How to Write a Novel Using The Three-Act Structure

How to Write a Novel Using The Three-Act Structure How to Write a Novel Using The Three Act Structure The three-act structure is perhaps the most common technique in the English-speaking world for plotting stories - widely used by screenwriters and novelists. It digs deep into the popular notion that a story must have a beginning, middle, and end, and goes even further, defining specific plot events that must take place at each stageIn this post, we dissect the three acts and each of their plot points - using three-act structure examples from popular culture to illustrate each point.Let’s begin! In three, two, one... How to write a novel using the ever-popular three-act structure. What is the three-act structure?How to Outline a Novel: an Author's Guide (with Template) Read post The three-act structure is just one way to think about a story, so writers shouldn’t feel limited. The benefit of using the three-act structure is that it will help ensure that every scene starts and end with a clear purpose and direction. Even if you don't start outlining your novel with it, if you find yourself struck by pacing issues, it's often useful to fit your story into the three-act structure to see why that might be.Have you written a novel using the three-act structure? Leave any questions or thoughts on this popular plotting method in the comments below!

Facts About Soft Coral (Octocorals)

Facts About Soft Coral (Octocorals) Soft corals refer to the organisms in the class Octocorallia, which includes gorgonians, sea fans, sea pens, sea feathers, and blue corals. These corals have a flexible, sometimes leathery, appearance. Although many resemble plants, they are actually animals. Soft corals are colonial organisms, which means they are formed of colonies of polyps. The polyps of soft corals have eight feathery tentacles, which is why they are also known as octocorals. One way to tell the difference between soft corals and hard (stony) corals is that the polyps of hard corals have six tentacles, which are not feathery. Here are some stony coral characteristics, with some of the key differences with soft corals identified: They have polyps that secrete a cup (calyx or calice) in which they live. The polyps of soft corals usually have feathery tentacles.They may harbor zooxanthellae, algae that live within coral polyps and can produce brilliant colors. Others may be colored by bright pink, blue or purple pigmentation.They may contain spikes called sclerites, which are made of calcium carbonate and protein, and are located within a jelly-like tissue called coenenchyme. This tissue lies between the polyps and contains canals called solenia, which transport fluids between the polyps. In addition to providing structure to the coral and protection from predators, the shape and orientation of the sclerites can be used to identify coral species.They have an inner core made out of a protein called gorgonin.They may have a variety of shapes, including fan-like, whip-like or feather-like, or even leathery or encrusting. Classification Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: CnidariaClass: AnthozoaSubclass: OctocoralliaOrders:Alcyonacea (the horny corals, also known as the gorgonians, sea fans and sea feathers)Helioporacea (blue corals)Pennatulacea (sea pens) Habitat and Distribution Soft corals are found worldwide, primarily in tropical or subtropical waters. Soft corals do not produce reefs but may live on them. They may also be found in the deep sea. Feeding and Diet Soft corals may feed during the night or day. They use their nematocysts (stinging cells) to sting passing plankton or other small organisms, which they pass to their mouth. Reproduction Soft corals can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Asexual reproduction occurs by budding when a new polyp grows out of an existing polyp. Sexual reproduction occurs either when sperm and eggs are released in a mass spawning event, or by brooding, when only sperm are released, and these are captured by female polyps with eggs. Once the egg is fertilized, a larva is produced and eventually settles to the bottom. Conservation and Human Uses Soft corals may be harvested for use in aquariums. Wild soft corals may also attract tourism in the form of dive and snorkeling operations. Compounds within the tissues of soft corals may be used for medicines. Threats include human disturbance (through humans stepping on corals or dropping anchors on them), overharvesting, pollution, and habitat destruction. Examples of Soft Corals Soft coral species include: Dead Mans Fingers (Alcyonium digitatum)Sea FansSea Pens Sources and Further Reading GBR Explorer. Soft Corals. ReefED.NOAA. Coral Anatomy and Structure. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program.Simpson, A. 2009. Reproduction in Octocorals (Subclass Octocorallia): A Review of Published Literature. Version 16 July 2009. In Deep-Sea Corals Portal.South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Octocoral Morphology.Tan, Ria. 2008. Soft Corals. Wild Fact Sheets.Wet Web Media. The Soft Corals, Order Alcyonacea; Use In Marine Aquariums.

Issues And Features Of The Audit Process Term Paper

Issues And Features Of The Audit Process - Term Paper Example Independent auditing is encouraged in organizations in order to protect the potential investors and shareholders from any misrepresentation of the financial statement or fraudulent claims that are often made in the public companies (Gray and Manson, 2008: 98). Moreover, after the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) introduced in 2002, the appointment of the independent auditor becomes mandatory for improving the auditing and accounting procedure. Many organizations are seen to appoint independent auditors, who are certified public accountants, responsible for checking their business transactions and financial records, yet not being affiliated with it (Singleton, T.W., and Singleton, A.J., 2010: 13). However, independent auditing is seen to suffer from a large number of threats such as intimidation threat, trust or familiarity threat, advocacy threat, management threat, self-review threat and self-interest threat. Therefore, safeguarding the independence of the auditors becomes a major area of c oncern. This report focuses on the safeguards for the independence of auditors. Safeguards to save the Independence of the Auditors On recognizing the significant threat of independence in the auditing process, the organization must decide on some safeguards in order to save the auditors. Some of the approaches that are considered by organizations are as follows: Mandatory rotation in the auditor: In a case where an external auditor is serving a particular client for many years, they often end up building relationships with their clients, which make them less skeptical about their work than that they would have been otherwise. The SOX Act has made it mandatory for the public company, who is the partner-in-charge, to rotate their auditors, at least every five years. However, for non-public companies, there are no such requirements for rotation of auditors.

Political Influence and Legal Issues of Google Glass (To include Research Paper

Political Influence and Legal Issues of Google Glass (To include economics and considerations) - Research Paper Example There has been increased hype across the invention and launch of Google glass in the technological sector. The pros and cons of the highly innovative design of the wearable computer are being evaluated by critics as well as the consumers. Major political and legal issues are likely to arise out of the launch of this device in the market. Analysts have raised the question of Google Glass becoming a technological device that can be misused to invade the privacy of people as well as create infringements in intellectual properties and patents. This research report aims to study and evaluate the political, legal and economic impacts of this new invention by Google Inc. The major objectives of the report are to answer the following questions: An effective and justified research methodology should be followed to ensure the preparation of a robust research report. Secondary data collection follows a process in which data is collected from different recorded information gathered and monitored by the different companies, academic organizations, business people, academicians and scholars. In this report, secondary research is extensively done because the Google Glass is new product to be launched in the market and a number of people are writing articles about the product. The research methodology in this research report follows the collection of secondary data from different journals, articles and academic and company websites. The research methodology includes a theoretical review of the different works proposed by scholars regarding the connection between privacy issues and technological innovations. Also, emphasis is given on analysing the findings from the secondary research regarding the political, legal and economic imp acts of the Google Glass. The potential threats related to the launch of the Google Glass from the privacy and infringement of intellectual property rights are discussed and evaluated. The research is concluded by the presentation of suitable

The CSI Effect Essay Example for Free

The CSI Effect Essay Many T. V shows come on and influence the public that the things that take place on these shows are real. There is Law in Order SVU, 24, Bones and our favorite CSI that make people think that countless cases are open and close do to outrageous finding of DA traces. The CSI Effect is a theory that criminals are getting smarter. These shows give out numerous tactics on how many cases are cracked and suspects are arrested. The CSI Effect also results in various hang juries and miss trials due to lack of evidence. The jury is starting to need more evidence, because the influence they have from watching these television shows. I have seen a show on television called CSI Miami. On this particular show, there was a murder-taking place with no clue at all, on who committed the crime. They had recovered some DA, but there were no past data to make a match on a suspect. The detectives had someone in question on who it might be but no evidence to hold him to the crime. Out of nowhere, one of the detectives on the case was talking to the man in question and somehow saw up his nose a dot of blood no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence. He then grabbed a q-tip and told the man to stand steal while he dug up his nose to retrieve the DA. The DA sample was too small to test, so they sent it out to the FBI who has a glucose blood enhancer to stretch the DA enough to run the match. Of course, the DA was a match. The show then goes off and another bad person offs the street. This story is what is changing the minds of criminals and way of thinking. Criminals are starting to clean their tracks. Detectives are closing in on criminal and finding that they are cleaning the whole crime scene. Once entering a house the place is washed down in bleach to cover all traces of DA. Some rapist are wearing condoms and making their victims take baths to clean off all traces of the criminal’s DA. Criminals are also taking extra measures to wear gloves and masks so they cannot be seen or leave any fingerprints. They are taking more precaution on having an alibi stating they were never around when the crime took place. The theory is that criminals are watching these shows and learning on how to maintain a criminal life style without being locked up. These shows are making the police jobs much harder to apprehend suspects. Another default with this CSI Effect is that it is making the courts harder the sentence criminals. Juries are starting to want more evidence from prosecutors and DA matches to prove the defendant’s guilt. There was a case with two detectives shot and killed in an undercover gun deal. On the evening of March 10, 2003, two New York Police Department detectives, James V.  Nemorin and Rodney J. Andrews, were shot and killed in an unmarked police car while attempting an undercover purchase of a Tec-9 assault pistol on Staten Island. The case was significant not just because two officers had died but because the man who was eventually charged with the murders, Ronell Wilson, faced the possibility of becoming the first person in more than fifty years to be executed for a crime in New York State. The government’s theory was that Wilson, who was with an accomplice in the back seat of the car, shot the detectives during a robbery attempt. Among the evidence retrieved from the crime scene were hundreds of hairs and fibres, and prosecutors enlisted Lisa Faber, a criminalist and the supervisor of the N. Y. P. D. crime lab’s hair-and-fibre unit, to testify at Wilson’s trial, last winter. Under questioning in Brooklyn federal court, Faber said that she had compared samples of fabric from the detectives’ car with fibres found on gloves, jeans, and a baseball cap that Wilson had allegedly been wearing on the night of the crime. The prosecutor asked Faber to describe the methods and equipment she had used to make her analysis. Then she asked Faber what she had found. â€Å"My conclusion is that all of those questioned fibres could have originated from the interior of the Nissan Maxima, from the seats, and/or the backrests,† Faber said. She added that in her field â€Å"the strongest association you can say is that ‘it could have come from’ † the source in question. Faber’s testimony was careful and responsible—and not very significant. She could not say how common the automobile fabric that she had examined is, or how many models and brands use it. Nor could she say how likely it was that the fabric from the car would show up on Wilson’s clothes. Faber used no statistics, because there was no way to establish with any precision the probability that the fibres came from the detectives’ car. DNA tests had proved that blood from one of the detectives was on Wilson’s clothes, and based on this fact, as well as on testimony from his accomplice and from Faber, Wilson was convicted and sentenced to death. â€Å"Given how much evidence they had in the case, I wasn’t crucial,† Faber told me. The prosecutors liked the idea of fibre evidence in addition to everything else. Maybe they thought the jury would like it because it was more ‘CSI’-esque. †(thecsieffect) The fibres could have come from a different car and was not enough proof to prove the case, but due to the television show like CSI and others. The jury thought of the evidence as an open and shut case. Later on there was a sur vey taking asking were the decision that the jury gave influence by CSI and most of the jury said yes. This was a case were the prosecutors took a gamble and won. Most cases do not end like this. Most case there is not enough evidence to back up the case. The CSI Effect is only a theory, which means there are not enough facts to back up this case but enough intelligence for some facts to stand. For every sentence that is handed out because of evidence pointing in the direction of guilty, another case is a not guilty verdict due to lack of evidence. Some may say that television hit show CSI is the cause, but some may say that it is not the case. I say, with great detective work and as much evidence that one can gather, this CSI theory would not even be up for debate.

Societys Beliefs Revealed in Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong Essay

  Society's Beliefs Revealed in Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong  Ã‚   One steamy, humid afternoon in 1961 the first United States helicopter landed in Vietnam dispensing immature boys onto the soggy marshlands. Some would return to that same helicopter one day, whether it be wrapped in a poncho about to be taken to the morgue, lying strapped to a stretcher about to report to the hospital, or standing tall holding their heads high because they were about to return to their homelands. Tim O'Brien, one of the returning solders, put together short stories pertaining to the war and how he viewed it as well as the America's society. While reading O'Brien's stories, it would be more effective if the reader applied the New Historicist Approach taking in to consideration his and American society's beliefs, habits of thought, and biases about concepts during the 1960s. Afterwards the true image of women in combat will be revealed, the mocking of deceitful war stories, and the guilty feelings of the returning solider. Women of the 1960s usually took the role of being a mother to her children, innocent child to her parents, and a delicate possession to men. In "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong," O'Brien describes Mary Anne Bell, a female Greenie in the making, as being: "This cute blonde-just a kid, just barely out of high school...wearing white culottes and this sexy pink sweater" (90). Through the text it is easy to uncover the direct feelings of women. The words in which O'Brien uses to describe Mary Anne, makes it sound as though she is too delicate and precious to be in a place such as Vietnam during war. Not only does this express in certain terms how O'Brien feels about women in the war, it also can be related to the thoughts of A... ...rs were feeling remorse for their behaviors; in the United States various protests against the American soldiers killing innocent people were in progress at the same time. All together, "The Man I Killed" can too be related historically to the numerous protest that were being held all over the country because of the deaths of innocent people in Vietnam. O'Brien's allows his text to represent the thoughts of his views as well as the American view about guilt felt soliders, women in combat, and his distaste of those that deceitfully create war stories. If these connections are not apparent it is must easier once the historicist approach has been applied because it allows one to decipher the thoughts of a particular society at that time frame. This is because it is almost as if the author soaks in the feelings of that time to express how society should operate.   

Prejudice in Mr. Sumarsono Written by Roxana Robinson Essay

Stereotype is a largely false belief, or set of belief, concerning the characteristics of the members of a racial or ethnic group (McLemore, 1983). Stereotype may be positive or negative in mind which is based on limited and minimal knowledge about a group of people. Incomplete information, mistaken perceptions, isolation and segregation have resulted many stereotypes. Viewing of a person with oddity based on the stereotype will limit what we expected and how we respond to them. Prejudice is an unfavorable attitude towards people because they are members of a particular racial or ethnic group. Discrimination is unfavorable action towards people because they are members of a particular racial or ethnic group. (McLemore, 1983). These both are negative manifestations of integrative power. A prejudiced person may not act on their attitude. Therefore, someone can be prejudice towards a certain group but not discriminate against them. Also, prejudice includes all three components of an attitude (affective, behavioral and affective), whereas discrimination just involves behavior and involves some actions. Prejudice and stereotyping parallels attitudes and opinions or beliefs (Stroebe & Insko, 1989) Prejudice also sustains stereotype, while stereotype is a generalization or interpretation toward a person or group of some physical, behavior, belief or other factors. For a 10-year-old girl, she must have got a first bad impression to a stranger, especially a foreigner. She spontaneously thought that someone newbie in another country is a kind of alien with different skin, face structure or another physical body. In that point, this attitude includes a racial stereotype which provokes a prejudice side. Roxana Robinson is a biographer and scholar of nineteenth and early twentieth century American art. She graduated from Buckingham Friends School, in Lahaska, and from The Shipley School, in Bryn Mawr. She attended Bennington College and studied with Bernard Malamud and Howard Nemerov. She received a B. A. degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan. Roxana Robinson is the author of the four novels Cost, (2008) Sweetwater, (2003) This Is My Daughter, (1998) and Summer Light (1988); the three short story collections A Perfect Stranger, (2005) Asking for Love, (1996) A Glimpse of Scarlet, (1991) and the biography Georgia O’Keeffe: A Life, (1989). Mr. Sumarsono is listed as one of the best American Short Stories at 1994. Statement of Problems: 1. Why do Susan and her sister give bad impression toward Mr. Sumarsono? 2. Why did Mrs. Riordan welcome Mr. Sumarsono warmly? 3. What is the cultural aspect of this short story? What is the connection with it? Discussion Mr. Sumarsono is a worker in UN which involved many Western people in it for a long time. Because of the environment, he tried to adapt the style like an American. According to the story, both daughters of Mrs. Riordan, Susan and Kate, with Mrs. Riordan herself fetched Mr. Sumarsono in a Trenton Station in New Jersey and they saw him for the first time with bad impression and underestimate toward Mr. Sumarsono. However, at that time, he was clothed as an American businessman. â€Å"Mr. Sumarsono was wearing an neat suit and leather shoes, like an American businessman, but he didn’t look like an American. The suit was brown, not gray, and it had a slight sheen. And Mr. Sumarsono was built in a different way from Americans: he was slight and graceful, with narrow shoulders and an absence of strut. † (Page 265 line 1) â€Å"Kate and I stood next to my mother as she waved and smiled. Kate and I did not wave and smile†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Page 265 line 11) In this case, it proved that both sisters didn’t like and give bad thought for Mr. Sumarsono because they didn’t know who actually Mr. Sumarsono was, since Mr. Sumarsono had an Asian figure with pale brown skin. Besides, there were few Indonesian that came to America, or else almost never. Mr. Sumarsono was the only Indonesian who arrived in New Jersey. â€Å"It was 1959, and Mr. Sumarsono was the only Indonesian who got off the train in Trenton, New Jersey. † (Page 264 line 25) Next on, the displeasure of the sisters continued until they were in way home. They were acting like they didn’t need a middle-aged Indonesian in where were they belong to. Moreover, they avoided the lunch time which their mother prepared for them and Mr. Sumarsono. And also, they showed an impolite attitude toward Mr. Sumarsono in the table. â€Å"We were going to watch the mallard nesting, and I hope we didn’t have to include a middle-aged Indonesian in leather shoes†(Page 267 line 1) â€Å"Dev-il,† Kate said, Speaking very loudly and slowly. She pointed at the eggs and then put two forked finger behind her head like horns, Mr. Sumarsono looked at her horns. (Page 269 lines 25) Another evidence occurred at the dinner time when Susan saw her mother wearing a pink dress. She thought her mother’s dress was overlooked just for dinner with a stranger who can not understand their language. â€Å"I was irritated to see that she had put it on as thought she were at a party. This was not a party: she had merely gotten hold of a captive guest, a complete stranger who understood nothing she said. † (Page 270, line 12) Although they kept underestimate him, they were quite surprised that Mr. Sumarsono wasn’t someone like usual Asian guy they were thinking about. He was different in presence. Not only the appearance of him but also his gesture was shown when they were already at home. Somehow, The stop! gesture was making the sisters wondering what makes that Indonesian was different. This gesture is shown by Mr. Sumarsono when he tried to prevent his suitcase as Susan offered to pick up upstairs. â€Å"What struck me was the grace of his gesture. His hand extended easily out cuff and expose a narrow brown wrist, as narrow as my own. When he put his hand up in the Stop! gesture, his hand curved backward from the wrist, and his fingers bent backward from the palm. Instead of the stern and flat-handed Stop! that an American hand would make, this was a polite, subtie, and yielding signal, quite beautiful and infinitely sophisticated, a gesture that suggested a thousand reasons for doing something, a thousand ways to go about it. †(Page 267 line 13) On the other hand, Mrs. Riordan was greeting him cheerfully. She showed an excessive behavior since Mr. Sumarsono decided to spend his weekend in New Jersey. Furthermore, he stayed in Riodan’s as well. Mrs. Riordan tried to catch attention from Mr. Sumarsono. Apart from being dressed in pink, she treated him as best as she can. â€Å"Oh, I’m glad we’re having rice! † she said suddenly, pleased. â€Å"That must make Mr. Sumarsono feel at home. † She looked at me. (Page 273 line 7) She also thought that Mr. Sumarsono was far from his family and being lonely, Mrs. Riordan conclude that he was missing them and she tried to give something that Mr. Sumarsono would feel like he came back to the warm atmosphere when a family was gathered supposed to be. It is shown when Mrs. Riordan asked Mr. Sumarsono to show his wife and children photograph. She saw a strange condition on Mr. Sumarsono with complicated and unfinished look when she asked and he even wanted to take a picture with them. â€Å"The poor man, he must miss his wife and children. Don’t u feel sorry for him, thousands of miles away from his family? Oh, thousands. He’s here for six months, all alone. They told me that at the UN. It’s all very uncertain. He doesn’t know when he gets leaves, how long after that he’ll be here. Think of how his poor wife feels. † (Page 272 line 24) As from the both sisters misjudged all about Mr. Sumarsono and what they have done, they thought that they would feel ashamed, instead of underestimating him. Their prejudice has made them blind to not know who actually Mr. Sumarsono was. Beside it was from their mother, they also felt embarrassed him because they can not be an appropriate hostess to him while Mr. Sumarsono showed his unruffled courtesy. Although Mr. Sumarsono couldn’t speak English well and only responded all Mrs. Riordan and her daughters with simple nodded and smile, at least he knew what attitude he supposed to do when he was visiting people’s house in other country. â€Å"I was embarrassed not only for my mother but also for poor Mr. Sumarsono. Whatever he had expected from a country weekend in America, It could not have been a cramped attic room, two sullen girls, voluble and incomprehensible hostess. I felt we had failed him, we had betrayed his unruffled courtesy, with our bewildering commands, our waving forks, our irresponsible talk about lizard. I wanted to save him. I wanted to liberate poor Mr. Sumarsono from this aerial grid of misunderstandings. † (Page 274 line 24) This story is pertaining aspect of prejudice side. Therefore, prejudice has both cognitive and affective components. Affective component is the positive or negative attitude or feeling while cognitive component contains stereotypes. Stereotypes are beliefs about people based on their membership in a particular group. Stereotypes can be positive, negative, or neutral. Stereotypes based on gender, ethnicity, or occupation are common in many societies. Stereotypes often results from, and leads to, prejudice and bigotry. The reasons appearing of stereotype is variable, It occurs When people encounter instances that disconfirm their stereotypes of a particular group, they tend to assume that those instances are atypical subtypes of the group. Second, People’s perceptions are influenced by their expectations. And last, People selectively recall instances that confirm their stereotypes and forget about disconfirming instances. As a branch from stereotype, prejudice is a destructive phenomenon, and it is pervasive because it serves many psychological, social, and economic functions. It allows people to bond with their own group by contrasting their own groups to outsider groups. Conclusion This short story which Roxana wrote showed about an experience of Indonesian immigrant who visited and spent the weekend at one of New Jersey’s families, Riordan’s house. Based on discussion above, it is described that the two daughters, Susan and Kate had first bad impression toward Mr. Sumarsono as a strange foreigner. This signs that their attitude showed the prejudice aspect of the racial differences. References Robinson, Roxana. Asking for Love: Mr. Sumarsono. New York: Random House. 1996. Print University of Colorado, USA. Prejudice and Discrimination. http://www. colorado. edu. 1998 (Access Date: Wednesday, May 02, 2012) Anonim. Roxana Robinson Biography. http://www. roxanarobinson. com. (Access date : Wednesday, May O2,2012) Sparknotes editor. Social Psychology. http://www. sparknotes. com. 2007(Access date: Thursday, May 03 2012).

12 Angry Men The Film Essay

In reviewing the film 12 Angry Men, I have identified many types of influence tactics being utilized by the jurors. The five tactics that I believe were most used in this film were; reason or rational persuasion, coalition building, ingratiation, inspiration and pressure. Although there were several jurors throughout the film who may have demonstrated similar tactics at various times, it is my opinion that the majority of the influencing throughout the deliberation came from juror #8. I do believe there were other jurors that attempted to influence with the same amount of tenacity, however, their tactics were less affective as proven by the outcome of the deliberation and verdict decided by the jury. As the jury begins their deliberation very early on in the film, a discussion takes place where it becomes apparent some of the jurors are speaking as though it will be a quick one which will result in a guilty verdict. When the first vote takes place and juror #8 is the only one to vote â€Å"not guilty†, he begins to demonstrate some of the influence tactics discussed above. I believe that juror #8 himself demonstrated reasoning, coalition building, ingratiation and inspiration tactics. He reminded the other jurors that he was not necessarily saying that the boy was not guilty, however, he did not believe the evidence was strong enough to take away reasonable doubt that possibly the boy didn’t commit the crime. He insisted that they all review the evidence and discuss it in more detail. He was reasoning with the other jurors and stating a fact about what they should be basing their vote on. It is clear that juror #8 was exhibiting effective rational persuasion by pres enting factual information, making very clear, specific, and relevant points. Reasoning is the most commonly used influence tactic in general as well as the most commonly used tactic in this film. Once juror #8 was able to convince a few of the other jurors to also question the evidence, they started to build a coalition where multiple individuals were now also challenging the guilty verdict and some of the evidence. This may not have necessarily been a conscience decision to form a coalition, as one may see with a typical example such as a union, however, the simple fact that there were now several individuals all aligned on a decision seemed to be enough to allow others to explore additional scenarios and feel  comfortable questioning the evidence. There were also times in the film where juror #8 gave credit to another juror and made him feel like their opinion really mattered. When juror #8 told juror #9 that he had a right to be heard and asked that he explain why he thought the old man would be lying is an example of the ingratiation influence tactic. Although this wasn’t outright flattery as a more pointed example of ingratiation might be, telling someone their voice counts is enough to boost their self-esteem and could result in influencing their decision to side with the person using the ingratiation tactic. Lastly, it seemed apparent that most of the jurors in that room whether they were at a point where they agreed with the not guilty verdict or not, seemed somewhat inspired by juror #8’s willingness to stand alone for what he believed was the right thing to do. Taking a lone stance in the beginning of this deliberation and continuing to question the evidence to induce discussion is something that I believe the other jurors admired. Throughout the film, juror #8 continues to demonstrate leadership characteristics by challenging the status quo and never losing control of his emotions. He never seemed to be taking a stance for any personal reasons, he never demonstrated any prejudice and he came across very authentic. This influence tactic, although not intentional, can be described as inspiration. Juror #3 is the loudest and most adamant juror in favor of a guilty verdict along with juror #10. Juror #3 grows increasingly angry throughout the film as other jurors begin to change their vote from guilty to not guilty. Throughout the film he can be seen using the pressure influence tactic, attempting to strong-arm, threaten and intimidate the others into agreeing with him. He used an aggressive tone and an unnecessary high volume when speaking to the group. This type of tactic may work well in environments such as military basic training, along with a legitimacy tactic, but not amongst peers or in situations where the person doing the pressuring does not possess any real authority or pose any real threat to the group. There were no real consequences for the other jurors to be forced to succumb to juror #3’s pressure tactics. At one point in the discussion, the foreman states, ‘All of this fighting is getting us nowhere’. It is my opinion that this statement couldn’t be further from the truth. For juror #8 to take a jury of 11 men believing the boy is guilty to having every one of those 11 men eventually change their decision based on the discussion he ignited shows that all of the ‘fighting’ or discussion was very necessary and actually did result in a different outcome because of the issues that were brought out during the conflict. In most cases where the stakes are high, discussions are necessary to ensuring that all of the facts are laid out. To demonstrate specific examples of where discussion was impactful to the deliberation, a few key scenes can be sited. One of the first scenes where the audience can see this shown is when juror #8 asks to see the knife that killed the man. During the trial it was stated that this was a rare switchblade and when juror #8 produces a very similar knife that he picked up from a store in the same neighborhood as the father and son, doubt is now starting to settle in with some of the other jurors which then causes them to reconsider their position. Other key scenes where their disagreements resulted in a robust discussion that ultimately swayed juror’s decisions include a re-enactment of the old man getting out of bed to witness the boy running out of the apartment. Without a full on debate, they would have never figured out that this was actually impossible to do in the 15 seconds that the old man said it took. In another scene the jury also discussed the old woman’s testimony that she saw the murder take place through the el train. If they had not gone through this in detail and figured out that she actually wore glasses and couldn’t have seen the assailant very clearly, some jurors would have still been convinced that the only eye witness did in fact see the boy murder his father. These extremely important details were discovered through a robust discussion or conflict and were absolutely pertinent in the ultimate decision to acquit the boy in the murder. Works Cited Edrogen, T. B. (2013). Organizational Behvavior v1.1. Flatworld. Rose, R. (Director). (1957). 12 Angry Men [Motion Picture].

Multicultural education Essays

Multicultural education Essays Multicultural education Essay Multicultural education Essay At the sound of multicultural education being discussed in the whims and conversational buzzes of educational conferences, it is assumed that it is defined as incorporating various cultures in the curriculum to create a respect and understanding for people of various cultural backgrounds. However, there has been an increase in the diversity of bi-/multiracial individuals such as Black/Caucasians or students who have a German/Chinese/Puerto Rican background. When multicultural education is implemented through a minimum of holidays, and heroes or customs, foods, music, and dance, what does multicultural education mean for bi-/multicultural students? What culture(s) do they embrace? Is it fair for teachers to assume that they would embrace their culture(s)? Not only is there a racial mix between black and white, but between Asians, Latinos, Native Americans, and South Asians. Interracial marriages are accounting for 5% of all marriages (Phinney Alipuria, 1996). There are some issues that may transcend across interracial groups. There is a need to understand how a multiracial individual identifies himself. Does he identify with one race more than the other or both and why? Does he identify with an ethnic group at all? An individuals social environment and physical appearance plays a major role in shaping ones identity. The focus of multicultural research has been mostly on biracials who are part Caucasian and part African-American. It has been perceived as mostly a black-white issue and the experiences of those in between have been greatly ignored. There has been a lack of research on biracial Latinos (ex. Puerto Rican-Chinese) and their experiences with multicultural educational in school. More importantly, what umbrella term do multiracial individuals fall under? Furthermore, there have been national Latino agencies such as the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) that have supported multicultural education but denounced the multiracial movement to include a multiracial category to the Census. NCLR strongly believed that a multiracial category would take away funding and power from the United States Latino population. Currently, the multiracial movement has been able to pressure the Census Bureau to allow the U.S. population to check multiple boxes in the Census 2000. There are multiracial organizations such as webzine Interracial Voice, A Place for Us, Project RACE, Famlee, and the Multiracial Activist, that have actively worked towards the full acknowledgment of Americas multiracial population; in addition to being able to acknowledge their full identity instead of part of their identity. The increase of multiracial activism has coupled with the increase in the diversity of biracial individuals. Not only is there a racial mix between black and white, but between Asians, Latinos, Native Americans, and South Asians. Interracial marriages account for 5% of all marriages (Phinney Alipuria, 1996). There are some issues that may transcend across interracial groups. One important issue is how a multiracial individual identifies himself. Does he identify with one race more than the other or both and why? Does he identify with an ethnic group at all? Phinney and Alipuria (1996) found that the individuals social environment and physical appearance played a major role in shaping ones identity. In addition, they noted that it is important to understand the ethnic makeup of the multiracial individual and assess which ethnic group is more willing to accept a multi-faceted identity. These are crucial points to consider when a teacher is constructing a multicultural curriculum based on mainstream customs, foods, music, and dance. A multicultural student who embraces both or one identity may encounter a problematic experience in going through such a curriculum. For instance, take a student who appears African-American, but is actually half Black and half Puerto Rican. There are no other Latinos in class and few African-American students. In addition, the student would have a non-Latino surname and would completely miss out on learning integral portions of his Latino heritage if a teacher assumes that she has no Latino students in class. Inclusion of multicultural education units based just on class race composition would hinder the students chances on learning about his entire identity. On the other hand, a broadly conceptualized multicultural education program would facilitate and enable the teacher to appropriately address cultural topics in the classroom as they would also be a part of the general educational experience. In accordance with this study and contrary to previous research, Phinney and Alipuria (1996) found that multiracial students were found to be able to take advantage of their ethnic background and engage in intergroup relations (Phinney Alipuria, 1996). Multiracial students were found to be the key people to bridge the gap between ethnic groups who would have never interact socially on their own (Phinney Alipuria, 1996). Furthermore, multiracial students were more ethnically androgynous and less ethnocentric than their monoethnic counterparts (Phinney Alipuria, 1996). Therefore, this trait allowed multiracial students to be open to cultures other than their own. In turn, this facilitates instruction for the teacher as multicultural students may serve to set the example for open-minded, critical learning. For instance, Flores-Gonzalez (1999), found that Latinos who are of mixed national origin were more likely to adopt a panethnic term that would be more inclusive of various Latino identities rather than a monoethnic term that would just claim a single Latin American national origin. Most of this research paints a promising future for multiracial people in society. However, there is a lack of research done on Latino multiracial students and their interaction with multicultural curriculums. Furthermore, higher education deals with issues that are totally on a different level from elementary and high schools. Issues such as affirmative action, special support programs, and scholarships for specific ethnic groups are to name a few. For instance, if a student is biracially black and white and raised in a white suburb, s/he might be less inclined or encouraged to take advantage of black academic support services or black student organizations on campus. This may be problematic when the student may actually need support through his/her academic career; especially if s/he is not embraced by the black population on the campus or does not feel welcome in utilizing black support services. Politically, the multiracial ideology has received various lashes from all sides. Spencer (1993) believes that the multiracial concept is redundant to the various ethnic populations that inhabit America due to various forms of racial mixing that occurred at the beginning of the twentieth century, such as rape. Furthermore, Spencer (1993) believes that if there were a multiracial category, it would be unnecessary for multiracial individuals to also identify themselves with a specific ethnic group(s). On the other hand, Fernandez (1992) believes that Mexican Americans have been able to successfully complete these tasks. Mexicans in the United States are aware of their mestizo heritage, and throughout history accepted racial ambiguity and mixture as normal' (Fernandez, 1992, p.139). Overall, Fernandez (1992) believes that Latinos, particularly Mexican, are key people to increase Americas awareness in regards to multiracial identity and the various facets of this concept. Therefore, Latinos would be more inclusive of the multiracial identity than then general population, due to their mestizaje and their everyday experiences. Whereas, a person, who is part Polish and part Anglo, would cater to their Polish identity on a situational basis that is consistent with the cultural dynamics of their living environment (Waters, 1990). Overall, multiracial individuals are key people to serve in leadership roles because they are more likely to be responsive to a variety of constituents rather than a specific group. Psychologically, multiracial individuals most definitely possess a positive well-being and are more likely to be open-minded. In a society where race is such an important underlying factor among everyday politics and news, I believe it will be refreshing to see a multiracial leader transform oppressing ideologies of race and ethnicity as well as the conservative thought facing multicultural education. The eradication of oppressing ideologies is a difficult challenge but it is one that is welcomed with dignity by the multiracial population.

Presidential Appointments Requiring Senate Approval

Presidential Appointments Requiring Senate Approval What a compliment! The President of the United States has named you to fill a top-level government position, maybe even a Cabinet-level job. Well, enjoy a glass of bubbly and take some slaps on the back, but dont sell the house and call the movers just yet. The president may want you, but unless you also win the approval of the U.S. Senate, its back to the shoe store on Monday for you. Across the federal government, nearly 1,200 executive-level jobs may be filled only by individuals appointed by the president and approved by a simple majority vote of the Senate. For new incoming presidents, filling many, if not most, of these vacated positions as quickly as possible represents a major part of their presidential transition process, as well as taking a significant portion of time throughout the remainder of their terms. What Kind of Jobs are These? According to a Congressional Research Service report, these presidentially-appointed positions requiring Senate approval can be categorized as follows: Secretaries of the 15 Cabinet agencies, deputy secretaries, undersecretaries, and assistant secretaries, and general counsels of those agencies: Over 350 positionsJustices of the Supreme Court: 9 positions (Supreme Court justices serve for life subject to death, retirement, resignation or impeachment.)Certain jobs in the independent, non-regulatory executive branch agencies, like NASA and the National Science Foundation: Over 120 positionsDirector positions in the regulatory agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration: Over 130 positionsU.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals: About 200 positionsAmbassadors to foreign nations: Over 150 positionsPresidential appointments to part-time positions, like the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System: Over 160 positions Politics Can Be a Problem Certainly, the fact that these positions require the approval of the Senate poses the possibility that partisan politics may play a critical role in the presidential appointment process. Especially during times when one political party controls the White House and another party holds a majority in the Senate, as was the case during the second term of President Barak Obama, Senators of the opposition party are more likely to try to delay or reject the president’s nominees. But There are ‘Privileged’ Nominations Hoping to avoid those political pitfalls and delays in the presidential nominee approval process, the Senate, on June 29, 2011, adopted Senate Resolution 116, which established a special expedited procedure governing Senate consideration of certain lower-level presidential nominations. Under the resolution, over 40 specific presidential nominations- mostly assistant department secretaries and members of various boards and commissions- bypass the Senate subcommittee approval process. Instead, the nominations are sent to the chairpersons of the appropriate Senate committees under the heading, â€Å"Privileged Nominations – Information Requested.† Once the committees’ staffs have verified that the â€Å"appropriate biographical and financial questionnaires have been received† from the nominee, the nominations are considered by the full Senate. In sponsoring Senate Resolution 116, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) stated his view that because the nominations were for â€Å"noncontroversial positions,† they should be confirmed on the floor of the Senate by â€Å"unanimous consent†- meaning they are all approved at the same time by a single voice vote. However, under the rules governing unanimous consent items, any Senator, for himself or herself or on the behalf of another Senator, can direct that any particular â€Å"privileged† nominee be referred to Senate committee and considered in the usual fashion. Recess Appointments: The Presidents’ End Run Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution gives presidents a way to at least temporarily bypass the Senate in making presidential appointments. Specifically, the third clause of Article II, Section 2 grants the president the power to â€Å"fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.† The courts have held that this means that during times the Senate is in a recess, the president can make appointments without the need for Senate approval. However, the appointee must be approved by the Senate by the end of the next session of Congress, or when the position becomes vacant again. While the Constitution does not address the issue, the Supreme Court in its 2014 decision in the case of National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning ruled that the Senate must be in recess for at least three consecutive days before the president can make recess appointments. This process, popularly known as â€Å"recess appointments,† is often highly controversial. In an attempt to prevent recess appointments, the minority party in the Senate often holds â€Å"pro forma† sessions during recesses lasting longer than three days. While no legislative business is conducted in a pro forma session, they ensure that Congress is not officially adjourned, thus blocking the president from making recess appointments. Presidentially Appointed Jobs With No Senate Needed If you really want to work â€Å"at the pleasure of the president,† but don’t want to have to face the scrutiny of the U.S. Senate, there are more than 320 other high-level government jobs that the president can fill directly without the Senate’s consideration or approval. The jobs, known as PA, or â€Å"Presidential Appointment† jobs pay from about $99,628 to about $180,000 per year and offer full federal employee benefits, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Islamic banking Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 19500 words

Islamic banking - Dissertation Example These research findings show that both bank managers/staff and customers perceived that there is less awareness of Islamic banking products/services. The respondents could not distinguish the difference between conventional offerings and Shariah compliant offerings; thus, they are not motivated to have an Islamic banking account. Their primary reason of using the Islamic banking is not related to profitability or religion, but it is on the perception that the system is rewarding for the life hereafter. This paper reflects two important implications. First, Islamic banks must increase customer awareness on the product/service offerings of the system through advertising in the real world and through the Internet. Second, it should increase its number of network and distribution channels to gain competitive advantage and allegiance by disseminating Islamic banking information. This research will be of interest to both conventional and Islamic banking in the Muslim and non-Muslim countri es. This paper provides fresh results on the level of awareness of Islamic banking in the UK and Saudi Arabia. 1. Introduction 1.1 Background Information Islamic banking is the new representation of financial system and it is also one of the fastest growing industries in the global financial market. It is also considered as the best solution during financial crises and credit crunch in looking for a better and fairer way of managing money and in underpinning the real financing activities. Islamic banking is following the Islamic Shariah law and Islamic financial system which are derived from the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah (Strom et al., 2007). Thirty years ago, Islamic banking existed... The intention of this study is islamic banking as the new representation of financial system and it is also one of the fastest growing industries in the global financial market. It is also considered as the best solution during financial crises and credit crunch in looking for a better and fairer way of managing money and in underpinning the real financing activities. Islamic banking is following the Islamic Shariah law and Islamic financial system which are derived from the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah. Thirty years ago, Islamic banking existed only in major Islamic countries and become a profitable segment of the banking industry considering that 20 percent of the world’s population was Muslims and Islam being the third largest religion. The Islamic banks primary clients are those people that keep away from paying nor receiving interest of any form and for them to have a source of income, they established a profit and loss sharing banking system that permit them to share th e risk with client. Islamic banks are required to operate based on Islamic jurisprudence and this law inhibited them from paying and accepting interest fees (RIBA). Muslims are inhibited because it brought a lot of negative effects on human beings’ earning capacity and purchasing power, incredible poverty in the society and unequal wealth/debt crisis in the economy. However, the common banking system operates on the basis of interest which is also known as the conventional banks.