Theories of Communication in Education

Theories of Communication in Education The application of theories, principles and models of communication in education and training Introduction: Communication is a process of exchange of facts, ideas, opinions and a means that individuals or organizations share the meaning and understanding with one another. 2.1. Analyse theories, principles and models of communication: Two schools of thoughts are recognised in the study of communication and these include: The Semiotics School: The basis for semiotics was laid by Morris-1946, for languages or symbols theory. This school deals with communication as a mixture of sign, symbol and message, which the sender wishes to carry and wants a particular reaction from the recipient of the messages-the sign itself. The semiotics schools focus is categorised into three areas of general study: syntactic (study of relationship between symbols), semantics (study of symbol to referent relationship) and pragmatics (study of relationship of people with symbol). The Process School: perceivescommunication as a process, a simple messages transmission and meanings which the sender intends to carry not minding the reaction of the. Instances include art works, culture and music since messages are not formed with any reason, but as an expression of the senders thoughts. The recipient can translate the message the way he wants. The process school of thought is also called Linear School. Communication Theories: Some studies are based on the influence of communication and media on the human society. One of the earliest studies in this group is: Hypodermic/Bullet Theory: whichrelies on the powerful principle of media and its consumers are passive and naÃÆ'Â ¯ve. Furthermore, it states that messages passing through media are like magic bullets which strikes the audience as quickly as possible but also impacts them to carry the required action as quickly as possible. Two Step Flow of Information Theory: Paul Lazaefled Elihu Katz, Berelson and Hazelduadet were at the forefront of this theory which states that mass media did not exert the types of impact on the audience as was generally believed. The audience came to an agreement not directly under the impact of mass media but more by means of association amongst themselves. This was the finding of an investigation carried out in the 1940s during Americas presidential elections. Models of Communication: Aristotles Model: This model was developed some 2000 years ago. Aristotle (the Greek philosopher) includes in this model the five necessary factors of communication: Speaker, Speech/message, Audience, Effect and Occasion. Aristotle suggests that the speaker should construct a speech for separate audiences on separate instance for separate purpose. This model is applied in public speaking. Lasswells Model (1948): states that for mass communication process to be understood, each of the phases has to be understood. This model elaborates on the effect instead of the message itself. Effect implies observable change in the receiver. It also proposes that any change in the elements will change the effect. Shannon and Weavers Model (1949): also termed the engineering model of communication is an exemplary of the process school of thought. It is also known as the mathematical theory of communication as it gave a technique to the problem of how to convey maximum information in a given channel. It proposed the noise concept. As engineers during World War II, Shannon and Weavers main challenge was in finding out the most efficient human communication means. Newcombs Model- 1953: This is the premier of the models to propose the function of communication in a society. The main function in accordance with Newcomb is to sustain equilibrium in a society. For example: Tutors come up with a new policy of increasing the school timing from 5 hours to 7 hours. A Teachers B Learners X Policy or issue If both learners and tutors are okay with this policy then the communication maintains its equilibrium status between them. Else the communication flow between A and B becomes trouble in the social system. If A or B is not willing to accept the policy then it will directly impact the social system and cant maintain the equilibrium status. So TutorsA can convince learners B as much as possible. Else they have to make some amendments in the Policy X and convince them towards the policy. Charles E. Osgoods Model- 1954: In this case, communication is a dynamic process where a healthy interactive association exist between the source and the receiver. Wilbur Schramms Model: Schramm continued from a simple human communication model to a more complex model that justified the total experiences of two people trying to engage in communication and then to a model that considered human communication with interaction between two people. In his second model, Schramm suggests the idea that only what is shared in the aspects of experience of both source and destination is actually communicated, because only that size of the signal is common to both of them. The third model views communication as an interactive process where both the receiver and the sender act as encoder, interpreter, transmitter and receiver of signals. It is a Circular Model, so that communication is something circular in nature. 2.2. Ways in which theories, principles and models of communication can be applied to teaching, learning an assessment Different people respond to different forms of communication, when we teach we give consideration to the varying types of learners, Visual, Aural, Readers, Kinaesthetic (VARK), we try to design our lessons to include all of the styles. Learners learn in different ways depending on the results produced by a sensory input. Making reference to a condition known as synaesthesia, in which one sensory input produces unexpected results for instance, a synaesthete may see the colour red when they see the number 2 and blue if they see number 3, in some cases sound caused a visual effect for the synaesthete. This may explain why one person responds better when information is given in a verbal format, another responds better if it is visual and so on. The connections between these different sensory areas of the brain mean that we all have our own unique way of perceiving what is being taught or communicated. This allows for empathy with learners of different styles and this is a good reason to consider how to communicate to learners with different learning styles. Communication is the art of successfully sharing meaningful information with people by means of an interchange of experience. The important word is successfully, which implied that a desired behaviour change results when the receiver takes the message (Walklin 1993, p. 164). According to Walklin, it is not enough to communicate the instructions, it is also important to deliver praise or constructive criticism in order to encourage and guide the learner into new discovery, if you ask the learner to complete a task a feeling of accomplishment will encourage behaviour conducive to further learning. This is essential to me when teaching as my own learners can often be hostile to the learning process, feeling it has been imposed upon them. It is also important to listen to the students, if you set tasks that are above the students current abilities then you are likely to create a communication barrier whereby the student will close in on themselves not wishing to admit they cannot continu e and the learning process will stop. Achieving two way communications with our learners is not straightforward. Barriers can often present themselves. It is crucial that a tutor can identify barriers and help learners overcome them. Petty (2009) proposes that unsuitable level of work, jargon, vocabulary, environmental factors, fear of failure and inapproachable tutor can be barriers to learners learning experience. Whilst I agree in principle to this, I also believe that introducing new vocabulary and language usage is necessary to the learners further development. Reference: Ars Rhetorica. Edited by W.D.Ross. OCT. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1959. Bizzell, P. and Bruce Herzberg. (2000). The Rhetorical Tradition: Readings from Classical Times to the Present. NY: Bedford/St. Martins. p. 3. Chomsky, Noam (1956) , Three models for the description of language. Ire Transactions on Information theory, 113-124. Golden, James L., Goodwin F. Berquist, William E. Coleman, Ruth Golden and J. Michael Sproule (eds.). (2007). The rhetoric of Western thought: From the Mediterranean world to the global setting, 9th ed. Dubuque, IA (USA): p.67. Gross, Alan G. and Arthur E. Walzer. (2000). Rereading Aristotles Rhetoric. Carbondale, IL (USA): Southern Illinois University Press: Lasswell, Harold D. (1948) The Structure and Function of Communication in Society. Morris, C. (1946) REVIEWS. Signs, Language, and Behavior. New York, Prentice. Hall Inc., Pp. xi, 365. Murphy, John J. (1983). Introduction, Peter Ramus, Arguments in Rhetoric against Quintilian. C. Newlands (trans.), J. J. Murphy (ed.). DeKalb IL (USA): Univ. of Illinois Press. Petty G (2009) Teaching Today (4th Edition), Nelson Thornes. Shannon,C Weaver, W (1949), The mathematical theory of communication, University of illinois press: Urbana. Scramm, W. (1954) Procedures and effects of mass communication in Henry, N.B.(1954)Mass, media and education: University of chicago Press: Chicago. Walklin, A. (1993) Teaching and Learning in Further and Adult Education. Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes (publishers) Ltd.

Current market situation of Tesco

Current market situation of Tesco Tesco Plc is the UKs largest retailer and the 4th in the world (after Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Metro AG). Tesco was established in 1919 by Jack Cohen. The Tesco brand first appeared in 1924. Then the first Tesco store was opened in 1929 in Burnt Oak, Edgware, London. Tescos businesses operate in the Europe, the USA and Asia with over 470,000 employees. In 2010 their revenue was in excess of  £56,910 million which was an increase of 5.6% over 2009. The operating profit of the company in 2010 was  £3,457 million which was grown 9.1% comparing to 2009. The net profit was rose by 9.3% over 2009 with  £2,336 million and  £2,138 million respectively. With approximately 4,800 stores in 14 countries around the world, its products and services include: Store types: Extra, Superstore, Metro, Express, Homeplus, Tesco.com Store offerings: Food Retail, Non-Food Retail, Petrol Stations, Home Living Range Tesco Personal Finance: (Tesco Bank) Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Home Insurance, Travel Insurance, Motor Insurance, Credit cards, Savings Accounts, Personal Loans, Secure Investment Bonds, Online Mortgage Finder Tesco Telecom: Dial up internet access, Broadband, Tesco mobile value SIM, Tesco mobile network, Mobile phones 2/ With about 24% revenue of the total, non-food is a business generates the most revenue of Tesco. In 2010, group non-food sales rose 6.2% to  £13.1 billion with  £9.0 billion in the UK and  £4.1 billion in International. The non food retailing was created with the multi arrangements and they focus on price strategy that low cost structure together with improved merchandising skills. Teesport as an example that help them get better, simpler and cheaper. Moreover, a non-food performance is significantly very strong in the UK with steadily improving like-for-like sales during the year to add another leg to growth. Although the downturn, non-food performance has been definitely resilient and contributed to bring Tesco becomes one of the top retailers in the world. 3/ UK is one of the most important key strategies of Tesco. UK has delivered a good performance in a challenging market achieving a 4.2% increase in sales with profits rising 6.7% to  £2.4 billion in 2010. They focus on helping customers spend less time and price with new products and high quality services to earn customers faithful. Clubcard is example for thank you to their customers. Customers earned  £550 million in voucher from Clubcard. However, they have faced a number of impediments of the UK retail market. In addition, according to the Competition Commissions report that it is actually not easy for a competitor to challenge its scale. Therefore, Tesco still remains the top position of domestic market. 4/ Tescos international business is growing steadily and they are non-stop trying to expand its business to over the world. Although there is a challenging global economic environment and the start-up losses in US business, Tesco significantly keeps a symbol for a gigantic development today when their international business generates 22% with 16% of the Retailing Services markets of profits and  £19.4 billion of group sales in 2010. Increasingly, Tesco draws on their skill and capabilities to utilize their international sourcing such as FF clothing now in ten countries, Discount Brands now in seven markets, Clubcard was introduced in seven countries with more Clubcard holders internationally than in the UK. They will also open 8.5 million square feet in addition in 2011. Tescos strategy is working we have grown sales, profits and market shares and we have continued to invest in the drivers of future growth. Moreover, beside Europe and US, Asia is definitely a potential market when they increase 23.9% of profits with  £9,072 million of sales in 2010. Tesco has continued regional strength and grown well although the economics have been on crisis. 5/ In 2007, Tesco became the UKs largest non-food retailer and the similar trends are occurring in Europe. Additionally, Tesco took part in a joint venture with O2 to found the Tesco Mobile mobile virtual network operator by 2007. One year later, they were the number one mobile network in UK customer service. Furthermore, in 2008, Tesco combined in a joint venture with the Royal Bank of Scotland with 50% share holding and their revenue was  £49,522 million on this year although the economic downturn. Q2. 1/ Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the most important parts of company to take the interests of all stakeholders through their decision-making processes which is balanced with shareholders benefits. Tescos opinion is that CRS is not a specialist function in Tesco, it is a part of everybodys job every day. They use Steering Wheel a balanced scorecard of the key elements of their business to create the new Community Promises: Actively supporting local communities Buying and selling our products responsibly Caring for the environment Giving customers healthy choices Creating good jobs and careers Particularly, the Community Plans are used for all markets and help them change the way they do business, for example by reducing our carbon emissions. Through Customer Question Times (CQTs), meetings and surveys, Tesco talks to customers and other stakeholders in each region to identify local priorities. Moreover, throughout the year 2010, Tesco gave over  £60 million in donations to charities and contributions to community projects including cause-related marketing, gifts-inkind, staff time and management costs. In the other hand, 16,000 jobs were created in Tesco this year including 9,000 in the UK. 2/ Sustainability are not only a project but it is also a way of business and consumers expect it. The Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) was established with a  £25 million commitment to the University of Manchester. The SCI aims to perform some subjects about how to make a consumer society sustainable. There are some actions which Tesco have done to respond to the challenge of sustainability as: Sustainable products (Biofuels, Palm oil, Genetically modified (GM) foods, Timber): help customers reduce their carbon footprint and decrease their use of fossil fuels, reduce the chances of deforestation and controls on CO2 emissionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Supporting UK farmers (suppliers): The Tesco Sustainable Beef Project launched in 2008 to improve productivity and profitability as well as the tenderness and flavour of beef. The Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) was established in 2008 to provide expertise in cattle health and welfare for farmers. Forum for the Future: Tesco works with leading organizations in business and the public sector to create a sustainable future as the sustainable development charity. 3/ Climate change is continuously the main strategic challenge in CSR of Tesco. Among their endeavour to engage employees overcome climate change, Energy Champions is appeared in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malaysia, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and the UK. Energy Champions are responsible for reducing energy consumption in stores through engaging staff and implementing energy-saving measures. Tescos climate change programme has three main parts: Leading by example: reducing our own direct carbon footprint Working with our supply chains and partners to reduce emissions more broadly Leading a revolution in green consumption. Extraordinarily, Tesco uses a 50:50 biodiesel mix in their own vehicles; offering Clubcard points for customers to reusing carrier bags, and their customers have took over 400 million fewer free plastic bags by the end of April 2007; putting an aero plane symbol on all air-freighted products because this method of transport results in far higher carbon emissions than any other. 4/ Remarkably, Tesco asked for stakeholders feedback on their quality, material issues, strategy and performance. Particularly, there are some evidences with external stakeholders as follow: Customers: Using Customer Question Time (CQT) to identify customers changing needs and help them listen to customers responses on quality and service. Suppliers: Organizing regular meetings with suppliers, processors, manufacturers and get feedback of them by annual Viewpoint survey. Additionally, Tesco provides training course and capacity building for suppliers in appropriate places. Producer Clubs was launched to share experiences together. Governments and regulators: Planning processes and consultations on new regulations including healthy eating and alcohol. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs): In 2008, Tesco operated many meetings with NGOs to discuss issues including climate change, biofuels, ethical trading and animal welfare. They also provide information as request and take part to research and surveys from NGOs. Q3. 1/ As many large corporations, Tesco have been criticized by others companies, writers and organizations. The major way that Tesco have applied is issue writs for criminal defamation and civil libel. Then, they involved in litigation for claims form personal injury from customers, staff and other commercial matters (for example, against The Guardian newspaper about corporation tax in 2007). In the other hand, Tesco usually faced to opposition by government and local people to their expansion. They must adjust their plan to adapt requirement of them (for example, Tesco open a store in Birmingham in 2007; a No Mill Road Tesco campaign is against Tesco opening a store on Cambridges Mill Road in 2007). In some cases, Tesco must retreat their plans (for example, Tesco build a store in Tonypandy, South Wales in 2008 and a store on Hope Street, Liverpool in 2009). 2/ In the financial year 2008 2009, Tesco like other large companies, they also decreased on the market because of the economics downturn. Unquestioningly, Tesco has an abundant capability in the finance market with reputation brand. However, its non-stop in that, Tesco decided to tie up with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in 2008 with 50% of share holding. RBS operates in insurance and banking. They have a good market position with  £49,522 million of revenue in 2008. After cooperating with RBS, Tesco launched consumer banking to service customers needs and loyalty. They offered the bank accounts to the customers for saving time. It can be clearly seen that it appears a reciprocal relation on their businesses between retail and banking. Actually, consumer banking is a good way to sustain the facilities of retailing services which support to their major business as well. Through the deal, Tesco entered the financial market and handled the financial crisis impressively with  £5 00 million profit in 2009. Total customers are  £5.5 million with  £1.3 million of Bank Credit card accounts. Basically, that is a strategic decision which helps Tesco not only overcame the difficult period but also continuously grow with the successful efforts. Q4. 1/ In 2010, with 287,669 employees and 2,482 stores, Tesco has a significant growth in the core UK business. Then, the UK still remains as the biggest market of Tesco with  £38,558 million of revenue which is increased 4.2% in 2010. In fact, although two-thirds of the groups shop floor space is now overseas, but two-thirds of group sales and 70% of profits still come from the UK. They offer five types of stores including Metro, Extra, Express, Homeplus and Superstore. In addition, non-food retailing market is continued a goal which Tesco aims. Group non-food sales rose 6.2% to  £13.1 billion with  £9 billion in UK in 2010. It evidences that their business has been very strong through the economics crisis. They focus on improving greater value to get more customers who have been encouraged to try non-food range with some key categories such as electrical, entertainment, toys and clothing. 2/ Core Strength: Tesco is currently ranked the third largest global grocery retailer but the second largest based on profit behind Wal-Mart with approximately 4,810 stores in 14 countries within the Europe, the USA and Asia. In addition, the company occupied 30.7% share of the UK grocery retail market in 2010. One of the strategic capabilities of Tesco is a strong financial performance. In 2010, their revenue rose to 5.6% with around  £56,910 million comparing to 2009. The products and services are provided in accordance with the market demands is the first strategy of them. Taking full advantage of development and usefulness of internet over the world, online non-food retail (Tesco Direct) business has significantly matured over 50% through 2009. Tesco provides Clubcard to give customers greater reward for their loyalty to increase investment. Today Tesco has 15 million active Clubcard holders over seven countries in the world. 3/ Undoubtedly, Tesco is actually a leader on innovation to achieve the high profit and position on business. Innovative products and services is becoming a major competitive advantage in the retailing industry today. Therefore, Tesco focuses on better value of services and products than concentrate on pricing alone. Additionally, the companys aim is improving customers shopping experience as easy as possible (many types of stores). Furthermore, Tescos innovation success is ability to control margin well. There are many kinds of goods with low price or sometime an amazing price. Clubcard is also a great success of Tescos innovation. It attracts consumers and influences the behavior of secondary customers to bring them into the fold. Q5. 1/ Tescos vision is to strive and achieve the highest standards, to ensure the long-term access to quality produce and maintain their position as the UKs number 1 of supermarket. Their core purpose is To create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty through their values are No-one tries harder for customers by Understand customers; Be first to meet their needs; Act responsibly for our communities and they Treat people as we like to be treated. It can be clearly seen that the way they treat their customers, staffs and suppliers in a culture of Trust and respect each other would help them to raise not only their profits but also their Cooperate Social Responsibilities in where their businesses operate. 2/ Tescos mission statement is to retain loyal customers. That means they want people shop at Tesco frequently and permanently. To achieve the statement, they must set themselves aims. Tesco aims are to maintain customers with excellent values for their money and the top customer service. Customers can enjoy different experiences through many kinds of ranges such as goods and services and many types of stores including luxurious stores. In the other hand, they offer low prices to attract more customers. Furthermore, Tesco also keep their customers loyal to them by providing Clubcard to encourage customers shopping with them to get extra points and special voucher. In fact that Tesco revenue is continuously increased annual. Additionally, Tesco defined their mission clearly with what is the main segment they focus on. Therefore, Tesco significantly have a right strategy and action to support their mission. 3/ Tescos objectives are: To be a successful international retailer To grow the core UK business To be as strong in non-food as in food To develop retailing services such as Tesco Personal Finance, Telecoms and Tesco.com To put community at the heart of what we do Tesco comprehends what they pay attention and their capacities. Undoubtedly, profit is always the first concern of all companies and their shareholders. They expand their sales and profit by focusing on the UK business, non-food and retailing services as well as maintaining their position as the number one retail company in the UK and the top retail company in the world. Accomplishing these targets mean that Tesco surpasses their competitors and preserves the market leader. Moreover, providing goods and services that is cheap and affordable to consumers or the public as a strategy will also support Tescos objectives. Tesco demonstrates that they are trying to achieve their goals totally with successful efforts during past time. 4/ People are entirely a key strategy that every company has to focus on. To motivate staffs Tesco offers a competitive salary, an opportunity to develop a long-term varied career with quality training and especially many good benefits. Basically, all employees have healthcare cash plan and a chance to join pension scheme from the day they start. Some managers and senior managers will be provided private medical insurance. Others policies are standard 20 days for holiday, then 25 days for five year service at Tesco. A lot of staffs work in part-time, thus they are also offered emergency leave, career breaks, shift swaps and flexible hours. Additionally, Tesco built affordable housing to offer for its employees in London. Moreover, staffs are encouraged to involve in the financial performance of the company through a variety of schemes, principally the Tesco employee profit-sharing scheme (Shares in Success), the savings related share option scheme (Save As You Earn) and the partnersh ip share plan (Buy As You Earn). Remarkably,  £175 million payout was shared for all staffs through Save As You Earn (Sharesave) scheme with high appreciates of employees. Above all others, Tesco give a strategy to make its staffs understand and want to contribute their best to the companys development through the companys values.

Cycles of Violence in The Battler Essay -- Battler Essays

Cycles of Violence in The Battler      Ã‚   Ernest Hemingway's "The Battler" provides a continued account of Nick Adams' dangerous and violent life. Previous stories compiled in "The Short Stories" edition of Hemingway's work documents some of the tribulations of Nick Adams, one of Hemingway's protagonists. Apparently, Nick has been plagued by moments of sheer humility, terror, and immutable violence. In the Hemingway short story "Indian Camp," Nick is a young boy who witnesses a dreadfully difficult birth by a Native American woman, enduring all the while the hubris of his surgeon father, who is contestibly insensitive to Nick's innocence. Once the birth has ended, the husband of the woman is found with a freshly slit throat, again viewed by the young Nick. In "The End of Something," another short story from the same compilation, an older Nick Adams breaks of a listless relationship with Marjorie, his girlfriend. Nick reveals his disgust with being committed to Marjorie during a fishing trip, and the proximity of the two in the boat coupled with the inability for either to escape the immediate situation results in moments of tense humiliation for both. Indeed, the scene percolates with subdued violence.    In the case of "The Battler," the violence is not so heavily subdued. Nick is traveling on a train, probably as a vagabond, and is knocked off of his mode of transportation with a clout to the head by a "lousy crut of a brakeman." (p. 129) This is not a narrated situation, but the reader is made aware of Nick's predicament after the fact as Nick finds himself watching the "caboose going out of sight around the curve" and "touch(ing) the bump over his eye." (p. 129) He finds his hands scraped and the skin on his knees b... ...not escape his destiny: he is a living punching bag, and Nick, in his timely fashion, has not only witnessed another violent episode in this man's life, but has taken part in its occurrence. The two become linked in this dangerous moment. In a moment of foreshadowing, Nick's future teeters on the possibility of a life like Ad's. Before dinner, Ad and Bugs had speculated: "He says he's never been crazy, Bugs." "He's got a lot coming to him," Bugs had softly spoken. (p. 133) Nick's scars and hits are, at this time in his life, only more easily hidden than Ad's. Too late, however: Ad and Bugs have seen his potential to become "crazy," a "battler" as well, though he knows that, as in Ad's case, yours is rarely the winning side. Bibliography Hemingway, Ernest: The Short Stories. Simon and Schuster, New York, First Scribner Paperback Fiction Edition, 1995

Social Blindness Essay -- Sociology

Blinded Total darkness can take over ones’ sight, leaving the individual barely capable of forming cognitive images, and experiencing the inevitable dependency on the words of others, thus allowing physical blindness to cripple even the most independent of individuals. The phenomenon of social blindness can describe one who leans not on their own understandings, but instead on the understandings of those surrounding them, which is a trend all too common in the modern world. In â€Å"Selections from Losing Matt Shepard: Life and politics in the Aftermath of Anti-Gay Murder†, transcribed by Beth Loffreda, mass media affected the spread of the truth behind an incident and blindly lead the majority of the United States population to believe various aspects of the murder of Matt Shepard that were created by the media. The spread of unrestrained information about the murder was only possible with the assistance of today’s largest medium, the internet. In â€Å"Is Google Mak ing Us Stupid?† author, Nicholas Carr explained how modern individuals no longer check the validity or exposition of a source, but â€Å"Power Browse† for the facts and important aspects of what they are reading. Whether the article is false or valid has little to no effect on the decision making of reader, for all they look to obtain from the text is information†¦ right or wrong. Yet, with this more efficient and immediate form of information extraction, there is a tangible loss of deep reading and the ability to â€Å"See.† In â€Å"The Mind’s Eye: What the Blind See† the author, Oliver Sacks, gave a few accounts of individuals who were blind in the common meaning of the word that could â€Å"See† more than most individuals that had a fully functioning optical mechanism. Today’s society conta... ...ess, a slow, almost prehensile attention, a sensuous, intimate being at one with the world which sight, with its quick, flicking, facile quality, continually distracts us from,† (Sacks 313). It has been stated that throughout one’s life they maintain a malleable brain that can adapt to multiple situations, which in this case blindness. At the onset of blindness, the brain begins to rewire itself by spreading into the areas of optical stimulation and the brain manipulates them to aide with the expansion of the other senses. The rewiring of the brain accounts for the blind being known as â€Å"Whole-Body Seers,† since the senses of their body’s have matured more than normal in the absence of visual stimulation. As â€Å"Whole-Body Seers,† the blind claim to be sensitive to inflections in the pitch of others voices that show signs of emotions not present to the ordinary eye. Social Blindness Essay -- Sociology Blinded Total darkness can take over ones’ sight, leaving the individual barely capable of forming cognitive images, and experiencing the inevitable dependency on the words of others, thus allowing physical blindness to cripple even the most independent of individuals. The phenomenon of social blindness can describe one who leans not on their own understandings, but instead on the understandings of those surrounding them, which is a trend all too common in the modern world. In â€Å"Selections from Losing Matt Shepard: Life and politics in the Aftermath of Anti-Gay Murder†, transcribed by Beth Loffreda, mass media affected the spread of the truth behind an incident and blindly lead the majority of the United States population to believe various aspects of the murder of Matt Shepard that were created by the media. The spread of unrestrained information about the murder was only possible with the assistance of today’s largest medium, the internet. In â€Å"Is Google Mak ing Us Stupid?† author, Nicholas Carr explained how modern individuals no longer check the validity or exposition of a source, but â€Å"Power Browse† for the facts and important aspects of what they are reading. Whether the article is false or valid has little to no effect on the decision making of reader, for all they look to obtain from the text is information†¦ right or wrong. Yet, with this more efficient and immediate form of information extraction, there is a tangible loss of deep reading and the ability to â€Å"See.† In â€Å"The Mind’s Eye: What the Blind See† the author, Oliver Sacks, gave a few accounts of individuals who were blind in the common meaning of the word that could â€Å"See† more than most individuals that had a fully functioning optical mechanism. Today’s society conta... ...ess, a slow, almost prehensile attention, a sensuous, intimate being at one with the world which sight, with its quick, flicking, facile quality, continually distracts us from,† (Sacks 313). It has been stated that throughout one’s life they maintain a malleable brain that can adapt to multiple situations, which in this case blindness. At the onset of blindness, the brain begins to rewire itself by spreading into the areas of optical stimulation and the brain manipulates them to aide with the expansion of the other senses. The rewiring of the brain accounts for the blind being known as â€Å"Whole-Body Seers,† since the senses of their body’s have matured more than normal in the absence of visual stimulation. As â€Å"Whole-Body Seers,† the blind claim to be sensitive to inflections in the pitch of others voices that show signs of emotions not present to the ordinary eye.

Federal Welfare Reform Essay -- Poverty

Federal Welfare Reform: A Critical Perspective Abstract: This project will examine â€Å"welfare reform,† which was signified by the signing of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (PRWOA) in 1996. PRWOA replaced the original welfare act of 1935, titled Aid to Dependent Children (later changed to Aid to Families with Dependent Children), with the program Temporary Assistance to needy Families (TANF). Under PRWOA, TANF was instated as a system of block grants allocated to states to implement their own forms of assistance and replaced programs like the cash-assistance program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training. The most influential change of this legislation among others has been the implementation of required work hours and strict time limits to how long families may receive aid, implying that people can simply will their way out of poverty provided they work hard enough. While the significant fall of TANF cash assistance caseloads within the program’s first five years has been celebrated as proof of reform’s success, the new era of welfare can only be considered a success if America views the transformation of the welfare poor to the working poor an achievement. Review of the Literature: In conducting my research, it was interesting to find dramatically divergent perspectives on the topic of welfare reform, especially considering that each perspective gave the impression that their argument was based on quantitative facts. The sources I consulted that were affiliated with the federal government, such as statistics and fact sheets from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) as well as the Whitehouse website, were the most optim... ...erg, Heidi. â€Å"Recent TANF Proposals Would Hinder Successful State Efforts to Help Families Overcome Barriers to Employment and Find Better- Paying Jobs.† Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. 9 May 2002. Melendez, Edwin et al. â€Å"Community College Participation in Welfare Programs: Do State Policies Matter?† Community College Journal of Research and Practice. 27.3 (2003). Shipler, David K. The Working Poor: Invisible in America. Vintage Books. New York, 2004. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Factsheets â€Å"Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).† October 2003. . The White House. Office of the Press Secretary. Factsheet. â€Å"President Calls for Action on Welfare Reform.† 14 January 2003. .

Blind Side

Letter: Dear Sean Tuohy, Over the last couple of months you and your outstanding family have provided everything I have every wanted a ‘family’. My life growing up consisted of running, drugs, unreliable parents a couch and others aspects. I have faced many obstacles and challenges in my life. I have been through some things no child my age should have to experience. I have learnt to face my everyday challenges by facing the fact that I can get through it, plus the support of others was very helpful, and knowing someone on earth would be having a worse day.When I was a young child I had many scaring and frightening moments. I have seen a lot of habits my mum got into, taking drugs and being a big disappointment to my family. Then I soon later found out I had 12 brothers and sisters. My mother would tell me to shut my eyes when I was scared or anything she didn’t want me to see, after that she would then tell me to count to 3 and then I could open my eyes. I suffer ed a lot as a child and faced a lot of hardships, I struggle to learn but yet I can apparently write?You and your family have given me hope and believed in me. I have been through a lot and watching my mum throw her life away doesn’t mean I was going to follow in her footsteps. After I crashed your car with SJ I thought you weren’t going to trust me again, but yet you gave me so much more. You took me under you wings, you gave me an education, and you let me go to college. I’m so grateful that someone has given me the opportunity to prove myself to them and let me show them who I am and my potentials.I am glad that I could I write to you to express how I feel. I struggled a lot and I use to be a quiet and shy boy, but now I am a confident and free spirited person and you and your wife have given me reason to believe again. Thankyou From Michael Oher Discuss what your character learnt: In the movie, Michael Oher’s character capabilities change majorly. Thr oughout the film, he grows from a shy, unschooled boy into a young man who fits into a family. The film begins with Oher as a homeless boy struggling to find a place to sleep.He then learns to become a more confident and sophisticated man. Michael Oher has grown and learnt a lot of skills and matured into a young intelligent man. He learnt that because his childhood was so traumatic doesn’t mean he is traumatised for his whole life; everything can change when you start believing. Michael struggled a lot being a foster child, being black, moving and living not with his family, and yet they are complete strangers to him that he would often run away and try and find his mother again.When he meet the Tuohy’s He grew a lot stronger in that because he was living with a Christian, wealthy family who took him in without any weight on their shoulders just out of kind heartedness. He also learnt that he didn’t have to be the smartest to achieve what he wanted he had to wo rk rad and be persistent, to stay focused. He grew so much into a star having every quality that a magnificent football player need but only some granted with this special ability. Michael learnt that being whoever you are or being whatever you wanted was you!! He had a very distraught childhood and often struggling to once believe again.He was always a determined to get what he wanted especially as a child. Michael has grown up so much, from not trying and struggling to read to now getting 2. 52 in his final result meaning he could do what he wanted for footy. He had the skills to get in but did not have the determination of getting and staying focused. Michaels tutor was a massive bonus to him and was a great peer leader. She encouraged him and helped him improve his marks a lot. Along with the hardships Michael has faced he learnt that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.He has grown and learnt so much and he is so lucky and happy to be able to have the opportunities he has been offered let alone half. Review: The blind side has proven to be a wonderful structured film, as it has been based on a true story it gives it a bit more of a overlooking and understanding of the abilities and inabilities this boy has been through. A family of all white has taken this black boy in, he would’ve felt un-invited, not fitting in and questioning why they are being nice especially when there from the complete other side of town.Michael struggles to take in that a family of complete strangers is offering there house and couch to him. The Blind Side is a film about compassion, prejudice, family, chance, and the virtues of hard work. It tells the inspirational true story of Michael Oher, of a disadvantaged African-American child, and his relationship with Leigh Anne Tuohy, a wealthy white woman from the other side of town the rich and wealthy side and he is from the dirty, disgraceful, depressing side. They help him out with a lot of situations. They provi de a wonderful education, house, family.After his mother being a fall out he tried to get his life back on track by believing he could be different and show that he could do anything if you put your mind to work. Michael Oher shows a massive and exciting interest in football and Leigh Anne Tuohy does not hold back on the enthusiasm for him. He has been born with skills that a person could dream about, even though Michael Is a big boy these skills come in handy when he gets a number of offers to be in a professional team. They then provide Michael with a tutor to improve his grades to get him into NCCA div 1.Athletic scholarship. This young man growing up in Memphis would only dream of being able to professional football or any real contact with a ball, he was born too and all of a sudden his dream came true and was right in front of his eyes because of the Tuohy’s. I believe the film deserves a rating of 5/5, when you look at the poster or the movie cover or the book cover yo u don’t know what to expect, but then you get a great message from the film inspiring everyone to show that â€Å"if you believe you can achieve†.The message is trying to explain that you can be in any situation and find a way out of it, if you try and work your way out of it. It was a fantastic book based on a real life story. It’s very inspiring and proven to everyone that you can be from somewhere that struggles into someone who is wealthy. Bibliography: The blind side 2009, DVD, warner bros, Hollywood http://www. imdb. com/title/tt0878804/plotsummary, http://www. pacejmiller. com/2010/02/24/movie-review-the-blind-side-2009/

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is life threatening due to the fact that y the time you can see it, it is too late. To define lung cancer more there are TV'0 ma jar types: Small cell lung cancer and monsoonal cell lung cancer. This paper will be go MO re indented on the study of small cell lung cancer. (1) Small cell lung cancer, also known as CLC, is 15% of all lung cancers. Men are more suitable to it than women and is almost always is a smoker. CLC cancel known to be very aggressive due to the speed of redevelopment of cells and TTS ability to spread.Although the tumors start in the lungs they usually migrate to the bra in, liver, ND bones. (2) The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines small cell lung cancer ‘cancer of a highly malignant form that affects the lungs, tends to metastasis to other Small Cell Lung Cancer Essay 2 parts of the body, and is characterized by small round or oval cells which Reese amble oat grains and have little cytoplasm'. (3) Doctors use several methods to test someone a nd stage their CLC. The stags Eng tactics help show where the cancer has spread and how to treat it.MR., CAT, PET, and Bone scans are used in his staging process. Each scan gives a new look and all of hem put together determine if there is spreading and more tumors. Spreads Eng can be caused by getting into the blood, lymph, or tissue and moving around. Two SST ages of the cancer are Limited stage CLC and Extensiveness's CLC. When it is limited it means it has either stayed in the lungs or spread to under the collarbone, but once t he cancer spreads above the collarbone and other places in the body it becomes extents eve. (4) It is difficult to treat CLC due to the lateness of the diagnostic.Doctors use chemotherapy pills that must be either swallowed or injected into the body. Most patients can not use surgery due to how many tumors they have and so they rely on radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These therapies usually only lessen the symptoms. (2) The Chemotherapy uses drug comb inations of Capitalist and EOT upside, Carbonization and Topside, Capitalist and Orientation, and Carbonization and ARIN toecap. If this first round does not work drugs will be modified. (5) With all the technology humans have still can't cure cancer. We can stage it an d we can prolong death, but we can't cure it.