, and the contribution of hierarchal distribution in an organization to job satisfaction. Research Aims and Objectives: The aim of the research was measuring job satisfaction, in all its aspects, across the various segments within the organizational structure, in order to gain better understanding of where the gaps lie, the factors contributing to dissatisfaction, and the best ways of reconciling the issues. The reason why ETTS was selected is due to perceived issues in the organization in regards to communication and harmony across the various levels within its hierarchy, and perceived job dissatisfaction in lower levels. In conducting the research, job satisfaction at ETTS was examined, and primary research was segmented to include sample groups from every level of the organizational structures hierarchy. Key Variables The research paper will analyze the issue by discussing the dependent variable (Job Satisfaction) in relation to the contributing independent variable (Organizational Structure). Job satisfaction will be measured by discussing contributory aspects, including employee engagement, job involvement, organizational commitment and perceived organizational support. The levels which were examined in relation to the organizational structure are: management, employees and laborers. Company Background: ETTS is a company specialized in electro-mechanical contracting. The company offers a full range of services related to all types of heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, electrical and plumbing systems. The company was established in 1995, and has a definitive hierarchal structure. As detailed in the company’s profile and stated hereunder: Management: The board of directors of the company, general manager, operations manager and managers of all departments, branches and projects form the core management group. Employees: Personnel who conduct various tasks in different disciplines and report to the above-mentioned managers. Labor force: Consists of the manpower that carries out physically demanding work at construction sites. Hence, a definitive hierarchal structure is in place. At the top of the pyramid are those holding management positions, followed by employees, and finally laborers. Report Structure This report will primarily delve into the literature review, which will detail the findings from secondary research on the topic of structure in relation to job satisfaction. A thorough description of the primary research findings will follow, in order to give an insight on issues that exist at ETTS, and a comparison of these, and previous findings from secondary sources, on the issue will be made. Next, a detailed conclusion based on the findings of the research will be discussed. Recommendations will be given in order to map the best ways of dealing with the existing issues within the organization. Methodology: The research methodology required gathering relevant data from both primary and secondary sources in order to analyze the material and arrive at a more complete understanding of the effect of organizational hierarchy at ETTS on overall employee job satisfaction as illustrated below. Secondary Data The bulk of the secondary data used to conduct this research was collected from the UOW online database. A Total of nine scholarly research articles were derived from the university library database, adding to three which were obtained from the internet. One example of the articles used was published in the African Journal of Business Management in 2009 and is titled â€Å"Job satisfaction: Does rank make a difference?† by S. Z. Eyupoglu and T. Saner. This study was used to relate job satisfaction to employee ranking. Another example is research which was published in the Career development international journal in 2010 titled â€Å"Impact of career plateau and supervisory support on career satisfaction† by V. Wickramasinghe and M. Jayaweera. This research was examined to reflect the effect of supervisory support on the overall job satisfaction. Besides the scholarly research articles listed in the reference section, the textbook â€Å"Organizational Behavior† 15 th edition by S. Robbins and T. Judge was utilized as a general guide.

Essay --

Stephanie LaGrua Professor Nichols Art and Human Needs Final Exam 13 December 2013 Part One: Shelter The Villa Rotonda is a house built by Andrea Palladio from 1566 to 1571. The Villa Rotonda is located on top of a low hill in Vincenza, Italy. Built during the Renaissance era, this 16th Century Italian house has showed influence to many other architects throughout the world. The Villa Rotonda is the most urbanized structure Andrea Palladio has constructed. The floor plan was a square floor plan roofed by a dome. The structure has four entrances with each having steps leading up to a columned portico, porch like area. It has been said that the columned porticos give the building a Roman Temple look. The Villa Rotonda only has livable rooms on the first floor while the second floor is strictly state rooms. Andrea Palladio designed the Villa Rotonda with mathematical precision and symmetrical proportions. Fertility/Sexuality The Venus of Willendorf, or also called, The Woman of Willendorf, is a statue of a female that is 10.8 cm high. Johann Veran had found the statue is 1908 in a village called Willendorf in lower Austria close to the city of Krems. Which is how it has gotten its name. The statue is now held in the Naturhistorishes Museum located in Vienna, Austria. The figurine was carved between 28,000 BCE and 25,000 BCE. This time period was the Paleolithic Period, also more commonly known as the â€Å"Old Stone Age.† The statue is made of a type of limestone that is not known to be produced in the surrounding area it was found in, along with a reddish tint of red ochre. The figurine does not have a way to stand on its own due to the fact it does not have feet. The statue also does not have a face but does have what it seems to b... ...ch her face. She looks off into the distance not knowing what is going to happen and despair in her eyes. The wrinkles and creases on her face show worry and sadness. There are two children almost hiding behind her as she slouches forward cradling a baby that seems sound asleep. Her shirt is unbuttoned, her clothes along with the children’s clothes are dirty and worn out. The Migrant Mother communicates emotions of fear, uncertainty, pain and depression that many American families felt during this period. The photograph portrays what life was like for America’s families suffering during this depression. The fact that this in an actual photograph and not a painting makes it more compelling and relatable because it is a realistic view of a human being in pain. A painting would just be a replica therefore the affect it would have on people would not be as significant.

Business Writing: Memoranda Essay

Currently, our policy provides for three kinds of leaves – Vacation Leave, Sick Leave and Bereavement Leave. There is no provision for Emergency Leaves and are deducted on a â€Å"no work, no pay† basis. For those who do not want outright deduction, consideration is given such that, upon request, these are deducted later and applied under our Sick Leave policy rule. In consideration of a request formalized through our Suggestion Box regarding absences which have to be taken due to an emergency, we are pleased to advise you that the following adjustment in the Personnel Policies of Smith, Smith and Smith regarding Vacation Leaves will be made effective from 01 October 2006: ARTICLE 7 VACATION LEAVE The Company shall grant an Annual Vacation Leave with pay of 30 days per calendar year for all regular employees who have rendered one (1) full year of continuous service. A maximum of five (5) days out of these 30 days can be applied as Emergency Leave. An Emergency Leave is defined as leave taken due to unforeseen circumstances such as sickness in the family limited to spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings or parents-in-law and events due to force majeure. However, if the said employee entitled thereto fails to use the same vacation leave within a year, she/he shall forfeit the same Vacation Leave. Moreover, any leaves taken beyond what is provided shall be on a no work, no pay basis. If the employee is prevented by the company from taking leave, this rule shall not be applicable. Furthermore, management reserves the right to put any employee on forced vacation leave to give effect thereto. We trust that the above addresses one of our common concerns. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Quantitative and Qualitative Research Questions and Hypothesis Essay

Jung (2007) found that general education teacher’s attitudes toward the integration of students with disabilities reflect a lack of confidence both in their own instructional skills and in the quality of support personnel currently provides. General and special education teachers are placed in inclusive classroom settings for the betterment of the student; however, planning is not as effective when general education teachers are not properly trained on or comfortable with the technology. Thousand and Villa (2000) in McLaren, Bausch, & Ault (2007), found that providing training for all teachers will result in improved academic and social outcomes for students with disabilities, plus their teachers will become empowered . The problem is the need for more collaborative training for inclusion teachers in an effort to effectively plan curriculum and increase their levels of confidence with the use of AT devices. The specific problem is the need to develop a program to train inclusion teachers on the use of AT devices needed to effectively plan for students with disabilities. This study will use a quantitative method and a Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology. The PAR will be conducted by dividing the study into two sequence phases. The first phase will include developing the training program, introducing basic AT devices that can be used for all students, and reflection of the first training. Phase two will include training for advanced AT devices that are developed for specific student needs, developing a lesson with the use of one general and one advanced AT device, and the opportunity to teach the lesson. The results should interest school districts that service students with disabilities in an effort to improve effective collaboration for inclusion teachers, thus promoting a sense of teamwork to improve student achievement through the use of technology. Revised Purpose Statement- Quantitative Study The purpose of this quantitative research study is to develop a training program for special and general education inclusion teachers that will focus on strategies for educational development, effective academic structuring, and increased teacher support systems with the use of Assistive Technology. The data collection design will include surveys before, during, and after  each phase, trainings to implement the program, and field opportunities to identify the areas of improvement and to test the validity of the program. The population will be composed of elementary school teachers who are placed in inclusion settings without prior training. The sample and sample set will include three novice and three veteran elementary inclusion teachers selected from grades 3-5 based on survey results. The geographical area will include three local elementary feeder schools that house special education programs in the South Fulton County area of Georgia. Quantitative Research Questions and Hypoth esis RQ: To what degree, if at all, will training in Assistive Technology promote effective academic structuring and teacher collaboration in inclusive classroom settings?  HO: The degree of training in Assistive Technology will not promote effective academic structuring and teacher collaboration in inclusive classroom settings.  HA: The degree of training in Assistive Technology will positively promote effective academic structuring and teacher collaboration in inclusive classroom settings. Revised Problem Statement – Qualitative Study Al-Shammari and Yawkey (2008) believe that special education students require the involvement of parents to be successful for overall development and in their education programs. Parents are encouraged to participate by offering physical and psychological assistance to the special education teachers in an effort to monitor and manage student progress. However, the lack of support, knowledge, time, and resources result in the unwillingness to participate. Bird (2006) found that increasing parental involvement through technology may have a positive effect on the development of special education students and parents. The problem is the need for technological resources that promote parental involvement for improving the educational development of special education students. The specific problem is identifying the technology that most effectively increases parental involvement in special education. This study will use a qualitative method and case study similar to Hartas’ (2008) st udy of the effects of parental  involvement on students with Autism. Parents will participate in semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and classroom observations to determine what motivates them to be involved. The results should interest special education teachers who require assistance from parents in order for students to attend school daily, participate in instruction, and continue to exhibit progression in all areas of development. Revised Purpose Statement- Qualitative Study The purpose of this qualitative case study is to identify the technological resources that are most effective in encouraging parents of special education students to be involved in the student’s education. The data collection design will include questionnaires, observations, schedule restructuring, community involvement, and semi-structured interviews to identify the areas of improvement. The population will be composed of parents who have elementary-aged special needs children. The sample and sample set will include ten parents; five from two-parent working class homes and five from single-parent working class homes. The geographical area will include two (of the three) selected elementary feeder schools, based on survey results, that service special education students in the South Fulton County area of Georgia who are most in need of an intervention. Qualitative Research Question What are the most effective technological resources that assist in encouraging parents of students with special needs to be involved in their child’s education? References Al-Shammari, Z., & Yawkey, T. (2008). Extent of parental involvement in improving the students’ levels in special education programs in Kuwait. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 35(2), 140-150. Bird, K. (2006). How do you spell parental involvement? S-I-S. The Journal, 33(7), 38. Hartas, D. (2008). Practices of parental participation: A case study. Educational Psychology in Practice, 24(2), 139-153. Jung, W. (2007). Preservice teacher training for successful inclusion. Education, 128(1), 106-113. McLaren, E. M., Bausch, M. E., & Ault, M. (2007). Collaboration strategies reported  by teachers providing assistive technology services. Journal of Special Education Technology, 22(4), 16-29. Week 5 Review Components2 points| Expected elements are included.| Articulation5 points | As noted, there are shortcomings regarding population and sample. * 1 point| Presentation2 points | Writing and formatting are well done.| Total9 points| A good start toward purpose statements aligned with problem.|

The eNotes Blog Hey Genius, MacArthurs Calling

Hey Genius, MacArthurs Calling One call, out of the blue, $500,000, and no strings attached. Wouldnt that be nice? Unfortunately, this only happens to geniuses Im talking about the MacArthur Foundations genius grant, which yesterday was awarded to 23 recipients. Among them were authors Junot Diaz, writer of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and the more recent This is How You Lose Her, and Ethiopian born Dinaw Mengetsu, whose two published novels are The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears and How to Read the Air. Dinaw Mengetsu Both authors have had the chance to share their jubilation upon receiving the news, and what it means to them. Mengetsu was as far afield as Nairobi when he received his call: It was obviously amazingly overwhelming and at the same time felt remarkably appropriate to be there and to be in a community that I felt I was desperately trying to reach out to Part of what the MacArthur fellowship does is remind me that the work Ive done is relevant – not necessarily what I write about, but the people who populate my work. That those people have a significance and meaning that sometimes might be overshadowed or lost in the larger narrative of the world, and its important to keep writing out of those experiences. Interestingly, both writers are immigrants to the US, Mengetsu as a toddler and Diaz as a teen. That seems to have influenced their writing and style, and in turn caught the Foundations eye, which said of Diaz that he creates nuanced and engaging characters struggling to succeed and often invisible in plain sight to the American mainstream. Diaz reflected on the honor of the award in an interview with AP: It left me thinking about my childhood †¦ It would never have dawned on me to think such a thing was possible for me †¦ struggling with poverty, struggling with English. †¦ I came from a community that was about as hard-working as you can get and yet no one saw or recognized in any way our contributions or our genius. †¦ I have to wonder, but for circumstances, how many other kids that I came up with are more worthy of this fellowship than me? Junot Diaz The Columbian author also said the grant would be  transformational for him and his work. It allows you to focus on your art with very little other concerns. Its kind of like a big blast of privilege. For those whove never heard of the grant or its criteria, the Foundations website offers some information for aspiring geniuses: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world [It]  awards five-year, unrestricted fellowships to individuals across all ages and fields who show exceptional merit and promise of continued creative work. A full list of the recipients and their bios can be found at the MacArthur Foundations page for the fellows of 2012. Among them is the creator of The Wire, two filmmakers, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Boston Childrens Hospital, and   a certain mandolin player who incredibly thought this life-changing call was a robocall. You can read more on that, here. Study Guides for Junot Diaz: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Drown Fiesta, 1980 The Sun, The Moon, The Stars

Biography of Marco Polo, Famous Explorer

Biography of Marco Polo, Famous Explorer Marco Polo was an inmate in the Genoese prison at the Palazzo di San Giorgio from 1296 to 1299, arrested for commanding a Venetian galley in a war against Genoa. While there, he told tales of his travels through Asia to his fellow prisoners and the guards alike, and his cellmate Rustichello da Pisa wrote them down. Once the two were released from prison, copies of the manuscript, titled The Travels of Marco Polo, captivated Europe. Polo told tales of fabulous Asian courts, black stones that would catch on fire (coal), and Chinese money made out of paper. Ever since people have debated the question: Did Marco Polo really go to China, and see all of the things he claims to have seen? Early Life Marco Polo was probably born in Venice, although there is no proof of his place of birth, around 1254 CE. His father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo were Venetian merchants who traded on the Silk Road; little Marcos father left for Asia before the child was born, and would return when the boy was a teenager. He may not have even realized that his wife was pregnant when he left. Thanks to enterprising merchants such as the Polo brothers, Venice flourished at this time as the major trading hub for imports from the fabulous oasis cities of Central Asia, India, and far-off, wondrous Cathay (China). With the exception of India, the whole expanse of Silk Road Asia was under the control of the Mongol Empire at this time. Genghis Khan had died, but his grandson Kublai Khan was Great Khan of the Mongols as well as the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China. Pope Alexander IV announced to Christian Europe in a 1260 papal bull that they faced wars of universal destruction wherewith the scourge of Heavens wrath in the hands of the inhuman Tartars [Europes name for the Mongols], erupting as it were from the secret confines of Hell, oppresses and crushes the earth. For men such as the Polos, however, the now stable and peaceful Mongol Empire was a source of wealth, rather than of hell-fire. Young Marco Goes to Asia When the elder Polos returned to Venice in 1269, they found that Niccolos wife had died and left behind a 15-year-old son named Marco. The boy must have been surprised to learn that he was not an orphan, as well. Two years later, the teenager, his father, and his uncle would embark eastward on another great journey. The Polos made their way to Acre, now in Israel, and then rode camels north to Hormuz, Persia. On their first visit to Kublai Khans court, the Khan had asked the Polo brothers to bring him oil from the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which Armenian Orthodox priests sold in that city, so the Polos went to the Holy City to buy the consecrated oil. Marcos travel account mentions various other interesting peoples along the way, including Kurds and Marsh Arabs in Iraq. Young Marco was put off by the Armenians, considering their Orthodox Christianity a heresy, puzzled by Nestorian Christianity, and even more alarmed by the Muslim Turks (or Saracens). He admired the beautiful Turkish carpets with the instincts of a merchant, however. The naive young traveler would have to learn to be open-minded about new peoples and their beliefs. On to China The Polos crossed into Persia, through Savah and the carpet-weaving center of Kerman. They had planned to sail to China via India but found that the ships available in Persia were too rickety to be trusted. Instead, they would join a trade caravan of two-humped Bactrian camels. Before they departed from Persia, however, the Polos passed by the Eagles Nest, scene of Hulagu Khans 1256 siege against the Assassins or Hashshashin. Marco Polos account, taken from local tales, may have vastly exaggerated the fanaticism of the Assassins. Nevertheless, he was very happy to descend the mountains and take the road toward Balkh, in northern Afghanistan, famed as the ancient home of Zoroaster or Zarathustra. One of the oldest cities on earth, Balkh did not live up to Marcos expectations, primarily because Genghis Khans army had done its best to erase the intransigent city from the face of the Earth. Nonetheless, Marco Polo came to admire Mongol culture, and to develop his own obsession with Central Asian horses (all of them descended from Alexander the Greats mount Bucephalus, as Marco tells it) and with falconry - two mainstays of Mongol life. He also began to pick up the Mongol language, which his father and uncle already could speak well. In order to get to the Mongolian heartlands and Kublai Khans court, however, the Polos had to cross the high Pamir Mountains. Marco encountered Buddhist monks with their saffron robes and shaved heads, which he found fascinating. Next, the Venetians traveled toward the great Silk Road oases of Kashgar and Khotan, entering the fearsome Taklamakan Desert of western China. For forty days, the Polos trudged across the burning landscape whose very name means you go in, but you dont come out. Finally, after three and a half years of hard travel and adventure, the Polos made it to the Mongol court in China. In Kublai Khans Court When he met Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, Marco Polo was just 20 years old. By this time he had become an enthusiastic admirer of the Mongol people, quite at odds with the opinion in most of the 13th century Europe. His Travels notes that They are those people who most in the world bear work and great hardship and are content with little food, and who are for this reason suited best to conquer cities, lands, and kingdoms. The Polos arrived in Kublai Khans summer capital, called Shangdu or Xanadu. Marco was overcome by the beauty of the place: The halls and rooms... are all gilded and wonderfully painted within with pictures and images of beasts and birds and trees and flowers... It is fortified like a castle in which are fountains and rivers of running water and very beautiful lawns and groves. All three of the Polo men went to Kublai Khans court and performed a kowtow, after which the Khan welcomed his old Venetian acquaintances. Niccolo Polo presented the Khan with the oil from Jerusalem. He also offered his son Marco to the Mongol lord as a servant. In the Khans Service Little did the Polos know that they would be forced to remain in Yuan China for seventeen years. They could not leave without Kublai Khans permission, and he enjoyed conversing with his pet Venetians. Marco, in particular, became a favorite of the Khans  and incurred a lot of jealousy from the Mongol courtiers. Kublai Khan was extremely curious about Catholicism, and the Polos believed at times that he might convert. The Khans mother had been a Nestorian Christian, so it was not so great a leap as it might have appeared. However, conversion to a western faith might have alienated many of the emperors subjects, so he toyed with the idea but never committed to it. Marco Polos descriptions of the wealth and splendor of the Yuan court, and of the size and organization of Chinese cities, struck his European audience as impossible to believe. For example, he loved the southern Chinese city of Hangzhou, which at that time had a population of about 1.5 million people. That is about 15 times the contemporary population of Venice, then one of Europes largest cities and European readers simply refused to give credence to this fact. Return by Sea By the time Kublai Khan reached the age of 75 in 1291, the Polos probably had just about given up hope that he would ever allow them to return home to Europe. He also seemed determined to live forever. Marco, his father, and his uncle finally got permission to leave the Great Khans court that year, so that they could serve as escorts of a 17-year-old Mongol princess who was being sent to Persia as a bride. The Polos took the sea route back, first boarding a ship to Sumatra, now in Indonesia, where they were marooned by changing monsoons for 5 months. Once the winds shifted, they went on to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and then to India, where Marco was fascinated by Hindu cow-worship and mystical yogis, along with Jainism and its prohibition on harming even a single insect. From there, they voyaged on to the Arabian Peninsula, arriving back at Hormuz, where they delivered the princess to her waiting bridegroom. It took two years for them to make the trip from China back to Venice; thus, Marco Polo likely was just about to turn 40 when he returned to his home city. Life in Italy As imperial emissaries and savvy traders, the Polos returned to Venice in 1295 laden with exquisite goods. However, Venice was embroiled in a feud with Genoa over control of the very trade routes that had enriched the Polos. Thus it was that Marco found himself in command of a Venetian war galley, and then a prisoner of the Genoese. After his release from prison in 1299, Marco Polo returned to Venice and continued his work as a merchant. He never went traveling again, however, hiring others to make expeditions instead of taking on that task himself. Marco Polo also married the daughter of another successful trading family and had three daughters. In January of 1324, Marco Polo died at the age of about 69. In his will, he freed a Tartar slave who had served him since his return from China. Although the man had died, his story lived on, inspiring the imaginations and adventures of other Europeans. Christopher Columbus, for example, had a copy of Marco Polos Travels, which he notated heavily in the margins. Whether or not they believed his stories, the people of Europe certainly loved to hear about the fabulous Kublai Khan and his wondrous courts at Xanadu and Dadu (Beijing). Sources Bergreen, Laurence. Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu, New York: Random House Digital, 2007. â€Å"Marco Polo.† Biography.com, AE Networks Television, 15 Jan. 2019, www.biography.com/people/marco-polo-9443861. Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo, trans. William Marsden, Charleston, SC: Forgotten Books, 2010. Wood, Frances. Did Marco Polo Go to China?, Boulder, CO: Westview Books, 1998.

What are the main causes of global warming Essay

What are the main causes of global warming - Essay Example The earth’s atmosphere usually traps solar radiation, through gases such as Carbon IV oxide, methane and water vapor; these are called the greenhouse gases, which allow incoming radiation to pass through, but traps and retain the heat radiated back from the earth’s surface (Dahlman & Renwick 96). This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect. Global warming is simply an enhanced form of the greenhouse effect, caused by a major upsurge in the greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. The gases trap more and more radiation leading to an overall increase in the earth. For global warming to occur, a lot of factors come into play. However, scientists have concluded that human activity is the leading cause of global warming. This happens in two main ways: burning fossil fuels, which is the main cause and deforestation. When fossil fuels are extracted and burnt, they release CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Increased CO2 in the atmosphere is the biggest concern because it can last in the atmosphere for generations. Deforestation only happens to accelerate the problem further. This is because most of the cleared trees, when burnt, also release CO2. Furthermore, we know that forests require CO2 for photosynthesis. In the process, plants are able to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Clearing trees therefore leads to the build of carbon IV oxide, which in turn raises the earth’s temperatures. Global warming causes climate change (Dahlman & Renwick 96). This is unpredictable and mostly devastating changes in weather such as the Hurricane Sandy and other extreme climatic events such as the melting of the polar ice. These changes therefore call for all the people in the world to join hands to try to reverse and in the end eliminate this process. Among the strategies set forth to combat global warming include afforestation, which is the planting of forests where they were depleted,

Brain Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brain Research - Essay Example Such factors made me realize that I want to know more about the brain and its functions, how tumors and cancers are developed in it and answer many more questions about the amazing organ. This, in part, may have been for the want of understanding and probably preventing my family from developing brain tumor because as they say, such sickness is hereditary. Although such fear may be unnecessary, I understand that knowing more about the illness will not only enable me to help myself and my family but I can assist other people as well. The growing number of cases of brain tumor and cancer suggests that there is a need for more professionals who are well-equipped and able to help patients and I want to be a part of such medical team. In joining the program, I foresee myself developing strong research skills. I know that I will be working alongside qualified and efficient trainers so it is expected that I will be learning a lot about the processes of medical research. Moreover, since research is not simply gathering information but assimilating them as well, I will be able to improve my scientific and critical thinking. Besides, scientific and critical thinking have always been important considerations not only in the medical field but other professions as well. I also want to gain experience with cutting-edge research techniques which I believe the program provides under the able hands of the select professors and trainers. Consequently, I know that I will benefit from attentive mentoring. In addition, research is becoming a must in almost all fields of study so I want to prepare myself for such tasks in my pursuit for further studies. I want to become comfortable in a research environment because I know I will be doing it not only in the university but also in the profession I am tracking. In fact, I see research as an essential part in the

Segment Analysis of The Dark Knight Rises Essay

Segment Analysis of The Dark Knight Rises - Essay Example The chief of the police Gordon is a man of conscience and determined to fight against the crime and is willing to take lessons from its past mistakes. The character of Batman was in shadows and did not appear till the rate of crimes in the city again starting to swell. The Cat woman tries to get rid of her criminal career with the help of mercenary named Bane, who asks her to hand over Batman in return. Wayne Enterprises had been into loses since Bruce had withdrawn the fusion reactor for it could be used for weaponisation. Batman was captured by Bane with the help of Kyle the Cat woman and was imprisoned. While Bane take the whole city under siege by converting the fusion from reactor into an atomic bomb, and let his gang member to loot the city. Batman after months of training successfully escaped from the jail and asked Klye Fox (the man who runs Wayne Enterprises), Blake (an able young detective), Gordon and Lady Tate (member of Wayne Enterprises executive board) for their help i n order to take the bomb back from Bane. Police force start to take over the city from Bane’s gang, while Batman tried to neutralize the weapon, it is here when Tate stabs him with a knife her true identity Talia al-Ghul, Ra’s al-Ghul’s child who was helped to escape from the prison in order to complete her father’s mission to destroy the Gotham city. While Tate was looking for the bomb, Bane was killed by Kyle. Batman rushed to get the bomb out of the hands of Tate, who before dying destroys the reactor so Batman could not stabilize the bomb by placing it again in the reactor. Batman took the bomb to bay where it detonates, in the end the city mourned over the tragic death of its superhero, but Fox finds that Bruce had fixed the auto pilot and Gordon too finds the bat signal, later Alfred (fatherly figure for Batman), finds Batman with Kyle in Florence. The young Officer Blake resigns from the police force and take control of the Bat-cave (Anthony, 2012) . Segmentation Analysis: 1) Rate of crime in Gotham City: Since the last eight years the rate of crime had been controlled by the police chief and eradicated various elements of crime nurtured by the old chief. James Gordon a good and hones officers feels himself responsible for covering up the crimes of the old chief this segment of the movie takes place as: Uzbek military militia moving toward the airfield with Dr. Pavel a nuclear scientist in a van carrying three hooded prisoners, some special ops commandos and a CIA agent were bought by the scientist. The CIA agent killed two of the prisoners while interrogating for Bane, the mercenary and when he comes to the third prisoner it was revealed that it is Bane, a C-130 emerges and his militia man takes over the commuter jet and killed everyone except for the doctor and detonates the plane. 2) Hervey Dent’s Farewell: Goth city police department gathers to mourn over the death of their ex police chief, while Gordon plans to rev eal the crimes of the last chief for which batman was held accountable, but did not as his deputy praises his effort to reduce the crime, the mayor of the city plans to remove him in the spring. The event was hosted by Bruce (Batman) who was not there and Lady Tate wants to meet him for the reasons unknown to John Daggett (a businessman). 3) Revelation of true identity of Salina Kyle: Salina Kyle the cat woman disguised as a maid in the Wayne Manor, successfully open the uncrackable safe of Bruce and took out his mother’s necklace and out of curiosity start looking at Bruce’s pictures. At the same time Bruce arrives and tries to get her but she ran away by taking a lift in the congressman’

High Stakes Test In Trinidad And Tobago

High Stakes Test In Trinidad And Tobago High stakes tests are defined as those tests that carry serious consequences for students or educators. The consequences from standardized achievement tests range from grade retention for school children to rewards or punitive measures for schools and school districts. The nature of standardized achievement tests used in these situations poses validity problems for the decisions. Numerous unintended negative consequences for students, teachers, curriculum, and schools have been identified. (Ohio Journal of Science) High-stakes are not a characteristic of the test itself, but rather of the consequences placed on the outcome. For instance, no matter what test is used whether it is a written multiple choice, oral examination, performance test a student wanting a medical license must pass the medical licensing test to practice medicine. The acuity of the stakes may vary. For instance, college students who wish to omit an introductory-level course are often given exams to see whether they have already mastered the material and move to the next level. By passing the exam they can attain credits that can reduce tuition expenses and time spent at  university. A student who is anxious to have these benefits may consider the test to be a high-stakes exam. Another student, who places no importance on the outcome, so long as he is placed in a class that is appropriate to his skill level, may consider the same exam to be a low-stakes test. To further concretize the idea what high stakes testing really is one can examine the phrase high stakes. High stakes is derived directly from a  gambling  term. In gambling, a  stake  is referred to the quantity of money or goods that is risked on the outcome of some specific event. A high-stakes game is one in which, in the players individual opinion, a large quantity of money is being risked. The term is meant to imply that executing such a system introduces indecision and potential losses for test takers, who must pass the exam to win, instead of being able to obtain the goal through other means. High Stakes Test in Trinidad and Tobago In Trinidad and Tobago, in the early 1960s the high stakes test of Common Entrance Examination was introduced and served to replace the College Exhibition. It was intended that it would be the only tool of qualification for secondary education in this country. It was not intended to be a pass or fail examination and the number of awards depended on the number of secondary school places available at the time. This examination, for all intent and purposes, was a multiple-choice examination. The multiple choice tests were in English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science with the exception of the Composition aspect of the examination. Students were then placed into secondary schools on the basis of their order of merit and their parents choice of school. The Common Entrance Examination system had its drawbacks. Many critics stated that anxiety, depression, pains, fever, delirious behaviour and severe panic attacks were some of the effects the Common Entrance Examination had on students. These and many other reasons led to the failure of this system and it was because of this failure that a Task Force chaired by Mr. Clive Pantin, and which included Dr. Anna Mahase, Dr. Janet Stanely-Marcano, Mr. Anthony Garcia among others, was set up to look at the removal of this Examination. The Task Force in its findings found that anxiety and stress remained an attribute of the Common Entrance Examination and those immediately concerned with it. It also highlighted the sense of unworthiness and disappointment which became a characteristic of not only those who failed to gain a place, but also of those who were successful but failed to gain admission to the school of their choice. It further stated that due to the importance of the examination and due to a lack of acceptable alternatives to public secondary education the examination began to exert an inordinate influence on the primary school, the curriculum and teaching practices. Teachers were often very restricted to that subject which would be tested at the examination. It was found that students, even those who performed well in the examination, entered secondary school without the necessary basic preparation for secondary school work. It found that nearly fifty percent (50%) of the students who wrote the Common Entrance Examination appeared to be semi literate and innumerate. The Task Force recommended, among other things, that there was need to develop a Secondary Entrance Examination which would test the students level of competence in the key areas of English, Mathematics and Written Composition. It stated that this needed be done in a manner which would indicate readiness of the secondary education programme. Additionally, it stated that Science and Social Studies should be omitted because of the unwarranted influence they had on the final result in the Common Entrance Examination placement of students and because they were unsatisfactorily tested. It also recommended that a Continuous Assessment Programme (CAP) should become an integral part of the School System. The Continuous Assessment Programme was to be used to determine the students readiness for promotion. The Secondary Entrance Assessment, a system of education which prepared the child for entry into a secondary school and included mechanisms to determine when the child was ready and where he or she would be placed, was the major aims of that new system of education. According the Universal Secondary Education Project Implementation Unit December 28th 1999, the implementation of the Secondary Entrance Assessment would provide a link between separate elements of the Universal Secondary Education in Trinidad and Tobago. Secondary Entrance Examination would assess students readiness for secondary schools by testing their skills in Language, Mathematics and Problem-solving and covers the national curriculum for Primary-level education with a focus on Standards three-five. Students who are in Standard five and have not yet attained the age of 15 are eligible to write the SEA. It alluded to the fact that there would be no multiple-choice questions, a feature of the Common Entrance Examinati on. Furthermore, it stated that placement in the secondary schools would be based on marks scored on the exam; the available of places in their school of choice, availability of secondary places in their education division and taking into account the 20 percent (20%) provision granted to denominational school under the Concordat. Interviews and results Interview Schedule for High Stakes Test Research Paper Two week schedule Tasks Activity Time Frame Duration 1. Sensitization of teacher, parent and students 1. Meeting to set the purpose for forthcoming interview March 2nd 2010 One hour 2. Development of questionnaires 1. Questionnaires will be formulated by interview personnel March 3rd and 4th 2010 Two days 3. Set up appointments for interviews 1. Interview personnel set up appointment with stakeholders for interviews. March 5th 2010 One day 4. Interview with teacher 1. Interview personnel interviews teacher on a one on one basis using questionnaire March 8th 2010 One hour 5. Interview with parent 1. Interview personnel has a one on one interview with parent March 9th 2010 One hour 6. Interview with three students 1. Interview personnel has a one on one interview with students at different times. March 10th 2010 Three hours 7. Analyze and synthesize data 1. Interview personnel analyzes and synthesizes data collected March 11th and 12th 2010 Two daysTeachers Perception of the High Stake Test. The teacher I interviewed has been teaching the Standard Five class for the past fifteen years. Upon receiving his new class he does a standard diagnostic test to measure the level of readiness of his students. He is faced with many challenges namely lack of resources, varying abilities of students, improper infrastructure, limited parental support, overcrowding and most importantly the high demand of workload to completed before the SEA examination. He uses his initiative to alleviate some of these challenges for instance creating his own resources, schedule parent conferences, plan and execute lessons using various teaching strategies to meet the needs of his students. To complete his program of work before the examination he sacrifices personal time during the vacation and on Saturdays and sometimes on afternoons after school to conduct classes for slower learners. In his opinion a multiple choice test which was the main form of testing in the Common Entrance examination does not truly reflect the abilities of students. He feels that children need to express themselves and think critically when dealing with problems. Hence the SEA examination is the better choice for the high stake testing in Trinidad and Tobago. Examination in its many forms poses some level of anxiety among students, teachers and parents and the fact remains that the coping mechanism for this is all the individuals responsibility. He is of the opinion that the SEA examination is an appropriate assessment tool to measure students performance in our rapidly changing society. There are many advantages and disadvantages to high stakes testing and more so the SEA examination. This teacher believes that this form of assessment will assist all students to learn more by demanding higher student proficiency and providing effective methods to help students achieve high standards; provide parents, schools, and communities with an unprecedented opportunity to debate and reach agreement on what students should know and be able to do; focus the education system on understandable, objective, measurable, and well-defined goals to enable schools to work smarter and more productively; reinforce the best teaching and educational practices already found in classrooms and make them the norm; and provide real accountability by focusing squarely on results and helping the public and local and state educators evaluate which programs work best. He also believes that there are many shortcomings with respect to high stakes testing. These include the careless implementation of programmes of work that may not meet the varying abilities of students which may result in negative consequences. Sacrifice, diligence, determination are the key for the successful completion of any examination was the closing comments by this standard teacher. Parents Perception There is a high level of anxiety for this parent by having a child in the Standard five class. She feels that this examination is heavily weighted and causes a lot of stress related incidents at home and school for parents and children as well. Being a housewife, she has sufficient time to assist her child with his preparation for the test. She feels that the child has to do this examination whether it is fair or not because this is the norm in this country. This parent is of the opinion that SEA is less demanding than the common entrance examination because the emphasis is on mathematics and language arts areas and there is no longer the science and social studies component. She believes that SEA is the best means of measuring her childs performance. Time management and lack of knowledge of content are some of the challenges that this parent encounters when trying to assist her child. She seeks assistance from other parents and the teacher when uncertainty arises in assisting her child. Motivation is a key factor in the success of her child. She believes that if the child is motivated he will do well. She tries to emulate her parents as she was also motivated to do her best. She is quite confident that her child will succeed in the SEA examination because of the teachers competences, her support and most importantly the childs effort. As a parent she feels that she did her best in preparing her child for this high stakes test. Childrens Perception The three students aspire to successfully acquire their first choice in the high stakes test and plan to work diligently towards achieving this goal. They believe that the SEA examination is one of the most important one that they will have to write. They feel they do not have enough time to prepare and it is a lot of sacrifice and hard work. They all believe that their teacher is the best and they will definitely succeed. They have been doing many past papers and attending extra classes. With the exception of one child, they feel that their parents provide ample support for them. All three students have the confidence that they are prepared for the SEA examination and they will secure their first choice. Common themes All stakeholders believe that the SEA examination is an appropriate assessment tool to measure students performance Sacrifice, hard work, dedication and commitment are crucial for successful attainment in the SEA examination. Stress and anxiety affects everyone in any examination. Support from all stakeholders are essential components in the preparation for high stakes test. Teacher competency is a key factor in the success of any student. Conclusion High stakes in its entirety is relevant in Trinidad and Tobago. It serves as the medium from the primary level to the secondary level. Much emphasis is placed on this test and it is the stepping stone for advance studies and is crucial to attainment of certificates and diplomas that will secure a good job. While there may be shortcomings in the implementation of programmes of work which may not meet the varying abilities of students can result in negative consequences. However, in preparing for high stakes test students will develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. It allows students to achieve higher standards. With respect to schools, it promotes well define goals which will lead to more productivity and provide real accountability. The Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) in Trinidad and Tobago is the high stake test that assesses students readiness for secondary schools by testing their skills in Language, Mathematics and Problem-solving. Appendix 1 Teacher Questionnaire How long have been teaching a standard five class? On receiving a new class of students, how do you diagnose the level of your students readiness? What are some challenges you face in teaching a standard five class? What are some strategies you used to overcome these challenges? What is your opinion of the removal of the common entrance examination and the implementation of the SEA examination? Do you think the level of anxiety of students is the same with to the shift from the common entrance examination to the SEA examination? Is the SEA examination an appropriate assessment tool to measure students performance? What do you think is the advantages of this assessment tool? What are the disadvantages of this assessment instrument? What recommendation can you give to alleviate the pressures of this exam? Appendix 2 Parent Questionnaire How do you feel as a parent having a child in an SEA class? Do you spend sufficient time assisting your child in his school work? Do you think it is fair to your child for this examination to be the determining factor of his placement in a secondary school? What is your opinion the removal of the Common entrance examination and the implementation of the SEA examination? Do you think it is an appropriate assessment tool to measure your childs abilities? What are some challenges you face as a parent with a child in a SEA class? How do you cope with the challenges faced? Do you think motivation is necessary to alleviate some of the stress that your child faces? Why? Do you think your child is capable of successfully completing the SEA examination? Why? Do you feel that you have fulfilled your duty as a parent in preparing your child for the examination? Appendix 3 Student Questionnaire What are your aspirations upon entering in SEA class? What are your opinions with respect to the upcoming SEA examination? What are some of the challenges you are facing in preparing for the exam? Do you think your teacher is competent in preparing you for this examination? What have you been doing to prepare for the examination? How are your parents supporting you in the preparation for the examination? Do you feel you are ready for the examination? What do you think the outcome of the exam will be?

We Must Stop Legislation to Ban Cell Phone Use While Driving :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

Cell phones began with only a select few could afford a cell phone. Today with most Americans owning cell phones we must look at the benefits and downfalls of cellular technology. The issue of driving while dialing brings up the most controversy. The legislation in place to govern the use of cellular phones in certain cities is justified, but the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. The cell phone has been around since the fifties when they first had the idea from using CB radio frequencies. AT&T was the first to bring about the technology back in the late forties and early fifties. The FCC regulated all radio frequencies broadcast and limited AT&T to twenty-three phone calls simultaneously in the same service area. In the seventies the FCC later allowed more use of the radio waves. In the late seventies the first trials were made in Chicago with 2000 initial customers (Bellis 1). In the 1987 cellular customers hit one million. Today one half of the people living in the United States own a cell phone. It is true that drivers can be clearly distracted from the road from cellular phones. Drivers will have them in a purse in the backseat or in an inaccessible pocket that they will be startled to get to when someone calls. Drivers will struggle to get to the phone in a timely manner and that becomes their priority instead of the road in front of them. Drivers may swerve or cut off another driver in while trying to answer a cell phone or trying dialing a ten digit telephone number. An Ohio insurance company took a poll of eight hundred drivers. The results of the poll are as follows: 43% said they had accelerated on at least one occasion while using their mobile phone; 23% said they had tailgated; 18% said they had cut someone off; 10% ran a red light; and 41% said they had accelerated to get away from someone else in another vehicle on a mobile phone (Ropeik 16). It is obvious that cell phones are a distraction but are the distractions caused by cell phones outweighed by the security and added convenience of a cell phone? There are hundreds of benefits from cellular phones. The convenience more than anything is what appeals to most users. Cell phones can be used for work or for personal use. Businessmen and women will use them to call clients and parents will use them to check on the babysitter.

Theatre of the Absurd

THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD The dictionary meaning of the word ‘Absurd’ is unreasonable, ridiculous or funny. But it is used in a somewhat different sense when we speak of the ‘Theatre of the Absurd’, or more commonly known now-a-days as ‘Absurd Drama’. The phrase ‘The Theatre of the Absurd’ was coined by the critic Martin Esslin, who made it the title of his book on the same subject, published in 1961. Esslin points out in this book that there is no such thing as a regular â€Å"movement† of Absurd Dramatists. The term was useful as ‘a device to make certain common fundamental traits that were present in the works of a number of dramatists’. Esslin saw in the works of these playwrights as artistic co-relation to Albert Camus’ philosophy that life is inherently without meaning as is described in his work ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’. In this essay Camus has described the situation of the human beings as one out of harmony with its surroundings. The Theatre of the Absurd, today, can be considered as a designation for particular plays written by a number of primarily European playwrights in the late 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and also, along with that, to the style and form of theatre which has evolved from their work. A short but true story narrated in the beginning of Martin Esslin’s book The Theatre of the Absurd provides the best commentary on the significance of the Absurd, and also helps in understanding the human values of Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot, which is famous as an Absurd Drama par excellence. This is the story as told by Mr. Esslin – â€Å"On 19th November 1957, a group of worried actors were preparing to face their audience. The actors were members of the company of the San Francisco Actor’s workshop. The audience consisted of fourteen hundred convicts at the San Quentin penitentiary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. The curtain parted. The play began. And what had bewildered the sophisticated audiences of Paris, London, and New York, was immediately grasped by an audience of convicts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ The trio of muscle men, biceps overflowing†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. parked all 642 lbs on the aisle and waited for the girls and funny stuff. When this didn’t appear they audibly fumed and audibly decided to wait until the house lights dimmed before escaping. They made one error. They listened and looked two minutes too-long-and stayed. Left at the end. All shook. A reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle who was present noted that the convicts did not find it difficult to understand the play. One prisoner told him ‘Godot is Society’. Said another ‘He’s the outside’. A teacher at the prison was quoted as saying: They know what is meant by waiting†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. and they know if Godot finally came he would only be a disappointment. † This story is helpful in understanding the genre of the Absurd. Playwrights commonly associated with the Theatre of the Absurd include Samuel Beckett from Ireland, Eugene Ionesco from Rumania, Jean Genet from France and Harold Pinter of Great Britain. The Absurd in their plays takes the form of man’s reaction to a world apparently without meaning, or man as a puppet that is controlled or threatened by an invisible outside force. Though the term is applied to a wide range of plays, some characteristics coincide in many of the plays. For instance broad comedy is mixed with tragic images where the characters are caught in hopeless situations and are forced to do repetitive or meaningless action. Even the dialogues are full of specialized jargons, and wordplays and cliches and even nonsense. Even the plots are mostly cyclical or absurdly expansive. Regarding the story, it is either a parody or a dismissal of realism. The Theatre of the Absurd is commonly associated with Existentialism, and Existentialism was an influential philosophy in Paris during the rise of the Absurd Theatre. However, it is not exactly correct. Historically Existentialism grew with the nineteenth century writings of Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. On reading Nietzsche’s Zarathustra published in 1883, the readers come across a startling phrase that God is dead! According to Esslin, since then for many more people, God has died. He says; â€Å"And so after two terrible wars, there are still many who are trying to come to terms with the implication of Zarathustra’s message searching for a way in which they can with dignity, confront a universe, deprived of what was once its centre and its living purpose, a world deprived of a generally accepted integrating principle, which has become disappointed and purposeless. The Theatre of the Absurd is one of the expressions of this search; it seeks to re-establish an awareness of man’s situation when confronted with the ultimate reality of his condition. For the people, in between the two World Wars, the world seemed to be falling apart. Disintegration of the society, the menace of the unknown and utter loneliness of man, all this and many more made human beings look upon life as useless and futile. The world had become a place where man continues to waste, and pine and, and degenerate. In Samuel Beckett’s play, Waiting for Godot, the situation of man in this universe is summarized by Pozzo’s outburst in the second act of the play: â€Å"One day we were born, one day we shall die, the same day, the same second, is that not enough. They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it’s night once more. † A most poignant image of death comes out in these lines. Esslin feels that in Beckett’s plays physical nature follows its own cycle, birth – growth – degeneration – decay and death. Seasons follow each other but there is hardly any escape The origin of the Theatre of the Absurd is rooted in the new pioneering experiments in the art of the 1920s and 1930s. The aim of these experiments was to do away with art as a mere imitation of appearances. It was after the First World War that German Expressionism attempted to project the inner realities and also tried to objectify thoughts and feelings. At the same time, the Theatre of the Absurd was also strongly influenced by the traumatic experience of the horrors of the Second World War, which showed the total impermanence of any values and shook the validity of long time held conventions. It also highlighted the precariousness of human life and also its fundamental meaninglessness and unpredictability. The trauma of living from 1945, under the threat of nuclear annihilation also seems to have been an important factor in the rise of this new theatre. At the same time, the Theatre of the Absurd also seems to have been the reaction to the disappearance of the religious dimensions from contemporary life. Absurd Theatre hopes to achieve this by shocking man out of an existence that has become overused, mechanical and self satisfying. It aims to startle the viewer, shake him out of this comfortable conventional life of everyday concerns. The Theatre of the Absurd highlights man’s fundamental bewilderment and confusion originating from the fact that man has no answers to the basic existential questions like why we are alive, why we have to die, why there is injustice and suffering. Playwrights share the view that man is inhabiting a universe with which he is out of key. Its meaning is indecipherable and his place within it is without purpose. He is bewildered, troubled and maybe even obscurely threatened. Man’s tragedy is that he is not aware of his problem. Man is always trying to seek some purpose in life by getting involved in trivialities and superficial pursuits. This is one reason why tragedy and farce are closely interlinked in the Theatre oh the Absurd. Even at the moment of the tragic climax in Waiting for Godot, farce enters the moment. Estragon’s trousers fall in attempting suicide and the chord breaks, when thy try its strength, making Estragon and Vladimir almost fall. The comedy here illustrates their life’s hopelessness and the futility of all their efforts to end them. The perfect statement of the philosophy of the Theatre of the Absurd as defined by Martin Esslin, is in which the world is seen as a hall of reflecting mirrors, and Reality merges gradually into fantasy. If God is dead, then surely the Theatre of the Absurd is looking for an alternative spiritual goal, i. e. making man aware of his lost moorings and trying to make him feel what he has to regain. Plays within this group are absurd in that they focus not on logical acts or realistic occurrences or even traditional character development. They instead focus on human beings trapped in an incomprehensible world facing incidents which are illogical. Mainly the theme of incomprehensibility is coupled with the inadequacy of language. Basically there is no story, no dramatic conflict and nothing really ever happens. Mostly there is repetitive action and circular arrangement of events. Devaluation of language is also an important trait of the Absurd Drama. Esslin says that Absurdism is the inevitable devaluation of ideals, purity and purpose. Absurdist drama asks its viewers to draw his own conclusions and make his own errors. Though Theatre of the Absurd may be seen as nonsense, they have something to say and can be understood. Even regarding plots, traditional plot structures are rarely considered as good plots in the Theatre of the Absurd. Plots usually consist of Absurd repetition of action as in Waiting for Godot or The Bald Soprano. Often there is an outside force that remains a mystery like in The Birthday Party or A Delicate Balance. Absence, emptiness, nothingness and unresolved mysteries are central features in many Absurdist plots, for example, in The Chairs an old couple welcomes a large number of guests to their home, but these guests are invisible so all we see is empty chairs, representing their absence. Another example is where the action of Waiting for Godot is centered on the absence of a man named Godot, for whom the two characters keep waiting till the end of the play. Plots are also cyclical like in Endgame, it begins where the play ended in the beginning. One of the important aspects of Absurd Drama was its distrust of language as a means of communication. During those times language had become ‘a vehicle for conventionalized, stereotyped meaningless exchanges’. Words usually failed to express the fundamental nature of human experience because it was not able to penetrate beyond its surface. So the playwrights of the Absurd Theatre constituted first and foremost an onslaught on language, showing it as a very unreliable and insufficient tool of communication. During those times language had become ‘a vehicle for conventionalized, stereotyped meaningless exchanges’. Words usually failed to express the fundamental nature of human experience because it was not able to penetrate beyond its surface. So the playwrights of the Absurd Theatre constituted first and foremost an onslaught on language, showing it as a very unreliable and insufficient tool of communication. Absurd Drama uses conventionalized speeches, cliches, slogans and technical jargons, which it distorts and breaks down. It is by ridiculing the ‘conventionalized and stereotyped’ speech, that Absurd Theatre tries to make people aware of the possibility of going beyond everyday speeches and communicating more authentically. The theme of the Absurd play is the purposelessness of human life. Albert Camus in his essay ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’ has described the situation of human beings as one out of harmony with its surroundings. The Theatre of the Absurd is one of the ways of facing the life that has lost its meaning and purpose. As such, it fulfils a double role. Its first and more obvious role is satirical where it criticizes a society that is petty, superficial and dishonest. Its second and more positive aspect is that it highlights the basic absurdity of the human situation. It showcases the condition of human beings in a world in which man has lost all his faith. Here he is presented in his basic situation where he is left with no choice and desperately searches some refuge or heaven. Such a play produces the effects of alienation. We find it very difficult to identify ourselves with the characters in the Absurd Drama. Even though their situation is very painful and violent, they are presented to us in such a way that we tend to laugh at them and their condition and behavior. Esslin feels that this kind of drama speaks mostly to the deeper level of the audience’s mind. In a way it challenges the audience to make sense of the nonsense. It urges them to face the situation consciously and along with that, to laugh at this fundamental absurdity of such situations. So, the dominating theme of the absurd playwrights is man’s loneliness, despair, and desperation when he finds that his faith in God is declining. In all the writers of the Absurd Drama, the common traits are usually the devaluation of language, absence of characterization and motivation and search for meaning in a basically absurd situation. But each of them has his own style of presenting these traits. For example Ionesco presents absurdism through hilarious and outrageous farce. In Beckett’s works, absurdism is presented by depicting a world which is devoid of God, where life is full of anguish and despair. In the plays of Harold Pinter menace and terror surrounds people. His plays, famous as comedy of menace, are basically funny up to a point. The most surprising thing about plays of this group is that in spite of their breaking of the rules, they are very successful. In his book, The Theatre of the Absurd, Esslin says, â€Å"If a good play must have a clearly constructed story, these have no story to speak of; if a good play is judged by subtlety of characterization and motivation, these are often without recognizable characters and present the audience with almost mechanical puppets; if a good play has to have a fully explained theme, which is neatly exposed and finally solved, these often have neither a beginning nor an end; if a good play is to hold the mirror up to nature and portray the manners and mannerism of the age in finely observed sketches, these seem often to be reflections of dreams and nightmares; if a good play relies on witty repartee and pointed dialogue, these often consist of incoherent babblings. † To conclude, the Theatre of the Absurd presents anxiety, despair and a sense of loss at the disappearance of solutions and the illusions of life. Now facing all this means that we are facing reality itself. Thus, is can be s aid that Absurd Drama becomes a kind of a modern mystical experience. It aims to shock its audience out of complacency, to bring it face to face with the harsh facts of the human situations as the writers see it. It becomes a kind of a challenge to accept the human condition as it is, with all its mystery and absurdity, and to bear it with dignity, because there are no solutions to the mysteries of existence. That is because ultimately man is alone in this meaningless world. To accept all this freely and without fear may be painful, but doing so brings a sense of freedom and relief. And that is why we say that the Theatre of the Absurd does not provoke tears of despair but the ‘laughter of liberation’. Bibliography PRIMARY SOURCES 1. Martin Esslin, The Theatre of the Absurd SECONDARY SOURCES 1. Martin Esslin, Introductin to The Theatre of the Absurd 2. Arnold P. Hinchliffe, The Absurd 3. Ronald Gaskell, Drama and Reality 4. Eva Metman, Reflections on Beckett’s Plays