Multicultural in school setting Essay

The article, what makes a school multicultural? talks about social change in the society. The concept of multiculturalism has not been clarified but everyone has an idea of what it is and they are thus left to judge with their believes and biases. The article is well written and talks of the 21st century as a century that is very sensitive to culture focused on international matters as a way of getting orientation to the future because industrial changes that are taking place have caused the environment to suffer greatly. Multiculturalism has been shown to promote respect for all different type of people from the various races (Roysircar & Sandhu, 2003). The schools according to this article regard themselves as multicultural because of the diversity that they have racially and ethnically. The article does not however give a clear answer as to if; this is what makes the schools to be multicultural. The article discusses multiculturalism in the schools as an imperative of the law and the society. It also says that diversity should be valued. The article says that for a school to be considered as a multicultural it should implement it policies, perspectives, programs, practices and personnel to have a reflection on the heterogeneity of the affirmative action, which is dynamic. It should also be sensitive to needs of the groups, which include the student population. They should also be in a position to create an ambiance socially and culturally. The schools overall mission should be incorporated by its policies. The article says that the society is changing in a rapid rate and this is what forces the schools to also embrace the changes. Question #1 Opportunities and challenges that ethnic diversity poses to our society and our schools (N. Y) Some of the opportunities that the ethnic diversity poses to our society are that, it allows the people to immigrate into the other countries. For example, the United States has many immigrants who have come from different parts of the world some to work and some to learn. We have seen that many students who have are immigrants perform very well in schools due to availability of resources. It is also important to educate children about ethnic diversity so that they can understand about the stereotypes and the negativism that is directed towards various groups of people. When students get to learn that their ethnic group is valued, they get a very high self-esteem and become confident that they are indeed living in a society that is free. Some of the challenges brought about by this diversity are that, the society lacks a common heritage on which to base its education system on (Roysircar & Sandhu, 2003). Ethnic Diversity poses issues of insecurity in New York and majority of other countries through terrorism in the society because people especially the Muslims are stereotyped to be involved in many bombings. Ethnic diversity faces prejudices because it is regarded to be the cause of some of the social problems that are modern. These problems are unemployment, competition among groups in the society and in general the urban decay. Especially when the economy is not doing, well the minority in the New York are undermined. For the schools, they become flooded and the children end up dropping out. In addition, the college education becomes expensive for the immigrants since they are in a foreign land. Question #2: Contributions of the Arab Americans in the society and Challenges that they face. Arab American have greatly contributed to America in the sense that, they have lawyers educators and doctors among them in America. They are hence are in a position to help fight against diseases such as cancer and leukemia. Danny Thomas who was an Arab American Doctor, helped to establish a cancer centre for children that bore his name and today so many American children have benefited from this foundation. They have also helped America to diversify its cultures and languages, which even though it required a huge funding they were able to raise it with time. They also hold other positions that American can hold and hence contribute to the economy in the same measure. The Arab Americans face the challenge of being distrusted. This makes the Arab Americans feel that America is being unjustifiably hostile towards them. However, as much as the mistrust exists, majority of the Arab American love America (Donaldson, 2001). They also face the challenge of racism, misinformation about their history, discrimination and negative stereotyping. A stereotype goes that says they are the majority in the American prisons. The misconception about Arab Americans is spread through teachers, peers and mostly through the media, which depicts them as terrorist in movies. To solve some of the challenges that face them, the media has to change its stand and support the Arab Americans so that they can be treated equally in the society. If this does not happen the Arab Americans have, the task of having to work more than they have usually work in order to be treated equally it the society (Pope-Davis, 2003). REFERENCES Donaldson, K. (2001). Shattering the denial: protocols for the classroom and beyond. London. Greenwood Publishing Group, Pope-Davis, D. (2003). Handbook of multicultural competencies in counseling & psychology. London. SAGE. Roysircar, G. & Sandhu, D. (2003). Multicultural competencies: a guidebook of practices. Dublin. AMCD. Rosado, C. (1995). Critical Multicultural Pavilion: what makes a school multicultural? Print viewed on July 24th, 2010. http://www. edchange. org/multicultural/papers/caleb/multicultural. html

Deception Point Page 93

POTUS. She felt a sudden surge of hope. Something about POTUS struck Gabrielle as being a perfect Sexton password. Simple, positive, self-referential. She quickly typed in the letters. POTUS. Holding her breath, she hit â€Å"return.† The computer beeped. Invalid Password – Access Denied Slumping, Gabrielle gave up. She headed back toward the bathroom door to exit the way she had come. She was halfway across the room, when her cellphone rang. She was already on edge, and the sound startled her. Stopping short, she pulled out her phone and glanced up to check the time on Sexton's prized Jourdain grandfather clock. Almost 4:00 A.M. At this hour, Gabrielle knew the caller could only be Sexton. He was obviously wondering where the hell she was. Do I pick up or let it ring? If she answered, Gabrielle would have to lie. But if she didn't, Sexton would get suspicious. She took the call. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Gabrielle?† Sexton sounded impatient. â€Å"What's keeping you?† â€Å"The FDR Memorial,† Gabrielle said. â€Å"The taxi got hemmed in, and now we're-â€Å" â€Å"You don't sound like you're in a taxi.† â€Å"No,† she said, her blood pumping now. â€Å"I'm not. I decided to stop by my office and pick up some NASA documents that might be relevant to PODS. I'm having some trouble finding them.† â€Å"Well, hurry up. I want to schedule a press conference for the morning, and we need to talk specifics.† â€Å"I'm coming soon,† she said. There was a pause on the line. â€Å"You're in your office?† He sounded suddenly confused. â€Å"Yeah. Another ten minutes and I'll be on my way over.† Another pause. â€Å"Okay. I'll see you soon.† Gabrielle hung up, too preoccupied to notice the loud and distinctive triple-tick of Sexton's prized Jourdain grandfather clock only a few feet away. 113 Michael Tolland did not realize Rachel was hurt until he saw the blood on her arm as he pulled her to cover behind the Triton. He sensed from the catatonic look on her face that she was not aware of any pain. Steadying her, Tolland wheeled to find Corky. The astrophysicist scrambled across the deck to join them, his eyes blank with terror. We've got to find cover, Tolland thought, the horror of what had just happened not yet fully registering. Instinctively, his eyes raced up the tiers of decks above them. The stairs leading up to the bridge were all in the open, and the bridge itself was a glass box-a transparent bull's-eye from the air. Going up was suicide, which left only one other direction to go. For a fleeting instant, Tolland turned a hopeful gaze to the Triton submersible, wondering perhaps if he could get everyone underwater, away from the bullets. Absurd. The Triton had room for one person, and the deployment winch took a good ten minutes to lower the sub through the trap door in the deck to the ocean thirty feet below. Besides, without properly charged batteries and compressors, the Triton would be dead in the water. â€Å"Here they come!† Corky shouted, his voice shrill with fear as he pointed into the sky. Tolland didn't even look up. He pointed to a nearby bulkhead, where an aluminum ramp descended belowdecks. Corky apparently needed no encouragement. Keeping his head low, Corky scurried toward the opening and disappeared down the incline. Tolland put a firm arm around Rachel's waist and followed. The two of them disappeared belowdecks just as the helicopter returned, spraying bullets overhead. Tolland helped Rachel down the grated ramp to the suspended platform at the bottom. As they arrived, Tolland could feel Rachel's body go suddenly rigid. He wheeled, fearing maybe she'd been hit by a ricocheting bullet. When he saw her face, he knew it was something else. Tolland followed her petrified gaze downward and immediately understood. Rachel stood motionless, her legs refusing to move. She was staring down at the bizarre world beneath her. Because of its SWATH design, the Goya had no hull but rather struts like a giant catamaran. They had just descended through the deck onto a grated catwalk that hung above an open chasm, thirty feet straight down to the raging sea. The noise was deafening here, reverberating off the underside of the deck. Adding to Rachel's terror was the fact that the ship's underwater spotlights were still illuminated, casting a greenish effulgence deep into the ocean directly beneath her. She found herself gazing down at six or seven ghostly silhouettes in the water. Enormous hammerhead sharks, their long shadows swimming in place against the current-rubbery bodies flexing back and forth. Tolland's voice was in her ear. â€Å"Rachel, you're okay. Eyes straight ahead. I'm right behind you.† His hands were reaching around from behind, gently trying to coax her clenched fists off the banister. It was then that Rachel saw the crimson droplet of blood roll off her arm and fall through the grating. Her eyes followed the drip as it plummeted toward the sea. Although she never saw it hit the water, she knew the instant it happened because all at once the hammerheads spun in unison, thrusting with their powerful tails, crashing together in a roiling frenzy of teeth and fins. Enhanced telencephalon olfactory lobes†¦ They smell blood a mile away. â€Å"Eyes straight ahead,† Tolland repeated, his voice strong and reassuring. â€Å"I'm right behind you.† Rachel felt his hands on her hips now, urging her forward. Blocking out the void beneath her, Rachel started down the catwalk. Somewhere above she could hear the rotors of the chopper again. Corky was already well out in front of them, reeling across the catwalk in a kind of drunken panic. Tolland called out to him. â€Å"All the way to the far strut, Corky! Down the stairs!† Rachel could now see where they were headed. Up ahead, a series of switchback ramps descended. At water level, a narrow, shelflike deck extended the length of the Goya. Jutting off this deck were several small, suspended docks, creating a kind of miniature marina stationed beneath the ship. A large sign read: DIVE AREA Swimmers May Surface without Warning – Boats Proceed with Caution- Rachel could only assume Michael did not intend for them to do any swimming. Her trepidation intensified when Tolland stopped at a bank of wire-mesh storage lockers flanking the catwalk. He pulled open the doors to reveal hanging wetsuits, snorkels, flippers, life jackets, and spearguns. Before she could protest, he reached in and grabbed a flare gun. â€Å"Let's go.† They were moving again. Up ahead, Corky had reached the switchback ramps and was already halfway down. â€Å"I see it!† he shouted, his voice sounding almost joyous over the raging water. See what? Rachel wondered as Corky ran along the narrow walkway. All she could see was a shark-infested ocean lapping dangerously close. Tolland urged her forward, and suddenly Rachel could see what Corky was so excited about. At the far end of the decking below, a small powerboat was moored. Corky ran toward it. Rachel stared. Outrun a helicopter in a motorboat? â€Å"It has a radio,† Tolland said. â€Å"And if we can get far enough away from the helicopter's jamming†¦ â€Å" Rachel did not hear another word he said. She had just spied something that made her blood run cold. â€Å"Too late,† she croaked, extending a trembling finger. We're finished†¦ When Tolland turned, he knew in an instant it was over. At the far end of the ship, like a dragon peering into the opening of a cave, the black helicopter had dropped down low and was facing them. For an instant, Tolland thought it was going to fly directly at them through the center of the boat. But the helicopter began to turn at an angle, taking aim. Tolland followed the direction of the gun barrels. No!

OPERATIONS & FINANCIAL DECISION MANAGEMENT Essay

OPERATIONS & FINANCIAL DECISION MANAGEMENT - Essay Example 1. As per the abbreviated balance sheet dated 31.1.2006, the stock levels on 31/1/2007 was  £ 1382,592 as compared to  £ 1132,505 on 31/1/2006. Thus, there has been an increase of 22.08% over the previous year. Moreover, it is seen that the inventory components of stock in the company consists of many small items supplied by different manufacturers . Among these, items like envelope, envelope scoop, padded cover, inflator fans, basket, burners and cylinders form the main constituents of the finished product – the inflatable balloons. It is seen for these crucial stock items, there may be only one or two approved suppliers. Therefore, it needs to be ensured that delivery and quality aspects need to be strictly looked into, since the safety aspects of these air balloons cannot be compromised since it involves human safety and security. Moreover, if it is needed to change suppliers of crucial items, it become necessary to get recertified from the approval body for safety and security which may not be an easy task. Therefore, it is felt that given the fact that there are many sub assembly parts and components involved in the making of an air balloon, it is necessary to maintain a higher level of stock inventories. Lead time: The manufacture of hot air balloons involves a specialist task entailing maximum safety and standard control adherence, and nothing could be left a chance in the manufacture of hot air balloons. In the case of ordering being placed for resupply, the delivery may take time, depending upon the type of raw materials and the time required for reorders. For the supply of fabrics, the lead time may be around 8 weeks. Again, in the case of other items, the lead time would be a period ranging from 3 days to 3 months, depending upon market conditions and availability of materials reordered. Sometimes it may happen that the items may not be available in ready stocks with the vendors/suppliers, and therefore, it may

Field project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Field project - Essay Example Most of the Buddhists describe Buddha as a true teacher who awakened them from their ignorance. By this, Buddha ensured that they attained the highest form of happiness that humans can ever achieve. After all these years, Buddhists still believe and practice their culture. I interviewed Ashoka, a strong Buddhist, on some aspects of their religion and I was surprised at some of their practices. Beliefs One of the strongest beliefs of Buddhists is that there is no supernatural being, unlike other religions such as Christianity and Islam. Their god was human and so they believe that all people are equal and should respect each other. Buddhists also believe that whatever they hear or read has to be tested. This is unlike most religions that discourage testing of anything that has been said by their gods. Buddhists, however, believe that if something is written in their holy books, then they have the right to test it to be assured that it is true. This, therefore, creates a faith that is transparent and where followers are not subjected to impossible temptations that they cannot overcome and question. Buddhists have the right to question their holy books as well as their god if they have evidence to do so (Patrick, 1982). Buddhists also have many gods. Unlike most religions which followers only believe in one god, Buddhists have a varying number of gods. Some have as many as thousands of gods while others have no god at all. For this, Buddhists believe that one should never argue about the existence of god and they have a saying that they would rather die than argue on god’s existence. The other major belief of Buddhists is the karma belief. This is the belief given especially to children. They are told that if they do wrong, they will get karma which in most cases is considered to be the exact equivalent of what wrong the child has done. Due to this, most of the Buddhist children are upright and in most cases would avoid wrong things. One of the most practic ed beliefs about Buddhists which Ashoka gave me a quick review of is the importance of listening to teachers. Buddhists believe that it is very important for people to listen to their teacher’s advice. They believe that teachers are chosen by Buddha and if one wants to prosper and avoid bad ways, they have to listen to their teachers. It is for this reason that most of the Buddhist teachers are always elderly due to the experience that is needed to attain that position. Teachers are, therefore, much respected people in the society and a Buddhist will never disobey their teacher’s advice. Festivals According to Ashoka, festivals are like the only factor that unites Buddhists all over the world. She informed me that during those early days, it was a tradition for all Buddhists to come together and celebrate the full moon. During this time, they would all gather under the full moon and listen to various teachings and try as much as they could to meditate with their specif ic chants. Even though this festival is losing its taste due to the movement of Buddhists all over the world, it is still a common practice. Apart from this festival, there is the main Buddhist festival that creates a strong sense of belonging to all Buddhists. Their main ritual is known as the Puja and it is always performed by the teacher. The teacher is at the center while the other members of the group are outside and answer to the calls made by the teacher. This practice, according to Ashoka, is practiced to encourage their meditation and normal practices. Ashoka

Health and disease relation to cigarette smoking Essay

Health and disease relation to cigarette smoking - Essay Example port identify that â€Å"among men who smoke cigarettes the death rate from cancer of the lung was 1,000 percent higher than among nonsmokers† and that â€Å"the incidence of coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, was 70 percent higher among smokers† (Brandt 494). Brandt points out how the clash between traditional American libertarian ethic and communitarian ethic has influenced debates on cigarette smoking in the nation. The author also provides an elaborate discussion on accountability for tobacco induced diseases and finally concludes that more attention should be paid to the social responsibility theory for addressing the issue. Proponents of cigarette smoking emphasize on traditional American libertarian ethic which stress on individual freedom and individual decisions. As such they regard governmental interference on smoking behavior as an â€Å"unjustifiable intrusion into individual decisions† (Brandt 500). They also hold that rather than regulating the smoking behavior of the public government’s duty is only to inform them of its potential dangers. On the other hand, communitarian ethic holds that exposure to other peoples cigarette smoke cause serious health problems to non-smokers in the community. Various researches on the risks of side stream smoke and the addictive nature of cigarettes also emphasize the need to delegitimize and stigmatize cigarette smoking. The communitarian ethic thus views smoking as a moral issue as its health effects on the non-smoking community are quite dangerous. This tension between traditional American libertarian ethic and communitarian ethic on cigarette smoking raises a number of questions on who should shoulder the responsibility of the risks associated with cigarette smoking. While many attribute this responsibility to the tobacco industry there are others who stress on governmental accountability. The first Surgeon Generals Report emphasizes on governmental intervention and

Islam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Islam - Assignment Example Other masters have also taken on social inequality, whereas sometimes putting their own lives on the line in their attempts to change political and social conditions for spiritual revival and improved living conditions. Sufism’s missionary activities have led to an increased number of their faithful. It is impossible to overstate the importance the spiritual education, as well as inculcation of such virtues as veneration of the prophet, faith in the love of God, piety, and trust in God. Sufism’s dhikr formulas are still preservative of their quieting and consoling power that it has on the illiterate. Persian literature and literature that influenced Persian literature is permeated by mysticism. This literature has aided millions by being a source of happiness. However, several modernists have argued against this literature because of its narcotic-like influence on the thoughts of Muslims. However, modern life and the effects of industrialization have caused a constant d ecline in Sufism’s influence in many states. People who attempt to show that mysticism and modern science conform have preserved the order’s spiritual heritage. This is because mysticism is central to the beliefs of the order. 2. Explain in detail the five pillars of Islam The five pillars of Islam are the most important Islamic pillars. These are five obligations that all Muslims are required to satisfy so as to live a responsible and good Islamic life. The first pillar is â€Å"Shahadah†, which is a basic statement that states that there is no God, but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. This statement is the basic one in Islam with those who cannot recite the statement wholeheartedly considered as non-Muslims. Muslims who recite this statement proclaim that they will obey all Islamic commitments in their life; Allah is the only God, and Muhammad is his prophet; and that they accept the statement to be true. The second pillar of Islam is â€Å"Salat†, which are the obligatory prayers said by Muslims five times a day. Allah ordered that Muslims pray every day at five set times. These are; Salat al-fair, which is at dawn, Salat al-zhur, which is at midday, Salat al-‘asr, which is just before the sun sets, Salat-al-maghrib, which is said just following sunset, and Salat al-‘isha, which is said between midnight and sunset. Every Muslim tries to abide by the set times with even children encouraged to pray. The third pillar of Islam, Zakat, refers to the compulsory giving to charity of a particular proportion of a person’s wealth. Muslims as a form of self-purification and worship regard Zakat. It is not referent to charitable gifts from Muslims given out of generosity or even kindness; however, it refers to systematic offering of 2.5% of a Muslim person’s wealth every year for the benefit of poor people. Sawm is the fourth pillar of Islam with a requirement for all Muslims to fast on Ramadan. During the entir e period of Ramadan, every adult Muslim is required to give up various things, including sexual activity, smoking of any kind, as well as food and drink. The fifth and final pillar of Islam is Hajj. Once every year, there is a gathering in Mecca of diverse groups of Muslims praising Allah together in front of the Kaaba. It is meant for the promotion of sisterhood and brotherhood among Muslims to show that they are all equal

Knowledge Management organizational practice Essay

Knowledge Management organizational practice - Essay Example One popular characterization of KM defines it as "the explicit and systematic management of vital knowledge and its associated processes of creating, gathering, organizing, diffusion, use and exploitation, in pursuit of organizational objectives" (Skyrme, 2002, p. 4). Traditionally, two major views have been presented in the scholarly literature on KM, namely: the informational resources management (or management of explicit knowledge) and management, which creates the environment in which people could easily develop and share the knowledge. The key distinction between these two views is that they adopt different views on the importance of the two basic forms of knowledge that exist within any organizational setting. Knowledge is an abstract multilateral concept which encompasses a wide range of facts, specific skills, procedural knowledge etc. Although the elements of knowledge seem to be equally important there have been many attempts to arrange the internal structure of knowledge in a sort of order. One of the most popular classifications of knowledge widely applied in the organisational research is based on the distinction between tacit and explicit knowledge Tacit knowledge as a specific form of knowledge in organizational setting was identified by Polanyi (1962). (Polanyi, 1966). Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) define tacit knowledge as "... highly personal and hard to formalize. Subjective insights, intuitions and hunches fall into this category of knowledge" (p. 40). In other words, tacit knowledge is knowledge which exists 'within' or inside individuals and, therefore, it is extremely difficult to express, transfer or share with others (Newell et al. 2002, p. 3). By contrast, the explicit knowledge is the form of knowledge that allegedly can be explained by individuals. This implies that the useful knowledge possessed by each individual can be articulated and made explicit (accessible to other members of the organization). Explicit knowledge can then be transferred across the whole organization in codified form (e.g. documents, drawings, procedures, manuals, databases, etc.) with information systems playing the key role in the transfer (Sanchez). Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) define explicit knowledge as follows: "can be expressed in words and numbers and can be easily communicated and shared in the form of hard data, scientific formulae, codified procedures or universal principles" (p. 40). Explicit knowledge in organizations is commonly stored in databases and other documents; the place of tacit knowledge is in the brains of people. Several knowledge management programmes implemented in the organisational practice paid specific attention to converting tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge believing such approach would result in substantial benefits. However, such attempts mostly proved useless and ineffective because no document, database or other source of explicit knowledge has the potential to adequately replicate the experience accumulated by human being over long years of work. The cognitive

Ohashi Atake No Yudachi Sudden Shower Over Shin-Ohashi Bridge And Essay

Ohashi Atake No Yudachi Sudden Shower Over Shin-Ohashi Bridge And Atake. Research Paper - Essay Example Indeed such abstractions have empowered the picture to attract its viewers universally. It is evident that Hiroshige’s artwork communicates with the viewers through a particular space-time matrix that essentially has exceeded the limitation of time. Hiroshige’s â€Å"Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake† is fraught with a set of themes that serve him with the scope to convey a versatile and multifaceted meaning. Formal Analysis In a typical evening, it has suddenly started to rain heavily from the sagging dark clouds. The almost discernible raindrops have formed an opaque curtain of slant crisscrossing lines showing their downward tracks. Through this curtain of rains, one can see the massive Shin Ohashi Bridge, standing high in the gray-blue expanse of the Sumida. Hurrying men and women are trying to protect themselves with umbrellas, a traditional Japanese straw mat or hat from the torrents of rain. Meanwhile, the boatman in the Sumida River is saili ng to his destination in an indifferent posture to the torrents of rains. ... Japanese Ukiyo-e or a picture of ‘floating world’ often ventures to capture the beauty of a short-fleeting moment, as a contemporary Japanese artist, Asai Ryoi defines ,it as following: â€Å"Living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms [Sakura] and the maple leaves†¦.diverting ourselves in just floating, floating... refusing to be disheartened†¦..this is what we call the floating world.†2 The theme of an Ukiyo-e often is associated with to ‘empathy towards things’ or ‘a sensitivity of transience of things†3 since an Ukiyo-e is the visual version of ‘mono no aware’. According to Khoon Choy Lee, the overriding theme of an Ukiyo-e is the awareness of the transience, of things, that produces a sense of bittersweet cognition of how things flow inevitably flow out into the past.4 Since things flow out the past or beauty is not everlasting, human attempt to retain it forever essentially gives birth to the pathos.5 In the three-dimensional landscape of Shin-Ohashi, the iconographic appearance of the hurrying men and women sketched from a remote vantage point and viewed through the opaque curtain of rain conveys the static dynamism of his theme of the floating world. Indeed the opacity rainy texture contributes to the picture’s mysterious and uncertain environment. The artist’s vantage in the picture greatly allows the remote objects and the people turn into almost abstraction using contours in implied lines. Though the use of light and shadow clearly contributes to the realism of Hiroshige’s work, the glow of the light surpasses the reality of its atmosphere and adds to its surrealism to a

The French artist Gustave Courbet Essay Example for Free

The French artist Gustave Courbet Essay In the late nineteenth century faith in science and technology reflected a growing sense that people could observe the facts of everyday life carefully, understand them, and use the understanding to control the world more successfully than ever before. The artists also closely observed contemporary life in their paintings. During the second half of the century their focus included the methods of science and the realities of urban life. The romanticism of the early-nineteenth-century culture – which had idealized love, religion, and the exotic – gave way to a gritty sense of realism. Realists felt free to look modern life full in the face and both praise its successes and criticize its failings. Innovative painters turned to realistic depictions of life on their canvases. The French artist Gustave Courbet (1819-77) who believed that the artist should â€Å"never permit the sentiment to overthrow logic† led the attack on the romantic art by painting sober senses of urban life and rural labor. Gustave Courbet is today known as a â€Å"realist† for his essentially unsentimental portrayal of life in the mid-nineteenth century. One of the most famous of his early works is his vast A burial at Ornans (fig. 1) of 1849. Its acute description of this simple yet profound ceremony seems to have provoked very specific, sometimes vehement, responses in the years immediately after its unveiling, and as a result the realism was thought to be motivated by little more than socialist concerns. The negative reaction to this subject matter should not come as a surprise, as throughout the history of western art few artists had ever considered the plight and devoting of the peasant as a topic worthy of serious attention – other than for overtly sentimental or moralizing reasons . But it would be misleading to view Courbet as principally a politically motivated painter; instead, his work asserts a very modern notion that an artist is first and foremost a social barometer of the age and context. Courbet’s painting technique is not easy to describe because of its variety and disregard for the academic rules governing composition. He often inserted his figures as if they were removable set pieces. In spite of this ‘collage’ technique, many of his pictures look as if they had been painted at a single sitting because of their unity of color. They were in fact often produced very quickly. Courbet prided himself on being able to paint a picture in two hours as well as produce several versions of equal quality. On the other hand Courbet’s pictures frequently form a closed world: landscapes can give the impression of being locked away, and, though they are at close quarters, people may turn away from the viewer like in The Stone-breakers. Thus a stiff composition is often found in conjunction with a fluid use of color. The special quality of Courbet’s work is really achieved by means of color. Courbet initially imitated 17th-century Dutch and Spanish painters (Rembrandt, Hals, Velazquez, Ribera) from whom he derived the use of black as the starting-point. He employed a dark ground throughout his life, but the treatment of surfaces changed. Courbet resorted more and more to using broad brushes: he rejected detailed academic painting. By working increasingly with a spatula and palette knife he gave color a special, substantial quality, which influenced van Gogh and Cezanne . In 1861 Courbet wrote: â€Å"An epoch can be reproduced only by its own artists. I mean artists who have lived in it. I hold that the artists of the century are fundamentally incompetent to represent the things of a past or future century†¦ It is in this sense that I deny the existence of an historical art applied to the past. † This was, of course, an affront to the academic standards of Neo-Classicism, but it also was an artistic call to arms for expression tied directly to the events, traumas, and psychology of the age – art as a dynamic if sometimes uncertain voice within culture, rather than a decorative or didactic tool. This opinion did not go over very well in critical circles, since most influential writers and â€Å"taste-makers† still viewed art as a tool for moral elevation and profound teaching, and consequently saw everyday events as simplistic and unworthy subject matter. As a result, Burial at Ornans was rejected at the Universal Exposition of 1855 . Courbet responded by setting up his own show in a tent next to the official exhibition. In the process, the always flamboyant Courbet sealed his reputation as a master of self-promotion, again a posture considered unworthy of an artist in earlier times, and a politically astute artist. Some critics assert that a dramatically different view of art can alter the way in which the artist, and thus the viewer, comes to appreciate an artwork’s meaning . It is known that there is an important reciprocal relationship between contemporary ideas in other fields of human inquiry and those in the visual arts. If one attentively considers Courbet’s The stone Breakers (fig. 2) of 1849 one can understand that the relationship between form and content is no less important to Courbet, but his choice of conventions to accentuate his message is telling. Though Courbet understood and even utilized a number of traditional compositional devices in his execution of work, the seemingly natural gestures of the figures give the impression of an authentic and perhaps more â€Å"natural† space. Rather than developing an architectural framework or other mathematically derived pictorial structure, Courbet’s painting enables the viewer to enter into the scene with few external or otherwise presumed considerations other that the labors of the two man. As a result, one’s concentration is thrust upon these two solitary figures and their brute activity; if there is any heroism present, it must rest with the travails of the workers, and the elevation of the here and now. The two men’s tattered clothing and averted faces make them seem anonymous and therefore representative of many other workers. While there is dignity in their work, Courbet does not glorify either the stonebreakers or nature. The scene, like the men’s lives, is harsh. Painted only a year after the 1848 revolt in France, it speaks of an art for the masses and a creative process intimately linked to the stresses of the street. This is what â€Å"realism† meant to Courbet. Courbet like other realistic artists depicted everyday life on large canvases, and thereby earned the wrath of those artists and critics who believed that only paintings of historical, mythological religious or exotic scenes should be considered great art. Figure 1 Courbet, Gustave A Burial at Ornans 1849-1850 Oil on canvas 10 3 1/2 x 21 9 (314 x 663 cm) Musee dOrsay, Paris Figure 2 Courbet, Gustave The Stone Breakers 1849 Oil on canvas 10 3 x 8 6 (160 x 259 cm) Formerly Gemaeldegalerie, Dresden (Destroyed 1945) Bibliography Berger, K. â€Å"Courbet in his Century†, Gazette des Beaux-Arts, II (1943): pp. 19–40 Joseph C. Sloane â€Å"The Tradition of Figure Painting and Concepts of Modern Art in France from 1845 to 1870† The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Sep. , 1948), pp. 1-29 Novotny, Fritz. Painting and Sculpture in Europe, 1780 to 1880. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1960. Schapiro M. â€Å"Courbet and Popular Imagery. An Essay on Realism and Naivete†, Journal of the Warburg Courtauld Institutes, IV (1941): pp. 164–91 Weir, David. Anarchy Culture: The Aesthetic Politics of Modernism. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 1997.

Sylvia Plath and Spirited Away Essay Example for Free

Sylvia Plath and Spirited Away Essay The inner journey is a metaphysical process in which an individual travels into their own psyche often resulting in form of self realization. Although the journey is not physical, an inner journey is a powerful tool in which one can enhance their knowledge of the world and their own human nature, commonly encountering imaginative obstacles which assist in the individual’s self-realization. The texts that I will use to illustrate the inner journeys are â€Å"You’re† and â€Å"A Birthday Present† by Sylvia Plath and The animated film â€Å"Spirited Away† directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Sylvia Plath utilizes the inner journey as a way to explore aspects of her life through the medium of poetry. Her poem â€Å"You’re† explores the emotional journey of an expecting mother, using poetic techniques to highlight the joys and mysteries of the baby in the womb, In contrast to Sylvia Plath’s poem â€Å"A Birthday Present† which explores the persona’s fear of death, despite desperation to end ones life, effectively using techniques to highlight the fear and want for death. Comparatively Hayao Miyazaki utilizes his film â€Å"Spirited Away† to demonstrate the protagonist’s, Chihro journey to develops and overcome circumstances to become a self-sufficient and self-reflective girl, by emphasizing the development with camera techniques and layout of particular scenes. These texts demonstrate the importance of inner journeys, demonstrating how journeys result in knowledge of their own nature and the world around them. Plath’s poem â€Å"You’re† conveys, a deep sense of joy and excitement, as a mother goes through the emotional journey, going through the delight of bearing a child, while still going through the mysterious and vagueness of the child referencing it to the furthest place imagined, for the persona â€Å"farther off than Australia†. Plath uses a range of techniques to express the joy of bearing a child and the warm comfort of it being â€Å"wrapped up in yourself like a spool†, the simile reinforces the idea of always being safe and loved, as well as the metaphor â€Å"Snug as a bud† creating the sense of the small baby being safe. It can also be lively and playful â€Å"Jumpy as a Mexican bean† all the techniques restate that the journey so far is positive and delightful and how she continues to try to understand her coming child with similes â€Å"like a sprat in a pickle jug†. However the mother experiences the mysteries and vagueness of the unborn child, noting her difficulty in describing it, she relies on terms from the world she knows for example â€Å"gilled like a fish† comparing it to a fish as it is all wrinkled and complex, as well as describing it as a â€Å"travelled prawn† and â€Å"moon skulled†, we understand the difficulty of understanding how it looks. The mother continues to try describing and understand the child she is about to have using the metaphor â€Å"vague as fog† to show how mysterious and undefined the child is, yet it is still eagerly anticipated and â€Å"looked for like mail† showing no matter what, the mother is overcome by joy on having the child. The Mother ventures through all these emotions, grasping to understand the unborn child, using similes and metaphors to figure out how the child may be and reflecting upon the joy of it all. Recognizing the uniqueness of the child arriving with its â€Å"own face†. Comparatively Sylvia Plath’s â€Å"A Birthday Present† deals with the persona inner battle of to decide to live on. â€Å"A birthday Present† is an extended metaphor, symbolizing death, allowing the audience to understand the shocking irony of the poem and the persona’s real want of what is â€Å"behind this veil†. However the fear of death is the only obstacle stopping the persona from killing themselves. The inner journey which is present in this poem is of the personas hesitation to kill herself she â€Å"would not mind if it were bones, or a pearl button† demonstrating her want for something tangible, Questioning her inner self if she actually wants it â€Å"can you not give it to me? † the change of voice to reassure herself. Tempting and luring her inner self to choose death with the continuous repetition of â€Å"let down the veil, the veil, the veil†. Ultimately the persona is fearful of death stating â€Å"You are terrified† confirming to herself that she is unsure reinforced by the simile â€Å"shimmering like curtains† reflecting the unstable curtains as her uncertainty. However her pessimistic outlook upon life and repetitious suppression of adhering to rules, to rules, to rules† gives her the strength to take her life. Her cynical tone â€Å"My god what a laugh† gives her courage to the view the world pessimistically and take her life, as well as continuously referring her life with little importance â€Å"I will only take it and go aside quietly†, â€Å"A marvel to your grandchildren †¦ it is not so† stating that no one will care after she is gone. The persona is now definite about taking her life and that â€Å"only you can give it to me†, representing now that behind the veil is death and how she asks for a quick death â€Å"you will not hear me opening it†. And that there is nothing left to fear as â€Å"the universe slide[s] from my side†, showing that through the inner journey the persona was able to understand the pessimistic world around her and how utilizing repetition, rhetorical questions and cynical tone to find the courage to no longer fear death. Comparatively â€Å"Spirited Away† is both a mental and physical journey to save her parents, which results in the growth and self-realization of Chihiro’s true self, facing challenges that allow Chihiro to learn lessons such as patience and understanding to survive and return home, with important scenes and symbolic items throughout the film to represent Chihiro’s growth. Chihiro was bought up in materialistic and idle world â€Å"don’t worry, you’ve got Daddy here. He’s got credit cards and cash† as well shown when Chihiro lying on the backseat, which is in shocking transition to when Chihiro has to work for herself in the bath house. At first she works ineffectively with other workers commenting â€Å"get out of the way†, representing her incompatibility and unwelcomed arrival, however she slowly progresses and gradually through the determination to save her parents becomes better, with the scene of washing of the stink spirit determining her capabilities to grow and become accepted, with rejoicing music and cheers from fellow workers, showing a close up a shot of Chihiro showing a sense a achievement and happiness, demonstrating Chihiro’s growth of maturity through working at the bath house. In comparison we learn Chihiro is a stoic young girl fearful of changes, shown in the first scene when her flowers start to die representing her old life wilting away. Yubaba takes away Chihiro’s name, she appears completely frightened, whimpering and shaking in a close up shot when Yubaba, and only takes the job to survive. Chihro clings desperately to her old self shown crying and curling up in a ball, with classical music playing in the background emphasizing the scene. Yet during her time as Sen her true self develops, showing unconditional compassion and kindness to several of the bathhouse inhabitants, especially Haku. One particular scene when Sen climbs the bathhouse to reach Haku, demonstrates her growth to protect Haku, even when endangering her life. Using the low angle camera shot to add to the enormity of seeing Chihiro on the roof tying her clothes, to risk her life to save Haku, portraying Chihiro’s growth to not only face her fears, but do so for others. She develops to also be able to stand up to Yubaba, in the final test, a high angle long shot, shows Chihiro striding confidently across the bridge as well as a close up of Chihiro’s determined face while facing Yubaba, depicting Chihiro no longer a scared frightened girl that she used to be. In â€Å"Spirited Away† Chihiro goes on a inner journey, which develops her from the immature, fearful child to the self-sufficient and self-reflective young girl, portrayed by the camera angles and shots and symbolism.

Question Of The American Political Culture Politics Essay

Question Of The American Political Culture Politics Essay The question on American political culture has been one of the most debated topic among scholars and policy makers in political, while there is an clear understanding on what might be the source of differences between United state and other western countries, it has been complicated to understand why Americans govern themselves the way they do. The purpose of this paper is to examine the origin of protest movement such as Tea Parties, Birthers and their involvement on domestic and foreign policies, by looking at individualism, patriotism, and political involvement. With more focus on what Richard R. Lau and Caroline Heldman called the role of self-interest and symbolic attitudes American political culture emphases on egalitarianism and individualism, there are belief that Americans specifically the elite champion the ideal of autonomy, more than in any other industrial society , for the elites in America they believe governments activities to be harmful and see individual achievement to be more American ( Wilson 1997, 483) According to Almond and Verba (1963) Political culture is defined as beliefs, the attitudes, and values which emphasize the function of a particular political system. Moreover, political culture is made up of cognitive, affective, and evaluative orientations towards the political system These include skills and knowledge about the operation of the political system, negative and positive emotional feelings towards it, and evaluative judgments about the system. Furthermore, Political culture is a unique and patterned form of political philosophy that consists of attitudes on how governmental, political, and economic life should be carried out (Almond and Verba, 1963). Political cultures create a framework for political change and are unique to nations, states, and other groups. A political culture differs from political ideology in that people can disagree on an ideology for example; what government should do, but still share a common political culture. This was demonstrated in US duri ng the health care debate when most republic disagree with Obama plan to provide health care coverage to lower income Americans, for them these are not the role of the federal government to run social services as big as that. Scholars in political science have come up with different methods that allows us to understand what type of political culture influences American politics, these include, individualism, pluralism, cooperative or competiveness, hierarchically or egalitarian, whether tradition or reason work as a justification (http://www.answers.com/topic/political-culture) Looking at individualism in America, Tocqueville describes individualism as a reflective and tranquil sentiment that disposes each citizen to cut himself off from the mass of his fellow men. (Turner, 2008) He argues that American individualists are blind to social structure; more precisely they are blind to the ways that social structure both enables and constrains personal freedom and well-being. This blindness allows individualists to deny both their indebtedness to society and their moral responsibility for structural injustice..( Brooks 2009). Tocqueville idea of individualism describes a pattern of public withdrawal, so long as government protects the property of individualists and allows them to pursue their private happiness; they will leave public affairs to other men and invest all of their energies in private projects. (Turner 2008) Moreover how individualism contributes to political culture in American politics is still a topic of Study, scholars like Fischer explains how Americas high economic inequality by Americas exceptionally is attributed to individualistic culture. One attributes the inequality and Americans passivity about it to structural or political forces. In his argument, fisher quotes Williams who suggested, The ultimate source of action, meaning, and responsibility is the individual rather than the group. We Americans hold individuals personally responsible for their crimes and do not exact revenge on their kin; we frown on nepotism; we find suicide attacks unfathomable. Such a culture describes the individual self as unique and asocial. (Fisher 2008, 364) For evidence that individualism plays a role in American politics, Williamss points to the emphasis in American law on individual rights Tocquevilles (1969: 506-508) argument that equality eventually generates an egoism such that Americans look after their own needs, they owe no man anything and hardly expect anything from anybodyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Americans are likelier to attribute the outcome-say, a traffic accident-to individual will or traits, while Indians and Saudi Arabians more often attribute them to social demands. (Fischer 365). However there are disagreement among scholars how much individualistic are American compare to other western democratic countries, Fisher pointed to different survey demonstrating that American are not as much individualist as are Europeans, for him most American believe in church and group participation, as he pointed out And Americans were least likely to defend the individual against national interests; for example, they were among the lowest in endorsing the idea that the individuals should refuse to support their countries when the nation was in the wrong and to say they would be willing to leave the country for better conditions. With the above arguments one will wonder what exactly constitute American political culture. For Fischer what distinguishes American culture is not individualism but voluntarism. In contrast to societies based on corporate communities into which individuals are born and to which they are organically bound, American society defines groups-with the great exception of racial groups( Fischer 2008, 368) Moreover, Scholars have argued on how much power patriotism has in American political culture, and what role does it have in forming protests movements in America. Patriotism is known to be another tool used by scholars to understand and explain American political culture and the formation of different movements, according to Huddy and Khatib Patriotism items are commonly tinged with political ideology in the United States, resulting in greater apparent patriotism among political conservatives than liberals (Ruddy and Khatid 2007, 63). According to oxford dictionary, Patriotism is defined as the quality of being patriotic; vigorous support for ones country. Huddy and Khatid categorized four different type (scales) of patriotism, including, symbolic, national pride, uncritical, and constructive (Huddy and Khatid, 2007) Constructive patriotism is a complex form of patriotism, as a mixing of love of country with political efforts directed at a change in the status quo. In it addition th ere is another form of patriotism as stated by Huddy and Khatid as blind patriotism and it is known to contain the following reverse-worded item: For the most part, people who protest and demonstrate against U.S. policy are good, upstanding, intelligent people. (Huddy and Khatid 2007, 65) This seems theoretically similar to the following item from the constructive patriotism which believes that: If you love America, you should notice its problems and work to correct them. (Schatz, Staub, and Lavine 1999).as cited in Huddy and Khatid 2007, 65) National identity is extremely endorsed in the United States which might include the first three categories of patriotism; however, an expected positive link between national identity and political involvement stands in marked contrast to the predicted effects of other forms of patriotism. A strong national identity is expected to increase political involvement. Turner and colleagues self categorization theory, an offshoot of social identity theory, predicts that individuals with a strong group identity are most likely to conform to group norms (Turner et al. 1987; Terry, Hogg, and White 1999) as cited in (Ruddy and Khatid 2007, 65). Acts of civic participation are viewed by political theorists as central to national identity in democratic countries and constitute what is seen as normative behavior for a good citizen (Conover, Searing, and Crewe 2004) as cited in (Ruddy and Khatid 2007, 65) however this has been challenged in past 8 years on civic participation and political involvem ent as the number of voters in US history has been decreasing up to less than 60 percent of population are the one voting , some link low turnout to complex voting process/culture ( cultural or structural). (Brooks 2009) This question on political participation has been the center of discussion among scholars who study American political culture, as they look to how much power individual hold and how far away people believe the Government should be out of their private property. However, one should not limit his search of American political culture only patriotism and individual to explain how American governs themselves. For a fool list that we should look at include what Lipset argue to be American Exceptionalism values that consist of ; Liberty, Laisez-Faire, Equalitanasism , Populism, Idealism, Openness, and religiosity. (Brooks, 2009) To understand the origin of protest movement, we will need to go back to Huddy definition of Constructive patriotism as a complex, and mixing a love of country with political efforts directed at a change in the status quo. For Huddy and Khatid American patriots believe that a good citizen who love America should notice its problems and work to correct them, with that spirit, protest movements like the Tea parties, Birthers and even right-wing talk radio are formed, with the believe that they should help prevent problems in their country. Among the mentioned protest movements, the Tea Parties are known to be the most recent vocal group in America, and scholars have been studying these movements agendas from the time they gained the media attention. The Tea Party movement is known to have emerged in 2009 through a series of locally and nationally coordinated protests, and is more a conservative political movement,. In 2009 this movement had gatherings and meeting to demonstrate their o bjection to several Federal laws proposed by Obama administration, including the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Federal Reserve Transparency Act and health care reform bills (Seleny 2009). These and other protest movements demonstrate how patriotism and individualism strengthen what is known today as American political culture, in otherworld, these two complex concepts explains how American govern themselves, with higher believe in individual freedom of choice, less government interferences in people lives, and more the idea of being an American, the notion of patriotism and how it is related to the formation of protest movement as well as how is it linked to the idea of individualism. In short, to understand what is wrong with the way Americans govern themselves, and what is right about it? One should look at their political culture and believes, scholars have pointed to two main concept that were discussed above, they include, individualism and patriotism, these two concepts are known to be the main engine of what is known as American politics, they have been the main root of protest movement like the Tea Party and others movements that base their idea on freedom and equality of opportunity but much more in individualism and the sense of being an American which involves patriotism and love of their country.

no paper :: essays research papers

i don't have a paper. While the Brothers Glazer have been hailed as everything from geniuses to gangsters for procuring Jon Gruden to be their head coach, it should be noted that they also have been incredibly fortuitous. Remember, they tried to get Gruden from the Raiders before, and Al Davis was not willing to negotiate then. For some reason, he was willing Sunday night. If Davis had not been willing, the Bucs would not have Gruden or Steve Mariucci. The Glazers, then, almost assuredly would not have been able to hire the kind of head coach they wanted, or repair the damage to their reputation. Remember, they had already whiffed at almost every pitch they had taken in the coaching process. So the Glazers should be very grateful indeed to Davis. He gave them more than a coach. He gave them respect from their employees, their fans and the rest of the NFL. There is no price you can put on that. There also is almost no price you can put on a great coach. So the Bucs did not overpay for Gruden in giving up two first round picks, two second round picks and $8 million. It's a lot, but if anyone is worth it, Gruden is. Gruden is a better choice for the Bucs than Bill Parcells. Gruden is a long-term answer. He should be the coach of this team for the next 10 years. Parcells, as great as he is, would have been a quick fix who might have left the organization in shambles in three or four years. Gruden is a better choice for the Bucs than Mariucci. In order to get Gruden, the Bucs didn't have to give him the general manager title. They would have had to give Mariucci the title to get him. The potential is there for a stronger organization with Gruden. One of the reasons the Bucs job initially was so attractive is the Bucs organization has been one of the league's best because of people like GM Rich McKay, personnel director Tim Ruskell and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffen. Hopefully, the process of hiring a head coach hasn't damaged the Bucs to the point where the strengths have become weaknesses. The Bucs need McKay and Ruskell to provide a strong complement to Gruden. Gruden is a better choice for the Bucs than Marvin Lewis. Gruden is a proven head coach, and a special one. no paper :: essays research papers i don't have a paper. While the Brothers Glazer have been hailed as everything from geniuses to gangsters for procuring Jon Gruden to be their head coach, it should be noted that they also have been incredibly fortuitous. Remember, they tried to get Gruden from the Raiders before, and Al Davis was not willing to negotiate then. For some reason, he was willing Sunday night. If Davis had not been willing, the Bucs would not have Gruden or Steve Mariucci. The Glazers, then, almost assuredly would not have been able to hire the kind of head coach they wanted, or repair the damage to their reputation. Remember, they had already whiffed at almost every pitch they had taken in the coaching process. So the Glazers should be very grateful indeed to Davis. He gave them more than a coach. He gave them respect from their employees, their fans and the rest of the NFL. There is no price you can put on that. There also is almost no price you can put on a great coach. So the Bucs did not overpay for Gruden in giving up two first round picks, two second round picks and $8 million. It's a lot, but if anyone is worth it, Gruden is. Gruden is a better choice for the Bucs than Bill Parcells. Gruden is a long-term answer. He should be the coach of this team for the next 10 years. Parcells, as great as he is, would have been a quick fix who might have left the organization in shambles in three or four years. Gruden is a better choice for the Bucs than Mariucci. In order to get Gruden, the Bucs didn't have to give him the general manager title. They would have had to give Mariucci the title to get him. The potential is there for a stronger organization with Gruden. One of the reasons the Bucs job initially was so attractive is the Bucs organization has been one of the league's best because of people like GM Rich McKay, personnel director Tim Ruskell and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffen. Hopefully, the process of hiring a head coach hasn't damaged the Bucs to the point where the strengths have become weaknesses. The Bucs need McKay and Ruskell to provide a strong complement to Gruden. Gruden is a better choice for the Bucs than Marvin Lewis. Gruden is a proven head coach, and a special one.

Sports and Children Essay -- essays papers

Sports and Children We no longer live in a society where kids run around actively throughout the neighborhood. The sandlot baseball games, pick up games in the park, and innocence in the children are gone in sports. Today children are more interested in television, computers, and video games and parents are afraid of letting their children run around the streets because of kidnapping. Kids are simply no longer interested in physical activity. A poll of over a thousand parents and one with students was done and the results show they blame inactivity on lack of time and homework. Whatever the cause is, we can see results with studies throughout the last few years. * 22% of children are physically active everyday of the week. * 49% in grade 4-12 are moderately to vigorously active. * 34% attend Physical Education classes daily. * 23% don’t have these classes offered, because no all states have educational requirements for PE and some have budget cuts in the program. * 54% of children ages 6-11 are obese, with the obesity rates till on the rise (Hellmich 1997). There are a number of federal, state, and local school programs to help students reach fitness goals. The missing link in having physically fit children seems to be the parents. They are allowing children to remain sedentary with the television and computers. Not enough children have parents who monitor their child’s activity schedules, expose them to physical activity, and who serve as role models in being active themselves. Sports involvement and competition is very important in a child’s life, but sometimes can go too far. Physical activity offers both positive and negative aspects in a child’s life. Physical activity is an integral part of the learning process at all grade levels/ Unfit children develop low opinions of themselves, dislike activity, and develop antisocial attitudes. Children need the physical and mental benefits of sports. Kids involved in sports will physically feel better about their bodies by being fit, they are less likely to have the risk of obesity later in life, and more likely to learn new skills (Krucoff 1998). Mentally, sports stimulate the intellectual development, sharpen motor skills, provide emotional and social growth, help with depression, and increase self-confidence. A non-active child that becomes active in a sport program find increas... ...nal Catholic Reporter (on-line) p.21. http://web2.searchbank.com/infotra. Hellmich, N. (1997, July 1). Few kids get daily exercise. USA Today (on-line), p. D, 1:6. Http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?ts. Johnson, K. (1998, June 2). Very Young, and Very Competitive Beyond Play. Christian Science Monitor p.1. Krucoff, C. (1998, September 29). Encouraging kids to participate in sports. The Washington Post (on-line), p. Z20. Http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?ts. Picon, D. Making the best out of youth sports. (on-line), p. 1-5. Http://ridesafeinc.com/wings/stress5.htm. Spaid, E. (1997, June 3). Good sportsmanship declines on the sidelines amid rising tempers, leagues, and parks are insisting on parental cool. Christian Science Monitor (on-line), p. 1:3. Http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?ts stress, anxiety, and energy. Sports Psychology (on-line), p. 1-4. Http://stad.dsl.n1/coach/stresscn.html. Tye, L. (1997, September 30). Injured at an early age. Boston Globe (on-line), p. A, 1:1. Http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?TS. Editorial Parents, practice sportsmanship. (1998, May 11). The Atlanta Constitution (on-line), p. A; 08. Http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?TS.

Ethics Reflection Paper

Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics and social responsibility are key factors when planning one’s personal life or planning for the success of a business. When companies develop strategic plans, they must consider what role ethics will play and how social responsibility will affect the plan keeping stakeholders need at the forefront. If businesses and individuals are making a conscious effort to display ethical behavior, ethical perspectives and beliefs should evolve over time much like what has happened in the master’s of business administration (MBA) program. Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Strategic Planning Ethics are guidelines used to help management and employees conduct themselves according to the values and standards set forth by the company. To ensure employees understand the rules and make good ethical decisions, a company’s plan should embody the beliefs and values that the business and their employees view most important. These beliefs and values can be outlined in a company’s mission, vision, and philosophy statements which provide direction, purpose, and a clear understanding of an organization’s behavioral expectations and decisions made by the stakeholders. When adhered to, the mission and vision statements can be the baseline for goal-setting and strategic planning while keeping ethics at the core of all decisions. Pearson and Robinson (2004) stated â€Å"central to the belief that companies should be operated in a socially responsive way for the benefit of all stakeholders is the belief that managers will behave in an ethical manner† (p. 60). Even with a plan in place and ethical guidelines established, unethical behavior is always a possibility which could occur at a management or subordinate level. Too many top-level management and executives have acted inappropriately and have violated company policies. This was witnessed through events such as the Enron, WorldCom, and Bernie Madoff scandals where unethical behavior was called into question. Employees, specifically those in a management position, have an obligation to do what is right for the sake of their customers, the industry, and to help maintain the company’s image and reputation. When this fails to happen, the owners and board of directors must take the appropriate action to get rid of those individuals, not only to set an example but to make the point that unethical behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances. To minimize the possibility that similar atrocities will occur, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was instituted to mandate Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Chief Financial Officers (CFO) to take responsibility for reports generated and to acknowledge that the information included in the reports are true and accurate to the best of their knowledge. If the information is not true or is fraudulent, both have a responsibility to report the findings to auditors. Like ethical behavior, â€Å"social responsibility is a critical consideration for a company’s strategic decision makers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pearson & Robinson, 2004, p. 23). Owners need to ensure that they hire managers who are going to carry out their wishes and be the voice in their absence instead of managers who will protect their self-interests. Decisions made by management have to be aligned with the beliefs of the owner and the company’s stakeholders to guarantee profitability and survivability. To encourage managers to make appropriate and ethical decisions, owners and executives should provide incentives through bonuses, appraisals, and recognition programs. Managers who do receive performance incentives will be held accountable by stakeholders. Stakeholders include stockholders who want a good return on investment, employees seeking job satisfaction, satisfied customers and suppliers, governments seeking law abiding companies, competitors seeking strong competition, responsible citizens and the public seeking a good quality of life (Pearson & Robinson, 2004). Outside of being accountable to owners and the business, managers also have to select the ethical approach that will ensure the consumer is getting the best service at a reasonable cost, jobs are being offered to those who need them, consumers do not have to fear product risk, and that they are taking care of their financial responsibilities to the government. Regardless of the approach selected, consistency is important as not to send a signal of injustice and consistency allows companies and individuals to reach their end-state goals without having to waste time and money. Ethical Perspectives At the start of the MBA program, ethics and ethical behavior were and still are a very important part of conducting business and in how others are treated and perceived. This program reemphasized the importance of the role of ethics and how people in society should work hard to create a personal and corporate culture that fosters accountability and ensures everyone conducts business in an ethical manner. Being a part of a team during each class was a very good test of ethics, beliefs, and the ability to display patience and understanding towards other people. Some team members had little respect and showed disregard for others or their feelings. Although assignment completion was the most important aspect, some members were written off because of a lack of effective writing abilities, communication, or personal skills. Although many of those decisions were based on personal preference, one still has to question if the decisions were right or wrong. A major source of failure in most team assignments as well as collaborative projects within an organization is usually caused by a lack of admiration for individual judgment. Respect for individual judgment was evident in the Assessment of Ethical Choices in the Workplace (2009). When teammates acknowledge the judgment of others, they encourage open communication, build trust, and promote cohesiveness that could potentially prevent unethical behavior from occurring. Having an ethical profile closely aligned with character is an asset when trying to judge others (University of Phoenix, 2009). Conclusion For businesses and individuals to remain successful there must be intent to remain ethical and socially responsible. The ethical and social decisions made have to support the better good of the organization or society and every effort should be made to call attention to and reject improper behavior. Although one might perceive his or her ethical concepts to be intact, improvement is always encouraged. References Pearson, J. A. , & Robinson, R. B. (2004). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (9th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethical choices in the workplace. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethics awareness inventory. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. Ethics Reflection Paper When explaining the role of ethics and social responsibility in developing a strategic plan, the stakeholders need to be considered. So it’s not just customers and employees now you have these people who have invested in your company. â€Å"Each of these interest groups has justifiable reasons for expecting (and often for demanding) that the firm satisfy their claims in a responsible manner. In general, stockholders claim appropriate returns on their investment; employees seek broadly defined job satisfactions; customers want what they pay for; suppliers seek dependable buyers; governments want adherence to legislation; unions seek benefits for their members; competitors want fair competition; local communities want the firm to be a responsible citizen; and the general public expects the firm’s existence to improve the quality of life. † There are two kinds of stakeholders the inside ones and the outside ones, the issues are that they both look at the company mission for a social responsibility towards society and at the same time the financial interests of the stockholders. For example an outside stakeholder may demand that an insider would be subordinated for the well being of the society and vice versa. This starts to get complex by thinking you’re running a company that needs to make a profit to succeed but at the same time must answer to a social responsibility and particular ethics point of view. An example of a company being socially responsible while making a profit is Toyota. They make the top selling Prius which is the hybrid that leads in developing efficient gas-electric vehicles. There are four types of social responsibilities for which strategic planners must plan, which are: economic, legal, ethical and discretionary. In economic is assumed that the company is providing goods and services at a cost that’s reasonable. In legal responsibilities the company must adhere to the laws that regulate it. In ethical responsibilities the company must have a notion of right and wrong that’s well defined and most of all ethical. In discretionary responsibilities are those that voluntary and throughout those sometimes the company tries to enhance their image. Ethics â€Å"refers to the moral principles that reflect society’s beliefs about the actions of an individual or a group that are right and wrong. † The perception of ethics in business has currently hit a all time low, this could be due to the never ending recession and others. Throughout the program my view of ethics in the workplace has evolved and is no longer so black and white anymore. I have learned that the ethical perspective of a individual not necessarily is the same view of a organization. The company has to think about the whole company and also the impact on society. While the individual’s perspective come from him alone, and how he vies society. References: Casio, W. (2005). Managing Human Resources: Productivity, Quality of Work Life, Profits 7th Edition New York Mac Graw-Hill. University of Phoenix. (2010). InterClean Scenario [Computer Software]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, Simulation, HRM/531 Mondy, R. (2008). Human Resource Management 10th Edition Prentice Hall. Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics and social responsibility are key factors when planning one’s personal life or planning for the success of a business. When companies develop strategic plans, they must consider what role ethics will play and how social responsibility will affect the plan keeping stakeholders need at the forefront. If businesses and individuals are making a conscious effort to display ethical behavior, ethical perspectives and beliefs should evolve over time much like what has happened in the master’s of business administration (MBA) program. Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Strategic Planning Ethics are guidelines used to help management and employees conduct themselves according to the values and standards set forth by the company. To ensure employees understand the rules and make good ethical decisions, a company’s plan should embody the beliefs and values that the business and their employees view most important. These beliefs and values can be outlined in a company’s mission, vision, and philosophy statements which provide direction, purpose, and a clear understanding of an organization’s behavioral expectations and decisions made by the stakeholders. When adhered to, the mission and vision statements can be the baseline for goal-setting and strategic planning while keeping ethics at the core of all decisions. Pearson and Robinson (2004) stated â€Å"central to the belief that companies should be operated in a socially responsive way for the benefit of all stakeholders is the belief that managers will behave in an ethical manner† (p. 60). Even with a plan in place and ethical guidelines established, unethical behavior is always a possibility which could occur at a management or subordinate level. Too many top-level management and executives have acted inappropriately and have violated company policies. This was witnessed through events such as the Enron, WorldCom, and Bernie Madoff scandals where unethical behavior was called into question. Employees, specifically those in a management position, have an obligation to do what is right for the sake of their customers, the industry, and to help maintain the company’s image and reputation. When this fails to happen, the owners and board of directors must take the appropriate action to get rid of those individuals, not only to set an example but to make the point that unethical behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances. To minimize the possibility that similar atrocities will occur, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was instituted to mandate Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Chief Financial Officers (CFO) to take responsibility for reports generated and to acknowledge that the information included in the reports are true and accurate to the best of their knowledge. If the information is not true or is fraudulent, both have a responsibility to report the findings to auditors. Like ethical behavior, â€Å"social responsibility is a critical consideration for a company’s strategic decision makers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pearson & Robinson, 2004, p. 23). Owners need to ensure that they hire managers who are going to carry out their wishes and be the voice in their absence instead of managers who will protect their self-interests. Decisions made by management have to be aligned with the beliefs of the owner and the company’s stakeholders to guarantee profitability and survivability. To encourage managers to make appropriate and ethical decisions, owners and executives should provide incentives through bonuses, appraisals, and recognition programs. Managers who do receive performance incentives will be held accountable by stakeholders. Stakeholders include stockholders who want a good return on investment, employees seeking job satisfaction, satisfied customers and suppliers, governments seeking law abiding companies, competitors seeking strong competition, responsible citizens and the public seeking a good quality of life (Pearson & Robinson, 2004). Outside of being accountable to owners and the business, managers also have to select the ethical approach that will ensure the consumer is getting the best service at a reasonable cost, jobs are being offered to those who need them, consumers do not have to fear product risk, and that they are taking care of their financial responsibilities to the government. Regardless of the approach selected, consistency is important as not to send a signal of injustice and consistency allows companies and individuals to reach their end-state goals without having to waste time and money. Ethical Perspectives At the start of the MBA program, ethics and ethical behavior were and still are a very important part of conducting business and in how others are treated and perceived. This program reemphasized the importance of the role of ethics and how people in society should work hard to create a personal and corporate culture that fosters accountability and ensures everyone conducts business in an ethical manner. Being a part of a team during each class was a very good test of ethics, beliefs, and the ability to display patience and understanding towards other people. Some team members had little respect and showed disregard for others or their feelings. Although assignment completion was the most important aspect, some members were written off because of a lack of effective writing abilities, communication, or personal skills. Although many of those decisions were based on personal preference, one still has to question if the decisions were right or wrong. A major source of failure in most team assignments as well as collaborative projects within an organization is usually caused by a lack of admiration for individual judgment. Respect for individual judgment was evident in the Assessment of Ethical Choices in the Workplace (2009). When teammates acknowledge the judgment of others, they encourage open communication, build trust, and promote cohesiveness that could potentially prevent unethical behavior from occurring. Having an ethical profile closely aligned with character is an asset when trying to judge others (University of Phoenix, 2009). Conclusion For businesses and individuals to remain successful there must be intent to remain ethical and socially responsible. The ethical and social decisions made have to support the better good of the organization or society and every effort should be made to call attention to and reject improper behavior. Although one might perceive his or her ethical concepts to be intact, improvement is always encouraged. References Pearson, J. A. , & Robinson, R. B. (2004). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (9th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethical choices in the workplace. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethics awareness inventory. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics Reflection Paper Ethics and social responsibility are key factors when planning one’s personal life or planning for the success of a business. When companies develop strategic plans, they must consider what role ethics will play and how social responsibility will affect the plan keeping stakeholders need at the forefront. If businesses and individuals are making a conscious effort to display ethical behavior, ethical perspectives and beliefs should evolve over time much like what has happened in the master’s of business administration (MBA) program. Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Strategic Planning Ethics are guidelines used to help management and employees conduct themselves according to the values and standards set forth by the company. To ensure employees understand the rules and make good ethical decisions, a company’s plan should embody the beliefs and values that the business and their employees view most important. These beliefs and values can be outlined in a company’s mission, vision, and philosophy statements which provide direction, purpose, and a clear understanding of an organization’s behavioral expectations and decisions made by the stakeholders. When adhered to, the mission and vision statements can be the baseline for goal-setting and strategic planning while keeping ethics at the core of all decisions. Pearson and Robinson (2004) stated â€Å"central to the belief that companies should be operated in a socially responsive way for the benefit of all stakeholders is the belief that managers will behave in an ethical manner† (p. 60). Even with a plan in place and ethical guidelines established, unethical behavior is always a possibility which could occur at a management or subordinate level. Too many top-level management and executives have acted inappropriately and have violated company policies. This was witnessed through events such as the Enron, WorldCom, and Bernie Madoff scandals where unethical behavior was called into question. Employees, specifically those in a management position, have an obligation to do what is right for the sake of their customers, the industry, and to help maintain the company’s image and reputation. When this fails to happen, the owners and board of directors must take the appropriate action to get rid of those individuals, not only to set an example but to make the point that unethical behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances. To minimize the possibility that similar atrocities will occur, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was instituted to mandate Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Chief Financial Officers (CFO) to take responsibility for reports generated and to acknowledge that the information included in the reports are true and accurate to the best of their knowledge. If the information is not true or is fraudulent, both have a responsibility to report the findings to auditors. Like ethical behavior, â€Å"social responsibility is a critical consideration for a company’s strategic decision makers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pearson & Robinson, 2004, p. 23). Owners need to ensure that they hire managers who are going to carry out their wishes and be the voice in their absence instead of managers who will protect their self-interests. Decisions made by management have to be aligned with the beliefs of the owner and the company’s stakeholders to guarantee profitability and survivability. To encourage managers to make appropriate and ethical decisions, owners and executives should provide incentives through bonuses, appraisals, and recognition programs. Managers who do receive performance incentives will be held accountable by stakeholders. Stakeholders include stockholders who want a good return on investment, employees seeking job satisfaction, satisfied customers and suppliers, governments seeking law abiding companies, competitors seeking strong competition, responsible citizens and the public seeking a good quality of life (Pearson & Robinson, 2004). Outside of being accountable to owners and the business, managers also have to select the ethical approach that will ensure the consumer is getting the best service at a reasonable cost, jobs are being offered to those who need them, consumers do not have to fear product risk, and that they are taking care of their financial responsibilities to the government. Regardless of the approach selected, consistency is important as not to send a signal of injustice and consistency allows companies and individuals to reach their end-state goals without having to waste time and money. Ethical Perspectives At the start of the MBA program, ethics and ethical behavior were and still are a very important part of conducting business and in how others are treated and perceived. This program reemphasized the importance of the role of ethics and how people in society should work hard to create a personal and corporate culture that fosters accountability and ensures everyone conducts business in an ethical manner. Being a part of a team during each class was a very good test of ethics, beliefs, and the ability to display patience and understanding towards other people. Some team members had little respect and showed disregard for others or their feelings. Although assignment completion was the most important aspect, some members were written off because of a lack of effective writing abilities, communication, or personal skills. Although many of those decisions were based on personal preference, one still has to question if the decisions were right or wrong. A major source of failure in most team assignments as well as collaborative projects within an organization is usually caused by a lack of admiration for individual judgment. Respect for individual judgment was evident in the Assessment of Ethical Choices in the Workplace (2009). When teammates acknowledge the judgment of others, they encourage open communication, build trust, and promote cohesiveness that could potentially prevent unethical behavior from occurring. Having an ethical profile closely aligned with character is an asset when trying to judge others (University of Phoenix, 2009). Conclusion For businesses and individuals to remain successful there must be intent to remain ethical and socially responsible. The ethical and social decisions made have to support the better good of the organization or society and every effort should be made to call attention to and reject improper behavior. Although one might perceive his or her ethical concepts to be intact, improvement is always encouraged. References Pearson, J. A. , & Robinson, R. B. (2004). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (9th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethical choices in the workplace. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation. University of Phoenix (2009). Williams Institute: Ethics awareness inventory. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from University of Phoenix, Week One, STR 581 – Strategic Planning and Implementation.

Research Plan Essay

Background of the Study Solid waste management is increasingly seen as a major issue in the country due to high rates of urbanization and increasing per capita solid waste generation with greater affluence (Petnamsin, et al., 2000). A major component of solid waste is resin based plastic. Plastics posses many properties such as water resistance and long life, that makes them perfect candidates for packaging. Unfortunately, the properties that make this product suitable for packaging also are the major cause of the environmental problems related to packaging. Given the wide use of plastics, the magnitude of the environmental problem is large and long terms. The choices for dealing with this waste are limited as incineration of plastic polymers invariably results in the generation of toxic emissions (Srorith, et al., 2000). The only visible solution is to bury the material in landfills. However, this approach is also limited because of the resistant nature of plastic to biological degradation. Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. is a popular fruit-crop that is widely grown in tropical areas. Often, its seeds are discarded because of the preferred well-flavored yellow sweet bulb for consumption. The seeds have high carbohydrate and protein content, hence, an abundant source of starch (Kurian, 2010). Starch is identified as a key natural product for the production of biodegradable plastic (Pranamuda, et al., 2006). Based on the above information, the researchers decided to do research work on starch-based biodegradable plastic from jackfruit seeds. Henceforth, there is a need to establish the additive property of starch from jackfruit seeds as scientific basis for its use in the production of biodegradable plastic. Objectives of the Study The study will aim to find out if jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.  seeds can be a main component in the production of biodegradable plastic. Specifically, the study will 1. determine the efficacy of starch from jackfruit A.heterophyllus Lam. seeds at varying concentrations as additives in the production of biodegradable plastic. 2. compare the mechanical properties between the produced biodegradable plastic from starch of jackfruit A.heterophyllus Lam. seeds, and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene in terms of tensile strength, flammability, soil biodegradability and air test. 3. compare the effects of acids and bases and organic solvents between produced biodegradable plastic from starch of jackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene. Hypotheses of the Study The following hypotheses will be put forward: 1. There is no significant difference in the efficacy of starch from jackfruit seeds at varying concentrations in the production of biodegradable plastic. 2. There is no significant difference on the mechanical properties between the produced biodegradable plastic from starch ofjackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene in terms of tensile strength, flammability, soil biodegradability and air test. 3. There is no significant difference on the effects of acids and bases and organic solvents between produced biodegradable plastic from starch of jackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic polyethylene. Significance of the Study The results of the study would be beneficial and helpful to the manufacturing plastic industries because it would relieve negative effects of overproducing plastics. By changing its raw materials and components, commercial plastic may be improved so that it would become biodegradable while retaining its good quality. Moreover,this component from starch of jackfruit seeds would help in the natural decomposition of plastic raw materials. Thus, a convenient way of minimizing waste management problem in the country, more so, the high demand for plastics would give the world the hazard of garbage problem, therefore, utilizing starch from jackfruit seeds as component in the production of biodegradable plastics would be the relative answer. Scope and Limitations of the Study The study will focus only on the starch-based biodegradable plastic from jackfruitA.heterophyllus Lam. seeds. It will be conducted at the Physics/Chemistry Laboratory of Antique National School, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique from July 15, 2011 to September 30, 2011. The variables to be evaluated will be the effect of starch from jackfruit seeds at varying concentrations for the production of biodegradable plastic; the mechanical properties between the produced biodegradable plastic from starch of jackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene in terms of tensile strength, flammability, soil biodegradability and air test;the effects of acids and bases and organic solvents between the produced biodegradable plastic from the starch of jackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) will be used as statistical tools to identify the significant differences among treatment means and their interactions at 0.01 and 0.05 levels of significance, respectively. Definition of Terms Biodegradable.A substance or property of the produce plastic in the study that can be broken down into simpler substances by the activities of living organisms for decomposition.  Plastic. An end product obtained mainly as a result of the study using starch from jackfruit seeds as main component mixing with other components for biodegradable formation. Starch. A complex carbohydrate extracted from jackfruit seeds and used in the study for the production of biodegradable plastic. Polyvinyl Alcohol. An odorless, colorless, tasteless, thermoplastic synthetic resin used in the study that is soluble in water and insoluble in common organic solvents.  Glycerol. A simplest trihydric and commonly called glycerin in commercial  form that is used in the study for the production of biodegradable plastic. CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE After cutting talahib pulps into very small pieces, they were combined with different chemicals such as polyvinyl alcohol, sodium hydroxide in aqueous solution, glue, and glycerol to produce biodegradable plastics with different amounts of talahib pulp. (Valdez, 2009). A study determined the effectiveness of cassava starch as component of biodegradable plastic. Results confirmed that cassava starch is ideal as tests proved its worth (Romero, 2007).  It was known that starch-based packaging materials are produced from extrusion or compression technology and have been developed as a substitute for polystyrene in producing loose-filters and other expanded items. The type of starch and synthetic polymer as well as their relative proportions in the blends may influence the properties of the resulting plastics (Sriroth and Sangseethong, 2003). Some physicochemical and rheological properties of jackfruit seed flour and starch, isolated from the flour were investigated. The flour had good capacities for water absorption and oil absorption. Flour from jackfruit seed was prepared by dry milling. It is high in protein and carbohydrate contents. The flour has good water and oil absorption abilities (Tulyathan, 2002). The range of possible applications for starch plastics is restricted by their sensitivity tomoisture and water contact and high water vapour permeability. The biodegradability of starch plastics largely depends on the biodegradability of the copolymer. High copolymer content can adversely affect biodegradability due to the complex interaction of starch and polyester at the molecular level (DegliInnocenti&Bastioli, 2002). Starch is unique among carbohydrates because it occurs naturally as discrete granules. This is because the short branched amylopectin chains are able to form helical structures whichcrystallize. Starch granules exhibit  hydrophilic properties and strong inter-molecular association via hydrogen bonding due to the hydroxyl groups on the granule surface (Daniel et al., 2000). Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. is a popular fruit-crop that is widely grown in the Philippines and other tropical areas. The ripe fruit contains well-flavored yellow sweet bulbs which are consumed fresh or processed into canned products and seeds embedded in the bulb. Seeds make up around 10-15% of the total fruit weight and have high carbohydrate and protein content and are normally discarded or steamed and eaten as a snack or used in some local dishes. As fresh seeds cannot be kept for a long time, using them as source of starch is advisable (Bobbio et al 1978). Based on the above review of related literature, there is a need to conduct a study on starch-based biodegradable plastic from jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. seeds and because in all studies, nothing has been mentioned about jackfruit seeds as component of biodegradable plastics. CHAPTER 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS The flow of processes on starch-based biodegradable plastic from jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. seeds is shown in Figure 1. Collection and Preparation of Research Materials, Tools and Equipment The researchers will collect three (3) kilograms of jackfruit seeds from the source for two (2) days before the conduct of the study. These will be brought to the Physics/Chemistry Laboratory of Antique National School, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique. Technically grade ethanol, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and sodium hydroxide, ammonia, distilled water, chlorine, polyvinyl alcohol, epoxydized soy bean oil, and glycerol will be obtained from chemworks, Inc.Jaro, Iloilo City prior to the conduct of the study. The other materials and equipment needed will be mortar and pestle, grinder, beakers, alcohol lamp, rolling pin, aluminum foil, stirring rod, molders, spring balance, double beam balance, tray, plastic cups, graduated cylinder, stopwatch, and hot plate. Research Procedure/ Experimental Design Three (3) kilograms of jackfruit seeds will be rinsed and washed in running water and will be air-dried for twenty-four (24) hours at room temperature. After air-drying, the seeds will be peeled manually. Then the seeds will be cut into smaller pieces and ground using an electric grinder. The ground jackfruit seeds will be added with water following the ratio 1:2, one (1) liter of distilled water to two (2) kilograms of ground jackfruit seeds. The mixtures will be placed inside the beaker for decantation for three (3) hours. After decantation, the supernatant will be discarded and the settling material will be collected and placed in an evaporating dish for the starch sediments to settle. This will be sun-dried for five (5) hours to let the water evaporate completely. After the evaporation process, the collected starch sediments will be ground using mortar and pestle until it will turn into powdered form. The produced starch will be weighed and placed in a sterilized container ready for experimentation. Measured amount of the water and jackfruit starch based on different treatments will be mixed and boiled using a hot plate at eighty (80(C) degrees Celsius until it will form into a sticky paste. After removing the starch-water mixture from the hot plate, the rest of the materials will be added such as polyvinyl alcohol, epoxydized soya bean oil, and glycerol. After mixing all the materials, the mixture will be heated again using a hot plate at a temperature of one hundred eighteen to one hundred twenty (118-120(C) degrees Celsius for seven (7) minutes. Then it will pass through a rolling pin and transferred to containers for sun-drying process until the plastic will be formed. The plastic will be cut into strips (3 cm wide by 5 cm long) for mechanical property, effects of acid and base, and organic solvents tests, respectively. The experiment will use five (5) treatments with three (3) replicates each. The duration of the experimental activities will be seventy-eight (78) days that will begin on July 15, 2011 and will end on September 30, 2011. The five (5) treatments that will be used in the study are as follows. Treatment A = 100 grams starch + 100 grams water + 100 grams polyvinyl alcohol + 2.5 grams epoxydized soya bean oil +10 grams glycerin Treatment B = 75 grams starch + 100 grams water + 100 grams polyvinyl alcohol + 2.5 grams epoxydized soya bean oil +10 grams glycerin Treatment C = 50 grams starch + 100 grams water + 100 grams polyvinyl alcohol + 2.5 grams epoxydized soya bean oil +10 grams glycerin Treatment D = 25 grams starch + 100 grams water + 100 grams polyvinyl alcohol + 2.5 grams epoxydized soya bean oil +10 grams glycerin Treatment E – Control – Commercial plastic (polyethylene) Gathering of Data The cut samples of the produced biodegradable plastic will be subjected to the following tests: Flammability Test. The strips of the produced biodegradable plastic and commercial plastic with the same dimensions will be completely burned using alcohol lamp and the burning time will be noted. Soil Biodegradability Test. The plastic strips will be stapled to a piece of cardboard and will be buried in a can of soil. The strips will be unearthed after a week and the final dimension will be recorded. Tensile Strength Test. The plastic strips will be hooked to a spring balance and will be pulled until they will tear apart. The reading of the balance when the plastic strips will break will be recorded. Effects of Strong and Weak Acids and Strong and Weak Bases.The plastic strips will be immersed in concentrated strong/weak acids and strong/weak bases for thirty (30) minutes. Changes in length, width, and appearance will be noted. Organic Solvent Tests. The plastic strips will be immersed in a bottle of  chlorinated water/ethanol. The bottle will be sealed so as to isolate its contents from the external environment. After a week, their final dimensions will be noted.