Design Specification for the Structural Health Monitoring System of Essay

Design Specification for the Structural Health Monitoring System of London Water Supply System - Essay Example The wireless sensor networks are responsible for collecting application data like hydraulic pressure transients, leak detection and monitoring of water quality parameters and levels in combined sewer outflows (CSO). Water supply and sewer networks are detected for leaks, water quality and contamination resulting from sewer overflows. 2. Introduction Most water distribution systems face the challenge of significant water loss through leakage that is translated to economic loss. Reduction in leakage through well strategized actions in water network management translates into economic benefits. Leakage of fresh water can cause severe damage while that of waste water lead to contamination of soil and environment. The clean up process may be very expensive. Catastrophic failures result to environment degradation, loss of human life and production of large masses of demolished waste. Building codes and design methods are used to produce structures safe for public utility. At times, structu res are exposed to harsh conditions through loads and the surrounding not planned for during the design process. These harsh conditions normally produce long-term structural deterioration. Structures, therefore, need continuous assessment through various techniques. The common techniques used are; Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). ... This technique is used to monitor fresh water mains and sewerage pipes. In the technique, the following are observed: a. Failure mechanisms b. Parameters to be measured c. Range, accuracy, resolution and sampling regime for preferred parameters and processes. 3. Case study- London Water Supply System The largest water project responsible for supply of water in London is the Thames Water Ring Main (TWRM). Five different treatment works supply drinking water to more than six million clients. Gravitational force forces the water to eleven pumping stations installed with shafts. The pumping stations are located at southern, central and north-western areas of the metropolis. Delivery is done directly to water supply zones or to service reservoirs. Objectives of water project were determined by many factors. The factors are; Satisfaction of average and peak demands for water in London to cushion leakage through control action plan effects Maintainan quality and acceptable service to client s in regard to pressure Control hazards related to water supply operations to the environment and social life. Maintain and improve water supply infrastructure in London Control cost at short and long term levels in relation to manpower and energy spent in pumping (Bensted, 1994 p.1-4). 4. Failure Mechanisms Damage refers to changes that occur to material or geometric properties of a structure and completely affects its performance. All engineering material used in construction of any system posses inherent initial flaws. Flaws generated from the environment and operational loading develop continuously and lead to component level failure. System level failure results with time due to continuous loading. The duration and time scales

Science applied to adult nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Science applied to adult nursing - Essay Example Whenever he consumed alcohol, he would take huge amount at a time, despite advice from his family doctor to take alcohol in moderation. In the emergency room, he was found to be pale and dehydrated. He had tachycardia (heart rate 120 per minute), high blood pressure (150/110mmHg), diaphoresis and tenderness and gaurding in the epigastric and left hypochondriac region. Respiratory rate was mildly elevated (26 per minute), but there was no breathlessness. Oxygen saturation was normal. A diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made and patient was shifted to medical intensive care unit for further management. In this essay, the life science patho-physiology of acute pancreatitis will be discussed along with behavioural science as applied to the care-taking nursing staff, including breaking bad news, with reference to the patient. Sam is diagnosed to have acute pancreatitis. Inflammation of the organ pancreas is known as acute pancreatitis. Pancreas is an important gland located in the left upper and posterior aspect of the abdomen. It is both an endocrine and exocrine gland. As an exocrine organ, it produces various digestive enzymes essential for the digestion of protein, fat and carbohydrates. As an endocrine gland, it secretes the hormone insulin essential for glucose metabolism. While 80 percent of the organ is involved in exocrine function, only 20 percent is responsible for endocrine function (Gardner and Berk, 2010). According to Al-Omran et al (2010), "acute pancreatitis is a common hypermetabolic, hyperdynamic disease process of variable severity that has multiple etiologies and creates a catabolic stress state promoting a systemic inflammatory response and nutritional deterioration." Any injury to acinar cells and impairment of secretion of zymogen granules can result in acute pancreatitis. Factors which contribute to acinar damage are gall stones, alcohol abuse and intake of drugs toxic to pancreas. Though it is unclear as to what mechanism triggers the

Purpose Of Education In Singapore

Purpose Of Education In Singapore Education is said to be as old as humanity itself. (Gordon, 1966) All living things, regardless of animal or human origin, are born with a capacity and need to be educated. The genetic makeup of any animal causes it to recognize that educating their offspring plays a crucial role to ensuring their survivability in the wild. Prehistoric human beings realize this too but modern human beings also recognize that in todays complicated world, our purposes for educating our young are far more complex than simply knowing how to gather and hunt for food. Thus, in this essay, I will briefly explore both the selfish and the societal reasons for education in our modern society before delving specifically into the aims of education in Singapore as well as their implications. There is one fundamental limitation to be addressed the aims of education are ever changing. Survivability in todays modern society is defined differently from the past and also differently from the society of the future. Hence, there are no fixed aims of education because our purposes will change along with the current societal needs and mindsets. The question Why do we educate? can be answered from the selfish point of view. Firstly, as human beings, we evolved from animals and are instinctively concerned about our survival. Thus, the most evident reason and aim in pursuing education is for the sake of our livelihoods. This is also known as the bread and butter aim (Gordon, 1966) because we desire to be educated so we can graduate with better qualifications and hence land a better paying job. This utilitarian purpose of education enables people to provide the basic necessities, and possibly luxuries, for themselves. While this practical aim may be important, I believe that there are many other things Man has to live for other than simply money. The other selfish reason is nobler. It is to pursue education for the sake of education. Although it is still a selfish reason, it is in contrast to the livelihood aim because people who believe in this deem education as more than a vehicle for the mere acquisition of knowledge to gain wealth. These are people who have developed an intrinsic motivation for lifelong learning and see that education as a dynamic tool that allows one to think and adapt independently as compared to a static process of memorization. (Gordon, 1966) Other than selfish reasons for education, there are also societys objectives in having its people educated. The first societal purpose of education is to have socially contributive citizens. Ironically, this societal purpose ties in with the selfish purpose for livelihood. In achieving the knowledge, skills and understanding required of us to deal with a specialized and better paying job, we unintentionally play a part in the creation of societys workforce and hence contribute to economic development and growth of the country. (Biesta, 2009) This relates very closely to the educational theory of Essentialism. Essentialism, grounded in philosophies of Idealism and Realism, disregards interests and promote teaching useful knowledge instead for the learner to use in society. In addition, discipline is a key focus in Essentialism as it emphasizes on how the learner is expected to respect legitimate authority to function efficiently in society. (Ellis, 1981) Hence, Essentialism is crucial in creating people who participate effectively in society. Another social intention of education involves character and moral development as emphasized by Aristotle (Homiak, 2007) and by Herbart in the 19th century. Aristotle claims that there are 2 sides to every Man. The baser side involves primal animal instincts of brutality and passion while the humanitarian side involves morality and intellect. The aim of education, Aristotle insists, should be towards developing human character through the humanitarian aspect. (Gordon, 1966) In accordance to Aristotles claims, I personally believe that while we should develop the humanitarian portion, we should focus equally on both the intellectual and moral sections because they are of equal importance and not place greater emphasis on the intellect as our society currently does. The last societal aim of education is for society to create responsible citizens of a country through the development of every child the political agenda behind education. The 2 aspects to this societal aim are the positive and the negative. The positive aspect is what Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of America during her husbands presidency, describes as good citizenship. (Roosevelt, 2008) She illustrates how education is to help a child see and understand the various governmental processes through the government departments of law and legislation along with Americas relationship to the rest of the world. The child, being able to see such things, will see himself as a part of a greater being and understand where his own usefulness may lie. I agree with Roosevelt as National Education is a vital aspect of Singapores education system and this will be elaborated further. The negative aspect however, has roots in the USSR. Lenin, the Communist leader, once expressed: Without teaching, there is no learning. Without learning, there is no knowledge. Without knowledge, there is no Communism. Without Communism, society degenerates into capitalist decay. (Nicholas, 1983) The leadership of the Soviet Union then started to shape its national education programmes to promote Communist propaganda to the children in order to guarantee the security of the Communist ideology. (Nicholas, 1983) This is an example of how a country can use its education system with a political motive to legitimize a particular political doctrine. While the purposes of education are inexhaustible and constantly changing, Singapore has managed to define its own rational of educating her citizens for the 21st century society. As extracted from the Ministry Of Educations (MOE) Website, Singapore has 4 clear Desired Outcomes of Education (Ministry of Education, 2010). They are: Confident person, self directed learner, active contributor and concerned citizen. These 4 desired outcomes of education are adaptations of the purposes of education as discussed above and this essay will only focus on the latter 2. The first desired outcome of education that I am focusing on is the creation of an active contributor. An active contributor is one who cooperates well in a team, takes lead and responsible ventures and is original and competent in his actions. (Ministry of Education, 2010) The reason for this desired outcome of education is Singapore having no natural resources except for her population. Therefore, Singapore, having to rely on her people for economic growth and development, has no margin for mistakes and emphasizes on the need for her people to contribute. This need resulted in several educational policy changes, the most obvious trend being the inclination towards Essentialism. Singapore chooses to adopt a practical and utilitarian approach to education though the Bilingualism Policy in 1966. (Dixon) Learning English aided communication with the Western world and was considered an Industrialization language. In the year 2000, the Mandarin language was promoted in order to help foster economic relations with China. Singapore also privatized education through allowing autonomous and independent schools, created a public ranking of all schools in 1992 (Tan, C. Wong, B. Chua, J.S.M Kang, T, 2006) and started the Thinking Skills, Learning Nation (TSLN) policy in 1997 in recognition that literacy only is not enough to survive economically in the 21st century and highly innovative individuals were crucial too. (Teo, 1997) These 3 policies encourage competition between schools and students for better results and prestige as well as promoting the freedom of ingenuity. These result in Singapore being able to nature the full potential of her citizens, develop an abil ity driven economy and encourage Research and Development, both surmounting to greater economic contribution. These policy changes have significantly impacted Singaporean teachers and students alike. Both teachers and students had to be proficient in the English language in order to understand each other. More teachers were recruited to teach the various mother tongues of Malay, Tamil and Mandarin. Students had to work harder to compete and get into a prestigious and elite school. In addition, students had to pay higher fees for autonomous or independent schools. Teachers also had to rethink their teaching methods and engage students more to promote creativity and induce intrinsic motivation to learn instead of mere memorization. As our former Minister of Education, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, explained diverse paths were also provided for students with talents in different fields so as to train young people to embrace change and do well in life. (Lee, S.K. Goh, C.B. Fredriksen, B. Tan, J.P. 2008) In evaluation, while these policies appeared feasible in theory, practice proved it wrong. The Bilingual Policy was admitted to be a mistake. (Hoe, 2009) Minister Mentor (MM) Lee Kuan Yew said that his implementation of the Bilingual Policy caused students to be put off by the Chinese language instead of fostering a love for the language. However, MM Lee is not entirely wrong as students are able to fluently converse, read and write in their Mother Tongues. This echoes the education theory of Essentialism where societal gains are placed before personal interests. Another policy that was changed in 2004 involved the softening of the school ranking system. (Shanmugaratnam, 2004) While this policy may be effective in differentiating students of varying IQs, this has also objectified students as they are either classified condemned, normal or gifted. This is a result of our focus on meritocracy and ability. Streaming is not effective because students are not given equal chances to flourish in different aspects of their character but is solely based on how well he does in his studies in a particular examination. Lastly, the TSLN policy is cast in a more positive light as it shifts Singapore from an efficiency-driven education system to an ability-driven education system. (Lee, S.K. Goh, C.B. Fredriksen, B. Tan, J.P. 2008) This is a better policy as it offers students greater flexibility and choice in their education. Students are now able to choose from a range of educational institutes like the School of the Arts (SOTA), Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, the Singapore Sports School and the Singapore Institute of Technology to develop their talents and abilities. Nonetheless, while this can be seen as a deviation from Essentialism, the main objective of the TSLN policy is to remain economically competent in the 21st century. The other desired outcome is the creation of a concerned citizen through moral education. Moral education in Singapore was, and always will be, aimed at forging citizens together and promoting common values to prevent racial and cultural tension amongst the 4 racial groups. (Tan, J. Gopinathan, S. Ho, W.K., 1997) The reason for this desired outcome is due to the largely polarized cultural groups in Singapore directly after independence. Hence, there was a need to bring together the people of Singapore and thus, moral education is needed for nation building and cohesion. The introduction of moral education into the education system resulted in several policy changes. The more significant ones include the mandatory singing of the National Anthem and recitation of the National Pledge (1966) in all schools every morning (Tan, C. Wong, B. Chua, J.S.M Kang, T, 2006), the implementation of Education for Living as a subject (Tan, J. Gopinathan, S. Ho, W.K., 1997) and more recently, the National Education for all levels and Community Involvement Programme (CIP) in 1996 for lower level schools and Service Learning for upper levels. (Ministry of Education, 1998) These 3 policy changes work towards the cohesion of Singaporeans as a whole regardless of race or religion and promote social concern and civic responsibility amongst citizens. These policy changes have affected teachers and students in a more subtle manner. Students then had to learn the National Anthem and Pledge by heart. Teachers were required to undergo training to learn and teach the Education for Living syllabus, Good Citizen, as a subject in the various Mother Tongues. Furthermore, teachers also had to learn how to organize and manage students for CIP and incorporate National Education into everyday teaching. The compulsory singing of the National Anthem and recitation of the Pledge is effective because the Pledge embodies our goals as a country as shown by the words, One united people to signify cohesion in diversity, and to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our Nation and the recitation every morning reminds students that diversity is not an obstacle and that Singaporeans should always care for the country. Furthermore, although the CIP and Service Learning projects have noble intentions and are theoretically effective, they turn out to be less efficient in practice. For example, secondary school students carry out the bare minimum of 6 hours of community work in order to meet the criteria set by the Ministry of Education. This defeats the purpose of CIP as it does not properly inculcate students to sincerely help out the needy but only forces students to help because their schools said so. In conclusion, ultimately, Singapore is still a survival-driven society and economy. Having only people as resources has not made it any easier. Hence, regardless of what policy changes or desired outcomes of education, Singapores ultimate goal in education is to remain economically competent in the 21st society. 2191 words.

Consequences of Teen Alcohol Use Essays -- Papers

We live in a society that drinks heavily, and this influences teens. Most Americans use alcohol to celebrate wedding anniversaries, to welcome the New Year, and to enjoy many other special events. Alcohol is a legal drug for people over the age of twenty-one. By the time most teens reach senior high school, nearly all will have faced a choice about whether or not to take a drink. Although this drug is illegal for teenage use a large percentage of teens use alcohol. Many teens die in automobile accidents, which could have prevented if they had chosen to say no. Each year it is blame in the deaths of more than four thousand teens (Claypool, p. 42). No crime kills more teenagers in America. Kids who are drinking regularly in high school seem to be fully aware of the penalties and laws against underage drinking, possession but don't care. They agree that driving while intoxicated is a key role in fatal car accidents, yet they still do it. Many teens also believe cold showers and coffee c an sober up a person that is drunk Teens may drink for many different reasons. A big reason for teens to start to drink is because of problems in their family life. Teens could have a bad relationship with their parents or their parents could get in a fight or even get a divorce and this could cause a drinking problem among their child. Many experts agree that the main reason teens are becoming alcoholics is low self-esteem. Sometimes these children have been neglected or abused which makes them feel unwanted or they have been pressured and feel worthless if they fail. They have to deal with problems that he is too immature to handle, or worries about problems, which are problems at all. Many kids drink to make them feel older and mature. It makes you ... ...ovide accurate information instead of attempting influence through social tactics. Alateen is a program for alcoholic recovery. Meetings are free, anonymous, and confidential. There primary purpose is to help families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of a drinking problem. The only requirement for membership is to have a problem of alcoholism. Members give and receive comfort and understanding through an exchange of experiences, strength, and hope (www.alateen.com). Defining the drinking problems of teenagers is more complicated than doing so for adults for several reasons. Since teens have had a shorter period of time and fewer opportunities to experience alcohol use, they suffer less from long term effects of heavy drinking. Most teens so not have to support themselves. If they may lose a job because of drinking it probably wouldn't be a problem.

European television Essay

Reality TV is a huge success to the television industry in the 1990s. As a genre description, reality TV is widening its usage from ‘news magazine programmes based round emergency service activities’ to ‘talk shows, docusoaps’ and a variety of ‘first-person’ programmes (Creeber, 2001: 135). ‘Reality TV’ with extensive meaning becomes popular to describe ‘any factual programme based on an aesthetic style of apparent â€Å"zero-degree realism† – in other words a direct, unmediated account of events, often associated with the use of video and surveillance-imaging technologies’ (Creeber, 2001: 135). While Barnfield has criticized ‘the loose usage of the term, suggesting that over the last decade such a wide range of productions have been categorized as â€Å"Reality TV† that one wonders if the term is too general to be helpful'(Holmes and Jermyn, 2004: 3). It is true that ‘reality TV’ is not explicit enough in meaning. However, it is the best word applicable to all situations and never unilateral. It gives producers more space to innovate new programmes as to prosper this genre. Reality TV evolves with the development of new technologies. New sub-genres emerged as the hybrids of established genres. It challenges traditional documentary and changes the serious content to more entertainment elements. Every format is close to everyday life to convince the audience as ‘real’ programming. In the short history of only two decades, reality TV has evolved into various formats. I will focus on five main forms which have either had a remarkable effect on television history or unprecedented audience ratings with reference to relevant representative programmes of British television. Contested Generic Identification: Definition of Reality TV It seems difficult to issue a particular definition of ‘reality TV’ to attest to debates over it. As Su Holmes and Deborah Jermyn point out: Producing a particular definition of Reality TV is nevertheless complex. This is partly because of the fundamentally hybrid nature of the forms in question. Yet it is also because of the range of programming to which the term ‘Reality TV’ has been applied, as well as the extent to which this has shifted over time with the emergence of further permutations in ‘reality-based’ texts. (Holmes and Jermyn, 2004: 2). Jon Dovey characterised this genre by ‘reference to the dominant and original forms of Reality TV that feature police and emergency service work’ (Dovey, 2000: 80). In his opinion, as form and construction, reality TV should be: i camcorder, surveillance or observational ‘actuality footage’; i first-person participant or eye-witness testimony; i reconstructions that rely upon narrative fiction styles; i studio or to-camera links and commentary from ‘authoritative’ presenters; i expert statements from emergency services personnel or psychologists. (Dovey, 2000: 80) These elements are helpful in interpreting the origins of reality programmes and in understanding its sub-genres and new development. Only by bearing these elements in mind can we make reference to relevant programmes when we trace back history to discuss the evolution of reality TV. Is it American Innovation? : Historical Precedent of Reality TV There is no consensus about the first reality programme. Jon Dovey thought that ‘Reality TV is generally historically located as beginning in the US with NBC’s Unsolved Mysteries in 1987’ (Dovey, 2000: 81). While Bradley D. Clissold considered that ‘during the years that it aired, Candid Camera (US, 1948- ), arguably the first ‘Reality TV’ programme, proved itself to be one of US TV’s most memorable, enduring and popular shows’ (Holmes and Jermyn, 2004: 33). There is a consensus that the earliest reality programme came out in America. In addition to these mentioned above, other commentators like Richard Kilborn, Chad Raphael and Gareth Palmer all agreed with this conclusion (Kilborn, 2003: 55; Palmer, 2003: 21). In the commercial environment in America, technologies like cable, satellite and digital prospered reality programmes in television market. However, reality TV as a television genre has evolved into ‘a very strong Eurpoean form with regional variations in each country’ (Dovey). In mid-1980s, when surveillance technology such as CCTV (closed-circuit television) became accessible, Britain produced its own reality programmes, which revealed real accidents, crimes and emergencies. By using CCTV footage, these reality programmes departed from traditional documentary and were quickly accepted by the curious audience because of their witness techniques. They were real shows without actors and noted for low-cost which was attractive to most programme-makers. Among these early reality programmes, Crimewatch (BBC, 1984- ) was most influential. Jon Dovey said it ‘has been seen as central to the development of the form, particularly in respect of debates around criminology and the media’ (Creeber, 2001: 135). Deborah Jermyn, who is experienced in studying television crime appeal, commented on Crimewatch: Promoting the growth of crime-appeal programming in Britain – with a format where serious unsolved crimes are reconstructed, police and victims’ families interviewed, images of suspects publicized and the public encouraged to phone in and volunteer information – by this time the series had comfortably established itself as Britain’s foremost crime-appeal programme. (Holmes and Jermyn, 2004: 71) The effectiveness of Crimewatch as a detergent to crimes has been under much debate. It entertained the audience, but it was weak as a warning to the criminals. As Jermyn commented: ‘indeed some criminals have claimed that the poor-quality CCTV footage they witnessed on Crimewatch actually gave them an incentive to commit crime’ (Holmes and Jermyn, 2004: 82). ‘The use of CCTV conspicuously enhances the programme’s claims to authenticity and underlines its sense of a privileged relationship with real crime and actuality, qualities which programme-makers evidently believe to be ratings winners’ (Holmes and Jermyn, 2004: 83). In this case it is exciting for the audience to see the ‘raw’ footage without caring much about its effect of crime appeal. These early reality programmes about crime appeal, accidents and emergencies formed a new documentary format, which was the precedent of a new genre-reality TV. Later popular factual entertainment programmes are based on these elements to innovate. Their effect is remarkable in a long term. ‘Fly-Off-the-Wall’: Video Diaries Known as Access TV The 1990s was a golden era for the prevalence of reality TV. Jon Dovey points out: ‘it seems that â€Å"ordinary people†, non-professional broadcasters, have never been more present on our screens’ (Dowmunt, 1993: 163). Camera is no longer simply ‘fly-on-the-wall’ to observe and record, but closes to the object to become active ‘fly-off-the-wall’. For a long time, access TV, as new reality television, has been in a great demand. According to Jon Dovey, ‘there are some fundamental principles that identify access programming; they centre around control and power over the programme-making process’, especially ‘the authors should have control over the whole process of representation’ (Dowmunt, 1993: 165). Camcorder and video technology opened up expansive space for access TV. ‘Non-professional broadcasters’ became a leading role in making these programmes. As Patricia Holland commented on this innovative style: The video diary style, in which programmes are made with domestic video equipment by members of the public rather than by television professionals, has introduced a new way of making programmes. Low-tech, with a less polished appearance, they seem to bring the audience even closer to the realities they show. (Holland, 1997: 158) Video Diaries, produced by the BBC Community Programme Unit from 1990-1999, was a representative of access TV. From these series of programmes, Jon Dovey noted: the Unit solicits and researches ideas from potential diarists with a compelling story to tell. Once chosen, the diarist is trained in the use of an S-VHS camera and packed off to shoot their story, with support from the Unit should it be needed. In this way the diarists are given not only editorial control but also control over the means of production. They return with anything up to 200 hours of material and attend all the edit sessions, from an initial assembly which is viewed and discussed at length to the offline and online edit processes. (Dowmunt, 1993: 167) The format of Video Diaries is a development of documentary. Gareth Palmer has explained that it ‘imported the authorizing and legitimizing discourse of documentary into the personal, and in doing so it imported also documentary’s ordering principle into individual lives’ (Palmer, 2003:168). It was popular to the audience and also gained acclaim from the critics because of its flexibility in recording reality. Nevertheless there were debates that the producers had already controlled the programme by selecting the diarists, and there were also problems of quality and legality. New Observational Documentary: Emergence of Docusoap Docusoap is one form of the new observational documentary and one sub-genre of reality TV. It is a hybrid of documentary and soap-opera. It improves from serious documentary to emphasize on entertainment, especially everyday lives. ‘Developed in the UK in the mid-1990s, the docusoap enjoyed unprecedented success for roughly a four-year period (1996-2000)’ (Kilborn, 2003: 87). Docusoap combines documentary and drama. There are elements of narration, interviews and background music, and similar sequences as soap-opera. Each episode has a certain title and focuses on character, personalities, plot or situation. Technological advances promote the development of new observational documentary. New technologies like lightweight cameras, ‘portable sound equipment’ and ‘non-linear editing system’ accelerate editing process with better quality and effect. Besides, financial benefits also attract producers to choose new technologies. ‘As Paul Hamann has commented, docusoaps already cost on average only a third of the price of the equivalent in light entertainment or sitcoms’ (Bruzzi, 2000: 77). The entertainment factor of docusoap makes it popular with audience. Driving School ‘peaked at 12. 45 million’ viewers (Bruzzi, 2000: 86). It ‘focused on the trials and tribulations of people preparing for their driving test’ (Kilborn, 2003: 96). Compared to the core character of reality TV, docusoap is blamed to be less factual with aesthetic reconstruction. According to Bruzzi: The sequence most frequently cited is that in which Maureen Rees, on the eve of another attempt at her theory exam, wakes in the middle of the night and asks her husband Dave to test her on the Highway Code. The sequence is a reconstruction, and Jeremy Gibson (head of BBC Television Features, Bristol) and others have gone on record exonerating themselves from blame, commenting that, having gleaned that Maureen did get up at night ghrough panic, it was perfectly legitimate to recreate such a sequence without the film crew having to camp out in her bedroom for an entire night. (Bruzzi, 2000: 87) The producers’ intervention revealed obvious dramatic skills, which aimed at telling a complete story. In any case, under these circumstances one can never expect a totally natural performance from the character with the presence of camera.

Public vs Private Schooling

As American support for the public education system dwindles, many parents find the only place for their children to receive a quality education is in a private school. The areas that are most important to a private school are also the ones that seem to be lacking in public schools. These include safety, order, teaching the basics and challenging young minds. Across the nation, public education systems continue to fail students, therefore many have chosen, like myself, to attend private Catholic high schools to receive an education that will better prepare them for college. Overcrowded public high schools have been dealt with the problems of insufficient funding, large class sizes, students who simply refuse to learn and are disruptive. Due to an increase in violent acts committed, many public high schools have instituted low level security measures to ensure the safety of students. The types of security found in these schools include closed campuses, controlled access to the school building and grounds, random drug and metal detector, banning certain types of clothing, and either full or part time security guards have been assigned. How can students be expected to learn and teachers educate in an environment like this Through personal experience I have found out that it is almost impossible to focus on learning in an atmosphere that is forced to emphasize personal safety rather than education. My first eight years of education were spent at area public schools in and around Chicago, IL. During this time I witnessed approximately 100 fights, 3 teachers being assaulted by students and numerous drug and weapons arrests. Many of these acts were merely boyish fights and left no lasting impression. One incident that has scarred me for life was when a student came to school with a five-inch knife and proceeded to stab an administrator in front of approximately seventy students, myself included. I simply stood there not knowing what to do, too shocked to blink, too terrified to move. The victim recovered fully and the perpetrator, who at the time was fifteen, is now in jail. Is this the atmosphere that children should be placed in to receive the fundamental elements of education that will prepare them for high school and eventually college There is enough concern about the quality of education in public schools that many private schools have been bombarded with applications in recent years. This is the case with my alma mater, Saint Marys High School. Run by the Archdiocese of Chicago, it is a small, coeducational, Catholic school located in downtown Chicago, IL. With a graduating class of less than 150, Saint Marys fosters a college curriculum with small controlled classes and an emphasis on personal, intellectual and religious growth all in a morally sound environment unlike anything found in public schools. The problems facing many public schools are non-existent at most private schools. They have no need to institute security measures because discipline is not a problem. Students know that the school board can expel anyone that hinders learning in the classroom. Disruptive and violent actions are taken seriously and are not tolerated under any circumstance. At Saint Marys there are various types of honors courses designed for students that have specific interest in a particular subject. There is also a program set up for students to receive not only tutoring but instruction from Midshipmen attending the United States Naval Academy, located only a few blocks from the high school. This type of program not found in any public or private school is one that places Saint Marys on a far superior level. For those who choose not to take any honors courses there is a challenging curriculum that places students in small classes therefore making learning a very personal experience between teacher and student. I found the most intriguing part of attending Saint Marys was the emphasis they placed on religion. From the classroom to the athletic field students know that they are representing not only there family but Saint Marys High School and the whole Archdiocese of Chicago. The mandatory religion classes taught were not focused on right and wrong but how to improve your own personal view of life. They challenged us to Walk in the shadow of God and learn from His teachings. Students at Saint Marys are committed to serving the community and those in need, not to enhance a resume but because they truly want to. Private schools across the nation have fewer disciplinary problems than public schools because they can be selective in whom they choose to accept into there institute. Those who apply truly want to learn and are willing to spend thousands of dollars a year to ensure that they receive the best education possible. With that money they dont expect to have to fear for their safety, or fear that they will not learn anything in class because one person is disruptive. Altogether receiving a private Catholic education not only prepared me for college but also ensured that I will be a more mature and well-rounded individual throughout my life.

Study on Rana Pipiens essays

Study on Rana Pipiens essays Distribution: Found throughout Ontario but more abundant in southern and central Americas. Range: Adults maintain small home ranges (up to 500 m2) in fields or open forest during the summer. Where terrestrial habitats are quite dry, home ranges include some shoreline. A minimum of 4 ha of terrestrial habitat is recommended for the vicinity of breeding sites, however, individual adults may move several kilometres away. Most recently metamorphosed froglets stay within 20 m of shoreline although some froglets begin dispersal before metamorphosis is entirely complete. Diet: Larvae eat algae, phytoplankton, periphyton and detritus. Adults eat mainly invertebrates but will also take tadpoles or very small froglets. Reproduction: Successful breeding sites are permanent ponds, marshes, or pools or backwaters of streams. Eggs and tadpoles require warm (prefer 18o - 28o C), shallow, sunny areas. Breeding occurs from mid-March to mid-May in southern Ontario, and a few weeks later further north. Metamorphosis occurs in 2-3 months. Tadpoles require minimum oxygen concentrations of 3 ppm. Habitat: Relative to bullfrogs and green frogs, leopard frogs use open fields more and prefer denser terrestrial vegetation. In aquatic habitats, submerged vegetation, detritus and soft mud are used for cover. Froglets require muddy shorelines, lily pads, rocks, logs or beaver dams with clear access to deeper water. Adults prefer unmowed fields (15 - 30 cm high, no more than 1 m high vegetation) or open forest in the vicinity of Corridors may be required among breeding, hibernation and summeringhabitats, within 2 km. These may be either aquatic (streams or rivers) or terrestrial (field or forest, usually not cropland except during periods of irrigation). Hibernate in deep or running water that will not freeze solid ...

Rhetorical Precis Example

Rhetorical Precis Example Rhetorical Precis – Coursework Example Rhetorical Prà ©cis In his 1996 essay on â€Å"attitude† Sheridan Baker, a scholar, a and critical thinker asserts thatwriter‘s attitude toward their target group and the writers themselves determines the quality of the prose produced. He support this argument by giving examples of bad attitude can make writing boring. He farther states that a good writer should have respect towards his audience and the readers. His main purpose is to make his reader aware of consequences of negative attitude in order to make them become good writers. His main audience was college students who were interested in writing in the future (Woodworth 7).Charles Peirce’s article, â€Å"The Fixation of Belief† (1877), argued that humans have psychological and social mechanism to protect and strengthen our beliefs. Peirce backs up this claim by a thorough description of the four methods of fixing belief highlighting the advantages and weaknesses of each. His main purpose is to poin t the ways people can establish their beliefs in order to get awareness of the reader considering how the beliefs may be the product of the methods. He is writing to the educated audience with the knowledge of philosophy and histories this depends on the language used (Hendricks 28).Toni Morrison, in her essay â€Å"Disturbing Nurses and the kindness of Shark† implies that ethnic and racism in the United States influences crafting American novelists. He supports this implication by describing how other writers like Ernest Hemingway write about black characters. his purpose is to make her reader feel the sense of cruel reality of racism underlying American to enable them examine effects of racism not only affect those discriminates but also those that discriminate (Michael 1). The targets the audience of racial mixed and critical reader of literature using a very high analytical tone In the year 1997 Larisa Macfarqhuhar in her article â€Å"who care if Johnny can’t rea d† asserts that American are reading more than ever despite the aims o the contrary . She supports this claim about American reading habit with facts that compare the past and the present reading practices (Lanzbom 1). She challenges common assumption by raising questions about reading intrinsic values. Her purpose is to dispel some myths about reading in order to raise new and more important questions about the value reading and other media culture. She targets young audience with sarcastic tone. Hendricks, Vincent. Thought 2 Talk: A Crash Course in Reflection and Expression, New York: Automatic Press, 2005. Print. Lanzbom, Leon. "On English and Writing: Critical Thinking". Word Rogues. Retrieved 6 April 2012. Michael, S. "Writing the Precise". Texas.net. English 1302 - Palo Alto College. Retrieved 6 April 2012. Woodworth, Margaret. "The Rhetorical Prà ©cis." Rhetoric Review 7 (2007): 156-164.

How Can Meditation Help You Boost Your Career

How Can Meditation Help You Boost Your Career There are a lot of benefits to meditation. It can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can put your mind into a state of relaxation and serenity. It’s also good way to start or end your day. But how can meditation help you boost your career? What are the professional benefits of meditation and how can it help you achieve professional goals and milestones? Take a look at this infographic by Crystal Heart Physics  for more information on how meditation can help you boost  your productivity and achieve your goals.

CIPD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CIPD - Essay Example letion of this session, participants would know the definition of decision making, its importance in the organization and how bad decisions can devastate an organization overnight. In the end of this session Managers would be asked to share their best and worst decisions after giving it a thought and the consequences they faced in both situations. Trainer should make notes about each participants and his / her ability to define the decisions and consequences. Each relevant example shared would add value to the participants learning. Rate the performance of the participants between 1 to 10 on the basis of their performance in the training. You have recently conducted an employee satisfaction survey on benefits provided by your employer. Based on the data you have to plan and execute certain HR interventions that can result in increased employee engagement and motivation. You have been asked to create a vision for your department. Something that should be aligned with company’s mission and values and can also predict the future and direction of your team and function. You hired an exceptional resource based on his strong credentials. You are absolutely sure that the incumbent would be a great addition to the already high performing team. On the first day of joining you get to know that your new star has had a huge argument with an existing star. You counsel them and realize that the existing differences are much too severe then you initially thought. You cannot afford to let go either of them. You have a resource whose arrival time is not according to the company policy. Even after verbal counselling and written warnings the incumbent fails to follow the rules. It is getting noticed and some team members are getting too casual with their arrival timings as well. You execute certain routine tasks every day. The tasks are all related to coordination and certain approvals are required based on the requests generated by internal customers. All these tasks are

The Role of Retail Industry towards the Economic Advancement of the Essay - 1

The Role of Retail Industry towards the Economic Advancement of the Country - Essay Example The researcher states that very often, the extent to which individual companies can experience growth is very much dependent on the strategic management policies that are used to run these organizations. By strategic management policy, reference is being made to the use of key decision making processes that ensure that the companies come to terms with the selection of best strategies, policies, principles, and action plans that focus directly on their competitive growth. One such industry where the kind of strategic management used is very important in determining the extent of competitiveness is the retail industry. This is because as the days go by, there continue to be more and more new openings within the industry, calling for the need of individual organizations to strategize their ways out to becoming competitive. The selected industry for the study is the retail industry. This is the industry that is responsible for the sale of goods and services directly to the end user, who is the customer. This means that retailers do not go through such production processes as manufacturing and logistics but find a means of directly receiving out to the customer with finished products and services from manufacturers. Retailing has been a core part of the economic composition of the country for several years. This is because, since time immemorial, people have had the need to make purchases of products and services to meet their needs and wants. Very often though, the means of going directly to the manufacturer is not there due to such limitations as transportation and distribution channel. It is in such instances that retailers become very important to the ordinary consumer and the nation at large by meeting the consumer at the point of his or her need. One unique feature of the retail industry is that it is found in almost every corner of the country, and has very limited restrictions in the form of market penetration.

Marketing Conduct of the Superdry Fashion Brand Label of UK Essay - 1

Marketing Conduct of the Superdry Fashion Brand Label of UK - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Superdry brand is owned by the Super Group Plc with two brands CULT and Superdry. The brand started its business in 1985 with inspiration from the Japanese streetwear having a combination of bright colors and graphical prints. The Japanese style was mixed with the British style and high-quality fashion product that captured the market significantly. The global presence of the business in different parts of the world is presented in the paper. The company has expanded from using the Wholesale business format to the retail format with the strategy of expanding revenues and profits. Superdry has the business model of expanding its base in the geographical territory. A review of the five years’ revenue and the business has been illustrated in the paper. Though the political conditions of the UK are stable, there are growing concerns in businesses with respect to the general election and along with the probable EU referendum  to be held in 2015. Also, the independence of Scotland is to pose a challenge.Despite taking steps for the recovery from the economic crunch of 2008 and the inflation standing at 1.5%, the interest rate is maintained at 0.5%, to support the slowing growth. The competitive landscape is a critical for the business understanding, survival and winning a competitive edge. Superdry with its global existence has a deal with the range of competitive pressures in order to maintain the profitable balance. The leading competitors of Superdry include Primark, H&M, New Look and Rivers Island in addition to another leading fashion brand local and international players in both local and international market of its presence.

Internal analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internal analysis - Essay Example Financial Resources and Analysis The financial resource of a company is the money available to the company in the form of cash, cash equivalents, credit lines and liquid securities. An entrepreneur needs to have sufficient amount of cash to operate a business successfully. Analytical tools like ratio analysis determine the profitability and business risks of the company. The management of the company needs to analyze the company’s profitability, business risks and financial condition to take a decision related with the company (Abacus, â€Å"Management†). The company had generated sales of $12 million in the financial year 2011. The current ratio signifies the company’s ability to meet the short term obligations of the company and a current ratio between 1.5 and 3.0 signifies that the company is in a healthy condition (Brigham, and Houston 87). The current ratio of ABS is 0.77 and 1.12 in the financial year 2011 and 2012 respectively. The company’s ability to meet its short term liabilities was very poor in the year 2011, however the company’s current ratio strengthened in the year 2012. ... The debt to equity ratio was negative in the financial year 2011 and improved considerably in the financial year 2012. The cash ratio of a company determines the ability of the company to repay its short term liabilities in a short time. The cash ratio of the company should be equal to or below 1.00. The cash ratio of ABS is 0.22 and 0.64 in the financial year 2011 and 2012 respectively. The cash ratio of the company is stronger in the year 2012 which signifies that the company has the ability to repay its current liabilities immediately by using cash or cash equivalents (Gibson 246). The inventory turnover ratio indicates the effective use of the company’s inventory management practices (Andrew, and Gallagher 97). The inventory turnover ratio of the company is 17.16; a high inventory turnover ratio is unhealthy because they represent an investment with a rate of zero. The return of the shareholder’s equity indicates the profitability to the shareholders of the company after including the tax and other expenses. The return on equity ratio in the year 2011 was negative which indicates that the shareholders did not receive any profit in the same year. This was mainly due to the fact that the hospitality industry was not performing well during recession. At the present situation, the hospitality industry is earning meagre profits because the economy is recovering from recession. The return on equity ratio was 5.06 percent in the year 2012 which signifies that the company is yielding profits and may provide better returns to the shareholders in the future. The current ratio of the company has been rising and the acid test ratio is weak. A strong current ratio coupled with a

The Treasury Profile For Marks & Spencer PLC Essay

The Treasury Profile For Marks & Spencer PLC - Essay Example The strategies and policies for administering these risks are being deliberated in this research essay. M& S is offering high grade quality clothing, exotic food and top grade home products. It has also expanded its operations in many foreign nations and is now operating in 43 foreign locations other than UK. M& S offers a wide range of high grade quality clothing, exotic food and top grade home products, which includes categories like kitchen accessories, house accessories, novelty gifts, decorations, various brands TVs, women’s accessories and clothing, men’s underwear accessories and clothing, office supplies, lingerie, men’s shoes, etc. Marks & Spencer Group is having a centralised Group treasury department to administer the funding requirements of the group and to manage the financial risk in tune with its approved Board’s treasury procedures and policies and operate within their delegated powers. M&S is having a record of twenty –one million satisfied customers in UK alone. It has achieved only a marginal increase in sales of 0.44% in the year 2009 as compared to 2008 due to impact of global economic recession. M& S is constantly paying its attention to customers by frequent surveys and research analysis, by monitoring sales and direct feedback from its customer’s service team. M& S is one of the leading retail chain stores in UK and also operates in many other countries. It has record sales of  £ M 9062.10 in the year 2009. Given its scale and size of the company, it is under heavy pressure to finance its both working capital needs and also in the long-term debt needs. To facilitate its funding needs, M&S group is operating a centralised Group treasury department to administer the funding needs of the group and to manage and control the financial risks in line with its Board of Director’s acknowledged treasury policies and with help of their delegated authorities. Treasury

Technology to Improve Internal Audit Research Paper

Technology to Improve Internal Audit - Research Paper Example Conclusion 7 Name of the Student: Name of the Professor: Course Number: Date of the Paper: Technology to Improve Internal Audit 1. Introduction The internal audit is defined as the process of an autonomous appraisal function that is established within the organization to evaluate and examine the activities as a service. The main objective of the internal audit is to assist the members of the organization to effectively perform their responsibilities. The end result of the internal audit is to provide the analysis, assessment, suggestion, direction, and information regarding the reviewed activities. The end objective is promoting control over the reasonable cost (Kagermann 4; Trenerry 266; Pickett 325). The primary role of the internal audit has undergone radical changes. After the introduction of Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) Act in the USA in 2002 the internal audit has started to redeploy the financial control auditing (Leung, Cooper and Perera 785). This paper focuses on how technology has improved the internal audit. 2. Literature Review 2.1 New methodologies in use The recent development in the technology has led to the use of more sophisticated methods for internal auditing in the organization. The methodologies that are currently in use are (Dittenhofer 462): Computer assisted audit techniques (CAAT) Expert System Analytical Auditing 2.1.1 Computer assisted audit techniques The most dynamic way of processing audit is the use of computer assisted audit techniques (CAAT). This technology is not a new one, but requires a continuous up-gradation to increase the efficiency of auditing account inventories, receivables, fixed assets accumulation, and accounts payable. This method consists of the process of downloading the subject files and testing these files irrespective of the computer system of the auditee. The CAAT process eliminates the hand processed and time consuming substantive testing. It produces the automatic computer generated working paper, which is displa yed on the basis of â€Å"by difference†. There are several other computer applications that enhance the audit operation, reduce the time consumed, and also increase the accuracy of the work (Dittenhofer 462-463). 2.1.2 Analytical Auditing The use of the analytical auditing procedure is the recent development in the process of internal auditing. This process leads to the development of the relationship between the operational or physical aspects and financial aspects. The procedures claim that there must exist some relationship and unless they exist, some mitigating circumstances must be there, or if not some investigation should be done to determine the reason of inexistence. The technique tends to find the areas that require more in-depth investigation process and also identifies the areas that require a very little in-depth investigation. This method can be used as the potential area of interest. Without the indication of the problem absence and further examination, this p rocess cannot be used in a positive way (Dittenhofer 463). 2.1.3 Expert System The procedure of the expert system is another development that enhances the operation of internal auditing. This procedure includes computer programs that are identical to human reasoning and can be used to alert the auditor to investigate certain situations or the audit activities that should be considered as the response to the situation that appears to be unusual. Hence, two capacities are displayed by the functioning of the expert system. Firstly, the system is built on the computer program that records information automatically and compares it to the standard information that is already present to find the situation that

The Treasury Profile For Marks & Spencer PLC Essay

The Treasury Profile For Marks & Spencer PLC - Essay Example The strategies and policies for administering these risks are being deliberated in this research essay. M& S is offering high grade quality clothing, exotic food and top grade home products. It has also expanded its operations in many foreign nations and is now operating in 43 foreign locations other than UK. M& S offers a wide range of high grade quality clothing, exotic food and top grade home products, which includes categories like kitchen accessories, house accessories, novelty gifts, decorations, various brands TVs, women’s accessories and clothing, men’s underwear accessories and clothing, office supplies, lingerie, men’s shoes, etc. Marks & Spencer Group is having a centralised Group treasury department to administer the funding requirements of the group and to manage the financial risk in tune with its approved Board’s treasury procedures and policies and operate within their delegated powers. M&S is having a record of twenty –one million satisfied customers in UK alone. It has achieved only a marginal increase in sales of 0.44% in the year 2009 as compared to 2008 due to impact of global economic recession. M& S is constantly paying its attention to customers by frequent surveys and research analysis, by monitoring sales and direct feedback from its customer’s service team. M& S is one of the leading retail chain stores in UK and also operates in many other countries. It has record sales of  £ M 9062.10 in the year 2009. Given its scale and size of the company, it is under heavy pressure to finance its both working capital needs and also in the long-term debt needs. To facilitate its funding needs, M&S group is operating a centralised Group treasury department to administer the funding needs of the group and to manage and control the financial risks in line with its Board of Director’s acknowledged treasury policies and with help of their delegated authorities. Treasury

Copyright Essay Example for Free

Copyright Essay A Copyright it the sole privilege of the owner to duplicate or allow someone else to duplicate their work. Items that can be copyrighted are anything that one creates including but not limited to literary work such as articles, stories and even computer programs. Along with any graphics, pictures, music, song lyrics, screenplays and movies can also be copyrighted by their owner or creator. If there is a question if something is copyrighted it more than likely is copyrighted and you will need permission to use it if not that is considered copyright infringement which is wrong and punishable by law. Something as simple as printing a Web page, downloading a picture, printing and image even copy the HTML, JavaScript is considered infringement and against the law. If you chose to copy code from a Web site you must show the original author respect by properly citing the material and following necessary steps. You do so by asking for permission to use their material. To use text or an image from a Web site you just need to contact the owner and explain what you would like to use the text or image for and then ask to use it. No matter if an image or text does not have a copyright notice or not it is still covered by the copyright laws, (J Kyrnin 2012) It is important to protect your own images and text as well. To protect your images and text create a copyright notice for you Web site. Images can have watermarks among different copyright details using a unique software program. Companies such as Digimarc have created a technology that enables you to watermark images and the back ground for text. The watermark cannot be adjusted or changed by the user of the image or text. Even though browsers all for the copying of information it is important to never use another person works without notifying them and receiving their consent to use their material. It is crucial that you ask for the permission to use anything created by someone else on the Web and that you properly cite your sources for the information.

The Rogerian approach to therapy and its limitations

The Rogerian approach to therapy and its limitations One of the phrases that Carl Rogers used to describe his therapy is supportive, not reconstructive. It is possible to explain a person to himself, to prescribe steps which should lead him forward, to train him in knowledge about a more satisfying mode of life. But such methods are, in my experience, futile and inconsequential. The most they can accomplish is some temporary change, which soon disappears, leaving the individual more than ever convinced of his inadequacies (Rogers 1961, p33). Influences Rogers never undertook specific training as a psychotherapist (Rogers and Russell 2002, p242), and was initially heavily influenced by his childhood and the restrictions and control exercised by his parents and by an early tutor, Goodwin Watson. Philosophically, Rogers cites Emerson, and in particular Kierkegaard and Buber as his key influences (Rogers and Russell 2002, p169). Psychologists influencing him included Maslow, Combs and Snygg (Nelson-Jones 2000 p99) Rogers belief in an individuals capacity for self-direction although primarily founded on his clinical experienceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦was buttressed by his understanding of Ranks work (Rogers and Russell 2002, p9), and he talks of being much influenced by Jesse Taft and Frederick Allen as well as alluding to the work of Karen Horney in his paper on newer concepts in psychotherapy in December 1940. Theoretical Development Corey (2001, p170) references Zimring and Raskins (1992) identification of four definitive periods of development in Rogers approach, commencing in the 1940s with the introduction of non-directive counseling. Corey comments He caused a great furor when he challenged the basic assumption the the counselor knows bestà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Based on his conviction that diagnostic concepts and procedures were inadequate, prejudicial, and often misused, he omitted them from his approach. During this time Rogers placed emphasis on a permissive and non-directive climate aiming to gain insight into client feelings. During the second period, Rogers shifted focus from the therapists approach onto the phenomenological world of the client. The clients internal frame of reference and the actualising tendency as the driver for change received attention, with the approach subsequently being renamed client-centred therapy. The third period observes Rogers further refine his approach, focusing on the nature of becoming the self one truly is (Corey p170), or the necessary and sufficient conditions of therapy as outlined by Rogers in his article in volume 21 of the Journal of Consulting Psychology in 1957 (Kirschenbaum and Henderson p 219-235), in which he explains his hypothesis for a set of facilitative conditions related to psychotherapeutic change. Rogers also undertook extensive research into the client / therapist relationship at this time. The final stage outlined is 1970 onwards when the focus became far broader, encompassing education, industry and world politics, subsequently becoming the person-centred approach. Rogers early work in counselling and psychotherapy therefore outlined new concepts in the world of psychotherapy suggesting a new way of viewing the therapy relationship. These developments resulted in the formulation of a non-directive approach with an emphasis on the present rather past, feelings rather than thoughts and focussing on the clients rather than the therapists resources. This led to a supportive therapy relationship, which Thorne (1992) believes Rogers maintained as key to the therapeutic process throughout his life. the whole conceptual framework of Rogers ideas rests on his profound experience that human beings become increasingly trust-worthy once they feel at a deep level that their subjective experience is both respected and progressively understood (Thorne 1992, p26) Key Concepts In a 1957 article in the Journal of Consulting Psychology, Rogers listed the conditions of the therapeutic process in which such an atmosphere can come about. For constructive personality change to occur, it is necessary that these conditions exist and continue over a period of time: Two persons in psychological contact The first, whom we shall term the client, is in a state of incongruence, being vulnerable or anxious The second person, whom we shall term the therapist, is congruent or integrated in the relationship The therapist experiences unconditional positive regard for the client. The therapist experiences an empathic understanding of the clients internal frame of reference and endeavours to communicate this experience to the client. The communication to the client of the therapists empathic understanding and unconditional positive regard is to a minimal degree achieved. No other conditions are necessary. If these six conditions exist, and continue over a period of time, this is sufficient. The process of constructive personality change will follow. (Kirschenbaum and Henderson p221) Stedmans provide a medical definition of Supportive psychotherapy as psychotherapy aiming at bolstering the patients psychological defences and providing reassurance, as in crisis intervention, rather than probing provocatively into the patients conflicts and in consideration of this the above conditions can be interpreted as a framework for the provision of a supportive environment for the therapeutic process. Therapeutic Process The case of Mary Jane Tilden, seen by Rogers in 1946, is noted by Patricia Raskin (1996, p135) as being an excellent example of the classical Rogerian approach, subsequently being subject to review from both client-centred and contemporary psychoanalytic viewpoints. The case of Mary Jane involves a withdrawn woman of 20 brought into therapy by her mother, seemingly struggling to break free from the influence of others and to resolve deep internal conflicts, apparently having tried but repeatedly failing to pass through the adolescent stages of life into maturity. Rogers had a total of 11 sessions with Mary Jane, during which marked changes are seen to take place, particularly in the later sessions when more rapid change becomes evident. Throughout the early sessions Rogers continues to support, recognise and clarify feelings even when the client portrays an extremely bleak outlook, making repeated references to sanatoriums, inadequacy, comparison to others and even mentioning suicide and possible brain damage. Mary Jane repeatedly tries to place ownership onto Rogers, asking many questions and seemingly becoming quite frustrated at his refusal to provide answers. Rogers refuses to supply answers whilst consistently remaining empathic and supportive. In the third session we see Mary Jane pushing for answers but interestingly on this occasion when left to her own thinking she works out the answer for herself. Reviewing the Mary Jane case Dingman (1996) considers that Rogers consistently refrained from providing the answers or strategies repeatedly requested, or to provide advice or guidance choosing instead to remain emphatically present, to understand her frustration and confusion without prescription for changeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [and] would not undermine Mary Janes movement toward encountering fully the what I am by providing answers (Farber Brink and Raskin 1996, p202). Although tentative moves toward improvement in earlier sessions are apparent, a definite step change is noted during session seven as Mary Jane recognises her internal conflicts. Lengthy pauses prevail as Rogers allows time for independent information processing and solution identification. In session eight the realisation of her parents influence becomes apparent however the hopelessness is now clearly interspersed with awareness, insight and tentative positivity. Dingman proposes within the empathic enclosure that Rogers provided, Mary Janes introspective, intellectual interest in self shifted slowly to more primary experiencing (Farber Brink and Raskin 1996, p202). Geller and Gould (1996) acknowledge Rogers achieved success in strengthening Mary Janes capacities for autonomy and mutuality and that she had become increasingly self-accepting, but argue Rogers and Mary Jane never did achieve full agreement on the goals of treatment, their relative responsibilities or the kind of relationship required to do the therapy work (Farber Brink and Raskin 1996, p218). They argue Rogers responded to Mary Janes strengths but was neither empathic nor perceptive about her more negative feelings, failing to address unconscious conflicts and therefore potentially limiting the depth of her explorations in these areas. They question whether follow through would have produced more enduring gains. Accelerated change is observed during the last few sessions, with Mary Jane confronting dependence issues. Although still asking questions she no longer pushes for responses, instead progressing to answer independently. In the final session Mary Jane speaks of progress made and changes experienced, noting that it has become easier to talk with more reliance on instinct and an ability to act natural. Raising concern improvement may be temporary, she nonetheless appears confident that she now has the ability to cope. Considering Mary Janes movement toward adjustment, Dingman refers to the necessity for resolution of all her preconceived notions of what she should do and should be prior to ceasing to resist and so shift toward acceptance of what I am, stating Evaluation, comparison, analysis, the longing to be what one is not all this had to die for the new living pattern to emerge. (Farber Brink and Raskin 1996, p208) In reviewing Rogers management of the case, Geller and Gould comment Rogers style of working can be viewed as essentially directed toward helping Mary Jane forge a cohesive sense of self, capable of individuationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Rogers primary aim was to support the development of the clients unique individuality and expressiveness further stating the belief that Rogers approach did promote therapeutic change in Mary Jane through consistently providingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦empathic responsiveness tempered by optimal frustration, remaining non-judgemental and through a refusal to provide answers or to provide guidance or reassurance thus forcing Mary Jane to take increasing responsibility for her own life. (Farber Brink and Raskin 1996, p224) Geller and Gould state the classical psychoanalytical view that reconstruction was paramount to the therapeutic process, noting that this view has since evolved to recognise the role of the relationship and concluding that Carl Rogers demonstrated, 20 years before the current popularity of short term psychodynamic psychotherapy, that it was possible to achieve ambitious therapeutic goals within a relatively short space of time and believe that [Mary Jane] did create some enduring internalized representations of Rogers warmth, support and helpfulness. (Farber Brink and Raskin 1996, p228) The case is therefore a good example of Rogers not deconstructing the past to effect reconstruction, consistently remaining supportively and empathically present. Mary Jane, rather than the therapist, carried out independent deconstruction with subsequent disintegration of all analysis and previous structure before progression toward a reconstructed self resultant from a supportive and empathic relationship. Reconstructive Therapy In understanding the term reconstructive therapy Stedmans definition is considered: a form of therapy such as psychoanalysis, that seeks not only to alleviate symptoms but also to produce alterations in maladaptive character structure and to expedite new adaptive potentials; this aim is achieved by bringing into consciousness an awareness of insight into conflicts, fears, inhibitions, and their manifestations. Sperry states supportive psychotherapy is differentiated from reconstructive psychotherapy and considers the goal of reconstructive psychotherapy is to work through the abandonment depressionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This leads to the achievement of ego autonomy and the transformation of split object relations into whole object relation and the split ego into a whole ego. Supportive psychotherapy is noted as being less intensive and regressive. (Sperry 2003, p97) To achieve deeper understanding of differences between reconstructive and Rogerian therapy, Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy is considered. Benjamin states therapy starts with learning to recognise your patterns, where they came from and what they are for (Benjamin 2006, p21), considering problem behaviours and associated symptoms represent attachment centred around dysfunctional relationships with important persons in early life, referencing Bowlbys 1977 assumption that important early relationships provide internal working models for a child. Benjamin explains The linchpin of IRTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦is the process of coming to terms with important persons and their internalised representations (IPIRs)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦coming to terms compares to working through in traditional psychodynamic therapy (Benjamin 2006 p73). In total contrast to the Rogerian approach, IRT is structured and directive, aiming at reconstruction and is configured of five sequential steps commencing with the identification of patterns. Movement through a deconstruction stage relying heavily on regression, before progression through a reconstruction process leads to final embracing of change. The goal is that the impossible wishes that support the quest for psychic proximity to the IPIRs must be recognised, grieved for and given up. Then reconstruction of personality can begin (Benjamin 2006 p326) Research Basavanthappa (2007) considers Supportive therapy to be the most widely practised form of individual psychotherapy today, and on review of the Mary Jane Tilden case there is seemingly agreement that Rogers supportive approach successfully achieved a positive outcome. To quantify these opinions research evidence is explored, prior to consideration and discussion of any potential limitations a strictly Rogerian approach may present. Two independent studies (Friedli et al 1997; Bower et al 2000) based on randomised, controlled assessment concluded that person-centred, non-directive therapy more than holds its own compared with other forms of therapy. (Feltham and Horton, 2006, p296) Analysing the outcome of The Menniger Psychotherapy Research Project carried out in the 1950s, Howitz (1974) suggested that patientsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦did improve significantly in supportive therapy, given the achievement of a powerful therapeutic alliance. (Fonagy, nd). Reanalysis by Wallerstein in 1986, reported on the long term follow up (Fonagy, nd), and Sperry (2003) states the report outcomes suggest that supportive treatment is able to bring about the basic personality changes that were expected only from reconstructive dynamic psychotherapy, before concluding despite Kerbergs (84) characteristic of Supportive Psychotherapy as a treatment of last resort Supportive Psychotherapy is a potent intervention. (Sperry 2003, p98) The Hamburg study (1981), involving comparison of client-centred and psychoanalytic therapy, concluded In direct comparison of psychological test scores between cct and pt groups, few significant differences emerged and none of those that did were replicated in subsequent analyses. (Fonagy nd, p301). Cooper (2008, p128) notes that psychotherapy researchers such as Lambert have estimated that relational factors account for around 30% of the variance in outcomes whilst technique and orientation factors may contribute only 15% toward overall outcome of therapy with Wampold (2001) calculating a much lower figure of only 1%. Furthermore, the Task Force of the Psychotherapy Division of the American Psychological Association, found demonstrably effective elements for positive therapeutic outcomes to include empathy (Bohart et Al 2002) and promising and probably effective elements to include positive regard (Farber and Lane 2002) and congruence or genuiness (Klein et al 2002) (Feltham and Horton, 2006, p67). Research by Bohart and Tallmand (1999:51) concluded from a client perspective, the most important aspects of therapy typically are the non-technological factors: having a time and place to talk; having someone care, listen and understand; having someone provide encouragement and reassurance; having someone offer an external perspective and advice (Cooper 2008, p99). These findings reinforce Heines 1950 study quoted by Rogers (1967) concluding that regardless of therapeutic orientation it was the attitudinal elements in the relationship that accounted for positive outcome. These include trust felt in the therapist, being understood by the therapist, the feeling of independence they had had in making choices and decisions and therapist ability to clarify and state feelings. Elements found to be unhelpful included the giving of direct specific advice or emphasising past history rather than present problems. Cooper concludes that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is closely associated with therapeutic outcomes across both relationally and non-relationally orientated therapies (Cooper 2008, p120). On review of empirically supported treatments subjected to rigorous experimental studies against specific forms of psychological distress, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is repeatedly presented as a treatment of proven effectiveness (Cooper (2008) p38-45), consequently being adopted by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a treatment of choice for many psychological disorders. Cooper notes, however, that the lack of evidence does not correlate to lack of effectiveness pointing out the need for further research to support the effectiveness of other therapies. In summarising technique and practice factors, Cooper considers that although there is little evidence to support the effectiveness of one technique over any other, CBT has the strongest evidence base, particularly for anxiety related issues. Cooper also suggests that although there is evidence to support directive and non-directive methods extremes of either should be avoided. Humanistic techniques, when undertaken effectively and with the result of deepening levels of experiencing and emotional processing can be linked to positive therapeutic outcome. (Cooper 2208, p154) Research by Glass and Arnkoff (2000) suggests that a collaborative approach is favourable, and whilst the above research promotes the effectiveness of CBT, Kirschet al. (1995) found hypnotic procedures have been found to significantly enhance the efficacy of CBT (Cooper 2008, p174). One such model taking this approach is presented by Assen Aladdin in his Cognitive Hypnotherapy model, with Aladdin quoting research studies by Schoenberger (2000) and Kirsch, Montgomery and Saperstein (1995) as concluding that hypnotherapy was found to be significantly superior to non-hypnotic treatment when combined with CBT (Aladdin 2008, p10). Limitations Considering limitations of the client-centred approach Corey (2001) quotes feedback from an exercise by Cain (1988): Person centred therapy is too simple. It is limited to techniques of attending and reflecting. The approach is ineffective and leads to undirected rambling by the client. Rather than emphasising the counsellor as a person, it would be better to focus on developing a variety of techniques that can be applied to solving specific problems. More emphasis should be placed on systematic training of counselling skills and less on the attitudes of the counsellor. It is not necessarily true that individuals have within them a growth potential or actualising tendency. Not all clients have the capacity to trust their own inner direction and find their own answers. (Corey 2001, p186) In reviewing the above, one could question whether these represent the failings of the approach if carried out incompletely than in the method originally intended by Rogers. Indeed, prior to this Corey comments Therapist authenticity and congruence are so vital to this approach that those who practice within this framework must feel natural in doing so à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ If not, a real possibility is thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦therapy will be reduced to a bland, safe, and ineffectual pabulum. (Corey 2001, p185) By nature, the purist Rogerian approach is heavily dependant on the therapist and their abilities to meet the conditions Rogers considered essential to ensure necessary and sufficient conditions of therapy, and therefore the extent to which the outcome is also dependent on the therapist has to be questioned. On reviewing the nine case commentaries in The Psychotherapy of Carl Rogers Cases and Commentaries (1996), it becomes apparent how inconsistent Rogers approach can appear, with notable changes in both his style and approach between clients, not only indicating the importance of therapist ability but further questioning the extent of therapist influence on the process. Research by Sasche(2004) concluded that clients are not particularly good, by themselves, at deepening their levels of processing and that they are strongly influenced by their therapists statements Sasche explains that deepening statements conducive to more productive therapeutic work are actively achieved by the therapist through reflection at a deeper level, with flattening statements reflecting back at the same or shallower level producing more superficial client processing (Cooper 2008, p141). This suggests the therapist is therefore very much in control of the therapy process, even in a non-directive approach. Whilst it is evident on study of Rogers cases that he frequently encourages deepening of experience in the way that his reflection is carried out, he also appears to subtlety challenge clients in the process. Corey (2001, p185) notes that many therapists fail to achieve this and that they have limited the range of their responses and counselling styles to reflections and emphatic listening becoming client-centred to the extent that they diminish the value of their own power as a person and thus lose the impact of their personality on the client Conclusion There is considerable research evidence suggesting the importance of the therapeutic relationship, and moreover to the specific qualities of empathy, positive regard and congruence all of which are pivotal to Rogerian therapy, however further empirical research is required to enable links to positive outcomes for specific psychological issues. research evidence that the therapeutic conditions are both necessary and sufficient is not unequivocal, though much of it suffers from inadequate methodology and the possibility of poorly reported and discussed reportsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦this research forms the basis of the mainstream viewà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦that the therapeutic relationship is the key factor in successful outcome. (Feltham and Horton 2006 p296) Whilst the relationship is evidently key for a positive therapeutic outcome, utilising relationship alone relies solely on therapists ability to emulate Rogers intended approach. It is logical to assume this is likely to produce more inconsistent results than a structured therapy integrating the Rogerian approach could achieve. There is also evidence to suggest that extremes of either directiveness or passiveness are detrimental and also that a collaborative approach is the most appropriate intervention in ensuring a positive outcome. A feasibly conclusion can be drawn that a collaborative approach (Glass and Arnkoff 2000) combining a relationship comprising empathy, positive regard and congruence (Task Force Study) with CBT (Cooper 2008) and enhanced by hypnotherapy (Kirsch et al 1995) could hold the potential to provide a consistently effective and positive therapeutic intervention in the alleviation of psychological disorders with further empirical research needed to prove efficacy for specific forms of psychological distress.

Changes Of Time :: essays research papers

Ever since the invention of the television in 1939, African Americans have been portrayed as maids, servants or clowns. These negative perceptions started to appear in sitcoms such as in Amos and Andy, who were the stereotypical blacks who never took anything seriously. All those views changed during the 1970’s when black sitcoms were becoming more reality based. Although blacks have been, and often still, portrayed in a negative way on TV, there has been some improvements of stereotypical images of African Americans on television. There were five stereotypical roles of blacks between 1940-1970; the Tom, Coon, Mammie, Tragic Mulatto, and the Buck (Gray â€Å"Recognizing†). The â€Å"Tom† was always insulted, but kept to his faith and remained generous and kind. The â€Å"coon† (most used image) was always lazy, unreliable and constantly butchered his speech. The â€Å"mammie† was more distinguished than the coon only because of her sex. She was usually big and plump and full of life. The â€Å"tragic mulatto† was fair-skinned, trying to pass for white. Always well-liked and believed that their lives could have been better if they were not biracial. The last stereotype was the â€Å"buck†. He was the big, oversexed black man (Gray â€Å"Recognizing†). In the late 1960’s, there were shows like â€Å"I Spy† and â€Å"The Flip Wilson Show† which had blacks starring in them. Starting in 1971, shows were premiering everywhere with black casts (â€Å"Changing Image† 76). Sanford and Son appeared on NBC on January 14,1972, to replace another show (Booth 26). The show took place in South Central California, where Fred Sanford and his son Lamont lived and owned a junkyard. Fred was satisfied with his little business. However, Lamont, wanted something bigger and better. Fred would do anything to keep his son from abandoning him and the business. Every time Lamont threatened to leave, Fred would do his famous act and fake a heart attack and start moaning to his late wife, "I'm coming, Elizabeth, I'm coming." Lamont, never fooled by his father's scheme did love him and, despite what he said about his future, really would not have left him (â€Å"Network and Cable†). They were rated the 6th most pop ular show during the 1971-72 season, and 10th during the 1976-77 season. The stereotype was still there, but realistic views were appearing on the show of realistic lives of black men. After Sanford and Son aired, others followed. Good Times appeared in 1974 (Ingram ‘Good Times†).

Michael Lehmans Heathers and Steve Jodrells Shame :: Films Movies Film Movie

Michael Lehman's Heathers and Steve Jodrell's Shame Throughout time the concept of gender and the corruption of power associated with it has been a very evident problem within society. Many texts have been designed to expose these issues and in particular the feature films’ Heathers, directed by Michael Lehman and Shame, by Steve Jodrell. Both these films have been heavily constructed in order to position us as the audience to take a very negative response towards the concepts of power and gender and further an ‘anti-conform’ attitude. Techniques such as narrative elements and codes and conventions have been used to mould these ideas and attitudes within the texts. Both the films Heathers and Shame can be deemed to be modern day Westerns however are quite subverted. They both develop the idea that conformity leads to tragic consequences. Heathers is set in an American high school, Westerburg, in 1988 and attacks the idea of a high school hierarchy, where four girls particularly one, Heather Chandler, has the power within the school. On the arrival of a new student, Jason Dean, Veronica, one of the four girls breaks away and conforms to Jason. As a result she is led to kill Heather Chandler and later the ‘footy jocks’ to make their school a better place. Shame on the other hand is set in a small outback, Western Australian country town, Ginobrak, in 1987. It deals with the issues of a small town mentality and that ‘boys will be boys’. As result of these concepts and issues, many young girls were raped and the town accepted this. As Asta, an outsider coming into town, stumbles across these rappings’, she helps and encourages a young girl, Lizzie to face the boys and lay legal charges. In both texts it takes and outsider the ‘hero’ figure to expose the corruption and help in acting as a catalyst to change. Gender relationships are a very explored issue within these texts. In a majority, anyone no matter if they are male or female who do not fit in or do not conform to stereotypes to an extent, can be cast out by that group. Whether it is, their looks, their behaviour, the way they dress, or the way they think and feel, they are judged as different. This ‘outcast’ idea is portrayed in both the films. In the two feature films, the most obvious ‘outcasts’ would be the two ‘hero figures’ the intruders into the created microcosm. Michael Lehman's Heathers and Steve Jodrell's Shame :: Films Movies Film Movie Michael Lehman's Heathers and Steve Jodrell's Shame Throughout time the concept of gender and the corruption of power associated with it has been a very evident problem within society. Many texts have been designed to expose these issues and in particular the feature films’ Heathers, directed by Michael Lehman and Shame, by Steve Jodrell. Both these films have been heavily constructed in order to position us as the audience to take a very negative response towards the concepts of power and gender and further an ‘anti-conform’ attitude. Techniques such as narrative elements and codes and conventions have been used to mould these ideas and attitudes within the texts. Both the films Heathers and Shame can be deemed to be modern day Westerns however are quite subverted. They both develop the idea that conformity leads to tragic consequences. Heathers is set in an American high school, Westerburg, in 1988 and attacks the idea of a high school hierarchy, where four girls particularly one, Heather Chandler, has the power within the school. On the arrival of a new student, Jason Dean, Veronica, one of the four girls breaks away and conforms to Jason. As a result she is led to kill Heather Chandler and later the ‘footy jocks’ to make their school a better place. Shame on the other hand is set in a small outback, Western Australian country town, Ginobrak, in 1987. It deals with the issues of a small town mentality and that ‘boys will be boys’. As result of these concepts and issues, many young girls were raped and the town accepted this. As Asta, an outsider coming into town, stumbles across these rappings’, she helps and encourages a young girl, Lizzie to face the boys and lay legal charges. In both texts it takes and outsider the ‘hero’ figure to expose the corruption and help in acting as a catalyst to change. Gender relationships are a very explored issue within these texts. In a majority, anyone no matter if they are male or female who do not fit in or do not conform to stereotypes to an extent, can be cast out by that group. Whether it is, their looks, their behaviour, the way they dress, or the way they think and feel, they are judged as different. This ‘outcast’ idea is portrayed in both the films. In the two feature films, the most obvious ‘outcasts’ would be the two ‘hero figures’ the intruders into the created microcosm.

Consider carefully which of Bathsheba Essay

TASK: Consider carefully which of Bathsheba’s three suitors, Boldwood, Troy or Oak possessed the qualities most likely to make Bathsheba a good husband. In the book, ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ by Thomas Hardy, there are three suitors for the novels protagonist, Bathsheba Everdene. Unfortunately because she is a very capricious lady, one suitor is murdered by another, who was consequently sentenced to life imprisonment. This essay will discuss which suitor would have been the most compatible to Bathsheba in marriage. In the novel, Bathsheba is the second character we are introduced to, and Thomas Hardy portrays her as a very beautiful but penniless woman. She is the protagonist of the novel, and her interaction with her various suitors propels the plot. As the story unfolds, her character is developed, but it is very clear in the beginning she is a very vain woman. This is firstly shown when Gabriel sees her sitting on top of a carriage full of furniture. It is obvious her beauty entrapped him and he, ‘followed the vehicle to the turnpike gate some way beyond the bottom of the hill, where the object of his contemplation now halted for the payment of the toll. ‘ Bathsheba’s vanity was evident where she refused to pay the turnpike keeper the extra two pence he wanted. Subsequently, Gabriel paid it and she was neither pleased nor dismissive because she had lost her point, she was just a little disgruntled. In addition to this, shortly after she is seen looking into her mirror, admiring herself. Further reference to Bathsheba’s vanity is later in the story when she has just inherited the farm and she throws all of her existing clothes away because she feels she has moved up a class, and her old ones were inferior. The last evidence of her vanity occurred after she had encountered Troy for the first time, when she was in front of her dressing table mirror and she repeated a sentence he had whispered to her, ‘Hello gorgeous’. Despite this flaw in her character, she showed independence in both financial and spirited terms. She was able to run the farm she had inherited by herself, and after finding her bailiff stealing grain, she fired him and took on that job as well. Furthermore, having moved up a social class didn’t seem to effect this self-reliance as she still travelled to Bath on her own not asking for a chauffeur to ride the cart for her, as most rich people would have because of their status. She wasn’t accompanied by anyone when she went out horse riding either. This shows both independence and that she likes to be alone sometimes, not in the eye of her employees. There are many other of her characteristics which are described in the novel, including bravery which is highlighted on three occasions: in the beginning of the novel where she saves Gabriel from gas poisoning in his hut; when she helps Gabriel to secure the hayricks in the storm and the way she dealt with the numerous disasters on her farm. One of those disasters was bought on by her impetuousness as she fired Gabriel because he rebukes her, saying ‘I cannot allow any man to – to criticize my private conduct!†¦ Nor will I for a minute. So you’ll leave the farm at the end of the week! ‘ From this it is obvious she is intolerant towards gossip and people’s views. Unfortunately, shortly after Oak leaves, a disaster happens, whereby the sheep all get a disease, which only Oak knows how to treat. Subsequently she has to swallow her pride to save her sheep. A further example of her impetuous character was a little later on in the novel, when she visited Bath and married Troy so that his attentions would only be focused on her, and not any other women. This also shows immaturity in her, not just the rash decision of marriage, but also the quick dismissal of Oak because she couldn’t take criticism. Contrary to this though, when Fanny went missing, she was responsible enough to send out a search party, so despite being volatile and distant from her workforce, she was still interested in their well being, even though she was an x-employee. No later than Troy goes missing, she turns to Boldwood who she had previously sent a valentine to, admittedly quite reluctantly, but she does, and this highlights the capriciousness and flirtatious side of her character. This isn’t a good thing for a relationship, especially in a vain woman like Bathsheba, who would be easily convinced to see other men, so a compatible partner for her would have to be stern with her, but in a loving manner. Therefore, the best suitor for Bathsheba needs to be able to cope with the characteristics I have highlighted above, being similar to some of her characteristics, and the opposite to others. The best person for her would be a handsome and romantic farmer who was financially secure. Mr Boldwood is the wealthiest of the three suitors whom Bathsheba could have chosen, owning a neighbouring farm. As his name suggests, he is quite a wooden man. By this I mean he doesn’t reveal his true emotions until he is sent the valentines letter on a whim when he suddenly develops feelings for her. From this point onwards, he loses his self-control and pursues her with a single-minded passion to make her his wife. Unfortunately, because his love becomes so all-compassing and single mindedness, it leads him to neglect his farm losing all of his crop one stormy night. He is also quite a personal and reserved man who, despite many women finding him attractive, lives a quiet life on his neighbouring farm. His high status in society is indicated on numerous occasions, but the most obvious occurrence was when Bathsheba invited Mr Boldwood over to join in the celebratory dinner after the successful harvest. At first Gabriel Oak, Bathsheba’s main shepherd was sitting at the head of the table, but when Mr Boldwood appeared a little later, Gabriel was asked to move from the head of the table so Mr Boldwood could be seated. It is obvious from the moment Mr Boldwood starts to develop feelings for Bathsheba that he is a caring man, always checking up on her, but it is later on in the story when Mr Boldwood’s chivalrous side is shown to its full extent. Bathsheba had been seeing Troy for a little while, and they were having relations outside of marriage, which for the novels time was not allowed. Therefore Mr Boldwood offered Troy money to marry her, in order for her name to be respected. This was obviously a very hard act to come to do, especially as he loved her so dearly. When Troy went missing, believed drowned, Bathsheba was in mourning for a little while, but because no body was found, she had to wait seven years before she could marry again. Mr Boldwood made his feelings clear to her again a little later, and she agreed upon marriage if Troy didn’t reappear after seven years had passed. This showed a very patient side of Boldwood, different to the very persistent side of him seen earlier in the book. Unfortunately, after seven years had passed, on the night Bathsheba had promised to accept Boldwood’s proposal, Troy burst into the party, insisting on regaining his half of her farm, which came with the marriage. At first Boldwood was deeply upset, but knew there was nothing he could do about it and accepted it, but Bathsheba refused to go at first, and Troy rough handled her. Boldwood, did not like, or accept this, especially because he was so protective and obsessed with her. A mixture of jealousy and over protectiveness then took hold of him, and he shot Troy, killing him almost instantly. Boldwood was then sentenced to death, but because of his high status, because he was a well-respected gentleman and finally because it was argued he was mentally unstable, the sentence was changed to life imprisonment. After the sentence was passed, his obsession with Bathsheba was revealed to its full extent, as items of clothing and jewellery were all found in Boldwood’s house, all gift wrapped and with a label saying ‘Bathsheba Boldwood’. Sergeant Troy is the second of Bathsheba’s possible suitors. Troy is the novels antagonist, and is the less responsible male equivalent of Bathsheba, and his description is the complete opposite of Gabriel Oak’s. His irresponsibility is shown on the night of the ‘after harvest celebratory meal’ when he decides to get drunk, knowing there is a storm which could destroy all the hayricks which they had just harvested. Unfortunately, because he was devastatingly attractive, had a dashing manner, continually flattered Bathsheba and was skilled in swordsmanship, she fell for him. This was mainly because of her vanity; he said what she wanted to hear. And furthermore, it was his vanity which made him say such things as, ‘Thank you for the sight of such a beautiful face’ and ‘Ah, beauty; good-bye! ‘ This first impression of Troy gives him the appearance of having some strength of character, such as helpfulness when he offers to help in the haymaking when he bumps into Bathsheba one night. Unfortunately, this strength in his character is quickly shown to be limited, for example, he initially gave the impression of being frank, letting his thoughts be heard, but this is quickly offset by his lies. Troy lied on numerous occasions, such as when Bathsheba saw a lock of golden hair in Troy’s pocket watch, when he said he went to church regularly through the back door, which when investigated by Gabriel was found to have not been opened for a very long time and thirdly when he said he didn’t know the tramp on the road. It was in fact Fanny Robin who he was engaged to, but neglected after they miscommunicated about which church they were due to have their marriage in. She was actually Troy’s true love and the lock of hair in his pocket watch belonged to her. Another act, which showed Troy’s character to be limited, was the way he acted and cruelly abused her after they were married. This really shows that Troy was quite capricious in a way because no later than Troy has left Fanny, he seduces Bathsheba. Troy was an unstable character, mainly because when his parents died when he was only small, he was sent off to be a soldier. This environment, which he grew up in, therefore influenced his character, and he became a mercenary, working only because he wanted to spend money at the races. Unfortunately, not being trustful, he left Fanny gambling debts, and he used a lot of Bathsheba’s money up as well. Another quality of Troy’s was his cunningness and deviousness. This is shown near the end when, after seven years of being missing, presumed dead, he returns, not for Bathsheba, but for the money which he was entitled to, namely half Bathsheba’s assets (farm and contents) which came with getting married. That was what triggered Boldwood to kill Troy in the end, the way he was only interested money, and the way he mishandled her. The third and final suitor was Gabriel Oak. He was in fact the first of the three men whom Bathsheba met in the novel when he generously paid the two pence toll for her because she felt she had already paid enough. The novel starts describing Gabriel; ‘When Farmer Oak smiled, the corners of his mouth spread till they were within an unimportant distance of his ears†¦ ‘ He isn’t the best looking of men, and is only a shepherd, but has a very strong, good character, which is developed throughout the novel. Being a shepherd, he has exceptional skill with animals, and is hardworking. He knows the trade so well that he can tell when it is going to be bad whether and acts accordingly. An example of this was when the storm came after the hayricks had been harvested and, knowing a storm was on its way, Oak tried to alert the others for help, but after realising they weren’t interested, he started tying them down on his own. This shows determination, responsibility and reliability. Whenever Bathsheba needed help, he would be there, even after he had been dismissed for criticizing her judgement, he forgave her and came back to save the sheep from a deadly disease. Another example of his responsibility was when Joseph Poorgrass stopped off at the Buck’s Head Inn for a drink, rather than taking Fanny’s coffin to the church. It was Gabriel who went to the inn and too the coffin to the church, and then on to Bathsheba’s house because Joseph had delayed them so much. When he saw Fanny’s coffin, he was generous in spirit, because he rubbed off ‘and baby’ after Fanny’s name because he wanted to spare Bathsheba’s feelings, especially as it was Troy’s baby. The reason Bathsheba said that she would not marry him when he asked was because he wasn’t that rich and he was unromantic, which is a characteristic in Oak which Bathsheba would have wanted from her husband. Shortly after, he unluckily lost all of his sheep, but instead of reverting to alcohol, or committing suicide, he put it behind him, paid off his debts with what he had left, and went to the market to look for a job. While this is all occurring, he is still steadfast, wanting to marry Bathsheba, and he is loyal, not going after any other women. Instead he just concentrates on his work, and is as hardworking as ever, in a sense he is quite boring because he doesn’t ease up on his work. Even when she marries Troy, he is thoughtful, sparing her feelings, as she is not aware of all the truth. His loyalty, whether standing up for Bathsheba when the workers gossip, or just by being there for her, is repaid later when Bathsheba finally gives him the job of Bailiff. It is mainly because of his organised nature, and because he has a very good knowledge of the farm. In conclusion, I have to answer the original question, ‘Consider carefully which of Bathsheba’s three suitors, Boldwood, Troy or Oak possessed the qualities most likely to make Bathsheba a good husband. ‘ After analysing each of their characters, I feel she would really be best off with a person who had parts of each of the suitors: Boldwood’s money and devotion, Troy’s handsome appearance and Gabriel’s knowledge of farming. Unfortunately this is impossible, therefore I have chosen Gabriel Oak as whom I feel would be the best suitor for Bathsheba Everdene. I think that despite Boldwood saying that she would never have to work again, she is a very independent woman, and I’m not sure she would appreciate that. Troy is like the male equivalent of Bathsheba, and I don’t think that she would last that long with him, as problems would arise. Furthermore, he mishandles her, and I think their marriage would be over very quickly. Gabriel is quite different to Bathsheba, and I think that he would be devoted to her, especially after analysing his character, but wouldn’t smother her, still giving her her independence. Furthermore, his knowledge of farming would be helpful on the farm. Marriages last if the couple can communicate, and come to a conclusion about situations, and I feel Boldwood would just do whatever she wanted to do, Troy would only do what he wanted to do, but Oak would do whatever was best and fair. Gabriel’s character is opposite to Bathsheba’s, but in this case I think the marriage would work really well.