Saturday, December 28, 2019

Special Education in the US and Denmark - 1488 Words

The human right to have access to education is an international concern for people with disabilities. Countries have evolved from desegregation and separation to inclusive educational systems where students with disabilities. Denmark was one of the first countries for inclusion in school systems and special education within the regular school system has existed for 99 years, and special teacher training has a 66-year history (Egelund, 2000). The United States government has passed laws to include students in general education by mainstreaming them into public schools. These countries are compared and contrasted for their individual instructional attributes and educational qualifications of the countries special education inclusive program†¦show more content†¦If the child identifies with one or more of the thirteen categories (autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, hearing impairment, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, seri ous emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment) defined by the federal government, the specialized group creates an Individualized Education Program (IEP)(Wikipedia, 2010). An IEP must include a statement of measurable and appropriate goals to ensure student progress, a statement of special education services to be implemented and provided for the student, a description of all needed related services and classroom modifications, and a description of the setting in which educational services will be provided (regular classroom, resource classroom, self-contained classroom, separate school, etc.) Once a students IEP has been determined and implemented it must be reviewed at least once per year to monitor progress and the goals should be reevaluated once every three years (Duke University School of Law). Denmark and the United States seem to be entirely different in the process for qualifying a stud ent for special education services. For example, Denmark has the PPR to represent theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Class Matters By Bill Keller757 Words   |  4 PagesIn Class Matters, Bill Keller examines the meaning of the word class and how it plays on the life of the US citizens.According to Class Matters, a class is represented as four cards, one from each suit: education, income, occupation, and wealth. Based on your cards you are put into a class. Most people end up with the same cards as their parents. Keller explains how a class can be predetermined by a person’s upbringing or how they were raised. In this book, Bill Keller suggests that it is quiteRead MoreCase Study, Mia Phillipines962 Words   |  4 PagesPhilippines ï‚ § MIA Denmark ï‚ § San Huagon ï‚ § Problems ï‚ § Discussion ï‚ § Solution  © 2012/13 FH Technikum Wien 2 The Philippines History ï‚ § 1500: Spanish colony ï‚ § 1900: American colony ï‚ § 1942: Occupied by the Japanese ï‚ § 1945: Liberated by American and Filipino forces ï‚ § 1946: Attained independency and founded a democracy  © 2012/13 FH Technikum Wien 3 The Philippines The Country ï‚ § 7100 islands ï‚ § 299.735 km ² ï‚ § Capital: Manila ï‚ § 92.337.852 inhabitants ï‚ § 45,2% living below US$2 a day (2006) Read MoreCultural Foundations Of Denmark And Their Effects On Business Environment2846 Words   |  12 PagesThis paper aims to define cultural foundations in Denmark, and examine their effects on various business practices in this country from management practices to communication, conflict management, performance appraisal, leadership styles, relationship between managers and employees, ethical behavior, and motivation and reward systems. Understanding the basis of the culture helps to form better business relationships, effectively communicate with companies and workers in this country, and become aRead MoreThe Brewery Group Denmark6627 Words   |  27 PagesExploring Corporate Strategy CLASSIC CASE STUDIES The Brewery Group Denmark: Faxe, Ceres and Thor Flemming Agersnap The case study explains the strategic moves of Brewery Group Denmark (BGD), a small Danish brewery ï ¬ ghting for a position in a world market. The case shows how small companies can co-exist with giant competitors in an international context and how a coherent international strategy can be built whilst allowing for different local strategies. BGD is an example of a ï ¬ rm which hasRead MoreAnalysis Of Saudi Arabia832 Words   |  4 Pages2016) Finally, how could be expect society to accept a supposedly reprogrammed terrorist when many of our own ex-convicts can’t reintegrate into society or even find employment? Does committing a religious act of terror somehow place one into a special category for dispensation and forgiveness? The Saudi program you refer to in our assignment was described in a Time magazine article as the â€Å"Betty Ford Center for terrorists,† (Ghosh, 2009) It is nothing like a normal prison or halfway house. TheRead MoreMr. Homeschooled As A Child Because Of Illness And Asthma1316 Words   |  6 Pages†¢ Born on October 27, 1858 in New York, New York †¢ Education: o Homeschooled as a child because of illness and asthma o Columbia Law School o Harvard University †¢ Died on January 6, 1919 in Oyster Bay, New York Election Issues: †¢ Became president September 14, 1901 after the assassination of President McKinley on September 6, 1901 †¢ Needed Republican support to win nomination of 1904 †¢ Worked out understanding with legislature †¢ Used executive office to break up monopolies such as Northern SecuritiesRead MoreBig Brother Is Watching You Essay1770 Words   |  8 Pagesthe demagogue that has become our next president and ATT selling information to law enforcement. It is contended that any problems brought on by a large government are internal problems of self-regulation; for example; the revolving door between special interests and politicians, as well as the problem of career-politicians. Despite the problems that come with a big government, namely higher taxes, it is far superior to a smaller federal government, and far better than a nonexistent federal governmentRead MoreEnglish as a Globalising Language1619 Words   |  7 Pagespeople, we shall use one language to be a bridge. Therefore, the English becomes a globalizing language because of its clear structure and format. Does the globalizing language good or bad for us? I believe that the answer should not be one-sided. The truth is, English as a globalizing language can bring us good for Economics and local culture. However, it also triggers some negative issues. In my following essay, I will divide into three parts. Firstly, I will describe the reason of English asRead MoreThe Purpose and Ideology of Education1533 Words   |  7 Pagesand ideology of education There is no one single definition for what education really is. Experts and scholars from the beginning have viewed and commented about education in different ways. The definition mostly agreed upon was that education is an acquisition or passing of skills, behavior or knowledge from an institution to another. This institution can either be a person, a school, a family or even the society. If we go in the ancient meaning and the ideology of education, it means to leadRead MoreRenewable Energy1335 Words   |  6 Pagesrenewable energy options such as wind and solar power in order to increase the share of renewables in Canada’s energy balance. Introduction Canada government subsidizes a number of socially beneficial services, including health care, education and energy services. Subsidies to the energy sector mainly are for oil and gas production, however, they are not all socially beneficial[figure 1]. In fact, they have negative impact for the environment and hinder developments of environmentally

Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Human Condition Of Humans - 1504 Words

Negative or Positive Humans are a strange species in general because of the way they handle the conflict also the way life is presented and dealt with. Many things make humans out to be a certain way but the literature that many writers have used to describe humans is even stranger. Humans have a way of dealing with many traumas and issues that arise throughout their lives while also dealing with the excitement and happiness that comes along as humans wander through life. Though literature; from the time it started to the present, focuses on the human condition in so many ways because in every story the characters have a conflict that will be handle and that will show their outlook on life and what matters to them most. Human nature, society, and the way people live in a literary work can portray the human condition to the reader. Many writers use their feelings in the time period or their thoughts about people of the time to describe the human condition which is read about and carri ed through the years. The human condition really never changes and the cycle spins around and will always spin around until there are no humans left. There is a positive and negative, a good and bad, each person is made out to be one way or the other. Many writers use their works to make a point and give a purpose just like the characters in their stories. The human condition was portrayed by authors such as Moliere, Voltaire, Rossetti, Tagore, Kafka, and Lu Xun. Moliere’s Tartuffe gives manyShow MoreRelatedIs The Human Condition?919 Words   |  4 Pages I found that this picture is a good representation to describe the Human Condition because it shows many things related to anthropology, sociology, and psychology. This image shows a boy by himself while 3 other kids are making fun of him. Bullying is a major topic that relates to the Human Condition. This issue affects peoples minds, behaviour, attitude, and emotions in a harsh, negative way. Almost everyone in the worl d go through some sort of bullying whether it cyber, physical, social orRead MoreIs The Human Condition?1806 Words   |  8 PagesThe human condition is a philosophy that is determined to understand what it means to be human and why humans are the way they are. So many elements of the human condition describe us as being inherently evil. However, the true question is, are we inherently evil or do we just choose to make evil choices as an instinct to save ourselves? In Sword Art Online (SAO), 10,000 players enter into a virtual massively multiplayer online (MMO) game world in which they are connected by a product known as theRead MoreHuman Condition Essay1057 Words   |  5 PagesThe human condition is a term which references our complicated existence by highlighting our ongoing ability to adapt and change both our perceptions and values. Through our mental capabilities of both creativity and imagination, humanity is able to achieve a sense of both self-actualisation and liberation , resulting in them acting as the core of our existence where, without them we would become susceptible to the overwhelming flaws of the human condition. Evidencing this are the three texts, ‘Dejection:Read MoreThe Is The Best For The Human Condition996 Words   |  4 Pagesand cultivated ways and processes which they believe are beneficial to human life. Transhumanists want the best for the human condition by improvements of medical technology, economics, medicine, culture, and mental capacities. There are copious amounts of prototypes and ideas that are currently pushing the movement forward and giving hope to those involved. Though naysayers hold the opinion that transhumanism will separate humans into two or more distinct species, that is not the intended goal. InRead MoreBuddhism And The Human Condition1289 Words   |  6 Pages In looking at the human condition, one cannot deny the immutable presence of suffering as a central tenet of life. Nobody, not even the Buddha, walks through life without experiencing pain, anguish, and suffering. However, one cannot experience suffering without also knowing its opposite of love, joy, and happiness. Buddhist terminology refers to these emotional states as dukkha and sukha. Importantly, however, these emotional conditions are impermanent and deeply related to one another. DukkhaRead MoreThe, Knowledge, And The Human Condition819 Words   |  4 PagesCounter-Transference After listening to this book, I have identified several themes that are interwoven throughout the book. There are three main themes that are incorporated in the book are sin, knowledge, and the human condition. The first theme, sin, is depicted by the presence of the strong Judeo-Christian origin this country was built on. As we see through Hester’s experience; and with the reaction from society, Christianity was deeply rooted into their culture. As I listened to the some ofRead More The Human Condition Essay605 Words   |  3 Pages The Human Condition nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Does life ever seem pointless and discouraging? In Albert Camus’s â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus,† Camus describes the correlation between Sisyphus’s fate and the human condition. In the selection, everyday is the same for Sisyphus. Sisyphus is condemned to rolling a rock up a mountain for eternity. Camus’s â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus† forces one to contemplate Sisyphus’s fate, how it relates to the human condition, and how it makes the writer feel about her partRead MoreThe Human Condition Of The World2221 Words   |  9 PagesThe Human Condition can be argued to be in a crisis with its position in modern society. With a massive decline in personal interaction, corruption in government, and the event of climate change that has never before been seen in the history of this planet. There are few small groups around the world that try to make this crisis known to the world, although many world powers and much of the population choose to either deny or ignore the cry for help. There is a plethora of ways to spread theRead More`` Sin, Knowledge, And The Human Condition847 Words   |  4 PagesCounter-Transference I have identified several themes that are interwoven throughout the book. There are three main themes that are incorporated in the book; sin, knowledge, and the human condition. The first theme, sin, is depicted by the presence of the strong Judeo-Christian origin this country was built on. As evident by Hester’s form of punishment for her crime, Christianity was deeply rooted in the present time. This Christian culture reminds me of the environment that I was raised in. I wasRead MoreThe Human Condition By Hannah Arendt919 Words   |  4 PagesHannah Arendt’s most influential work The Human Condition was published in 1958. It makes distinctions between labor, work and action, between power, violence and strength and between property and wealth. It is surprising that more than 55 years later the originality and novelty of this book is still present. Arendt compels the reader to open their eyes and to look at the world and human affairs in new ways and with a completel y different perspective. In her prologue she professes that she wants

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Continuing to Care for People with Dementia free essay sample

3. Evaluation – I learnt from the experience that I had no need to be anxious because the relatives knew much less than I did. I learnt that relatives valued the opportunity to discuss how they felt with others in the same situation. There was nothing particularly bad about the experience but the attendance was lower than expected. The experience ended with a commitment to hold another dementia forum in about 5 weeks’ time.4. Analysis – I should know by now not to be anxious of new experiences because they are never as bad as I imagine beforehand. It was very useful having experts by experience present for the sessions because they spoke openly about having a family member living with dementia and this was far more useful than talking about what dementia is or isn’t. We discussed at the time the low attendance figure and wondered how to improve this. Frequent and prolonged advertising on reception and in the newsletter seems to have minimal impact and I must look for additional ways of advertising such a beneficial forum. We will write a custom essay sample on Continuing to Care for People with Dementia or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Those present at the forum were committed to attending again and there was some positivity that attendance figures would gradually improve. This was after all only the second dementia forum to be held at The Care Home.5. Conclusion – The dementia forums are a useful support for families of those living with dementia and will continue at The Care Home. Family members had the opportunity to have a greater awareness of what their loves one are experiencing. This was a positive experience and I am actually looking forward to the next forum. 6. Action Plan – We will use word of mouth and social media to promote the next dementia forum and I will now discuss these forums when promoting the home. We will ensure that the dates are advertised in the monthly newsletter and also send information to the families of those living with dementia along with the monthly invoices. I may consider setting up and email mailing list to assist with marketing opportunities like these

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Their Eyes Were Watching God Essays (2125 words) -

Their Eyes Were Watching God This paper will tell the reader about all aspects of the numerous problems that are presented in Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. It will deal with all of the numerous problems that were experienced in the rough time that the book was written in. Also, it will deal with how these problems are still involved in today's society. While many of the problems will never go away, some have already, and some will go away in hopefully the near future. There were many problems and issues that Zora Neale Hurston brought up in this novel, and she did this mostly through the recollection of the main character, Janie Crawford. While this story deals mainly with Janie's life from age sixteen to approximately the age of forty, the novel also deals with the problems that society faced even before Janie's birth. The major problem issue that is involved before Janie's birth is the fact that the town schoolteacher raped her mother, Leafy Crawford. When this novel was set, approximately twenty years after the Civil War, rape was still an important issue in their society. While rape was probably more common back in those days, less was done about it, and it was basically just ?accepted.? (Baker 134) This is especially true if it is a white man with a black woman. If it would be a black man with a white woman, a lot more problems would arise. This is a type of double standard, because it is not just to allow a horrible action for a certain set of people and disallow it for another group of people based solely on the color of their skin. The schoolteacher, a white man, who raped Janie's mother, a black woman, created another type of problem that went far beyond the obvious. As a result of the rape by a white man, Janie had a coffee and cream complexion, and this was considered a skin tone of great beauty (www.novelguides.com). This became a problem with the other girls all through Janie's life, because of the issue of jealousy. Even though Janie thought herself as nothing better than any other black girls, all of the girls feel Janie was just that much better than everyone else. Everyone else, except Janie, created a superior image of the character Janie. Janie didn't even realize she wasn't white like her childhood friends until she was six years old and saw a picture of herself. The major problem created by Janie's light facade was the fact that all of her friends seemed out to get her. They seemed overly jealous of her, and no matter what she did, or how hard she worked for it, they feel she achieved what she did solely because of her beautiful looks. (Jones 36) Hurston does a good job at portraying this feeling in the following quote by the people of Eatonville on Janie:"It was hard to love a woman that always made you feel so wishful" (111). Another chief problem faced by the people of the time was the idea of trying to survive the low quality of work available at the time. People worked as migrant workers, very similar to those in Jon Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. People would work tedious jobs for very little pay. People had to survive. Blacks especially had to do whatever they could to survive. Since this wasn't long after the ending of slavery, the overall population of blacks in the United States still wasn't very educated. They had to do whatever they could do for money, whenever they could get it. This wasn't so obvious in Janie's family ways, and after reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, it is apparent that the times seemed to be getting a little better as the story progressed. Janie experiences life through many different views throughout the novel, and all seem to have slightly different problems. First, she experiences life as a rich, light skinned girl who was always the envy of every other girl in town. Later, she experiences life as the wife of a potato farmer, then as the wife of the mayor, and finally as the wife of a migrant worker. While many people feel envious of Janie's money and power that she possessed through her marriage with Logan Killicks the potato farmer, and Joe Starks the Mayor of Eatonville, people seemed to be more envious than ever when she found what she was always looking for, in true love, though it was with

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

In the Waiting Room Elizabeth Bishop Essay Example

In the Waiting Room Elizabeth Bishop Paper Can you see from this description of her childhood experience any connection between the young Bishop and the poet she will later become? From my reading of the description of Elizabeth Bishops childhood experience, I am able to make many connections between the young Bishop and the poet she will later become. I realized that both experience different types of epiphanies, both clutch to familiarity, perceive the world as a perplexing and terrifying place. In In the Waiting Room young Elizabeth Bishop experiences a peculiar epiphany In which she quickly connects the talk naked women to herself. She realizes that she, too Is a woman and that they are all connected by gender. I think Elizabeth Bishop even from an early sage discovers the harsh truth of reality and that life as a woman will Indeed Include suffering Just like the women With the necks of light bulbs. She notices also that her aunt Console Is In deep pain when an Oh! Escapes her mouth. In Sestina the child also makes connections and experiences her own epiphany she quickly realizes that she must stay strong despite a terrible trauma that has unfortunately happened to her and her family. She has an epiphany and realizes that there is no mint inn crying no matter how terrible the loss is to her. Instead of producing tears, she decides it is time to plant tears and puts all her confusion and sadness in order to create something beautiful. We will write a custom essay sample on In the Waiting Room Elizabeth Bishop specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on In the Waiting Room Elizabeth Bishop specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on In the Waiting Room Elizabeth Bishop specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In The Prodigal also the prodigal experiences an epiphany. He realizes that there is more to life than cleaning out a pig sty plastered [with] glass-smooth dung and learns that there are other dimensions to his life. He knows that no matter what he did or didnt do, he will always be forgiven by those who loved him dearly. For these reasons, I think there are more connections between the young Bishop and the poet she later becomes.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Black History Month Essay Topics

Black History Month Essay Topics Black history, or African-American history, is full of fascinating stories, rich culture, great art, and courageous acts that were undertaken within circumstances that we can hardly imagine in modern society. While Civil Rights events are the most common themes in our studies, we should resist equating African-American history only with Civil Rights-era history. There is so much more to explore! This list contains 50 prompts that might lead you into some interesting and little-known information about African-American history. Note: Your first challenge in studying some of the topics below is finding resources. When conducting an Internet search, be sure to place quotation marks around your search term (try different variations) to narrow your results. African-American newspapersAfrican-American soldiers in the American RevolutionAfrican-American soldiers in the Civil WarAviatorsBuffalo SoldiersBusiness-owning slavesBuying timeCamp Logan RiotsClennon Washington King, Jr.Coffey School of AeronauticsCrispus AttucksDomestic labor strikes in the SouthFinding lost family members after emancipationFirst African Baptist ChurchFort MoseFreedoms JournalGospel musicGullah heritageHarlem HellfightersHarlem RenaissanceHarriet TubmanHistorically Black CollegesHistory of rock-and-rollInventorsJohn BrownJumping the broomManumission papersMaroon villages in the eighteenth centuryMidwiferyMotown RecordsMulti-cultural pirate shipsNat TurnerOtelia CromwellProperty-owning slavesPurchasing freedomRalph Waldo TylerRegister of Free Persons of ColorSecret schools in antebellum AmericaShermans March followersSlave NarrativesSusie King TaylorThe AmistadThe Brotherhood of Sleeping Car PortersThe Communist Party (involvement)The Great MigrationThe Haitian Rev olution Tuskegee AirmenUnderground RailroadUrban slavery (related to buying time)Wilberforce College, Ohio

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Article synthesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Synthesis - Article Example The article suggests that one of the ways to solve the problems is what is referred to as communication strategies. This is because communication strategies have the ability to overcome the problems since it presents some logical organization of varied communication skills within certain theoretical framework. The article further discusses problems that are realized in communication skills, and identifies social barriers as some of the ways that affect communication skills. In conclusion, the article notes that there are still some problems that exist and there is a need to create further emphasis to enhance staff, patient’s satisfaction. This article has been able to analyze in details; the description of research question as well as hypothesis and description of their criticality on research process. Further, the article has emphasized on the criteria that is seen to be the best in identification of effective research questions. In details, the paper has sought to reveal the advantages as well as the disadvantages that may be experienced in the use of directional and non-directional hypothesis in research. Further, comparison has been made between research hypotheses and statistical hypothesis. The article has also identified the criteria used in critiquing a hypothesis as well as a research question and how this criterion may be used in evaluating research question and research hypothesis in a report. This article identifies professional skills that are needed as communication skills in a healthy work environment, and how this has a bearing on achievement of a positive outcome. The literature lays emphasis on the role of the manager in the facilitation of skilled communication. The article also focuses on the responsibility of individual nurse in becoming a communicator with skills. In providing detailed information so as to enable conceptualization of a Five-Factor Model of becoming a skilled

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Health Promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Health Promotion - Essay Example Obesity contributes to 2.6 million fatalities globally every year. During 1999 to 2002, 65.1 percent of adults, at least 20 years of age, were considered overweight and 30.4 percent were considered obese. Among children between 6-19 years old, 31.0 percent were regarded as overweight and 16.0 percent were deemed obese (Hedley, Ogden, Johnson, Carroll, Curtin & Flegal, 2004). Obesity significantly decreases life expectancy thus increasing the risk for morbidity and mortality. Also, it considerably increased health care costs in the last two decades (Wang & Dietz, 2002). As stated by Ward-Smith (2010), the U.S economy’s expenditure reached an estimated $117 billion and $61 billion were directed at medical costs. This increased occurrence of obesity is said to be due to urbanization which caused societal changes like frequent consumption of fast-food meals, feasting on oversized portions at home and in restaurants, ingestion of high-calorie foods, like high-fat, low-fiber foods, and increase intake of sweetened beverages (Raj & Kumar, 2010) . Also, developing countries have exponentially grown a habit of television viewing and other sedentary activities (Robinson, 1999). Automobile-oriented and automated environment also promoted a low level of physical activity (Epstein & Saelens, 2000). Aims and Objectives The immediate aim is to lower the rate of weight gain which will be done by maintaining a specified weight appropriate for the age and height of the individual, therefore improving the person’s BMI. The objective is to develop a better quality of life for the people involved. Another objective is to reduce the morbidity and mortality rate involving associated with obesity. Global scope of this project is another objective; if possible, legislative change should be done to fully achieve this goal. Outline of Project and Ethical Considerations The target group of this report is the obese people in the university. The booklet (Appendix A) and leafle ts (Appendix B) used are from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Obesity Action Coalition. The author believes that for change to fully be achieved in a global setting, change has to start first in the immediate surrounding. However, if possible, this may be applied to any obese person to completely achieve the globalization of this initiative. The initial action should be to educate the people about obesity, its causes, the risk of being obese and most importantly how to handle it. What is obesity? Obesity is a disease that it described by having excess body fat. An indicator for this is the Body Mass Index (BMI). This is measured by dividing the person’s weight in kilograms with the height in meters squared. This can also be seen in the BMI Chart (Appendix C). A person with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is classified as overweight. A BMI of 30 above is considered obese. What causes this? 1. Behavior 2. Environment 3. Genetics What is the health risks related to obes ity? 1. Diabetes 2. Gallbladder disease 3. Cardiovascular diseases like Stroke, Coronary Heart Disease, Hypertension, etc. 4. Cancers like colon, breast and endometrial cancer 5. Osteoarthritis 6. Respiratory problems like sleep apnea, breathlessness, etc. How to handle obesity? 1. Behavior modification 2. Physical activity 3. Pharmacologic 4. Surgery for the morbidly

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Media Bias in War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Media Bias in War - Essay Example The media – which include print and electronic means of communication such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio and the internet – are not immune from such overarching impact of war. In particular, when their own people, ethnic groups, and countries are involved in the war, war reporters and media organizations can hardly remain unbiased unless they are prepared to be called unpatriotic and get demonized Actually, war affects media organizations and their war reporters more than many other segments of warring societies. War reporters have to gather news from the dangerous frontlines where many them lose their lives every year at the hand of one or the other party to war. If a reporter is killed by one side deliberately or accidently, media organizations and the public, out of spontaneous human instinct, often blame the killers and their side and project them in a bad light. Even when a war has not directly affected reporters and media outlets in such fashion, it influences them directly or indirectly in so many other ways. For instance, the death or deployment of a relative or friend in the frontline and disruption of their own plans, like a much-coveted trip, due to war might dilute the neutrality of reporters. When war affects individuals personally, their first instinctive reaction would be to blame the party that they perceive guilty of starting the war and causing them hardships. So much so that human beings blame the boulder when they stumble on it and hurt themselves rather that blaming themselves for not taking caution to avoid hitting it. Besides, so many other factors also often influence reporters and dilute their objectivity and neutrality. Such factors include personal links, philosophical conviction, media organizations’ mission and motto, cultural connections, geographical proximity, conditions in which reporting is done, sympathy for the underdog, etc. Individual reporters, due to their personal links to one of the pa rties to war or ethical and philosophical conviction, might have their own angles and biases to view a war or the parties engaged in it. For instance, one of the parties to war could be their ancestral country that occupies a special place in their heart. Reporters might also have a soft corner for one country more than other because of their experience or because of what they have read or been told by seniors and friends. Philosophically, they could innately be pro-war or anti-war. An anti-war reporter would begin by blaming the party that has started the war, even though there might have been sufficient underlying provocation from the other party. Confronted with the duty of war reporting, reporters’ first instinct would be to apply their ingrained bias based on their links, acquired wisdom and conviction and assign the blame on the perceived bad guy. Even the most dedicated and honest journalist cannot be free from these elements of bias in war reporting. Rational decision s of individual war reporters and other media players collectively put out lies, half-truths and disinformation that encourages war and discourages conflict resolution (Russ-Mohl). This explains why different reporters come up with different narratives for the same event. Such differences might also occur due to the motto, mission and orientation of media organization

Friday, November 15, 2019

Singlish And Its Discourse Particles English Language Essay

Singlish And Its Discourse Particles English Language Essay Singapore Colloquial English or more fondly known as Singlish contains a number of pragmatic particles that have come under much scrutiny and discussion over the years. These particles have received much attention, and become a distinctive representation of Singlish. Many studies have been done over the years on the use and functions of these particles (Platt 1987; Platt and Ho 1989; Wong, 2004; Gupta, 2006; Lim 2007, 2011). Much work and research have been done on the classification, history, origins and reasons for the emergence of these particles in the use of Singlish (Lim 2007, Gupta 1992). Gupta (1992) proposed a scale of assertiveness of which eleven SCE particles could be placed on in terms of different degrees of assertiveness. Wee (2002) however, took a different stance, and sought to highlight and substantiate the development and possible evolution of Singlish particles in his analysis of the particle lor using the grammaticalisation framework developed by Traugott (1982, 1988, 1989). Platt (1987: 392) gave a more simplified explanation on the function of these pragmatic particles, and claimed that in a sentence, these pragmatic particles convey additional meaning over and above that expressed by the rest of the utterance. This meant t hat a particle holds by itself independent meaning, and when different particles are attached to an utterance, it would produce different meanings. Lee (2007: 2) illustrated this point by using the following example (1): (1) a. I want to drink mah. b. I want to drink lah. c. I want to drink leh. d. I want to drink lor. e. I want to drink hor. f. I want to drink a. In this example, the head clause of I want to drink does not change. According to Lee (2007: 2), the clause-final particles are syntactically and semantically optional, as their omission affects neither the grammaticality nor the basic meaning of the matrix clause. Therefore in SCE, each clause would possess a different meaning and communicative function by virtue of the clause-final particle attached to it. For example in 1(a), mah performs what Gupta (1992: 43) calls a contradictory function. By adding mah, the clause would suggest that it is a contradictory response to a prior utterance, by presenting what is being said as an absolute and obvious fact. In contrast, while lor in 1(d) can perform a similar function to mah of presenting what is being said as an obvious fact, it generates and encompasses other different meanings. According to Guptas (1992: 43) definition again, the central function of the more mildly assertive lo is to mark a directive or to create a suggestion. In my opinion, the point that Gupta makes about a particle having a central function is not necessarily accurate, as a particles usage is based on users preferences and choices, and not based entirely on the effectiveness of a particle in an utterance as suggested by Gupta in her allocating of a primary serving function to the particles. Going back to the main point, 1(d) can now mean that the speaker is suggesti ng an activity (to drink), probably in response to a question such as What do you want to do there?. Thus, it is clearly evident that these particles can change the entire meaning of an utterance. 1.2 Tone in SCE Pragmatic Particles However, the interesting thing about these pragmatic particles is that they, individually, possess many tonal variants. Guptas suggestion that the particles have a central function also reflects the evidence that these particles have multiple meanings and functions. Taking the much studied particle lah for example, Loke and Low (1988) identified a total of nine tonal variants of lah, classifying them into three major groups termed high, mid or low. However there is a general lack of agreement in terms of recognising the tonal quality of particles. There have been studies that suggest the alternative view is true (Detarding, 1994), and that a particle, especially when sentence final, functions as the carrier of the intonation contour of the utterance (Gupta, 1992). This disagreement meant the number of different particles lah remain a mystery (Wong, 2004: 760). However, what is clear from this is that it is very possible for a particle to have at least two different meanings and funct ions which some have argued, is differentiated by tone. Focus has tended to be placed more on Singlish particles as a group, rather than dissecting their various meanings and grammaticality individually. While there is now growing attention and research done in analysing individual Singlish particles (Wee, 2002, 2003; Wong, 2005; Lee, 2007), data and analysis are still lacking in terms of quantity. In this paper I will focus on the particle leh, which is sometimes also written as lei. However, while I am of the view that pragmatic particles in SCE do possess tonal variants, I would like to challenge the notion that the different meanings and functions leh can be categorised into just tonal variants (Lee, 2007), and I argue that there are actually two different particles in leh, which possess tonal variants of their own. This is a significant distinction because these two particles of leh, can be produced with the same tone, yet their meanings differ. I also seek to add on and complement previous research in this area of study. 2. Neglected variant of leh 2.1 Unpopular leh? Leh is seemingly a less frequently used particle, and Wong (2004) suggests that less popular particles such as leh as compared to particles such as lah could be less popular due to it lacking certain components that allow users to express their cultural norms of interaction in everyday speech (2004: 764). In fact, an analysis of the ICE-SIN corpus (containing about 600,000 words) showed leh to be the third least commonly used particle out of 10 particles selected (Ler, 2005). The particles seemingly low occurrence in Singlish utterances and conversations could also be one of the reasons for a lack of attention and research in this area. 2.2 /lɆº/ and /le/ It is notable, and also the central point of focus in this paper, that leh exists in more than one form. By form, it is meant that leh possesses a different version of itself which differs in not just tone, but pronunciation, and also in meaning. When the particle leh is mentioned, the typical representation of it is that of /le/. In this paper, I seek to bring added attention to its heteronym, /lɆº/. It must also be added that within the two separate versions of leh, different meanings and forms of usage can be derived as well, depending on context. Studies in the past have typically mentioned or focused simply on the /le/ version of leh, failing to distinguish the difference between the two versions (Gupta 1992, 1994; Lim, 2004, 2007). Even when the difference in function and meaning is noticed and investigated, a distinction between them fails to be made (Lee, 2007), thus hampering further analysis of /lɆº/ as a separate particle. I contest that previous assumptions are incorrect, and will seek to show the marked distinction in the usage of /le/ and /lɆº/ in this paper. I believe one of the main contributing factors for the lack of distinction of these two different particles, is due to them having an entirely similar Romanised form of leh. I have mentioned earlier that these two particles function as heteronyms. Due to the fact that they have identical Romanised forms, and tone is often not encapsulated in a Romanised script, it breeds a sense of the two particles being the same. While they do share certain traits in terms of meaning, I would like to prove in this study that the range of their meanings would point to them being separate, independent particles. It is also worth noting that the fact that little attention has been paid to the /lɆº/ form of leh could possibly be attributed to it being a somewhat recent development. As mentioned by Lim (2011: 13), Singlish is capable of displaying a continuum of possibilities in prosodic phonology, of more mesolectal and more basilectal features, and Singlish may in fact be viewed as changing, in the more Sinitic-dominant ecology of the recent era, to display more Sinitic features. It is thus worth hypothesising that change had possibly occurred to the particle itself, in the process changing its pronunciation and range of attitudes conveyed. This however, will not be the main focus of the paper. 3. Previous Studies 3.1 Gupta (1992), and Lees (2007) arguments against Gupta (1992) Gupta (1992) analysed a total of 11 different particles in Singlish, and categorised them on a scale of assertiveness. Guptas claim is that these particles can be marked as belonging to three main categories of contradictory, assertive and tentative. According to her, contradictory particles are used in cases where there is an explicit contradiction to something that had been previously said. In her terms, these particles are maximally assertive. Next down the scale is the assertive group, this group consists of particles which express speakers positive commitment (Gupta, 1992: 37) to a particular utterance. Finally, there is the minimally assertive tentative group. Particles in this group present a less positive commitment as compared to the assertive group. Guptas attempt to categorise these particles on a scale of assertiveness have met with some contention and disagreement (Wee, 2002; Wong, 2004). In particular her choice of labelling Singlish particles as being assertive in nature has been challenged, and Wong (2004) suggests that this classification displays an ethnocentric view in that Gupta is taking an Anglo cultural perspective (Wong, 2004: 752). Moreover, I will not be dealing with the contention surrounding Guptas scale of assertiveness in this paper. Gupta (1992) also included a non-pragmatic classification of leh (appears as lei in Guptas paper), which she lists as being used in x-interrogatives which do not have a wh-word, and recaptures a contextually understood antecedent x (Gupta, 1992: 36). This version of leh in question is classified as a high-level tone leh (Platt 1987; Platt and Ho, 1989), and Gupta claims in this way, leh can be translated as What about? when used as a question particle. This is a view first mentioned by Platt (1987), but is not an accurate analysis of the particle. As mentioned by Lee (2007), this translation cannot adequately capture the meaning of every occurrence of leh. As with many other pragmatic particles in SCE, contextual factors play a huge role in the interpretation of the meaning of the particle. While leh can carry the meaning of What about?, it is by no means restricted to such a definition. Lee (2007) takes issue with this particular definition of the question particle leh, and tried to explain how What about? cannot be used in certain contexts with question particle leh. I list out two examples he used to illustrate his point: Lee (2007) (2) A: Everyones here. Lets go. B: Wait. Siew Lian leh? (3) A: Alan will wipe the tables, and John will sweep the floor. B: Then Siew Lian leh? Lee (2007) claims that in (2), the utterance with leh should be Wait. Where is Siew Lian?, and in (3) it would then take the suggested translation of What about?. He goes on to say that this is proof of how high-level tone leh does not necessarily carry the meaning of What about?. What he is trying to explain is that how an utterance is shaped with the use of leh will be shaped by the context of which it is used in. I agree with this view, however, I disagree with how he illustrates his point. This is because in trying to argue for the flexibility of high-level tone leh, he has neglected to acknowledge a similar flexibility in terms of meaning for What about? as well. For example in (2), Wait. What about Siew Lian? can still be construed and understood as a question asking for the whereabouts of Siew Lian. It does not necessarily have to be framed as an explicit question demanding for the whereabouts or location of Siew Lian in Where is Siew Lian. The converse is true for (3), and we can flip Lees (2007) claim against himself by showing that what about Siew Lian could also be translated explicitly as Then what would Siew Lians duties be?. Thus, similar to high-level tone leh as a question particle, What about? is also dependent on context. This can be further illustrated in the following: (4) A: We will all be going to the party at 10. B: What about Tim? Bs utterance can be understood as asking whether Tim would be going to the party as well. However, supposing Tim has fallen very sick and needs someone to be by his bedside. Both A and B know it would be near impossible for Tim to go to the party, and the most immediate concern would be having someone look after Tim. In this case, Bs utterance would be taken to be asking Then whos going to take care of Tim?. Thus, we can see that What about? functions similarly with high-level tone leh in that they depend upon contextual factors for a correct interpretation. As such, Lees (2007) usage of a narrow definition of What about? as an argument is not conclusive evidence for the incorrectness of this definition for high-level tone leh. However, this is where the similarities between them end. Using the following example: (5) A: If Sam comes tonight, we can finish. B: Then he dont come leh? In (5), What about? cannot be used anymore. In such a scenario, What if would be more appropriate, as in What if he doesnt come?. What if and what about have markedly different meanings, and while we will not delve deep into their range of meanings and functions, it can be agreed that they do not carry the same meaning. As we can see then, high-level tone leh can be used more than as What about?. As such, it is incorrect as suggested by Platt (1987) and Platt and Ho (1989) to translate high-level tone leh as simply What about?. While leh in this form can possess such a meaning, it does not necessarily always translate to such a definition. Gupta (1992) also included the maximally assertive leh, and claims that both declaratives and imperatives with leh frequently, but not always, function as directives (1992: 42). She also manages to recognise and identify the /lɆº/ form of leh when she used the following data: (6) [YG finds passing-out parade picture] YG: Soldier is like that one leh? [high rise] AG: Yes She stated that in (6), it meant the statement with leh was made with an expression of surprise. In her words in such a case, the speaker makes an observation, of which there is no doubt, but which is unexpected (Gupta, 1992: 42). This is different from leh the question particle, and leh the assertive particle which she identifies in her paper. Despite identifying this, she fails to distinguish the difference between /lɆº/ and /le/, and treats it as a deviation of the meaning of leh as a result of context, rather than see it as a separate particle. Lee (2007: 6) brings up another point of contention when he suggests this example is a case of misguided induction, caused by the inadvertent use of an isolated example. He goes on to say this is most likely a performance error, whereby the particle is being misused, and claims this is typically unacceptable to a native SCE speaker. First of all, it is not clear as to which pronunciation of leh Gupta is referring to in her excerpt. If the version of leh used is /le/, then indeed the particle does seem out of place in the utterance. In this case, I would agree with Lee that there is a performance error. However, supposing the /lɆº/ version is the one used by the speaker, there would be nothing wrong at all, and it is definitely acceptable. As I will show further in the study, there are examples of native SCE speakers reproducing this leh in other instances. Lee (2007: 6) also continues and suggests the use of the particle meh instead in place of leh as being more appropriate. This is highly incorrect, as this would give the utterance an entirely different meaning. Since this study does not concern the study of meh, I will not dwell on this issue. Moreover, this confusion highlights one of the problems of not distinguishing clearly the two different particles of leh /lɆº/ and /le/. The fact that one of the variants of leh would be out of place in a utterance that would be appropriate with the other, further supports the argument that these two should be treated as two different, separate particles. 3.2 Wee (2004) Wee (2004) in his paper included a different function of leh. He suggests that leh marks an assertion or request as being tentative, and therefore working as a pragmatic softener (2004: 122). In his analysis, Wee (2004) used an excerpt from the GSSEC to display such a softening function: (7) A: Actually†¦ come to think about it actually, er, this movie speaks very badly about men leh. According to Wee (2004), leh softens the opinion that A makes, and signifies that it is a weak opinion, therefore explaining the speakers hesitance and sheepishness in making the statement. However, it is not clear what version of leh the speaker used. In fact, both /lɆº/ and /le/ can be used in such in instance without affecting Wees interpretation. Despite this, I argue that /lɆº/ and /le/ exhibit different states of minds and attitudes of the speaker, and as such cannot be used interchangeably. Both versions exhibit a softening function, however to different degrees. When /lɆº/ is used, it suggests more assertion rather than softening, and the opinion is more forceful than when /le/ is used. For this reason, it is assumed that the /le/ version is the one Wee (2004) is referring to. Wee (2004:122) also used the following: (8) (A and B are talking about a movie) A: But so few people lah, maybe because it has been running for quite some time lah. B: Actually two weeks only leh. Wee again uses this as an example of leh acting as a softener. Once again, it is not clear which leh is used. In this example, if /lɆº/ is used, the assertion of it being two weeks only is much more forceful than that of /le/. It further goes to show how these two particles should be defined properly. I will address the issue of leh being used as a softener later in this paper. 3.3 Lee (2007) Lee (2007) identifies three tonal variants of leh in his paper, and suggests that each particle has its own pragmatic function realised in specific speech contexts. He claims they can be realised in tone 1, tone3 and tone 4 of Mandarin Chinese respectively. In addition to identifying the more commonly known /le/ as leh1, Lee (2007) also correctly identifies /lɆº/ in his paper. He found two tonal variants of it leh3 and leh4. However he too, makes no mention of the differentiation in pronunciation. For the sake of discussion, we will assume that he has made the correct distinction between /lɆº/ and /le/. In marking the variants of /lɆº/, Lee (2007) categorises leh3 as being a marker of intent and leh4 as a marker of assertion. One of the functions Lee (2007) has accorded the use of leh3 is that of reporting a new state of affairs which is assumed to be beyond the addressees knowledge. However, as I will show later in the presentation of data, that this is not necessarily true. Even with speakers knowing that each other has knowledge of a particular piece of information, the particle can be used. Lee (2007) also does not fully expand the section on the usage of the leh4 variant that he calls marker of assertion. He suggests only a subtle distinction between the third of fourth tones of the particle (2007: 15). This is not true, and as data will show, leh4 can capture and reflect different meanings and attitudes of the speaker, including the suggestion of exaggerated emphasis or sarcasm. This as a result would mean more than just a subtle distinction between the two particles. 4. The different forms of leh The data used and presented in this paper have been taken from conversational interactions between Singaporeans using SCE. Because of the naturally occurring circumstances of which these data have been obtained, they are authentic instances of the use of SCE (and thus the use of the leh particles). These data would be analysed and they form the basis of presenting the different forms of leh in this paper. In Lees (2007) study, he separated leh into three different tonal variants, where within one tonal variant the particle could take on different meanings. I would take a similar approach, however I make a marked distinction between the /le/ and /lɆº/ forms of leh. The analysis would be separated into two major parts, with the first part being the more commonly known /le/ version of leh, and the second detailing the /lɆº/ of leh which I will represent with lea. 4.1 /le/ leh The /le/ leh consists of a number of variants, and I will attempt to separate them into their particular functions. 4.1.1 Leh as a Softener realised as tone 1 in Mandarin Chinese As has been categorised by Lee (2007: 7), this leh occurs in the second part of an adjacency pair, whereby the speaker is unable or unwilling to provide a preferred response with respect to a proposition introduced by the addressee in the first part of discourse. Lee calls this the dispreferred second (2007: 7). According to Yule (1996: 79), the preferred is the structurally expected next act and the dispreferred is the structurally unexpected next act. Therefore, disagreements and refusals are next acts which are unexpected. Yule (1996) has found that in English, hesitation and prefaces are used to make a response (as a dispreferred second) less challenging to the first, thereby softening an unexpected next act. In SCE, leh performs a similar function. Thus as mentioned, this leh is used by a speaker in response to something said prior that the speaker does not agree with. This does not necessarily have to be an opinion of which one can blatantly state an agreement or disagreement with, but also requests or false statements. The leh is tagged to the dispreferred second of an utterance, and thus performs a function of softening the blow of an unexpected next act. (9) A: Eh, later after this we go get something to eat. B: Later? I got something on leh. In (9), A is suggesting to B that they go for a meal after their current activity. However, B is unable to make it. In this instance, B is offering a refusal to As invitation. He does not refuse the invitation outright. Rather, he answers the question indirectly by stating that he has something on, which naturally would be taken to mean that he wouldnt be free for As meal invitation. This indirect refusal could be taken to be a way of making the refusal less challenging. Even so, leh is still used to further soften the refusal. Leh is able to perform this softening function because the usage of leh suggests an attitude of a willingness to compromise, or to negotiate a position whether it is an intention the speaker is trying to convey or not. For instance in (9), because the use of leh softens the unexpected next act of refusal, we see the following exchange: (10) A: Eh, later after this we go get something to eat. B: Later? I got something on leh. A: Huh? What thing? Eat lah! B: Cannot lah. The use of leh by B suggests a position of the possibility of negotiation rather than closing the door on any possibility of accepting the invitation with an outright rejection, which explains why A continued by attempting to change Bs mind and getting him to accept the invitation. B clearly did not have the intention to negotiate because he promptly put an end to As attempts to persuade by refusing the invitation outright in his second utterance. Thus, leh performs a softening function in suggesting a position of compromise and willingness to negotiate, therefore making a refusal or rejection less challenging. (11) (A and B are discussing the price of a new phone. A thinks the price is expensive, while B thinks it is a reasonable price) A: Cheap? Then you buy me one lor. B: Please leh, cheap also need money. Buy for you I might as well buy more for myself.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Essay on Identity in Huckleberry Finn -- Adventures Huckleberry Huck F

The Development of Identity in Huckleberry Finn In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry , by Mark Twain, the main character enters into a transitional period of his life. This character, Huck Finn, faces many situations in which he is forced to deal with decisions that foster with in them the ability to bring about change. Since transition is the process of entering change, Huck is searching for an identity which is truly his own. In determining his self image, Huck deals with conformity and freedom, trying on different identities that do not belong to him, and enveloping and shaping these new found attributes into an identity which best suits his "deformed conscience." The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn begins with Huck under the care of Widow Douglas. Since Huck is so used to being unencumbered, "He sees the widow Douglas' protection solely in terms of confinement"(WHIT 156). This is unacceptable to Huck because he, "loses his freedom amid 'the bars and shackles of civilization"(WHIT 156). According to Susan Harris, "the sensory world exists beyond the narrow conventions of the human community and it is the place for the regeneration of the soul"(78). To put it in simpler terms Huck belongs out under the stars where he will not be bound by the community. The next impedance in which Huck is faced with is the untimely return of his drunkard father. His father was merely stopping through to steal money from his son. So since he did not care for his son much, Pap did not feel the least bit inclined to treat his son with any respect. So Huck once again faces confinement, except this time it is in a log cabin. This time, "the only release is escape, flight and effacement of the identity through which bot... ...s own, and enveloping and forming these new found attributes in to a an identity which best suits his "deformed conscience." III Body Huck versus Conformity-Freedom * 1.Huck's stay with Widow Douglas * 2.The flight from Pap * 3.The Raft Trying on Different Identities * 1.Huck's "Death" * 2.The beginning of Huck's quest for himself * 3.Other examples of characters from the novel Deformed Conscience(Good vs. Bad) * 1.Huck's religion * 2.Huck and Jim * 3.Huck needs a family IV Conclusion Huck encounters various situations in which he learns to adapt and react to each situation in a way he feels suitable. Through these experiences Huck learns and overcomes boundaries. Huck combines his learned knowledge into an identity which suits him and thus creates a conscience with which he is comfortable.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

KM Tutorial Ans

208KM Tutorial 5 Ans Question 1 Ans Show why R&D management is dependent on industrial context. Answer: This question explores the extent to which students understand the importance of industrial context. R&D operations in the industrial chemical industry will be completely different from those in the food industry. For example, R&D managers in industrial chemicals companies may not have to deal with brand managers, whereas in the food industry brand managers will be very influential. Similarly, consumer research scientists will have a significant influence on decision making in consumer markets but not in industrial markets.Question 2 Discuss the range of operational R&D activities. Answer: Figure 8. 1 illustrates the R&D operations commonly found in almost every major research and development department. They may have different labels, but within Siemens, Nokia, BMW and Shell such operations are well documented. In smaller organisations the activities are less diverse and may inclu de only a few of these operations. This section explains what activities one would expect to find within each type of R&D operation. To help put these activities in context, Figure 9. shows how they relate to the product life-cycle framework. They are: Basic Research Applied Research Product Development Technical Service Question 3 What was the traditional view of R&D? Answer: After the Second World War, research and development played an important role in providing firms with competitive advantage. Technical developments in industries such as chemicals, electronics, automotive and pharmaceuticals led to the development of many new products, which produced rapid growth. For a while it seemed that technology was capable of almost anything.The traditional view of R&D has therefore been overcoming genuine technological roblems, which subsequently leads to business opportunities and a competitive advantage over one's competitors. Question 4 Not all firms invest in R;D. What should be th e level of expenditure on R;D for a firm? Answer: One of the most useful guides is to look at industry average expenditure. This will provide a guide to what a firm in a particular industry probably an annual budgetary basis. It requires a longer-term approach enabling knowledge to be acquired and built up over time.This often leads to tensions with other functions that are planning projects and activities. It is unusual for unlimited funds o be available, and hence business functions usually compete with other departments for funds. A great deal depends on the culture of the organisation and the industry within which it is operating (see Chapters 3 and 6). Pilkington, for example, spends proportionally large sums on R;D -many say too much – especially when one considers its more recent performance (Financial Times, 1998). Other companies spend very little on R;D but huge amounts on sales and marketing.This is the case for the financial services industry. So, one of the most difficult decisions facing senior management is how much to spend on R;D. Many companies now report R;D expenditure in their annual reports. It is now relatively easy to establish, for example, that Rubbermaid spent 14 per cent of sales on R;D in 1994; however, exactly how the company arrived at this figure is less clear. Question 5 What are the main strategic activities of R;D? Answer: The management of research and development needs to be fully integrated with the strategic management process of the business.This will enhance and support the products that marketing and sales offer and provide the company with a technical body of knowledge that can be used for future development. Too many usinesses fail to integrate the management of research and technology fully into the overall business strategy process (Adler et al. (1992)). A report by the European Industrial Management Association (EIRMA, 1985) recognises R;D as having three distinct areas, each requiring investment: R;D for e xisting businesses, R;D for new businesses and R;D for exploratory research (see Figure 8. ). These three strategic areas can be broken down into operational activities: 00 defend, support and expand existing businesses; drive new businesses; and broaden and deepen technological capability. Discuss some of the strategic pressures on R;D. Answer: In virtually all R;D functions there is a trade-off between concentrating resources in the pursuit of a strategic knowledge competence and spreading resources over a wider area to allow for the building of a more general knowledge base. Figure 8. 5 shows the demands on technical resources.The growth of scientific and technological areas of interest to the firm pressurises research management to fund a wider number of areas, represented by the upward curve. The need for strategic positioning forces the decision to focus resources and build strategic knowledge competencies, represented by the downward curve. Question 7 What is meant by technol ogy leverage? Answer: While it is tempting to say that technology influences the competitive performance of all businesses, in reality some businesses are more heavily influenced than others.In many mature and established industries, the cost of raw materials is much more of an influence on the competitive performance of the business than are technology developments. For example,the price paid for commodities like coffee, cocoa and sugar can dramatically influence profits in many food industries. Even if the business was to substantially increase the level of R;D nvestment, its competitive position would still be determined by raw material prices.Several attempts have been made by industry to quantify this factor when considering the level of R;D investment required. Scholefield (1993) developed a model using the concept of technology leverage. This is the extent of influence that a business's technology and technology base have on its competitive position. In general, technology le verage will be low when the influence of raw material and distribution costs and economic growth is high. High-volume, bulk commodity products would fall within this scenario.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Analyze An Article Example

Analyze An Article Example Analyze An Article – Article Example A number of reasons make Vietnam a trend and best for manufacturing industries more especially textile industry. It has invested in human capital and the lager population is made up of productive youths aged between fourteen and fifty-four, this has provided cheap labor force and competition for talent that is arising in the labor market, this make Vietnam the best as businesses are looking for low cost in their production more output in terms of profit.Vietnam has also put a considerable amount of its capital and intellectual foreign investment in the textile and apparel sector. Due to its advanced stages in the textile industry with the skilled workers and business infrastructure that can support a large scale manufacturing investment, it has attracted more foreign investors. The country has got into business agreements with the other neighboring countries; this has made it be able to enjoy the advantage of market prices globally. It can considerably export her textile products to the rest of the world up to including U.S that limited import of other goods from other countries. The U.S has now given Vietnam free trade access in a bid to try and balance trade in textile with china that has substantially higher prices on fiber than the global market.With the rise in population of up to 92 Million, there is rise in the domestic consumption of the textile goods in Vietnam. Due to high demand of the goods, most companies local and foreign aims at shortening their supply lines with minimal cost possible and quickening response time by producing a good with a ready market. With the highest technology and the labor force available, I would wish to manufacture my course garment in this county because I believe it will be of the best quality and design ever.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL essays

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL essays So Joey, I am going to tell you everything exactly how it happened: We are in position getting ready for British attack, and we find out that the British were going to occupy Worchester Heights a couple of days later. We decide to occupy Bunker Hill as a counter attack. There was 2 gunners set up on Bunker Hill, Private Maurice and I. Ralphy is Maurices step brother and he is general of the 18th regiment. Maurice and I are ready for battle we are set up and waiting. We spot The first battle starts and the British attack us. They move in quickly in columns of four. They are marching towards Starks line of nervous militiamen. The leading company for the British attack is called the Royal Welch Fusiliers. They get within 50 yards and get ready for charge when stark gives us order to fire. We tear up the British front column. Gunshots fly through the air, and British soldiers are just dropping to the floor. I am watching from my station at Bunker Hill as General Ralphy is shot to death. I run to him, take the musket from his hand and place it on the floor. I rip of the sleeve of my jacket and tightly wrap it around his gun wound. I watch as blood I run back to my position and start shooting fiercely at the British. I feel this sharp pain fly through my left shoulder. I have just been shot, yet still fiercely keep shooting as the next two British columns called the Kings Own charge us. Stark and his men are also ready organized and waiting for the British attack. We defeat them in the first battle. We wait patiently for 15 minutes after the first attack before General Stark Howe give us orders to launch the second attack. Maurice and I, the gunners on Bunker Hill become short of ammunitions. We run to the British ammunitions fort and we decide we are going to charge in and shoot everyo ...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

HCM337-0704B-01 Current Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues in H - Essay - 2

HCM337-0704B-01 Current Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues in H - Phase 1 Discussion Board 3 - Essay Example Sometimes regulatory forces moved extremely fast and changes come before a hospital or health care facility can adjust to the changes. In 2002 St. Jude Medical had new heart device they wanted to bring to the market, but regulatory forces mandated that the device be tested on X number of patients before brining it to market. The company was originally unaware of the regulations regarding human trials, which their entrance into the market costing them million of dollars in revenues (McCartney, 2007). This is an example of the types of negative consequences of not complying with regulation which also includes other detrimental penalties such as fines, lawsuits and even complete shutdown of a medical facility. Ocean Health currently has two regulatory non-compliance issues which must be dealt with immediately. The first problem the health facility is facing is poor medical record documentation. The medical record is a key instrument that provides a medium to keep track of a patient’s current status and the treatment option administer to the patient. It also provides other information about the patient such as demographic information which valuable for medical investigation of diseases. In order to improve the documentation of medical records Ocean Health has to understand the magnitude of errors, the different types of medical record errors and the reason these errors are occurring (Cheapceus). The healthcare facility should proceed by taking actions to remedy the problem and find ways to prevent medical record documentation errors from occurring. Two aspects must be covered to deal with the problems: the human factor and the organizational operating factor. The human factor can be improved to minimized errors in the process by performing an assessment of all medical professionals that deal with medical record input and output to determine if they

Friday, November 1, 2019

Philosophy of Mass Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Philosophy of Mass Communication - Essay Example Mass Communication is believed to be a task of delivering information, ideas and attitudes to a sizable and diversified audience via use of media developed for that purpose which seems much difficult than to communicate through face to face. The revenue of mass communication comes from the following sources. However people living in advanced nations are also interested to make charitable contributions to organizations such as Save the Children, UNCF and Autism Speaks that partially performing mass communication activities. The people nevertheless, have to make a rational decision in terms of paying for public donations such as mass media or charitable donations. The value of making a public donation needs to be kept in mind because it is largely responsible for keep the national systems running throughout the world. Mass media although seems simple but also has its own code of ethics and conduct, which the companies have to follow and the audience, will judge them as well. Donating to mass media appears reasonable as everyone nowadays is interested to believe in mass and social media. Charitable donations nonetheless have their own significance and importance and funding them is equally important regarding provision of support to media. As being a part of same country, every person has to perform its duties towards those who are being going through several downturns and problems of life. Therefore before donating, any person should consider his or her monthly income, his or her own personal expenses, and then should decide the level of donation he or she can make and should also perform a detailed research about legitimacy of the companies to which he or she is going to make a donation. The next step that is to be done is to see which organization requires the most and the donor has to donate ac cordingly and reasonably. The right of every organization needs to be considered in a local city at least. Roles of Railroads The railroads on the other hand, played an important role in the United States and It was an epic function at that time and therefore, it involved enterprises on a great scale that had quite a cash surplus too. Atlas shrugged has written â€Å"In a time between 1946-1957 in United States†. The novel was led by major characters like Dagny Taggart, James Taggart and John Galt. The basic theme of the novel was that US was experiencing a time where there was recession and facing a downward economic spiral in businesses (Notes 2013). Dagny at that time was the in charge of the Traggart Transcontinental Rail Road who was seeking to rebuild the crumbling track of Rio Norte Line. It also served for oil fields in the blooming industry of Colorado. Dagny throughout the novel shows her devotion to the railroads but faces several enemies who wanted to destroy her dreams. She has her first conflict between her brother regarding contracting with Rearden steel to build the railroads and then she had a fight with a manufacturer who was James’ old friend, She trusted Hayn Rearden more as she found her steel to be more reliable. The sensible decision needs to be made in a disturbed economic situation where Dagny faced the loss of her majority of skilled workforce. The case further worsens when the Traggart Transcontinental Railroad gets nationalized and Dagny experiences a main trauma. After seeking political aid a new law passes which takes the major competitor out of the business. Dagny however comes to know that there are certain people who want her out of the business world and she was facing huge losses. On the other hand, she starts working with Rearden in order to build the metal bridge but even then they face difficulties as the government considers Rearden’s metal to be not reliable and there again comes an end to Traggart T ranscontinental’s works and then they finally decide to invest in John Galt’s Line. After their successful attempt they find a

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Management and marketing within business Organization Essay - 1

Management and marketing within business Organization - Essay Example On the other hand, marketing is a process of informing the customers about the value or utility of a product or service, and to encourage the customers to purchase it. â€Å"It is defined as the process of determining the needs and wants of consumers and being able to deliver products that satisfy those needs and wants. Marketing includes all of the activities necessary to move a product from the producer to the consumer† (What Is Marketing?, n.d, p.13)2 Management is a process which helps to achieve; group goals, Optimum Utilization of Resources, reduction of costs. It is a process which establishes sound organization and equilibrium. Moreover, it helps the society to achieve prosperity (Importance of management.2012)3. Man, material, machine, and money are the four most important resources of an organization. Management is the process, which helps the coordination of all these organizational resources. For example, finance department is responsible for the management of money in an organization. Same way, human resource department look after the manpower resources whereas engineering or production department look after the machineries and materials. Even though different departments are controlling the organizational resources, it is the process of management, which helps them to utilize these resources judiciously so that the organization benefits from these resources. Many people have the illusion that management is a function restricted only to the executives of an organization. In fact, Management is a function usually undertaken by people of all calibre. For example, a housekeeper is responsible for managing the resources of a house properly whereas a construction worker is responsible for managing the works assigned to him. A housewife manages the education of her children while her husband manages other family matters. In short,

Monday, October 28, 2019

English Language Teaching in Gulf Essay Example for Free

English Language Teaching in Gulf Essay Zafar Syed’s assertions about the TESOL challenges in Gulf are subjective reflection over the issue and he is unable to provide any verified or verifiable data and findings. He places all responsibility on the structural constraints i. e. contextual framework, human resource development, system and standards, and research and knowledge and paid less heed to other relevant and important dimension f the TESOL i. e. the constraints on the art of the students. He relies too much on the secondary sources but those secondary sources are also related to education and teaching general and has taken into consideration English language teaching particularly. To some extent citation of these secondary resources is relevant e. g. citation of Mograby to provides facts and figures about the unprecedented quantitative growth in education in UAE . (338) He then generalizes that this unprecedented growth has adverse effect on the teaching of Language. He describes that this unchecked growth impacted the planning and implementation of English teaching patterns and policies. (338) In the following paragraph, he is unable to support he preposition by any solid line of arguments, research study or verifiable facts and figures. He is unable to demonstrate that how this rapid growth in education industry has affected the teaching of language. It is more important to provide a socio-cultural context as well that deter or propel the teaching and learning of a language. He describes that â€Å"local students see no concrete link between English ability and communicative requirements†. Mr. Syed is correct in saying this as communicative important of any language in general and English language in particular is related to exposure of the students to other medium of communications. If the socio-cultural context is conservative and does not allow a student to participate in activities involving other communities and people, he will be unable to use his acquired language capacity and thus will consider it meaning less and futile. This will restrict English language teaching to academic activity only. But Mr. Syed does not provide why such perception is created and this issue can be tackled. The next constraint that Mr. Syed takes into account is human resource development. This part of the study is most powerful and relevant as Mr. syed evaluates the role of English language faculty development and describes an array of issues related to it. He rightly point out the important of the local Arab English language teachers. The pool of English language teachers in the whole region are comprised of various expatriates groups that do not possess enough knowledge â€Å"about the local socio-cultural communities and languages† (339). Syed accurately concludes hat this lack of knowledge about local socio-cultural context breed problems like teacher-students gap and this gap endangers effect English Language teaching. Foreign teachers are not well-capacitated to anticipate and delve deep into the socio-problems of the learners and hence can suggest remedies to these. Grammar Translation Method also requires an understanding of the local language and context in order to effectively implement this methodology. (Chastain, 1971. p. 131) Mr. Syed concludes that this ad-hocism in the hiring of contractual foreign faculty hinders the way to implement a more effective and locally suitable system as these temporary teachers are less motivated to make an in-depth evaluation of the system. Here r. Syed has recognized the sole cause of the problem that triggers a cause and effect phenomenon leading to the deterioration of the English Language teaching system in Gulf. Only a motivated and well-informed teachers can recognize the contextual important and shortcomings of language teaching and hence can formulate policies to reduce or eradicate these contextual barriers. Mr Syed has further taken in to consideration the systems and standards but he is unable to realize that only senior and seasoned English language teachers and professors can help designing and executing a viable system and standard for English language teaching. It is not something independent in itself. He emphasizes on the importance of research but it must be noted that research only come through established systems and qualified academia. So first there is dire need to develop faculty and establish a contextually modified system of instructions. This will ultimately lead the faculty to conduct research on appropriate issues pertaining to every facets of English language teaching. Despite various defects in his theoretical framework, he provides some excellent insights into Gulf English language teaching. In addition to his content, he had certain serious flaws in the style of his expression. He only comments on a specific issue briefly and then goes on to comment on another challenges faced by the English Language Teaching without elaborating the first one. The very first sentence of the study indicates that it has nothing to do with primary research as conducting interview of the ESL teachers to locate the challenges faced by them. Further, Syed has limited his study to UAE with a little reference to Saudi Arabia here and there. So this not only limits the scope of the study but indicates that relying on a particular country in the region, generalizations have been made about the whole region. Chastain, Kenneth. The Development of Modern Language Skills: Theory to Practice. Philadelphia: Center for Curriculum Development, 1971.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Allan Shivers Essay -- essays research papers fc

Throughout Texas history, there have been a number of men and women to serve in their government that have stood out from the rest. Allan Shivers has been one of those men who have stuck out not only as a sore thumb, but even more as one of Texas greatest politicians. Even though his come down from politics was a rough road, his accomplishments more than equal out a bad reputation. From rags to riches, he is a landmark in the lone star state.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Allan Shivers was born Robert Allan Shivers on October 7, 1907 in Lufkin, Texas. He grew up in an area known as the Magnolia Hills near a little town called Woodville where he attended primary school. The Woodville school system only went up to the eighth grade. When Shivers finished school in Woodville, he started working at the local sawmill. Shortly thereafter, his family relocated to Port Arthur where he attended high school and graduated in 1924. Eager to learn, Shivers was accepted to the University of Texas and went to school there for one year. Expenses for college had become too much for the Shivers family to afford. He was forced to drop out of school and returned to Port Arthur. He worked in an oil refinery to make some money and eventually made enough to be able to return to school. He actively participated in extracurricular activities such as his fraternity Delta Theta Phi, a law frat. His senior year, he was elected president of the Students Associa tion, thus marking the beginning of his poli...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

What Recycling Methods Do People in my Community Practice?

Statement of the Problem What recycling methods do people in my community practice in order to conserve our limited resources? Research Questions i. What recycling methods do people in Castries practice in order to conserve our limited resources? ii. How effective are these recycling methods to the people of Castries? iii. What other methods can the people in Castries use to enhance conservation methods? Reasons for Selecting the Area of Research This area of research was selected because I believe that recycling can solve lots of environmental problems.It also helps in saving a lot of expense, required for the production of new products. People should be aware of those factors and should recycle in their community to conserve our limited resources. Method of Investigation To obtain information for my research, I used a method of investigation that is the most accurate and easiest way to collect information. The method I used was a questionnaire. A questionnaire is a research instrum ent consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents.Reasons for Selecting the Instrument This research instrument was chosen because it is an important tool in public research. If you get a number of persons to make a judgment of what most people think. It is also an easier way of finding information and cost less expense. Data Collection Instrument Cover Letter Dear participant, My name is __________ and I am a student of the _____________________. For my Social Studies SBA, I am researching on the topic recycling.I am inviting you to participate in this research study by completing the attached questionnaire. The following questionnaire will require approximately two days completing. There is no compensation for responding. In order to ensure that all information will remain confidential, please do not include name. If you choose to participate in this project please answer all questions as honest as possible. Thank Y ou in advance for taking the time to assist me in my Social Studies SBA research. Yours Truly ___________

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

DNA Lab Report Essay

What is DNA? What do the letters stand for? What is it composed of? Where is it found? What is it shaped like? Answer in full sentences. It is the genetic material that can be passed on from parent to offspring DNA –> Deoxyribonucleic acid It composed of Deoxyribose (5 carbon sugar), a phosphate and a Nitrogonous base (the 4 N-bases are Guanine, Cytosine, Adenine and Thymine) It is a double helix (looks like a twisted ladder.) DNA is found in the nucleus of most cells Go to www.dnai.org > Timeline Visit the above website, read a scientist’s biography, watch an interview, or work through an experiment to identify scientists, dates, events, and facts that makeup the major advances (so far) in the science of DNA. List the answer in front of each question below: 1. Johann Gregor Mendel__________ It took him eight years and more than 10,000 pea plants to discover the laws of inheritance. 2. ___ Linus Pauling_______ Even though he added an extra strand to the structure of DNA, he ultimately won two Nobel Prizes: the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the Nobel Peace Prize. 3. _____ Martha Chase and Alfred Hershey These two scientists used a common kitchen appliance to help show that phage DNA carries instructions to make new viruses. 4. ____ Barbara McClintock______ Next time you’re munching away at the movies, think of this Nobel-Prize winning scientist who figured out the process of transposition in corn chromosomes. 5. _____ 1962_____ When did Watson, Crick, and Wilkins win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their model of the structure of DNA? 6. _____ David Baltimore_____ This scientist found that some viruses have an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase that was later named â€Å"reverse transcriptase.† He was one of three who shared in the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. 7. _____ The Human Genome Project_____ J. Craig Venter’s company, Celera Genomics, worked on this very important project. 8. ____ Density gradient centrifugation______ Matthew Meselson and Frank Stahl invented this new technique in their quest to prove that DNA replication is semi-conservative. 9. _____ Friedrich Miescher_____ I first isolated DNA using pus collected from bandages at a  local hospital. Since white blood cells are a major component of pus, they were my source of DNA. Yuck! 10. _____ Thomas Hunt Morgan_____ The â€Å"fly room† at Columbia University was established through my efforts. Imagine working in a room filled with bottle after bottle of fruit flies! 11. ____ Thomas R. Cech______ I showed that RNA could act as its own catalyst. Because of my work, it is no longer correct to state, â€Å"all enzymes are proteins†. Go to www.dnai.org > Code > Finding the Structure > problem As you work through the problem section, write, in your own words, the specific contribution that each scientist made to the DNA story in the spaces provided below. Scientist  Contribution Friedrich Miescher He is famous for discovery of nucleic acid, which led to the discovery of DNA. This occurred while he was studying proteins in leukocytes. He named it ‘nucleic acid’ because it came from the nucleus of the cell. Phoebus Levene In 1909 Levene found that the carbohydrate present in yeast nucleic acid is the pentose sugar ribose he succeeded in identifying the carbohydrate in thymus nucleic acid. Levene had succeeded in establishing the nucleic acids as genuine molecules existing independently of the proteins Oswald Avery He discovered that DNA is the material of which genes and chromosomes are made. Go to www.dnai.org > Code > Finding the Structure > players View and listen to the videos and read the text at the site listed above. Write, in your own words, the specific contribution that each scientist made to the DNA story in the spaces provided below. Scientist  Contribution Francis Crick found out the structure of DNA (the double helix). Erwin Chargaff Chargaff discovered two rules that helped lead to the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA Rosalind Franklin Took x-ray of DNA. DNA crystallography allowed Crick to look at the picture to determine it Linus Pauling Linus Pauling contributed a triple-stranded DNA model to scientific research in 1953. Maurice Wilkins He made discoveries about the molecular structure of nucleic acids and their significance for information transfer in living material. James Watson discovery of the molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid — DNA — the building block of all life Answer the following questions, referring back to the materials you viewed above: 1. Watson and Crick knew that the triple helix model of DNA that Linus Pauling had proposed was incorrect. What evidence did they have for such a conclusion? The problem of replication could not be worked out in triple helix. 2. The work of Rosalind Franklin provided a key piece of data for Watson and Crick’s model of DNA. Summarize that evidence and how it was pivotal to the correct model being built. Rosalind Franklin provided x-ray crystallography photographs that showed a triple helix did not work.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Definition and Examples of Singular They

Definition and Examples of Singular 'They' In  English grammar, singular they is the use of the pronoun they, them, or their to refer to a singular noun or to certain indefinite pronouns (such as anybody or everyone). Also called  epicene they and unisex they. Though strict prescriptive grammarians regard the singular they as a grammatical error, it has been in widespread use for several centuries. Singular they appears in the writings of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Austen, Woolf, and many other major English authors. In January 2016,  the American Dialect Society chose the gender-neutral singular they as its Word of the Year: They  was recognized by the society for its emerging use as a pronoun to refer to a known person, often as a conscious choice by a person rejecting the traditional gender binary of  he  and  she (American Dialect Society press release, January 8, 2016). Examples When a person talks too much, they learn little. (Duncan Hines, Lodging for a Night, 1938)If anybody wants their admission fee back, they can get it at the door. (Fiddlers Dram. Spooky South: Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore, retold by S. E. Schlosser. Globe Pequot, 2004)She admired the fullness of the dirty net curtains, opened every drawer and cupboard, and, when she found the Gideons Bible, said, Somebodys left their book behind. (Sue Townsend, Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction. Lily Broadway Productions, 2004)She kept her head and kicked her shoes off, as everybody ought to do who falls into deep water in their clothes. (C.S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn-Treader, 1952)I know when I like a person directly I see them! (Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915)A person cant help their birth, Rosalind replied with great liberality. (William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, 1848) Singular They and Agreement Examples of semantically singular they are given in [52]: [52i] Nobody in their right mind would do a thing like that. [52ii] Everyone has told me they think I made the right decision. [53iii] We need a manager who is reasonably flexible in their approach. [52iv] In that case the husband or the wife will have to give up their seat on the board. Notice that this special interpretation of they doesnt affect verb agreement: we have they think (3rd plural) in [ii], not *they thinks (3rd singular). Nonetheless, they can be interpreted as if it were 3rd person singular, with human denotation and unspecified gender. (Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey K. Pullum, A Students Introduction to English Grammar. Cambridge University Press, 2005) The Growing Acceptance of Singular They The general hesitancy of grammarians towards accepting singular they is not actually matched by many of their academic colleagues who have researched the usage and its distribution (e.g. Bodine 1075; Whitley 1978; Jochnowitz 1982; Abbot 1984; Wales 1984b). Nor indeed is it matched by the lay native speakers of standard English, who show an overwhelming preference for it in contemporary spoken English, non-formal written English and an ever-widening spread of non-formal written registers, from journalism to administration and academic writing. . . . Singular they, in fact, has been well established in informal usage for centuries; until prescriptive grammarians decreed it was grammatically incorrect, and so outlawed it, effectively, from (public) written discourse. The OED and Jespersen (1914) reveal, for example, that right from the time of the introduction of the indefinite pronouns into the language in their present form in the Late Middle English period, the option involving they has been in common use. (Katie Wales, Personal Pronouns in Present-Day English. Cambridge University Press, 1996) The Only Sensible Solution His or her is clumsy, especially upon repetition, and his is as inaccurate with respect to grammatical gender as they is to number. Invented alternatives never take hold. Singular they already exists; it has the advantage that most people already use it. If it is as old as Chaucer, whats new? The  Washington Post’s style editor, Bill Walsh, has called it the only sensible solution to the gap in English’s pronouns, changing his newspapers style book in 2015. But it was also the rise in the use of  they  as a pronoun for someone who does not want to use he or she. Facebook began already in 2014 allowing people to choose they as their preferred pronoun (Wish them a happy birthday!). Transgender stories, from The Danish Girl, a hit movie, to Caitlyn Jenner, an Olympic athlete who has become the world’s most famous trans woman, were big in 2015. But such people prefer their post-transition pronouns: he or she as desired. They is for a smaller minority who prefer neither. But the very idea of non-binary  language with regard to gender annoys and even angers many people. In other words, as transgender people gain acceptance, non-binary folks are the next frontier, like it or not. Who knew a thousand-year-old pronoun could be so controversial? (Prospero, Why 2015’s Word of the Year Is Rather Singular. The Economist, January 15, 2016) Origin of the Concept of the Gender-Neutral Masculine Pronoun [I]t was [Ann] Fisher [author of A New Grammar, 1745] who promoted the convention of using he, him and his as pronouns to cover both male and female in general statements such as Everyone has his quirks. To be precise, she says that The Masculine Person answers to the general Name, which comprehends both Male and Female; as, Any person who knows what he says. This idea caught on. . . The convention was bolstered by an Act of Parliament in 1850: in order to simplify the language used in other Acts, it was decreed that the masculine pronoun be understood to include both males and females. The obvious objection to thisobvious now, even if it was not obvious thenis that it makes women politically invisible. (Henry Hitchings, The Language Wars: A History of Proper English. Macmillan, 2011)