Religious Clothing Restrictions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strict Clothing Restrictions - Essay Example By and large, the wearers of strict images, for example, crosses, crosses and petition dabs, hijabs, burqas and niqabs are certified strict individuals with a solid and genuine individual association with religion. In other minority cases, individuals do wear strict images particularly crosses and crosses as style extras while a few Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Jews wear these clothing and images because of the legislative issues of character. Nonetheless, this conversation demonstrates that, a larger part of these individuals who put on these strict apparel are straightforward devotees of their separate religion. It is significant for individuals to regard different people’s strict convictions, and subsequently nullify the limitations forced on the wearing of strict apparel; this is on the grounds that the vast majority wear strict clothing as an outflow of their regard for their conventions and religion. Wearing these garments gives individuals a strict personality, and gives them a feeling of mindfulness and consciousness of the necessities of their convictions and conventions. The vast majority of these individuals accept that wearing this garments upgrades their promise to profound life and that avowing this to the open just fortifies their conviction (Grimm). It is crafted by the supporters of a specific strict conviction to settle on themselves what strict dress and images are suitable considering the lessons of their religion. Scrutinizing people’s approaches and strict conviction on garments and strict image is normally gotten as analysis. of the individual, yet the religion too. Mentioning objective facts in a biased and uncourteous way about the strict and customary garments and images of specific citizenry would give off an impression of being racial or strict segregation which is against common and human rights. In a popularity based society, individuals ought to be concurred numerous rights, religion notwithstanding. The privilege to religion makes an interpretation of to one side to communicate ones confidence through activities, conviction and even clothing standard. In Britain for instance, the Government has communicated its social responsibility to strict by advancing a various society with various religions whose devo tees are all around rewarded as residents of the United Kingdom. In France then again, the legislature formally restricted the wearing of facial cloak; this comes at an age where most Muslim ladies are hitched to overbearing men who compel them to wear cover. A portion of the

Education and Poverty Essay Example for Free

Training and Poverty Essay How College Admissions Favor Wealthy Students Over Underprivileged Minorities The developing discussion about whether school confirmations are fractional by overemphasizing state sanctioned tests and GPA has become an exceptionally disputable point in the domain of training. Various understudies contend that the confirmation procedure is out of line in setting a more prominent accentuation on certain focused on prerequisites, for example, the ACT/SAT, while fail to look at the entire candidate. The individuals who contend against the affirmation arrangement accept that every understudy in the United States originates from an extremely assorted foundation, and every application ought to be investigated with multifaceted design, as opposed to in regards to simply their necessities. In spite of the fact that those necessities are by and large what the affirmation individuals search for in what they see as a quality understudy, the individuals who contend against it feel that it is best not to disregard an understudy who conquered huge affliction, yet just may have required a point or two to get conceded. The focal contention against school confirmations has to do with in the case of testing life conditions outside of school, for an understudy who is monetarily impeded, ought to be weighted more than the somewhat higher evaluation of an understudy with an alternate financial foundation in school affirmations. Sometimes, secondary school understudies must work all day so as to help their families. On the off chance that a school needed to pick between an understudy who didn't have to help their family and got a 33 on their ACT, and another understudy with a 29 on their ACT who worked practically full-time to help a family, which would be bound to get acknowledged into an Ivy League school if the two understudies had the equivalent 4.0 GPA, classes, and measure of significant clubs, and so on.? Chances are, the one with the higher ACT will get chose, and the individuals who banter the issue feel this is the place it gets biased. Understudies contend that working more than thirty hours out of every week while taking the equivalent testing classes shows preferable hard working attitude over an understudy who has an additional thirty hours per week to consider. There are an assortment of outcasts and migrants who fled their countries as a result of occupations, starvations, wars, or specific h azardous conditions, with veryâ little assets to carry with them. Thus, it is extremely hard for them to ingest the open doors that very much settled understudies have. This incorporates private tutoring, mentors, state sanctioned test rehearses, and so on. This gives residential prosperous understudies a superior opportunity to succeed, because of better generally speaking instructive chances. The instruction at a non-public school is better than that of a government funded school on account of higher set norms and an all around restrained framework. In Teaching With Poverty In Mind, creator Eric Jensen embodies a graph demonstrating that family salary relates fundamentally with children’s scholarly achievement (10). For poor understudies, a negative relationship is drawn with non-attendance, the factor that most intently identifies with dropout rate. For tests like the ACT and SAT, denied minorities are at the drawback since English would be their subsequent language. Some believe that most schools disregard a few factors that decide a student’s mental limit. That is the reason a few instructors banter that their should be to a greater degree an all encompassing methodology on the grounds that occasionally, a specific factor can stunt an understudy achievement, when they may have the capacities to turn into the following Einstein. The monetary estimation of a specific spot or instruction is the manner by which willing a family is to migrate to furnish their kids with advanced education potential; this can be estimated by the valuing of lodging. Greater part of vagrant families don't be able to migrate and give better training to their youngsters, implying that they need to acknowledge being in destitution and not having a solid instructive foundation (Paleso 3). The SAT has oftentimes been censured for giving a social bit of leeway to â€Å"wealthy whites.† In the site article, â€Å"SAT Racial Bias Proves Standardized Tests Are Geared Toward White Students,† Haleigh Collins expresses that tests like the ACT and SAT have been accused for augmenting the accomplishment hole among whites and minorities. While the math area is objective, the basic understanding segment and composing segment portray subjects related for the most part with the white segment. Frequently the entries are about subjects that white, high society understudies are progressively presented to. The verbal area favors white understudies by utilizing language with which they are more natural than non-white understudies. Collins additionally mak es reference to that for a long time Roy Freedle, a therapist who works with ETS (the not-for-profit â€Å"Educational Testing Service† that creates, manages, and scores government sanctioned tests), has been attempting to demonstrate that these accentuated ACT and SAT tests giveâ whites an out of line advantage. His examinations show that minority scores essentially slack when contrasted with whites of equivalent financial status. As referenced above, wealthier test takers profit by having the option to bear the cost of guides that cost up to several dollars an hour to private school advocates; understudies with means and access to extra assistance can frequently bring their scores up fundamentally. For instance, a few understudies see an extraordinary increment in their scores subsequent to rehearsing these tests and taking them again and again. Simply through instructing and introduction to the tests, they begin seeing patterns, which empower them to improve. Understudies who can’t manage the cost of or don’t approach this are at a tremendous hindrance. Tragically, circumstances, for example, this happen frequently. John Overton High School understudy Amad Amedy, an all day specialist and competitor with an ACT composite score of 29 and a 3.9 GPA, expressed that he felt school affirmations are warped. He accepted that an oppressed understudy who works all day and is progressively dynamic in aft er-school clubs and sports ought to be weighted similarly, if not higher, than an understudy who has quite recently chosen to center and do well in school just, particularly in the event that they are not significantly more practiced than the working, social understudy. He examined that occasionally understudies return home late from work and don't have the opportunity to contemplate on the grounds that they have to snooze request to wake up and step through a significant examination toward the beginning of the day. Amedy closed by saying that a balanced understudy will utilize his broad information on different exchanges that he got as a matter of fact to get farther than somebody who just remains at home and considers, and that the social and professional abilities earned by working and taking part in extracurricular exercises are as important as the keenness picked up from contemplating course books and investigating scholarly diaries. Another John Overton High School understudy, Benjamin Demonbreun, who is a jobless understudy, salutatorian, and National Merit Semifinalist, with a 33 composite on the ACT and a GPA of 4.0, firmly couldn't help contradicting Amedy. Ben accepted that the standard prerequisites were a decent method to figure out who ought to be acknowledged into esteemed colleges. He contended that understudies, for example, himself buckled down, all day every day, in what they have expected to do, which is get outstanding evaluations. Nearby Benjamin, understudies challenge that in spite of the fact that they may have had a somewhat more noteworthy preferred position, it doesn't imply that understudies, for example, Amedy have worked more diligently than them or merit it more, exclusively on the grounds that they do aâ few things outside of school. Ben talked about that he has never expected to help a family; school has consistently been his need. He accepts that accentuation on state sanctioned tests and GPA ought not be excused using any and all means since they are a gigantic deciding component for hard working attitude, information, and school availability. In Teaching With Poverty In Mind, Jensen shows a couple of activity steps, for example, more compassion towards the life of a transient understudy (11). This better understanding may take into consideration a progressively remiss educational plan that permits the understudy some squirm room. Such advances are seen in MNPS with another reviewing strategy pe rmitting retakes until understudies accomplish authority. A couple of colleges have begun to get comfortable with this circumstance, because of development in migrant populaces in the United States. There have been a few colleges who have relinquished SAT and ACT scores as a methods for choice. A developing measure of specific colleges, transcendently Ivy League, are starting to receive an all encompassing affirmations strategy on the grounds that the all encompassing methodology is exceptionally intensive in assessing the entire of the candidate, as opposed to lessen the candidate to a couple of bits of exact information, for example, test scores and GPA. The comprehensive strategy offers understudies an opportunity to show their achievements in a few unmistakable manners, instead of just grades and grade narratives, allowing individuals, for example, Amedy a chance to go to a high-status college and get great instruction. With this approach we may see minorities give an alternate point of view in various callings that help advance society and innovation. Works Cited Amedy, Amad. Individual Interview. 5 April 2014. Collins, Haleigh. â€Å"SAT Racial Bias Proves Standardized Tests Are Geared Toward White Students†. PolicyMic. 12 September 2011. Web. 1 April 2014. Demonbreun, Benjamin. Individual Interview. 5 April 2014. Freedle, Roy. Meeting. 1 April 2014. Jensen, Eric. Instructing With Poverty In Mind. 2009. EBook’s (10-11), Web. 8 April 2014. Polese, Mario. The Wealth And Poverty Of Regions: Why Cities Matter. 2009. EBook’s (3). Web. 13 April 2014.

Answer Q Example

Answer Q Example Answer Q â€" Essay Example > QUESTION ONE You have just been appointed as manager to a small software house, which has expanded considerably over the last two years and now employs 30 staff. The majority of the work is to develop dedicated systems for SMEs. Currently, the testing does not involve automated tools. You have decided to consider the introduction of an automated testing tool. (a) Discuss, with justification the potential problems and disadvantages of introducing such a tool, considering its effect on your staff, management and clients. (10 marks) Automated testing involves the automation of the manual testing process that is being used currently. This means that there has to be a manual testing process that is present within the firm or company. Automation mostly will involve the use of certain tools and strategies that are aimed at reducing the need for manual human involvement within the unskilled tasks that are in most cases repetitive and redundant. Automated testing unfortunately has a few di sadvantages to the staff, the management and even the clients, despite its many advantages and benefits. The first problem is that the writing of the automation test scripts requires much proficiency and this is one major problem that the management will have to face and thus it is a disadvantage. The debugging of the test script may be a potential problem. If an error presents itself in the test script, it might lead to consequences that may be deadly. The maintenance of the test may prove to be costly mostly in the case of playback methods. Even if there is a minor change that may occur in the GUI, there needs to rerecording of the test script or even the replacement of the test script by a new one. This may present a disadvantage to the staff who will have to do extra work of redoing this task of rerecording the test scripts. Test data files maintenance may be difficult especially in the case that test scripts are used in the testing of more screens. It is finally important to note that the human touch can never be duplicated and this will mean that the clients will not receive the service that they were used to that was personalized with that human touch. (b) Using the four steps of the Deming Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle as a framework, discuss, with justification, how you would undertake each of the four steps to identify a suitable automated testing tool. i) The Plan step(16 marks)The plan step involves finding out what is wrong first so as to improve the operations. This means that any potential problems to be faced have to be identified and ideas found with the relevant solutions to be formulated. Thus I would start by planning for changes that are aimed at bringing improvement. I would also perform a customer mapping as well as a supplier mapping. I would also put flow charting into use to aid in the identification. I would also conduct a Pareto analysis. Brainstorming with the rest of the staff and management would also be very important in the ident ification process. I would also make use of the nominal group technique. The use of a solution or fault tree could also prove to be useful in the identification of a suitable automated testing tool. I would also make use of the evaluation matrix. Finally, cause and effect diagrams could really come in handy in the identification process.

Boat Slip Terminology and Use

There are many terms for parts of a boat, the way a boat is operated, and the facilities used to store and service a boat. Wow, it’s a lot to learn and many of the people you encounter expect you to know all of these things. If you want to get a good start in the marine industry, a recreational facility is a great place to start. For the best chance of getting one of these jobs, you should know something about boat slips and dockage. An administrative person can fill a couple of sentences with enough terminology to confuse anyone who is more familiar with dry land than open waters. This can happen when you first start out your marine career adventure. It will also occur when you venture out to neighboring ports as you become more versatile. Of course, you know your own home base marina and slip configuration, but can you understand questions marina staff might ask while traveling? Is the slip appropriate for your needs? On which side will you tie up? What tying fixtures are present? What kind of improvements need to be made? Don’t worry it’s all fairly easy to understand. Dock Structure Large dock facilities are made up of one or more main docks connected to a face wall on shore. They come in two types, fixed and floating. Floating docks are usually connected to shore with hinged ramps which allow the docks to rise and fall with tides or changing water levels. Fixed docks are firmly attached to the shore and to support structures that are anchored underwater. The main docks project out from the face wall and each main dock hosts many smaller and narrower docks called finger piers. These finger piers divide the slip areas and provide a way to walk from the boat to the main dock. At the end of each finger pier and along the main dock are tall posts called piles. One or two extra piles also divide the area between two finger piers. These piles are only for tying, they dont carry a finger pier. Rarely, a slip will have a finger pier on each side of the slip space, but most facilities use the more efficient single side variety. Tying up the Boat Those two middle piles and the finger piers, with their piles, form a rectangle. This is the space where your boat should remain under all conditions. To assure it stays in position, it needs to be tied properly. There will be a few different places to tie the four standard dock lines, plus some tying fixtures for extra lines needed in windy or stormy conditions. A boat is very secure when all eight lines are properly rigged and tied. The names of the lines describe their position and function. The port and starboard bowlines connect to large loose rings at the front corners of the rectangle. The port and starboard stern lines connect to the outer pile and the pile at the end of the finger pier. This is secure, but the boat will still twist side to side and could strike the stern against the pier of pile in strong winds. To eliminate the twist, spring lines are attached to the stern cleats and either run forward and tied to the cleat in the middle of the finger pier, or all the way forward to the rings where the bowlines are tied. This process can be repeated with spring lines from the bow in the most extreme weather. Bumpers and other padding can customize a dock to protect a specific boat. Sometimes large rollers are added to guide boats into slips where space is tight. The classic mariners book The Ashley Book of Knots is still in print and makes a great addition to any bookshelf for the history lessons alone, and you will learn many knots and splices as well. Away From Home Port If you are traveling and visit a marina, you can rent a transient slip. A transient slip is one that is rented regularly or it may be a slip which is vacant for a week because the regular tenant is also out traveling. Most marinas have a provision which allows them to rent any slip which is going to be vacant for more than a couple of days. If you find yourself putting another boater in someone’s regular slip be sure and leave it as it was found. Once a boater requests a slip to fit the length and beam of the boat, as well as the amount of time needed, you should record the information. Then let the boater know the number and location of the slip and whether it is a port or starboard side tie up. This means that the finger pier will either be located on the port or starboard side. This is where someone can secure the boat while setting up other temporary lines. The finger pier will have cleats which are shaped like a short and wide capital letter T. There are usually three or four with one on each end of the pier and at least one in the middle. On fixed construction docks it’s okay to just tie up to the finger pier unless the weather is very bad. If bad weather strikes you will need to move the boat away from the pier to avoid damage from rubbing. Temporary dock lines are just like your permanent lines on a sailors home dock but the lengths will be different so four lines half the length of your boat, and four lines the length of your boat should be in every boat inventory. Having a few extras around is a good idea in case one is lost, damaged, or left behind by the visitor. Shore Power Ratings Shore power comes in two sizes, one for regular boats and one for very large boats with lots of power requirements. A twenty-amp connection is equivalent to one standard 120-volt household outlet.  For boats with full-size galleys or combination heating and air conditioning units, you will need a 240 volt, fifty amp connection, and appropriate power cord. Not all slips have both options so be sure to find out what power option is needed. Its also a good idea to know how someone might describe the plug configuration if they dont know the rating. Source Ashley, Clifford W. The Ashley Book of Knots. 1st edition, Doubleday Company, 1993.

Nordstrom’s Success - 1885 Words

Nordstrom’s Success Beata Anna Kolankiewicz Principles of Marketing-MKT 100 Dr. Ella Carter November 27, 2011 Strayer University Nordstrom’s Success 1. Identify the type of retailer that Nordstrom s is classified as. Describe the characteristics it shares with other retailers of this type. Nordstrom is a prominent retailer that can be found in most major metropolitan cities. It was founded in 1901 by two partners, John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin who began selling shoes in the Seattle, Washington area. Today, Nordstrom operates over 180 retail locations across the country. (Gross amp; Salamie, n.d.) Although Nordstrom targets a more upscale clientele, it is still considered a large independent department store that†¦show more content†¦This store is an off-price retailer that buys the overstock or imperfect items from other department stores. The prices are usually lower in contrast to Nordstrom that sells exclusive clothes from various designers. The level of service is much lower than in Nordstrom. Salespeople are not as enthusiastic and motivated to provide that one-on-one attention to their customers. As a result, they do not tend to build long-term relationships with customers. Usually a customer cannot find an item due to the store s disorganizatio n and it is difficult to ask for help finding specific products. Furthermore, Ross strict return policies and guidelines make it difficult for customers to return items. 3. Analyze the six components of Nordstrom s retailing mix to determine which have been the most important to the company s success. Provide a detailed rationale. The six components of a retailing mix consist of the six P’s to sell goods and services to the ultimate consumer: product, place (distribution), promotion price, presentation and personnel. Nordstrom’s retailing mix begins with product. It carries a huge assortment of products and has access to obtain items for customers if it is not found within the store. The second component of retailing mix is place, which in the case of Nordstrom there are various physical locations in most states with hours targeted for customers’ needs. There is also an online storeShow MoreRelatedBusiness1288 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Nordstrom: How to Succeed by Selling Just One Shoe† Hassan Suluki Strayer University MKT 100 02/24/2011 â€Å"Nordstrom: How to Succeed by Selling Just One Shoe† Identify the type of retailer that Nordstrom’s is classified as and describe the characteristics it shares with other retailers of this type. A store like Nordstrom has built a successful model on availability of knowledgeable salespeople, and other luxury or near-luxury retailers would be advised to pay attention. But a mass retailerRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article How Nordstrom Built The Worlds Best Customer Service Machine 1311 Words   |  6 PagesIn the article â€Å"How Nordstrom Built The World’s Best Customer Service Machine,† by Toller (2015), states that Nordstrom’s massive success is highly attributed to its single rule: â€Å"Use good judgment at all times.† Nordstrom for more than a century now, is one of the most popular fashion-oriented retail companies ever existent in the history of business. Its simple and precise rule is the core reason as to why employees are self-driven to work passionately, each striving to provide the finest of customerRead MoreMarketing1135 Words   |  5 PagesIdentify the type of retailer that Nordstrom’s is classified as. Describe the charact eristics it shares with other retailers of this type. The type of retailer Nordstrom is classified as is a Department store. A Department store is a retail establishment which specializes in satisfying a wide range of the consumer’s product needs, carries a wide variety of shopping and specialty goods, including apparel, cosmetics, houseware, electronics, and sometimes furniture. Nordstrom fall into this categoryRead MoreNordstrom s Marketing Pl Nordstrom Stores, Clothing, Accessories, And Cosmetics For Women Essay1105 Words   |  5 PagesNordstrom stores and website. Nordstrom’s profitability demonstrates similar results as compared to competing companies, however, indicates positive future performance. From 2014 to 2015, Nordstrom’s income decreased by $120 million as a result of increased cost of goods sold and administrative expenses. The retailer continues to invest heavily in online technologies and order fulfillment, however, it has minimal improvement up to this point. In addition, Nordstrom’s growth-oriented investments inRead MoreNordstrom: Dissension in the Ranks? Essay833 Words   |  4 Pages1. What problems does Nordstrom’s evaluation/compensation system have? Think about this question while considering the objectives of the Company’s evaluation/ compensation system, what measures it took and what happened as a result. Nordstrom’s Evaluation System and its Problems Based on my analysis, the Company’s compensation systems poses serious problems which are inadequate measurement of performance through sales per hour (SPH) ratio as the only Key Performance Indicator (KPI), opposingRead MoreNordstrom Case Study1090 Words   |  5 PagesNordstrom became the largest independent shoe chain in the United States. By 1960, Nordstrom decided to enter the clothing arena by purchasing Best Apparel, and continued to expand it markets through the acquisition of other luxury goods. Nordstrom’s continued growth and success stem from their business philosophy based on â€Å"exceptional service, selection, quality and value† (About Nordstrom, 2011). Today Nordstrom â€Å"has grown from one downtown Seattle shoe store into a nationwide fashion specialty chain withRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Nordstrom1256 Words   |  6 PagesNordstrom has experienced incredible success since their inception, the organization has realized declining sales in the ir retail stores. In order to combat a change in consumer spending habits, the organization has created a new strategic and personalized offering called Nordstrom Local. Nordstrom Local offers a personal stylist, a beverage bar, and an engaging environment all in the pursuit of finding the perfect look. This latest offering represents a change in Nordstrom’s strategic offering to targetRead MoreNorstorm987 Words   |  4 PagesIdentify the type of retailer that Nordstrom’s is classified as. Describe the characteristics it shares with other retailers of this type. I would classify Nordstrom’s as a specialty store due to the fact that their service levels are high, assortment is narrow, price would be moderate to high, and the gross margin is high. Also, a statement from the case study from Industry observer Lior Arussy calls Nordstrom’s business strategy â€Å"greed through love.† Nordstrom’s shares the same characteristics asRead MoreNordstrom vs. Macys1268 Words   |  6 PagesCanadian malls were almost 50 percent higher in 2011 than sales per square foot at American malls. This is a budding market that Nordstrom will need to act towards if they hope to keep up with the competition in the future. Important Decisions Nordstrom’s has made many very important decisions in the past that have shaped them into the company they are today. The first and most important came in 1901 when founder John W. Nordstrom decided to use the money he had left from the gold rush to open aRead MoreMotivating High Levels Of Effort Towards Organizational Goals1261 Words   |  6 Pagesactions based on motivation for an established outcome, and success of the model relies on close links among its three main components: effort, performance and outcomes (class, session 4). Nordstrom, as an example, created many motivational triggers in an attempt to maintain the company philosophy to â€Å"offer the customer the best service, selection, quality and value.† (HBS, page 2) The expectancy model provided a framework to evaluate Nordstrom’s compensation system for sales associates, and although

The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences Free Essays

Music Storytelling: When all of the slaves were freed in The Invisible Princess, there was â€Å"music and dancing and storytelling. † Visual Art: Faith Ringgold says that â€Å"art is about more than just technique and style. It’s about ideas† ( Talking to Faith Ringgold, p. We will write a custom essay sample on The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences or any similar topic only for you Order Now 23). She gets her ideas from events that are happening around her. (Refer to the painting on pp. 23-24. ) Creative Drama: Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for his â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech. The class can spin ideas from the book and research other African Americans who made a big impact on the freedom of their race. From here, the class can stage a production play. Language Arts: The Invisible Princess is an original fairy tale. The conflict in most fairy tales is good vs. evil. Fairy tales originated from dreams. Social Studies: The location of the terminals on the Underground Railroad are all across the United States. Tar Beach is set in Harlem during the Great Depression. Science — Cotton was grown on most of the large plantations in the South. The students can learn about the production of cotton and the other industries related to it. 2. Harry Sue by Sue Stauffacher, Illustrated by Sue Stauffacher. Yearling (April 10, 2007) Harry Sue is the moving, heartfelt, and sometimes funny story of a girl desperate for her mother’s love, and how compassion, resilience, and friendship can help a person survive just about any hardship that life can dish out. The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences Language Arts: Early on in the book, Harry Sue says, â€Å"Everybody has a back story, Fish. Garnett, Mary Bell, Homer, me. Remember that when you’re eyeballing a new con. The real story starts somewhere in the past. † (p. 23) This can be a good writing exercise for students; they will think about their â€Å"back stories† and create a narrative. Drama: There are parts of the story that are especially suited to a live performance, such as the standoff between Harry Sue and Granny in the basement, or one of the meals that Baba and Harry Sue share together in the art room. Students can learn their lines and to rehearse their scenes for a performance. Social Studies: Baba shares with Harry Sue his experiences and terrible personal loss as one of the â€Å"Lost Boys of Sudan. † The students can learn about the Sudanese civil war that resulted in thousands of refugees, and the story of how many of these boys were brought to the United States to start a new life. As a child of an incarcerated parent, Harry Sue is at greater risk of dropping out of school, abusing drugs and alcohol, experiencing mental illness, and committing crimes than children whose parents are not imprisoned. Students can research children of prisoners and and report on their findings. As an extension, the students can brainstorm what they can do as a class to help children of prisoners in their own community. Science: With a T-5 spinal cord injury, Homer Price is a quadriplegic. Unable to use his four limbs, he can only use the parts of his body above the neck: his head, mouth, and tongue. J-Cat introduces Homer to a device that allows him to draw using a light pen held in the mouth. With technology, Homer is again able to work out his inventions on paper. Students can research advances in spinal cord injury technology, and how severely disabled people like Homer are using these technologies to better their lives. Harry Sue finds solace in Mrs. Mead’s garden, and at the end of the story, she gardens with Moonie Pie and the other children at Baba and J-Cat’s day care center as a way of healing her heart and her brain. Students can research gardening or horticultural therapy and how it is used. In the spring, plant a Harry Sue flower garden with native flowers and plants that are as tough and resilient as Harry Sue. Art: J-Cat compares Homer’s situation to that of the great artist Henri Matisse toward the end of his life. When Matisse was no longer able to hold a paint brush, his assistants fastened a pencil to his hand so he could continue to draw. He also used large scissors to create the body of work known as cutouts. Students can explore the late work of Henri Matisse via the public library and the Internet. Students can then create their own cut paper collage inspired by the work of Matisse. BOOKS FOR GRADES 4-8 1. The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Yearling (December 1, 1985) In The Egypt Game, April Hall, an insecure and lonely 11-year-old, comes to live with her grandmother and surprises herself when she forms an immediate friendship with her neighbor Melanie Ross. April and Melanie, who share an unusual interest in ancient Egypt, use their intellect and vivid imaginations to develop an elaborate game of â€Å"Egypt. † Gradually, the game becomes more and more real, and frightening things begin to happen in the neighborhood. The children are faced with a soul-searching question: Has the game gone too far? The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences Language Arts: Each participant in The Egypt Game chooses an Egyptian name and its hieroglyphic symbol. Students can research library about the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt. They can select an Egyptian name for themselves and create its hieroglyphic symbol. They can also compose a paragraph telling why they selected their particular names. Mysteries are solved in The Egypt Game and The Gypsy Game. At the end of The Egypt Game, April and Marshall’s picture is in the newspaper along with a story about how Marshall helped the Professor save April. Students can write the article that appears in the newspaper. They can include quotations from each of the children of â€Å"Egypt,† various people from the neighborhood, and the Professor. Theater Arts: The characters in the book commune in a vacant lot where they play a game where they play specific roles as they try to reenact ancient Egyptian rituals. Students can learn about drama and how to study and act out a character. A play production of the book can also be staged. Social Studies: April and her friends conduct research about Egyptians and Gypsies before engaging in their games. Students can be asked to name other ancient cultures that they have studied, such as the Incas and Aztecs, and the ancient Babylonians, Chinese, and Greeks. Students should be equipped to speculate on which of the cultures would most likely interest April and Melanie and why. The Egypt Game, the children decide to perform an Egyptian â€Å"Ceremony for the Dead. † They think they will mummify the bird. Students can research the process of mummification, and how scientists determine the age of ancient mummies. 2. Adam of the Road (Puffin Modern Classics) by Elizabeth Janet Gray. Puffin (October 5, 2006) Adam of the Road is the story of eleven-year-old Adam who wishes to be a minstrel like his father, Roger. The story takes place in thirteenth-century England. Adam with his minstrel father, Roger, and his faithful cocker spaniel, Nick, are on their way to the Fair of St. Giles. Even good minstrels like Roger are not kept by their masters during the summer months and are forced to travel the countryside in search of work. While walking along the great roads of southern England, Adam’s dog, Nick, is stolen. As he tries to catch the thief, he becomes separated from Roger. So begins a time of adventure for Adam. During nearly a year, while Adam continues to look for his dog and his father, he meets many strangers — jugglers, minstrels, plowmen, and nobles — who try to convince him that their life is best. Instead, Adam chooses to be a minstrel and is completely happy when he is reunited with his beloved father and his dog. The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences Language Arts: The English used in the book is mostly the terms used in the time of its printing, and outdated words are to be encountered. The book is for seventh grade Language Arts and fits well within an interdisciplinary unit on the Middle Ages. There are also 29 other books cited in the book, as well as excerpts from poetry. Students can research such literary pieces and that could be an aid to them in learning about the literature of Medieval Europe. Performing Arts: Music is a vital aspect of this book, as the main character is a singer and also a harp player. Moreover, the minstrels in the book also are singers. There is a great deal of singing here, and many characters are described as singing famous songs of that time. Social Studies: When the students are studying Medieval Europe in social studies, they can be reading Adam of the Road and researching life in the Middle Ages in Language Arts class. In the book, the presence of minstrels and knights in specific are interesting points to tackle. History: The book is set in Medieval Times and students can also research about the significance of that era and how we can relate the events in that time to our time today. There can be sessions where students can compare and contrast the past and the present. Science: Science as we can deduce, is not yet as advanced in the book as it is today. People back then travel by horse-drawn vehicles such as carriages and horse carts. Students can research about how transportation evolved and the Medieval Times may be their starting point. REFERENCES Pat Scales, Director of Library Services of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville, SC. http://www. randomhouse. com/catalog/display. pperl? isbn=9780517885437view=tg Colleen Carroll, Education Consultant, Curriculum Writer and Author. http://www. randomhouse. com/kids/catalog/display. pperl? isbn=9780375832741view=tg http://www. randomhouse. com/teachers/catalog/display. pperl? isbn=9780440422259view=tg Deborah Gaulin 1997. http://www. sdcoe. k12. ca. us/score/adam/adamtg. html Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold, Illustrated by Faith Ringgold. Dragonfly Books (1995) Harry Sue by Sue Stauffacher. Illustrated by Sue Stauffacher. Yearling (2007) The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Yearling (1985) Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray. Puffin (2006) How to cite The Performing Arts and the Social Sciences, Papers

Red Cocoon Essays - Oddworld, Platform Games, Windows Games

Red Cocoon Generally speaking, the purpose of most forms of artistic expression such as literary art, music, or art itself is a mode by which the author can express him/herself with. They use their respective skills and/or interests to convey feelings or thoughts on any given topic. Short fiction is by no means exempt from this. Many writers use their literary skills to express dreams, aspirations, opinions, or even political viewpoints. In order to make a dertermination of a probable origin for a story, research into the authors life and beliefs most likely will prove benefical. With this in mind, Abe Kobo's story "The Red Cocoon" seems to be a prime example of an author expressing his political viewpoints and his personal conflicts with society through literature. Given this, researching his life and political stance might help to support or negate such an assumption. "The Red Cocoon" begins with a man walking down a street discussing with himself the problem of not having a house to go home to. The narrator, who is also the main character, jumps abruptly from topic to topic throughout the story, but this reoccuring theme of the lack of a house seems to be a central idea. As the narrator comtemplates, he wonders if he has just forgotten his house and proceeds to knock on the door of a random house to find out if this is what has happened. After he has explained his plight to the woman who answers the door, he begins arguing with her over having proof that it is not his house. Shortly thereafter, the narrator begins to ponder wether or not things such as concrete pipes or park benches are his house. Deciding that they are on their way to belonging to someone or that they belong to everyone and not just one person, he begins to wonder if anything exsists that belongs to no one. At the end of the story, he finds that one of his legs begins to unwind into a silk thread and wrap him up in a cocoon. Abe Kobo's story is quite abstract and seems to have little meaning. In fact, that is just the opposite. After reading some information about Abe Kobo, the story seems to take on a new meaning. Abe Kobo is considered to be one of the leading authors during the post-WWII era of Japanese history. Many of his works use what was then radical artistic methods of literature ("Abe Kobo"). In his early childhood, Abe was living in Manchuria which was occupied by the Japanese at the time. Being born in Japan, altough Abe felt strong ties to the chinese, he was left feeling like an outsider and rejected by both societes. After the war, Abe became more and more antinationalist and was interested in marxism and communism. Soon, he even joined the Japanese Communist Party ("Abe Kobo"). He was quite involved in political issues at this time and many of his early writings preceding the early 60's deal with his issues about society says Clerk and Seigal in Modern Literatures of the Non-Western World (136). With this information about Abe Kobo, an interpretation of "The Red Cocoon" emerges with heavy political and social tones. The narators central problem of attempting to find out why he does not have a house seems to point to not only Abe's feelings of isolation during his childhood, but also his socialist political viewpoints at the time. "The Red Cocoon" was written in 1949, a period of Abe's life when he was a strong political activist (Clerk and Seigal, 136). Utopian marxist or communist views on society center around a flat heirarchial structure where no one is more powerful or of a higher class than any other. The property of the country is reffered to as property of everyone and ownership is somewhat denounced in the strictist forms of the political stance. Abe's character in "The Red Cocoon" seems to be having problems with ownership of houses and other pieces of property. The question is asked, "Even if it isn't mine, can't there be just one thing that doesn't belong to anyone?" This question appears to have socialist undertones as if one were in support of everything being everyone's. A strange yet interesting parralism is with Samuel Beckett's character in Watt. The character has a very hard time dealing with the issue of time and is isolated because of that problem. Similarly, Abe's character is isolated because of his lack of understanding possesions. As stated before, this situation with the