Friday, December 27, 2019

A Comparison of Religion in Sir Gawain and Green Knight...

Role of Religion in Sir Gawain and Othello Respect for religion and government is an important part of any country, but what happens to a country when these values begin to change? England was beginning to go through this change in 1603 when Othello was written by William Shakespeare. Comparing the religious themes and heroes of Othello to the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which was written during the Middle English era, will demonstrate just how far England had come. Both heroes are clearly religious, but Gawain maintains his faith until the end, while Othello falls into the snare of temptation. The spiritual hero of Middle English is quite different from the tragic hero of the Machiavellian era.†¦show more content†¦(753-762) Immediately after this, his prayer is answered, and fittingly he offers his thanks / To Jesus and Saint Julian(773-74). His ride to the Green Knights castle is called a holy ride, and he gives honor to not only Christ, but Mary and Saint Julian as well. He almost comes off as self-righteous with his request from Mary for a place to stay so he could hear mass. He doesnt ask for a place to stay so he does not have to sleep on his horse, he asks for a place to stay so he can hear mass. He is not saying a prayer for good luck. It says he prays, with all his might. He really believes that his prayers will make a difference. He is not the only one because immediately his prayer is answered. This description demonstrates a religious or spiritual hero who depends on his spirituality to get him through tough times. This is further supported by the narrative because it appears in this story that Gawains prayer pays off. Religion is addressed extensively in the story of Othello as well. Even though Othello comes from Africa, a pagan land, he demonstrates Christian faith. For example, when Othello finds that Montano and Cassio have been fighting he says: Why, how now ho! From whence ariseth this? Are we turned Turks, and to

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Shortage Of Donated Organs And The Issues With The...

Dying painfully in a hospital bed is not the way anyone wants to go. Unfortunately for many people, it is a reality. Thousands of people a year end up dying while waiting for an organ that could save their lives. While on the other side of the world, thousands of people die a year, but from infection when an organ is forcefully taken from them to sell on the black market. There are two sides of the organ donation list, and both can end in death. This paper will discuss the shortage of donated organs and the issues with the current donation system. It will also discuss the black market for transplant organs and possible solutions to viable organ shortage. The focus of this paper will be on transplant kidneys as they are the most desirable organ for buyers and sellers. In order to be eligible for an organ donation list, you must be in end-stage organ failure. This means that one of the patient’s organs has not been working for a while and it is impossible for them to live without some kind of help or transplant. For many patients, end-stage organ failure can come as a shock even if they have known for months that one of their organs was failing. With kidneys, this means the patients are put on dialysis if they are not already. Dialysis is a process that mechanically helps to do the things that the kidneys normally do. This can include filtering waste and toxins out of the body. Many organs can be transplanted from living and dead donors, including kidneys, heart, lung,Show MoreRelatedOrgan Donation And The Ethical Implications1441 Words   |  6 Pagesbecoming an organ donor can save lives and improve the quality of life of the recipient. When an individual is in need of an organ transplant, it is typically known that they are in need of an organ that facilitates a restoration of physiological functioning and will often mean the difference between life and death. A vast majority of individuals are apprehensive about what happens to their bodies after their death. In this paper we will go through the origins and history of organ donation, the processRead MoreThe Importance of Promoting Organ Donations Essay1182 Words   |  5 Pagesthe globe thousands of people are placed on a waiting list to receive an organ transplant, for some people the waiting process can be very long, and for others it can be short. To many people having someone give a gift of an organ donation is known has a second chance, a fresh start, and a new beginning at living a normal life again. Every year people on the wait list increase in numbers due to lack of organ donation shortages therefore, finding a donor becomes difficult because in order to receiveRead MoreThe Key to Solving The American Organ Allocation Essay1665 Words   |  7 Pageslungs came available in time. Organ allocation in the United States of America has become a heavily debated subject in the medical field as well as the political and ethical fields. There is no doubt that there is a shortage of organs in the United States. In order to increase organ supply the American Department of Health should integrate the effective allocation policies of some European countries such as Spain and Austria. These policies include: who receives organs, an opt-out program, and de-regionalizedRead MoreAdvantages Of An Opt Out Organ Donation System1724 Words   |  7 PagesThe advantages and disadvantages of an opt-out organ donation system for 16 years and older in New Zealand. Introduction: Although anyone can donate their organs after death, New Zealand New Zealand’s organ donation rate is considerably lower compared to other courtiers in the world. According Organ Donation New Zealand (2017), there are approximately 550 people on current transplant waiting lists. In 2016 there were 61 donors resulting in approximately 200 transplant operations (ODNZ, 2017). AsRead MoreEthics and Organ Donation1598 Words   |  7 PagesEthics Analysis Paper Ethical Issues Related to Organ Donations In 1983 Dr H Barry Jacobs, a physician from Virginia, whose medical license had been revoked after a conviction for Medicare mail-fraud, founded International Kidney Exchange, Ltd. He sent a brochure to 7,500 American hospitals offering to broker contracts between patients with end-stage-renal-disease and persons willing to sell one kidney. His enterprise never got off the ground, but Dr Jacobs did spark an ethicalRead MoreFinancial Incentives on Organ Donation1582 Words   |  7 PagesMore than 100,000 men, women and children in need of life-saving organ transplants, every 10 minutes another person is added to the national organ transplant waiting list and averages of 18 people die each day from the lack of available organs. (donatelife.net) Organ transplants are very important because they replace the damaged organ and help the body function once again. There are still huge shortages of organs, even after awareness and other ways of educating the public. Some Americans are open Read MoreThe Ethical Issue Surrounding Organ Transplantation2459 Words   |  10 PagesOutline Title: The Ethical Issues Surrounding Organ Transplantation Abstract With organ transplants so prevalent in today’s society, it is important that the ethical issues surrounding them are fully understood. While many people want to see life extended as long as possible, there are others who believe life must be allowed to run its natural course. This literature review examines the process of organ transplantation from continuous shortages of available organs to the distribution processRead MoreThe Current Organ Donation System1482 Words   |  6 Pagesfor an organ donation. That is six people every hour, 144 every day, and 1008 every week. Approximately 120 thousand people need an organ transplant to survive. Of all of those people, only 79 thousand people are on an active wait list, while only 20 thousand transplantations have been completed this year. There are not enough donors to meet the current organ demand, and of those that do donate organs, the costs incurred by the donor do not equal the benefits. The current organ donation syst em operatesRead MoreOrgan Donation1872 Words   |  8 Pages Great advances in the science of organ transplantation have made it possible for many lives to be saved from conditions that would have otherwise been considered fatal. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good general health can be organ donors. Thanks to these scientific advances, living donors are now able to donate entire kidneys and portions of other regenerative organs such as the intestine, liver, lung, and pancreas. Full portions of these organs as well as others, such as bones,Read MoreThe Organ Trafficking Epidemic Essay1111 Words   |  5 Pagesindividuals partake in organ trafficking which shows that organ trafficking is a valid issue that must be handled. As of now, U.S. citizens are not prohibited to buy organs outside of the United States by NOTA (National Organ Transplant Act of 1984). In â€Å"Can The Government Ban Organ Sale? Recent Court Challenges And The Future Of US Law On Selling Human Or gans And Other Tissue†, Glenn I. Cohen states that â€Å". . . if a US citizen travels abroad to buy a kidney or other organ his act is not prohibited

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Consumer Behaviour Social Factors

Question: Discuss about theConsumer Behaviourfor Social Factors. Answer: Introduction Consumer behaviour is affected by various factors like cultural factors, social factors, personal factors and psychological factors. Consumers get influenced by motivations and behaviour because of which they tend to choose various products and brands in the market. Every brand has various factors which it considers in order to adapt its products and marketing strategies in order to attract its customers. With respect to the product category, consumption changes with people in different regions of the world. In this report we would analyse effects of major industries like Gym/fitness, Pay TV like Netflix, Presto, Foxtel and Stan and eating out in restaurants with respect to Present longer life span of senior citizen, the Baby boomers generation who are approaching retirement but with money to spend, Generation X with a growing family household and a huge mortgage (need to be tight with money and Present smaller family unit and more "single adult" households. Analysis Gym/Fitness Present Longer Life Span of Senior Citizen Seniors have been living longer with a greater focus on building muscle and losing fat in order to maintain their health efficiently (senior journal 2016). In cases where the elderly people want to live longer and avoid any of the health issues like heart diseases, they would have to make an effort towards maintaining their health. The Gym and fitness industry can focus on marketing their products with an attention to promoting body mass of the elders in order to maintain their health. The Baby Boomers Generation who are Approaching Retirement but with Money to Spend This category of the community can afford a lifestyle and can try different methods of living a healthy life. With this category of Consumers, the product brands can introduce different plans where the Senior Citizens can enrol themselves and try the brand (Perreau nd).With these programs in place, the Gym and fitness companies will have different categories of Consumers enrolled in their programs. Generation X with a Growing Family Household and a Huge Mortgage The consumer buying patterns are largely influenced by the social classes where this category of people who are overloaded with responsibilities opt for decent choices of lifestyle however cant afford to spend on additional sources of physical activities. Consumers are more receptive to the products which are suitable to their lifestyles. Single Adult Households Similar is the case with single adult households where they might not have the ability to spend on additional luxuries in life. Pay TV Like Netflix Present Longer Life Span of Senior Citizen There are some products which essentially are promoted using the cultural changes than performing the need analysis. For example, TV Channels are a source of entertainment than a requirement. People from various classes have different tastes of buying products. According to some researchers, behaviour and buying patterns also represent a way of social class. Brands have also started creating different TV Shows in order to attract various categories of audience where they might not always have a similar taste in watching the TV shows. If health and well being is promoted adequately on TV shows, the elderly people who are generally retired at their age group can possibly choose a specific TV Brand in order to be engaged during their day. The Baby Boomers Generation who are Approaching Retirement but with Money to Spend This category of Consumers belongs to a specific social class where they can afford to spend and are also probably not choosy in terms of picking and paying for a specific channel. This class of Consumers might choose a total package in order have a wide choice of entertainment as they are already in a position to afford the complete set of channels (Ray 2009). Generation X with a Growing Family Household and a Huge Mortgage As we have discussed that the consumer buying patterns of this class of people are largely influenced by the social factors, this category of people have different responsibilities where they might not be able to opt for higher choices of leading a lifestyle. This is applicable because these people cant afford to spend on additional sources of physical activities. These Consumers especially are more attracted to the products which might not demand additional investment. Single Adult Households Single adult households might not have the luxury of time in order to watch TV shows and in cases where they have children it becomes more difficult to take care of the family. Eating Out in Restaurants Present Longer Life Span of Senior Citizen Eating out in restaurants is a trend of a culture where people belonging to a specific class practice this throughout. In general, an individual is influenced by his family and their values and the community in which they are raised in (Perner 2008). Eating out in restaurants is a preference than a need for an individual where as it portrays the common behaviour of a person and his culture (Brosekhan Dr. Velayutham nd). For example people from the West have a common practice to have friends in a get together during the week ends where they have a drink or dinner together. People of the senior category might refrain from these practices as they are elderly and they might want to pay a greater attention to their health. The Baby Boomers Generation Who are Approaching Retirement but with Money to Spend This category of people as discussed, can afford a richer lifestyle and they have the luxury of spending towards their entertainment and relaxation (Birchall 2009). This also includes their family outings and dining out with their friends and family. The Restaurants have introduced various offers in terms of catering to the needs of different types of consumers in order to grow their business. Famous Restaurants like Mc Donalds has introduced menu plans in order to satisfy their consumers with different lifestyles. Generation X with a Growing Family Household and a Huge Mortgage Like the industries mentioned earlier, this category of consumers have a streamlined way of living where they cant deviate from their plan of spending a lot. The Restaurants, especially the fast food chains have tailored their menu plans in order to suit different classes of people, where they offer combination menus and they tailor their orders by deducting the drinks from the main food order. This way the Consumers would have to pay less than the original cost of the complete order (Seidman 2013, Loudon Della 2008). Single Adult Households This specific category of people also have a stricter regime in terms of their lifestyle where they probably would not choose to go out and dine for various reasons where their children might also get affected by looking at families which are more fortunate. Part B The newer trends in demographics are the women and increase in ageing where these factors have revolutionised various industries in the market. Entry of women into workforce in large numbers has increased the longevity of the business beyond the conventional number of years in the industry. Innovation is the major factor which has been driving the markets in terms of sustaining the products (Watrous 2009). In order to attract large numbers of Consumers irrespective of a specific demographic trend like geographic trends and age groups, the companies should provide a greater flexibility in terms of work and schedules for their Employees (Hawkins, Best Mukherjee 2007). Upward pull marketing is another latest trend which can be introduced by all the food chain restaurants where they can differentiate the products in terms of the upper class consumers and the middle class consumers (Radha Krishna 2006). The same can be applied to the TV channel subscriptions where the channel grouping could be different from the ones of the upper class and the middle class consumers. Conclusion The marketing function has seen a major shift in terms of applying various principles of consumer marketing depending on the consumer behavioural patterns which we have analysed based on the consumer behaviour. In the process of developing a better marketing program, examining various changes in peoples behaviours with respect to the long term impact of the business helps the organizations to a great extent. The effects of changing consumer behaviours on the performance of organizations has been analysed throughout the report. References Senior journal 2016, Seniors live longer with more focus on building muscle than losing weight, Viewed on 22nd Sep 2016, https://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Fitness/2016/20160422_Seniors%20live%20longer%20with%20more%20focus%20on%20building%20muscle.htm Perreau, F nd, The Factors Influencing Consumer Behaviour, Viewed on Sep 22nd 2016, https://theconsumerfactor.com/en/4-factors-influencing-consumer-behavior/ Brosekhan, A Dr. Velayutham C nd, Consumer Buying Behaviour A Literature Review, Viewed on Sep 22nd 2016, https://iosrjournals.org/iosr-jbm/papers/ncibppte-volume-1/1014.pdf Hawkins, D, Best J.R, Coney, A.K Mukherjee, A 2007, Consumer Behaviour, Tata McGraw-Hill. Radha Krishna, G 2006, Consumer Behaviour, The ICFAI University Press, 2006, Page 50-51. Birchall, J 2009, Wal-Mart Looks to Hispanic Market in Expansion Drive, Financial Times, 18 Kotler, P. Gary, A 2005, Principles of Marketing, Prentice Hall of India. Watrous, L 2009, Illegals: The New N-Word in America, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9B. Loudon, D L. Bitta A. J Della., 2008, Consumer Behaviour, Fourth ed. McGraw-Hill 8-9. Perner, L 2008, Food Marketing, Viewed on Sep 22nd 2016, https://www.consumerpsychologist.com/food_marketing.html. Ray, W 2009, Miley Strikes Back, Billboard, June 27, 78. Seidman, D 2013, How Will Changing Demographics in the US Influence Business in the Coming Decade, Viewed on 22nd Sep 2016, https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303562904579228000262387472.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Sociology Research Paper on Jats Essay Example

Sociology Research Paper on Jats Paper The  Jat people  are a historical  Aryan-Scythian tribal group native to the Punjab, Kashmir, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Balochistan, Haryana,  Himachal Pradesh,  Uttar Pradesh  and  Rajasthan. The total population of the Jats is 33 million. The regions with significant populations are India and Pakistan. The main languages spoken by the Jats are Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, Haryanvi and Gujrati. Jats follow three main religions; Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. Their related ethnic groups are other Indo-Aryan people. On  demographics, the  Encyclopedia Brittanica  states that: In the early 21st century the Jat constituted about 20 percent of the population of  Punjab, nearly 10 percent of the population of  Balochistan, Rajasthan, and Delhi, and from 2 to 5 percent of the populations of Sindh, Northwest Frontier, and  Uttar Pradesh. The four million Jats of Pakistan  are mainly  Muslim  by faith; the nearly six million Jats of India are mostly divided into two large castes of about equal strength: one  Sikh, concentrated in Punjab, the other  Hindu. The name  Jat  has frequently been connected to the names of the  Getae  and  Massagetae, beginning with  James Tod  in 1829. This suggests that the ultimate origin of the Jat tribal group was in the  Indo-Scythian period of about 200 BC to AD 400. G. C. Dwivedi writes in his book ‘The Jats, their role in the Mughal Emprie’, that the Persian  Mojmal al-tawarikh  mentions Jats and  Meds  as the descendants of Ham (son of Noah), living in  Sind  on the banks of the river  Bahar. Origins: The Jats have apparently formed during the centuries following the collapse of the  Kushan Empire, during the early medieval period. We will write a custom essay sample on Sociology Research Paper on Jats specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sociology Research Paper on Jats specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sociology Research Paper on Jats specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer They are said to be the product of an admixture of  Indo-Scythian  elements to local  Indo-Aryan  groups. An international collaboration led by Manir Ali of the  Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, first identified the ‘Jat’  mutation  in one of four  Pakistani  families. Further study amongst  Roma  populations in  Europe  showed that the same  mutation  accounted for nearly half of all cases of PCG [Primary congenital glaucoma] in that community. Manir Ali’s research also confirms the widely accepted view that the  Roma  originated from the Jat clan of  Northern India  and  Pakistan  and not from  Eastern Europe  as previously believed. There is some evidence connecting the Jats and the  Romani people, the descendants of Indo-Aryan groups which emigrated from India towards Central Asia during the medieval period. There are serological similarities shared with several populations that linked the two people in a 1992 study. History There are very few records concerning Jats prior to the 17th century. There are records of  Jat states in Rajasthan  (the north Rajasthan region, then known as  Jangladesh). It is not known when Jat people established themselves in the Indian desert. By the 4th century they had spread to the  Punjab. After this, foreign invaders had to encounter with the Jats of this region. The whole of the region was composed of seven cantons namely  Punia,  Sihag,  Godara,  Saran,  Beniwal,  Johiya  and  Kaswan. Besides these cantons there were several clans of Jats, simultaneously wrested from Rajput proprietors for instance Bagor, Kharipatta, Mohila or Mehila, K. R. Qanungo writes that when  Muhammad bin Qasim  invaded  Sindh, the  Kaikan  region in  Sindh  was an independent possession of the Jat people. In addition to frequent interaction with Jats (who for them represented Indians), the first Arab invasions of  Persia  and  Sindh  were met by the Jat people. According to  Thakur Deshraj  and Cunningham, Jat people of the  Panwhar  clan ruled  Umerkot  in  Sindhprior to Mughal ruler  Humayun. The Susthan region in Sindh was ruled by Chandra Ram, a Jat of  Hala clan. Chandra Ram lost his kingdom (known as Halakhandi) to the Muslim invaders sent by  Muhammad bin Qasim. There is no information of any important Jat state during the two centuries following  Kushan  rule. However, in the beginning of the fifth century, there is evidence of the Jat ruler  Maharaja Shalinder  ruling from Shalpur (the present-day  Sialkot); his territory extended from  Punjab  to  Malwa  and  Rajasthan. This is indicated by the Pali inscription obtained by  James Tod  from village  Kanswa in  Kota  state in year 1820 AD. Jat uprising and aftermath In 1699, the Jat people of the  Gokula  region around  Mathura  rebelled against the powerful  Mughal  rulers. The rebellion resulted from political provocation aggravated by the economic discontent, and further aggravated by the religious persecution and discrimination. In the disorder following  Aurangzebs death in 1707, the Jat resistance resumed, organized under the leadership of Churaman (1695–1721). Churamans nephew,  Badan Singh  (1722–1756), established a kingdom centered at  Deeg, from which he extended his rule over  Agra  and Mathura. Badan Singhs eldest son and successor,  Maharaja Suraj Mal  (1707–1763), extended his kingdom to include Agra,Mathura,  Dholpur,  Mainpuri,  Hathras,  Aligarh,  Etawah,  Meerut,  Rohtak  (including  Bhiwani), Farrukhnagar,  Mewat,  Rewari  and  Gurgaon. He has been described as one of the greatest Jat rulers. Suraj Mal moved the capital from Deeg to  Bharatpur  in 1733. Rustam, a Jat king of the Sogariya clan, had previously laid the foundation of the modern city of Bharatpur. During the British Raj, the princely state of Bharatpur covered an area of 5,123  km2, and its rulers enjoyed a salute of 17 guns. The state acceded to the  dominion of India  in 1947. Jat states of the 18th century The city of  Gohad  was founded in 1505 by the Jats of Bamraulia village, who had been forced to leave Bamraulia by a  satrap  of  Firuz Shah Tughluq. Gohad developed into an important Jat state, and was later captured by the  Marathas. The Jat people of Gohad signed a treaty with the British and helped them capture  Gwalior  and Gohad from the  Marathas. The British kept  Gwalior  and handed control of Gohad to Jat people in 1804. Gohad was handed over to the Marathas under a revised treaty dated 22 November 1805 between the Marathas and the British. As a compensation for Gohad, the Jat ruler Rana  Kirat Singh  was given  Dhaulpur, Badi and Rajakheda; Kirat Singh moved to Dhaulpur in December 1805. In the 10th century, the Jat people took control of Dholpur, which had earlier been ruled by the  Rajputs and the  Yadavs. Dholpur was taken by  Sikandar Lodhi  in 1501, who transferred it to a  Muslim  governor in 1504. In 1527, the Dholpur fort fell to  Babur  and continued to be ruled by the  Mughals  until 1707. After the death of the Mughal emperor  Aurangzeb, Raja Kalyan Singh Bhadauria obtained possession of Dholpur, and his family retained it until 1761. After that, Dholpur was taken successively by the Jat ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal  of Bharatpur; by Mirza Najaf Khan in 1775; by the  Scindia  ruler of Gwalior in 1782; and finally, by the  British East India Company  in 1803. It was restored by the British to the Scindias under the Treaty of Sarji Anjangaon, but in consequence of new arrangements, was again occupied by the British. In 1806, Dholpur again came under the Jat rulers, when it was handed over to Kirat Singh of Gohad. Dholpur thus became a  princely state, a vassal of the British during the Raj. Ballabhgarh  was another important princely state established by the Jat people of the  Tewatia  clan, who had come from Janauli village. Balram Singh, the brother-in-law of  Maharaja Suraj Mal  was the first powerful ruler of Ballabhgarh. Raja Nahar Singh  (1823–1858) was another notable king of this princely state. Other Jat states of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries included  Kuchesar  (ruled by the  Dalal  Jat clan of Mandoti, Haryana), and the  Mursan  state (the present-day Hathras district in  Uttar Pradesh) ruled by the  Thenua  Jats. The Jat people also briefly ruled at  Gwalior  and  Agra. The Jat rulers  Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana  (1707–1756) and  Maharaja Chhatar Singh Rana  (1757–1782) occupied the Gwalior fort twice, Maharaja Bhim Singh Rana from 1740 to 1756, and Maharaja Chhatra Singh Rana from 1780 to 1783. Maharaja Suraj Mal captured Agra Fort on 12 June 1761 and it remained in the possession of Bharatpur rulers till 1774. After Maharaja Suraj Mal,  Maharaja Jawahar Singh,  Maharaja Ratan Singh  and  Maharaja Kehri Singh  (minor) under resident ship of  Maharaja Nawal Singh  ruled over  Agra Fort. Sikh States Patiala  and  Nabha  were two important Sikh  states in  Punjab, ruled by the Jat-Sikh  people of the  Siddhu  clan. The  Jind  state in present-day Haryana was founded by the descendants of Phul Jat of  Siddhu  ancestry. These states were formed with the Military assistance of the 6th Sikh Guru, known as Guru Har Gobind. The rulers of  Faridkot  were  Brar  Jat Sikhs. The princely state of Kalsia was ruled by  Sandhu  Jat Sikhs. Maharaja Ranjit Singh  (1780–1839) of the  Sandhawalia Jat clan (other historians assert a Sansi Caste lineage to Maharaja Ranjit Singh though it is dubitable given that his mother can definitely be traced to coming from a Jat family) of Punjab became the  Sikh  emperor  of the  sovereign  country of Punjab  and the  Sikh Empire. He united the Sikh factions into one state, and conquered vast tracts of territory on all sides of his kingdom. From the capture of  Lahore  in 1799, he rapidly annexed the rest of the Punjab. To secure his empire, he invaded  North-West Frontier Province  (NWFP) (which was then part of  Afghanistan), and defeated the  Pathan  militias and tribes. Ranjit Singh took the title of Maharaja on April 12, 1801 (to coincide with  Baisakhi  day). Lahore served as his capital from 1799. In 1802 he took the city of  Amritsar. In the year 1818, Ranjit Singh successfully invaded  Kashmir. Conversion of the Jats to Islam The earliest mention of Jats can be found in the Arabic book  Chach Nama  also known as the Fateh nama Sindh and Tarekh-e-Hind wa Sindh. During the Arab invasion of Sind by  Muhammad bin Qasim  the Jats belonged to the Buddhist faith and were suffering severe hardships under the Brahman ruler Chach. It is recorded that the Jats at first fought against  Muhammad bin Qasim  but later joined his forces against the then ruler  Dahir (Raja)  and this also lead to the conversion of the Jats to the Islamic faith. But most of the Punjabi Muslim Jats trace their conversion to Islam at the hands of Sufi saints like Baba  Fariduddin Ganjshakar  in the 12th century. The total Muslim Jat population as per statistics is 32,705,000. The common languages spoken by Muslim Jats are Punjabi, Siraiki, Urdu, Sindhi and English. Muslim Jat Folklore Muslim Jats gave birth to romances such as  Heer Ranjha  and  Mirza Sahiba  which are sung by all Jats and have been immortalised in  Waris Shahs  poetry book Heer that tells the story of the love of Heer and her lover Ranjha. Distribution Historically, Muslim Jat clans predominated in western  Punjab, in areas which now are found in  Pakistan. Traditionally, the districts of: Gujranwala,  Shaikhupura,  Lahore,  Sialkot,  Jhang,  Bahawalpur,  Multan,  Muzaffargarh,  Sahiwal,  Sargodha, and  Gujrat  were seen as strongholds of the Jats. Major Jat clans predominated in this region, including the  Bajwa,  Basra,  Malhi,  Goraya,  Heer, Chahal Jats,  Cheema,Chatha,  Dudhra,  Sandhu,  Gill,  Janjua,  Ghuman,  Khera,  Kahloon,  Dhillon,  Dawana,  Dhudhi,  Bhangu,  Virk,  Lodhra,  Gondal,  Sidhu,  Sulehria,Hundet,  Sial,  Randhawa,  Nanda,  Daha,  Noon,  Khar,  Manes,  Naich,  Pansota,  Waraich, and  Jajja. The  Ghuman  Daha  and the  Noon  would sometimes call themselves Rajputs, sometimes Jat. The  Pothohar  region is home to many tribes with multiple identities. For example,  Dhamial,  Janjua,Langrial,  Chhina  and  Bangial  would in some instances call themselves  Rajputs, and other instances call themselves Jats. In Jhelum District, Jat identity was fairly strong, and these tribes tend to consider themselves  Jats. In the Bar regions, i. e. , the plains between  Ravi  and  Chenab  rivers (the  Sandal Bar,  Kirana Bar  and  Neeli Bar), the term Jat referred to any nomadic pastoralist, and the  Kharal,  Wattu,  Manes,  Sials,  Kathia  and  Johiya  would sometimes call themselves Rajputs, sometimes Jat. TheWaseer,  Dhami  and  Wahiniwal  clans were the only ones who only called themselves Jats. In the 19th century, the British settled several Jats from central Punjab, including many from  Amritsar,  Gurdaspur  and  Jalandhar, into the Bar region, creating the modern canal colony districts of Faisalabad and Sahiwal. In the south of Punjab, there were several  Saraiki-speaking  Jat  clans, such as the  Jakhar,  Khar,  Daha,  Dhandla,  Makwal,  Bohar,  Ghallu,Kanju,  Samtia  and  Sandhila. Eastern Punjab (Indian Punjab) was also home to a number of Muslim Jat clans, and almost all the major clans (such as the  Sandhu,  Sidhu,Heer,  Maan,  Dhami,  Dhillon,  Gill  and had Muslim branches, although these clans were predominantly  Sikh. After independence of  Pakistan  in 1947, nearly all Jat Muslims of  East Punjab,  Haryana  and other parts of  northern India  migrated from India and settled in Pakistan. The  Muley Jat, who originate from  Haryana  also form a distinct group. Districts of Punjab Most of the Jat clans are concentrated in particular districts, with the exception of the Jat clans that came as refugees after independence of Pakistan in 1947. Major Jat clans Below are brief descriptions of the main Jat clans in Punjab. * Aheer * Ahlawat * Arar * Arnyal * Assoun * Athru * Atwal * Aulakh * Bachal * Badhan * Baghar * Baidwan * Bains Bajwa * Bal * Bandecha * Bangial * Baryar * Basra * Batth * Bhachar * Bhadiar * Bhagwal * Bhalli * Bhangu * Bhidwal * Bhinder * Bhukar * Bhullar * Bhutta * Bohar * Boparai * Buttar * Chadhar * Chahal * Chatha * Chattar * Chohan * Cheema * Chhachhar * Chhajra * Chhina * Dab * Daha * Dahba * Daher * Dandiwal * Dawana * Deo * Dhaliwal * Dhamial * Dhandla * Dhandu * Dhanoa * Dharni * Dhoot * Dhotar * Dhudhi * Dosanjh * Duggal * Ghallu * Ghuman * Gill * Godara * Gondal * Goraya * Grewal * Gujjral * Hal * Hamooka * Hanjra * Hans * Heer * Hundal * Hunjan * Jai * Jajja * Jakhar * Jandral * Jandran * Jhammat Jhawari * Jhujh * Johal * Juta * Kadher * Kahlon * Kallu * Kalhora * Kalyal * Kalyar * Kang * Kanyal * Kathia * Khaira * Khar * Khatarmal * Khatri * Khingar * Khoti * Kianth * Kohja * Korotaneh * Lak * Lalli * Langrial * Lehal (also spelled Lehel, Lahal, Lehl, Lel or Lahil) * Lidhar * Lodhra * Lodike * Lohanch * Lurka * Makhdoom * Maan * Mahil * Mahra * Maitla * Majoka * Makwal * Mallana * Malhi * Malik * Mamyal * Manda * Mangat * Manjotha * Marath * Marhal * Marral * Marrar * Matharu * Mathyal * Mekan * Nanda * Nagra * Nagyal * Naich * Nain * Narwa/Narma * Naswana  or Nissowana * Nathyal * Natt Naul * Nonari * Noon * Padda * Pannun * Pansota * Parhar * Phogat * Randhawa * Ranjha * Ranu * Ranyal * Sagla * Sahi * Sahotra * Samra * Samtia * Sandhal * Sandhila * Sandhu * Sangha * Sarai * Saroya * Sial * Sidhu * Sikhana * Sipra * Sohal * Soomra * Takhar * Talokar/Thalokar * Tatlah * Tatri * Thaheem * Thathal * Tiwana * Toor * Tulla * Uppal * Uttera * Utra * Ves Jats * Virk * Wahiniwal * Waiha * Wahla * Waraich * Waseer Jat Culture and Society The life and culture of Jats is full of  diversity  and approaches most closely to that ascribed to the traditional Central Asian  colonists of South Asia. The Jat lifestyle was designed to foster a  martial  spirit. Whenever they lost their kingdoms, Jat people retired to the country-side and became landed barons and the landlords with their swords girded round their waists. They would draw the sword out of the scabbard at the command of their  panchayat  to fight with the invaders. Jat people have a history of being brave and ready fighters. They are fiercely independent in character and value their self respect more than anything, which is why they offered heavy resistance against any foreign force that treated them unjustly. They are known for their pride, bravery and readiness to sacrifice their lives in battle for their people and kinsmen. In the government of their villages, they appear much more democratic. They have less reverence for hereditary right and a preference for elected headmen. Jat OBC demand Hindu Jats have been given Other Backward Class in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttrakhand and Delhi. But had been excluded from the list in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. Jats especially from Haryana wants OBS status given to them as they feel that they are lagging behind other castes like Yadavs. Jat Marriages The Jat people are required to marry within their community. The  joint family  system was popular amongst the Jats and large families use to share the same house and  hearth. With the advancement of modern civilization, as people are becoming less dependent upon and less tolerant toward each other, the joint family system is going out of vogue. It was still prevalent in the less advanced areas in the 1930s. Jat marriage ceremonies are traditionally conducted in according with Vedic rituals. Widow marriage is not only permitted and practiced, it is also a social obligation. Historical records show from 1000 AD, when the population of Jats was small, marrying within ones own gotra was not encouraged. However, from about 1650 AD onward marrying within same gotra became more common. Scholars have reasoned this had to do with the size of the Jat population becoming much bigger and the chances of being related to someone in the same gotra became very small. Jat people who are Hindu Jat people who are Hindu differ in two traditions from  Rajput  community. First, they do not wear the sacred thread  janeu. Second, Jats permit the remarriage of  widows. Famous Jat Rulers over the years: Maharaja  Swarup Singh of Jind * Maharaja  Kharak Singh, Maharaja of  Punjab * Maharaja  Nau Nihal Singh, Maharaja of  Punjab * Nawab Kapur Singh  Virk, leader of Singhpur Misl. * Hari Singh Dhillon, leader of the Bhangi misl, Ruler of  Lahore  ;  Amritsar. Famous Jat Religious Scholars: * Dhanna Bhagat  (Dhaliwal Jat) a Hindu  Bhakti  saint and disciple  Ramananda, worshiper of  Rama, whose poems are in the  Guru Granth Sahib * Imam  Abu Hanifa  an-Numan ibn tabit Founder of most important of the sunni schools, was a jat from sind. His forefathers shifted to Iraq before his birth. * Pror. Dr. Tahir ul Qadri   founder of Minhaj ul Quran international Lahore, he is Jatt Sial of Jhang Pakistan. Jat Folklores: * Jagga Jat  (Jagga Daku) famous Dacoit of British India known as The Robin Hood of Punjab * Jyani Jat/Mor- One of the most famous, popular and widely sung folklores Hero in Haryana and Punjab * Heer Ranjha   One of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab, Heer was of the Sial Jat clan and Ranjha was of the Ranjha Jat clan * Mirza Sahiba   One of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab, Mirza was born in the Kharral Jat clan and Sahiba was born in the Sial Jat clan. Judiciary: * Muhammad Javed Buttar   Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. * Justice Mahavir Singh   Former Justice. Cinema: * Arjan Bajwa * Dara Singh * Simi Garewal * Dharmendra * Sunny Deol * Bobby Deol * Arjun Rampal * Esha Deol * Poonam Dhillon * Randeep Hooda * Sushant Singh * Minissha Lamba * Mahek Chahal * Mangal Dhillon * Himanshu Malik * Mallika Sherawat * Neeru Bajwa * Abhay Deol * Parvin Dabas * Jimmy Shergill * Kirron Kher * Gurdas Mann * Mahima Chaudhry * Vindu Dara Singh * Pravesh Rana * Rajat Tokas * Kulraj Randhawa Shafqat Cheema  Punjabi Films Villon * Hema Malini * Raja Chaudhary Sports: * Virender Sehwag   cricketer * Saina Nehwal   badminton player * Yuvraj Singh   cricketer, Boparai Jatt. * Sushil Kumar Solanki   Wrestler, World Wrestling Champion. * Vijender Singh Beniwal   boxer, Olympic bronze medalist * Dara Singh   wrestler * Navjot Sidhu   cricketer * Rakshit Dalal   cricketer * Aaqib Javed   cricketer * Wahab Riaz   Pa kistani cricketer * Shahid nazir bajwa   Pakistani cricketer * Rizwan Cheema   cricketer * Ashish Nehra cricketer Sanjay Bangar   cricketer * Vijay Dahiya   cricketer * Sunny Soha   cricketer * Krishna Poonia   Discus thrower * Balwinder Sandhu   cricketer * Manpreet Gony  (Manpreet Singh Grewal) cricketer * Pradeep Sangwan   cricketer * Ravi Bopara   cricketer * Jyoti Randhawa   golfer * Arjun Atwal   golfer * Gaganjeet Bhullar   golfer * Rajiv Tomar   wrestler * Gadowar Singh Sahota   wrestler * Geetika Jakhar   wrestler * Sqn Ldr S. P. Singh   kabaddi, Asian Games gold medalist * Seema Antil   athlete * Krishna Poonia   athlete Devendra Jhajharia   Gold Medalist  Paralympics  2004 * Bajranglal Takhar  Ã‚   silver medalist in rowing, at Doha * Balbir Singh Dosanjh   hockey player * Baljit Singh Dhillon   hockey player * Ramavtar Singh Jakhar   volleyball player * Ravi Shankar Godara   memorizer * Mamta Kharb   hockey player * Usman Gondal   football player * Paramjeet Samota- Famous Indian Boxer- * Waqar Younis- World outclass fast Bowler- (Cricket) * Asif Bajwa- Ex-Pakistani Hockey Player Politicians: * Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad Malhi   Leading member of the Muslim League during  Pakistan  movement. Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi   Prominent leader of PML. * Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi   former Chief Minister of Punjab * Ch. Moonis Elahi   MPA OF PML, grandson of Ch. Zahoor Elahi and son of Ch Pervaiz Elahi. * Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain   MNA of PML, Known as Commander of Gujrat. * Chaudhry Shafaat Hussain   Former Nazim of Gujrat district and younger brother of former PM Ch. Shujaat Hussain. * Chaudhry  Muhammad Zafarullah Khan   Former speaker of the Punjab Assembly from 2002-2008. * Sardar Fraz Wahlah   President  Pakistan Peoples Party  Youth, Punjab. Zulfiqar Ahmad Dhillon, former Minster of Education for Punjab and Member of the  National Assembly of Pakistan. * Aitzaz Ahsan   Ex- P resident Supreme Court Bar and Ex- Minister. * Hamid Nasir Chattha   Former Speaker of the National Assembly. * Ch. Imtiaz Safdar Warriach   federal minister of communication. * Chaudhry  Muhammad Zafarullah Khan   Pakistans first Foreign Minister. * Ch. Nazar Muhammad Gondal   federal minister of food and agriculture. * Dr. Khalid Ranjha   Former Senator * Sardar Muhammad Arif Nakai   Former CM of Punjab. * Sardar Muhammad Asif Nakai   MPA from Punjab Assembly, and son of Sardar

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Evaluating Several English Extracts

Evaluating Several English Extracts Introduction Today, more than ever before, the art of evaluating materials, extracts or textbooks is increasingly gaining currency as an important strategy in the teaching and learning process. Teachers are often required to evaluate, select, and adapt teaching materials to not only meet their teaching and students’ learning requirements, but also to optimise learning potentials (Allwright1981; Sheldon 1988).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Evaluating Several English Extracts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this light, the present paper evaluates several English extracts with the view to synthesising the positives and negatives. The main components to be evaluated include vocabulary, reading, speaking and writing, listening, as well as pronunciation. Vocabulary The activity on vocabulary discusses options by attempting to find and pair two sentences containing similar meanings with a sentence in the boxed section. The utilisation of boxed sentences attracts the students’ attention to the vocabulary exercise and directs their input to the activity under study. The requirement to identify two sentences containing similar meanings with one of the boxed sentences can be termed as a form of deliberate learning which can readily transfer to communicative erudition (Nation 2003). The pairing of the sentences is quite involving to learners as they must understand the meanings of the two sentences to be able to pair them with a sentence in the boxed section. As such, the activity is effective in assisting students to learn and internalise vocabularies owing to the fact that learners remain active participants in the learning process. Additionally, the exercise is effective as it assumes a planned approach to vocabulary development in terms of understanding which words and vocabularies can be used to replace others in a sentence and still get the same meaning. The activity is likely to make a strong contribution to the learning of various vocabularies as students rely on matching and generative use of sentences to pair them in order to achieve similar meaning. Although no incidental learning is likely to occur, the students will nevertheless benefit from information transfer through answering questions that extend the meaning or use of words in the text and also through deliberate attention to vocabulary (Nation 2003). The form of matching words with definitions is also likely to be of immense benefit to students undertaking this activity. Furthermore, this exercise is bound to assist students in finding common meanings of sentences, choosing the right meaning, as well as undertaking semantic feature analysis.Advertising Looking for critical writing on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, although the exercise exemplifies a student-centred approach to learning vocabulary, it nevertheless encourages the propensity to concentrate on individual words rather than on overall meanings of the sentences in question. The process of pairing students and requiring them to remember two expressions with similar meanings reinforces the belief that social interaction is the basis of learning and development as demonstrated in the sociocultural theory. It also underscores the importance of internalisation as a vehicle for transforming learning from the social to the cognitive plane (Lavadenzi 2010). The exercise provides students with an enabling environment to transit from word-level learning to phrase-level learning. A good understanding of phrase-level learning will assist learners to graduate to intermediate-level learning by exposing them to new vocabulary definitions and uses. However care needs to be taken to ensure that learners using this approach develop the capacity to use the context of the sentences to decode meaning (Larsen-Freeman 2000). Reading The r eading extract titled â€Å"Hello, Class, I am the 16-Year-Old Head† and the ensuing questions are instrumental in developing students’ creative and critical thinking skills. For example, the question requiring students to use the title of the extract and the picture to tell a partner what they would like to find out in the rest of the extract is instrumental in assisting students to develop innovative and critical thinking capabilities. In the words of Masuhara (2003), such a question is important as it facilitates the development of high-level cognitive skills during reading activities. The use of visualisations during the reading activity activates the students’ schema and encourages them to form mental representations of the text for ease of understanding (Bress 2008). However, although the title of the extract demonstrates simplification and contrivance, the pictures are not labelled and hence students may end up having a different interpretation than what is intended.  The question requiring students to provide a guess about the contents of the extract is useful in assisting them to develop reading skills such as skimming and scanning. Such a question, according to Masuhara (2003), can be used to develop the students’ capacity to discover the main ideas and concepts of a reading/text by looking at the title and reading the first paragraph. This is what experts refer to as skimming. Additionally, such a question can be used to develop the students’ capacity to scan in terms of looking down and around a page quickly and efficiently with the view to searching for significant words, facts or phrases.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Evaluating Several English Extracts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These words or phrases can then be utilised to find context-specific information (Bress 2008). However, the first question of the extract may ignit e problems of grammar, syntax, as well as discourse structures.  The questions immediately after the extract are designed to assist students to develop a deeper understanding about the contents of the reading. The extract is instrumental in assisting students to yield to important teaching points, including vocabulary and syntax development, structure memorisation, and identification of signposts to demonstrate the structural arrangement of the text (Masuhara 2003). Overall, it is evident that reading the extract can assist students to develop critical awareness (looking at the text objectively to find out what the author is actually trying to say) and comprehension (understanding the purpose and function of the text, and also the core topic and how this is developed from one paragraph to another). It can also help students to develop flexibility (reading the text in different ways and at different speeds with the view to fulfilling a number of purposes) and context (selecting rel evant information and weighing up evidence and arguments with the view to picking out the major points from the mass of detail and evaluating their importance). Speaking and Writing The extract on speaking (Don and Carrie, and also Alex and Liz) shows that the participants are able to achieve a communicative objective through speaking. This is because they are able to demonstrate a fair knowledge of the English language as well as the skill needed to use this knowledge (Carter McCarthy 1997; Dat 2003). Indeed, both speaking activities that form the extract are designed to be communicative as they are conducted in pairs and are deeply personalised. However, there is an overuse of the filler sounds â€Å"Erm† and â€Å"Er†. Although these filler sounds demonstrate that speaking activities are highly personalised, they may be misconstrued to mean or symbolise other things when exposed to non-native speakers. On a lighter note, however, these filler sounds and hesitation devices have been credited for facilitating oral production and also for enabling speakers to take time to reflect on the words they employ in a conversational setup (Vilimec 2006).  It is worth mentioning that the speaking activity between Don and Carrie is initiated upon reading a brochure on Portuguese culture. Research is consistent that students can develop their speaking skills through reading (Mart 2012), and that nurturing improvements in word knowledge and vocabulary development through broad reading has the potential for nurturing improvement in speaking skills (Carter McCarthy 1997; Dat 2003).Advertising Looking for critical writing on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, although the fluency of the speaking activities can be termed as standard, there appears to be a lack of clarity of thought and inaccuracy of structural discourse. The speakers also seem to overuse filler sounds as a strategy of communication. The possible role of the teacher in this context is to direct the speakers on the proper use of filler sounds and on creating conversations with proper structural discourses. The exercise on writing may appear difficult for weaker students, who may only be able to answer a few questions. It is evident that more advanced students will definitely demonstrate the capacity to display more language when writing down the answers, while less-endowed students can respond to the items in shorter formats and still be able to attain a sense of achievement. While writing in shorter formats may indicate a shortcoming, it is worth mentioning that repeat exercises in reading, speaking, and writing are essential in the development of a wide range of vocabulary as well as internalisation of common English idioms (Harmer 2004). Furthermore, although the write-down extract appears quite complex for foreign students, it nevertheless provides them with the opportunity to expand their creative and critical thinking skills. Listening The extract on listening to Carrie and Don’s conversation is provided in simple language which ensures that learners are able to speculate about the topic of conversation (choosing a course). However, the listening activity does not have a warming up section which is credited for improving understanding by giving students an introduction to the topic (Sharma 2011). For example, a good warm up activity within the context of the conversation would be to ask students if they consider themselves to be having difficulties in choosing courses. Students should then be requested to explain the reasons for their answers.  Students are requested to listen again, which underscores the importance of repetiti on in improving listening skills and enhancing comprehension of language and grammar (Wilson 2008). However, such repetition may not necessarily serve the interests of non-native speakers or listeners as they may not understand, interpret, and evaluate what they hear. The question on describing the reasons behind Carrie and Don’s decision to take the course together demonstrates that listening can be used to foster understanding, increase cooperation, and identify the main idea or concept (Sharma 2011). The intonation patterns (pitch level, pitch range, speech rate) demonstrate a conversation that is full of emotions and attitudes regarding the best course to take in the college. Such intonations enhance the understanding of the listening activity and facilitate learners to predict the conversation discourse (Sharma 2011). Although the listening activity does not demonstrate rhythm and assimilation in terms of features of connected speech, it nevertheless demonstrates authent icity in the teaching and learning of English language. The arrangement of words, sound, and grammar in the conversation creates meaning in terms of listening for specific information, recognising cognates, and identifying word-order patterns (Wilson 2008). However, responding to the listening activity with short answers may serve to indicate a lack of understanding of the main idea behind the conversation. Teachers should therefore stress a top-down approach to listening to ensure that students use the background knowledge to understand the meaning of the conversation. Pronunciation The extract on pronunciation focuses on the use of certain contractions (e.g., wouldn’t, doesn’t, cant, isn’t) and how learners can practice saying sentences with those words while leaving out the â€Å"t† sound. The â€Å"t† can be silent if it is at the beginning/end of the word or if it is between two consonant/vowel sounds. The activity not only enhances smartness and smoothness in spoken English, but also demonstrates how pronunciation can be taught through imitation and repetition (Howlader 2011). Although the activity demonstrates the importance of phonology in speaking, it nevertheless fails to demonstrate how students can practice vowel and stress shifts for better pronunciation and understanding of meaning (Littlewood 1984). The intonation patterns of the sentences provided in the extract are also not clear, though more guidance has been offered to students through the use of different colour schemes. Intonation patterns are needed in such an activity as they assist learners to pay attention to the overall communicative objective of the pronounced sentences rather than accuracy at the phoneme level. It would have been beneficial if the activity indicates how the voice rises and falls when dealing with mentioned contractions. It can be argued that the sentences are designed to reinforce mechanical production of speech. However, the activ ity is silent on how it is supposed to achieve acceptability and intelligibility in pronunciation learning, teaching, as well as understanding (Howlader 2011). Affixation and tactile reinforcement are all important, though the activity is quiet on how these are to be achieved. While it is suggested that students should practice saying the sentences (recitation), there is need for tactile reinforcement and kinaesthetic enforcement to ensure learners are able to pronounce the contractions correctly (Littlewood 1984). Consequently, the need for personalisation and memorisation of the activity cannot be underestimated. The requirement to develop visual and auditory reinforcement to assist in the proper pronunciation of the contractions is also predominant. It is important for students to learn the pronunciation in small groups as this would enhance cooperation and minimise problems. Such a set up would also reduce student anxiety, facilitate feedback, and encourage a sense of collective responsibility. However, social and cultural considerations need to be addressed when using group dynamics as they may impede successful learning and teaching. Conclusion This paper has been successful in evaluating several English extracts in order to discuss and analyse their positive and negative points. The central components that have been evaluated include vocabulary, reading, speaking and writing, listening, and pronunciation. Overall, the extracts have been found to posses many benefits when it comes to the teaching and learning of English. Teachers need to make use of these benefits to ensure that non-native learners are able to develop an adequate understanding of the English language. The negatives highlighted need to be addressed by all stakeholders to ensure that the discussed components are delivered to, and internalised by, students with much ease than is presently the case. Reference List Allwright, RL 1981, ‘What do you want teaching materials for’, EL T Journal, vol. 36 no. 1, pp. 5-18. Bress, P 2008, ‘Reading skills: What are they and how do you teach them?’, Modern English Teacher, vol. 17 no. 3, pp. 28-29. Carter, R McCarthy, M 1997, Exploring spoken English, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Dat, B 2003, ‘Materials for developing speaking skills’, in B Tomlinson (ed.), Developing materials for language teaching, Cromwell Press, London, pp. 394-405. Harmer, J 2004, How to teach writing, Longman Publishing Group, Harlow. Howlader, MR 2011, ‘Approaches to developing pronunciation in a second language: A study in Bangladesh’, ASA University Review, vol. 5 no. 2, pp. 273-281. Larsen-Freeman, D 2000, Techniques and practice in language teaching, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Lavadenzi, M 2010, ‘From theory to practice for teachers of English learners’, CATESOL Journal, vol. 22 no. 1, pp. 18-47. Littlewood, W 1984, Foreign and second language learning, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Mart, CT 2012, ‘Developing speaking skills through reading’, International Journal of English Linguistics, vol. 2 no. 6, pp. 91-96. Masuhara, H 2003, ‘Materials for developing reading skills’, In B Tomlinson (ed.), Developing materials for language teaching, Cromwell Press, London, pp. 340-353. Nation, P 2003, ‘Materials for teaching vocabulary’, In B Tomlinson (ed.), Developing materials for language teaching, Cromwell Press, London, pp. 394-405. Sharma, N 2011, Strategies for developing listening skills. Web. Sheldon, LE 1988, ‘Evaluating ELT textbooks and materials’, ELT Journal, vol. 42 no. 4, pp. 237-246. Vilimec, E 2006, Developing speaking skills, https://dk.upce.cz/bitstream/handle/10195/21610/D16159.pdf;jsessionid=958E3FDB60105DF41B5788D82C50086A?sequence=1. Wilson, J 2008, How to teach listening, Longman Publishing Group, Harlow.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Character Study of Helmer in Ibsens Famous Play

Character Study of Helmer in Ibsen's Famous Play One of the two main characters in the play, Torvald is the husband whose dolls house is torn apart at the end of the show. His character is far from ideal- but upon seeing a production of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, audiences are left with an important question: Should we feel sorry for Torvald Helmer? At the plays end  his wife, Nora Helmer, abandons him, leaving behind her three young children. She claims that she doesnt love him. She can no longer be his wife. He begs her to stay, yet Nora denies him, walking off in the middle of the winter night, slamming the door behind her. When the curtain closes upon a pathetic, defeated husband, some viewers find that Torvald has received his comeuppance. Torvalds demeaning personality and his hypocritical actions justify Nora’s harsh decision to leave. Examining Torvald’s Character Flaws Torvald Helmer possesses many obvious character  flaws. For one, he constantly talks down to his wife. Here is a list of his pet names for Nora: â€Å"My little skylark†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My little squirrel†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My little singing bird†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My pretty little pet†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My little sweet-tooth†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My poor little Nora† With every term of endearment, the word â€Å"little† is always included. Torvald views himself as the emotional and intellectual superior of the household. To him, Nora is a â€Å"child-wife,† someone to watch over, to instruct, nurture and censure. He never considers her an equal partner in the relationship. Of course, their marriage is one typical of 1800s Europe, and Ibsen uses his play to challenge this status quo. Perhaps Torvald’s most dislikeable quality is his blatant hypocrisy. Many times throughout the play, Torvald criticizes the morality of other characters. He trashes the reputation of Krogstad, one of his lesser employees (and ironically the loan shark that Nora is indebted to). He speculates that Krogstad’s corruption probably started in the home. Torvald believes that if the mother of a household is dishonest, then surely the children will become morally infected. Torvald also complains about Nora’s late father. When Torvald learns that Nora has committed forgery, he blames her crime on her father’s weak morals. Yet, for all his self-righteousness, Torvald is a hypocrite. In the beginning of Act Three, after dancing and having a merry time at a holiday party, Torvald tells Nora how much he cares for her. He claims to be absolutely devoted her. He even wishes that some calamity would befall them so that he could demonstrate his steadfast, heroic nature. Of course, a moment later, that wished-for conflict arises. Torvald finds the letter revealing how Nora has brought scandal and blackmail into his household. Nora is in trouble, but Torvald, the supposedly shining white knight, fails to come to her rescue. Instead, here is what he yells at her: â€Å"Now you have ruined my entire happiness!†Ã¢â‚¬Å"And it’s all the fault of a featherbrained woman!†Ã¢â‚¬Å"You will not be allowed to bring up the children, I can’t trust you with them.† So much for being Nora’s dependable knight in shining armor! Examining Noras Complicity To Torvald’s credit, Nora is a willing participant in their dysfunctional relationship. She understands that her husband sees her as an innocent, child-like persona, and she struggles to maintain the faà §ade. Nora uses the pet names whenever she tries to persuade her husband: â€Å"If a little squirrel were to ask every so nicely?† Nora also carefully hides her activities from her husband. She puts away her sewing needles and unfinished dress because she knows that her husband does not wish to see a woman toiling away. He wishes to see only the final, beautiful product. In addition, Nora keeps secrets from her husband. She goes behind his back to obtain her ill-gotten loan. Torvald is too stubborn to ever borrow money, even at the cost of his own life. Essentially, Nora saves Torvald by borrowing the money so that they can travel to Italy until her husband’s health improves. Throughout the play, Torvald is oblivious to his wife’s craftiness and her compassion. When he discovers the truth, in the end, he is outraged when he should be humbled. Should We Pity Torvald? Despite his many flaws, some readers and audience members still feel tremendous sympathy for Torvald. In fact, when the play was first performed in Germany and America, the ending was changed. It was believed by some producers that theater-goers would not want to see a mother walk out on her husband and children. So, in several revised versions, â€Å"A Doll’s House† ends with Nora reluctantly deciding to stay. However, in the original, classic version, Ibsen does not spare poor Torvald from humiliation. When Nora calmly says, â€Å"We two have a lot to talk about,† Torvald learns that Nora will no longer be his doll or â€Å"child-wife.† He is astounded by her choice. He asks for a chance to reconcile their differences; he even suggests that they live as â€Å"brother and sister.† Nora refuses. She feels as though Torvald is now a stranger. Desperate, he asks if there is the smallest hope that they might be husband and wife once again. She responds: Nora: Both you and I would have to change to the point where†¦ Oh, Torvald, I don’t believe in miracles any more.Torvald: But I will believe. Name it! Change to the point where†¦?Nora: Where we could make a real marriage of our lives together. Goodbye! Then she promptly leaves. Grief-stricken, Torvald hides his face in his hands. In the next moment, he lifts his head up, somewhat hopeful. â€Å"The miracle of miracles?† he asks himself. His longing to redeem their marriage seems sincere. So perhaps, despite his hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and his demeaning attitude, the audience may feel sympathy for Torvald as the door slams shut on his tear-stained hopes.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Discuss using real business examples the different styles of Appraisal Essay

Discuss using real business examples the different styles of Appraisal processes businesses use today - Essay Example 1): a. Critical incident method – the operational management records all specific incidents intentionally or by omission of duties to improve their performance (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1); b. Weighted checklist  method – this is an approach where the performance of the employee is measured by through their job description to determine if they have performed effectively and ineffectively their roles and if their behaviours remained attuned to corporate policies (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1). c.  Paired comparison analysis – this is an evaluation approach that made use of available relevant options based on what is provided in the list. The result is calculated and the score is determined by the values of score assigned in the provided option (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1). d.  Graphic rating scales- is tagged as the oldest and most widely used employee’s performance. The management here has a list of criteria which se rved as checklist of the performance level of their staff (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1). ... This is also supported with rating scale and critical incident reports in the performance of staff duties (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1). g.  Performance ranking method --- this evaluation uses highest to lowest ranking performance. The management use the other companies’ condition as bases for comparative causes instead of comparing the staffs. This is undertaken, of course, with sets of standard as bases for comparison (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1). h. Management By Objectives  (MBO) method – is another approach in assessing performance and use reward system in accordance to results to encourage workers to improve their performance (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1). i. 360 degree performance appraisal – is a method of performance that is done in confidence and in anonymity (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1). 10.Forced ranking  (forced distribution) – this approach adopt the system of ranking employees using forced allocation such as proportionally sharing 10 or 20 % as at the highest performance level while 70 or 80% are either in the mid or low level of performance (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1). 11.  Behavioural Observation Scales—this evaluative approach is anchored on scales of observation where relevant tasks are undertaken in a regular basis (Humanresources.hrvinet.com, 2013, p. 1). The Nature of Work Groups & Teams George and Jones (2005) pointed that the evaluating the human resources must be contextualized too on full knowledge of human resource’ diversity and some of their possible deviance so that the management can still refine their abilities to organizational l goals. Through this approach, the management can also