Obesity And Its Effects On Obesity - 1746 Words

How is it that people can become obese knowing that the condition poses severe health risks? The truth is, there are several different factors that contribute to obesity. Firstly, it is generally easier for people to gain weight than it is for them to lose weight. Losing weight requires a substantial amount of effort and determination, something that not a lot of people have (or at least not enough). Some people believe that being overweight comes with birth and is determined by their genes, while others believe that anyone can adjust his or her weight by following certain regimens. Although a person’s genes do affect his or her metabolic rate—the rate at which the body burns calories—, having a healthy lifestyle and restricting one’s caloric intake can undermine the drawbacks of having a naturally low metabolic rate. A person’s weight loss depends on how much he or she prioritizes his or her health and physical appearance. True, genetics can potentially facilitate weight gain and lead to obesity. Studies of obese people have unveiled a genetic basis for their obesity; one of the studies found that the subjects had a defective coding for leptin, the hormone responsible for appetite regulation. In another study, the subject lacked the enzyme PCI, which converts the PMOC hormone into neuropeptides that regulate appetite . These genetic defects, however, are rare and are not accountable for most cases of obesity . Hereditary factors that are more common among obese individualsShow MoreRelatedObesity And Its Effects On Obesity1637 Words   |  7 Pagesdestructive can effects of obesity be. First of all what is an obesity? Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual s ideal body weight. It is a very serious problem and is becoming very dangerous in today’s world. Obesity is now considered to be the second most preventable death in America, with tobacco bein g the first. As use of tobacco rates continues to decline, the obesity rates continue to rise. With that being said, death numbers of obesity are goingRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity970 Words   |  4 PagesObesity is the buildup of excess body fat, caused by the ingestion of more food than the body can use in which the extra calories are stored as fat. Obesity is measured by taking BMI, or body mass index of the person which is their height and weight and putting it into a formula. As stated by The Editors of Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, â€Å"A BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 equates with overweight and 30.0 and above with obesity. Morbid obesity (also known as extreme, or severe, obesity) is defined as a BMI ofRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity1692 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Obesity in America is a health issue which needs to be addressed, but many do not realize that obesity is an issue that needs to be addressed in more ways than one.   Because Americans ar e not knowledgeable in the issue of obesity, many in society view obese people as unhealthy and irresponsible and treat them with disrespect.   How to overcome and prevent obesity, its causes, and different treatments are all ways that obesity needs to be addressed; however, the disrespect towards those who are obeseRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity1068 Words   |  5 PagesObesity has been around for several thousands of years but hasn’t always been a serious epidemic. A higher amount of fat or stored energy used to mean a greater chance at surviving a famine, but those times are long gone in the industrialized world. As time has progressed, we’ve see an exponential growth in obesity rates despite our best efforts to slow it down. In order to contain and eventually decrease obesity rates, we would first need to know what fuels this powerful monster of the westernRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity Essay1282 Words   |  6 Pagesactually leadin g to an unhealthy lifestyle which is known as obesity. IV. Obesity is a condition of human body that is not as desirable Body Mass Index (BMI) due to accumulation of excess body fat in the blood vessels. A. According to Gary D. Foster, author of the article Primary Physicians’ Attitudes about Obesity and it’s Treatment ,this disease become epidemic in the society and not being solved as the patients’ fears to treat obesity is mainly due to their negative approaches towards this problemRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity1554 Words   |  7 Pages Obesity is a condition that is characterized by excess body weight due to the overconsumption of calories in relation to the calorie loss. There are however other associated causes of obesity that have been identified by the scholars and the variables involved in the trend of this condition have a significant correlation. Different tools have been implemented overtime in the management of obesity to mitigate the short term and the long-term effects that result from this conditionRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity Essay913 Words   |  4 PagesRecent years health experts have been warning people to control their weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle.Over time obesity is a still problem with our society today also, its rates have tripled especially in America.It is obvious we are losing the battle against obesity. Combating obesity and its numerous illnesses will not require more drugs to lower cholesterol, diet books. It will require rethinking our environment.Other measures need to be taken to tackle this international epidemic. AddressingRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity1612 Words   |  7 PagesApproximately 17% of children in the United States have been diagnosed as obese (Prevention, 2011). Although the prevalence of obesity has plateaued in the most recent years, the amount of children who are obese is still higher than what is desired. These obesity rates are alarming due to the effect it will have on them and their healthcare. As more children are diagnosed with obesity, the more children increase their risk of cardiovascular disease, h ypertension, and insulin resistance later as adults (NewbyRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity1281 Words   |  6 PagesThe famous actor and comedian, Will Ferrell, quoted on twitter, â€Å"Obesity doesn’t run in your family, no one runs in your family†. The joke was intended to be funny, but I’m sure it hit closer to home for a lot of people more than anything else. Many problems in America consist of low employment rates, global warming and, not to forget, obesity. What other country has issues that include the overweight factor? Exactly, none. While mostly adolescent teens to adults are struggling to turn their livesRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On Obesity895 Words   |  4 PagesRecent years health experts have been warning people to control their weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle.Over time obesity is a still problem with our society today also, its rates have tripled especially in America.It is obvious we are losing the battle against obes ity. Combating obesity and its numerous illnesses will not require more drugs to lower cholesterol, diet books. It will require rethinking our environment.Other measures need to be taken to tackle this international epidemic. Addressing

The Futility Of Immortality Projects - 2217 Words

The Futility of Immortality Projects Since the beginning of civilization, man’s attempt to seek immortality and their various immortality projects has been well documented throughout the course of history. Whether it is Gilgamesh’s quest to seek the plant that grants him immortality or the great pharaohs of Egypt who built giant structures in their name in the hope that decades after their death, their names will be remembered. As the pseudonymous England based graffiti artist Banksy once said, â€Å"They say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.† The line by Banksy had a beautiful, philosophical sentiment in his message, which was that regardless of†¦show more content†¦(Smuts, A.) By this I mean that our wants and desires, be it small like completing a course successfully, or to invent a car, because of the amount of time we’ve got on our hands, our goals big or small will be accomplished and that the amount of things left to be accomplished is finite but the time we have on our hands is infinite and the day will ultimately end in frustration. In the movie ‘The man from Earth’ the main character is immortal and has lived since the stone ages and he holds 3 separate degrees in different time zones. Yet we soon learn that these degrees mean nothing because the topics he had studies had since expanded as more material has come to light, hence making it impossible to stay knowledgeable about the field. This is contrary to the popular belief that he who is immortal would be the most knowledgeable pers on in the world. Through this we learn that it is not the man who is good at recalling information who is remembered. But it is the man who is able to think outside the box (Socrates) and the one with the original ideas who truly gains immortality. History has proven to us that while it is those who spread their original thoughts and ideas who are remembered through history. History has also taught us that original thoughts and ideas can be stolen and the original owners may be forgotten. Famous examples include Nikola Tesla versus Thomas Edison. Faith has always

Death of a Planet Essay Example For Students

Death of a Planet Essay Air pollution is a very big problem in the United States. A large partof air pollution comes from cars. The Environmental Protection Agency says,The most polluting activity an average person does everyday is drive theircar(1 factsheet OMS-5). Most people probably arent aware that they arepolluting the environment. Maybe if everyone knew how serious this pollutionproblem is, they would find ways to reduce the pollution. Most pollution that is released by cars comes from the exhaust, mainlyin the form of hydrocarbons(1 factsheet, OMS-5). Hydrocarbons are organiccompounds ,a combination of two or more elements, that contain only carbon andhydrogen (2 factsheet, OMS-5). Hydrocarbons are released when fuel in theengine burns partially. When hydrocarbons come in contact with sunlight theyform ground level ozone. Ground level ozone is a major ingredient in theformation of smog. Ground level ozone is responsible for irritating eyes,damaging lungs, and it complicating respiratory problems. Hydrocarbons arentthe only pollutants released through car exhaust. Two more pollutants released through car exhaust are carbon monoxide andnitrogen oxide. The first reduces the flow of oxygen to the bloodstream, andcould harm people with heart disease. Nitrogen oxide is formed when a carengine gets hot. It contains chemicals that aid in the formation of groundlevel ozone as well as acid rain (2 factsheet, OMS-5). Acid rain destroys theoutsides of buildings, statues, etc. Acid rain can also contaminate drinkingwater, damage vegetation, and destroy sealife. These two pollutants are two ofthe most dangerous pollutants released through car exhaust. If these twopollutants were cut down just a little bit our planet would be a safer place tolive. Carbon dioxide is another gas released through exhaust emissions. Itisnt dangerous directly to humans, but it is considered to be a green housegas. A greenhouse gas is a gas that is associated with global warming. Global warming is the gradual increase of temperature due to human activity. Certain gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone allow radiation fromthe sun to break through the atmosphere and go to the earths surface. Globalwarming affects all living things on the entire planet (4 factsheet OMS-5). Another type of hydrocarbon pollutant occurs through fuel evaporation. These hydrocarbon pollutants are produced four different ways. The first way iscalled diurnal. This is when the venting of gasoline vapors occurs due to thetemperature of the cars engine rising. The second way is running losses. Thisis the venting of gasoline when the cars engine is running. The third way iscalled hot soak. Hot soak occurs when gasoline evaporates after the car hasbeen turned off. The fourth way additional hydrocarbons are released occurswhen a person is refueling a car. This occurs when a person fills up their gastank. While the tank is being filled gasoline vapors are forced out. One wayto cut down on this type of pollution is to have the car tuned properly. Therefueling problem can be reduced with the use of vapor recovery system. Thissystem traps the vapor inside the tank. These systems are present at many gasstations in highly polluted areas (4 factsheet, OMS-5). Some cities around the world are very dangerous to live in because ofcar pollution. One city is Athens, Greece. In Athens the number of deaths riseson days with greater air pollution. Just breathing the air in Bombay is the sameas smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day (97 Brown). Over 150 million peoplein the United States live in areas where the Environmental Protection Agencyconsiders the air to be unhealthy. The American Lung Association says, Theunhealthy air leads to 120, 000 deaths every year (97 Brown). The citizens ofearth are killing themselves. They are killing themselves for convenience. Eventhough the actions taken by the government and car manufacturers havereduced car emissions a lot since 1970, The number of miles an average persontravels in a day has doubled (4 factsheet OMS-4). The average person must finda way to reduce the number of miles he or she drives. One way to do these is tocar pool. If a large number of people started to car pool, pollution producedby car s would be reduced. This would reduce the amount of smog in urban areas,making these polluted areas a better place to live. .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 , .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 .postImageUrl , .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 , .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7:hover , .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7:visited , .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7:active { border:0!important; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7:active , .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7 .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua85c8f8a019194b106db5ac83971eee7:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Internet dating ideas EssayThere are many other alternatives to reduce car emissions besidescarpooling. One possible solution is to use

Romantics Vs Realists Essays - Literary Genres, German Idealism

Romantics Vs Realists Views of Nature Romantics verse Realists and Naturalists have different views of nature. In this essay I will portray how Romantics see nature, and then how Realists and Naturalists together see nature. It will show how Romantics had a deepened appreciation of the beauties of nature. And how Realists and Naturalists rarely if ever found nature to be appreciative for it beauties. Romantics found nature a perfect and important essence to their beliefs. Romantics seemed to prefer nature to civilization or society. They would suggest that life lived more simply and closer to nature you will have a better understanding of the essential facts of life. Romantics emphasized the beauty, strangeness, mystery, and awesomeness of nature. They saw the natural world of nature as good spiritual lessons. Romantics never found any faults in nature and saw that nature brought nothing but benefits to them. Realists and Naturalists had an opposite opinion of nature to that of the Romantics. They definitely preferred society to the harshness of nature. Realists and Naturalists felt the further away from nature the better, that nature made their lives harder. They emphasized not the beauty and awesomeness of nature, but the dangers, harshness, cruelties, and deadliness of nature. All Realists and Naturalists ever found in nature were the faults and hardly beneficial. I have shown you in this essay how Romantics verse Realists and Naturalists have different opinions of nature. Romantics loved and appreciated nature unlike the Realists and Naturalists whose opinions of nature clashed with that of the Romantics. So, after reading my paper do you think you are a Romantic or a Realist/Naturalist? English Essays

The Controversial Role of Lobbyists

The Controversial Role of Lobbyists The role of lobbyists is controversial in American politics. Lobbyists are hired and paid by special-interest groups, companies, nonprofits, groups of citizens, and even school districts to exert influence over elected officials at all levels of government. They work at the federal level by meeting with members of Congress to introduce legislation and encourage them to vote in ways that benefit their clients. Lobbyists work at the local and state levels as well. Debate Over Their Influence What makes lobbyists so unpopular with the public? Their work comes down to money. Most Americans dont have the funds to spend on trying to influence their members of Congress, so they view special interests and their lobbyists as having an unfair advantage in creating policy that benefits them rather than the common good.   Lobbyists, however, say they simply want to make sure your elected officials hear and understand both sides of an issue before making a decision, as one lobbying firm puts it. There are about 9,500 lobbyists registered at the federal level, which means about 18 lobbyists for  every member of the House of Representatives  and  U.S. Senate.  Together they spend more than $3 billion trying to influence members of Congress every year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C. Who Can Be a Lobbyist? At the federal level, the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 defines who is and who isn’t a lobbyist. States have their own regulations on lobbyists regarding who is allowed to seek to influence the legislative process in their legislatures. At the federal level, a lobbyist is defined by the law as someone who earns at least $3,000 over three months from lobbying activities, has more than one contact they are seeking to influence, and spends more than 20 percent of their time lobbying for a single client over a three-month period. A lobbyist meets all three of those criteria. Critics say the federal regulations arent strict enough and point out that many well-known former lawmakers perform the functions of lobbyists but dont actually follow the regulations. How Can You Spot a Lobbyist? At the federal level, lobbyists and lobbying firms are required to register with the Secretary of the U.S. Senate and the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives within 45 days of making official contact with the president of the United States, vice president, a member of Congress, or certain federal officials. The list of registered lobbyists is a matter of public record. Lobbyists are required to disclose their activities of trying to persuade officials or influence policy decisions at the federal level. They are required to disclose the issues and legislation they attempted to influence, among other details of their activities. Biggest Lobbying Groups Trade associations and special interests often hire their own lobbyists. Some of the most influential lobbying groups in American politics are those that represent the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Realtors, the AARP, and the National Rifle Association. Loopholes in Lobbying Law The Lobbying Disclosure Act has been criticized for containing what some feel is a loophole that allows some lobbyists to avoid having to register with the federal government. For example, a lobbyist who does not work on behalf of a single client for more than 20 percent of their time does not need to register or file disclosures. They would not be considered a lobbyist under the law. The American Bar Association has proposed eliminating the so-called 20 percent rule. Portrayal in the Media Lobbyists have long been painted in a negative light because of their influence over policymakers. In 1869, a newspaper described a Capitol lobbyist this way: â€Å"Winding in and out through the long, devious basement passage, crawling through the corridors, trailing its slimy length from gallery to committee room, at last it lies stretched at full length on the floor of Congress- this dazzling reptile, this huge, scaly serpent of the lobby. The late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia described what he saw as the problem with lobbyists and the practice itself: Special interest groups often wield an influence that is greatly out of proportion to their representation in the general population. This type of lobbying, in other words, is not exactly an equal opportunity activity. One-person, one-vote does not apply when the great body of citizens is under-represented in the halls of Congress compared to the well-financed, highly organized special interest groups, notwithstanding the often plausible objectives of such groups. Lobbying Controversies During the 2012 presidential race, Republican hopeful and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was accused of lobbying but not registering his activities with the government. Gingrich said he did not fall under the legal definition of a lobbyist, even though he did seek to use his considerable influence to sway policymakers.Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty in 2006 to charges of mail fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy in a broad scandal that implicated nearly two dozen people, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. President Barack Obama came under fire for taking what appeared to be contradictory approaches to lobbyists. When Obama took office after winning the 2008 election, he imposed an informal ban on hiring recent lobbyists in his administration. Obama said later: A lot of folks see the amounts of money that are being spent and the special interests that dominate and the lobbyists that always have access, and they say to themselves, maybe I don’t count. Still, lobbyists were frequent visitors to the Obama White House. And many former lobbyists were given jobs in the Obama administration, including Attorney General Eric Holder and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Do Lobbyists Do Any Good? Former President John F. Kennedy described the work of lobbyists in a positive light, saying they are expert technicians capable of examining complex and difficult subjects in clear, understandable fashion. Added Kennedy: â€Å"Because our congressional representation is based upon geographical boundaries, the lobbyists who speak for the various economic, commercial and other functional interests of the country serve a useful purpose and have assumed an important role in the legislative process. Kennedys ringing endorsement is just one voice in the ongoing debate about the perhaps undue influence wrought by monied interests. Its a contentious debate, contentious as democracy itself, since lobbyists play such a central role in the forging of policy and expression of varied groups interests.

Facts About Saskatchewan, the Land of Living Skies

Facts About Saskatchewan, the Land of Living Skies The prairie province of Saskatchewan produces more than half of the wheat grown in Canada. Saskatchewan is the birthplace of Canadian medicare and home of the RCMP training academy. Location of Saskatchewan Saskatchewan extends from the U.S. border along the 49th parallel to the Northwest Territories border along the 60th parallel. The province lies between Alberta on the west and Manitoba to the east, and between the Northwest Territories on the north and the states of Montana and North Dakota on the south See map of Saskatchewan Area of Saskatchewan 588,239.21 sq. km (227,120.43 sq. miles) (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Population of Saskatchewan 1,033,381 (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Capital of Saskatchewan Regina, Saskatchewan Date Saskatchewan Entered Confederation September 1, 1905 Government of Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Party Last Saskatchewan Provincial Election November 7, 2011 Premier of Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall Main Saskatchewan Industries Agriculture, services, mining

Explanation of the remarkable popularity of broad casting in the US Essay

Explanation of the remarkable popularity of broad casting in the US and Canada after 1922 - Essay Example By the time that the end of 1922 had come to pass, there were 570 radio stations licensed to operate within the United States (Lenthall, 2007). The birth of broadcast advertising and a way to profit had created an industry that spread rapidly throughout the nation. Advertising was not the first way in which radio was commercialized. Companies like Westinghouse set up broadcasting centers in order to promote the sales of radio equipment to the average consumer. The company was creating demand for radios by creating broadcasting that would appeal to people across demographics (Turow, 2010). One of the amateur broadcasters that were working for Westinghouse began to sell part of the air time to companies so they could use the medium to make money. This began the idea of broadcasting advertising and Westinghouse thought this was a good way to create a new stream of revenue (Lenthall, 2007). As with most inventions, they only have social value if there is a good way to commercialize an in dustry with them. People were given free access to broadcasting as long as they had the right equipment, which the cost of the equipment was the first cost. The second cost was time. Time was given in listening to commercials in exchange with the free entertainment provided during the rest of the minutes spent listening. The costs associated with listening through advertising is referred to as â€Å"the opportunity cost of listening† by Turrow (2010, p. 129). The opportunity is given to businesses to capture the listener’s attention in order to give them the chance to pitch their product. By the 1930s, 30% of the stations were owned by CBS and NBC with 90% of the power that radio gave them placed under their control. The era of the major networks was growing quickly and the culture that had been ignited that would soon be addicted to media was learning how to manage their access to the world through broadcast radio. Broadcast radio created the idea of serialized public entertainment that was accessible without having to read it. Even with the depression era raging in devastating waves of destruction, people were buying radios and ownership of the radio rose from 40% of the population to 80% by 1940 (Lenthall, 2007). The need to know outweighed almost all other aspects of society, just as it does now. The media was gaining its power through showing the world what it meant to have immediate access to information. The iPad was launched just about the same time that the economic downturn was in full swing in the last decade. It was launched to outrageous success. The need for new technologies and ways to communicate seems to outweigh all other aspects of life and provides a solid revenue stream when it is new no matter what the economic status of the nation. Resources Grant, A. E. & Meadows, J. H. (2012). Communications technologies, update and fundamentals. Abingdon: CRC Press. Lenthall, B. (2007). Radio’s America: The great depression and ri se of modern mass culture. Chicago, IL: University of Illinois Chicago Press. Turow, J. (2010). Media today, third edition, 2010 update: An introduction to mass communications. Abingdon: Routledge. 2. what are the relative advantage of national networks in comparison to local stations, and vice versa? Which

Democracy is the best form of goverment for all the world inhabitants Essay

Democracy is the best form of goverment for all the world inhabitants - Essay Example Researchers have noted that forms of government have been undergoing changes since the beginning of civilization, and that almost every form of government has been tried in almost every country.. Democracy provides ample time for the people to choose their leaders, and the leaders stand accountable for the growth and prosperity of the nation. The national government is bestowed with many powers and the powers of each state ultimately link to the national government in some form or the other. Democratic principles are formed which contain a body of tested and recognized laws for organizing and conducting human governments, under which the people constitute controlling power, and act by the elected leaders or agents. These laws are meant to safeguard peoples’ liberty, character, property, and pushing them towards prosperity when they are not involved in any form of criminal activity. These principles can be widely found in the American and European democracies. They have been mo dified and adopted by many other countries all over the world (Gillet H, R; 1-4). Over a period of time, democratic form has been proved as the best form, though not free from defects. The democratic form of government has more fragmentation, less control, and the risked exclusion. Thus, increasing complexity due to globalization of economy and society has contracted both the reach and degree of control (Kjaer M, A; 201). Another fact that cannot be overlooked is that democracy, theoretically, gives rise to virtuous principles and people. However, in practice, democracy actually nurtures all kinds of people like lovers of honor, property and even tyranny. Interests of people cannot be influenced much by democracy, though they get aligned to a common goal (Frank H, D, 182; Mansbridge, J. 3). Economic growth and literacy have been found to be very weak in the reign of democracy in many countries such as Latin America (Bowman, K; 66). Another area where democracy has least effect is

The Importance of the Modern Era of Political Philosophy Essay Example for Free

The Importance of the Modern Era of Political Philosophy Essay The Modern Era of political philosophy is best characterized as a revolt against the traditional constraints of the time. Machiavelli believed that politics should be separate and distinct from ethics, morality, and religion. Protestant reformers such as Luther and Calvin went head to head with the Catholic Church, paving the way for religious individualism and incorporating various political revisions. Hobbes called for a major overhaul in England concerning not only political and religious issues, but social and economic ones as well. As modern philosophers began to voice their opinions, Central, Southern, and Western Europe began to change drasticallychanges that would affect the direction of Western political thought forever. Niccolo Machiavelli, born in Florence, Italy in 1469, was the first political philosopher to recognize the importance and potential of the nation-state, an idea he shared with the world. This idea was shared primarily through Machiavellis most notable works: The Prince and Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus Livius. The Prince was dedicated to the new Medici (the ruling family in Florence at the time) ruler, Lorenzo; some modern interpreters have viewed the work primarily as a plea for forgiveness, as Machiavelli wanted his civil service job back after being suspected of treason. As indicated in his two major works, Machiavelli had two distinct goals: the desire to return to active government service and the promotion of stability and freedom from foreign control, secular or religious, for all of Italy. Martin Luthers (1483-1546) discrepancies with the Catholic Church began early in his career when he attacked the sale of indulgences and also came to the conclusion that human nature is wretched and sinful. He also criticized the popes absolutism and the church hierarchy. When Luther finally poured his heart out onto paper in 1517, the result was his Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, otherwise known as the Ninety-five Theses, which he promptly nailed to the church door in his hometown of Wittenberg, Germany. Three years later Luther wrote an essay entitled An Appeal to the Ruling Class. Each of these works as well as Luthers other writings made three main allegations against the church. These allegations were known as the Three Walls. The first wall he attacks is the fact that secular power has no control over the pope. The second wall deals with the idea that the church is more than just the pope; it encompasses everyone who is a member of the faith. This particular wall disputed the idea of papal infallibility as well as the pope as the sole authority of the church. The third wall Luther confronts concerns the claim that only the pope can summon a council to resolve or address church issues, such as questions of doctrine. Later that same year, the pope excommunicated Luther from the Catholic Church, but not before Luthers words had a significant impact on the Catholic Church. These events cause Christians to reexamine the relationship between church and state-authority through the eyes of the individual, as well as defining limits on both church and state power. John Calvin, born in 1509, founded one of the first sects of Protestantism that developed after Luthers revamp of the Catholic Church. Calvin shared the belief that human deeds cannot ensure salvation and that government serves as a punishment and remedy for human sin. In his book Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin distinguishes two types of government: the spiritual, by which the conscience is formed to piety and the service of God; and the political, by which a man is instructed in the duties of humanity and civility. Almost overnight, the Protestant Reformation brought the monolithic foundation of medieval Christianity down, leaving behind several new concepts in political thought. During the first half of the 17th century, English philosopher Thomas Hobbes found conflict on numerous fronts concerning English society. The first issue was concerning religious freedom, pitting King Charles I and his Anglican Church against a number of independent Protestant sects. Hobbes and his Protestant followers claimed that the Anglican Church was too close in organization and liturgy to the Catholic Church. They also rejected the claim of Charles I to rule by divine right. The second issue was political in nature, concerning the fact that England did not have a written constitution (and still do not today), thereby allowing for Parliamentary error and inconsistancies. The third issue that Hobbes was concerned with was the fact that social and economic issues were becoming interrelated due to a growing middle class who demanded more political representation in Parliament. During Hobbess lifetime, the world experienced a scientific revolution due to important discoveries. The spirit of forward progress influenced Hobbess understanding of politics as well. Hobbes treated his issues like scientific theory, always concerned with precise definitions and correct terminology. On what basis could the practice of government be conducted once society was no longer a community? asks the central philosophical question concerning Hobbess political philosophies. Hobbes reinforces the basis for politics of the Modern Era by uniting absolutism and consent, taking his cues from the scientific revolution of the era. Hobbess most important philosophical work, Leviathan, discusses human nature from the standpoint of the individual, thus defining the foundation for Hobbess political universe. Obviously, Hobbess political focus is on the individual; however, some critics argue whether Hobbess philosophies were intended as a scientific blueprint for a fit government as Hobbes saw it, or if his philosophies merely succeeded in raising questions about the balance between individual liberty and social order. Of all the versatile philosophers associated with the Modern Era of political philosophy, only Niccolo Machiavelli can be described as the personification of the transformation from the medieval to the modern era. Machiavellis aggregate view of politics focuses on the individual. In contradiction to the values of ancient and medieval political philosophers, Machiavelli establishes a separation between personal morality and necessary political practice. The Florentine also supports the idea of a republican state, thus allowing the greatest degree of liberty. He created a new science of politics with a more down-to-earth and practical set of principles. Machiavellis recognition of the importance and potential of the nation-state not only set him apart from his predecessors, but also ushered in a new era of political thought, paving the way toward the unfolding Western political tradition. The importance of the Modern Era of political philosophy is plainly evident in todays society. A large part of the Constitution of the United States is based on the liberal philosophies of the Modern Era. The idea of separation of church and state is most prolific during this era, and it remains today one of the fundamental principles of liberty upon which the governments of the United States and numerous other nation-states in the West are based. Also, the focus of individual liberty is very apparent in many of the political discourses of the Modern philosophers. Had the philosophers of the Modern Era not battled the widespread corruption apparent in the Catholic Church and the ruling classes across Europe, who is to say that the Western political tradition would have unfolded at all?

Joyce’s portrayal of thought in Eveline Essay -- James Joyce Dubliners

Joyce’s portrayal of thought in â€Å"Eveline† Among the short stories in the collection Dubliners by James Joyce, â€Å"Eveline† is a story wherein the reader views the world through the eyes of the eponymous heroine. In delineating her contemplations, Joyce mainly uses the third person narrative with traces of free indirect discourse. The narration sequence at first glance appears to be highly disconnected. However, it is through the judicious use of both these devices that Joyce succeeds in portraying – with a great deal of realism – the progression of thought in the human mind. By using this peculiar mode of narration, Joyce makes us realize that, the process of thinking is not crisp and continuous after the fashion of a well-crafted chain of deductive logic. Rather, this reader is presented with a different paradigm – that of staccato bursts mistily but surely connected by the wispy links of key phrases and events. The unmistakable message Joyce leaves us with is that human thought does not proceed in a straight line. â€Å"Eveline† is the story of a young girl – her memories, fears and aspirations. It is no mean feat to convey the naked thoughts of a human being, to paint the dull and the bright shades of feeling with like fidelity and to bring back what has been lost during the translation to words. We can start to appreciate how Joyce does this by considering the distribution of sentences in some of the paragraphs in the story. At first sight, the sentences appear to be rather slapdash in that they do not bear the mark of being part of a continuous sequence of logical thought, as one would expect from a piece of formal writing. The following lines illustrate this point: â€Å"...she heard his footsteps clacking along th... ...e shift from past to present. One could say that it is the pivot about which the frame of reference is rotated from past into present. Of course, this is merely the most explicit example of such temporal shifts that abound in this work. It should be noted however that rarely does such a shift occur in the actual tense of the verbs involved. Rather, Joyce hints at it by using devices such as that discussed above. We can thus see that Joyce succeeds to a great extent in charting the currents of thought in the mind of his protagonist in a most realistic way. The devices used are subtle and ingenious and one might say – considering the period in which he created â€Å"Eveline† – very unconventional. While Joyce’s breaking of conventions is apparent in â€Å"Eveline,† it is his novels, â€Å"Ulysses† and â€Å"Finnegan’s wake† that offer a wider scope for this literary avant-garde.

How Do Online Communication Tools Affect Us

Communication tools that I am going to talk about are based on network, and how do they affect us. The communication tools which are web-based are two main types. It includes social networking sites and instant message. For the social networking sites, it includes facebook, twitter, and Friendster. These are the website which gives people a lot of fun and also some affects. Instant message it includes MSN, Yahoo messenger, and skype. These help people to get contact with their friends, and families. In the past, there was no computer, no internet. If people live far away from each other, the way of they can contact with each other are that they can write a letter, or call each other. They cannot see each other until they meet at the same place, it is very sad of when you miss someone but you could not see them in front of you. But for now, we have improved the technology. We have got computer, internet and some ipad, iphone. Therefore we can just go to the computer and have a video conversation with your families and friends. The communication tools help us to save the time and money to see families in front of you, with these communication tools, you can know what is your friend thinking. And also can see your families through the skype. For these web-based communication tools, it has its superficial and personal sides. So I am going to talk about how it performance in a superficial and personal side. It is superficial when you are using the facebook to post your status to show your emotion and other people can comment or like it. It also can let you knowyou're your friends doing. Facebook allows you to find friends and make new friends, it will send you a friend request, and it might not become your real friend. Because it does not let you meet friend, the only thing you can do is to talk with the new friend, and see the profile picture. Sometimes the profile picture might not be a real one. It also can chat with the online friends. Facebook also have a personal side when you use it. For example, when there is a friend request, you can choose to accept or reject. It also has some affects when we use facebook, because people will get addicted. For students, they might be online their facebook while they are doing homework, students can be disturbed by facebook. For example, when you doing your homework, you found out that you cannot do questions on yourself, then you will go to upload a new status to say that â€Å"I cannot do this question† and then you will be keep playing with the facebook. It is personal when you using the instant message. You can find you friends and families, and search for their username and add them to chat with them whenever you miss them. It also can have a chat with video on, therefore you can see what is your friends or families doing. It is more real than you chat with friends on Facebook. It also can let you to talk with whoever you want to, and have a multi-people conversation. As the technology improves so fast, for a multinational company, they can have their meeting on the video. It saves staff’s time and money to travel from one place to another for a meeting only. It is easy in communication, because you can choose who you want to talk with, if you don't want to talk with the person, you can just ignore. I think, for instant message, it does not really affect us. It helps us a lot, its different with facebook, which we can gey addicted. For conclusion, I think that communication tools have two sides, which are superficial, and personal, it helps people like we can get contact through the instant message, and see your friends and families on the video. It also affects us by let us to be addicted. Spend a lot of time on facebook.

Are Mongols Barbarians?

The strong military, organized government and religious tolerance all pointed that Mongols are civilized; therefore, they should not be called as barbarians which have no humanity, cruel, violent and are lack of managements. The Mongols were used to be small clans which often fight with each other for supplies. Around 1200, Temujin, Genghis Khan, defeated his enemies one by one and united the Mongols. He led the Mongols and found the largest connected land empire in the history, the Mongol Empire.Mongols created the Pax Mongolia and had great influenced on the later world. First of all, Mongols are not barbarians because they had well-organized government. They divided the large empire into four khanates which made them easier to control (Document 1). Also the villages were divided into two districts. For example, the village of Saint Denis had a district where the markets were and a district that were all craftsman (Document 7). Kublai granted taxes and built new capital. Besides, h e set new laws, and the crime rate decreased about half (Document 8).The Mongols ameliorated the conveyance by building canals (Document 10). They also established post office that had more than 10,000 posts and 200,000 horses to pass the message (Document 12). All the systems and reconstructions they created pointed out that Mongols aren’t barbarians. Next, the military organization proved Mongols’ good arrangement ability which lead to a result that they aren’t barbarian. Mongols knew how to use silk as a tool to practice their skills (Document 2).The ten soldiers were put into groups and had captain for each. Ten of those groups form a hundred and had another captain. Over ten captains of thousand was a captain who control a thousand men. Above those ten captains was a man. Then one or two chiefs control the whole army with highest command (Document 3). Mongols also sat traps for other cities, and made fake figures to let the army look bigger and more fearful (Document 4). The armies protected the trades and routes, too. So the trades and passengers could be safe.Mongols had shown their smart brains with great thoughts in military with civilized organizations. Last, Mongols had opened-mind and accepted different religious which revealed Mongols’ kindness and religious tolerance. Even though Mongols did not believe in Christianity, there were still Christian churches (Document 7). Mongols were opened to new ideas, Kublai wanted Marco Polo to bring a hundred Christian. However, Marco Polo didn’t, but the act showed the wide opened- mind of Mongols (Document 8). They also established society and preserved culture (Document 10).The emperor, Mongke Khan even allowed the Christians, Muslims and Buddhists to hold a council and write their true ideas about his laws and books (Document 13). Mongols are not barbarians, they respected, adopted all religious and ideas. One of the most important empire that ever exist, the Mongol Empir e, is often considered as a barbaric rulers. But, they are not. Not only because they well organized their military, government, and also religious tolerance. Mongols are educated and civilized which think when one does.

Abington School vs. Schempp essays

Abington School vs. Schempp essays Abington School District vs. Schempp In 1949, a state-wide law was passed in Pennsylvania that required public school students to read scriptures from the Bible and recite the Lords Prayer everyday in class. This law stayed intact until Edward Schempp challenged it nine years later. Pennsylvania wasnt the first or the only state to enforce law making it mandatory for students to read from the Bible during school. Twenty-five additional states had laws allowing optional reading for the Bible. But in eleven of the twenty-five states, courts had decided those laws were unconstitutional. Mr. Schempp took the case to court in to 1958, claiming that required reading for the Bible and recitation of the Lords Pray prohibited free exercise of religion for his children, and was therefore unconstitutional, under the First Amendment. Mr. Schempp son, Ellory, stated under oath, that he didnt not believe in Jesus Christ, or the Christian beliefs. He testified that ideas opposing to his were presented to him while he was at school in Abington High. He received punishment because he refused to stand at attention during the recitation of the Lords Prayer and when requested to leave during the exercise, his demands were denied. One of the greatest witnesses was Rabbi Dr. Solomon Grayzel. Dr. Grayzel explained the psychological harm that could come from reading the New Testament without explanation. The context of the New Testament, without explanation of the work, had caused grievances in Jewish children while in similar required situations. This also came to show that if a Jewish child could be offended and upset by the Bible reading, any child of a family rejecting the principles of the Trinity and Jesus Christ would be equally offended, to the point that reading the Bible could be considered blasphemous. In argument for the recitation of the Lords Prayer, they ...

Chromatography Definition and Examples

Chromatography Definition and Examples Chromatography is a group of laboratory techniques to separate the components of a mixture by passing the mixture through a stationary phase. Typically, the sample is suspended in the liquid or gas phase and is separated or identified based on how it flows through or around a liquid or solid phase. Types of Chromatography The two broad categories of chromatography are liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC). Highs of other types of chromatography include ion exchange chromatography, resin chromatography, and paper chromatography. Uses of Chromatography Chromatography is used primarily to separate components of a mixture so that they can be identified or collected. It can be a useful diagnostic technique or part of a purification scheme.

The Origins of Islamic Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The Origins of Islamic Culture - Essay Example The current study revolves around one of the groups of people who pose their specific significance with respect to their religious affiliation. The human perceptions, understandings and acts are affected greatly by religious influence in great amounts. This eventually affects every level of the human being’s lives whether they may personal, financial or corporate in nature. Thus organizational decision making and the performance of individuals all come under the influence of the religion to which they belong. Islam is one of the most widely followed religions in the history of mankind. Being the second largest religion of the human society it has millions of followers. Thus the Islamic culture is quite prevalent in the world. Islam is the religion that believes upon the sovereignty of one God. The name that God is termed with in the religion Islam is Allah. The belief that the religion establishes is that Islam is the religion of Allah for the Entire Humanity. It is the religi on that preaches kindness and equality with mercy and tolerance. Evidence to this is the following teachings of Islam that are quoted in the Holy Book of Allah i.e. the Holy Quran as follows: â€Å"Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned† . The religion preaches utmost simplicity and piety. It does not want any individual to bear any load that he may not think of himself to be capable of. Allah- The Lord, with respect to the teaching of Islam, has spared His followers of any hardships or difficulties. At another place the Almighty Lord says (interpretation of the meaning) : â€Å"He has chosen you (to convey His Message of Islamic Monotheism to mankind by inviting them to His religion of Islam), and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship†Ã‚   [al-Hajj 22:78 - Quran]   The above lines are directly addressed to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) and then via him to the rest of the mankind. The Quran, the boom of Allah that contains all the codes of conduct and commandments is the final word for Mankind from the Almighty Lord. The Divine books that precede this last and final word are the Psalms, the Bible, and the Testament. THE HISTORY OF ISLAM Islam is a global religion. The birth of the foremost and final Prophet of Islam Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) in the year 570 A.D led to the beginning of an Era that was eventually to lead to the formal birth of the religion of Islam. He was born to an Arabian family named the family of â€Å"Quraishâ⠂¬  which was the then ruling tribe of the Holy city of Mecca. Mecca was the center of trade of the entire Arab and was later trademarked as the Holy Mecca that housed the house of the Lord, Allah swt. After the era of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) Islam spread out from Arab into various other regions. Fellows from the most trusted companions of the Prophet were appointed as caliphs. The kingdom of Islam was henceforth termed as Caliphate that revolved around nothing but the religion itself. Caliphs were the rulers of

Field Trip Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Field Trip - Essay Example The centre featured a large screen used for presentation and educative film of space exploration. The Sketch Foundation Gallery captivated our attention and it occurred to me that it would best serve as a point of reference to our field trip. At the gallery, several space satellites were on display and among the ones that would capture attention of any visitor was the communication satellite. The scientist tour guide made us to understand that these space satellites vary in sizes depending on the main purpose of the use. The enormous size of the satellites was triggering many questions amongst us. The approximate weight of these satellites is six to eight tones of metal like the size of a small school bus. Apart from the size and physical appearances, the various parts of the space satellite were intriguing. The major parts included massive rocket propulsion system and its fuel tanks to move the satellite into space, antennas, and large transceivers for radio communication (Miller, 55). In addition, the large solar panels for converting solar energy in space to electricity together with the batteries to store the energy was also an amazing combination of energy sustaining system in space. The most important system of communication was the on-board computer processor that served as the â€Å"brain† of the satellite. The computer also served as a storage device for information and reception of instruction (Miller, 56). All these parts proved just how amazing the scientific ventures and explorat ion may go in the space exploration. Despite the size of these satellites’ and all their parts, the question on my mind was how these satellites managed to stay in space and move around the earth without falling back to earth. Our visitors tour guide who was also a scientist at the center gave us a comprehensive presentation of how the space satellite orbits the earth. The presentation began with an explanation of how

To what extent does the Wal-Mart motivation mode inspire employees Essay

To what extent does the Wal-Mart motivation mode inspire employees - Essay Example the development of business in the modern society requires that high consideration be given to motivation, which must be directed to the individuals that are responsible for the business decision making. In order to provide a clear framework for the scholars interested in this area of study, we will need to discuss the major forms of motivations as suggested by earlier researchers and outline clearly how they influence the growth of business. We will also see how they affect the employees in a diverse way. In addition, we will make suggestions of more forms of motivation that are not covered in this area of study. Apart from merely stating the major reasons for the exploration of these forms of motivation, we will identify the major weaknesses that have lead to the limitation of the power of prediction by the previously conducted researches on the same topic. This is rooted from the basic principle of continuity as should be exhibited by research. We therefore offer explicit outcomes for any future research adoption to clear the industry

Process Leadership And Its Impact Leadership Essay

Process Leadership And Its Impact Leadership Essay Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to achieve an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent. Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. Leaders carry out this process by applying their leadership  knowledge  and  skills are called  Process Leadership. However, we know that we have traits that can influence our actions which are called  Trait Leadership, in that it was once common to believe that leaders were born rather than made. Good leaders are  made  not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience. To inspire your workers into higher levels of teamwork, there are certain things you must  be, know,  and,  do.  These do not come naturally, but are acquired through continual work and study. Good leaders are continually working and studying to improve their leadership skills they are not resting on their success. Factors of Leadership Leader: You must have an honest understanding of who you are, what you know, and what you can do. It is the followers, not the leader or someone else who determines if the leader is successful. If they do not trust or lack confidence in their leader, then they will be uninspired. To be successful you have to convince your followers, not yourself or your superiors, that you are worthy of being followed. Followers: Different people require different styles of leadership. For example, a new recruit requires more supervision than an experienced employee. A person who lacks motivation requires a different approach than one with a high degree of motivation. You must know your people. The fundamental starting point is having a good understanding of human nature, such as needs, emotions, and motivation. You must come to know your employees be, know, and do attributes. Communication: You lead through two-way communication. Much of it is nonverbal. For instance, when you set the example that communicates to your people that you would not ask them to perform anything that you would not be willing to do. What and how you communicate either builds or harms the relationship between you and your employees. Situation: All situations are different. What you do in one situation will not always work in another. You must use your judgment to decide the best course of action and the leadership style needed for each situation. For example, you may need to confront an employee for inappropriate behavior, but if the confrontation is too late or too early, too harsh or too weak, then the results may prove ineffective. (Also note that the situation normally has a greater effect on a leaders action than his or her traits. This is because while traits may have an impressive stability over a period of time, they have little consistency across situations (Mischel, 1968). This is why a number of leadership scholars think the Process Theory of Leadership is a more accurate than the Trait Theory of Leadership). Various forces will affect these four factors. Examples of forces are your relationship with your seniors, the skill of your followers, the informal leaders within your organization, and how your organization is organized. (Although your position as a manager, supervisor, lead, etc. gives you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives in the organization (called Assigned Leadership), this power does not make you a leader, it simply makes you the boss (Rowe, 2007). Leadership differs in that it makes the followers want to achieve high goals (called Emergent Leadership), rather than simply bossing people around (Rowe, 2007). Thus you get Assigned Leadership by your position and you display Emergent Leadership by influencing people to do grat things.) Be, Know and Do The basis of good leadership is honourable character and selfless service to your organization. In your employees eyes, your leadership is everything you do that effects the organizations objectives and their well-being. Leaders should know (such as job, tasks, and human nature), what they are or be (such as beliefs and character) and do (such as implementing, motivating, and providing direction). This is what makes a person want to follow a leader. People want to be guided by those they respect and who have a clear sense of direction. To gain respect, they must be ethical. A sense of direction is achieved by conveying a strong vision of the future. The Two Most Important Keys to Effective Leadership According to a study by the Hay Group, a global management consultancy, there are 75 key components of employee satisfaction (Lamb, McKee, 2004). They found that: Trust and confidence in top leadership was the single most reliable predictor of employee satisfaction in an organization. Effective communication by leadership in three critical areas was the key to winning organizational trust and confidence: Helping employees understand the companys overall business strategy. Helping employees understand how they contribute to achieving key business objectives. Sharing information with employees on both how the company is doing and how an employees own division is doing relative to strategic business objectives. So in a nutshell you must be trustworthy and you have to be able to communicate a vision of where the organization needs to go. Goals The goals and performance standards they establish. Successful organizations have leaders who set high standards and goals across the entire spectrum, such as strategies, market leadership, plans, meetings and presentations, productivity, quality, and reliability. Values The values they establish for the organization. Values reflect the concern the organization has for its employees, customers, investors, vendors, and surrounding community. These values define the manner in how business will be conducted. Concepts The business and people concepts they establish. Concepts define what products or services the organization will offer and the methods and processes for conducting business. These goals, values, and concepts make up the organizations personality or how the organization is observed by both outsiders and insiders. This personality defines the roles, relationships, rewards, and rites that take place. Creating an Inspiring Vision of the Future In business, a vision is a realistic, convincing and attractive best case description of where you want to be in the future. Vision provides direction, sets priorities, and provides a marker, so that you can tell that youve achieved what you wanted to achieve.   To create a vision, leaders focus on an organizations  strengths  by using tools such as  Porters Five Forces,  PEST Analysis,  USP Analysis,  Core Competence Analysis  and  SWOT Analysis  to analyze their current situation. They think about how their industry is likely to evolve, and how their competitors are likely to behave. They look at how they can  innovate successfully, and shape their businesses and their strategies to succeed in future marketplaces. And they test their visions with appropriate market research, and by assessing key risks using techniques such as  Scenario Analysis. Therefore, leadership is proactive problem solving, looking ahead, and not being satisfied with things as they are. Once they have developed their visions, leaders must make them compelling and convincing. A  compelling vision  is one that people can see, feel, understand, and  embrace. Effective leaders provide a rich picture of what the future will look like when their visions have been realized. They tell stories, and explain their visions in ways that everyone can relate to.   Here, leadership combines the analytical side of the vision with the passion of shared values, creating something really meaningful to the people being led.   Motivating and Inspiring People A compelling vision provides the foundation for leadership. But its the leaders ability to motivate and inspire people that will help them deliver that vision.   For example, when you start a new project, you will probably have lots of enthusiasm for it, so its usually easy to support the projects leader at the beginning. However, it can be difficult to find ways to keep the vision alive and inspirational, after the initial enthusiasm fades, especially if the team or organization needs to make significant changes in the way that they do things. Leaders recognize this, and they work hard on an ongoing basis to connect their vision with peoples individual needs, goals, and aspirations.   One of the key ways they do this is through  Expectancy Theory. Effective leaders link together two different expectations: The expectation that hard work leads to good results. The expectation that good results lead to attractive rewards or incentives. This motivates people to work hard to achieve success, because they expect to enjoy rewards both intrinsic and extrinsic as a result.   Other approaches include restating the vision in terms of the benefits it will bring to the teams customers, and taking frequent opportunities to communicate the vision in an attractive and engaging way. Whats particularly helpful here is where leaders have  expert power. People admire and believe in these leaders because they are expert in what they do. They have credibility, and theyve earned the right to ask people to listen to them, and follow them. This makes it much easier for these leaders to motivate and inspire the people they lead. Leaders can also motivate and influence people through their natural charisma and appeal, and through other  sources of power, such as the power to pay bonuses or assign tasks to people. However, good leaders dont rely on these types of power to motivate and inspire others. Managing Delivery of the Vision This is the area of leadership that relates to  management. According to the  Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Model, there is a time to tell, a time to sell, a time to participate, and a time to delegate. Knowing which approach you need to use, and when you need it, is key to effective leadership. Leaders must ensure that the work required to deliver the vision is properly managed either by themselves, or by a dedicated manager or team of managers to whom the leader delegates this responsibility and they need to ensure that their vision is delivered successfully.   To do this, team members need performance goals that are linked to the teams overall vision. Performance Management and KPI  (Key Performance Indicators) explains one way of doing this, and our  Project Management  section explains another. And, for day-to-day management of delivering the vision, the  Management By Wandering Around  (MBWA) approach will help to ensure that what should happen, really happens. Leaders also need to make sure they  manage change  effectively. This will ensure that any changes required to deliver the vision are implemented smoothly and thoroughly, with support and full backing from the majority of people affected. Coaching and Building a Team to Achieve the Vision Individual and team development are important activities carried out by transformational leaders. To develop a team, leaders must first understand team dynamics. A leader will then ensure that team members have the necessary skills and abilities to do their job and achieve the vision. They do this by giving and receiving feedback  regularly, and by  training and coaching people to improve individual and team performance. Leadership also includes looking for  leadership potential  in others. By developing leadership skills within your team, you create an environment where you can continue success in the long term. And thats a true measure of great leadership. Seven Personal Qualities Found In A Good Leader A good leader has an exemplary character. It is of utmost importance that a leader is trustworthy to lead others. A leader needs to be trusted and be known to live their life with honestly and integrity. A good leader walks the talk and in doing so earns the right to have responsibility for others. True authority is born from respect for the good character and trustworthiness of the person who leads. A good leader is enthusiastic about their work or cause and also about their role as leader. People will respond more openly to a person of passion and dedication. Leaders need to be able to be a source of inspiration, and be a motivator towards the required action or cause. Although the responsibilities and roles of a leader may be different, the leader needs to be seen to be part of the team working towards the goal. This kind of leader will not be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty. A good leader is confident. In order to lead and set direction a leader needs to appear confident as a person and in the leadership role. Such a person inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of the team to complete the task well. A leader who conveys confidence towards the proposed objective inspires the best effort from team members. A leader also needs to function in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty. People look to the leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanour. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose. Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head. A good leader, as well as keeping the main goal in focus, is able to think analytically. Not only does a good leader view a situation as a whole, but is able to break it down into sub parts for closer inspection. While keeping the goal in view, a good leader can break it down into manageable steps and make progress towards it. A good leader is committed to excellence. Second best does not lead to success. The good leader not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas. These seven personal characteristics are foundational to good leadership. Some characteristics may be more naturally present in the personality of a leader. However, each of these characteristics can also be developed and strengthened. A good leader whether they naturally possess these qualities or not, will be diligent to consistently develop and strengthen them in their leadership role. Roles ad Relationships Roles are the positions that are defined by a set of expectations about behaviour of any job sitting. Each role has a set of tasks and responsibilities that may or may not be spelled out. Roles have a powerful effect on behaviour for several reasons, to include money being paid for the performance of the role, there is prestige attached to a role, and a sense of accomplishment or challenge. Relationships are determined by a roles tasks. While some tasks are performed alone, most are carried out in relationship with others. The tasks will determine who the role-holder is required to interact with, how often, and towards what end. Also, normally the greater the interaction, the greater the liking is. This in turn leads to more frequent interaction. In human behaviour, its hard to like someone whom we have no contact with, and we tend to seek out those we like. People tend to do what they are rewarded for, and friendship is a powerful reward. Many tasks and behaviours that are associated with a role are brought about by these relationships. That is, new task and behaviours are expected of the present role-holder because a strong relationship was developed in the past, either by that role-holder or a prior role holder. Conclusion What makes a person want to follow a leader? People want to be guided by those they respect and who have a clear sense of direction. To gain respect, they must be ethical. A sense of direction is achieved by conveying a strong vision of the future. When a person is deciding if she respects you as a leader, she does not think about your attributes, rather, she observes what you do so that she can know who you really are. She uses this observation to tell if you are an honourable and trusted leader or a self-serving person who misuses authority to look good and get promoted. Self-serving leaders are not as effective because their employees only obey them, not follow them. They succeed in many areas because they present a good image to their seniors at the expense of their workers. Good Business Leaders I refer to Ray Kroc, the founder of the McDonalds Corporation: a leader driven by vision, but one willing to nurture talent and ideas not his own, a rare combination for an entrepreneur. Look beneath the Golden Arches and you will find a leader of near-irrepressible enthusiasm who discovered late in life what his true mission would be. At age fifty-two, Ray Kroc invested himself, and over the next few years nearly everything he owned, to fulfill his dream. For the first eight years, Ray Kroc didnt take one dime from McDonalds. He lived entirely on the modest salary he took from his milk-shake mixer business. The neglect of Kroc may perhaps be due to the fact that McDonalds is an ubiquitous presence (some would say too much so) on the American landscape. But that presence, some 25,000 restaurants strong around the world, never would have occurred without the drive, enthusiasm, will, and sheer optimism of a man who dreamed of a chain of restaurants coast to coast that would all serve the same food prepared the same way in the same restaurants in the same fast and friendly way. Once McDonalds become established, the world forgot Krocs humble origins and instead focused on his life as a multimillionaire e.g owner of the San Diego Padres and contributor to Nixons second re-election effort. Forgotten too was his leadership style, which to this day, is very applicable to anyone who dreams of starting a business, or managing it. Here are some of the principles Ray Kroc lived and led by. * Vision Once he had witnessed the McDonald brothers hamburger drive-in in San Bernardino, Kroc knew he had found what he was looking for: the opportunity to establish a nationwide chain of standardized, fast-food eateries. Today it seems obvious, but given the time, 1954, it seemed closer to fantasy. Friends of Kroc warned him that he was crazy to consider building a business on 15-cent hamburgers. It must be said that Kroc initially envisioned McDonalds as a opportunity to sell more Multi-mixers, but the more he investigated and the more he invested, he realized that McDonalds had the potential to rewrite the fast-food rule book and in the process establish the quick service restaurant business. * Conviction Theres almost nothing you cant accomplish if you set your mind to it he told a group of MBA students in 1976. And he lived those words. Kroc held fast to his dream of McDonalds restaurants. And furthermore to the idea that the restaurant concept would only succeed if everyone in the system operators, suppliers, corporate held to the same strict standards in food offerings, food preparation, food delivery, and service principles. * Flexibility As rigidly as Kroc held to strict standards in food preparation and service, he was open and eager for new ideas, chiefly from operators. New products like Big Mac and Egg McMuffin emerged from operators; Krocs attempts at new products the Hula Burger and a strawberry dessert, to name two were abject failures. Yet Kroc was smart enough to run with a good idea no matter who originated it. Thats leadership. * Cooperation Kroc built the McDonalds System on the simple, but fundamental philosophy, that everyone would profit or no one would. For this reason, he established a system that put operator profits first. Only by ensuring operator profitability would the system succeed. (In contrast to other franchisers of the time, Kroc charged no markup for supplies and equipment. He sold everything at cost.) He applied the same philosophy to his suppliers. This faith in letting others prosper first cost McDonalds dearly in the early years, but it paid off handsomely in the end. * Enthusiasm Ray Kroc loved the hamburger business. He could wax lyrically about the water content of french fries, or the curves of a hamburger bun. More so, he enjoyed talking up his restaurant business; it was his passion and his avocation. This kind of enthusiasm seems innate to many salespeople, and they need it in spades. Ardor for what they do steels them against the rejection that salespeople face on a daily basis. Kroc possessed so much enthusiasm; he was contagious. Since his enthusiasm was so infectious, he was able to attract so many of the right people to him. * Toleration of Dissent Many entrepreneurs live by the rule, my way or the highway. Not Kroc. His boldest move in this area was his hiring of Harry Sonneborn as his finance manager in 1956. As different as night and day, Kroc and Sonneborn formed a remarkable team. Where Sonneborn was taciturn and detail-driven, Kroc was outgoing and visionary. But without Sonneborn, McDonalds would never have survived. It was Sonneborns idea to establish the Franchise Realty Corporation, a real estate venture that enabled McDonalds Corporation to profit from the growth of the chain. Sonneborn and Kroc clashed constantly, but Kroc tolerated the dissent because he knew Sonneborn was good for the System. (Sadly, the two eventually parted, but it was well after Sonneborn was a multi-millionaire and had prospered from his ideas.) * Mentoring Salesman that he was, Ray Kroc had an eagle eye for talent. He plucked Fred Turner, the organizational mind behind the McDonalds operating system, from the ranks of potential operators. Kroc nurtured Turner as he did others; and in the process, built his business by selecting the right people at the right time. (It must be said that Kroc was sometimes arbitrary. In a fit of pique he might demand that man who didnt shine his shoes, or wore his hat incorrectly, be fired. Typically, the order would never be carried by Rays executive team who knew better. And in time, Kroc would forget the incident.) * Giving As generous as he was with advice, Kroc was generous with a dollar. After becoming a centi-millionaire several times over, he established a foundation to support his charitable efforts. Even before he was wealthy, McDonalds staged promotional events linked to local Chicago charities. To be certain, the original aim was publicity; but over time, Kroc and his team initiated a culture of giving that is alive and well today throughout the McDonalds System.(The Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing for relatives of children undergoing lengthy hospital stays, is one such example.) Of course, the point of giving is not to get something back, but rather to give something back; For leaders, giving helps create a culture where everyone in the organization becomes more outwardly focused in ways large and small that help benefit others. Kroc understood this principle and the organizations he built are a testament to it. * Optimism If ever there were the archetype of salesman whos always looking for a rainbow in a hailstorm, its Ray Kroc. I have always believed that each man makes his own happiness and is responsible for his own problems, so wrote Kroc in his autobiography, Grinding It Out. It was a philosophy that served him well. Faced with adversity throughout his life, he overcame much of it and succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Curiously, Krocs original passion was music; he was a piano player in nightclubs. But since it was not the kind of lifestyle that appealed to his wife nor to Krocs own entrepreneurial aspirations Kroc gave it up for a career in sales. Still, he possessed the irrepressible optimism that come from someone who can break into a song to please a crowd. All of these traits contributed to Krocs leadership style, but perhaps the greatest was his ability to sell an idea. The reason he was so persuasive was not because he was a good storyteller (he was); a good socializer (he was); had a way with words (he did). No, the chief reason for his leadership was Kroc was able to sketch out his vision and have the listen participate in it with him. Whether Ray was talking about french fries, or the McDonalds System, he believed in absolute truth of what he was saying. His sense of conviction larded with plenty of optimism, dwarfed doubt and helped the listener participate in the dream with him. Most important, this vision also was predicated on the idea that the listener would benefit by sharing in the dream with Kroc that would enrich and ennoble all who shared it. Couple Krocs conviction with his overwhelming optimism and you have a leader of whom salesmen can be proud and from whom managers everywhere can learn. Julia Gillard looks set to become Australias first female prime minister after Kevin Rudds support within the party all but evaporates. JULIA Gillard has never suffered from a shortfall of self-confidence but, equally, she has never displayed the kind of naked ambition that defined Kevin Rudd before he got the job, either. The confidence was on display four years ago when she discussed leadership as a hypothetical and observed: I think people are over the kind of really highly managed, suited, white bread style politicians. I think people are looking for more than that and different to that and, you know, I think I am different to that. But the confidence evident on the ABCs Australian Story was always underpinned by self-discipline, patience and an absence of hubris. Advertisement: Story continues below Rudds impatience asserted itself in an intellectual arrogance that meant the reservoir of goodwill was low when the chips were down. Gillards more grounded demeanour is just one of the reasons the disaffected are willing to embrace her. The qualities that stamped her as a future leader are the ones that will be put to the test if, as now seems likely, she becomes the countrys first female prime minister. There is no more perfect parliamentary performer on Labors side than Gillard, and no one who is better placed to take on Tony Abbott. She can master a brief, communicate a message, demonstrate wit and go for the kill. There is also the tenacity that asserted itself when, before her career even began, she failed in three separate pre selection bids and again yesterday when she staked her claim. The qualities that some suspected would constrain her ambition being female, unmarried and from the left of the ALP will be of no consequence today. But the gamble Labor has taken in tearing down the leader who delivered them power before he has served a full term is difficult to comprehend. As a member of the Rudd kitchen cabinet, Gillard shares responsibility for virtually all the negatives of recent months the broken promises, the retreat on the emissions trading scheme, and the brawl with the miners over the proposed resource rent tax. She has also presided over the schools building program that has faced heavy criticism, especially in New South Wales. But the truth of it is that Rudds inability to recognise his failures and project a confidence that he is capable of changing persuaded the plotters to put the weight on Gillard. This is not the way Gillard, or those who believe in her leadership qualities, wanted her to become prime minister. This is clear from what she told this writer in 2006 If, in the dim and distant future well down the road the Labor leadership were vacant, I would think about it then. But its never been in my nature particularly having seen what happened with Simon [Crean] to believe its about destabilising leaders. But in politics, you dont get to choose, and she will find out soon enough whether she is what she believes the electorate is looking to embrace. Part B Workplace Frustrations Poor Communication This doesnt sound like a very nice position to be in and it does need addressing sooner rather than later; if so many of you are unhappy, the business will end up losing good members of staff through neglect. If you one member of senior management and have felt like you achieved nothing, dont let this make you lose confidence/faith in the rest of the senior management team. There will be someone who is willing to listen and help where possible. You should request to have a team meeting/operator discussion with a member of staff either on the same level as the person you spoke with before or higher. Even better would be two members of staff from this level, one from your direct line managers (perhaps a team leader) and then possibly your HR officer. This time, however, manager should stand up as an individual from the contact centre trying to be the voice for everyone else. This can often land you in trouble because even though youre trying to help people who darent speak up, the result can be that it looks like you and you alone who has an issue. So, you need to get a couple of people together that feel the same and ask if a team meeting can be held. For this meeting you will need to have the points you want to discuss ready along with some ideas of how you feel the problem can be eased or even rectified. Make sure your colleagues dont try and turn this meeting into a slanging match, keep it as a civil discussion between all attendees as the management are more likely to listen and pay attention this way. The good thing about going forward as team should be that the senior management will sit up and listen. If just one person makes a noise, they might assume that the problem isnt that big or even isnt really a problem at all. The more people moved to become involved, the more likely your managers will actually want to resolve your issues. It will also be more difficult for them to give you your marching orders as they would have to treat your colleagues in the same way. And what company wants to lose three, four or more conscientious, committed staff members? Office Politics and Lack of Teamwork Where office politics exist there is almost always a lack of teamwork, this two politics overlaps. Since someone has decided to get ahead by limiting cooperation or information sharing.   In fact, I think these are really the same issue.   Theres only one reason that teams or individuals within a company should fail to work together effectively, and thats when there are incentives to encourage them to do otherwise.   If a business is established to make the best use of its resources, and then builds walls and political machinations that make it less efficient, those failures have to be obvious to the people in control.   So office politics and a lack of teamwork are not just accepted but often implicitly condoned by a management team that cant create clear incentives to work together and seems more intent on creating competitive teams that excel by eliminating team work. These frustrations point to t

congressional reconstruction- civil war :: essays research papers

The governments established under Congressional Reconstruction made notable and lasting achievements. One positive outcome that resulted was the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which extended citizenship to African Americans and listed certain rights of all citizens such as the right to own property, bring lawsuits, and testify in court. Another major outcome was the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibited the states from denying the right to vote because of a person’s race or because a person had been a slave. This finally granted African Americans the right to vote and marked an important change in the history of our country. A negative outcome resulted politically from congressional Reconstruction. Many of the federal laws concerning reconstruction led to the strengthening of the federal government at the expense of the states. These new laws often placed significant restrictions on state actions on the ground that the rights of national citizenship took precedence over the powers of state governments leading to an increase in sectional bitterness, an intensification of the racial issue, and the development of one-party politics in the South. Stemming from this â€Å"infringement† of states’ rights and intensified by the election of 1868 was another negative outcome. Fierce activities were stirred up by groups such as the KKK- violence became prominent, and terrorists and mobs attacked many people- mostly Republicans and blacks. The end of slavery brought new expectations for all African Americans, whether they had been slaves or not. Taking advantage of the new choices that freedom opened, they tried to create independent lives for themselves, and they developed social institutions that helped to define black communities. African Americans also expected political and economic equality. Few were able to acquire land of their own- a significant constraint on their economic choices- and most became either wage laborers or sharecroppers. Having no land, no tools, and no money, the freed slaves had only their personal labor to sell.

American Literature Summer Reading List Essay

The following list was complied from the recommendations of the Belmont High School English department and contains some of the best-known works of American literature. Each book addresses the American Dream and/or American identities. All entering 11th graders must read at least one book from the list below over the summer. Students entering English 11 Honors must read at least one contemporary AND one classic work from the list. The American Literature Summer Reading page on your Edline account provides summaries of the works listed below; it will be available until July 15th. We encourage all students to preview a book before making a choice in order to determine that the writing style and narrative voice will be a good fit. Please consult your 10th grade teacher if you need help finding a book that is a good match for you. Author Book Joan Didion Joan Didion W. E. B. Du Bois Booker T. Washington The White Album: Essays Slouching Toward Bethlehem: Essays The Souls of Black Folk Up from Slavery Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream The Dharma Bums On the Road Hunter S. Thompson Jack Kerouac Jack Kerouac Malcolm X and Alex Haley Tom Wolfe Alex Haley Ayn Rand  Ayn Rand Bernard Malamud E. L. Doctorow Edith Wharton Edith Wharton F. Scott Fitzgerald F. Scott Fitzgerald Herman Melville James Baldwin James Weldon Johnson The Autobiography of Malcolm X The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test Roots The Fountainhead Atlas Shrugged The Natural Ragtime The Age of Innocence The House of Mirth Tender is the Night This Side of Paradise Moby-Dick Go Tell it on the Mountain Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man Genre Essays Essays Essays Memoir Era Classic Classic Classic Classic Memoir Memoir Memoir Classic Classic Classic. Memoir Memoir Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Classic  Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Joan Didion John Cheever John Dos Passos John Irving John Steinbeck John Steinbeck John Updike Kate Chopin Ken Kesey N. Scott Momaday Nella Larson Norman Mailer Philip Roth Ralph Ellison Raymond Chandler Richard Wright Rita Mae Brown Robert Penn Warren Saul Bellow Sinclair Lewis Theodore Dreiser Theodore Dreiser Upton Sinclair Vladimir Nabokov Willa Cather Willa Cather William Faulkner Studs Terkel Play It As It Lays The Wapshot Chronicle The U. S. A. Trilogy The World According to Garp East of Eden The Grapes of Wrath Rabbit, Run The Awakening One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest House Made of Dawn Passing An American Dream Portnoy’s Complaint Invisible Man The Big Sleep Black Boy Rubyfruit Jungle All the King’s Men The Adventures of Augie March Main Street An American Tragedy Sister Carrie The Jungle Lolita My Antonia O Pioneers! Absalom, Absalom! Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel about What They Do Arthur Miller A View from the Bridge Lorraine Hansberry Sherwood Anderson Sarah Vowell Toure A Raisin in the Sun Winesburg, Ohio The Partly Cloudy Patriot Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness? What It Means to be Black Now Novel Novel Novel. Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Classic Oral History Play Play Short Stories Essays Essays Classic Classic Classic Classic Contemporary Contemporary Annie Dillard Barack Obama Bob Dylan Itabari Njeri James McBride Jay-Z John Edgar Wideman Luis Rodriguez Maxine Hong Kingston Richard Rodriguez Barbara Ehrenreich Dave Eggers. David Bianculli Erik Larsen Greil Marcus John Berendt Jon Krakauer Neil Swidey Tom Wolfe Amy Tan Andre Dubus III Annie Proulx Audrey Niffenegger Barbara Kingsolver Barbara Kingsolver Barbara Kingsolver Chad Harbach Chang-rae Lee Cormac McCarthy Daniel Wallace Danzy Senna Dave Eggers David Foster Wallace An American Childhood Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance Chronicles, Vol. I Every Goodbye Ain’t Gone The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother Decoded Brothers and Keepers Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L. A The Woman Warrior Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez. Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America Zeitoun Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of â€Å"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour† Devil in the White City The Old, Weird America: The World of Bob Dylan’s Basement Tapes Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Into the Wild The Assist: Hoops, Hope, and the Game of Their Lives The Right Stuff The Joy Luck Club House of Sand and Fog The Shipping News The Time Traveller’s Wife The Bean Trees Animal Dreams The Poisonwood Bible The Art of Fielding Native Speaker Blood Meridian Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions Caucasia What is the What Infinite Jest Memoir Memoir Memoir Memoir. Memoir Memoir Memoir Memoir Memoir Memoir Nonfiction Nonfiction Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Nonfiction Nonfiction Nonfiction Nonfiction Nonfiction Nonfiction Nonfiction Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary David Sheff Don DeLillo Donna Tartt Dorothy Allison Edward P. Jones Fannie Flagg Gish Jen Gloria Naylor Jane Smiley Jennifer Egan Jhumpa Lahiri John Irving John Kennedy O’Toole Jonathan Franzen Jonathan Lethem Jonathan Safran Foer Julia Alvarez Junot Diaz K. M. Soehnlein Leslie Marmon Silko Marilynne Robinson Marilynne Robinson Marisha Pessl Michael Chabon Ntzoke Shange Paul Auster Paul Auster Paula Fox Peter Cameron Philip Roth Philip Roth Richard Ford Richard Russo Sherman Alexie Beautiful Boy Americana The Secret History Bastard out of Carolina The Known World Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Typical American. The Women of Brewster Place A Thousand Acres A Visit from the Goon Squad The Namesake A Prayer for Owen Meany A Confederacy of Dunces The Corrections The Fortress of Solitude Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao The World of Normal Boys Ceremony Gilead Home Special Topics in Calamity Physics The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay Sassafrass, Cypress, and Indigo The New York Trilogy The Music of Chance Desperate Characters Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You American Pastoral The Human Stain The Sportswriter Empire Falls Reservation Blues Novel Novel Novel. Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Steven Millhauser. Sue Monk Kidd T. C. Boyle Thomas Pynchon Thomas Pynchon Tom Wolfe Toni Morrison Toni Morrison Walter Mosley Walter Mosley August Wilson August Wilson Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer The Secret Life of Bees The Tortilla Curtain Vineland The Crying of Lot 49 Bonfire of the Vanities Beloved Song of Solomon Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned The Man in My Basement Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom The Piano Lesson David Mamet Glengarry Glen Ross Tony Kushner Annie Proulx Jhumpa Lahiri Raymond Carver Sherman Alexie Angels in America Close Range: Wyoming Stories Interpreter of Maladies What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. The Long Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Novel Play Play Play Play Short Stories Short Stories Short Stories Short Stories Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary.