How to Teach Language Through Poetry

The use of literature in the EFL classroom through three different perspectives. Exploring poetry as a strong option.. Most of the time literature is mainly related to reading and writing, but it may play the same meaningful role in teaching speaking and listening if we design creative activities. Teachers can use literature in the classroom for different purposes such as reading aloud and dramatizing a poem, teaching pronunciation, and many other activities. There are many advantages of using literature in the EFL classroom.To talk about the general advantages of literature can be a broad approach thus; we will not focus on them. Instead, we will have a look at the benefits from three different perspectives: literature as genuine and authentic material, as a good language source and as a bridge to get the learner interested and also, we will mention poetry as a strong option to develop students’ skills. MATERIAL Literature is authentic material that makes students travel to f oreign countries and fantastic worlds. This keeps our students motivated and promotes favorable attitude toward learning.Poems, novels, and stories can bring powerful emotional responses to the classroom. Furthermore, students can relate their own real lives to the stories they read. Literary texts help EFL students to improve language learning. However, literature by itself is not enough; teachers need to use imaginative techniques for integrating literature work with language teaching. It is also necessary to bring motivating methodology and to choose the right material to keep students interested. LANGUAGE Language is the most prominent feature of literature.Through literature students learn about syntax and discourse, different structures, functions, and the different ways of connecting ideas, all these help students to develop their writing, listening, reading and speaking skills. As they use literature they learn about language structure without even noticing, this helps to de velop their communicative competence, what as we know, is the ultimate aim of English learning. LEARNER In the classroom the use of literature encourages learners to get involved ith the stories they read or hear; the understanding of the words becomes less important as they get involved in trying to figure out what is happening with a character or the end of a story. Students may also like using literature if the activities are oriented towards enjoyment and creativity instead of memorizing or following grammatical rules. Literature can be seen as the bridge between the learner and the culture of the people whose language they are studying; in order to get the learners interested in the culture, we have to carefully select the literary texts according to their interests and level of comprehension.WHY DO WE USE POETRY WITH THE LANGUAGE LEARNER? Poetry is a short piece of imaginative writing, of a personal nature and laid out in lines. In this sense, poetry is a product of the langua ge and a tool to teach it, a tool to teach grammatical clues and a product when students make a composition of any topic. Most of the poems include metaphors. Students can use cognitive skills by making comparisons between two different things and finding their similarities. The figures of speech used in poetry such as metaphors, similes and personifications help students to have a better understanding of the use of language in an unconscious way.Poetry is a way for teaching and learning basic skills. It can be used as an enjoyable and a rewarding tool with the properties of rhyming and rhythm. It helps students to easily learn with the supra-segmental aspect of the target language, such as stress, pitch, intonation. Using poetry while teaching English can have many benefits: * It encourages creative writing. * It helps students appreciate sounds words and patterns. * It develops phonic skills. * It makes students express feelings and opinions. * It provides a great opportunity to p lay with language. It reinforces the ability to think and to experiment with students’ understanding of the world. * It helps to acquire vocabulary, creativity and imagination. * it reveals, restates, reinforces and affirms those things which we think are true. * It gives the chance to discover and explore the use of the language. * It generates collaborative activities (pair and group work). Poetry and the four skills We can develop the four skills while using poetry: Poems are good to reinforce grammar structures and to improve writing abilities, bringing out creativity and rhythm in the classroom since students have to use their imagination to write.Also, poems help to develop oral and mental capacities. They should be read aloud to reinforce the student’s phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary as well as to sharpen their receptive language skills by learning rhyming, sounds, stresses, pauses, alliteration and syllables. Ideas for using poetry in the c lassroom * Discussing the theme of a poem and writing out personal experiences related to the theme. * Deducing meanings from the context. * Completing a paraphrase of a poem (cloze-style). * Choosing the best paraphrase among a few. Predicting what’s coming next after reading only one verse at a time. * Ordering jumbled stanzas or lines in the correct sequence. * Rewriting a part of a poem in one’s own words and ideas to offer different messages. * Filling an omitted word, phrase, or line in relation to its context. * Discussing similarities and differences between poems of the same subject or theme. * Identifying any aural or musical qualities in the poem (rhyme, alliteration, and simile). * Reading aloud poems (choral reading) and making a song. This teaches intonations and stress. Using visuals images such as paintings to help pupils envisage settings, historical periods, etc. * Imitating o parody the style of poem. * Acting the poem: mime, role play, performance, etc. * Making a peer or group composition, writing together. Useful Web sites www. readwritethink. org/lessons/lesson_view. asp? id=391 www. poetryteachers. comh www. poetry4kids. com www. poetryzone. co. uk www. michellehenry. fr/poems. htm www. poemhunter. com www. tooter4kids. com/classroom/poetry_in_the_esl_classroom. htm www. teachingenglish. org. uk/think/literature/poems_prod. html http://www. youtube. com/user/b4uguy#g/u Conclusions Using poetry in the classroom is a great tool, but we cannot forget that we have to choose the right material, so students can maximize their learning. It has to be interesting and adequate for each student level, reading about new things is usually interesting for students. Learners will benefit from literature; we are responsible of putting in touch our students with material that catches their interest, so they want to read and listen more, which turns out in further and richer learning.Also, it can create opportunities for personal expression as well as reinforce learner? s knowledge of lexical and grammatical structure giving the opportunity to develop their communicative and cognitive skills. Many teachers think that including poetry in the EFL classroom can be a very heavy and useless work. However, we have analyzed some of the benefits that working with poetry can bring to the learning process. Also, we pointed that not only it is useful but also, students can have great fun if we choose the correct activities and poems.

Negotiation Situation Essay

In the negotiation of a mortgage refinance, you can run into many different types of situations that you have to be prepared for. How we interact during a negotiation can make or break an agreement. Successful use of communication tools and preparing yourself to handle personalities will contribute to the outcome. Analyzing the Roles of Communication In this situation the initial state of the negotiation was not moving forward in a positive direction. The bank was dealing with many customers with mortgages that were months behind due to the economic crash at the time. We were one of those affected; the construction boom took a turn for the worse and work slowed down. Although we kept in contact with our bank regarding our situation, they were not willing to negotiate new terms to our agreement. As a home owner you never want to get behind on your payments, so we continued to make partial payments. The bank continued to accept the partial payments, yet didn’t want to work with us to reassess our situation. â€Å"Discussion does not mean fighting and shouting, instead it is simply the exchange of one’s ideas, thoughts and opinions with each other. One needs to have excellent communication skills for a healthy and an effective discussion. (Role of Communication in Negotiation, 2012)† The bank acted with diplomac y and tactfulness. After speaking with realtors and obtaining consultations from acquaintances, we realized for the bank to take action, we had no choice but to stop paying the mortgage. We knew at that moment that it became a game of the bank vs. the homeowners. The way you communicate varies according the formality of the situation. (Key Aspects of Communication in Negotiation) By making partial payments, the bank was content with us. We were getting further behind, and incurring penalties towards our mortgage. Taking action did get the attention of the other party. The impact of the communication, made the bank realize they needed to have more meaningful conversations with us. We finally were able to alter their perceptions and expectations concerning the situation, relationship and outcome. Through many discussions with the bank, we came to an agreement to attempt to sell the house this way to avoid foreclosure and or a short-sale. The mortgage payments were frozen during this period. We knew we were treading water, since the housing market was at a virtual standstill. After exhausting conversations with the bank, we were at the point where we were going to have to walk away from the house. Our emotions at this point, were wearing thin. This process was taking months, and also taking its toll on our patience with the bank. We wanted to be responsible for our decisions, but we were being forced to make a decision that would hurt our credibility for the future. Our sincerity was our most important personality traits exhibited in this negotiation. We had to show our sincerity for an effective negotiation. We never took the situation casually. In the eleventh hour of negotiations, the bank was willing to refinance with a co-signer. Luckily, our relatives were willing to assist, and were kind enough to co-sign. The bank was very cooperative and we were moving forward in a positive way. Analyzing Personality Failures and distortions in perception, cognition, and communication are the paramount contributors to breakdowns and failures in negotiation (Lewicki−Saunders−Barry, 2005). Negotiators use information to challenge the other party’s position or desired outcomes or to undermine the effectiveness of the other’s negotiating arguments. Even in the simplest negotiation, the parties take a position and then present arguments and facts to support that position. As the homeowners, we argued to gain terms that were within our reach to be able to afford the home and avoid a foreclosure. The bank had a different set of terms, that would stretch our ability to make ends meet, and we had to stand firm with our decision to adhere to our end goal. For us, our personality in this situation varied. At times we were very cooperative, as was the bank. But at times, the bank exhibited an aggressive behavior, and made us think we only had one option to explore. The bank exhibited a power position, to intimidate and instill fear. As homeowners, we were emotionally attached to the home. We knew that we had to remove our emotions, and treat this as a business deal. That was difficult. We were able to neutralize our emotions, and handle the situation in the most professional way. Personalities in such a high-stake situation can get intense. We viewed the bank as goliath and us as David. The bank was responsive, but we found when we got upset and put them under pressure, the bank became uncomfortable and worried about damaging the relationship with us as the customer. Contributions of those Roles to the Outcome Our ability to stand our ground and be vigilant with our information upfront, aided our ability to work with the bank to come to an agreement. To reach this agreement a third party did have to enter the discussions. This third party assisted both sides in reaching a final agreement. The process was a roller coaster; it was also a learning experience for both sides. In the end, we were happy with the final terms. The bank did make some small mistakes throughout the whole process, and due to their mistakes being presenting in writing, had to honor those terms in the paperwork. We were able to avoid a 5-year ARM agreement, and were able to secure a 30 year fixed mortgage at a very low rate, due to their mismanagement of information. The point is to never quit with a bank. As long as they keep coming back with counter offers, you do the same. At some point, you’ll make a deal, and it might be better than you ever expected. Looking back, it is very important to remove your personal emotions from the negotiations. Emotions need to be under control on both sides to achieve a successful end. If you have ever felt like you were stuck in a burning high rise with only one way out at times, we know that if you work with the right people, your chances of success increase with every option you have. Bibliography Key Aspects of Communication in Negotiation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/comm440-540/commfactors.htm (2005). How to Improve Communication in Negotiation. In Lewicki−Saunders−Barry, Negotiation, Fifth Edition (p. 175). The McGraw−Hill. Role of Communication in Negotiation. (2012). Retrieved January 19, 2013, from Management Study Guide: Pave your way to Success: http://www.managementstudyguide.com/role-of-communication-in-negotiation.htm

Poets and Pancakes Essay

Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was one of India’s pioneer movie factories. Situated in the present day Chennai, owned by S.S Vaasan and worked by over 600 staff, the GS made movies for Tamilnadu and other southern Indian states. Pancake[TM] was the makeup material used by the GS. Asokamitran Asokamitran was one of the staff whose job was to collect information such as news events from newspapers and magazines and to paste them in files. The other staff considered his job out of place and most of them thought so high of themselves. Here are some of the interesting staffs of GS. Office Boy Office Boy was a grown up man in the Makeup Department of the GS. He was in charge of the crowd makeup. He applied pancake on their faces with the help of a dipped paint brush. Though his job was quite an easy one, the office boy considered him to be a greatly skilled artist. Subbu Kothamangalam Subbu was another clerk. He was not as educated, as fortunate and as supported by as the Office Boy, yet he reached the top of the GS. He was a man of amazing genius. He was able to direct the directors. He suggested dozens of ways to shoot a certain scene when the director failed to find one. He acted better than the heroes. He wrote incredible poems. Though he was able to write more complicated ones that could raise him to the status of a great poet, Subbu preferred writing them in simple Tamil to enlighten the majority of Tamil people. Besides, he supported his far and near relatives. But he had only enemies everywhere because he was very much close to the boss, Vaasan. Legal Advisor The legal advisor worked in the Story Department. He was a lawyer and provided legal advices to the writers yet he was known as the illegal advisor. The following incident is one reason that gave him that name. Once a shooting was under progress. The heroine, a highly emotional girl, got  angry with the director and producer. While the whole set stood stunned at this, the legal advisor recorded her voice without her permission and made her listen to the playback, thus resulting the end of a rising actress. Poets and writers Gemini Studios had some great poets like Harindranath Chatopadhyaya and a few others. Most of the insignificant poets considered so great of themselves. They had no great talent, no great creativity, no political views yet they assumed the airs of the greatest poets, wasting Vaasan’s money and time. They believed Gandhiji to be the last word of politics and had developed an aversion to Communism. Communism and anti-communism Communism was a new political order that was spreading throughout the world, especially in Asian countries. Communism preached equality of people and abolition of poverty and class divisions while it discouraged private ownership. But Communism won a negative impression due the Capitalist countries such as America. MRA MRA or Moral Rearmament Army was an international team of actors and actresses that spread anti communist feelings throughout the world. The MRA came to Chennai and saw how influential was Gemini Studios in the south of India. The team got permission from Vaasan to stage their plays. Vaasan was only happy to give them permission because he hoped that his staff would get inspiration from the international team. But little did Vaasan know of their intentions. MRA staged their plays with hidden anticommunist messages and went away and it was yet after some time that Vaasan realized that he had been fooled. Stephen Spender Why should Vaasan be fooled if an organization spread anti communist messages in Chennai? It appears that Vaasan himself was a Communist! Or, he too had an experience of a disillusioned abandoning of Communism. The author has not given us a hint about this and therefore we have to different opinions: Crisis Vasan as a Communist: If so, Vasan felt terribly bad for being played into the hands of the MRA that left a deep anticommunist impression upon his staff. He therefore decided to bring back the Communist atmosphere in his studio and for this he invited a communist poet to deliver a speech on how great Communism was. Vasan as an anticommunist: If SS Vasan was an anticommunist, he was the one who invited the MRA to the Gemini Studios. Later, when he saw that MRA had successfully spread anticommunism among his staff, he wanted to strengthen the new notions in them by inviting another anticommunist and therefore he invited Spender. Spender’s Speech Anyway, Stephen Spender, who was once a prominent communist editor and poet from England, came to the studio and gave his speech. His lecture was about Communism on one side and about his struggles to establish as a poet on the other. Whatever he spoke was great, hot, exciting and inspiring, but what use, his accent was such terrible one that none of the Gemini staff could clearly understand what Spender had spoken. They fell into shame for not being able to understand the poet and wished not to meet him again. Asokamitran’s meeting Spender-1 The lesson ends with two incidents in which Asokamitran, our author, met Spender; not face to face, but in two different ways. While attempting to send his short story to England to participate in a contest, Asokamitran happened to read The Encounter, a magazine that had Stephen Soender as its editor. On another occasion he happened to read the book, the God that Failed, an article of which was written by Spender. Questions & Answers How was Gemini Studios connected to Robert Clive? The connection the GS had with Robert Clive was that its Make-up Department  was built on the upstairs of Clive’s stables. What was the fiery misery inside the make-up department of the Studios? The makeup room had a lot of hot bulbs always burning inside and a number of mirrors to reflect the heat. Madras, being a hot city and no cooling at that time at the studio, it was a real misery inside the makeup room. All this shows that there was a great deal of national integration long before A.I.R. and Doordarshan began broadcasting programs on national integration. Explain. The heads and the subordinates of the make-up department were from various parts of India. There was no preference to any state or language or religion. Anyone could be the head. Once there was a Bengali as the head of this department. He was succeeded by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the local Tamils. Who was the office boy? What was his duty in the make-up department? How did he appreciate himself and his profession? The office boy was a forty year old man who worked at the lowest rank among the makeup artists at the Gemini Studios. His duty was to apply makeup for the crowd-players for shooting. As his work required no skill and that he was not satisfied with his designation and the kind of work, the ‘Boy’ remained unsatisfied and criticized everyone he was jealous. How was the author’s job odd in the eyes of the other staff? How did they respond to this? Asokamitran’s job at the Gemini Studios was to collect information from newspapers and magazines and to paste the cuttings in files for reference. This was probably the only work odd in the Gemini Studios while every other staff was some sort of an artist. They therefore advised the author to do some better jobs other than wasting his time cutting papers in a department similar to a barber shop. Why did the author pray for crowd shooting? Like many of the other staff who believed that Asokamitran was doing next to nothing in the Gemini Studios the Office Boy too used to advise him for hours. When the author was tired of his unending epics, he used to pray for a crowd shooting to which the Office Boy assigned. Who was Kothamangalam Subbu? How did he make all the other staff hate him? Kothamangalam Subbu joined the Gemini Studios as a clerk and remained the same in the records. But in practice he soon acquired the status of the No.2 at the studios thanks to his amazing genius and multifaceted skills. He did any work for  his boss and ignored the rest above him. This made him envied and hated by the rest of the staff. Discuss Subbu’s identity as a poet. Why was he not known as a poet? Apart from being an amazing director of movies, Subbu had the identity as a poet. The world of his time and later never recognized Subbu as a poet yet he was a great unknown poet. He wrote poem in the simplest Tamil language and was able to recreate the classical poems in his own style. Subbu excelled as an actor too. Discuss. Subbu was a good actor. He was able to act better than the lead actors yet never wished to take any lead roles in any movie. In spite of all the good qualities and readiness to be a host any time, Subbu had only enemies. Why? Subbu was good to everyone he came by, spoke in his niceness, fed his relatives, excelled everyone in the Gemini Studios but was hated by most of them just because he was so close to the boss of the studios. Being a clerk in the attendance register he was above all and above all the departments. Those who bore designations above Subbu felt it intolerable to obey him. How did the legal advisor behave illegally in the instance of the actress. The legal advisor was, of course, an advocate, yet was known as an illegal advisor. Once he recorded the voice of an actress who shouted at the producer and director while in the shooting sets. The legal advisor’s behavior turned out to be illegal because he did it without the actress’ permission. In what context did Congress rule mean Prohibition and how was it for the staff of Gemini Studios meeting over a cup of coffee a rather satisfying entertainment? Congress being the ruling party, made the public’s life horrible by imposing curfew and emergency in the initial years of Independent India. Citizens were not allowed to gather and hold meetings. While the whole of the nations struggled under emergencies, the six hundred Gemini staff enjoyed freedom inside the studios as their freedom was not restricted. How did Subbu surpass the office boy despite his limitations? The office boy in the makeup department was always ahead of Subbu in the beginning, especially in education, having influential people to support. But he ended up where he began while Subbu ascended the steps to the maximum height and surpassed the Boy. The staff of the Gemini Studios attributed Subbu’s success to his being a Brahmin. Why? Most of the staff of the Gemini studios was unhappy with Subbu. His amazing influence on the Boss and the  consequent privileges he enjoyed made them feel jealous of him. So, instead of accepting his talents, they consoled themselves by attributing his fortunes to be a Brahmin. What is Communism? What ideas about the communism gathered popularity in India? Communism is a political order that believes in the equality of citizens and abolition of private ownership. The state or nation is the owner and caretaker of each citizen. Citizen’s welfare is nation’s prime concern. It sometimes resorts to armed revolution to establish social and political equality. What was MRA? Why did it tour the world? MRA, short for Moral Rearmament Army was an anti-Communist organization that toured the world informing the world of the evil side of Communism that was spreading throughout Asia and some parts of Europe. Headed by Frank Buchman, the MRA believed that Communism was evil and it would wipe out democracy in the world. How did the MRA spread its anti Communist ideas in South India? Moral Rearmament Army believed that Communism was evil and therefore wanted to wipe it out of the world. This group of 200 men and women from twenty different nations spread anti communist messages with the help of their stage performances such as dramas. How was Vasan played into the hands of the MRA? There is no clear indication that Vasan, the owner of the Gemini Studios, was a Communist or not yet there are very clear hints that he was a prominent Communist of Chennai. The MRA spread its anti-Communist messages through their stage programs and made the poets and writers of the South India hate Communism which was a great achievement. Vasan, who knew nothing of their intentions, was indeed fooled by MRA at his cost. Why was Stephen Spender invited to the Gemini Studios? Who wanted him there? Stephen Spender was a great poet with Communist inclinations. SS Vasan, the owner of the Gemini Studios, wanted Spender give a speech on the greatness of Communism to his staff. Spender’s Speech was a shock for him and a matter of utter shame for the literati of the Gemini Studios. Explain. Stephen Spender was specially invited to the Gemini Studios to enlighten the staff there with communist ideas. When Spender began his speech he was amazed to see the way he was being listened to. But soon, when he realized that his audience didn’t  follow him the least due to his accent, Spender’s amazement turned to utter shock and embarrassment and he stopped his speech in the middle. How are poets and prose writers different according to Asokamitran? What personal experience makes him say that? Asokamitran says poems can be written by any genius while prose writing is the true pursuit of a really determined person who has suffered a lot of rejections and is ready for any further disappointments with more perseverance to pursue his mission of writing a long prose. Spender’s Speech was a shock for him and a matter of utter shame for the literati of the Gemini Studios? Stephen Spender was called to the Gemini Studios to talk to the staff there about Communism but what he spoke was of his struggles as a poet. Whatever he spoke, his talk was not followed by practically an yone. When Spender realized that his audience didn’t follow his talk, he stopped in utter shame to have made a talk to a deaf audience while the Gemini staff got dispersed in great humiliation because Spender’s accent failed them. How are poets and prose writers different according to Asokamitran? What personal experience makes him say that? Asokamitran believes in the qualitative difference between prose writers and poem writers. A poem can be written in no time if the poet is a genius while prose such as a novel can be written by a person who has a lot of patience and perseverance. The prose writer’s mind should be so shrunken that no rejection can disappoint him but he will be encouraged from failures and rejections. How did the magazine ‘The Encounter’ become important in Asokamitran’s life? The Encounter was a British Communist magazine. When Stephen Spender was its editor, this magazine organized a short story competition for writers from all over the world. How does the book, ‘The God That Failed’ deserve its title? OR Justify the title, ‘The God That Failed.’ The ‘God That Failed’ was written by six eminent writers who were attracted to Communism and abandoned it because they hated it later on. Communism was in its beginning, a God because it stood for equality and removal of class systems and poverty. While the Gods or incarnations before it achieved their goals, Communism failed in attaining its goals as it was a failure in itself. What made Asokamitran hope Stephen Spender too would be singing the same song at the same time when he sealed the envelop of his manuscript? Asokamitran had been struggling to establish as a writer when he came across the magazine, The Encounter. When he saw that the editor of The Encounter  was Stephen Spender, the same poet who came to Gemini Studios and talked about his struggles to become a poet, Asokamitran felt as if he had found a long lost brother. ‘In a moment I felt a dark chamber of my mind lit up by a hazy illumination.’ What was the dark chamber? What did light up the darkness? Due to Spender’s British accent the normally educated staff like could not understand his speech and therefore his speech remained an unsolved mystery for the staff including Asokamitran. This mystery was the dark chamber of his mind. When Asokamitran saw that Spender was the editor of The Encounter, he understood that Spender’s speech was all about stories and poems and suddenly he related this to his speech he made years ago the Gemini Studios. The Boss of the Gemini Studios may not have much to do with Spender’s poetry. But not with his god that failed.’ Explain. Stephen Spender was invited to the Gemini Studios to enlighten the staff with great ideals of Communism but what Spender spoke was about his thrills and struggles to establish himself as a poet. The bosses of the studio like S. S. Vasan were interested in Spender as a Communist, not as a poet. How did MRA impress the staff of Gemini Studios and the Tamil drama community? Taking a careful reading, one sees the tremendous struggle that Asokamitran underwent to surface as a writer par excellence. Discuss. For Asokamitran training himself as a writer was passion. He had a nickname, barber, when he was working at Gemini Studios because he did a lot of cutting newspaper clips and magazine as he was a news record keeper. Even though he was laughed at by the rest of the staff and was advised by some to seek a profession that fitted him, Asokamitran had a drudge that nothing could weaken – he was determined to rise in the world of people of his kind: writers. Among those members of the Gemini staff who was embarrassed and confused at Stephen Spender’s lost speech was there none as embarrassed and confused as Asokamitran. It was all because of his literary ambitions that he was able to know more about Spender and his literary traits and political views as well as the unknown communist inclinations of the boss of one of India’s foremost movie factories. Asokamitran’s language that we read in the extract, Poets and Pancakes, is amazing as an India author is concerned and there is no doubt that he acquired it as part of his quest for perfection as a writer. He quite poignantly narrates his participating in a short story contest organized by the Encounter for which he spent considerable time and money. On reading the name of the editor, Stephen Spender, he feels like getting his lost brother back.

Cultural identity of european americans in the southwest Essay

Cultural identity of european americans in the southwest - Essay Example Cultural identity refers to the background of a person. In this case, originality of the person plays a very big role in defining the culture of this person. It is defined by various foundation factors in the life of a person such as language, religion, the food they eat. Culture also encompasses beliefs and moral values, traditions and laws that define a given community, country or a given group in a given area. Cultural diversity may also be very varied in a region with high levels of immigration or emigration. Cultural diversity may also be very varied in a region with high levels of immigration or emigration. This paper seeks to discuss the cultural identity of a European American male in the southwest and how this identity affects the personal and professional aspect of this person. In light of the same, the discussion will address how a European American defines culture in the broader perspective where race, ethnicity, heritage, history, family and environment are concerned, as well as how these aspects affect the professional behaviors and attitudes. Definition of Aspects of Culture In View Of a European American Race and Environment The development of the Euro-American identity is related to the prior development of interaction between this European race and the settled areas. The identities that were adapted were based on an already adapted society in the southwest. The identity of this race took several other forms as opposed to the single and uniform race that defines other races like the blacks (Kirk, 2007). It was alright to refer to them as white Americans, Caucasian Americans and their common region of habitation is the Anglo-American region (actually the South Western region). The South West is a multi-racial, multi-cultural community and therefore has a very wide collection of people. The Euro-Americans came from all over Europe and in meeting the other races from different parts of the world there has always been a bias in the social co-ordina tion of issues. Given that all the Euro-Americans were white, there was a serious bias when it came to co-operation with the other races. For instance, there was a race riot in 1919 in Chicago which was believed to have been initiated by Irish Americans on the black community. The Ragen Colts, a gang that existed in Chicago at the time tirelessly planned blackmails to try and draw the attention of all the white community against the blacks. In essence, the most important set of elements that exists between these interfaces are coiled towards bringing the idea of isolation of other races by the Euro-Americans. The definition of race as a part of culture by the Euro-Americans is therefore based on several aspects of socialization. According to Smith (2007), the whites, more so the Euro-Americans get socialized into an already polluted society and therefore inherit stereotypes, behaviors and beliefs of the extended society. There is also a belief that racism is normal and much integrat ed into the society permeating all across our sociological institutions (Eschbach & Gomez, 1998). In fact, the creation of an individual in this society is based on the existing sequences which are believed to exist in both permeated and non-permeated sets of societies. The conclusive remarks on the identity of the whites on racial issues are based on the idea of having an identity based on racial issues but living purely in a non-racial formation in the same society. Wozab (2010) redefines the general view that race as defined by the Helm’s model depicts these Euro-American whites as being of some kind of superior identity. The different identities are engulfed in the type of environment developed during the development of young children in that society. The family, schools, the social media and the church form an

Media relations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Media relations - Assignment Example Families and children are matched in a bid to establish the very best family for every child. The volunteer couples are expected to donate their time and emotions for the children. Every volunteer couple will perform the duty of parents in the Virtual Family Program, and pay frequent visits on a weekly basis to their proposed child for his care and emotional fulfillment. After the completion of nine months of frequent visits, the couple will be eligible to take the child for any recreational visit they like for mutual acquaintance. The objective is to make sure a successful experience for both the child and the family. The Virtual Program will offer a social incubator to create usual and cultured members of community. The volunteer’s couples adopt the child if he accepts them as parents. Consequently, to become the adoptive parent they will have to fulfill the psychiatrist. Thus, the adoptive children may continue their stay at the Sweet Home Orphanage as long as they desire. the first interview session will be carried out May 21, 2013 between 09:00 hours to 15: 00 hrs at Hotel Stanford, 43 West 32nd Street, New York City, NY 10001. Those volunteer couples who are interested can Email info@shorphanage.org, Telephone: Toll Free (800) 365-7779 for further inquiry. We welcome the opportunity to respond to your questions, and offer more

Basketball Jump Shot Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Basketball Jump Shot - Research Paper Example ir teams practice and play, the coaches develop certain skills over time that can be employed to achieve great success especially if complimented by knowledge derived from biomechanics (Hanes & Bauer, 2006). A jump shot may be said to be a high arching, softly rotating toss where the basketball player releases the ball right or slightly at the apex of his/her jump. While some coaches believe that shooters are born Hanes & Bauer (2006) point out that shooting is also a skill that can be taught to the athlete. For instance, in order to achieve a good jump shot, the athlete will need to apply good velocity to the ball. The velocity will steer the ball horizontally as well as vertical to the target. Biomechanics suggest that the athlete should square up to the basket and jump in a vertical manner before releasing the ball. This is best achieved when a player is doing a â€Å"drive† since the speed of the player will help in achieving velocity for the ball. However, speed may at times be counterproductive since it might affect the stability of the player. It is therefore necessary to establish equilibrium to ensure that optimal speed is achieved while stability is not compromised. The athlete should have a good base of support as this will ensure accuracy of the shot. Different basket ball players have different shooting techniques. For instance, some will concentrate on the backspin while others are more conscious of the balance. Regardless of one’s shooting technique, there are some salient components of shooting that need to be incorporated for optimal performance (Kelley, 2003). The very first important facet is the leg base. Kelley (2003) advises that a consistent exercise involving stretching and lifting of the muscles should be maintained. This exercise will help in providing the muscles with needed force for lifting up over the rim. The other component is squaring up. As Kelley (2003) observes, the athlete’s shoulders and the feet should always be in

The Hartford Civic Center Collapse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Hartford Civic Center Collapse - Essay Example He has to explore all these options to ensure that he develops the best software solution with minimal costs. After the software has been designed, the engineer then puts it to testing to ensure that it solves the problem. In addition the engineer also engages in maintenance and monitoring of the software to ensure that it meets the set goals. Engineers also iterate by going back to previous steps in designing new software to ensure that the new design meets the requirement for creating a software solution to a problem. Prototyping is an important stage in the development of a new software solution. At this stage the engineer is able to test the workability of the abstract design through by experiment. By testing the prototype the engineer can be able to identify areas where the new design needs modification or whether it is a workable solution. Analyses of designs and computer software have been identified as one of the ways of enhancing the robustness and reliability of a design. For the design to be verified there must be a formal description of the design at all stages. This description acts as the blueprint for development and is very crucial during verification. Verification is important as not just as way of ensuring the correctness of the system but as one of the way of understanding the working of the system. Verification can be provided as mathematical proof or through the use of natural language. Although the proof maybe informal, it should be structured in such a way that it is readable and comprehensible to other people other than the engineer. Three methods are used for this purpose. They include verification, calibration and validation. Calibration is made through the adjustment of various calibrations being used there by adjusting how the model is used as a simulation of the process. Verification is achieved by comparing the output data with the data that is expected from the input. The information is the verified by

CIO Case Analysis Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

CIO Case Analysis - Article Example Comprehensive IT/IRM frameworks ensure that the CIO has the responsibility of discerning development projects that align to the core business strategies of the agency and ensures IT investment on projects that provide the most positive impacts on the society. This work analyzes current and recommended governance approach of Federal CIO; and how the CIO should lead or manage IRM to meet the IT needs of the federal agencies. In his endeavors to ensuring strategic development, Federal CIO has a duty to ensure an efficient Federal IT Workforce (Federal CIO Roadmap, 2012). Federal CIO has the responsibility of assessing the Information Resource Management skills required for agency IT personnel. He has the responsibility of identifying, evaluating and rectifying deficiencies that may hinder the agency from meeting its strategic goals and business objectives. The federal CIO further has the duty of placing specific plans for hiring IT staff, training the IT workforce and ensuring the perso nnel of Information Technology Department have the requisite professional training. There are particularly emphases on providing regular appraisals and trainings on new concepts that develop every single day in IT (Federal CIO Roadmap, 2012). ... agency, through the CIO, has the core responsibility of signing qualifies project managers for all its projects and document and examine the qualifications of the project managers. Federal CIO Improvement of IT and IT Services through Enterprise Architecture Federal Laws and regulations have sections that guide Chief Executive Officers in their operations. The law directs Federal Laws direct federal CIOs to develop Enterprise Architectures (EAs) as blueprints for modernization of IT in support for maintaining agency missions (Federal CIO Roadmap, 2012). Agency develops and maintains Enterprise Architecture as a means of ensuring there is Performance Improvement Lifecycle (PIL) (Federal CIO Roadmap, 2012). The Performance Improvement Lifecycle has three distinct phases; Architect phase Invest phase and Implementation phase. This is linked to the agency’s development and budget submission process. Every September, the OMB issues Federal Enterprise Architecture guidance. The guid ance consists Enterprise Architecture Assessment framework for the fiscal year in question and any cross-agency initiatives. Upon receiving the Federal Enterprise Architecture guideline, an agency develops its own EA blueprint. The CIO works together with businesses within the agency sector to segment Enterprise Architecture in a bid to ensure the agency missions reach the grass roots and are met fully. In March every year, the federal government conducts an assessment that provides an immediate feedback on the performance of all the federal agencies. The CIO has the responsibility of fully cooperating with the assessors to ensure there is clear understanding the extent of success of the EA and Segment Architectures. An agency then uses the EA to inform and guide its capital investment

Industry Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Industry Analysis - Essay Example and retail companies from the US, such as The Cheesecake Factory, Cold Stone Creamery, and WokNRoll so it is clear that Kuwait accepts US retail experiences with open arms. A one area lacking in the Kuwaiti food industry is a specialty grocery sector. The good news for Whole Foods is that the food labeling standards are more relaxed in Kuwait than in the US. Moreover, many cultural events in Kuwait involve food at any social occasion, and this could be the reason obesity is increasing rapidly in the country. Introducing Whole Foods in their diet will minimize fast foods that lead to obesity. In Kuwait, cupcakes are sugary foodstuffs that most young adults make, sell, and start a business from, which contributes to the high obesity in Kuwait. People of Kuwait treasure good health that is why they seek solutions like therapists and exercise to avert the obesity conditions. This will offer the organic food a chance in the market since it is inherently healthy without obesity effects. Globalization is taking place in many different areas; the growth and spread of information media are seen to be part of the culture of globalization. Despite the growth of globalization, the Kuwaiti national identity remains

Developed and emerging markets firm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Developed and emerging markets firm - Essay Example To date, emerging markets have become the greatest global growth driver. This has given rise to a debate concerning why one has to invest in the emerging markets. There are many reasons that can make an investor to consider investing in these regions. This paper explores the reasons for developed and emerging market firms investing in each other’s home regions. The paper also explains why reasons of these kind and entry strategy availability differed for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in emerging and developed economies. An investor may invest in an emerging market in order to invest in a region that has displayed some considerable growth currently and in the future. These countries have a future that is foreseeable. Research done by the international monetary fund reported that the emerging economies have a two to three chance of growing faster than the countries that are developed. Such a narrative growth is extremely vital for investors that may fail to be clued on the bul l trends of the prominent Wall Street. In many cases, corporate profits are observed to be growing at a rate that is fast whenever the economic growth of a country or region is high. For example, US companies have increased their profit margin in the last twelve months due to the growing non-US markets. Besides this, some public investors have still considered emerging markets as underweight especially in their portfolios. Additionally, the emerging economies provides increased diversification as they appear to perform differently than the markets that are developed. This is a significant benefit towards an investor. Emerging markets are also considered as markets that have succeeded in decoupling of the long term and biggest West mature economies woes. For example, the Market Stanley index is an emerging market that consist of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Egypt, Israel, Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, India, Korea, Jordan, Mexico, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Pakistan, Polan d, Russia, Taiwan, Venezuela, Thailand, South Africa, and Turkey (McAllister, 2006). In comparison to West countries, a number of emerging markets are normally well resourced, have a work force that is young and balance sheets that are strong. For example, India and China together have a population that is approximately three times that of the entire world. In this respect, markets that are emerging do represent about eighty six percent of the population of the world, seventy five percent of the landmass of the world, and about fifty percent of the growth domestic product of the world. In many cases, emerging markets, are displayed in different forms and sizes. In this respect, there are minimal similarities between the structures of finance and the returns drives on investments. For instance, financial systems and a highly developed economy like South Korea and the frontier markets have limited similarities. On the other hand, in emerging markets, the GDP per capita is normally hig her than in the poorer developed countries. For instance, Taiwan and Korea have a per capita of about $22,000, which is a high ratio margin compared to a number of European countries (McAllister, 2006). However, some emerging markets have extremely low ratios like India. India has a GDP of about $ 1500. The countries of the frontier are considered to be extreme. Countries like Qatar and Kuwait states of oil are the wealthiest countries in

Letter of Advice Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Letter of Advice - Research Paper Example This love evolves, grows and matures with the passing years. Feelings and experience in the initial phases may be revisited later in life but in a different and quite possibly, mature manner. But the consistency in feelings and love over the years and decades, though in different facets, is more than worth gold’s exchange rate (Chapman, 2010). Also, what keeps the understanding and mutual love ablaze is friendship. A spark in the fire is what romance acts like in relationship, leading to intimacy when aroused and smothered when not fed up properly. Friendship, on the contrary, is like a warm bed of coal that keeps affection as a constant. Sacrifice is vital, but not the only factor to live with. Too much of it would lead to unhappiness for both of you. Cooperation in helping achieve each other’s dream is the best way to survive. This is because being human requires striking a balance with all sorts of needs (Puhn, 2010). What has inspired me the most, I would thoroughly like to share it with you. Although the experience and evolution is a continuous affair, but what I would like to share with you will hopefully make you rethink and go over your ties with each again and again, just like every one in that session felt. Â  The most frustrating fraction of any communication is the fact that people, heavily including me too, fail to understand the simplest of phenomenon that we all are different. Yet we complain, ‘why people get so difficult to communicate with?’ From our feelings, priorities, emotions, goals and ambitions to the minutest division of our being, the gene, is remarkably distinguishing from every one else. Truly this corner of our persona is usually is the roughest and difficult to deal with since it is mostly out of control (Hogan, Stubbs, 2003). The barrier most difficult to surpass and deal with is the emotional barrier. What influences

Validity of CBTIs Essay Example for Free

Validity of CBTIs Essay Opinions regarding the trustworthiness of CBTIs vary considerably. On one extreme are those who argue that the practitioner can have a great deal of confidence in most commercially available test scoring and interpretation programs, since the testing industry usually maintains high standards for computerized assessment. At the other extreme are those who argue that for many programs there are few, if any, published reports of empirically demonstrated validity. Obviously, the validity of any CBTI system depends on the validity of the test for which it is developed: Discussion of this constraint imposed by the general status of psychological assessment lies beyond the scope of this article. Assuming validity of the measure itself, the validity of the CBTI depends on how closely the developer of the system conforms to actuarial findings for the instrument. A CBTI system is actuarial only if its interpretive output is wholly determined by statistical rules linking test scores to non test criteria. In reality, even the best CBTI systems are not fully actuarial, and many present no evidence of relying on actuarial findings to any extent. Moreland lamented that many CBTI systems are developed by individuals with no special qualifications who have never published a scholarly article on either the test in question or on the CBTI. (Forgionne 2005) Scholar noted several factors limiting validity of CBTIs. Among these are (a) unreliability of measures (including both the test itself as well as non test criteria on which test narratives may be based), (b) unwillingness to permit unclassified cases in situations of insufficient or ambiguous data, (c) inadequate attention to base rates and poorly analyzed cutting scores, (d) prediction of non test behaviors beyond those warranted by specific test findings, and (e) generalization across testing situations and populations without regard for potential moderators. Additional sources of error in CBTIs include miscommunication between the interpretation author and the programmer, as well as errors in the automated-interpretive algorithm itself. It bears noting that, with the exception of programming errors, these same shortcomings plague clinician-generated reports to an equal or greater degree. Thus, potential threats to the validity of CBTIs noted here should not be interpreted as favoring non computerized reports. Identifying potential sources of error in a CBTI system remains difficult. Consumers would be better positioned to evaluate specific components of CBTIs if interpretive rules were made available, although these are rarely presented because of proprietary concerns of the developers. Often only portions of CBTI systems have been validated. for example, restricted samples used in validity studies may activate only a subset of narrative statements in the interpretive library. Moreover, CBTIs are often rated for accuracy at the global level. rarely have discrete elements at the sentence or even paragraph level been examined empirically In addition, most CBTIs are closed systems that preclude the user from modifying or replacing either the decision rules or corresponding interpretations for specific components based on local norms, characteristics of the respondent known to moderate test-criterion relationships, or other considerations. Specific strategies for examining the validity of CBTIs vary but generally can be grouped into three approaches ranging from least to most restrictive: (a) customer satisfaction studies, (b) expert opinion modeling, and (c) external criterion studies. (Steiger 1998) Customer Satisfaction Studies In customer satisfaction studies, consumers rate one or more elements of the CBTI (eg, single ratings of the overall report vs. multiple ratings of discrete narrative elements) along one or more dimensions (eg, accuracy, clarity, internal consistency, omission of relevant information, and inclusion of trivial or misleading information). Because such studies do not rely on independent criterion data regarding the test respondent and therefore are less difficult and less costly to conduct, customer satisfaction studies of CBTI validity are more common than other types of CBTI validity research (although even customer satisfaction studies are infrequent relative to the number of commercial CBTI systems available). Several methodological considerations germane to CBTI customer satisfaction studies, among these were the need for (a) a relatively large, representative sample of users or potential users of that interpretive system. (b) Adequate sampling of test respondents both with respect to common socio demographic moderators, as well as the behavioral domains addressed by the test. And (c) specific ratings of discrete narrative elements along multiple dimensions such as those noted above. Even more critical than these are the need in customer satisfaction studies to control for various rater response sets, Considerable attention has been given in the literature to the impact of global, non differentiating descriptors or Barnum statements on ratings of perceived accuracy. As noted, various studies have shown that consumers assign greater accuracy to narratives with a higher saturation of nonspecific statements, particularly when these descriptions are attributed to persons of authority or expertise. Given this tendency, findings from the international study of computer-based MMPI-2 reports might be regarded as less than compelling, a limitation also suggested. (Martinsons 1999)

Communication skills are vital within a nurses role

Communication skills are vital within a nurses role Communication is natural to most people. We learn to communicate from birth and it is something that most people do without being aware of it. Communication is simply the name for expressing, sharing and understanding information. To examine a model of communication, for example, Shannon and Weavers model of communication (Brooker and Waugh, 2007) there are three components to successful communication. The first part is the sender. This is the source of the information which is to be shared. It could be a person talking, a radio or a newspaper or book. The next part of the model is the message. This is the information itself. It could be words spoken by the person or words from the book or newspaper. The last stage is the receiver. This is the person who is receiving the message. That would be the person listening to the words of another, the person hearing the radio or the person reading the book or newspaper. Communication can be separated into two categories, verbal communication and non-verbal communication. Knapp et al (2010) defines Non-verbal communication as communication without the use of words. Non- verbal communication can include body language, touch and gesture. Non-verbal communication can be more influential than verbal communication (Argyle, 1988 cited in Chambers, 2003) Verbal communication is achieved through the use of spoken or written language. Scammell (1990) states that its purpose include: to instruct, to teach, to educate, to express feelings and emotions, to help or seek help. Although there are two separate categories, both are used together in everyday life by most people without thinking. In this explanation, communication sounds very straight forward but the barriers to communication can be very complex, this is especially relevant in people who have had a stroke as will be explored later in this text. The nurse has a vital role in caring for the patient who has had a stroke. It is within the nurses role to assess, plan, implement and evaluate a personalised care plan for the patient (Brooker Nicol 2003 cited in Brooker and Waugh, 2007). Although the nurse will be assessing the patient holistically, they must also ensure they realise the importance of communication in the patients recovery. It is fundamental the nurse understands and expects the communication problems that the patient may encounter. It is also essential that the nurse can communicate effectively with other members of the multi disciplinary team to ensure that patient receives high quality evidence based care. The nurse must also communicate well with the relatives of the patient as they may not fully understand what to expect in the recovery process (Glass Maddox 1992). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) have clear guidelines on the responsibility of the nurse to communicate effectively with patients in their care. The nurse has a duty of care to meet the patients communication and language needs. The nurse should use evidence based practice and research to decipher effective communication strategies for each patient, trying to get to know the patient as an individual and documenting successful communication techniques. The nurse may also refer to the patients relatives to gain knowledge of communication strategies which work already. The nurse must have a sound knowledge of the pathophysiology of a stroke to understand how to communicate; this is explored in the next paragraph. Firstly, to understand the communication problems that a patient who has suffered a stroke encounters, how a stroke manifests must be understood. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, 15 million people will have a stroke on an annual basis (WHO, 2004 cited in Ross, 2009) the correct medical terminology for a stroke is a cerebral vascular accident (CVA). A stroke usually happens when an artery within the brain becomes blocked thus leading to the death of cells which have had their blood supply cut off (Chang et al, 2006a). The term for cell death, in this way, is infarction. Another reason for a stroke is when there is a haemorrhage within the brain, or an artery bursts also resulting in cell death. If the blood supply is cut off then the cells dies and this can cause serious damage to important areas of the brain (Chang et al, 2006b). Different areas of the brain control different aspects of the body and depending on where the stroke has taken place can affect how the patient recovers. The patient who has suffered a stroke may have very serious communication difficulties after the stroke. For most people, the language centre of the brain is in the left hemisphere, although a small amount of left handed people may have their language centre on the right hemisphere. If the stroke happens within this area and there is damage then the person can suffer language problems (Horton, 2001). This is called Aphasia. Aphasia can prove to be a very complex barrier in communication. Aphasia can alter the way they communicate, from speaking and pronouncing words, having correct grammar to understanding words (Bannister, 1992 cited in Clarkson, 2010). Aphasia can also disrupt the patients ability to write and read. When a patient suffers a stroke they may be left with aphasia. The patient may not be able to adequately understand language or express language (Clarkson, 2010). A patient with a stroke can be left unable to even recognise simple words or instructions. This can be very infuriating for the patient as they may not be able to express their needs or preferences. The nurse may also find it hard to assess what the patients needs are which could effectively slow recovery. Communication strategies are essential in the plan of care for the patient who has had a stroke, as will be discussed in the next paragraph. There are many communication strategies which have been implemented within a clinical setting to overcome barriers in communication. The nurse must strive to increase the patients confidence when communicating ensuring that the patient has opportunity to make decisions about their care. Alternative and Augmentative communication systems can be put in place to assist with communication (Glennen DeCoste, 1996a). One of these methods is the use of picture cards. Picture cards are used to give the patient the opportunity to express a fundamental need (Speakability.org.uk, 2010). These picture cards can be of varying size but are usually about A4 size. They contain pictures of basic items and usually a phrase accompanying the item, e.g. a pair of spectacles and a phrase stating I need my glasses. The cards are accessible to the patient so it means that they can express needs without speaking. The nurse can quickly decipher what the patient needs and can deliver the care quickly and effectively. Although picture cards may be effective, they can be reinforced by gesture or mime. The patient may use a cup to signal the fact that they are thirsty. This could also be reversed with the nurse holding the cup to ask the patient if they are thirsty. The use of a medical passport has also become more common within clinical area. This consists of a booklet which is usually passport size, which is full of pictures and phrases, like the picture cards (Speakability.org.uk, 2010). This may have pictures of things like a clock and the phrase How long will I have to wait? This means the patient can maintain control over their healthcare and also be more involved in decisions and treatment options. The picture cards and the medical passport are a non-verbal way of the patient communicating wit h the nurse or even family members (Glennen and DeCoste, 1996b). However in order to obtain these responses from the patient, the nurse may have to use a different communication strategy such as questioning. Referring back to the communication model from earlier, the nurse must understand that although it seems very straight forward, it is altered completely in a stroke patient. The patient may be trying to send a message but be unable to find the correct words or grammar to express themselves (Clarkson, 2010). The patient may also have difficulty understanding the message so although the words are correct, they may be unrecognisable to a stroke patient. The nurse could use a verbal form of communication to encourage the patient to, for example, use the picture cards or medical passport. The nurse could use questioning as a tool to assess needs and deliver appropriate care. The nurse must assess the type of questioning needed in certain situations, e.g. if there is important information needed quickly then the nurse could use closed questions to ascertain a yes or no response. Closed questioning may also be useful in stroke patients as an open question may be difficult to answer because of the aphasia. It is important to add that sometimes people with aphasia can say yes when they mean no and vice versa (Clarkson, 2010) so the nurse could summarize what the patient wants, by repeating back to them verbally, just to clarify the correct information has been communicated. The nurse must communicate with clarity, avoiding medical jargon or eloquent grammar, using clear and concise language which is not too complex. Nurses are often seen by the patient as their link to understanding the medical jargon which doctors may use (Castledine, 2002). When relaying information, the nurse must simplify the language so that the patient has a better understanding of the definition, this is especially relevant to patients who have had a stroke due to nature of this condition. Simple language may even be difficult for the patient to understand, so the nurse must relay the information in a simple format, always clarifying that the patient has understood what is being said. In conclusion, this essay has explained the importance of the nurse understanding what communication actually is and why it is relevant in patients who have had a stroke. This text has explored how a stroke manifests and what barriers a stroke patient may encounter when trying to communicate. In summary, it is evident that there are many different ways to communicate with a patient who has had a stroke but it is the nurses responsibility to ensure that they research and build rapport with the individual patient to effectively communicate in the easiest manner. The nurse has legal obligations to meet communication and language needs of the patient. This essay explored two specific strategies used in communicating with patients with aphasia. This essay concludes that communication barriers can be complex and the nurse must ensure that care is delivered in a person-centered, individual, holistic basis. Word Count: 1921 .

Critical Thinking Paper Abortion Philosophy Essay

Critical Thinking Paper Abortion Philosophy Essay It is undeniable that abortion is one of the most controversial topics. As is always the case, there are two sides to such a provocative topic. One is for free will and the ability to choose to have an abortion; the other is pro life and against abortion. However, very few advocates for either side truly know what is involved in the abortion process, but still do their best to oversimplify the issue at hand anyway. What exactly is abortion, then? By dictionary definition, abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. However, todays society would define it as getting rid of a mistake. An analysis of abortion reveals that there is more than meets the eye and only those who fully understand the process and consequences make decisions concerning abortion. The history of abortion is an extensive one. Although one of the most famous tide-turning legal cases for abortion was in 1973, abortion can be traced back even further than the 19th century. In fact, in Ancient Greece in 400 B.C., the Oath of Hippocrates stated that I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath. . . I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion (Facts About Abortion: Ancient Abortion History). Basically, any who swore by this oath realized the belief that abortion was harmful and would endeavor to aid the abortion process in any way. Around the same t ime period, Socrates also mentioned abortion in his books. His view, however, was opposite of Hippocrates. Socrates believed that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a man may not marry his daughter or his daughters daughter, or his mother or his mothers mother; and women, on the other hand, are prohibited from marrying their sons or fathers, or sons son or fathers father, and so on in either direction. And we grant all this, accompanying the permission with strict orders to prevent any embryo which may come into being from seeing the light; and if any force a way to the birth, the parents must understand that the offspring of such an union cannot be maintained, and arrange accordingly (Facts About Abortion: Ancient Abortion History). In much simpler terms, Socrates stated that abortion is justified in cases where a child is conceived in an incestuous union. The United States was also part of the broad history concerning abortion. In 1859, the American Medical Association condemned abortion except when preserving the life of the mother and in 1875, every state in America adopted laws that banned abortion (The History of Abortion in the United States). There were also many legal cases in which abortion was the main concern. As previously mentioned, Roe v. Wade was one of the most famous cases. Alex McBride stated on PBS, Controversial from the moment it was released, Roe v. Wade politically divided the nation more than any other recent case and continues to inspire heated debates, politics, and even violence today (the culture wars) (McBride). This case was particularly dividing because it was so controversial, and made people choose sides. There was the side that promoted free will and to have abortion as an option. On the other hand, there was the side that believed that all life is precious and that abortion is morally wrong. In the en d, the Court ruled that women have a right to privacy, which includes the right to have an abortion (McBride). Many people choose sides concerning abortion without having sufficient information to do so, such as knowing what the abortion process truly entails. Some choose to be against abortion without fully considering that there are certain circumstances that would require abortion, such as when the mother is in a life or death situation. Others choose abortions without realizing that it goes against many religions and beliefs. What most of them do not know is what is involved in the abortion process. Many might think that it would be similar to having a Caesarian section, perhaps removing the fetus through surgery. This, however, is not the case. As mentioned, the abortion process is more complex than one would think. There is more than one way to carry out an abortion; the type of process chosen is usually determined by how far into the pregnancy a woman is. The patient can choose between two options for abortion: through medication, or surgery (Types of Abortion Procedures). Although the first trimester is twelve weeks long, women can only choose to have an abortion through medication within the first nine weeks (Pregnancy Week by Week; Types of Abortion Procedures). This is most likely due to ethical reason, for example, because the fetus has developed and is considered a human being, therefore making abortion through pills unethical. There are various types of surgical abortion procedures. For example, Vacuum Aspiration, also known as Suction Aspiration, is through the use of a strong vacuum; Dilation and Evacuation is through the use forceps (First Trimester Abortion Procedures; Abortion Methods). During the process of V acuum Aspiration, a tube attached to a vacuum type pump is inserted into the vagina; the fetus and placenta is torn apart as it is suctioned out along with the amniotic fluids (Abortion Methods). Dilation and Evacuation is vastly different, however. The previous method seems more clinical and less horrifying than this method. In Dilation and Evacuation, forceps are used to grasp at random fetus parts, which are then pulled out one by one until only the head is left (Abortion Methods). As the fetuss head is too large to removed in tact, it is crushed first (Abortion Methods). Although these are only two of many procedures, each is more inhumane than the previous. Despite the fact that death only occurs in 0.0006% of abortion cases, there are risks and complications involved. No abortion procedure is entirely one hundred percent safe or risk-free. These are the dangers of legal abortion procedures: allergic reactions, blood clots, infections, failed or incomplete abortion, heavy bleeding, injury, and etc (In-Clinic Abortion Procedures). If abortion was made illegal, women would have to resort to even more dangerous methods, such as illegal ones. Not all of the dangers are physical, however. There are issues of post-abortion syndrome, such as feeling deep regret and depression over choosing to terminate the life of ones child (The Case Against Abortion: Post-Abortion Syndrome). When it comes to an extremely controversial topic like this one, there are usually many biases. This can involve religion, ethics, income, age, and society. All of these can influence decisions concerning abortion. Religion plays a major role, as it is what people turn to for guidance in turbulent times. If their religion is against abortion, it is most likely that followers will be the same. Ethics is also a guide; abortion might be unethical to some because fetuses are considered human beings and all life is sacred. The matter of income is also important. Those who are impoverished would support to keep abortion legal because they can barely afford to keep themselves alive, let alone another human being. In fact, forty-two percent of women who have abortions have incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level (Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States). Those who are wealthy might agree with abortion because a laid back life full of partying would probably be more appealing w ithout having to raise a child. On the other hand, they might not agree because they have enough means for financial support. The elderly or people raised with traditional morals most likely would not even entertain the thought of abortion because they believe in taking responsibility instead of the easier way out. However, younger people, especially in todays society, would be more likely to embrace abortion because irresponsibility is much easier. These factors contribute to biases. For example, those who are against abortion create extremely graphic collages using a collection of real pictures or digitally created ones that show the entire abortion process. These images invoke heavy emotions that discourage abortions. Anti-abortion supporters even go as far as inventing lies that suggest abortion leads to cancer (Dudley, and Kruse). In contrast, supporters of abortion might downplay, oversimplify, and even hide the danger at hand. For instance, Planned Parenthoods website include s both information on the safety and risks of abortion procedures; however, the information on risks is in smaller text so it is not as noticeable (In-Clinic Abortion Procedures). Another example is in the form of a young womans experience. Lindsay, whose last name was not posted, stated that abortion clinics made her leave through the back door because they dont want anyone coming in to know what someone looks like going out (Finding Help: You Care About Me, Right?). There are many reasons why women choose to have or not to abortions. For example, a reason might be similar to Socrates case: a woman might have been in a nonconsensual incestuous relationship that has ended in child conceived. It might go against this womans religion or ethics to give birth to the child. Abortion might also be necessary when the life of the mother is endangered. That is not to say these all of these reasons are completely justified. Even though the fetus has not fully formed, it is still a human being and a product of ones flesh and blood. Termination could be considered child abuse. Nothing truly gives one, even a parent, the right to play God and decide whether or not to terminate a life. There are alternatives, such as giving the child up for adoption after birth. Even in todays society, the topic of abortion is an extremely contentious one. People are very divided on this topic although each side may not fully comprehend everything about abortion. This shows that many are eager to jump on the bandwagon of whichever side makes the best case. In order to make educated judgments on abortion, people must entirely comprehend the process of abortion and the results. Personally, I am against abortion because I believe in taking responsibility for our actions, and that even unborn children are humans and should deserve a chance at life.

The Canterbury Tales Essay -- Literary Analysis, Geoffrey Chaucer

Through The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer is able to ironically portray the life friars lived throughout the 14th century. Geoffrey Chaucer was born around 1345 and lived in London. (Strohm par 1). He grew up being trained as a civil servant and diplomat. Around 1366 Chaucer married Queen Philippa of Spain (Encyclopedia of World Biography 483). Through being appointed to Parliament, he traveled to many different countries on diplomatic missions and was influenced by the contrasting types of writing (Strohm par 3). These experiences helped Chaucer to gain knowledge about diverse types of people and English writing, which influenced the way he wrote The Canterbury Tales (par 1). When Chaucer wrote, he often mocked and satirized people he saw on their fashion and etiquette, which had a large part in the way he wrote about certain pilgrims in his novel (par 2). Between the years of 1387 and 1400, Chaucer devoted most of his time to writing one of his most famous pieces, The Canterbu ry Tales. This tale is about thirty pilgrims on a journey to the Shrine of Thomas Beckett at Canterbury (par 7). Each pilgrim is expected to tell four stories; two story for the journey to the shrine and another two for the journey back home. The host is the pilgrim that decides upon the best told story. Whoever relates the best tale receives a meal at Bailey’s Inn. Unfortunately, Chaucer died around 1400 before being able to complete each of the pilgrims’ stories (Strohm par 3). In the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer introduces the Friar as someone who, although is meant to live by God’s deeds and the church, is controlled by his own greed. The tale which the Friar later narrates is appropriate because throughout the story it is evident that... ...that they are both lecherous. This is exemplified through the summoner in the Friar’s prologue. In â€Å"The Friar’s Tale,† the Friar states: He was a thief, a summoner, and a pimp. And he had wenches in his retinue, / . . . / He and these wenches made a gang at it Then he would fetch forth a fictitious writ, Summon them both before the Chapter-bench. (Coghill 295) This description of the summoner overall states how the summoner commits the sin of having sexual intercourse with many women. When the summoner is caught by some men, he blackmails them into letting him go free of charge. The Friar is like the summoner because just as the friar repels the vows of his church, the Friar does as well. Overall, it is evident through â€Å"The Friar’s Tale† that both the summoner and Friar are alike in more ways than one. This is shown through their greed, and habits of lying.

The Role of Trees in Hurston’s Seraph on the Suwanee and Their Eyes Wer

The Role of Trees in Hurston’s Seraph on the Suwanee and Their Eyes Were Watching God Trees play integral roles in Seraph on the Suwanee and Their Eyes Were Watching God as sites of sexual awakening for Hurston’s heroines, providing a space under which dreams bloom into â€Å"glistening leaf-buds† or over-ripen and die like spoiled fruit. Close readings of Janie’s pear tree and Arvay’s mulberry evoke strikingly disparate images of female sexuality despite Hurston’s articulation of both experiences as the realization of â€Å"a pain remorseless sweet.† Depicted within the first quarter of each narrative, Hurston places great emphasis on her characters’initial sexual experiences as shaping the development of Janie and Arvay’s identities. As suggested by her pensive pose beneath the pear tree (â€Å"stretched on her back†), Janie possesses agency, navigating the course of her own sexual maturation by searching, inviting, and questioning the tree and herself for â€Å"voice and vision.† Hurston’s diction constructs a purely sensual scene, for like the flower opening up and summoning the â€Å"dust-beari...

The Japanes Tsunami Disaster

On March 11th 2011 at 2:48pm a magnitude 9 earthquake occurred lasting a record time of 5 minutes until 2:53pm. This awful event occurred in the country of Japan in Asia, east of china, south of Russia and lies on the Pacific Ocean. Then 20 minutes later a tsunami hit Ofunato and then followed by Sedai and Niyko. There were lots more area affected by the tsunami. Causes The tsunami that hit Japan was a series of water that became many waves that built up by travelling along the Pacific Ocean, gradually gathering up speed. By the time it hit Ofunato it was as fast as a jet engine and going 800 kph. This tsunami happened because of the pacific tectonic plate subducted the Asian tectonic plate and caused an upwards wave to start and increase in length and it caused a massive tsunami to hit Japan. Japan had a massive tsunami hit them because of the magnitude 9 earthquake (a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves) that hit them first, which caused the pacific tectonic plate subducted the Asian tectonic plate and created a flood of water to go in to the fault line and cause it to build up pressure and heat up. Then the water sprung up in to a travelling along the Pacific Ocean causing a tsunami, this caused over 15,000 deaths, 6,000 injured and 4,000 missing. Another cause of the tragic tsunami was that it gained an extra metre in height because the coast line dropped a metre; this was one of the effects of the earthquake. Social effects The effects on people were that there houses had fallen down and many were homeless. The disaster caused falling birth rates, some mothers and children were forced to move to other towns and cities, even 200-300 miles away from their broken homes. Buildings were shaking, lights flickering; they crumbled down in front of the people inside them. Bridges were in pieces, shaken and broken by the earthquake and tsunami. The people in Japan were in a horror film. Their families were broken, torn apart by 7 metre high waves. At least 170,000 households were running without any water said by the health ministry. Up to 47,000 building were destroyed, washed away or burnt down, the national police agency of Japan said. A total of 164,059 households in the north were without electricity, tohoku electric power co said. You can read also Waves Economic effects The tsunami caused a large negative impact on the economy of Japan but lesser effect on world trade and financial markets. Japan has lost considerable physical damage estimated to be from $195 billion to as much as $305 billion. The negative effects of the earthquake and tsunami caused a potential nuclear disaster. Only 150 miles from Tokyo, radiation leaked from a nuclear plant crippled by an explosion. Although it wasn’t at the same scale of Chernobyl, but 170,000 people were evacuated. Another economic effect is that hundreds of factories were shut across Japan and the country was pushed in to recession. Nissan and Toyota had to halt production at all 20 factories. Toyota, the world’s largest carmaker, evacuated workers from two plants in the worst affected regions. The plants make up to 420,000 small cars each year, mostly for export. Environmental effects The effects the tsunami had on japans environment was that were lots of debris everywhere because the tsunami had picked up everything in its way when it hit Japan and when it had stopped all the debris was left on the ground leaving lots of mess. All the debris that was on the floor meant it was harder to find missing people. The tsunami also carried lots of dead fish and animals habitats would have been damaged because of the water. The fish were all dead in the tsunami due to the fact that the Pacific Ocean contaminated because of the radiation of the nuclear plant explosion. This also meant that any birds wouldn’t have been able to feed or they would have died eating contaminated fish. The smell also would have been unbearable to cope with because of the amount of dead fish and bodies and debris carried by the tsunami. Liquefaction during the earthquake as well, this would have left big cracks in the concert and some water may of septet up through the cracks. Short term responses After the tsunami occurred everyone immediately tried to help the injured get to a safe placed so they could be helped. Fire engines and ambulances were there to help and to rescue people from the debris. There were lots of people injured and dead so that when the people were being searched for by people of Japan to save time if a person was dead under the debris they would have put down a flag so they could go on and search for people that were alive and could be saved. Then later they would have gone back to the body and they would have moved it. Everyone hurt by the tsunami/earthquake got medical care by the other helping countries wanting to help. China was one of the 91 countries that helped Japan as soon as possible by providing $4.5 million worth of humanitarian aid. Their first shipment was from Shanghai to Tokyo. It contained 2,000 blankets, 900 tents and 200 emergency lights to help Japan get through the tragic amount of injured people. Seventeen Latin American countries, including Honduras, Ecuador and Brazil, and four African states – Djibouti, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia had also offered assistance. The mayor of Kandahar city in Afghanistan pledged $50,000 to support relief efforts. The World Bank, Unicef, Unesco and the Office for t he Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs were among the international organisations pledging support. Other responses were that they were lots of tents and shelters put up for people to stay safe because their houses would have been crushed by the tsunami or fall because of the magnitude 9 earthquake. In the shelters, the people got free food and water to keep them alive. Almost everywhere there was no gas or electricity because of the impact of the tsunami. All they could us were emergency lights and torches to see. Products in Japan went up because lots of stock was ruined or damaged and it was a struggle to get stock from other countries or cities because the expressway fell down and transport-roads were blocked. Some charities also help the tsunami victims such as architecture for humanity helped by fundraising and giving all the money they made to Japan to help the people that were made homeless or that were unemployed because their workplace might have been hit. Save the Children meet the needs of children and their families affected by the tsunami, whilst Christian Aid’s partners in the Philippines helped to evacuate the most vulnerable coastal communities. People living in these communities had been warned to prepare for a tsunami wave at least one metre high along the east coast. Partners of the British Red Cross in Japan, America and the Philippines worked alongside the emergency services to support victims and evacuate high risk areas. Long term responses General recovery efforts progressed, super markets gradually reopened, gas stations in northern Japan resumed business, and roads were accessible. The Japanese government significantly supported the country’s relief efforts and provided much of the needed temporary housing. Everything that was rebuilt in Japan however it cost them 25tn yen which actuates to  £189bn. Schools were rebuilt and teachers were provided so the children could get an education. Conclusion In my opinion, I think that the Japan tsunami was a disaster because of the impact that it caused to the people (such as the deaths), the environment (dead animals, liquefaction, amount of debris needed to be cleaned up) and the amount of money that it cost them. The amount of deaths that the tsunami caused was devastating, the amount of missing people and pain that the tsunami caused families. It was an awful event that caused pain to everyone and cost lots of money. I think to stopped this happening to Japan again they should build a bigger wall on the coast to protect them or even buy tsunami capsules from all households even though they are expensive it would help and save the life’s of many if it occurred again.

Smart Material

SMART MATERIALS ABSTRACT The world has underg sensation 2 hooeys ages, the plastics age and the composite age, during the past centuries. In the midst of these devil ages a rising era has developed. This is the anguish seculars era. According to antecedent descriptions, shiny tangibles argon textiles that respond to their environments in a termly manner. The definition of hurt actuals has been ex locomoteded to fabrics that receive, transmit or regale a stimulus and respond by producing a make recitation scoreul perfume that whitethorn entangle a signal that the fabrics ar acting upon it. refreshing cloths cover a wide and developing range of technologies.A concomitant type of brightness real, cognise as chromogenics, crumb be social occasion for full-grown argonaglazing in buildings, automobiles, sheets, and for certain types of electronic display. Smart substantials have been s start outly for more historic period and they have tack together a full- surface result of coats. in that respect atomic number 18 galore(postnominal) types of the real(a)s present well-nigh of them listed be abject have w arhousing mix 2) Piezoelectric materials 3) Magnetostrictive materials 4) Magneto- and electro-rheological materials 5) Chromic materials due(p) to the property of responding quickly with environment and legion(predicate) applications in daily life heady materials be a great futurity scope.I. INTRODUCTION Smart materials have been around for many years and they have pitch a large come up of applications. The up bump off of the terms smart and well-grounded to describe materials and dodgings came from the US and started in the 1980? s despite the fact that nigh of these so-called smart materials had been around for decades. umpteen of the smart materials were developed by government activity agencies working on military and aerospace projects neertheless in recent years their use has transferred into the civil sector for applications in the construction, transport, medical checkup, void and domestic argonas.The first problem encountered with these eccentric materials is defining what the word smart? genuinely factor. nonpareil dictionary definition of smart describes manything which is a stute or operating as if by human intelligence and this is what smart materials argon. A and spine once more when you return inside. This stopping point is do from a smart material which is expound as macrocosm photochromic. There are many groups of smart materials, apiece manifesting ingredienticular properties which backside be harness in a compartmentalization of lavishly tech and everyday applications. These include contrive reposition smart material is one which reacts to its environment aby itself.The substitute is inherent to the material and non a result of some mixed bag in volume, a metamorphose in colour or a change in viscosity and this may occur in answe r to a change in temperature, express, electrical online, or charismatic palm. In many cases this answer is bilateral, a common example existence the application on spectacles which reacts to the take of UV light, turning your ordinary eyeglasses into sunglasses when you go verbotenside alloys, piezoelectric materials, attractiono-rheological and electro-rheological materials, magnetostrictive materials and chromic materials which change their colour in response to various stimuli.The distinction between a smart material and a smart social expression should be emphasised. A smart structure incorporates some form of actuator and sensor (which may be made from smart materials) with control ironware and cushyware to form a system which reacts to its environment. Such a structure muscularity be an aircraft wing which continuously alters its write during flight to give the optimum plaster bandage for the operating conditions at the time. II make for MEMORY ALLOYS Shape remembering alloys (SMAs) are one of the close to well cognise types of smart material and they have set up extensive uses in the 70 years since their discoveryWhat are SMAs? A organise entrepot sack was first observed in 1932 in an alloy of gold and cadmium, and gum olibanumly later in brass in 1938. The mould memory printing (SME) was seen in the gold-cadmium alloy in 1951, scarce this was of low-downer-ranking use. Some ten years later in 1962 an equiatomic alloy of titanium and nickel none was found to show a world-shaking SME and Nitinol (so named because it is made from nickel and titanium and its properties were sight at the Naval Ordinance Laboratories) has come the most common SMA.Other SMAs include those found on copper (in particular CuZnAl), NiAl and FeMnSi, though it should be noted that the NiTi alloy has by remote the most first-rateior properties. How do SMAs work? The SME describes the process of a material changing skeletal system or cog itateing a particular put to work at a specific temperature (i. e. its transformation or memory temperature). Materials which back tooth only exhibit the forge change or memory actualizeance once are know as one way SMAs. besides some alloys shag betrained to show a both(prenominal)-way feat in which they remember devil figure of speechs, one below and one higher(prenominal) up the memory temperature.At the memory temperature the alloy undergoes a solidness state cast transformation. That is, the crystal structure of the material changes resulting in a volume or shape change and this change in structure is called athermoelastic martensitic transformation?. This nub occurs as the material has a martensitic microstructure below the transformation temperature, which is characterised by a zig-zag arrangement of the atoms, cognise as twins. The martensitic structure is relatively easily and is easily alter by removing the correspond structure.The material has an auste nitic structure above the memory temperature, which is much stronger. To change from the martensitic or deformed structure to the austenitic shape the material is simply heated finished the memory temperature. Cooling down once once again reverts the alloy to the martensitic state as shown in public figure 1. The shape change may exhibit itself as either an re exquisitement or beation. The transformation temperature can be tuned to within a couple of degrees by changing the alloy composition.Nitinol can be made with a transformation temperature anywhere between nose candy? C and +100? C which makes it very versatile. Where are SMAs utilise? Shape memory alloys have found a large number of uses in aerospace, medicine and the leisure industry. A a couple of(prenominal) of these applications are described below. Medical applications sooner fortunately Nitinol is biocompatible, that is, it can be apply in the body with bring out an adverse reaction, so it has found a number o f medical uses. These include stents in which rings of SMA fit hold open a polymer pipe to pen up a resolve up vein , blood filters, and bone plates which contract upon transformation to pull the ii ends of the disquieted bone in to closer suffer and encourage more rapid ameliorate . It is possible that SMAs could in like manner find use in dentistry for orthodontic distich which straighten teething. The memory shape of the material is made to be the desired shape of the teeth. This is then deformed to fit the teeth as they are and the memory is emotional by the temperature of the mouth. The SMART preserves enough military force as it contracts to move the teeth behind and gradually.Surgical tools, particularly those used in primaeval hole surgery may besides be made from SMAs. These tools are very much often bent to fit the geometry of a particular patient, however, in order for them to be used again they return to a default shape upon sterilisation in an autocla ve. Still many years away is the use of SMAs as artificial brawns, i. e. simulating the enlargement and contraction of human muscles. This process go out utilise a piece of SMA telegraph in place of a muscle on the finger of a robotic hand.When it is heated, by laissez passer an electrical current finished it, the material expands and straightens the joint, on cooling the outfit contracts again bending the finger again In reality this is incredibly tight to achieve since complex software and meet systems are also required. count on 1 Change in structure associated with the shape memory effect. NASA have been researching the use of SMA muscles in robots which walk, fly and swim Domestic applications SMAs can be used as actuators which exert a force associated with the shape change, and this can be repeated over many thousands of cycles.Applications include springs which are incorporated in to greenhouse windows much(prenominal) that they open and close themselves at a g iven temperature. a extensive a exchangeable theme are pan lids which incorporate an SMA spring in the steam vent. When the spring is heated by the simmering water in the pan it changes shape and opens the vent, thus preventing the pan from boiling over and maintaining streamlined cooking. The springs are similar to those shown in Figure 5. SMAs can be used to replace bimetallic strips in many domestic applications.SMAs offer the value of braggy a larger deflection and exerting a stronger force for a given change in temperature. They can be used in cut out switches for kettles and an an different(prenominal)(prenominal) de vices, security door locks, produce protection devices such as warmer alarms and cooking safety indicators (for example for checking the temperature of a roast joint). Aerospace applications A more high tech application is the use of SMA equip to control the flaps on the trailing edge of aircraft wings.The flaps are shortly controlled by extensive hydrauli c systems but these could be replaced by wires which are vindication heated, by divergence a current along them, to produce the desired shape change. Such a system would be considerably simpler than the conventional hydraulics, thus trim maintenance and it would also decrease the cant of the system. Manufacturing applications SMA tubes can be used as couplings for connecting two tubes. The coupling diameter is made slightly little than the tubes it is to join. The coupling is deformed such that it slips over the tube ends and the temperature changed to propel the memory.The coupling tube shrinks to hold the two ends together but can never fully transform so it exerts a constant force on the linked tubes. Why are SMAs so bendable? In addition to the shape memory effect, SMAs are also cognize to be very flexible or super elastic, which arises from the structure of the martensite. This property Of SMARTs has also been exploit for example in mobile speech sound aerials, spect acle frames and the underwire in bras. The kink resistance of the wires makes them serviceable in surgical tools which need to stick straight as they are passed by dint of the body.Nitinol can be bent significantly further than stainless steel without damage permanent deformation. Another sort of bracing application of SMAs which combines both the thermal memory and super elastic properties of these materials is in intelligent models. Very fine wires are interweave in to ordinary polyester cotton fabric. Since the material is super elastic the wires spring back to being straight even if the fabric is screwed up in a pitchers mound at the bottom of the washing basketball hoop So creases fall out of the fabric, big(a) you a true non-iron garmentIn addition the wires in the sleeves have a memory which is activated at a given temperature (for example 38 C) create the sleeves to roll themselves up and keeping the wearer cool. PIIEZOELECTRIIC MATERIIALS The piezoelectric effe ct was discovered in 1880 by Jaques and Pierre Curie who conducted a number of experiments using quartz crystals. This probably makes piezoelectric materials the oldest type of smart material. These materials, which are principally ceramics, have since found a number of uses. What is the piezoelectric effect?The piezoelectric effect and electrostriction are opposite phenomena and both consort a shape change with voltage. As with SMAs the shape change is associated with a change in the crystal structure of the material and piezoelectric materials also exhibit two crystalline forms. One form is say and this relates to the polarisation of the molecules. The second state is nonpolarised and this is disordered. If a voltage is applied to the non-polarised material a shape change occurs as the molecules reorganize to get hold in the electrical knowledge domain. This is known as electrostriction.Conversely, an electrical electron orbit is contractd if a auto-mechanical force is appl ied to the material to change its shape. This is the piezoelectric effect. The main favour of these materials is the almost instantaneous change in the shape of the material or the genesis of an electrical bailiwick. What materials exhibit this effect? The piezoelectric effect was first observed in quartz and various other crystals such as tourmaline. Barium titanate and cadmium sulfate have also been shown to pose the effect but by far the most commonly used piezoelectric ceramic immediately is lead zirconium titanate (PZT).The animal(prenominal) properties of PZT can be controlled by changing the chemistry of the material and how it is processed. There are limitations associated with PZT like all ceramics it is brittle giving rise to mechanical durability issues and at that place are also problems associated with joining it with other components in a system. Where are piezoelectric materials used? The main use of piezoelectric ceramics is in actuators. An actuator can be de scribed as a component or material which converts energy (in this case electrical) in to mechanical form.When a electric field is applied to the piezoelectric material it changes its shape very rapidly and very precisely in accordance with the magnitude of the field. Applications exploiting the electrostrictive effect of piezoelectric materials include actuators in the semiconductor industry in the systems used for handling silicon wafers, in the microbiology field in microscopic cubicle handling systems, in fibre optics and acoustics, in ink-jet printers where fine style control is necessary and for vibe damping.The piezoelectric effect can also be used in sensors which generate an electrical field in response to a mechanical force. This is useful in damping systems and earthquake invention systems in buildings. solely the most well known application is in the sensors which deploy car airbags. The material changes in shape with the impact thus generating a field which deploys the airbag. A romance use of these materials, which exploits both the piezoelectric and electrostrictive effects, is in smart skis which have been designed to perform well on both soft and hard snow. Piezoelectric sensors detect vibrations (i. e. he shape of the ceramic detector is changed resulting in the generation of a field) and the electrostrictive property of the material is then exploited by generating an argue shape change to cancel out the vibration. The system uses three piezoelectric elements which detect and cancel out large vibrations in real time since the reaction time of the ceramics is very small . By passing an alternating voltage across these materials a vibration is produced. This process is very efficient and almost all of the electrical energy is converted into motion. Possible uses of this property are silent alarms for pagers which fit into a carpus watch.The vibration is silent at low frequencies but at high frequencies an clunky sound is also produced. This leads to the concept of solid state speakers based on piezoelectric materials which could also be miniaturised. Do polymers exhibit these effects? Ionic polymers work in a similar way to piezoelectric ceramics, however they need to be alter to function. An electrical current is passed through the polymer when it is fuddled to produce a change in its crystal structure and thus its shape. go through fibres are essentially polymeric and hire in a similar way, so research in this field has focussed on latent uses in medicine. ature of the piezoelectric effect making them invaluable for the street corner applications which they occupy. magnetoSTRIICTIIVE MATERIIALS Magnetostrictive materials are similar to piezoelectric and electrostrictive materials drop the change in shape is associate to a charismatic field rather than an electrical field. What are magnetostrictive materials? Magnetostrictive materials convert magnetised to mechanical energy or vice versa. The magnetos trictive effect was first observed in 1842 by James Joule who sight that a sample of nickel exhibited a change in length when it was magnetised.The other ferromagnetic elements (cobalt and iron) were also found to demonstrate the effect as were alloys of these materials. During the 1960s tebibyte and dysprosium were also found to be magnetostrictive but only at low temperatures which limited their use, despite the fact that the size change was many times great than that of nickel. The most common magnetostrictive material today is called TERFENOL-D (terbium (TER), iron (FE), Naval Ordanance Laboratory (NOL) and dysprosium (D)). This alloy of terbium, iron and dysprosium shows a large magnetostrictive effect and is used in transducers and actuators.The original observation of the magnetostrictive effect became known as the Joule effect, but other effects have also been observed. The Villari effect is the opposite of the Joule effect, that is applying a stress to the material cause s a change in its magnetization. Applying a torsional force to a magnetostrictive material generates a helical magnetic field and this is known as the Matteuci effect. Its inverse is the Wiedemann effect in which the material twists in the straw man of a helical magnet field.How do magnetostrictive materials work? Magnetic materials contain domains which can be likened to tiny magnets within the material. When an out-of-door(a) magnetic field is applied the domains rotate to align with this field and this results in a shape change as. Conversely if the material is squashed or stretched by means of an external force the domains are pastnistic to move and this causes a change in the magnetisation. Where are magnetostrictive materials used? Magnetostrictive materials can be used as both actuators (where a magnetic ield is applied to cause a shape change) and sensors (which convert a movement into a magnetic field). In actuators the magnetic field is usually generated by passing an electrical current along a wire. Likewise the electrical current generated by the magnetic field arising from a shape change is usually measured in sensors. Early applications of magnetostrictive materials included telephone receivers, hydrophones, oscillators and see sonar. The development of alloys with better properties led to the use of these materials in a wide variety of applications.Ultrasonic magnetostrictive transducers have been used in supersonic cleaners and surgical tools. Other applications include hearing aids, razorblade sharpeners, linear motors, damping systems, positioning equipment, and sonar. MAGNETO AND ELECTRO RHEOLOGIICAL MATERIIALS All of the groups of smart materials discussed so far have been based on solids. However, in that respect are also smart nomadics which change their rheological properties in accordance with their environment. What are smart quiets? There are two types of smart precariouss which were both discovered in the 1940s.Electro-rh eological (ER) materials change their properties with the application of an electrical field and consist of an insulating oil such as mineral oil containing a scattering of solid particles (early experiments used starch, stone, carbon, silica, gypsum and lime). Magnetorheological materials (MR) are again based on a mineral or silicone oil attack aircraft carrier but this time the solid disperse within the fluid is a magnetically soft material (such as iron) and the properties of the fluid are altered by applying a magnetic field. In both cases the outspread particles are of the order of microns in size.How do smart fluids work? In both cases the smart fluid changes from a fluid to a solid with the application of the applicable field. The small particles in the fluid align and are attracted to each other resulting in a dramatic change in viscosity as shown in Figure 7. The effect takes milliseconds to occur and is completely reversible by the removal of the field. Figure 8 clearl y shows the effect of a magnet on such an MR fluid. With ER fluids a field cogency of up to 6kV/mm is needed and for MR fluids a magnetic field of less than 1Tesla is needed. Where are smart fluids used?Uses of these unusual materials in civil engineering, robotics and manufacturing Electrodes prisonbreak fluid Particle Figure 7 Schematic diagram showing the structure of a electrorheological fluid between two electrodes. The top figure shows the structure in a low field strength where the particles are randomly distributed. When a higher field strength is applied, as in the bottom diagram, the particles align causing a change in the viscosity of the fluid. Figure 8 A puddle of magnetorheological fluid stiffens in the presence of a magnetic field. courtesy of Sandy Hill / University of Rochester) are being explored. But the first industries to describe uses were the automotive and aerospace industries where the fluids are used in vibration damping and variable torque transmissio n. MR dampers are used to control the suspension in cars to allow the feel of the ride to be varied. Dampers are also used in prosthetic limbs to allow the patient to lodge to various movements for example the change from travel rapidly to walking. Future Scope The future of smart materials and structures is wide open.The use of smart materials in a product and the type of smart structures that one can design are only limited by ones talents, capabilities, and ability to think outside the box. In an early work5 and as part of short courses there were discussions pertaining to future considerations. A lot of the brainstorming that resulted from these efforts is now being explored. Some ideas that were in the conceptual confront are now moving forward. require at the advances in protestation and creature comforts provided through smart materials and structures in automobiles. Automobiles can be taken to a store for service and be hooked p to a diagnostic computer that tells th e mechanic what is wrong with the car. Or a light on the dashboard signals maintenance required. Would it not be better for the light to inform us as to the exact disposition of the problem and the severity of it? This approach mimics a cartoon that appeared several years ago of an air mechanic near a plane in a hanger. The plane says Ouch and the mechanic says Where do you hurt? One application of smart materials is the work mentioned earlier of piezoelectric inkjet printer that serves as a chemical delivery to print total light-emitting polymers in a fine breaker point on various media.Why not take the same application to synthesise smaller molecules? With the right set one could synthesize smaller molecules in significant amounts for impersonation and evaluation and in such a way that we could design experiments with relative ease. A new class of smart materials has appeared in the belles-lettres. This is the group of smart self-sealings. We previously mentioned that PVDF image strips have been placed within an pitchy joint to monitor performance. Khongtong and Ferguson developed a smart adhesive at Lehigh University. 0 They suggested that this new adhesive could form an antifouling coating for boat hulls or for controlling cell adhesion in surgery. The stickiness of the new adhesive can be switched on and off with changes in temperature. The smart adhesive also becomes water repellent when its tackiness wanes. 50 The term smart adhesive is coming into court more frequently in the literature. A topic of research that was in the literature a few years ago was smart clothes or wear computers being studied at MIT. The potential of this concept is enormous. This sounds wonderful as long as we learn how to work smarter, not longer.CONCLUSION From the abilities of the smart material to respond the environmental changes the conclusion arises that smart in the name do not meet the definition of being smart, that is, responding to the environment in a rev ersible manner. Due to their properties they must deserve a great future. REFERENCES 1mechanically skillful Engineers Handbook Materials and Mechanical Design, Volume 1, Third Edition. Edited by Myer Kutz. 2www. memorymetals. co. uk 3 www. nitinol. com 4 www. sma-inc. com 5www. cs. ualberta. ca/database/MEMS/sma_mems/sma. hypertext mark-up language 6http//virtualskies. arc. nasa. gov/research/youdecide/Shapememalloys. html