Civil Engineering Essay -- essays research papers

CIVIL ENGINEERING   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Civil engineering is the oldest of the main branches of engineering. Civil engineers use their knowledge to supervise and plan construction projects such as roads, airports, bridges, canals, tunnels, and wastewater systems. They also collaborate with architects to design and construct various types of buildings. Some other civil engineering endeavors include highways, airports, pipelines, railroads, levees, and irrigation and sewage systems. Civil engineers try to design their structures to be functional, efficient and durable. Most of the projects civil engineers are involved with have an impact on the environment. They use their knowledge of the environment to create structures that are not harmful. These structures must also meet building codes and other regulations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Civil engineers are usually contracted for their work and must have their designs approved by city and state officials. They will create a proposal for the job that includes estimation of costs, illustrations of designs, and specifications of the building.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To enter the field of civil engineering one must first earn a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. To obtain a position as a researcher or as a faculty member, one must earn a graduate degree. Many companies recruit engineers right out of college and post ads in magazines, journals, and newspapers as well as on the internet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  &n...

Organizational Behavior Essay -- Psychology, Emotional Intelligence

This paper will identify and examine the perspective of cognitive intelligence and emotional intelligence which are considered to be important individual diversities in the field of organisational behaviour. The organization selected for this topic is, The Australian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, commonly known as (AHEPA), the association was founded in Melbourne Australia in 1938; at that time the mission of AHEPA was to promote Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family and individual Excellence. Originally the association was set up with a small group of Australian/Greek volunteers as a community based establishment to assist Greek immigrants in Australia experiencing language barriers, families with financial difficulties, finding homes, jobs, medical care and help the elderly, as former state secretary of the association I was able to experience the cognitive and emotional intelligence behaviours first hand. The General Structure of the "AHEPA Family" is composed of distinct groups, all of which work in harmony on a local, state and national level under its constitution and by-laws. They are; the Supreme Lodge (National body), Grand Lodges and District Lodge (State bodies). There are several committees within AHEPA who work in harmony to organise fundraising and community activities. The members of these committees work diligently to achieve their various goals for the betterment of the whole community. AHEPA is recognized as a non-profit charitable organization; this essentially means that any profits or surpluses the charity makes must be used to further its charitable purposes. Such profits or surpluses must not be distributed to owners, members or any other individual or group of i... ...n greater in today’s diverse working environments, neglecting emotional intelligence working in a small group can be devastating in the efficiency to the organisation, and these breakdowns can produce confusion, uncertainty hostility and reduce the required performance. The fear of change in any organisation is a major concern as at times management seeks for a quick fix instead of taking a more comprehensive and longer perspective, thus creating emotional uncertainty and mistrust. Given the facts and understandings of cognitive intelligence and emotional intelligence are conceptualized, emotional intelligence can be rationally considered as a reasonable measure to which a person can apply rational judgment and reasoning and feelings to situations and responses in the organisation, it shows that emotional intelligence is a stronger predictor to a task performance.

The Scarlet Letter Essay -- Literary Analysis

At first glance, one may be deceived into thinking that these two works have nothing in common, as one focuses on chocolate and the other on an ambiguous letter. However, Lasse Hallstrom’s Chocolat and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter both tell intriguing stories of women with mysterious pasts, who have disruptive influences on the societies they settle in. Although there are quite a few plot similarities between the two works, one can see much stronger comparisons when describing the townspeople’s mindsets, major themes, and character traits of the protagonists. Interestingly, The Scarlet Letter takes place in a quaint town outside of Boston, called Cornhill; Chocolat is set in an equally pleasant French village. The link between government and religion is extremely strong; the two institutions are deeply intertwined, with each controlling the other. The townspeople pride themselves on their ability to follow tradition. It seems that there is very little room for change from the ancient ways. The people’s dedication to religion, through rituals like Sunday Mass and the observance of Lent in Chocolat, illustrate the role religion plays in maintaining order within the town. Those who do not attend church are automatically cast as outsiders who wish to corrupt the values of the unassuming townspeople. The villagers seek tranquility and focus on obeying rules, anything beyond these simple goals is considered strange. Conformity in appearance, as well as thought, is a unifying feature among the people. In Puritan society, it is essential t hat women and men dress in the most modest fashion. In the French village, women should wear unobtrusive black shoes. People who do not live life according to the towns’ rules are viewed n... ...dren. Vianne and Hester are both exceedingly capable women, able to enact changes in entire communities; their strength is inspirational. In final analysis, there are many distinct parallels between Hallstrom’s Chocolat and Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. The towns where the stories occur are quite similar in the perspectives offered by the citizens. Hypocrisy is a major theme in the film and the novel, indirectly preciptating the actions of several important characters. There are numerous character traits which are apparent in both Hester Prynne and Vianne Rocher. Although these similarities manifest themselves differently in each character, they make the protagonists exciting, nonetheless. Chocolat and The Scarlet Letter are engaging tales of love and provincial thinking ; after enjoying one work, readers or viewers should surely proceed on to the next one.

Power of Literature

How the Power of Literature Has Affected My Life – Value of Literature Alex Sidorov English 101 Alex Sidorov Thompson English 101 May 27, 2009 How the Power of Literature Has Affected My Life – Value of Literature If you asked me how much I valued literature a few months ago, I would have probably laughed it off and proclaimed it has no value because it does not affect me. What kind of value could literature possibly have? It is just books. Random characters dealing with their random problems. What could that possibly offer me except giving me something to kill time? It was not until I began researching about the value of literature that I realized its vital contributions to my life and the lives of everyone around me. I found out no matter how often (or not so often) that you read, literature can and will still affect you in a way nothing else can. The value of literature to me can not only be found in what I have learned from reading, but how it has influenced my life. In this essay, I am going to talk about how literature has affected me, and in a small way determined who I am today, and how it has affected my views on certain subjects. Various types of literature have taught me many interesting things about the world, cultures, and most importantly, myself. In addition, I will describe my history as a reader and my plan for reading in the future. Literature has somewhat sculpted me into the person I am today. I believe that children are very easily influenced, and as a child, I was exposed to literature almost every night. I began to read Goosebumps books when I was only five years old. I think that habit has affected my personality because literature is about connecting with the characters on a more-than-personal level, and I feel like I can do that now to my friends better than most people can. I have a great sense of empathy that keeps me from doing anything to anyone that I would not like do to myself. An English teacher named Tim Gillespie, who has studied the value of literature and written many articles about it, concludes: By its truthful portrayal of life's complex moral choices, literature draws us in, submerges us into a story, and summons our imaginative power to identify with characters. Literature thus might be one antidote to the disease of disconnection that afflicts us. Assaulting someone, tagging a wall with spray paint, sexually harassing another, or yelling a racial slur all show incapacity to empathize, to imagine another's deepest responses, to consider the real consequences of actions on others. In the fractious world we inhabit, empathy is a much-needed skill, and literature is a form in which we can practice this skill (Gillespie 61). Assuming this is true, I attribute my empathy to my childhood reading. And who knows what other characteristics and changes to my personality reading has brought me. This is an aspect of reading I think is extremely under rated, and I think it should be more publicly known. When I think about it, there must be a link between empathy and reading at a young age, as my friends who seem to completely lack empathy don't read at all and don't have the strong family values that would support reading, especially at a young age. Empathy is one of the most valuable things literature can offer its readers. Bill Clinton once said that children could not be expected to live a life they cannot imagine. Moreover, there is no better way to expand one's imagination than with reading. The books I enjoy reading involve the protagonist embarking on a long and unlikely journey, which would be impossible for me to experience for myself in real life. However, I feel like by reading about this adventure, in a sense I am experiencing it for myself. There's something about reading that makes it so involving, unlike movies or television where I can become distracted and miss parts of it. Reading requires all of my senses to be focused on the literature, which I believe helps expand my imagination. An article in the magazine World & I states: â€Å"The study of great literature nurtures the learner's imaginative power†¦ and this imaginative power restores us to our real selves†¦ and enriches an inner self. Great literature helps revive what is most precious in our souls† (â€Å"The Enduring Value†). Literature is the key for a healthy imagination. Although literature has, some â€Å"hidden† powers like expanding your imagination and promoting empathy, it serves another obvious purpose, to teach. Literature, fiction or non-fiction, usually has something to offer. A great example of this is A Complicated Kindness. Before reading this novel, I believed the typical stereotype of Mennonites: boring, religious people who shun themselves from the outside world because for some reason, they think their way of life is better than ours. This book taught me how wrong I was. I learned that many of the Mennonite teenagers go through the same troubles and experiences many average Canadian teens go through. I discovered the author grew up as a Mennonite in Manitoba, and although it is by no means a factual memoir, I am still confident, much of the information about the culture and the people's behavior is accurate. Reading the book was much more enjoyable than I had anticipated because I was learning about a new culture and I could in some ways, relate to Nomi, at least much more than I thought I would. Literature was able to teach me about the behind-the-scenes Mennonite lifestyle that I don't think I could learn about anywhere else. In an essay by Cynthia Ozick, she states that â€Å"the pulse and purpose of literature is to reject the blur of the â€Å"universal†; to distinguish one life from another; to illumine diversity; to light up the least grain of being, to show how it is concretely individual, in particularized from any other; to tell, in all the marvel of its singularity, the separate holiness of the least grain. Literature is the recognition of the particular† (Ozick 248). This is saying that literature can help you learn by showing you the hardships and experiences of one person: usually the protagonist. This is especially true with Nomi. Instead of seeing a news special about Mennonite villages helping out by building houses for one another and then living happily ever after, we â€Å"reject the blur of the universal† and â€Å"light up the least grain of being†: Nomi. It was not until grade four or five that I found out how much you can learn from a piece of fiction. I read a book called Under a War Torn, which was the by far the longest book I had read up to that point. It was about a oldier named Henry Forester who found himself behind enemy lines in the World War II. Henry travels through France on a journey to return home, and through the process, I was exposed to all sorts of information about the war. Blitzkriegs, battles, attitudes, and tragedies were some of the important things I learned about which still stick with me today. Even during history class in tenth grade, many of the facts that were taught from the textbook I had already learned through literature . Only this is a special kind of literature called â€Å"historical literature. Patricia Crawford, a professor in the Instruction and Learning department of the University of Pittsburgh, writes about how â€Å"Scholars and practitioners in the field recognize the importance of learning history in ways that actively engage students in their learning. The inclusion of high-quality literature in general and historical fiction in particular, within the social studies curriculum provides a powerful means of facilitating this type of engagement â€Å"(Crawford). I can personally say through my own experiences that historical fiction is an extremely valuable tool that should be included in history curriculums. I do not enjoy reading fact-heavy textbooks, and would much rather read a story that incorporates the information into the plot. This way I will be more absorbed by the writing, and it is more likely I will retain the information. That is why historical literature is so valuable to me. A few years ago, I read a book called The Secret. It had been featured on Oprah and claimed to posses an ancient secret. The secret is that if you wish for something†¦ anything, you will somehow get it. To prove this it uses testimonies and interprets the Laws of Attraction. It went as far as to say â€Å"What you think and what you feel and what actually manifests is ALWAYS a match – no exception† (Byrne 23). If you wish for a shiny new red bicycle, you will be rewarded with one. After hearing about so many people having success with this â€Å"secret†, even though it made no sense scientifically, I decided to read it. In addition, the strange thing is, the more I read into it, the more believable it was. I began trying it out, and sure enough, sometimes it did seem to work. However, deep down I knew it had to be a coincidence. Therefore, I researched it on the internet and realized how completely bogus it was. I realized that only literature has the power to make you believe the impossible. In addition, in a sense, it made the impossible true. I have seen countless interviews with people who swear by it with real stories about how it worked, yet, it is impossible, and I think deep down everybody knows that. This just goes to show the power of literature. I consider myself to have a very high level of common sense, so the fact that I even googled it baffles me. There are many other texts out there that have influenced me along with millions of others, one being The Da Vinci Code. That work of fiction brought down a wave of suspicion based on the Christian religion just because it was written as if it was a true story, and it used real locations and real historical evidence. This just goes to show that literature can influence people's beliefs beyond what should be possible. I feel that literature can help improve my life because it makes me a better learner. Reading and literature force you to make connections and relate things to and to always be thinking, which are skills that allow me to learn things easier. Author Bruce Meyer wrote in one of his books The Golden Thread: A Reader's Through the Great Books: â€Å"Here's the simple truth: nothing prepares us better for reading than reading. Reading is a process not just of assimilating ideas but of learning the skills, the fundamental structures, and the repeated story line that make further reading a richer, more enjoyable and much more powerful experience† (Meyer 4). I feel like the more I read, the easier it is to read and the more inclined I am to read more. During high school, I will admit I fell into a reading slump. I barely read. I was far too busy with football, wrestling, homework, work, and other distractions to be bothered to pick up a book. For the most part, the only books I have read have been in the four English classes I have taken. This may even be what turned me off reading†¦ many of the books I have read in high school are more geared towards girls. The main character is usually a girl, and the conflicts and problems in the book usually do not interest me. However, no matter how busy I am, I think I will always be able to make time for reading. So what is the value of literature to me? I do not think I can put a value on something that helped shape me into the good person I am today. Something that expands my imagination and helps me learn. Something that teaches me about different cultures, and times then those that I'm already familiar with. Something that can influence and persuade me to do great things. Literature is far too powerful to put any value on. And that's why I'll continue to read throughout my life; so I can continue to benefit from all of literature's power. Works Cited Byrne, Rhonda. The Secret. New York: Atria Books/Beyond Words, 2006. Crawford, Patricia A. , and Vicky Zygouris-Coe. â€Å"Those were the days: learning about history through literature. † Childhood Education 84. 4 (Summer 2008): 197(7). Academic OneFile. Gale. Guelph Public Library. 8 Nov. 2008 â€Å"The Enduring Value of Literature. † World & I 11. 5 (May 1996): 282 Gillespie, Tim. â€Å"Why literature matters. † Education Digest 61. 1 (Sep. 1995): 61. Meyer, Bruce. The Golden Thread: A Reader's Through the Great Books. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2000. Ozick, Cynthia. Art & Arder. New York: Random House, 1983.

India on its way to become manufacturing hub

India as WorldS Manufacturing Hub For long, Taiwan and China have been at the outsourcing manufacturing boom in Asia. So much so, that 80% of toys sold in the US are made in China. But things are slowly working in favor of India. India is on its way to become a major contract manufacturing hub. There is a huge opportunity In manufacturing waiting to be tapped. A new India Is transiting from a third world country status to a league of developed nations. It Is the world's third-largest repository for foreign direct investment (FDA), after China and America. Goldman Sash's Report (Brazil, Russia,India, and China – BRICE major players), projects India as a potential winner ahead of China and would overtake U. S. A. And China by 2025 in terms of Real GAP. India- Past & Present The ass's, ass's and ear ass's: There was dominance of Public Sector across industry. The market was mainly governed by sellers with limited competition. There existed closed Economy with negligible presence of multinationals. GAP growth was below 4% (Hindu rate of growth) and primarily agriculture based. India post 1991 and counting: 100% FDA in most sectors has seen Pepsi, Coke, Shell, Ford, GM.Suzuki.. Toyota, Ames, Citibank, GE, Microsoft, Pfizer, Innovation, ASK, Merck operation in India (availability of world class products). A new India is transiting from a third world country status too league of developed nations. Current Scenario: Indian's manufacturing sector Is gaining momentum and has been ranked fourth In terms of textiles, tenth in leather and leather products etc. Government of India, to promote exports and make India a manufacturing hub, has taken various initiatives including the development of Special Economic Zones.Major global companies have already invested in India to name a few like Samsung, LAG, Suzuki, Soda Auto, Philips re among the some who have already invested and most of the global giants have stated the process to enter In India STRENGTH: The country has become a manufacturing outsourcing destination because of cheap labor, talented and knowledgeable workforce, supportive governmental policies, improved quality control measures, world-class technology and consistent economic growth. The most promising sectors for India are auto components, pharmaceuticals, electronic hardware, apparel, foot ware, toys and specially chemicals.Cost of employing engineers – essential to manufacturing services – is en-third to one-fifth lower in India than in industrialized nations such as the UK and the US There is adequate availability of manpower and skills. WEAKNESS: India is growing by leaps and bounds but there is a major problem of unemployment. There is an immediate need to generate 10 million Jobs per year. And above all, due to multi party rule, India need to accommodate political ideology with economic reality (reservation, labor law reforms). Growth has been urban centric.Rigidity in labor laws is also contributing to higher ca pital intensive. Population increase of about 100 million in last 5 years, which has seen about 50 lion new Jobs, is largely in the unrecognized sector. Transaction costs are high due to capacity constraints at ports resulting in delays. Opportunities: India has become a growth destination for several global companies. Organizations are becoming increasingly competitive on the efficiency and flexibility of their supply chains and not merely on their product features and quality.They have realized that being technology driven and updated is the key to compete in the global market. Fastest growing sectors: Automotive: The Indian automobile sector currently generates revenues of $34 billion a year; Auto sector could grow to $145 billion by 2016. India has gradually become a sourcing hub for auto companies worldwide. Among the companies outsourcing from India are General Motors, Ford, Daimler Chrysler, Handy, Fiat, Toyota, Delphi, Invariants, Visited, Cummins and Caterpillar.Healthcare & Pharmacy: Indian's Pharmacy market ranks 4th in the world in volume and 13th in domestic consumption value. Indian pharmacy market estimated at US$ 3. 8 billion ranks 12th in value terms and accounts for around 1% of the global market. Expected to grow at 12-14% p. A. , as against the global average of 6-8%. At the current pace of growth, IIS$ 2 billion industry by 2012. Construction: The Indian construction industry grew by 5. 5 % to reach a value of $35 billion in 2006. The sector will continue to grow at a CARR of 6. 5% to reach $38 billion by 20011 representing an increase of 35. % since 2004. India accounts for 4. 7% of the Asia- Pacific construction and engineering market. Retail: Indian retail industry ranked second most attractive retail destination by AT Carney. The total domestic retail market is currently estimated to be over IIS$ 330 billion and is growing at a rate of 4-6 % in real terms. Organized sector accounts for Just 2 % of he market (I. E. IIS$ 4 billion)- expe cted to grow four-fold to IIS$ 15 billion by 2012. There are 12 million retail outlets in India out of which 9 lack are in the organized sector.Computer hardware: The rapid growth of software exports has attracted thousands of people into the industry and has stimulated the demand for computers. Sales of personal computers rose by 20% in 2004-05, to MN. Import liberation's and the entry of foreign manufacturers has transformed this industry, which, until five years ago, was tiny and dominated by a few Indian manufacturers. The ease of importing components as nurtured hundreds of unbranded assemblers, which command 62% of the market. Biotechnology: Huge potential from large base of skilled technical personal and the lower costs.Number of biotechnology firms in India has increased exponentially over the years. Developing biotech based therapeutic products takes 10-15 years and costs $ 500 million to $1 billion. Similar product development cost in India is $ 250 million or even lower. Opportunity for new investments is estimated to be in the $ 1. 5 to $ 2 billion range. Food processing: India – One of the largest food producers of the world. Output of the organized segment – IIS$ 34,827 million. Marine and Spices together contribute more than 70% of export earnings. Investment requirement is around IIS$ 15 billion.The Indian scientific and research talent – a knowledge source that can be tapped for advantage. Steel: India produced 31. Mm tones of crude steel in 2004-05, making it one of the ten largest steel producers in the world. Landscapes demand from China as well as strong domestic demand, particularly by consumer -durables and automotive manufacturers and the construction sector are the key drivers of production growth. Around 40% of output is produced in integrated steel plants; the remaining comes from mint-plants, of which over 180 exist, almost all in the private sector.Light Engineering: The size of Indian Light Engineering industr y is estimated at US $ 7 billion. In India, the light engineering industry has a diverse industrial base with significant unrecognized market. The exports from the light engineering industry in India mainly consists of structured steel products; motorcycles, cycles and auto components; machine tools; fans, filters and pumps; and metal machine tool parts. The products veered under the engineering industry are largely used as input to the capital goods industry. Textiles: Textiles account for around one -fifth of total export earnings.Because the government discriminated for decades against integrated textile mills, with the aim of helping cottage handloom, most mills closed down. Production in the textile industry is based on a decentralized system with continuing small-scale reservation for many items. The industry has a natural competitive advantage in terms of a strong and large multi-fiber base, abundant cheap skilled labor and presence cross the entire value chain of the industr y ranging from spinning and weaving to the final manufacture of garments. Threat: India faces competition from other developing countries, especially China.Continuous Quality Improvement is need of the hour as there are different demand patterns all over the world. Presence of Quota system leads to rigidity in Export Demand. International labor and Environmental Laws do not strike trade-off between demand and supply. Power crises and the virtuous growth cycling manufacturing sector needs immediate attention. Large informal sector, poor irking condition and low wages pose equal threat to the growth of economy in India. Inclusion of social (Labor) issues in trade dialogues generally found in exports (e. G. Child labor). High corruption and inadequate environmental safety norms affect sustainability. INDIAN'S PROSPECTS: The nations who are competitive with India are facing some or the other predicaments. Brazil is uncomfortable with force inflows and so has given its manufacturing base . Its reluctance was evident in the imposition of a 2 per cent transaction tax on capital flows. Russia is a basket case and unless oil recovers to tuning heights, internal demand is unlikely to resurface any time soon; hence, it has very little potential to attract firms to set up shop.China is not a trusted partner; investors have learnt that China makes it easy to get in but difficult to operate. The lack of protection of hard-earned PR is a major issue in China. Restrictions on borrowing from local banks for working capital can also work as a disadvantage. Reason for optimism of the world towards Indian market: Large intellectual capital base Annual additions to the stock of science and engineering graduates Demand side – Expanding domestic market Total number of households to increase from 188. 2 million in 2001-02 to 221. Million by 2009-10 Benefits to Indian people due to the changing industrial scenario: Enterprises In Wealth Creation Government In Revenue And Employm ent Employees In Development And Increase In Standard Of Living Customers – Value For Money (Choice, Affordability And Speed) From an Indian industry perspective, the emerging situation may drive three trends. Within the next year or two, India should witness growth in demand and hence capacity in manufacturing. The driver will be higher internal demand and, in a short while, the needs of customers overseas.In three or five years, India will have to develop contract manufacturing skills. A supplier must be able to make the components he or she is good at, source components and parts, assemble and test to deliver directly to the manufacturer. This cannot happen in China as the reliability of many firms, except those that have moved with their partners form Singapore or Malaysia, is suspect. In the long term, Indian manufacturers will have to develop and build, design and development partnerships. Many entrepreneurs are considering investments in small power plants to beat the lack of electricity.

Cultural Diversity

Race defines me as Mexican, German, and Irish. My religion defines me as Catholic. My country of birth defines me as American. However, I believe these terms describing me, merely list historical facts and statistics. The fact remains; I belong to these various groups by birth, not choice. I believe I am fortunate that my family instilled the understanding of diversity as far back as I can remember. Each of the people who raised me contributed to my value set in different ways. In addition, and most important, my personal experiences helped me to discover and appreciate diversity. I hail from Santa Ana, California where Hispanics make up 76. 1% of the city’s population, according to the U. S. Census Bureau (2009). In addition, my Mexican American grandparents primarily raised me. The neighborhood I where I lived consisted of fellow Hispanics and distant relatives. The Hispanic influence shaped my strong family values and racial identification. My grandparents truly believe that regardless of circumstance, family is first and above all else. The fact they raised me and still enjoy my company today is a testament to this teaching. Growing up with my grandparents meant, in addition to lifelong allegiance to family, a strong religious set of values. I was sent to Catholic school along with my cousins, taken to mass every Sunday, and prayed the rosary in hopes of keeping me safe from sin. I do appreciate the cost relating to my education; however, I am afraid it only served to strengthen my current beliefs. Specifically, that religious intolerance is unacceptable. Religious beliefs are individual. No religion is correct or incorrect. My grandparents grew up and survived an era of intolerance and prejudice. In spite of their experiences, they instilled in me values of tolerance and acceptance. My father, former â€Å"hippy,† is also responsible for my belief that, a person’s place of birth or color of skin is of no consequence. In my opinion, this teaching is the most valuable and relevant today. My second husband and I am an interracial couple. We share the same values, beliefs, and morals. The only differences we have relate to color and religious background. Thankfully, I was taught to value the person, all else is irrelevant. Through my husband, I learned that familial tradition influences religious and social beliefs. After several debates, I recognized that I was not as open-minded and tolerant as I believed. He helped me to accept myself given both, the negative and positive experiences in my life. Through him, I learned that to accept others, I had to accept myself. For me, this realization was monumental. Whereas I hold close the family values and acceptance taught to me, I realize that my diversity is due to my personal perspective. My grandparents could never teach to me the understanding of addiction. However, my father, through his own addiction taught me sympathy for those suffering from their own conflicts. I wore my father’s addiction as if the addiction were my own until I realized my siblings wore the same shame. I never understood loss of faith until I met a colleague who lost hers. Her experience helped me to understand how people are broken to the point of non-belief. I first married a person most resembling myself in terms of race and religion. However, I learned quickly that these commonalities do equal a match made in heaven. I went to school with people who came from wealth while I suffered poverty. Through these classmates, I learned that money does not magically equal happiness. My experiences do not necessarily relate to a specific culture, but do relate to understanding. I cannot make determinations upon anyone until I have experienced his or her same set of circumstances. I make no distinction between people based on religion, race, nationality, or sexual preference. I believe that each person has a purpose, even those who disturb me. By that, I mean, each person serves to strengthen beliefs or change our minds. Each experience with someone different is an opportunity to learn a new perspective. In my family, we married into various races, befriend people of various beliefs and religions, and enjoy the company of others regardless of association. Cultural diversity, in my opinion, is a two- word phrase describing understanding. I believe that I am not a product of pluralism, for I do not believe that cultural or ethnic values bind us (Kottak & Kozaitis, 2003). Assimilation does not fit my values or beliefs, because I do not believe that a single culture describes my upbringing. I believe that, based on my statistics, I am multicultural. However, based on my beliefs, experiences, and perspectives, I am simply diverse. References U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). State & County QuickFacts. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0669000.html Kottak, C.P., & Kozaitis, K.A. (2003). On Being Different: Diversity and Multiculturalism in the North American Mainstream (2nd ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies Cultural Diversity Race defines me as Mexican, German, and Irish. My religion defines me as Catholic. My country of birth defines me as American. However, I believe these terms describing me, merely list historical facts and statistics. The fact remains; I belong to these various groups by birth, not choice. I believe I am fortunate that my family instilled the understanding of diversity as far back as I can remember. Each of the people who raised me contributed to my value set in different ways. In addition, and most important, my personal experiences helped me to discover and appreciate diversity. I hail from Santa Ana, California where Hispanics make up 76. 1% of the city’s population, according to the U. S. Census Bureau (2009). In addition, my Mexican American grandparents primarily raised me. The neighborhood I where I lived consisted of fellow Hispanics and distant relatives. The Hispanic influence shaped my strong family values and racial identification. My grandparents truly believe that regardless of circumstance, family is first and above all else. The fact they raised me and still enjoy my company today is a testament to this teaching. Growing up with my grandparents meant, in addition to lifelong allegiance to family, a strong religious set of values. I was sent to Catholic school along with my cousins, taken to mass every Sunday, and prayed the rosary in hopes of keeping me safe from sin. I do appreciate the cost relating to my education; however, I am afraid it only served to strengthen my current beliefs. Specifically, that religious intolerance is unacceptable. Religious beliefs are individual. No religion is correct or incorrect. My grandparents grew up and survived an era of intolerance and prejudice. In spite of their experiences, they instilled in me values of tolerance and acceptance. My father, former â€Å"hippy,† is also responsible for my belief that, a person’s place of birth or color of skin is of no consequence. In my opinion, this teaching is the most valuable and relevant today. My second husband and I am an interracial couple. We share the same values, beliefs, and morals. The only differences we have relate to color and religious background. Thankfully, I was taught to value the person, all else is irrelevant. Through my husband, I learned that familial tradition influences religious and social beliefs. After several debates, I recognized that I was not as open-minded and tolerant as I believed. He helped me to accept myself given both, the negative and positive experiences in my life. Through him, I learned that to accept others, I had to accept myself. For me, this realization was monumental. Whereas I hold close the family values and acceptance taught to me, I realize that my diversity is due to my personal perspective. My grandparents could never teach to me the understanding of addiction. However, my father, through his own addiction taught me sympathy for those suffering from their own conflicts. I wore my father’s addiction as if the addiction were my own until I realized my siblings wore the same shame. I never understood loss of faith until I met a colleague who lost hers. Her experience helped me to understand how people are broken to the point of non-belief. I first married a person most resembling myself in terms of race and religion. However, I learned quickly that these commonalities do equal a match made in heaven. I went to school with people who came from wealth while I suffered poverty. Through these classmates, I learned that money does not magically equal happiness. My experiences do not necessarily relate to a specific culture, but do relate to understanding. I cannot make determinations upon anyone until I have experienced his or her same set of circumstances. I make no distinction between people based on religion, race, nationality, or sexual preference. I believe that each person has a purpose, even those who disturb me. By that, I mean, each person serves to strengthen beliefs or change our minds. Each experience with someone different is an opportunity to learn a new perspective. In my family, we married into various races, befriend people of various beliefs and religions, and enjoy the company of others regardless of association. Cultural diversity, in my opinion, is a two- word phrase describing understanding. I believe that I am not a product of pluralism, for I do not believe that cultural or ethnic values bind us (Kottak & Kozaitis, 2003). Assimilation does not fit my values or beliefs, because I do not believe that a single culture describes my upbringing. I believe that, based on my statistics, I am multicultural. However, based on my beliefs, experiences, and perspectives, I am simply diverse. References U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). State & County QuickFacts. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0669000.html Kottak, C.P., & Kozaitis, K.A. (2003). On Being Different: Diversity and Multiculturalism in the North American Mainstream (2nd ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies Cultural Diversity Understanding and Celebrating Cultural Diversity in America ` Many people mistakenly use phrases such as â€Å"American culture,† â€Å"white culture,† or Western culture,† as if such large, common, and homogenous cultures exist in the United States today. These people fail to acknowledge the presence of (1)cultural diversity, or the presence of multiple cultures and cultural differences within a society. In reality, many different cultural groups comprise the United States.The United States of America thrives on (2)diversity. A synthesis of the world’s plentiful and varied (3) races, religions, and cultures, America is a home to all, such that no one group can call itself more â€Å"American† than another. The fusion of cultures here is so unique and so exceptional that citizens can be just as proud of their original (4)cultural heritage as they are to be an American. However, many people remain opposed to the idea of cultural diversity, or multicul turalism.Cultural diversity is important because our country, our workplaces and our schools includes persons of various ethnic groups and interests. We can learn from one another, but first we must have a level of understanding about one another. What is cultural diversity? (5)Diversity is nothing more than a difference from the majority. Cultural diversity helps people to dispel negative stereotypes about one another. In any culture there is a majority and many (6)minorities. (7)Culture is a set of norms that set standards for a (8)society of what is acceptable behavior.Cultural diversity was characteristic of this continent prior to the coming of European colonists and African slaves. Throughout history, humans have expressed an interest in cultural diversity. People have recognized differences in values, (9)norms, beliefs and practices everywhere. Cultural diversity allows for a better understanding of other cultures and ideas. Whenever different groups have come into contact wi th one another, people have compared and contrasted their respective cultural (10)traditions.Societies often differentiated themselves from one another based on these variant cultural patterns. The many separate societies that emerged around the globe differed markedly from each other, and many of these differences persist to this day. As well as the more obvious cultural differences that exist between people, such as language, dress and traditions, there are also significant variations in the way they interact with their environment. Cultural diversity can be seen as analogous to (11)biodiversity.Writings on the diversity of cultures have often been based on (12)ethnocentric attitudes. (13)Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another society by the values and standards of one’s own society. It appears that ethnocentrism is a universal phenomenon. In America, many of us have a peculiar habit of assuming that those who differ from our norms are wrong. We tend to view the w orld from a rather (14)myopic view leading to those outside this country calling us â€Å"ugly Americans†.As humans learn the basic values, (23)beliefs and norms of their own society, they tend to think of their own group and culture as preferable, ranking other cultures as less desirable. In fact, members of a society become so committed to particular cultural traditions that they cannot conceive of any other way of life. Unlike (15)assimilation, where everyone’s differences are lost in a giant melting pot, (16) multiculturalism advocates the idea that maintaining our different cultural identities can enrich us and our communities.Multiculturalism does not promote ethnocentrism or seek to elevate one (24)cultural identity above another. Instead, it celebrates diversity by allowing us to value our individual (17) heritages and beliefs, while respecting those of others. To combat the problem of ethnocentrism, (25)sociologists embrace the concept of (18)cultural relativi sm. Cultural relativism is the view that (26)cultural traditions must be understood within the context of a particular society’s responses to problems and opportunities.Cultural relativism is a method or procedure for explaining and interpreting other people’s cultures. Because cultural traditions represent unique adaptations and symbolic symbols for different societies, these traditions must be understood by sociologists as objectively as possible. Cultural relativism offers sociologists a means of investigating other societies without imposing ethnocentric assumptions. Cultural diversity makes our country richer by making it a more interesting place in which to live.Just think how boring a meal would be without Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Italian, German, French or Indian food. Cultural diversity also makes our country stronger and better able to compete in the new (19)global economy. People from diverse cultures bring language skills, new ways of thinking, and creat ive solutions to difficult problems and negotiating skills. In the past, ethnographers in the United States used to refer to our country as a (20)melting pot where new (21) immigrants would eventually be fully integrated into the American culture.This has obviously not happened so modern researchers have begun to talk about America as a garden salad where different cultural diversity mixes with the European American culture to form a meal where all of the various ingredients are still readily identifiable. As we build our cultural awareness, we also build bridges to trust, respect, and understanding across cultures and within a multicultural world. Every culture and race has made a substantial contribution to American history. Respect for each others’ (27)cultural values and belief systems is an intrinsic part of cultural diversity.Look around and you will see that our society is very diverse. Diversity enriches our lives. People may fear diversity simply because they are acc ustomed to the way things used to be and change makes them uncomfortable. They often view other cultural traditions as strange, alien, inferior, crazy or immoral. But the bottom line is that when we fully recognize that America is great because of the contributions of the many, then we as a people will be even more united in our common goals, and even more proud to be American citizens.Without its rich mixture of religions, races, and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom for all, America acts as a stage where intensely different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but also thrive symbiotically and create a nation. Cultural diversity makes the United States a much more interesting place in which to live for all of its (22)inhabitants. If we all thought alike, looked alike and acted alike, imagine how boring and dull the world would be. Each culture provides its own special and irreplaceable contribution to our un derstanding of America today.No one likes being ignored. People long to be celebrated, not tolerated. They always have and they always will. References Naylor, Larry L. (1997). Cultural Diversity in the United States. Westpoint, CT: Bergin and Garvey. Page 1-10. http://www. diversity-books. com. html Macionis, J. J. (2009). Society: The basics. (12th ed. ). Boston, Ma: Pearson Education Inc. Scupin, Raymond and DeCorse, Christopher. (2012). Anthropology: A Global Perspective. (7th Edition). Boston, Ma: Pearson Education, Inc. Pages 218-220. Cultural Diversity Understanding and Celebrating Cultural Diversity in America ` Many people mistakenly use phrases such as â€Å"American culture,† â€Å"white culture,† or Western culture,† as if such large, common, and homogenous cultures exist in the United States today. These people fail to acknowledge the presence of (1)cultural diversity, or the presence of multiple cultures and cultural differences within a society. In reality, many different cultural groups comprise the United States.The United States of America thrives on (2)diversity. A synthesis of the world’s plentiful and varied (3) races, religions, and cultures, America is a home to all, such that no one group can call itself more â€Å"American† than another. The fusion of cultures here is so unique and so exceptional that citizens can be just as proud of their original (4)cultural heritage as they are to be an American. However, many people remain opposed to the idea of cultural diversity, or multicul turalism.Cultural diversity is important because our country, our workplaces and our schools includes persons of various ethnic groups and interests. We can learn from one another, but first we must have a level of understanding about one another. What is cultural diversity? (5)Diversity is nothing more than a difference from the majority. Cultural diversity helps people to dispel negative stereotypes about one another. In any culture there is a majority and many (6)minorities. (7)Culture is a set of norms that set standards for a (8)society of what is acceptable behavior.Cultural diversity was characteristic of this continent prior to the coming of European colonists and African slaves. Throughout history, humans have expressed an interest in cultural diversity. People have recognized differences in values, (9)norms, beliefs and practices everywhere. Cultural diversity allows for a better understanding of other cultures and ideas. Whenever different groups have come into contact wi th one another, people have compared and contrasted their respective cultural (10)traditions.Societies often differentiated themselves from one another based on these variant cultural patterns. The many separate societies that emerged around the globe differed markedly from each other, and many of these differences persist to this day. As well as the more obvious cultural differences that exist between people, such as language, dress and traditions, there are also significant variations in the way they interact with their environment. Cultural diversity can be seen as analogous to (11)biodiversity.Writings on the diversity of cultures have often been based on (12)ethnocentric attitudes. (13)Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another society by the values and standards of one’s own society. It appears that ethnocentrism is a universal phenomenon. In America, many of us have a peculiar habit of assuming that those who differ from our norms are wrong. We tend to view the w orld from a rather (14)myopic view leading to those outside this country calling us â€Å"ugly Americans†.As humans learn the basic values, (23)beliefs and norms of their own society, they tend to think of their own group and culture as preferable, ranking other cultures as less desirable. In fact, members of a society become so committed to particular cultural traditions that they cannot conceive of any other way of life. Unlike (15)assimilation, where everyone’s differences are lost in a giant melting pot, (16) multiculturalism advocates the idea that maintaining our different cultural identities can enrich us and our communities.Multiculturalism does not promote ethnocentrism or seek to elevate one (24)cultural identity above another. Instead, it celebrates diversity by allowing us to value our individual (17) heritages and beliefs, while respecting those of others. To combat the problem of ethnocentrism, (25)sociologists embrace the concept of (18)cultural relativi sm. Cultural relativism is the view that (26)cultural traditions must be understood within the context of a particular society’s responses to problems and opportunities.Cultural relativism is a method or procedure for explaining and interpreting other people’s cultures. Because cultural traditions represent unique adaptations and symbolic symbols for different societies, these traditions must be understood by sociologists as objectively as possible. Cultural relativism offers sociologists a means of investigating other societies without imposing ethnocentric assumptions. Cultural diversity makes our country richer by making it a more interesting place in which to live.Just think how boring a meal would be without Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Italian, German, French or Indian food. Cultural diversity also makes our country stronger and better able to compete in the new (19)global economy. People from diverse cultures bring language skills, new ways of thinking, and creat ive solutions to difficult problems and negotiating skills. In the past, ethnographers in the United States used to refer to our country as a (20)melting pot where new (21) immigrants would eventually be fully integrated into the American culture.This has obviously not happened so modern researchers have begun to talk about America as a garden salad where different cultural diversity mixes with the European American culture to form a meal where all of the various ingredients are still readily identifiable. As we build our cultural awareness, we also build bridges to trust, respect, and understanding across cultures and within a multicultural world. Every culture and race has made a substantial contribution to American history. Respect for each others’ (27)cultural values and belief systems is an intrinsic part of cultural diversity.Look around and you will see that our society is very diverse. Diversity enriches our lives. People may fear diversity simply because they are acc ustomed to the way things used to be and change makes them uncomfortable. They often view other cultural traditions as strange, alien, inferior, crazy or immoral. But the bottom line is that when we fully recognize that America is great because of the contributions of the many, then we as a people will be even more united in our common goals, and even more proud to be American citizens.Without its rich mixture of religions, races, and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom for all, America acts as a stage where intensely different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but also thrive symbiotically and create a nation. Cultural diversity makes the United States a much more interesting place in which to live for all of its (22)inhabitants. If we all thought alike, looked alike and acted alike, imagine how boring and dull the world would be. Each culture provides its own special and irreplaceable contribution to our un derstanding of America today.No one likes being ignored. People long to be celebrated, not tolerated. They always have and they always will. References Naylor, Larry L. (1997). Cultural Diversity in the United States. Westpoint, CT: Bergin and Garvey. Page 1-10. http://www. diversity-books. com. html Macionis, J. J. (2009). Society: The basics. (12th ed. ). Boston, Ma: Pearson Education Inc. Scupin, Raymond and DeCorse, Christopher. (2012). Anthropology: A Global Perspective. (7th Edition). Boston, Ma: Pearson Education, Inc. Pages 218-220.

Analysis of Peter Pan Essay

In this study, we are going to talk about two histories of Children’s Literature, histories that are part of the history of this literature. The tales we are going to talk about have marked and for sure will mark the the childhood of many children in the world. This tales are â€Å"Peter Pan†, by James Matthew Barrie (1860–1937) who was a Scottish author and dramatist; and â€Å"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz† by Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919), American children’s literature author, playwright and journalist. We are going to talk about their authors, about the time when this books were published and then we are going to analyze in depth the tales, talking about their settings, their characterisation, their narrative progression, their language and their plot. We are going to compare the book with their respective film and finally, we are going to compare â€Å"Peter Pan† with â€Å"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz† stories. 2. MAKING OFF: 1. 19th December: We went to Vallecas’ library. Here we showed us the individual information and we thought about the essay’s structure . We looked for more information about the stories, author, time†¦ Finally, we made the introduction of the work. We took books to take home to complete the individual information. 2. 10th January: We went to Vallecas? library. We had done our individual part and we had seen the two movies. We made together the individual most important parts (setting, narrative, progression, plot †¦) and the comparison between Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz: Similarities and differences. Finally, we made the conclusion of the work. 3. 14th January: We went to the university library. We completed the bibliography on work and finished the index and the title page. 3. PART A – PETER PAN: AUTHOR: JAMES MATTHEW BARRIE James Matthew Barrie, (9 May 1860 – 19 June 1937) was a Scottish author and dramatist, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan. The child of a family of small-town weavers, he was educated in Scotland. He moved to London, where he developed a career as a novelist and playwright. There he met the Llewelyn Davies boys who inspired him in writing about a baby boy who has magical adventures in Kensington Gardens (included in The Little White Bird), then to write Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, a â€Å"fairy play† about this ageless boy and an ordinary girl named Wendy who have adventures in the fantasy setting of Neverland. Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, Angus, to a conservative Calvinist family. Barrie was the ninth child of ten (two of whom died before he was born), all of whom were schooled in at least the three Rs, in preparation for possible professional careers. Barrie wished to pursue a career as an author, but was dissuaded by his family He was to attend a university, but would study literature. He enrolled at the University of Edinburgh, where he wrote drama reviews for Edinburgh Evening Courant. He was extremely introverted, and was shy about the fact he was in college and only approximately five feet. He would go on to graduate with his M. A. on April 21, 1882. Meanwhile, Barrie’s attention turned increasingly to works for the theatre. The production of Barrie’s play at Toole’s Theatre in London was seen by William Archer, the translator of Ibsen’s works into English, who enjoyed the humour of the play and recommended it to others. Barrie travelled in high literary circles, and in addition to his professional collaborators, he had many famous friends. In 1896, his agent, Addison Bright persuaded him to meet with Broadway producer Charles Frohman. Frohman would become not only his financial backer, but a close friend as well. Frohman, who was responsible for producing the debut of Peter Pan in both England and the U. S. , as well as other productions of Barrie’s plays, famously declined a lifeboat seat when the RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic. Actress Rita Jolivet, who stood with Frohman, George Vernon, and Captain Alick Scott at the end, survived the sinking and recalled Frohman paraphrasing Peter Pan: ‘Why fear death? It is the most beautiful adventure that life gives us. Barrie argues that, before birth, all babies are birds, hence the image of Peter was born, a boy, when I was a baby, flew out the window of his room while his mother slept, because he had not lost faith that could fly. Believing be direct bird flew back to Kensington Gardens, where the serpentine lake within which lies the island of birds, also called â€Å"Neverland. † Peter Pan quickly overshadowed his previous work and although he continued to write successfully, it became his best-known work, credited with popularizing the name Wendy, which was very uncommon previously. Barrie unofficially adopted the Davies boys following the deaths of their parents. Before his death, he gave the rights to the Peter Pan works to Great Ormond Street Hospital, which continues to benefit from them. The first appearance of Peter Pan came in The Little White Bird, which was serialised in the United States, then published in a single volume in the UK in 1901. TIME: Although James Barrie was born in Scotland, he moved to London, where he developed a career as a novelist and playwright. In England, the queen Victoria had the longest reign with 64 years of government in the history of the British monarches, and the cultural, political, economic, industrial and scientific changes that happened during his reign were notable. When Victory ascended to the throne, England was essentially agrarian and rural; to his death, the country was highly industrialized. Between 1860 and 1870 the industrial revolution happens. The children must go to the school, but families need money, some children don? t go to school. For this one installs a Foster? s Law (1870): Obligatory education. Children to be educated at school. The literature was a very popular way of amusing itself in the Victorian Epoch and big writers arose. In children? s literature, the writers write for girls and for boys. Normally, woman writer write for girls. The type of book for girls is a domestic history: In house, with a family†¦ The type of book for boys is an adventure books. These topics were faraway places. The girls read adventure? s books hidden. In 1854 Charles Dickens publishes Oliver Twist. This book is a very famous because is a real boy the center of novel. This is a big innovation.