Definitions of Styles and Learning Styles

Definitions of Styles and Learning Styles 2.1.1.1 Definitions of Styles and Learning Styles Styles Before reviewing the literature of learning styles, it is necessary to know the definition of styles. The concept of styles was first put forward by cognitive psychologists. Brown (2002: 104) defines style as a term that refers to consistent and rather enduring tendencies or preferences within an individual. Therefore, styles are those general characteristics of intellectual functioning (and personality type, as well) that especially pertain to one as an individual, that differentiate one from someone else. Learning Styles Regarding studies of learning styles, the most serious problem is the confusion of its definitions. In the past two decades, the learning styles has been used in various and sometimes confusing ways in the literature. It is very common to hear different opinions on its definitions based on different findings in this comparatively new research field of learning styles, for each study defines it from particular perspectives. However, there is not an agree-upon definition of learning styles. Learning styles can be defined in the following ways. Keefe (1979, cited in Brown, 2002:10) defines learning styles as the characteristic cognitive, affective and physiological behaviors that serve as relatively stable indicators of how learners perceive, interact with and respond to the learning environment. Dunn et al. (1978:11) defines learning styles as the way in which each person absorbs and retains information and/or skills; regardless of how that process is described, it is dramatically different for each person. Sims Sims (1990, cited in Reid, 2002) put forward that learning styles are typical ways a person behaves, feels, and processes information in learning situations. Therefore, learning style is demonstrated in that pattern of behavior and performance by which an individual approaches educational experience. Oxford et al. (1991) briefly defines the learning style as the general approaches students used to learn a new subject or tackle a new problem. Tan Dingliang (1995: 12) defines learning styles as: the way that a learner often adopts in the learning process, which includes the learning strategies that have been stabilized within a learner, the preference of some teaching stimuli and learning tendency. Reid (1995) summarizes definitions of learning styles as internally based characteristics of individuals for the intake or understanding of new information. Essentially learning styles are based upon how a person perceives and processes information to facilitate learning. 2.1.2 Categories of Learning Styles Confusion also exists in the literature on categories of learning styles for many same or similar factors researched under the same name. Reid (1995) divides learning-style research into three major categories: cognitive styles, sensory learning styles, and personality learning styles. 2.1.2.1 Cognitive Learning Styles Cognitive learning styles which include field-independent/field-dependent, analytic/global, reflective/impulsive learning styles, and Kolb experiential learning model, belong to the aspects of psychology. Among them researches on field -independent/field-dependent (FI/FD) attract the most attention of SLA domain (Ellis, 1994). According to Reid (1995), field-independent learners learn more effectively step by step, or sequentially, beginning with analyzing facts and proceeding to ideas. They see the trees instead of the forest; whereas field-dependent (field-sensitive) learners learn more effectively in contexts, holistically, intuitively, and are especially sensitive to human relationships and interactions. They see the forest instead of the trees. Chapelle (1995) explains that FI/FD refers to how people perceive and memorize information. Reid (1995) defines that analytic learners learn more effectively individually; prefer setting own goals, and respond to a sequential, linear, step-by-step presentation of materials; whereas global (relational) learners learn more effectively through concrete experience, and by interactions with others. According to Reid (1995), if learners can learn more effectively given time to consider options before responding, they are reflective learners; and they are often more accurate language learners; whereas if learners can learn more effectively being able to respond immediately and to take risks, they are impulsive learners; and they are often more fluent language learners. 2.1.2.2 Sensory Learning Styles According to Reid (1995), sensory learning styles include two dimensions: perceptual learning styles and environmental learning styles. Perceptual learning styles contain four types of learning styles which are auditory, visual, tactile and kinesthetic styles. Auditory learners learn more effectively through the ears; visual learners learn more effectively through the eyes (seeing); tactile learners learn more effectively through touch (hands-on); kinesthetic learners learn more effective through concrete complete body experiences (whole-body movement). Physical and sociological styles belong to the environmental learning styles. Physical learners learn more effectively when such variables as temperature, sound, light, food, mobility, time, and classroom/study arrangement are considered. Sociological learners learn more effectively when such variables as group, individual, pair and team work, or levels of teacher authority are considered. 2.1.2.3 Affective/Temperament Learning Styles Learning styles of this type are based on affect, personality, tolerance of ambiguity and brain hemisphere. Myer and Briggs (1987, cited in Reid, 1995) report that affective and personality factors influence learners learning styles a great deal. Mayer-Briggs team tested four dichotomous styles of functioning in their Mayer and Briggs Temperament Styles (MBTI) which include extraversion-introversion, sensing-perception, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving. According to Reid (1995), extroverted and introverted styles belong to extraversion-introversion. Extroverted learner learns more effectively through concrete experience, contract with the outside world, and relationships with others; whereas introverted learner learns more effectively in individual, independent situations that are more involved with ideas and concepts. Sensing-perception contains sensing and perception styles. Sensing learner learns more effectively from reports of observable facts and happenings; prefers physical, sense-based input. Conversely, perception learner learns more effectively from meaningful experiences and from relationships with others. In thinking-feeling styles, thinking learner learns more effectively from impersonal circumstances and logical consequence; whereas feeling learner learns more effectively from personalized circumstances and social values. And in judging-perceiving styles, judging learner learns more effectively by reflection, and analy sis, and processes that involve closure; conversely, perceiving learner learns more effectively through negotiation, feeling, and inductive processes that postpone closure. Reid (1995) suggests that tolerance of ambiguity styles also belong to the affective/temperament learning styles. Ambiguity-tolerant learner learns more effectively when opportunities for experiment and risk, as well as interaction, are present; whereas ambiguity-intolerant learners learns more effectively when in less flexible, less risky, more structured situations. Reid (1995) also claims that whether the learner is left-brained or right-brained will influence learners learning styles. Left-brained learners tend toward visual, analytic, reflective, self-reliant learning; conversely, right-brained learners tend toward auditory, global/relational, impulsive, interactive learning. 2.1.3.1 Sensory Learning Styles Visual styles Visual students enjoy reading and they prefer material in a classroom environment to be presented in a visual format such as books, board work, and handouts. Auditory styles Auditory students enjoy lectures, conversations and oral directions. They prefer material in a classroom environment that is presented as auditory input such as radio, oral instruction, oral communication and audiotape. Hands-on styles Hands-on students like lots of movement and enjoy working with collages, flashcards, and tangible objects. They prefer to be physically involved with tasks, tending to prefer activities such as Total physical Response (TPR) and role-play. 2.1.3.3 Personality Learning Styles Extroversion/Introversion The dimension of styles particularly influences classroom management, especially grouping of students. Extroverted students perform most productively in a group environment, enjoying activities that involve other students, such as role-play, conversation and other interaction favoring social goals as opposed to impersonal rewards. Conversely, introverted students are stimulated most by their own inner world of ideas and feelings. They like working alone or else in a pair with someone they know well. They dislike lots of continuous group work in the ESL/EFL classroom. This contrast is somewhat similar to the categories of group/individual style made by Reid (1987). In conclusion, according to Reid (1995), the role of learning styles in foreign language learning has some fundamentals of learning styles. She claims that learning styles in the ESL/EFL classrooms is based on six hypotheses: Every person, students and teachers alike, has a learning style and learning strengths and weaknesses; Learning styles are often described as opposite, but actually they exist on wide continuum; Learning styles are value-neutral; that is, no one style is better than others (but it is true that there are students with some learning styles work better than those with some other learning styles); Students must be encouraged to stretch their learning styles so that they will be more empowered in a variety of learning situations; Students strategies are often linked to their learning styles; (6) Teachers should allow their students to become aware of their learning strengths and weaknesses.

Settling a New World Essay -- essays research papers fc

The very survival of the early settlers to the New World would depend much upon the generosity of the Native Americans. Had the natives not been so helpful and had instead violently resisted the newcomers, European settlers might not have been so eager to come settle this new land. Both Jamestown and Plymouth would depend upon the goodwill of the native people for their initial survival while establishing their settlements. The Indians not only introduced the area’s indigenous food sources but also their agriculture techniques to the settlers. The settlers would depend upon these for their survival in a new and unfamiliar land. Being able to provide their own food would be the first step in successfully establishing the new colonies, once the settlers were able to do this their numbers grew. With that growth in population came a desire for more settlement territory, it would be this desire for more land that would lead to unrest between the Native Americans and the settlers. Upon their arrival to the New World in May 1607, the newcomers built a settlement and established it as Jamestown. Of the 104 settlers, many were â€Å"gentlemen† and ill suited for the tasks ahead. The area was swamp†¦ warm, humid and riddled with mosquito infested malarial bogs of water and parasites carrying numerous other diseases. In their haste to find wealth and the Northwest Passage to Asia, the men neglected to plant crops to replenish their food supplies, which were dwindling rapidly. Within eight months of their arrival only thirty-eight colonists were still alive. A young captain, John Smith, would become the settlement’s new leader. He enforced a policy decreeing, â€Å"He that will not worke shall not eate.† Under his leadership the colony was revived but when injured by a gunpowder explosion in 1609 he was sent back to England. John Ratcliffe was elected to take his place and under his command the settlers would experience what would come to b e known as â€Å"the starving times†. Come the end of winter only sixty survived and many of those only did so by consuming their dead neighbors. Along with the difficult situation of food shortages, there were also skirmishes with the local Native Americans. Legend holds that in 1608 Captain John Smith’s life would be spared only due to the pleas from Indian leader Powhatan’s young daughter Pocahontas, who brought food and clothing to the colonis... ...rs to this New World ultimately succeeded due to the generosity of the local natives, and due to the fact there was no unification of the local native tribes. Had the Indian natives never helped the settlers learn top plant native crops and provided aid during times of starvation, the settlers’ success would have been limited. Many times settlements were saved from the brink of extinction upon Indian intervention. If Indian tribes had been able to unite together when the settlers first began to arrive, they might have been able to join forces and win a battle against the new arrivals while the colonists numbers were still few. Had the new colonists been faced with an organized fighting force that killed them upon arrival, the European’s might have been too frightened to continue to send new arrivals for fear of slaughter. In the end it would be the English settlers who would prevail†¦ their vast numbers, superior weapons, and unified forces would overcome India n resistance. Bibliography: The World Book Encyclopedia (1999) www.jamestown.org Agriculture, Indians, and American History – www.cals.edu/aagexed/aee502/indians.html The American Journey, A History of the United States

Prevention of Terrorist Acts by Private Security Essay

Introduction The local public law enforcement agencies are aware and have recognized the fact that singly, they cannot cover the vast geographical area of their respective jurisdictions and enforce effective policing duties. They are limited in numbers, expertise and resources. For this reason, they have employed the services of the private sector specifically the members of the communities and forged with them agreements for assistance and collaboration in crime fighting and public disorder. In fact, the 1990s marked the emergence of a new mode of delivery of services in the public sector—law enforcement area. This mode of service delivery gave law enforcement an opportunity to employ resources and expertise which were not otherwise available to them before under the collaborative partnership and shared responsibilities with the private sector and communities (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). Even the government has recognized the importance of assistance from the private sector. Thus, this growing recognition was no longer limited locally but has spread across the states and the federal government. With financial support from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Sheriffs’ Association, and American Society for Industrial Security International joined efforts for the state and local to start a partnership with the private sector, specifically the private security organizations denominated as â€Å"Operation Cooperation† (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). This partnership however, was limited to crime fighting and public disorder. A growing success was noted in these partnerships and continued efforts are exerted to thresh out some identified problem areas. The September 11 terrorist attacks brought a new awareness and rekindled the imperative need for local law enforcement and private security organizations to work together to fill the gap for homeland security and in preventing terrorism (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). By reason of the success rate in the partnership between the private sector and the law enforcement in terms of peace and order, private sector was again requested to pitch in its efforts to help in combating terrorist attacks. After the summit in 2004, private security organizations were called upon to organize and develop as community counterparts in assisting law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Department of Justice holds the opinion that community policing has the same direct effect on counter terrorism strategies. â€Å"These include the use of crime mapping with GIS systems, data collection and analysis protocols, and technologies that may be used as platforms for gathering intelligence to assess terrorism vulnerability. In addition, the community partnerships formed by police in the course of community-oriented problem solving provide a ready framework for engaging citizens in helping police to identify possible threats and implement preparedness plans† (Docobo, 2005). Community policing affords the opportunity for law enforcement agents to have knowledge of activities in their respective territorial jurisdictions which can assist in counteracting terrorist activities. These crime prevention partnerships has proven effective through the years and for which reason, this has inspired a similar idea with respect to terrorism especially after the September 11 terrorist attack. Thus, public law enforcement-private security partnerships are now thought of as being replicated as to apply to homeland security and counter terrorism. For instance in New York, Area Police/Private Security Liaison was created to enhance mutual cooperation between law enforcement and private security primarily for exchange of information. This gives the New York Police Department a vast network and thus facilitating information reports on security updates and terrorists news bulletin (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). Terrorism in the United States is characterized by inflicting harm and damage to a great number of people all at once. For this reason it is crucial to forge partnerships and mutual collaboration with private security organizations to be able to cover that large territory. The country’s infrastructure is protected by private security organizations while the law enforcement agencies receive information regarding threats thus either one cannot protect alone (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). Infrastructure as defined by the 9/11 Commission as to include telecommunications and communication networks, buildings, energy facilities, etc. (9/11 Commission, 2004). Based on statistical estimates made by 9/11 Commission in its Final Report, at least 85% of the infrastructure is owned by the private sector and is protected by a number of private security agents which far exceed the number of law enforcement officers and agents (9/11 Commission, 2004). Private security organizations can perform civic duties in providing assistance in evacuation, food and transport in emergencies (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). There is also information sharing and close coordination with other private security practitioners and law enforcement agents which leads to exchange of information, access to others, exposure, training, and familiarity with the needs of each sector, i.e. private security and public law enforcement (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). There is a more creative manner of solving problems and a marked reduction in response time to disasters. There were many advisory committees both public and private institutions that embarked on studies to find out how to protect the U.S. homeland security. There was uniformity in their findings that there is lack of homeland security strategy, defects in â€Å"governmental organization and processes in dealing with threats to national security† (Parachini, Davis, Liston, 2003). After the September 11, President Bush created the Office of Homeland Security and also established the Homeland Security Council as an inter agency coordinating body. In 2002, the legislation H.R. 5005 or the Homeland Security Act of 2002 was approved by the U.S. Congress and was signed into law by the President (Parachini, Davis, Liston, 2003). The Department of Homeland Security was established with plans and programs it is supposed to implement through he discharge of the powers and functions which the law mandates it to exercise (Parachini, Davis, Liston, 2003). Directives and orders have been issued from that time to harness the various areas for counter terrorism from state, federal and local enforcement level. The Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that â€Å"there are 16,661 state, local, and county law enforcement agencies in the United States, and they employ a total of 677,933 sworn officers. Studies on private security staffing indicate there may be as many as 10,000 private security agencies employing slightly less than 2 million private security officers in the United States† (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). These numbers can be a good indicator of the extent of the large number that can assist public law enforcement agencies. A security organization has various functions, thus a security practitioner may be a director of security services of a large corporation or a manager of contracted security personnel at the place or office of a client or an investigator with expertise on computer crimes (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). There are two kinds of private security services, i.e. 1) â€Å"proprietary or corporate security;† and, 2) â€Å"contract or private security firms† (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). â€Å"Corporate security generally refers to the security departments that exist within businesses or corporations. Contract security firms by contrast sell their services to the public, including businesses, homeowners, and banks† (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). Public policing on the other hand, deals with the state, local law enforcement including sheriffs’ offices. Primarily these officers are responsible for peace and order and street crimes and have no concern with corporate internal operations or private economic interests (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). The advantages of private security organizations over the public law enforcement agencies are these agencies have vast resources and expert knowledge in the field. Moreover, insofar as headcount, the number of private security officers far exceed those in law enforcement which enables them to cover and protect effectively a small geographic area (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). It has been criticized for lack of certification, regulation standards, lack of rigorous pre- selection recruitment process and trainings with a high turn over of officers (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). On the other hand, law enforcement agents are subjected to rigorous screening process before acceptance in the service and the officers are subjected to background checks. They are trained and are subject to regulations. The enforcement powers given them are greater both in scope and strength. Most of the law enforcement agents and officers stay in their jobs for a long time as these jobs are considered careers (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). This enables them to establish trust with the inhabitants of the area and exchange information. However, the downside is that law enforcement work on limited resources and budget. During heavy call load days, response time most often is delayed because of the volume of incidents they respond to (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). The main problem which was identified in the public law enforcement and private security organizations partnerships is a weak information sharing. The private security organizations man private companies which are by nature organized for profit. Often, these private companies are reluctant in sharing information which may be detrimentally used against them thereby losing profits. In an interview with John Cohen, president and chief executive of PSComm LLC, he said that â€Å"A number of corporate security people are hesitant to share information with the government because they’re concerned that of the threat becomes public that could impact the value of the company’s stock. Businesses want to be sure that their information is handled in a way that doesn’t affect them from a business perspective† (Pelland, 2002). On the other hand, public law enforcement also is reluctant to share or give away information to the multi national companies who are headed by foreigners (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). This lack of trust can be attributed to the fear that these foreigners may be more inclined to protect their respective country’s interests than that of the United States. Conclusion Public law enforcement agencies in their discharge of their functions have made efforts towards proper and effective policing by eliminating crime in their respective jurisdictions through the â€Å"creation of effective partnerships with the community and other public and private-sector resources, the application of problem-solving strategies or tactics, and the transformation of agency organization and culture† (Docobo, 2005). It is on account of this that the concept of partnerships was adopted to be replicated in counter terrorism programs of the government. Even with the current declaration of homeland security, community policing in respect of crime prevention, is seen as to overlap with counter terrorism objectives (Docobo, 2005). With these partnerships, strategies become more philosophical as these are impressed in the mission and goals of the law enforcement agency. The public department itself undergoes an organizational transformation. The officers who are lower in rank are empowered to make their own decisions and take responsibilities for their acts. Thus, decision-making is decentralized and officers are given a chance to tap their creativeness in problem solving (Docobo, 2005). The idea and concept of partnership and collaboration has been widely accepted by the respective sectors. It is noted however that there is a need to increase their effectiveness in order that the purposes for which these partnerships were created would not be frustrated. The goal in these partnerships is collaboration in which their missions may overlap but they achieve the same goals through sharing resources and information. It gives many benefits for both sectors such as â€Å"creative problem-solving, increased opportunities for training, information data, and intelligence sharing, ‘force multiplier’ opportunities, access to the community through private sector communications technology, and reduced recovery time following disasters† (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). The benefits and advantages from the forged partnerships are countless. It is however important to address the weak information sharing between the groups. Working together is crucial. Communication lines also should be open with free exchange and discussion of limitations, scope of powers, lines of authority and functions of each sector is imperative so that an effective partnership can materialize. There must be a clear understanding of roles and the usefulness and necessity of the partnership, where leaders are identified. These leaders must develop trust for each and every sector executive considering that the weak information sharing was observed to be attributable to lack of trust between both sectors. By making both sectors fully and deeply aware of the roles they have to play and its importance to each of the sectors, trust may be developed. The essences of these partnerships are mainly communication, cooperation, collaboration and coordination (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). Communication refers to exchange of ideas and information while coordination requires knowledge of goals. Cooperation means sharing of personnel and resources for the accomplishment of the goal. Collaboration is based on clear understanding of the partners’ goals and the formulation of policies to achieve said goals which although may overlap, strengthens the partners (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). The Department of Homeland Security issued guidelines on how to improve the collaboration with the private sector in its report â€Å"Office for Domestic Preparedness Guidelines for Homeland Security† (DHS, 2003). It suggested among others that there be a clear understanding of the need to prevent terrorist acts; a clearing house for received information on terrorism; interpretation of this information; clear definition of tactics and strategies to counter terrorism; definition of funding priorities; formulation of assessment and procedures; and the preparation of written coordination agreements such as memorandum of agreement between public and private sectors that should contain clear delimitations of scopes of powers of each, facilitation of information, and the formulation of processes and procedures (DHS, 2003). The formalization of the coordination agreement signifies the institutionalization of the homeland security collaboration. These guidelines also identified areas which private security organizations can collaborate with the public enforcement agencies, i.e. â€Å"networking, information sharing; crime prevention; resource sharing; training; legislation; operations; and research and guidelines† (Connors, Cunningham, Ohlhausen, Oliver, and Van Meter, 2000). By entering into formal memorandum of agreement or understanding, each sector’s role, duties, and scope of powers are properly delineated to fit into the priorities and policies. Such formal agreements will give both sectors direction and clarity with respect to the procedures to be properly taken and implemented. Networking refers to discussion and meetings with the private sector to thresh out possible solutions to problems as well as limitations. Information sharing is the central component of the partnership. â€Å"Information sharing includes planning for critical incident response, protecting infrastructure, enhancing communications, minimizing liability, and strategically deploying resources† (Connors, Cunningham, Ohlhausen, Oliver, and Van Meter, 2000). Thus, meeting and conferences between representatives of both sectors is a must. Crime prevention also translates to terrorism. Terrorist acts may include initially lesser crimes to accomplish their goal of terrorism. Clearly, all information gathered from partnerships for crime prevention and peace and order may be very useful for combating terrorism. All information notwithstanding the absence of unlawful activity therefore must be shared such as those which involve unusual and suspicious activities. Technical knowledge and training may be shared by the private security organizations to the public enforcement agencies considering that the latter may lack this. Both sectors must identify legislation and assist the law makers in making these laws more responsive to the present situation. These laws should be modified if need be to be useful to both sectors in combating terrorism† (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). Both the public enforcement agencies and the private security organization may collaborate in the operational areas. This refers to joint sting operations, investigation of computer crimes and ‘white-collar’ financial fraudulent activities. Research papers and guidelines may be drawn by both sectors with respect to personnel policies and standards of the security personnel. Uniform standards and policies must be made for recruiting, selection, accepting and hiring security personnel. It is also suggested that liaison officers should be carefully trained and picked from the supervisors. They should have a clear and deep understanding of the goals and objectives of the partnership. The problem lies in the selection of those for the private security organizations as it has been recognized that they have the lack of prescreening and training standards. Thus, it was further suggested that an advisory council formulate these standards so that choosing a liaison officer as a representative of the private security sector would not be as difficult as it has been (Morabito and Greenberg, 2005). In sum, the success of these collaborative partnerships rest in the full sharing, cooperation, and coordination from both sectors which may only be achieved when each of the members have reached a deep understanding of the importance of their roles and scope of their powers. By reason of the importance of homeland security and on the part of the government, it has in fact allocated a larger amount of budget to counter terrorism. Partnerships are encouraged so that geographic territory can be covered extensively. Legislation is being addressed by modifying and or by enacting new laws to support the government’s call against terrorism. Representatives from both sectors must also coordinate with the legislators so that problem areas can be identified and can be resolved by means of legislative enactments or amendments to existing laws so that it can be more responsive to the needs and objectives of the existing collaborative partnerships. References Bocobo, J. 2005, Community Policing as the Primary Prevention Strategy for Homeland Security at the Local Law Enforcement Level Homeland Security Affairs. Retrieved on November 6, 2007, from http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=1.1.4 Connors, E., W. Cunningham, P. Ohlhausen, L. Oliver, and C. Van Meter. 2000. Operation Cooperation: Guidelines. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Assistance. Department of Homeland Security–Office for Domestic Preparedness. 2003. Office for Domestic Preparedness Guidelines for Homeland Security. Washington, DC: DHS. Morabito and Greenberg, 2005 Engaging the Private Sector: Law Enforcement and Private Security Partnerships, USDOJ. Retrieved on November 4, 2007, from http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/210678.pdf. Morriss, A. 2006 The Public-Private Security Partnership: Counter Terrorism Considerations for Employers in a Post 9/11 World. Retrieved on November 4, 2007, from http://www.hastingsblj.org/archive/volume2/files/number2/9_Morriss.pdf. The 9/11 Commission. 2004. The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, Official Government Edition. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Parachini, J., Davis, L., Liston, T. 2003 Homeland Security: A Compendium of Public and Private Organizations’ Policy Recommendations. Retrieved on November 6, 2007, from http://cipp.gmu.edu/archive/16_Randwhitepaper.pdf Pelland, D. 2002 ‘To help battle terrorism public and private sectors expand information sharing efforts. KPMG’s Technology: Insiders. Retrieved on November 5, 2007, from http://www.itglobalsecure.com/pdf/third_party/020913KPMG_Insider.pdf

Hercules and Theseus in the Greek Mythology Essay Example

Hercules and Theseus in the Greek Mythology Essay Example Hercules and Theseus in the Greek Mythology Paper Hercules and Theseus in the Greek Mythology Paper Essay Topic: History Hercules and Theseus, the two great heros of the Greek Mythology In the Greek Mythology two characters played a main role in defeating the monsters and all evil enemies. The two great heroes of Greece were Hercules and Theseus. It is true that they were uncles, but they were preferred by different part of Greece. Athens liked Theseus while Sparta or the rest of Greece preferred Hercules. Both heroes had some characteristics in common, like both of them had supernatural powers and when they realized their abilities, they wanted to help mankind and to save the world. In the same time they were totally different from each other in mental way. Their intelligence level and the life experience that they had through their journey, made them two separate characters. Theseus was a good thinker, which is the reason why Athens liked him best, while Hercules used his enormous power; he was preferred by Sparta. If somebody asks the question what is the ability that is in common in Hercules and Theseus, the answer is: strength. With this ability, they decided to help innocent people and to become heroes of Greece. Hercules was the strongest man on earth and he had the supreme self-confidence magnificent physical strength gives. He excelled from the others at a very young age, when he killed two snakes with his own, bare hands. Hera, Zeuss jealous wife, sent the snakes to kill Hercules while he was sleeping. He proved that he is strong and he can defeat anybody and anything. Theseus was a strong child, too. His father placed in a hallow a sword and a pair of shoes and he covered them with a great stone. The reason why he did that, was that he wanted to see, if his son Theseus can move that stone. If yes, then he is able to take over the kingdom. The child was a boy and he grew up strong far beyond others, so that when his mother finally took him to the stone he lifted it with no trouble at all. At a very young age both characters became heroes by killing monsters and doing good to mankind. Theseuss idea was to become a great hero as quickly as possible On his way to Athens he killed many bandits and he also killed the Minotaur. It can be imagined how Greece rang with the praises of the young man who cleared the land of these banes to travelers. Hercules was renamed after his strength and he was called a hero when he defeated the Minyans. Of course they had some different characteristics as every people do. But these differences were important. Their intelligence level was like sky and ground, and their life experience differed, too. Herculess Intelligence did not figure largely i n anything he did and was often conspicuously absent. Theseus was at a higher level of his mental capabilities, because he wanted a peoples government where all would be equal. About Hercules we get a clear picture from the story, that what kind a man was he: His intellect was not strong. His emotions were. Even if his feelings were strong, he always blamed himself for the way he acted. He usually acted first and then thought about the consequences. This characteristic is proven by the scene from the funeral, where Hercules gets drunk and then he realized his fault and to make a recompense he bring back Admetuss wife from the underworld. During their long journey, both heroes, Hercules as well as Theseus, had different life experiences. The strongest man on earth engaged three times (in order: Megara, Deinanira and Hebe), while Theseus married only two women (in order: Hippolyta and Phedra). Theseus decided to dedicate his life for saving innocents and helping mankind. He knew how to treat people and how to understand himself with the peoples that supported him. Another difference between them was that Hercules always had to make up his fault. He gets twelfth labors (bringing back the lion for Nemea, to kill the nine headed creature, Hydra, to bring back alive a stag with hums of gold, to capture a great boar, to clean the Augean stables in a single day, to drive away the Stymphalian birds, to go to Crete and fetch from there the savage bull, to get the man-eating mares of King Diomedes, to bring back a the girdle of Hippolyta, to bring back the cattle of Geryon, to bring back the Golden Apples of the Hespiredes, and to bring up Cerberus from the Underworld) for killing his family, but he also killed innocent people by accident. The water-boy, and the musician were the victims of his angriness. Even if they were uncles why were they supported by different part of Greece? Athens supported Theseus while Hercules was the Spartans favorite. Athens was the home of the thinkers, doctors and scientists. As Theseus acted after his mind, he was considered as one of them. Another reason why Athenians like him best, because he never had to make labors like Hercules did many-many times. Athenians didnt liked Hercules, because he was wild. The rest of Greece preferred wildness and the strength. But Hercules embodied what the rest of Greece most valued. His qualities were those the Greeks in general honored and admired. In Greek tradition, the boys are taken at very young age for military practices and they are educated to kill. As Hercules was strong and able to kill, Spartans considered him as one of them. In my opinion Theseus was a better hero than Hercules. I admire Hercules for his enormous powers, but sometimes he was out of control of his strength and killed people that he shouldnt have killed. I think that if we didnt think ahead before we act something always going to end with a disaster. Thats why I like Theseus. He is a carefully thought out person, he never had to make up labors, and he also treated people equally and cared about their feelings.

Word Origin Influences Your Writing Voice

Word Origin Influences Your Writing Voice Word Origin Influences Your Writing Voice Word Origin Influences Your Writing Voice By Mark Nichol When it comes to writing, are you the Anglo-Saxon type, or do you go for French flair? You probably realize that Modern English derives from a wide variety of sources, and perhaps are aware that words derived from French are just as common in our language as those that are descended directly from Old English, otherwise known as Anglo-Saxon. But did you know that one of the features of English that make it such a rich language is a prevalence, unusual among the world’s languages, of synonyms, thanks to the fact that we have retained words from both Anglo-Saxon and French (and often other languages) that have the same meaning? And have you considered that whether you choose a word derived from Anglo-Saxon or one borrowed from French or one of its Latinate relatives has a significant bearing on your writing voice? Thanks to the Norman Conquest, for example, the Anglo-Saxon language became a second-class (or lower-class) tongue in England, supplanted in political and social contexts by Norman French, and therefore many cognates reflect the differences in relations to things between the two classes (who though their languages differed were closely related ethnically). For example, Anglo-Saxon words for animals raised for food often reflect the role of Anglo-Saxons as keepers of livestock (cow, calf, sheep, pig), whereas the words obtained from French describe the food itself as it appeared on the table after cultivation and preparation by Anglo-Saxon farmers and servants (beef, veal, mutton, pork). By the same token, many Anglo-Saxon words seem, by comparison with French, more plainspoken more earthy (or earthly, rather than terrestrial, just as Anglo-Saxon heaven is more basic than the French-based equivalent, celestial). Other cognates that point out the differing perspectives are pairs like the humble home and the magnificent mansion, though often, for every master (French) there is a lord (Anglo-Saxon). Of course, Anglo-Saxon acquired many words from Latin and its descendants before the Conquest, such as the introduction of many religious terms during the spread of Christianity and the expansion of the language due to trade with other European countries. Likewise, the Germanic tribes that coalesced into the people of Anglo-Saxon England adopted many Latin and Greek terms before their arrival in Britain. And even after the largely Norman aristocracy abandoned their form of French in favor of Middle English, the latter language acquired many words from the influence of the Renaissance, and early Modern English was likewise enriched by the Enlightenment. Notice, in your writing, whether you have an affinity with Anglo-Saxon or a French fetish, or whether you are bilingual: Do you give, or present? Do you describe someone as misleading, or deceptive? Do you refer to fatherly, motherly, or brotherly bonds or affection, or paternal, maternal, or fraternal feelings? Though the number of English words derived from each language is about the same, the ones most essential for basic communication are of Anglo-Saxon origin, and many people correlate heavy use of Latin-derived words with verbosity and overblown language. What’s your style? Do you worship words from Anglo-Saxon, or do you favor French forms? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Royal Order of Adjectives 40 Synonyms for â€Å"Different†Sit vs. Set

Compression test Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Compression test - Essay Example he lateral forces acting on the can ultimately act on a single line, which is, takes a rectangular shape and is relatively small in area, thus the quick crumbling. Once the yield point, or yield stress, has been reached, the crumbling requires less force for continued deformation, thus the dip in the force used. When the compressive load is directed onto the tops of the soda can, the compressive force acts on the wholesome vertical wall of the can, thus distributing the force equally. By distributing the forces subjected to the can equally as opposed to a single point in the side-crushing test, the can has more resistance to the compressive forces. Since the can is hollow, it exhibits characters that are varied as opposed to the side crushing. From the graph, when the forces supplied reach the yield point, there is a drop in the required forces (Voland, 2003, p. 192), but the crumble suddenly strengthens the can as it is compressed, and gets compacted. The can requires a lot more force to continue the deformation, thus the curve that gets a positive gradient as opposed to a continued drop. The changes are not uniform since the compacting assumes various strengths with continued compacting, until the ultimate load is reached. The forces show that the can takes of fragile characteristics as o pposed to ductile traits in the compression tests, since the graph changes are sudden as opposed to the curved changes a ductile object displays. The relationship between the force and the standard travel (deformation) is proportional, though there exists a constant since the change does not begin at the origin for both

Trends in Labor in the United States Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Trends in Labor in the United States - Assignment Example Ltd., 2013). Another factor that contributes to the growth of outsourcing is the availability of cheaper labor offered by some countries, without sacrificing the quality of the products or services (Flatworld Solutions Pvt. Ltd., 2013). Aside from work expertise and cheap cost of labor that a company can gain from outsourcing, their resources can be focused on the more essential aspects of their business. Outsourcing presents several advantages and disadvantages for both corporations and the domestic economy. Some of the advantages of outsourcing are the swiftness and expertise of the outsourced labor, the concentration on the crucial business processes rather on the minor ones, the risk sharing between the outsourced vendor and the organization outsourcing and the reduction in the operational and recruitment costs (Flatworld Solutions Pvt. Ltd., 2013). Outsourcing has its drawbacks too. These include the risk of exposing the organization’s confidential information, lack of control with schedules and delivery times, possible hidden costs and a lack of concern for the customers’ needs (Flatworld Solutions Pvt. Ltd., 2013). A significant effect of outsourcing on the US labor market is the rise in the unemployment rate among Americans. The technological and engineering jobs are mostly diverted to India and China which offers lower wage rates but matched with superior talent (Miah, 2007). The bottom line for most companies is that outsourcing gives better profits. Nationalism is put aside because the business decision makers consider their responsibility to their shareholders the priority (Miah, 2007). The result of this attitude is the American working middle class are up in arms against outsourcing (Miah, 2007). Another major effect of outsourcing on the US labor market is the weakening of the workers’ bargaining power. Since it is very easy for