TOK Essay Summary Example For Students

TOK Essay Summary Symptomatic for how human beings convince themselves of the truth, the man resorts to the ultimate authority: himself. What he sees must be true. Unfortunately that source of knowledge is erroneous. To avoid the well-known limitations of our perception, illustrated by optical illusions, other factors influence ones senses, and their ability to tell the truth. Although such things as the Sixth sense and other intuitions have been argued to exist, the term, senses, has a physical root. As mentioned, emotions tend to color our perception of the world. Like alcohol, love affects the physical aspects of humans. We will write a custom essay on TOK Summary specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Besides serotonin,13 other hormones have increased activity in the brains perceptive judgment centers. In context to truth, it shows interpretations of observations can be distorted by perspective and other factors, such as emotions. Synthesis of information from any source without this tool of knowing is hard. How would it be possible to reason if necessary observations of premises cannot be made; to hear authoritative accounts; have emotional sensations without touch? It is relevant to ask if it is at all possible to know the truth; when no ways of knowing are impenetrable to error. Before jumping to conclusions, one could attempt to limit the spectrum where truth occurs: Truth is limited according to some given parameters. 14 These truth factors, however, better eliminate false statements than point out true ones: They filtrate less qualified guesses from better. The pragmatic theory is a down to earth approach where truth extends from reality: if something works in reality, then its true. This goes with the method of science: A hypothesis is established and tested under observation, thus mounting in a conclusive acceptance/rejection of the hypothesis validity. The theory gets support from such examples, since it is true that it works in reality. Nevertheless, its basis is inductive reasoning and perception, which are no guarantees of the truth. Peter could test the hypothesis that his wife committed adultery. In favor of the proposition, it coheres/corresponds to observations from reality: Phone-calls, noises, etc. Truth, however, doesnt follow logically. To claim so is invalid because the secret calls could be related to something else. 15 Truth is transparent. Knowledge isnt solely justified by factuality, because such is not entirely justifiable. 16 The gap between certainty and the hardly quantifiable reliability of a knowledge claim has to be compensated for by conviction/faith. 17 Peter, therefore, is left with different knowledge claims to be justified/rejected, and with the task of defining the truth-spectrum. In context to the prescribed question, the likeliness that a tool of knowing will deliver one the truth is in the end dependent on ones belief. It would be rather nice to conclude that the most likely way of knowing the truth is through perception, since people tend to put greater faith in own observations and seeing is believing, but tend is not finite. Truth is defined individually be assigning a belief to a truth subject. Hence the most likely way of knowing the truth is the one in which the belief is the greatest: most often that is perception. Even with untrue dogmatism, beliefs are flexible in the long- run, so one should keep challenging ways of knowing to move closer to truth. By the way, Peters wife was innocent. 1 This is similar to that implied by the prescribed question. 2 Socrates once said that it is in human nature to desire the truth. 3 This will be discussed later. 4 In fact, emotions can distort the other ways of acquiring knowledge. 5 In this book, Big Brother deliberately appeals to peoples emotions, in order to make them behave in a certain way. This is commonly known as propaganda. 6A psychologist would probably agree that we are slow to confront erroneous intuitions and get rid of them. 7 Reasoning can either be of an inductive or deductive nature. 8 I was once told this little story by my grandfather, a farmer, which is an excellent example in support of this idea: I had a herd of chickens cute little animals which had come to rely on that I would feed them at a certain time each day. .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 , .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 .postImageUrl , .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 , .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88:hover , .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88:visited , .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88:active { border:0!important; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 { 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; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88:active , .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 .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; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88 .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua49b5b16407df962a19aef0f8ed8ca88:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: TOk essay may 2009 topic 3Foolish of them to think that certain: Because one day I came with an axe instead of feed. Dont blind yourself. 9 Whether it is right or not to follow dogmatism is another question that arises, when knowledge reliance goes to such an extreme. 10 This book was written by the Nigerian author, C. Achebe. It is about how inflexible beliefs can bring about the downfall of man. Another knowledge issue. 11 Incas, Moslems, Buddhists, Christians, etc. 12Archaeologist exposed as fraud. BBC News, 2000. 2 Jan. 2008 ;http://news. bbc.co. uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1008051. stm;. 13 Serotonin is often used in medicine as an anti-depressant hormone: It makes people look more optimistic at the world. Too much of it, however, is highly toxic same with emotions and perception. 14 Those parameters are summarized in Richard van de Lagemaats TOK for the IB Diploma (Lagemaat, Richard. Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. ). They are divided into three theories: The correspondence-, coherence-, and pragmatic theory. 15 From what I have heard, she is planning a surprise birthday party for the man, who is turning 40. 16 At least as far as human intelligence can grasp. Many things are beyond human understanding, which, for me, invokes humility faced with the immense everything. 17 In the end truth is formed by beliefs.

Callus Essays - Cell Culture, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Callus

Callus Essays - Cell Culture, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Callus Callus is defined as an unorganized tissue mass growing on solid substrate. Callus forms naturally on plants in response to wounding, infestations, or at graft unions (Bottino, 1981). Since extensive callus formation can be induced by elevated hormone levels, tissue culture media designed to produce callus contain pharmacological additions of cytokinins and auxins. Callus formation is central to many investigative and applied tissue culture procedures. Callus can be multiplied and later used to clone numerous whole plants. Additionally, various genetic engineering protocols employ callus initiation procedures after DNA has been inserted into cells; transgenic plants are then regenerated from transformed callus. In other protocols callus is generated for use in biotechnological procedures such as the formation of suspension cultures from which valuable plant products can be harvested. Callus Formation Explants from several parts of large intact plants can be used to form callus. The most successful explants are often young tissues of one or a few cell types. Pith cells of young stem are usually a good source of explant material. Initially, callus cells proliferate without differentiating, but eventually differentiation occurs within the tissue mass. Actively dividing cells are those uppermost and peripheral in the callus. The extent of overall differentiation usually depends on the hormone balance of the support medium and the physiological state of the tissue. Callus Multiplication Actively growing callus can be initiated on culture media with an even physiological balance of cytokinin and auxin (Tobacco Callus Initiation Medium; Appendix E). After callus biomass increases two to four times (after 24 weeks of growth), callus can be divided and placed on fresh Tobacco Callus Initiation Medium for callus multiplication. Multiplication procedures can be repeated several times (up to eight sequential transfers) before gross chromosome instability (or contamination) occurs. Differentiation and Plant Regeneration Multiplied callus can be stimulated to form shoots by increasing the cytokinin concentration and decreasing auxin content of culture media (Tobacco Shoot Development Medium; Appendix E). Shoot masses can be cut apart and transferred to rooting medium. Once rooted, regenerated plants can be acclimatized to natural rather than "in vitro" growth conditions. Regenerated plants are especially valuable if the parent plant was itself unique or if the plants were genetically engineered. If, for example, multiplied callus was first used to form suspension cultures on which genetic engineering or cell selection was accomplished, resultant regenerated plants via tissue culture could possess special traits or capabilities. Materials and Methods Callus Formation (Bottino, 1981) 1. Obtain a 5-cm section of tobacco stem. 2. Cut off all leaves. 3. Immerse it in a beaker of 95% ethanol for 15 seconds. 4. In the laminar flow hood, expose the pith by cutting away epidermis, cortex, and vascular tissue with a sterile scalpel (Figure 9.5). 5. Slice the exposed length of pith into a sterile petri dish. 6. Cover the dish to keep pith sterile. 7. Aseptically slice 5-mm cross-sections of pith. 8. Transfer one cross-section to each plate of Tobacco Callus Initiation Medium. 9. Cover the dishes, seal with parafilm, and place in an incubator at 2225C. Callus Multiplication 1. Obtain a plate of tobacco callus. 2. Aseptically divide the callus into smaller pieces. 3. Transfer divided callus pieces to fresh Tobacco Callus Initiation Medium. When cultured in an appropriate medium having auxin and cytokinin, explants will give rise to an unorganized, growing and dividing mass of cells called callus. Callus cultures are initiated from a small part of an organ or tissue segment called the explants on a growth supporting solidified nutrient medium under sterile conditions. Any part of the plant organ or tissues may be used as the explants. At the time of callus formation, there is some degree of dedifferentiation happens both in morphology and metabolism. One of the major consequences of this dedifferentiation is that most plant cultures lose their ability to perform photosynthesis. The necessitates of the addition of other components such as carbon and vitamins source to the culture media, in addition to the unusual mineral nutrients. Morphology of callus: Callus varies considerably in appearance and texture, ranging from hard nodular cell masses to friable soft ones. They maybe white or creamish, orange, green either in whole or part as a result of chloroplast development. The shape of individual cells within the callus mass ranges from the near spherical or markedly elongated. A typical unorganized plant callus initiated from a new explants or piece of previously initiated calli has three stages of development. The induction of cell division. A period of active cell division during which

Amino Acid Phenylalanine Applications

Amino Acid Phenylalanine Applications Phenylalanine is an electrically neutral amino acid with the chemical formula C9H11NO2. This essential amino acid is one of 20 building blocks of proteins in humans. Due to its benzyl group, phenylalanine is hydrophobic. Since its discovery in 1879, phenylalanine has been studied for its antidepressant and analgesic effects. The synthesis of phenylalanine is complex and does not occur in mammals. The metabolism of phenylalanine produces various hormones and neurotransmitters. Genetic mutations can result in several disorders relating to the metabolism of phenylalanine. This report will identify the biological importance of the amino acid phenylalanine by examining its history, uses, metabolic pathways and disorders, and biological synthesis. Discovery and History Schulze and Barbieri discovered phenylalanine in plant sprouts in 1879. The researchers extracted phenylalanine copper salts from Lupinus Zuteus seedlings, which were refined to isolate phenylalanine (â€Å"L-Phenylalanine ,† n.d.). Before 1940, research on phenylalanine did not describe its biological metabolism during the formation of tyrosine. Womack and Rose showed the essentiality and dependence on phenylalanine in the diet of rats. Dietary intake of tyrosine in the rats was deemed nonessential. Evidence from the trials proved that phenylalanine is the precursor of tyrosine, but phenylalanine cannot be synthesized from tyrosine (Matthews, 2007). The discovery of the codon of phenylalanine was a significant breakthrough in determining the relationship between messenger ribonucleic acid and protein production. In 1961, Matthaei and Nirenberg repeatedly inserted uracil nucleotides into E. coli bacteria, producing long phenylalanine peptide chains. The researchers deduced that the codons for phenylalanine include UUU and UUC (â€Å"Phenylalanine,† 2009). In the 1960s, a more efficient method of phenylalanine production resulted in the large-scale fermentation of phenylalanine. This metho d was incorporated into the nutritional supplement and drug industries (â€Å"L-Phenylalanine,† n.d.). Phenylalanine supplements are currently used to treat depression, chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, and vitiligo (â€Å"Supplements with Similar,† n.d.). Since 1981, aspartame has been used as a food additive in Canada. Aspartame degrades through metabolism and digestion to form phenylalanine. Phenylalanine has recently been under intense scrutiny due to its elevated levels in aspartame, and the occurrence of phenylketonuria (â€Å"Aspartame,† 2005). Importance and Uses Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid in the diet of humans. Mammals cannot form benzene rings, therefore limiting the biosynthesis of phenylalanine in humans (Kretchmer & Etzwiler, 1958). Phenylalanine is important in amino acid metabolism and the synthesis of structural proteins in tissue. The concentrations of phenylalanine control the amounts of other electrically neutral amino ac ids in the brain (Humphries, Pretorius, & Naude, 2007). Phenylalanine is an essential building block for many hormones and neurotransmitters. Phenylalanine is converted into DOPA, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, phenylethylamine, and phenylacetate (Humphries et al., 2007). Depression can be treated with phenylalanine medication. Treatment of oral and intravenous application of deprenyl plus phenylalanine has significant antidepressant action (Birkmayer, Linauer, Riederer, & Knoll, 1984). While many natural health and nutritional companies claim D-phenylalanine is effective in chronic pain reduction, clinical studies have determined no significant analgesic results (Walsh, Ramamurthy, Schoenfeld, & Hoffman, 1986). L-DOPA, a molecule composed of a phenylalanine base, has been used as a symptom repressor in Parkinson’s disease for over fifty years. In 1967, Cortzias showed in his report on Parkinson’s disease, that L-DOPA has a noteworthy rehabilitative quality in reducing rigidity and akinesia (McDowell & Lee, 1970). The major problem of Parkinson’s disease is lowered levels of dopamine in the brain due to trauma or dysfunction of dopaminergic cells. Administered L-DOPA is able to cross the blood-brain barrier for conversion into dopamine, thus increasing dopamine levels (â€Å"Oxidation of L-dopa,† 2002). Current research suggests that phenylalanine administration along with ultraviolet radiation aids in vitiligo patients. The phenylalanine absorbs the radiation resulting in slight pigmentation changes in the skin (â€Å"Supplements with Similar,† n.d.).

Water shortages at Jordan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Water shortages at Jordan - Essay Example Almost 70% of all water is used for agricultural purposes and less than 30% is consumed by people (Jordans Water Shortage, 1998). Overall, this issue requires immediate response not to get worse. This problem requires complex approach and collaboration of people, government and even countries that border with Jordan. First of all, the government develops the water management model to make sure that the supply of water is growing and the demand is decreasing. Second, strategic relationships with Israel and Syria make sure that Jordan is backed up by its neighboring countries. Moreover, investments into existing water supply infrastructure strengthen the position of the country and avoid exploring new resources of water which is quite costly for the country. Finally, the country maintains clear data about water consumption on its territories in order to see how the above-mentioned activities influence on the situation with water shortage in Jordan. Government, local people and activists seem to be involved in the issue; they control their water consumption and support governmental

Legislative Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Legislative Analysis - Essay Example 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which establishes a federal cap-and-trade program to reduce GHG emissions (Key Provisions for Climate Legislation). GHG Emission the United States of America produces and emits a significant portion of GHG and helps developing Global warming throughout the world. It is estimated that of the total energy use Homes account for about 35% of the potential efficiency gains while the industrial sector accounts for 40% and the commercial sector 25%. Of the total emission of GHG in USA, California emits a robust figure of GHG. California produces roughly 1.4 percent of the world's and 6.2 percent of the total U.S., greenhouse gases (California Climate Change Portal). The state has been working on and finding solutions of impacts towards people due to climate since 1988. The executive order of 2005 issued by Arnold Schwarzenegger on climate change kicked into high gear to further advance clean renewable energy and other solutions to lower our state's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Again, most importantly, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 established the first-in-the-world comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of GHG. Provision has also been framed to prevent the unscrupulous trend of the polluters. To this end, the Act reveals that Polluters would balance out some of their emissions by purchasing carbon "offsets," which are official certificates that greenhouse gas emissions have been avoided or taken out of the air The provision of setting up a New Clean Energy Deployment Administration is certainly a wise decision to monitor and improve the overall situation. Recommendations and Concluding Remarks The biggest opportunity to improve US energy situation is a major investment program to make homes and businesses more efficient. An investment of $520 billion in improvements like sealing products and replacing inefficient appliances could produce $1.2 trillion in savings on energy bills by 2020(Galbraith, 2009). If such a program can be carried out over the next decade, the country could save around 23 % of total energy use. However, to improve the existing situation further notice on the Act and undertaking following actions are necessary. The Senator/ Government should rightly consider about the Act so that U.S. climate policy become successful in both reducing GHG emissions and addressing the cost concerns of consumers. Efforts should also be made so that framing necessary legislation is possible that reduces GHG emissions 80 percent below current emissions levels by 2050, while providing strong, effective consumer-protection measures to help reduce electricity price increases as we transition to a low-carbon future. Provisions should be made to allocate emissions allowancesto the electric power sector that will help toreduce price increases to all electricity customers-large and small, rural, urban, and suburban-without compromising environmental gains. Again, necessary steps should be undertaken to provide some allowances to that Merchant coal generators to help mitigate price increases in wholesale electricity markets. There is nothing denying that setting reasonable and

Good essays Essay Example for Free

Good essays Essay First, the author introduced and explained the parts of an essay. A typical essay usually contains introduction, body and conclusion. But good essays are more than just mere writing. Good essays, even though they are short perform different operations such as introducing the arguments, analyzing data, raising counter arguments, and concluding. The author also mentioned the background material which often appears at the beginning of an essay. It is usually between the introduction and first analytical section. There are also some cases when the background material appears near the beginning of the relevant section. On the other hand, it is also helpful to think about those questions that readers might ask other than the parts of an essay. First is the â€Å"what† question which demonstrated the truth of your claim. For your readers to answer this question, your evidences in your essay must be clear. Next most important question is â€Å"how†. Answering this question will add to the credibility and truthfulness of the essay. Lastly, answering the â€Å"why† question allows the reader to understand the essay is a larger context. It also explains the significance of the essay. Failing to answers this question will make the readers feel that the essay is unfinished. Meanwhile, structuring an essay is another important skill that a writer should have. It means examining your thesis and anticipating what the readers need to know. It is also predicting the sequence that will convince your reader to believe in your argument. The easiest way to do this is by mapping essay’s ideas in a narrative form. The first step in mapping an essay is stating your thesis. Developing a thesis Developing a thesis is not that easy. It is not a topic, nor a fact, nor an opinion. A good thesis cannot be answered by yes or no. A good thesis should tell the readers what you plan to argue and should telegraph how you plan to argue. There are several steps in constructing a thesis. First, you should analyze your primary source. Find out whether there are tensions, ambiguity controversy or complication in your primary sources. Once you already have a thesis in mind, write it down immediately. By doing this, you will be forced to think of it clearly, logically, and concisely. After you’re done with the thesis, you should keep it prominent in your introduction and anticipate any counter arguments. To be able to write a good thesis, a writer should know what a thesis is. A thesis is never a question but an argument. A question alone is not considered as a thesis. It should have a definable and arguable claim. A thesis should also be clear and specific as possible. Avoid general term and abstraction that will confuse the readers. It is not also a list. And the most important thing to remember is that it should never be vague, combative and confrontational. Beginning the Academic Essay There are steps to follow to begin an essay. Any writer should follow these steps because the beginning of an essay is very crucial. The first step is to introduce the essay. This part will tell the readers what the essay is about. Next step is to focus the essay. Aside from introducing the topic, the readers should know the central issue. Next, you should orient your readers. It means providing information and explanations which is necessary for their understanding. It is very important in the entire essay but most crucial in the beginning. The writer should also decide about the length and the order of the essay. It is very important to decide the length of the essay according to the complexity of the issue. There are also strategies on how to write an opening for an essay. First is the history-of –the –world or long distance opening. The goal of its long opening is to establish a context for the essay. The other one is the funnel opening which starts with a broad or general topic and will end with a more specific one.

The Origin of Gender Roles Essay -- Essays Papers

The Origin of Gender Roles The root of all gender issues which presently exist in society may be traced back to The Creation Story in Genesis. This crucial chapter of the Bible provides evidence supporting that God intended for man and woman to exist as equals, yet he assigned gender roles once Adam and Eve disobeyed him by eating the fruit from the forbidden tree of good and evil. Thus, men have been characterized as the â€Å"breadwinners† and women as â€Å"child bearers and housekeepers† since the beginning of humanity. The story of Lilith as Adam’s supposed first wife suggests Adam took on a patriarchal role from the beginning, yet Lilith refused to accept his assumed superiority. She initially challenges him, and then leaves him; she represents a rebellious, yet independent woman. Although these two stories on the first man and woman are significantly different, the two convey that men and women have been trapped in certain roles since the beginning of time, and have always had a power struggle between them. Gender issues have not evolved over time; they have always existed. â€Å"Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man† (Gen. 2:22). The order of human creation in Genesis calls into question whether it was intended for a hierarchy to exist between genders. Since Eve is created from Adam’s rib, and as his helper, it is argued she is created merely to support him, and that she derives from him. These claims have connotations of inferiority. However, other evidence in the Bible proves God did not intend for man to be put above woman. He created both in his image, from the earth, and with the intention they would come together to form one flesh. Therefore, sinc... ... patriarchal text. It argues for women’s presence in the Bible, and deeply explores the stories of prominent female biblical characters. Swidler, Leonard. Biblical Affirmations of Woman. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Westminster Press, 1979. Swidler compares the status of women from the biblical period to that of women from the post-biblical period. The author also evaluates the positive and negative aspects of Jewish and Christian biblical traditions, yet puts more effort into exploring the positive elements of the biblical tradition as far as women are concerned. The Bible. This is the King James Version which is most commonly used and analyzed. It is the core to many religions, and narrates the stories of all prominent biblical figures from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding Essay

‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding describes a group of schoolboys’ means of life when they become stranded on a desert island after a plane crash which killed all other passengers and crew, with only vast jungle and sandy shores around them. During their unusual experience, one of the main characters – Ralph – learns thing about himself and the others that no other twelve year old would ever imagine. With â€Å"a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no evil†, Ralph seems the laid-back sort, confident and trustworthy. Although when he first meets Piggy, another schoolboy, this all changes and the immaturity of a typical child of his age shines through. When finding out that his new friend used to be nicknamed ‘Piggy’ as a result of his short and fat appearance, â€Å"he dived in the sand at Piggy’s feet and lay there laughing.† Ralph thinks of Piggy as a paranoid wimp, and relishes in the fact that they have a whole island to roam around on, with no grown-ups to tell them what to do. Piggy, however, instantly realises the severity of what has happened, and panics at the thought of the future: â€Å"We may stay here till we die.† As far Ralph is concerned, the island is paradise. He is glad when he meets Jack, another one of the bunch of schoolboys with an obsession for hunting, but who is out to have fun on the island. Things get off to a good start, but when their new way of life descends into disaster, Ralph’s relationship with Piggy grows as it comes clear that Piggy is actually a very wise person, and Ralph’s relationship with Jack turns to rivalry, Ralph finds himself having to grow up quickly and reinforce his position as leader to restore civilisation – a fast fading luxury: â€Å"We need an assembly. Not for fun†¦..but to put things straight.† When Jack becomes fed up with Ralph’s rules and leadership tactics, he decides to break away from the crowd and forms his own tribe of ‘hunters.’ By this point Ralph grows aware that trying to persuade them to stay with his tribe, he is fighting a losing battle, and discovers that he may not be as good a leader as he thought he would be: â€Å"Only, decided Ralph as he faced the chief’s seat, I can’t think. Not like Piggy.† The death of Simon, a quiet, subdued fellow schoolboy, really disturbs Ralph, as he faces up to reality. Simon’s death was a consequence of Jack’s tribe getting overexcited about â€Å"the beast† and was a mistaken identity case involving the beach, many spears, and a chorus of youngsters wildly chanting â€Å"Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in!† The realisation of the awfulness that occurred affects all of the boys not in Jack’s tribe, and in a moment of sheer alarm, Ralph almost snaps: â€Å"That was murder.† Piggy, now the most faithful and loyal friend Ralph has left on the island, can’t bear to even think about it, let alone discuss it: â€Å"You stop it! What good’re you doing walking like that?† By this time, the relationship between Ralph and Jack has deteriorated so much that bitterness from power-possessed Jack is all that is left. By the end of the novel, it is clear that the relationship between Ralph and Jack has no amiability in it whatsoever. The power and authority that Jack enforces over his tribe portrays him as a king to the reader: â€Å"Power lay in the brown swell of his forearms; authority sat on his shoulders and chatted in his ear like an ape.† After Simon’s untimely death, Jack and his tribe seem somewhat unaffected by what they have done, and become even more uncivilised, to the extent that they cause another shocking and unexpected death. Piggy is killed by a rock that Roger pushes over the edge of the cliff, near the beach. This event shows just how disconnected with reality Jack and his tribe have become, and now Ralph is on his own. His only friend’s death has made him now completely alone and so vulnerable. Ralph feels like he is the only one left with any sense of the real world. The shock of what has happened since they first explored the island scares Ralph and fear of the future kicks in. â€Å"These painted savages would go further and further. Then there was that indefinable connection between himself and Jack; who therefore would never let him alone; never.† Jack discovers that Jack and his tribe are planning to kill him the next day, and now survival is the only thing that matters to Ralph. Realisation of his desperate situation comes to Ralph when he is told by one of the twins â€Å"Listen, Ralph. Never mind what’s sense. That’s gone.† A lonely, terrified, weak and exhausted Ralph wakes the next day to noises of every other child on the island hunting him down. They set fire to the island and eventually locate Ralph, and then the chase begins. Ralph reaches the end of island, and the end of his sanity. He literally runs into a naval officer and recognition of everything hits the twelve year old. Shock of the circumstances is all too much for Ralph to bear, and he falls to his knees and breaks down. â€Å"Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of a man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.† Ralph takes responsibility for the chaos and collapse of civilisation, as he believes that if he had been a better leader, none of this would have happened. He realises just how far things can go when there is no order imposed, and that he alone couldn’t change that. Throughout the novel, Ralph makes a journey towards self-discovery, and witnesses behaviour no other person, like the naval officer, would believe if he explained them. His relationships with the other two main characters influence the horrific events that took place on the island, and at the end of ‘Lord of the Flies’ Ralph sees that man can lose all sense of civilisation when no rules and order are in place.

Re-Entry and Its Effects: Institutional and Post Release Essay

Abstract Reentry is a challenge many offenders face once they are incarcerated and released into society. The term â€Å"reentry’† is a synonym for return and is defined as the act of going back to a prior place, location, situation or setting. Prison re-entry refers to the transition of offenders from prisons or jails back into the community. The concept of life in society is an important part of any reintegration of institutionalized people, including people who have been incarcerated for committing a crime. The institutionalization of a population leads to isolation, segregation and detachment of the elements of a company defining the basis of citizenship. Although individuals often returning to the community focus more on the choice of where they dwell, their long-term success in society is more likely to be dependent on the social roles they have chosen to play, to the extent that they will engage in the community and they have been prepared for this purpose during their incarceration or institutionalization. Reentry can help reduce recidivism as well as assist those who have been previously incarcerated to begin leading law abiding lives once released into society. However, overtime the importance of prisoner reentry has been drastically lowered with less emphasis on helping those to prepare for their release and with post release community integration. As a result, the shortage of reentry programs and limited responsibility of probation or parole to assist in re-entry; the rate at which people return to prison or jail is high. Keywords: reentry, recidivism, institutionalization Re-Entry and Its Effects: Institutional and Post Release Those who are incarcerated do not only serve time inside their prison cell, they also serve time once they are released. There are many barriers that one faces once they are released such as they are denied the right to vote,  access to public assistance, ineligible for food stamps and/or subsidized housing, and some cannot even apply for financial aid. The main problem revolving around those returning home from incarceration is the limited access to rehabilitation and assistance. The Second Chance Act of 2007 was passed on April 9, 2008 and became Public Law 110-199. The Second Chance Act provides a second chance to those reentering society from incarceration. It helps people released from prison turn their lives around and encourages employers to give returning citizens a second chance to contribute to the greater good of the local economy. In this paper I would like to I would like to point out the positive effects of successful reentry and its ability to lower recidivism. I will also discuss the Second Chance Act in further detail, which was created to provide funding for reentry programs. I will further discuss the roles of Probation and Parole and propose how their roles can be shifted to enhance successful community reintegration. I will finally explain how American values and ideologies play a significant role in resolving the issues behind reentry and the obstacles that prisoners are facing through their difficult journey to successful reintegration. Literature Review What is reentry and why is it important to society? Reentry is the process by which one is incarcerated, finishes his or her sentence and is released into society. They are either released because their sentence has been fulfilled, or on parole or probation. If reentry is unsuccessful, the prisoner will usually return to prison, this action is defined as recidivism. Recidivism can be determined by the number of prisoners being released from incarceration into society and then returning to prison. Recidivism is usually identified through arrest, reconviction, or incarceration of those who have reentered society. When released from prison, inmates who enter society are a very unstable group. Hence the reason for the problem of the reentry process as well as its programs. According to Taxman, Young and Byrne the reentry programs should include three or more phases designed to transition the inmate into the community. The first phase would begin in the institution with service delivery congruent with the inmate’s needs. The second phase would begin as the inmate is released from the institution. The inmate’s risks and needs may change significantly as he or she enters the community context. Ideally, the individual would continue in treatment services and case plans would be updated as needed. The final phase is an aftercare or relapse prevention phase where clients would receive ongoing support and services to address their needs (Taxman et al. 2003) The problem with reentry begins with the Corrections part of our Criminal Justice System. While inmates are incarcerated they receive treatment for any health issues as well as various programs to help them upon release. However, the problem with the programs is that they are not being reassessed to determine whether or not they had an impact on the offenders’ risk of future criminal behavior. This process should begin once the offender returns into the community and also while they are under supervision. The results of the reassessment should then guide any changes within the offenders’ treatment plan as well as determine the effectiveness of the programs for future inmates or offenders’. The Second Chance Act of 2007 was created to reauthorize the grant program for reentry of offenders into the community in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. It was created to improve reentry planning and implementation and for other purposes as well. The act was introduced on March 20, 2007 by House Congressional representative, Danny Davis of Illinois. The act further had ninety-two (92) co-sponsors and was simultaneously introduced in the Senate by Joseph Biden of Delaware. After a little over a year in the House and the Senate, the Second Chance Act of 2007 was finally signed into law on April 9, 2008 by President Bush as Public Law No. 110-199. There are several purposes for the creation of this act. The act was created to break the cycle of criminal recidivism, increase public safety and to better address the growing population of criminal offenders returning to society. It was also created to rebuild the ties between offenders and their families which will in turn promote stable families. The Second Chance Act will further expand the availability of substance abuse facilities, alternatives to incarceration and comprehensive reentry services. The Second Chance Act of 2007 will further protect the public and promote law-abiding conduct by providing the necessary services to offenders while  they are incarcerated and after they reenter the community. It will finally provide offenders in prison, jails, or juvenile facilities with educational, vocational, literacy and job placement services to facilitate a more effective and productive reentry. The Second Chance Act of 2007 highlights all the main areas where reentry is currently lacking. It will create a healthy environment, allowing the prisoner to have a chance at successful reentry. It will also reauthorize adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry projects as well as improve residential substance abuse treatment for state offenders. The Second Chance Act of 2007 will offer several new reentry initiatives. It will create state, local and tribal reentry courts. Further, it will create drug treatment alternatives to prison, and offer grants for family-based substance abuse treatment. It will further provide grants to evaluate and improve education at prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities and technology career training. This will break down the long standing barriers to successful reentry. The act will further provide the much needed steps to assure public safety and recovery. Some were skeptical to pass the Second Chance Act because they stated that not enough research has been done on what works with reentry. In response, Representative Jones of Ohio stated, â€Å"We can’t study anymore. We have studied. There are all kinds of studies that have shown that community reentry works. There are all kinds of programs that say diversion works. And there are a lot of young people out here who don’t have a mother or father that is a judge or prosecutor or congresswoman or a state representative to call and say I am a good person. They need us to say in the world that young people, older people, whatever their age, who have been involved in the criminal justice system, paid their dues. They need a chance and we ought to give them the second chance† (Congressional Record, 2007). Ones views of criminal justice come from their values and ideologies. Although America can be seen as a very lenient country as far as their values, people do have very strong feelings towards crime, criminals and prisoner reentry. American values include work ethic, personal responsibility, family, individual equality and the goodness of humanity.  Americans see themselves as individuals who are different from all other individuals. They consider themselves as separate individuals who are responsible for their own actions and situations in life (Key American Values). Americans further believe that everyone is of equal value. Americans assume that human nature is basically good and that those who have motivation can achieve any goal set. Finally, Americans have a strong value with regards to work. They admire those who work hard and achieve. A hard worker is one who â€Å"gets right to work† on a task without delay, works efficiently, and completes the task in a way that meets reasonably high standards of quality (Key American Values). Although there are many perspectives that involve criminal justice, the main values of the American society revolve around the issues of reentry. People believe that individuals must be held responsible for their actions. Many individuals believe that there is no way anyone could repay their debt to society after committing a crime. They further feel that those who have been incarcerated have an option to live good lives and achieve their goals but instead choose the easy way out. It is unfortunate that many Americans do not see the realities of society and the realities of the environments that many of the offenders returning home from prison came from and unfortunately will probably be returning to. There are two main ideologies in America; conservatives and liberals. Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Liberals believe in governmental action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all, and that it is the duty of the State to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights (Conservatives vs. Liberal Beliefs, 2013). Although Conservatives and Liberals differ immensely, there are those people who are on the borderline of both ideologies. Many Americans hold a prejudice against criminals based on their label. However, regardless of a persons’ values or ideologies, America’s view on criminal justice has shifted over the years. The shift has almost created the mind set of many Americans. The belief that punishment is necessary and that the only way that punishment  can be achieved is through incarceration. Analysis The roles of Probation and Parole are to supervise the offenders once released into society. Probation and parole was designed as an alternative to prison overcrowding. It was merely based on the idea that people can change and will stop their frequent, dysfunctional behavior if given the correct opportunity. This ability to change in conjunction with community safety, allow appropriate offenders to be monitored while showing that they can be productive members of society. Probation and parole officers’ roles in regards to reentry are to assist, supervise and ensure that this does occur with each offender. In most cases they help offenders find housing, jobs, as well as provide structure and support for rehabilitation. While doing so, they are to protect communities by monitoring each offender through meetings, random home and work visits, and sometimes using a global positioning system also knows as a GPS device which tracks an offenders every move. All of the information they obtain regarding each offender, especially any violation of probation, is reported to the courts to then decide whether or not to revoke probation and send the offender to prison. Recommendations Based on my research of the proposed topic of prison reentry, I personally believe there are several ways we could improve the process as well as our programs. First I think we should evaluate and reassess what is working and what is not working. Prisoners who are receiving treatment should continue their treatment even after they are released into society. The programs that are administered to inmates while incarcerated should be reevaluated so we can determine if they really are effective. Based on my research, it seems as if we offer programs to the inmates while incarcerated but once released into society they pretty much on their own. We leave it up to them to make the transition from jail or prison to society. We should be with them every step of the way and offer more assistance for them to rebuild their lives. This is part of the reason why the revolving door exist with some inmates. The help and encouragement should begin while incarcerated. Then once released into society through probation or parole, it’s up to those officers to assist the offender in rebuilding their life. They should  spend time actually getting to know the offender, communicating with the regularly, help them find a job and a place to call their own. Conclusion The federal government recognized and acknowledged the problem of reentry due to efforts such as the Second Chance Act of 2007. This act aided in the implementation of several programs and foundations that would assist in reentry. Hopefully, over a period of time data and research will be collected to evaluate the effectiveness of each program. This data should start once the offender enters the program while incarcerated until they are released into society and under supervision. This data will then allow the country as a whole to develop a successful model to be used in aiding the difficult transition from incarceration to society. Many of those who are currently incarcerated are young, non-violent, first time offenders who make stupid mistakes and deserve a second chance. As stated within this paper, there are various reasons why prison reentry is important to our criminal justice system as well as society. It’s up to us to acknowledge this ongoing problem and do what it takes reduce recidivism and do what it takes to prepare inmates before they are released into society. As stated by Representative Norton from the District of Columbia, â€Å"inmates are now coming home, let’s not make it any worse than it was in condemning them disproportionately under the cocaine guidelines. We owe it to their communities to help them return and become good citizens† (Congressional Record, 2007). References Visher, Christy A. and Jeremy Travis. (2003) Transitions from Prison to Community: Understanding Individual Pathways. Annual Review Sociology. Vol. 29, 2003, pp. 89-113. Harrison, Byron and Robert Carl Schehr. (2004). Offenders and Post Release Jobs: Variables Influencing Success and Failure. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2004, pp. 35-68 Key American Values. 1994-1995. Retrieved from online on April 2014 http://www.umsl.edu/~intelstu/Admitted%20Students/Visitor%20Handbook/keyvalues.html Congressional Record – House, (2007) Retrieved from online on April 2014 http://beta.congress.gov/congressional-record/2007/11/13/house-section/articl

204 Week 1 Individual Paper Essays

Cja/204 Week 1 Individual Paper Essays Cja/204 Week 1 Individual Paper Essay Cja/204 Week 1 Individual Paper Essay Criminal Justice System CJA/204 July 25, 2011 Criminal Justice System Crime is a part of society’s daily routine. Crime can directly affect a person, place, or any witnesses of the said incident. Crime is defined as â€Å"conduct in violation of the criminal laws of the state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction, for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse. † (Defining Crime, 2011) Crime is usually categorized as either a property or personal crime. Personal crimes include crimes of violence such as murder and robbery. With a personal crime you will have a perpetrator and a victim. Property crimes are just that, crimes against a piece of property where there is no use or threat of force against a person. The most common crime types are violent crimes, white collar and corporate crime, organized crime, and victimless crime. The first line of defense against crime lays with law enforcement personnel. Law enforcement is the first part of what makes up our criminal justice system. The criminal justice system has three main components including police, courts, and corrections. Police have an unending battle against crime, drugs, and other forms of social dysfunction. The police main duty is to protect the public; however the relationship between law enforcement and the public community is sometimes troubled. Some of the duties of law enforcement are to investigate law violations, gather evidence, make arrests, solve crimes, and then assist with the successful prosecution of suspects. Upon the law enforcement officer making an arrest the case is then presented to the court system. The district attorney office handles most cases of the criminal nature, besides some misdemeanor crimes such as minor traffic violations. Law enforcement usually develop a good working relationship with their local district attorney’s office which promotes quality officer related testimony and helps to lead to the successful prosecution of suspects. All suspects however are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Additionally, the accused have certain rights that must be adhered to. The include the right to speedy trial, the right to legal counsel, the right against self incrimination, the right not to be ried twice for the same crime, the right to know their charges, the right to have witnesses cross examined, and the right against excessive bail being placed. The court system is where an accused person is either convicted of the accused crime or found not guilty. There are many different levels of courts in the United States, but they all dispense justice and help en sure that officials in the justice system follow the law when conducting their duties. There are two types of courts that operate in our justice system including state courts and federal courts. Federal courts handle violations of federal law while state courts handle crimes against the state. The state has two different types of court proceedings, one being a trial court and the other an appellate court if an appeal is filed. The federal court system consists of United States district court, U. S. Court of Appeals, and the U. S. Supreme Court. The court system usually consists of a prosecuting attorney, a defense attorney, an unbiased judge, and occasionally a jury who renders a verdict for if a jury trial was elected. Upon a conviction in either the state or federal court system, the defendant is then processed into the corrections department of the criminal justice system. For federal crimes the convicted will be placed in a federal correctional institution and in state institutions for crimes against the state. Once a person has been arrested, tried, and sentenced, the correctional process begins. America’s correctional system includes jails, prisons, parole, probation and other forms of sentencing imposed. The corrections department is also responsible for the care and safety of the inmates that they house. Correctional officers are the correctional system’s front line. They are responsible for the supervision and safety of all housed inmates. This task can be very demanding and risky. Correctional officers have to deal first hand with violent offenders, some of whom are serving life sentences and do not worry about repercussions from an incident with a correctional officer. Upon completion of a sentence, an inmate is released back into society under the supervision of a parole officer. This officer is responsible for keeping track of the individual and ensuring compliance of any probation requirements. If an individual on probation violates any form of their parole it usually results with them being sent back to prison. This can prove to be a constant cycle with some individuals who can not adapt and conform to society. The criminal justice system is ultimately responsible for the prosecution and confinement of criminals, the upholding of state and federal laws, and the equal rights to accused suspects with a right to a fair trial. The system is responsible for the rehabilitation of convicted criminals and to reinsert them back into society when appropriate while monitoring their progress. For many, this cycle is constantly repeating itself and causing America’s justice system to become over populated and back logged resulting in the lack of appropriate case handling and prosecution of some individuals. Unless there are drastic changes to today’s justice system, this trend will continue. Reference Defining Crime. (2011). Retrieved from http://media. pearsoncmg. com

Theories and Principles that Govern Ethical Decision Making in Research Paper

Theories and Principles that Govern Ethical Decision Making in Medicine - Research Paper Example the systematic inquiry into man’s moral behavior with the purpose of discovering the rules that ought to govern human action and the goods that are worth seeking in human life†. These ethical standards governing the existence of human life also encompass the realm of medical entities. This essay is written to present the underlying theoretical concepts and principles governing ethical decision making in the field of medicine. In addition, it aims to determine the ways in which conflicts of interest inherent in various financial and organizational arrangements for the practice of medicine can pose threats to the medical professionalism. There are basically five underlying theoretical framework for ethical decision making in the medical profession, to wit: deontological theory (what one must do, based on duties and obligations), teleological theory (the purpose or consequences of the moral acts), consequentialist theory (the moral value of an act, rule or policy is to be found in its consequences, not in intentions or motives), virtue ethics (seen in the way we feel is the ‘right’ way to behave towards patients and to colleagues) and casuistry (or case based reasoning, does not focus on rules and theories but rather on practical decision-making in particular cases based on precedent). (Slowther, et.al. 2004) Slowther, et.al. (2004) averred that â€Å"Beauchamp and Childress’ Four Principles approach is one of the most widely used frameworks and offers a broad consideration of medical ethics issues generally, not just for use in a clinical setting†. These principles are: â€Å"(1) respect for autonomy: respecting the decision-making capacities of autonomous persons; enabling individuals to make reasoned informed choices), (2) beneficence: balancing benefits of treatment against the risks and costs; the healthcare professional should act in a way that benefits the patient, (3) non maleficence: avoiding causing harm; the healthcare professional should not

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - Essay Example L&D of employees gives them the required motivation to continue working in the organisation. Therefore, it is important to note that employee L&D initiatives aim at capacity building which essentially translates to higher performance and increased efficiency. Organisations are required to meet set targets and remain focused on their vision and mission and a skilled and knowledgeable workforce bridges the gap between targets and achievements. This paper will look into L&D strategies in organisations, methods of L&D and leaning styles and models at work. L&D strategy in organisations L&D strategies are vastly used by managers to manage the different talents within an organisational setting while building a culture of development. In order to accomplish these successfully, determination of employees’ development needs is essential. A great deal of learning within an organisation occurs as employees interact with one another and the management needs to encourage this development. Peer coaching programs can be of assistance where skills are transferred from one employee to the other. Formal mentoring approaches can also be initiated so as to attain specific development objectives and they include needs assessment, program design and management, mentor and mentee and evaluation programs (Wilton 2010). Learning groups can also be used where peers come up with specific goals to achieve which are embedded in a practical structure. Leadership development skills can also be imparted through learning groups where a senior member of staff brings forth discussions on real scenarios in the workplace. These groups use case studies, presentations and problems solving discussions among others in order to enhance understanding of concepts. Tasks at the workplace can also serve to boost employee skills acting as on-the-job learning. A good L&D strategy needs to have certain elements one of them being a sound L&D philosophy which entails a clearly defined structure which L&D initiatives should follow. Secondly, aims of the L&D strategy should be well spelt out in order to facilitate direction of organisation’s energy and resources. Priorities for L&D also need to be put forth so as to give sequence of events (Mayo 2004). The strategy should also include transferring of responsibilities bestowed on senior management to lower ranking staff. It is important to note that learning is both formal and informal as briefly highlighted above. Informal learning is quite relevant to employee needs while formal one is relevant to needs of some people and not others. Informal learning involves taking care of individual needs while formal teaches the same things to all irrespective of unique needs. Informal learning is learner centred while the other is trainer centred (Clifford and Thorpe 2007). Informal learning is easily transferable while the formal one is at times hard to apply. Formal learning is predominantly in the work setting while formal one happens elsewhere. Organisational learning enhances good management skills thereby facilitating management development. Organisational learning interrelates with learning culture which ensures that all employees are continuously learning as they work. In order to develop a working culture an organisation should have a vision that is shared by all. It should endeavour to empower employees through policies, behaviour expectations and ceding as much responsibility as possible to facilitate growth in decision making skills (Clifford and Tho