Guide to Sentence Patterns for ESL Learners

Guide to Sentence Patterns for ESL Learners Sentence patterns can be understood as the way sentences are usually structured. It is important to learn the most common sentence patterns in English, as most of the sentences you will hear, write, and speak will follow these basic patterns. Sentence Patterns #1 - Noun / Verb The most basic sentence pattern is a noun followed by a verb. Its important to remember that only verbs that do not require objects are used in this sentence pattern. People work.Frank eats.Things happen. This basic sentence pattern can be modified by adding a noun phrase, possessive adjective, as well as other elements. This is true for all the sentence patterns that follow. People work. - Our employees work.Frank eats. - My dog Frank eats.Things happen. - Crazy things happen. Sentence Patterns #2 - Noun / Verb / Noun The next sentence pattern builds on the first pattern and is used with nouns that can take objects. John plays softball.The boys are watching TV.She works at a bank. Sentence Patterns #3 - Noun / Verb / Adverb The next sentence pattern builds on the first pattern by using an adverb to describe how an action is done. Thomas drives quickly.Anna doesnt sleep deeply.He does homework carefully. Sentence Patterns #4 - Noun / Linking Verb / Noun This sentence pattern uses linking verbs to link one noun to another. Linking verbs are also known as equating verbs - verbs which equate one thing with another such as be, become, seem, etc. Jack is a student.This seed will become an apple.France is a country. Sentence Patterns #5 - Noun / Linking Verb / Adjective This sentence pattern is similar to sentence pattern #4, but uses linking verbs to link one noun to its description using an adjective. My computer is slow!Her parents seem unhappy.English seems easy. Sentence Patterns #6 - Noun / Verb / Noun / Noun Sentence pattern #6 is used with verbs that take both direct and indirect objects. I bought Katherine a gift.Jennifer showed Peter her car.The teacher explained the homework to Peter.   Parts of speech  are the different type of words. They are put together to create sentence patterns in English. Here are the  eight parts of speech. Learning parts of speech make understanding sentences easier.   Noun   Nouns are things, people, places, concepts - computer, Tom, table, Portland, Freedom Pronoun   Pronouns replace nouns in sentences. There are subject, object, and posessive pronouns - he, I, them, our, its, us Adjective Adjectives describe things, people, places and concepts. Adjectives come before nouns. - big, excellent, fun, tiny Verb   Verbs are what people do, the actions they make. Verbs are used in many different tenses. - play, visit, buy, cook Adverb Adverbs describe how, where or when something is done. They often come at the end of a sentence. - always, slowly, carefully Conjunction Conjunctions connect words and sentences. Conjunctions help us give reasons and explain. - but, and, because, if Preposition Prepositions help us show the relationship between things, people and places. Prepositions are often just a few letters. - in, at, off, about Interjection Interjections are used to add emphasis, show understanding, or surprise. Interjections are often followed by exclamation points. - Wow!, ah, pow! There are a number of common sentence patterns used to write most sentences in English. The basic sentence patterns presented in this guide to sentence patterns will help you understand the underlying pattern in even the most complex English sentences. Take this quiz to test your understanding of sentence patterns and parts of speech.   What are the parts of speech of the words in  italics  in each sentence?   My friend  lives  in Italy.Sharon has a bicycle.Alice has a banana  and  an apple.  He  studies French at school.Jason lives  in  New York.Wow! That sounds difficult.He lives in a  big  house.Mary drove home  quickly.   Which sentence pattern does each sentence have? Peter studies Russian.  I am a teacher.I bought him a gift.Alice is happy.My friends danced.  Mark spoke slowly. Answers to parts of speech quiz verbnounconjunctionpronounprepositioninterjectionadjectiveadverb Answers to sentence pattern quiz Noun / Verb / NounNoun / Linking Verb / NounNoun / Verb / Noun / NounNoun / Linking Verb / AdjectiveNoun / VerbNoun / Verb / Adverb

How to Build Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills in College

How to Build Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills in College College is an excellent setting for students to hone their communication skills. Becoming a responsible communicator is a coveted skill with high value to prospective employers. It’s also a sign of maturity, humanity and leadership. Whether practice a sport or belong to any groups or clubs, your ability to communicate effectively is key to your success and depending on the role you hold, the success of the group. It can also help you make and keep friends and ensure a , not to mention help you develop positive relationships with your professors. Here are some ways to practice effective communication while in college: Learn to Listen One of the most underrated and yet most important communication skills is listening. Instructions The ability to listen to and recall information comes in very handy when someone is giving you instructions. Always keep in mind: what is the goal of this exercise? If the goal is to demonstrate teamwork in a sporting exercise, then the focus will be different than if the goal were to merely demonstrate physical ability. Make sure you pay attention to both the small details and the big picture. Empathizing If someone comes to you to vent their frustration about something, try to remain empathetic but neutral. Don’t stoke the flames of their frustration nor ask them to calm down. Rather just try to listen to their perspective and put yourself in their shoes. The ability to be a good listener is also usually a sign of good leadership. Feedback When a teacher, coach or other student is giving you corrective feedback, try to understand their point of view and don’t ever take anything personally. Be flexible in your thinking so you can be open to new ideas and perspectives. Accepting the fact that you’re not always right about everything will make it easier for you to work with people and will also enhance your learning skills. Standing Your Ground However, sometimes there are situations where you’ll have to stick up for yourself. If you were given an unfair grade or were unduly punished or were accused of something you didn’t do by a friend or classmate, then it’s important you voice your opinion. In these cases, you want to avoid either of these conflict types: The fighter Having an emotional reaction, demonstrating anger or offense will only aggravate the situation. The avoider However, running away from conflict and letting the injustice slide will not serve you in this situation or in the future. Try this: Diplomacy Instead, try to arrange a meeting in a neutral setting and come prepared with valid points on why the person was mistaken. Use neutral language and be diplomatic. Don’t raise your voice or display anger, but do sit up tall, look the person in the eye and speak with confidence. Learning How to Give Feedback If you’re in a leadership role such as the captain of a team or the editor of the school newspaper, you’ll have to learn how to give feedback: Don’t give immediate feedback if it’s negative If an incident just happened, it’s best to wait a while before approaching the person about it. If you give immediate feedback, it can come across as irritation or anger. When the situation cools down, then you can approach them. Be specific Don’t say things like â€Å"You didn’t do a good job.† That’s too general and not helpful. Instead, let them know specifically where they failed: â€Å"The formatting for this month’s newspaper was off and had to be corrected at the last minute at the printer’s.† Give helpful suggestions and guidance Using the example above, you could suggest the following: â€Å"Let’s go over the formatting together this month in order to make sure everything’s okay before going to print.† Learning how to express thoughts and opinions, how to de-escalate conflict, how to empathize and offer feedback and guidance to others are all skills that can be practiced in college and which will serve you in professional and personal relationships afterwards.

Presentaion on the country Syria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Presentaion on the country Syria - Essay Example It is currently the liturgical language of many Syrian Christian denominations. However, most educated Syrians also speak French and English. The indigenous Christian Western-Aramaic speakers as well as Assyrians make up roughly 400,000 people. Most of them speak the Western Neo-Aramaic language. As for the deaf community, the sign language is used. Traditionally, men wear long gowns and women wear a long robe that only leaves their feet and hands exposed (Antoun 89). These dresses show little of the human skins something which is considered respectable. Music: Syria is one of the earliest centers of Christian hymnody and continues to be the liturgical music of various Syrian Christians. Damascus is among the Arab world centers for artistic innovation, particularly in the field of classical Arab music. Prominent musicians such as Asmahan, Lena Chamamyan, and Farid al-Atrash all come from Damascus (Salamandra 104). Aleppo city is known for its muwashshah; a form of Andalous poetry (Antoun 45). The muwashshah was popularized by stars like Sabah Fakri. It comprises of 5 stanzas that alternate in refrain with a running rhyme. Dance: As cited by Salamandra (103), the Syrian traditional art is manifested in dances like the Dabkeh, al-Samah, and sword dance. The Dabkeh is the national dance of Syria. It involves both line dancing and circle dance. It is commonly performed at weddings and other festivities. The lines usually form from right to left. The Dabkeh and al Samah are also peformed in child’s birth and marriage ceremonies. Food: Core element in parties, weddings, and other festivities. The main dish is the Syrian cuisine. It is rich and varied in its ingredients. It comprises of Kibbeh, fattoish, tabbouleh, hummus, labneh, shanklish, sujuk, baklava, and pastrirma. Manoushi bread is the number one snack food all around Syria. Tea is the ever-present drink and is usually taken with the Manoushi bread in

Categorical Definition Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Categorical Definition Argument - Essay Example Thus one, of the criterion for defining just war, is that its started for to keep the balance between the states. If the state sees no other means of resolving the situation when its analytics presuppose that the leaders of the opposing state will start a war sooner or later, than the intervention into the territory of that country is justified. It is done for not to let the potential aggressor to develop stronger military power. Thus we can state that one more criterion for saying that the war is just, is that there were no means except for the military intervention to prevent the breach of balance in future. Preventive wars are led for to preserve peace on the territory of the country which starts them. It sounds paradoxical, but gives us one more criterion for defining a just war, which is that a just war is to be led for re-establishing of peace. Walzer says, that "Humanitarian intervention is justified when it is a response (with reasonable expectations of success) to acts "that shock the moral conscience of mankind." After analyzing this statement we can deduce two more criterions. The first is that the war is just when it is fought with a reasonable chance of success, the second is that the war can be considered just only if it is began and led for to prevent something wrong, like slaughter of the civilians, or the introduction of the dictatorship of some political force or a group of people. Considering all of the criterions we can define just war as a war that is begun for to keep the balance between the states and restore peace. It should be fought with a reasonable chance of success for to prevent something wrong that is happening or will happen. The just war is begun when there are no other means of solving the problems. Thus we can conclude that a just war is a war that satisfies the set of moral

To calculate the acceleration due Essay Example for Free

To calculate the acceleration due Essay Find acceleration due to gravity using ball drop method Amine Alami IB1-3 Lab Report Aim: To calculate the acceleration due to gravity by dropping a ball from a certain distance and recording the time Hypothesis: it is expected that the gravity should be within the same range for each trial Variables: The independent variable = the distance The dependent variable = the time Controlled variables are: the mass of the steel ball the position of the trip plate -the length of the plumb line Equipment: meter stick , half meter stick 1 steel ball. Boss and clamp Electronic Timing Device Release mechanism Plumb bob -trip plate Procedure: A steel ball was inserted between the jaws of the release mechanism The height was adjusted to 1 meter and half a meter, measured from the bottom of the ball to the trip plate The plumb bob was used to locate the centre of the trip plate , to ensure that the ball falls on it and to make sure the release mechanism is perpendicular to the surface of the plate a circuit was made between the release mechanism, the trip plate and the electronic timer. it was configured to start counting as soon as the ball is released and to stop counting when it touched the plate The timer was switched on and RESET was pressed the thumbscrew was pressed to release the ball, it was held straight rather than curved to achieve better results when the ball hits the plate, the spring comes up and the timer stops the time was measured The distance ( independent variable) was varied by moving the clamp upwards or downwards until the distance from the bottom of the ball equals 0. 5 m or 1 m The time was read from the electronic timing device. The same steel ball was used through out the experiment and the plumb bob was kept in the same length through out the trials for each length 20 trials were performed and averaged the distance the ball travels was measured after every trial Data Collection: Table 1. The time it takes the ball to fall 1 meter Trial Displacement(s) iThe time it takes the ball to fall half a meter Trial Displacement(s) i 0. 5mm Time(t). Data Processing and presentation: Average Time in table Percentage uncertainty of gravity 2= (0. 4/9. 95)x100 = 4. 02% Conclusion: The results were in the same range. The firs gravity was very close to the ideal gravity Evaluation: The method used was fairly accurate -but there are many sources of error which may affect the result obtained using it Sources of Error: Air resistance is an error, but it has a slight effect The thumbscrew is clicked twice The thumbscrew wasnt pressed properly The ball might not fall in the centre The clamp may move slightly upwards or downward after every few measurements The same person should press the thumbscrew through out all the experiment The thumbscrew should be pushed with quickly and firmly.

The Story we Tell :: essays research papers

America and Race have a long and entangled history. The concept of Race, like America is a recent invention. Race is an idea constructed by society to further political and economic goals. Race was never just a matter of how you look, it's about how people assign meaning toward how you look. It is ironic that a nation that takes great pride in one the foundation â€Å"All men are created Equal† can at the same time portray the idea of Race in such a scale that would repress and kill so many people. In this essay I will address what necessitated the creation of the story of race in American history. In the beginning of colonial America people used religion and wealth to define status. As the years progressed fewer people migrated to America. This resulted in a labor shortage of indentured servants. Farmers turned to the transatlantic slave trade, and started replacing indentured servants with African slaves. African slaves worked for nothing, could be easily identified by their skin separating them from indentured servants, and were valued for their farming skill. Plantation owners found what they an ideal and endless labor supply and developed the first slave system where all slaves shared a common appearance and ancestry. The abundance of this new labor source brought poor whites new rights, opportunities, and a sense of superiority for whiteness. Many were elevated to manager’s plantations and bounty hunters. White societies for the first time started to identify themselves with each other not based on wealth or status because they were white. As slave labor increased, slavery became inherently identified with blackness. This perpetuated white Americans belief that Africans were a different kind of person and stimulated the theory that Africans maintained a "natural" inferiority. This theory of "natural" inferiority rationalized for many white Americans the stealing of Indian lands. Indians, another â€Å"racially inferior† group, were initially viewed as naturally white. They explained they were tan because of exposure to the sun. Many felt that they were good human material, and the problem was not race but culture, that the Indians were primitive but they could be civilized. Whites sought to civilize Indians though English education and Christian religion, turning hunters into farmers and businessmen. They tried to assimilate them into American culture. The "civilization" process and way of life began to be seen as the only way for Indians to live in peace with whites.

Contract Law Assignment Essay

From looking at the facts laid out by Grab regarding the purchase of a sandwich shop, it seems that the most likely action is that of misrepresentation. A misrepresentation is defined at common law as â€Å"a statement of fact made by one party to the other party, which is false. While not necessarily forming a term of the contract, is yet one of the main reasons which induces the one party to enter into the contract† and is supported by the Misrepresentation Act 1967. From the facts of the case according to Grab, it seems that he is unhappy about the purchase of the shop. There are two issues present here concerning misrepresentation. Firstly, he ‘specifically inquires’ to Dino whether Porthampton Institute (who are the shops main customers), if it was going to re-locate out of town, which was said to be rumoured. Grab refers to the statement made by Dino explaining that he had asked a neighbour, who is a senior planning official with the City Council, and assured Grab that â€Å"no move is planned†. Once buying the shop the institute moved out of town, causing the income of the shop to be substantially reduced. The second issue concerning misrepresentation is that of the business turnover for the previous three years. Dino explained to Grab that the shop was receiving ‘up to ,000 per year’. But after purchasing the shop Grab asked his accountant to look over the figures and found that it had only reached ,000 in the last year and was below ,000 for the previous two years. However for Grab to have an action for misrepresentation, he must first prove that Dino’s statements were those of fact and were false. It is necessary to discover whether the statements are a misrepresentation in the legal sense. A false statement of opinion is not a misrepresentation of fact -Bisset v Wilkinson. However, where the person giving the statement was in the position to know the true facts and it can be proved that he couldn’t reasonably have held such a view as a result, his opinion will be treated as a statement of fact. This would apply to the statement made by Dino about Porthampton institute not moving. Grab trusted Dino’s reassurance about ‘no move being planned’, because he had asked a person who looked like they were in the position to know the answer i.e. Dino’s neighbour, a senior planning official for the City Council. In this case to the general person, it would seem that Dino’s statement about the sandwich business having a turnover of up to ,000 per year for the previous three years is a statement of opinion due to the language used. Dino states up to ,000, meaning it may come across as a statement of fact because Grab sees Dino as a person who has owned the business and run it for the last ten years, suggesting that he had some skill or knowledge of the subject matter of his statement. The case of Smith v Land and House Property Corp is an example of how the courts could view Grabs case. In this case a statement that the tenant of the house concerned was a â€Å"very reliable person† which was considered to be a statement of fact rather than a statement of opinion as â€Å"†¦..the opinion was being made by somebody who had the knowledge to make such a statement†, so in my opinion the courts could view Dino’s statement as a statement of fact in this context, as h e had the â€Å"knowledge† to make such a statement due to his position as the owner of the sandwich business. If the courts were going to look deeper into Grab’s case they could look at another issue concerning ‘silence’. Generally silence is not a misrepresentation. The effect of the maxim caveat emptor is that the other party has no duty to disclose problems voluntarily. Thus if one party is labouring under a misapprehension there is no duty on the other party to correct it: Smith v Hughes . However there is an exception to that rule which may help Grab. Half truths – the representor must not misleadingly tell only part of the truth, thus a statement that does not present the whole truth may be regarded as a misrepresentation as in the case of Nottingham Brick & Tile Co. v Butler . We need to find out whether the statements made, induced Grab into signing the contract. The courts would look to four conditions laid down by a series of cases to decide whether the statement did induce the contract to be entered into by the representee. The first of these is defined by the cases of Smith v Chadwick and Museprime Properties Ltd v Adhill Properties Ltd where it was decided that the representation must be material to the subject matter of the contract. The second is that the representee must have relied on the misrepresentation. The misrepresentation has material value – the business profit margin. It can be seen adequateley important enough to influence Grab as a reasonable person. Once Grab has proved that both the statements made by Dino are actionable misrepresentation it is necessary for me to advise him of the type of misrepresentation which has occurred, which depends on the mind of the representor at the time he made the statements. The first type of misrepresentation is fraudulent misrepresentation at common law. I would advise Grab that this bears a very high standard of proof and is very difficult to prove, as he would need to prove that Dino was deliberately dishonest in making the statement. Another type of misrepresentation is that of negligent misstatement at common law. Here the claimant must prove that there was a special relationship between the parties and he must also prove all the elements of the tort of negligence. However, once again this is difficult to prove as the burden of proof is on the ‘wronged party’, and I would advise Grab that it would be difficult to prove that Dino knew that he would act on his representation. I would advise Grab that it would be better to attempt to repudiate the contract under the doctrine of ‘negligent misrepresentation’ under the Misrepresentation Act 1967, for the statement about the turnover of the business being not exactly true. This is because s2 (1) of the act changes the burden of proof, shifting it to Dino who must now prove that he had â€Å"†¦.reasonable grounds to believe †¦.and did believe the statement(s) to be true..† , if Dino cannot prove that he believed the statement to be true  than he will be ‘negligent’, meaning he will be liable for damages and or rescission of the contract (subject to certain bars of rescission). This burden can sometimes be difficult to discharge as shown in the case of Howard Marine & Dredging Co. v Ogden & Sons . I would advise Grab that the decision of the courts in the case of Howard Marine, if it was to be followed by the courts in his case, that it could be an important factor. In Howard Marine the courts said that for them to reasonably believe their statement was true they must take reasonable steps to verify this fact i.e. the manufacturer of the ship. If it is established that Dino did not have proper recordings of the business accounts, this could be a major factor in Grab’s case. Now that damages for negligent misrepresentation may be awarded the question arises whether the representees own negligence, which has contributed to his decision to enter the contract operates to reduce proportionality to the liability of the representor. The courts may take this into account with Grab that contributory negligence is present here, because Dino offered him the chance to look over the business turnover accounts before putting in an offer to purchase. As in the case of Gran Gelato Ltd v Richcliff (group) Ltd , Sir Donald Nicholls V-C decided not to make any reduction in the damages awarded, on the ground that the defendants intended that the plaintiffs should act in reliance on the misrepresentation, so they cannot complain when liability is imposed precisely because the plaintiffs did act in the way the defendants intended . Innocent Misrepresentation is another form of misrepresentation. It must be regarded as a false statement, which was made neither fraudulently nor negligently. In fact, as a result of the wording of s.2 (1) of the Misrepresentation Act 1967, the representee must not only have believed the statement, but must be able to prove that he had reasonable grounds for believing it. The victim of an innocent misrepresentation is entitled to rescission of the contract, and to an indemnity intended to help restore the parties to the position before the contract was made. There is no right to damages for innocent misrepresentation, but the court has a discretion to award damages in lieu of rescission provided the right to rescission has not  been lost – as set out in s.2 (2) of the Misrepresentation Act 1967. It is clear with Grab’s case that Dino made a false statement innocently, which can be believed to be correct because he asked a senior planning official who was a neighbour of Dino. Even though the information was not completely right, it still looks reasonable enough to believe such a statement. Overall, my advice to Grab is if he prosecutes Dino with innocent misrepresentation for the move of the Institute and negligent misrepresentation regarding the turnover of the business, the courts would look into giving Grab the right to rescission, putting him in the position before the contract was first made and also they would calculate the loss of earnings for the ten months that he was in ownership of the sandwich shop and award him with compensation. It is not definite that the courts will uphold both negligent and innocent misrepresentation but the contract between Dino and Grab will definitely become voidable as opposed to becoming void. Meaning that he will receive either rescission or damages, but that would be for the courts to decide. Overall Grab has a strong case against Dino.

Exposing the Mommy Myth: A Book Review

Society has always glorified and celebrated motherhood. It considers it the most difficult yet the noblest of professions. So precious is its position in society that traditions and norms have been set up around it to protect it from the vagaries of change as well as from attempts to transform it to keep it abreast with contemporary ways. In these modern times, motherhood still adheres to a rigid script that is anchored on the theme that a woman’s true essence is to be a mother, and not just any mother, but to become the Perfect Mom. Media and the images of motherhood they produce are at the forefront of this endeavor to promote and protect the ideal of the Perfect Mom. Except that there is no such thing as a Perfect Mom. Media are doing a disservice to women of all ages by passing off these images as the standard they must aspire for to be considered successful mothers so they can achieve fulfillment and contentment in life. â€Å"New Momism† The book The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined Women by Susan J. Douglas and Meredith W. Michaels is one work that presents a witty yet scholarly critique of media’s romanticized images of motherhood and how they misrepresent the realities confronting mothers. The authors framed their arguments on what they called the â€Å"new momism† which they defined as a â€Å"set of ideals, norms and practices most frequently and powerfully represented in the media that seem on the surface to celebrate motherhood, but which in reality promulgate standards of perfection that are beyond your reach.† The term â€Å"momism† was coined by journalist Philip Wylie in 1942 for his book Generation of Vipers. He used the term to denounce the way American mothers were raising their sons to be mama’s boys who were incapable of fighting for their country. The authors’ decision to reclaim momism and redefine it was a deliberate attempt to show that nothing much has changed since those war years of the early 1940s with regard to society’s expectation of motherhood: it is the mother who is largely responsible whether the child will grow up into a successful, stable, and happy person or not. And media made sure to instill this in her psyche. This is how the authors described what mothers internalize when they read magazines, watch TV, or see a movie: Mothers are subject to an onslaught of beatific imagery, romantic fantasies, self-righteous sermons, psychological warnings, terrifying movies about losing their children, even more terrifying news stories about abducted and abused children, and totally unrealistic advice about how to be the most perfect and revered mom in the neighborhood. (2) The authors further wrote: No wonder 81 percent of women in a recent poll said it’s harder to be a mother now than it was 20 or 30 years ago, and 56 percent felt mothers were doing a worse job today than mothers back then. Even mothers who deliberately avoid TV and magazines, or who pride themselves in seeing through them, have trouble escaping the standards of perfection, and the sense of threat, that the media ceaselessly atomize the air we breathe. (2) It is ironic that the authors started their examination of media messages about mothers during the 1970s, that exciting period in the feminist movement when women were beginning to find their voices and question, even break free from the traditional gender roles that had been assigned to them. Motherhood did not escape their scrutiny and it was one of the topics discussed and debated on during consciousness-raising sessions. They were also beginning to realize that motherhood was not a woman’s destiny and there were choices available for her. Women could choose whether they become mothers or not. And if they chose to be mothers, they could choose to stay at home to raise their children or work outside the home, maybe even pursue a career. Which was what a significant number of them did, giving rise to a phenomenon that may have, in all probability, resulted in the new momism. And why not, motherhood was under threat, especially from feminism, and it had to be protected at all cost. For the authors,   â€Å"(w)hether you are a married religious fundamentalist, a partnered lesbian, a divorced secular humanist with a Ph.D., or a single twenty-year-old trying to make it in the big city, if you are a female human, the new momism has circled the wagons around you.† The book laid out a historical account of how the new momism manifested itself during the last decades of the 20th century and the contradictory messages they send out to women. It juxtaposed mothering guided by famous pediatricians, through regular media exposure, and childrearing advice columns against the emerging feminist thinking on the political characteristic of motherhood during the ‘70s. It discussed how in the ‘80s, media reports of child molestation, abductions and other external threats against children presented working mothers with a dilemma of whether to entrust their children to others while they were out working. But it was also during the same period that media intensified its message that mothers can have both a satisfying career and a stable family life. In the ‘90s, it is the turn of the celebrity moms, who made ordinary women insecure and less confident of their motherhood skills, and the criminal and welfare mothers to be under media attention. The so-called mommy wars were also being fought, supposed conflicts that pitted working mothers against stay-at-home moms. The authors, in dissecting coverage of issues facing motherhood, were able to show the evolving, and at times opposing, images of mothers in media and how they were deeply influenced by new momism. Most of the time, the authors constantly referred to popular culture to illustrate their analysis. This, plus their smart-ass style of writing, may have given some readers cause to think of their work as less than scholarly. Still, their analysis was incisive enough and ably supported by well-documented examples to be dismissed as anything but presenting a legitimate issue about the myths of motherhood. Reclaiming Motherhood It cannot be denied that in this time and age, media still fail to portray a balanced picture of women’s diverse lives, choosing instead to present images and messages that reinforce traditional gender roles that are very limiting. Motherhood is not exempt from this. As the authors argued in their book, media have systematically presented an idealized, and therefore, unrealistic picture of it. Media’s core message is that women are destined to have children. Their primary role in life is to be mothers who must care for them and raise them to be successful, stable, happy persons. Their own fulfillment is anchored on this. No wonder then that mothers who feel differently are assailed by guilt and a sense of failure for wanting to be more than mothers. These feelings become especially intense for working mothers who opt to leave their children in the care of others while they take on work outside the home or pursue a career. As long as mothers are in this situation, they will forever be torn between two opposing forces, juggling one set of responsibilities at the expense of the other, and struggling to meet the expectations of new momism just because these are basically society’s expectations of them as well. New momism’s supposed aim is to promote the interests of children. But as the authors pointed out, this can very well be just rhetoric, considering how public policies have fallen short in supporting mothers perform their childrearing roles. The fallout from this is consequently borne by the children. In today’s struggle for survival, a two-income family is getting to be the norm. While most mothers may prefer to be stay-at-home moms, more and more of them take on employment outside the house because of economic necessity. It will be a validation for working mothers and how they are valued by society if they can be provided with affordable and accessible day care services and welfare benefits. Or their employment terms can be negotiated in such a way that they can work flexible hours or avail of parental leaves for family emergency. Unfortunately, providing support and benefits to working mothers are not high on the agenda of government and business. There have been instances when government has slashed funding for initiatives that respond to the needs of working mothers. Business, on the other hand, prioritizes profit first before benefits for working mothers. So much for the exalted and celebrated status of mothers, particularly of working mothers. Faced with this, is it correct then to say that motherhood as practiced by them should be less valued since they do not meet the expecations of new momism? Not so, according to the authors. They argued that mothers would be better served by reclaiming motherhood and redefining it in such a way that it would encompass shared parenting as well as support and welfare benefits for their childrearing responsibilities. At the top of the agenda to accomplish this is to acknowledge new momism for being the unrealistic ideal that it is and to stand firm against it. Motherhood can never be perfect. All that a mother can do is to try and do her best. To constantly aim for perfection is a futile and self-defeating exercise. The authors have succeeded in debunking the merit of new momism. And they did this with cutting wit and a scathing sense of humor as only two mothers who are fully convinced of their arguments can do. Their style may not work for some readers but there is no denying the fact that they are able to expose some three-decades worth of fallacious thinking and belief that is the myth of motherhood. Work Cited Douglas, Susan J. and Meredith W. Michaels. The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined Women. New York: Free Press, 2004.                                    

Role Of The Emperor In Meiji Japan Essays - Meiji Restoration

Role Of The Emperor In Meiji Japan Essays - Meiji Restoration Role of The Emperor in Meiji Japan Japan is a society whose culture is steeped in the traditions and symbols of the past: Mt. Fuji, the tea ceremony, and the sacred objects of nature revered in Shintoism. Two of the most important traditions and symbols in Japan; the Emperor and Confucianism have endured through Shogunates, restorations of imperial rule, and up to present day. The leaders of the Meiji Restoration used these traditions to gain control over Japan and further their goals of modernization. The Meiji leaders used the symbolism of the Emperor to add legitimacy to their government, by claiming that they were ruling under the "Imperial Will." They also used Confucianism to maintain order and force the Japanese people to passively accept their rule. Japanese rulers historically have used the symbolism of the Imperial Institution to justify their rule. The symbolism of the Japanese Emperor is very powerful and is wrapped up in a mix of religion (Shintoism) and myths. According to Shintoism the current Emperor is the direct descendent of the Sun Goddess who formed the islands of Japan out of the Ocean in ancient times.Footnote1 According to these myths the Japanese Emperor unlike a King is a living descendent of the Gods and even today he is thought of as the High Priest of Shinto. Despite the powerful myths surrounding Japan's imperial institution the Emperor has enjoyed only figure head status from 1176 on. At some points during this time the Emperor was reduced to selling calligraphy on the streets of Kyoto to support the imperial household, but usually the Emperor received money based on the kindness of the Shogunate.Footnote2 But despite this obvious power imbalance even the Tokugawa Shogun was at least symbolically below the Emperor in status and he claimed to rule so he could carry out the Imperial rule.Footnote3 Within this historical context the Meiji leaders realized that they needed to harness the concept of the Imperial Will in order to govern effectively. In the years leading up to 1868 members of the Satsuma and Choshu clans were part of the imperialist opposition. This opposition claimed that the only way that Japan could survive the encroachment of the foreigners was to rally around the Emperor.Footnote4 The Imperialists, claimed that the Tokugawa Shogunate had lost its imperial mandate to carry out the Imperial Will because it had capitulated to Western powers by allowing them to open up Japan to trade. During this time the ideas of the imperialists gained increasing support among Japanese citizens and intellectuals who taught at newly established schools and wrote revisionist history books that claimed that historically the Emperor had been the ruler of Japan.Footnote5 The fact that the Tokugawa's policy of opening up Japan to the western world ran counter to the beliefs of the Emperor and was unpopular with the public made the Tokugawa vulnerable to attack from the imperialists. The imperialists pressed their attack both militarily and from within the Court of Kyoto. The great military regime of Edo which until recently had been all powerful was floundering not because of military weakness, or because the machinery of government had broken but instead because the Japanese public and the Shoguns supporters felt they had lost the Imperial Will.Footnote6 The end of the Tokugawa regime shows the power of the symbolism and myths surrounding the imperial institution. The head of the Tokugawa clan died in 1867 and was replaced by the son of a lord who was a champion of Japanese historical studies and who agreed with the imperialists claims about restoring the Emperor. Footnote7 So in 1868 the new shogun handed over all his power to the Emperor in Kyoto. Shortly after handing over power to the Emperor, the Emperor Komeo died and was replaced by his son who became the Meiji Emperor.Footnote8 Because the Meiji Emperor was only 15 all the power of the new restored Emperor fell not in his hands but instead in the hands of his close advisors. These advisers such as Prince Saionji, Prince Konroe, and members of the Satsuma and Choshu clans who had been members of the imperialist movement eventually wound up involving into the Meiji Bureaucracy and Genro of the Meiji Era.Footnote9 Once in control

The Wright Brothers Famous Quotes

The Wright Brothers Famous Quotes On December 17, 1903,  Orville Wright  and  Wilbur Wright  successfully tested a flying machine that took off with its own power, flew at even speeds, then landed safely without damage and started the era of human flight. The year before, the brothers tested out a number of aircraft, wing designs, gliders, and propellers in order to understand the complexities of aerodynamics and hopefully create a powered craft capable of prolonged flight. Throughout this process, Orville and Wilbur recorded many of their greatest quotes in the notebooks they kept and interviews they made at the time. From Orvilles thoughts on hope and living to both brothers interpretations of what they discovered during their experiments, the following quotes encapsulate the thrill the Wright brothers felt when creating, then flying, the first self-propelled airplane. Orville Wright on Dreams, Hope, and Life The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our  ancestors  who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through. The  airplane stays up  because it doesnt have the time to fall. No flying machine will ever fly from New York to Paris†¦[because] no known motor can run at the requisite speed for four days without stopping. If birds can glide for long periods of time, then†¦ why cant I? If we worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true really is true, then there would be little hope for advance. We were lucky enough to grow up in an environment where there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests; to investigate whatever aroused curiosity. Orville Wright on Their Flight Experiments In our gliding experiments, we had had a number of experiences in which we had landed upon one wing, but the crushing of the wing had absorbed the shock so that we were not uneasy about the motor in case of a landing of that kind. With all the knowledge and skill acquired in thousands of flights in the last ten years, I would hardly think today of making my first flight on a strange machine in a 27-mile wind, even if I knew that the machine had already been flown and was safe. Isnt it astonishing that all these secrets have been preserved for so many years just so we could discover them! The course of the flight up and down was exceedingly erratic, partly due to the irregularity of the air, and partly to lack of experience in handling this machine. The control of the front rudder was difficult on account of its being balanced too near the center. When the machine had been fastened with a wire to the  track so that it could not start until released by the operator, and the motor had been run to make sure that it was in condition, we tossed a coin to decide who should have the first trial. Wilbur won. With 12 horsepower  at our command, we considered that we could permit the weight of the machine with  an operator  to rise to 750 or 800 pounds, and still have as much surplus power as we had originally allowed for in the first estimate of 550 pounds. Wilbur Wright on Their Flying Experiments There is no sport equal to that which aviators enjoy while being carried through the air on great white wings. More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost if you can conceive of such a combination. I am an enthusiast, but not a crank in the sense that I have some pet theories as to the proper construction of a flying machine. I wish to avail myself of all that is already known and then, if possible, add my mite to help on the future worker who will attain final success. We could hardly wait to get up in the morning. I confess that in 1901, I said to my brother Orville that man would not fly for 50 years. The fact that the great scientist believed in flying machines was the one thing that encouraged us to begin our studies. It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill. The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who...looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space...on the infinite highway of the air. Men become wise just as they become rich, more by what they save than by what they receive.

Data preparation and network analysis Literature review

Data preparation and network analysis - Literature review Example Finding meaningful data about people’s access to urban green spaces with regard to the people’s reasons for using such spaces and when and how they use them is considerably weighed down by the fact that survey data from local authorities is rather inconsistent. Various methods have been developed to help in data collection on local green space needs. Methods such as Best Value processes are viable in realising green space needs for populations in areas such as the Madinah region of UAE. The benchmark questions used in the Best Value User Satisfaction Survey are relatively basic meaning that more viable information should be sourced from the literature review of past surveys, as well as the analysis of other similar areas around the world (Cope 2009, 174). Telephone surveys with the public can be used to find out or estimate the number of urban green space users for every green space located in their vicinity. This module of data preparation is perhaps best for the quant ification of urban dwellers’ access to green spaces and the estimation of future green space needs and the capacity of current green spaces to meet these needs. In England, for example, a telephone survey showed that 2.25 million people make a minimum of 184 visits to the nearest urban space annually (Knigge and Cope  2006, 2031). ... This is crucial in network analysis as it allows for the identification of peak times when green spaces are mostly used, as well as the documentation of whether or not the green spaces have the capacity to hold populations during peak visits (Neimeier 1997, 381). Afternoons, weekends and holiday times, are notably the key times for green space use. Other people have seasonal green space use patterns, which are largely influenced by prevailing weather patterns. Notably, men are slightly higher users if green spaces than their female counterparts. However, most local authority surveys do not give an indication on whether ethnic minority groups or disabled persons are equitably represented among green space users. This is perhaps the greatest limitation of using local authority surveys in data collection and network analysis of urban green spaces (Forman 2005, 203). As earlier cited, data preparation can take several formats. Thematic data generation is one such method. This entails the generation of area maps and conduct of an analysis of the region’s remote sensing data. Here, urban green spaces are digitised and categorised using visual interpretation methodology like Cartosat II and LISS-IV merge product in Arc GIS Ver.9.3 (Van Herzele 2003, 119). Under this module, urban green spaces are categorised as among others railway green, playgrounds, open green, water bodies, industrial green, built ups, parks and roadside green (Barbosa, Tratalos, et al, 2007, 189). Using the â€Å"selection by attribute† query within Arc GIS, the different categories of urban green spaces are separated and exported into different categories of either public and green spaces. All types of green spaces are then assigned different