Action Research free essay sample

This paper is sectioned to four parts. Part one gives features of action research that may help an individual continue to move towards autonomy/to develop as a professional. In addition it illustrates the importance of literature review as well as sources of information appropriate for action research. Part two reviews Mills work and considers Maxwell/Kemmis and McTaggart model and gives their common features. Part three evaluate the need and ways in which action research model might need to be adapted to the realities on classroom practice. Finally, the paper shows why developing a good level of each one of the NSW Institute of Teachers standards separately does not mean that you are a competent teacher. Part One: What are the particular features of action research that you think will help you continue to move towards autonomy/to develop as a professional? Why do you think this? A number of authors place great emphasis upon the literature early in the action research process. We will write a custom essay sample on Action Research or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Why is this? Where can knowledge be found (apart from in libraries) that is relevant to the action research? Donato (2003) says that action research is carried out by teachers for their own use. It is localized, small scale as well as contextualized. These features help a developing professional to be focused in ascertaining, developing and entrenching changes to practice (Donato 2003). In addition, the features of action research help an individual to gain knowledge of dealing with â€Å"collaborative cultures of change.† In particular, these features enable one to have clear knowledge about the organization as well as apparition and insight. Further, they make one to search for extra knowledge and feel the need to have enhanced performance. In addition, they compel one to uphold â€Å"self-reflective activity† and desire to enact change (Wallace 2000). In conducting action research literature review is required. According to Mertler (2005), literature review is â€Å"an examination of journal articles, documents, books, and other sources† of importance to action research. Literature review early in research process enables an individual to identify a topic and streamline its focus. In addition, literature review helps one to collect information necessary for crafting research design and the overall project (Mertler 2005). Further, one may get illustrations of classroom application, study queries, hypotheses as well as â€Å"methods of data collection† and analysis (Wallace 2000). Literature early in a project may also unearth studies which could be steadily replicated in an area of study or give potential answers to study problems (Mertler 2005). Furthermore, literature review may help one to connect his research with what others have accomplished and this helps to save time. It also enhances an individual’s ability to teach besides becoming more knowledgeable in the area of research. Apart from library this information can be retrieved from the internet sources like online peer reviewed journals. In addition, one may gather information from â€Å"self-reflection, descriptive activities, and explanatory activities† (Mertler 2005) Part two: Review Mills (pp 15-20) and read Mills (pp. 22-48). Consider the Maxwell/Kemmis McTaggart model (Lim 2007). What features are common to all? According to Kemmis and McTaggart as quoted by Lim (2007), action research â€Å"is systematic and reflective†. In Kemmis and McTaggart model, action research has 4 stages that occur in a cycle. These are â€Å"planning, acting, observing and reflecting† (Lim 2007). Mills (2010) also gave action research process consisting of 4 stages which he termed â€Å"dialectic action research spiral†.   The stages are; identifying an area of study, collecting data, analyzing and interpreting data and developing action plan with all stages intertwining data collection. The two models have four phases with common features like planning which involves identifying an area of interest, observing which entails data collection, and developing which involves crafting an action plan. The two models are intended to help create an action plan to address problems in our learning institutions. This plan of action is developed by orderly process of data collection and analysis (Lim 2007). Further, â€Å"the research phase precedes the action phase in such models†. Part three: Models are a representation. Evaluate the ways in which an AR model might need to be adapted to the realities of classroom practice. Why might this be so? Illustrate The action research models put less emphasis on authenticating the action plan developed. In addition, these models may fail to cover a broad range of action research already carried out. In current studies investigating â€Å"implementation of new teaching strategies to address certain issues pertaining to teaching and learning†, action stage comes before research stage since the study is aimed at unearthing results of new learning strategies (Lim 2007). Action research model gives theoretical outline for a project and thus the need to adapt a more balanced model.   A balanced action research model constitutes of two research stages- one before action phase and the other after action stage. The action research model would entail identifying research problem, comprehending the research problem through reading relevant literature, coming up with an action plan and implementing as well as validating the action plan. The final step involves report writing (Lim 2007). Part Four: If you have developed a good level of each one of the NSW Institute of Teachers standards separately does that mean that you are a competent teacher? Illustrate Developing good level of the NWS Institute of Teachers standards separately does not make one to be a competent individual. These standards are very narrow and school based and this â€Å"would exclude some teachers who also work beyond the school for the profession as a whole† (ETA 2010). In addition, internet has made the issue of viewing teaching practice as school based look awkward. These professionals can teach or communicate to various schools online. Further the concept does not acknowledge activities conducted by teachers outside learning institutions even for those who serve as community leaders. Furthermore, continued â€Å"diminution of subject centred criteria† implies that teachers cannot be â€Å"leader within one’s own discipline and needs to move out of the classroom to achieve this standard† (ETA 2010). Teachers should reconsider their criterion and understanding of training as well as learning with a motive to grow their individual professional praxis. Conclusion Action research has key features in that it is localized, small scale as well as contextualized. Literature review is import as it enlightens a researcher through the worker of other. Such information can be accessed from the internet as well as self-reflection, descriptive activities and explanatory activities. Action research models involve planning, observing and developing of action plan. Action research models may need some adaptations in real class activity so as to eliminate some of their shortcomings. Attaining NWS Institute of Teachers standards does not necessarily make one to be a competent teacher since they view the profession as only being school based. List of References Donato R. (2003) Action Research [Online].  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Available from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/0308donato.html [25 August 2010] ETA. (2010) NSW Institute of Teachers [Online].Available from  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.englishteacher.com.au/govResponse06.php[25 August 2010] Lim P. T. H. (2007) Action Research for Teachers: A Balanced Model Available from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://conference.nie.edu.sg/2007/paper/papers/OTH154.pdf [25 August 2010] Mertler, C. A. (2005) Action Research: Teachers as Researchers in the Classroom.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   NewYork: Sage Publications Mills, G.E. (2010) Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher.NewJersey   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River. Wallace, M. J. (2000). Action research for language teachers. New York: Cambridge   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   University Press.

Act Two, Scene One Summary for A Raisin in the Sun

Act Two, Scene One Summary for 'A Raisin in the Sun' This plot summary and study guide for Lorraine Hansberrys play, A Raisin in the Sun, provides an overview of Act Two. Searching for Cultural Identity Act Two, Scene One takes place during the same day as Act One, Scene Two the Younger Familys cramped apartment. The tension of earlier events seems to have subsided. Ruth is ironing clothes while listening to the radio. Beneatha enters, wearing a traditional Nigerian robe, a recent gift from her love-interest, Joseph Asagai. She turns off the radio calling its music assimilationist junk and plays Nigerian music on a phonograph. Walter Lee enters. He is intoxicated; he often responds to pressure by getting drunk. And now that his wife is pregnant and he has been denied the money to invest in a liquor store, Walter Lee has gotten plastered! Yet the tribal music invigorates him, and he jumps into an improvised warrior mode, as he shouts things like OCOMOGOSIAY! THE LION IS WAKING! Beneatha, by the way, is really getting into this. Through most of Act One, she has been annoyed by her brother, the stage directions say that she is thoroughly caught up with this side of him. Even though Walter is drunk and a bit out of control, Beneatha is happy to see her brother embrace his ancestral heritage. Amid this frivolity, George Murchison enters. He is Beneathas date for the evening. He is also a wealthy black man who (at least to Walter Lee) represents a new age, a society in which African Americans can achieve power and financial success. At the same time, Walter is resentful of George, perhaps because it is Georges father and not George himself that has acquired wealth. (Or perhaps because most big brothers are distrustful of their little sisters boyfriends.) Im a Volcano Walter Lee suggests that he meets with George father to discuss some business ideas, but it soon becomes clear that George has no interest in helping Walter. As Walter becomes angry and frustrated, insulting college boys such as George. George calls him on it: Youre all wacked up with bitterness, man. Walter Lee responds: WALTER: (Intently, almost quietly, between the teeth, glaring at the boy.) And you - aint you bitter, man? Aint you just about had it yet? Dont you see no stars gleaming that you cant reach out and grab? You happy? You contented son-of-a-bitch you happy? You got it made? Bitter? Man, Im a volcano. Bitter? Here I am surrounded by ants! Ants who cant even understand what it is the giant is talking about. His speech upsets and embarrasses his wife. George is mildly amused by it. When he leaves, he tells Walter, Goodnight, Prometheus. (Poking fun at Walter by comparing him the Titan from Greek Mythology who created humans and gave mankind the gift of fire.) Walter Lee does not understand the reference, however. Mama Buys a House After George and Beneatha leave on their date, Walter and his wife begin to argue. During their exchange Walter makes a disparaging comment about his own race: WALTER: Why? You want to know why? Cause we all tied up in a race of people that dont know how to do nothing but moan, pray and have babies!As if he realizes how venomous his words are, he begins to calm down. His mood softens even more, when Ruth, despite being verbally abused, offers him a glass of hot milk. Soon, they begin saying words of kindness to each other. Just as they about to reconcile further, Walters mother enters.Mama announces to her grandson, Travis Younger, as well as Walter and Ruth, that she has purchased a three-bedroom house. The house is located in a predominately white neighborhood in Clybourne Park (in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago).Ruth is ecstatic to have a new home, although she does feel some trepidation about moving into a white neighborhood. Mama hopes that Walter will share in the familys joy, but instead he says:WALTER: So you butchered up a dream of mine you who always talking bout your childrens dreams. And with that incredibly bitter, self-pitying line, the curtain falls on Act Two, Scene One of a Raisin in the Sun

Desertion critic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Desertion critic - Essay Example The study was conducted with a population that was made up of at-risk adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18. The rationale for selecting this group was in the fact that most of these girls do not have what it takes to make decisions for themselves and so what the messages they get from such multimedia platforms such as music video formed the basis of their actions (Morse & Richards, 2002). Through qualitative data collection, insights were drawn on how the population uses music videos as their source of entertainment, education and information. Part 2: Evaluation of Chapter 2 Literature Review Generally, the literature review was precise and skillfully conducted. The extensiveness of the literature review can be guaranteed in the way and manner in which the researcher drew up themes from the specific objectives of the study to cover all aspects of the research problem. This is said because the research objectives were constructed out of the research problem. Performing a lite rature review that covers all the research objectives therefore guarantees extensive coverage of research (Buckingham & Sefton-Green, 2001). What is more, on the depth and breadth of the topic, it could be said again that using the themes of the research objectives helped in this form of coverage. Indeed, the depth and breadth of the topic were rightly covered without the need to go outside the scope of the study was the research objectives continually served as a guide on areas to cover. This notwithstanding, issues of the authoritativeness of the literature review could be raised. For instance even though the researcher makes use of a good number of literature sources, there were several cases that the review would be noticed as being subjective rather than objective, based on the findings of the literature works being used. Even though the research work was performed in 2005, there were several sources used in the literature review that were way older than the current type of wri ting the work. In some cases, some of the sources were over a decade old as there were sources quoted from works produced in 1992. This notwithstanding, the researcher was careful with the section of sources and content from the sources such as that highly relevant contents that were related to the study were used. This made the overall literature review very relevant to the research problem that was at hand. Coupled with the relevance of the literature review, the researcher was careful to properly cite every borrowed material that was not part of her own ingenuity or making. This was done using the APA system of citation where the surname or surnames of authors and the date of publication were produced. A search through the reference list also showed that for every source that was cited in the literature review, this was properly reflected in the reference list. Whiles writing the list of references also, the researcher was careful to follow the APA style. Part 3: Evaluation of Ch apter 3 Methods The overall idea that one gets about the methods section is that the researcher was on top of the data collection process. Ahead of the research methods, the researcher had given a clear hypothesis or personalized reasoning based on which the data collecti

Correctional Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Correctional Education - Essay Example This assumes that employment is a major contributing factor to criminal activity and recidivism, on the one hand, and that there is a direct correlation between education and employment, on the other. Both theory and empirical studies have affirmed the imperatives of embracing correctional education as a strategy for the reduction of recidivism. Through a critical analysis of both theory, primarily focusing on the works of Chlup, Shobe and Spry, this section of the research will examine the following: how beneficial it is for correctional educators and others (counselors, correctional officers, other prison officials, etc.) to work together to provide a viable learning experience for institutionalized learners, Criminologists and politicians have debated the effectiveness of correctional rehabilitation programs since the mid-1970s when criminal justice scholars and policy makers throughout the United States embraced the conventional wisdom that 'nothing works' (Lipton, Martinson and Wilks, 1975). Programs based around punishment and surveillance grew. They are being embraced even stronger today despite the fact that Martinson later admitted that he was wrong (1979). An ample amount of research exists that suggests that there are successful programs available to reduce future criminality of not only offenders but also of potential offenders. These studies, amongst which we may cite the works of Chlup, Shobe and Spry, argue that prison education programs are representative of the "normalizing" prison programs whose intent is to increase prison safety and to decrease recidivism. The efficacy of these programs, as Chlup (2004; 2006) contends, has been affirmed and re-affirmed through the long history of education in female penitentiaries, versus the male ones, and the significantly lower rates of female versus male recidivism. Education contributes to the reduction of recidivism and, indeed, is correctional in the real sense of the word because, as may be inferred from all of Shobe (2003), Spry (2003) and Chlup's (2004; 2006) studies, it does not simply provide incarcerated adults with the tools requisite for a crime-less life following release but it teaches them what it means to be a member of society and that respect for society is an expression of self-respect and a determinant of the respect which one will evoke from others. Education within the prison context, in other words, is not just about providing the incarcerated with the skills necessary for later employment but is about social rehabilitation and healthy social development. Penitentiaries do not facilitate social rehabilitation. Sykes (1956) highlighted this last more than five decades ago through his identification and

Euthanasia Debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Euthanasia Debate - Essay Example Introduction The role of nursing (though previously restricted to caring for in patients and currently diversified to include coordination of care and critical thinking towards health care solutions in the society) is to ensure well being of members of the society. Therefore, nurses are the principle caregivers, communicators, advisers, and can change agents in health care provision with focus on patients’ interests. Euthanasia and physician assisted deaths have emerged as contemporary controversial issues that support and contradict the role of nursing. Euthanasia defines a physician’s direct involvement in terminating patient’s life and involves actions like injecting lethal drugs to facilitate death, while physician assisted suicide involves an indirect role, such as consultancy or provision of a lethal substance for a patient’s use towards a faster death. The irony of a nurse’s involvement in euthanasia and physically assisted suicide (contrary to the traditionally perceived role of facilitating well being and relieving patients of pain together with moral and legal concerns over people’s lives) has raised the debate on whether euthanasia and physically assisted suicide should be legalized. This paper explores existing literature to develop the position that euthanasia and physically assisted suicide could and should be legalized. ... The patients, their relatives and close associates, and even their care givers may face the dilemma of relieving the pain or letting the patient suffer the pain awaiting natural death and the right to make such decisions are reflective of ethical and legal considerations. Martin, Mauron, and Hurst argue that core to the debate on euthanasia and physician assisted suicide is consideration of the wider scope of medical ethics, even beyond issues of patients’ deaths (2011). The authors argue that caregivers have many roles that supersede healing and that some forms of assisted deaths may be necessary and justified. A consideration of some medical practices that have been legalized despite their moral contentions and non-healing objectives is the first basis for exploring the euthanasia and physician assisted suicide debate. Application of contraceptive pills that control unwanted pregnancies is a non-healing act but is considered legal and ethical and similarity in application of contraceptives and those of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide means that they should be accorded a similar treatment regarding the healing argument. The core objective of contraceptive application is to respect people’s right to determine their appropriate time for having children and implies the need for respect of people’s autonomy in other matters. Termination of life through physicians’ assistance falls within such categories of personal decisions, especially if the patient makes the primary reason (Martin, Mauron, and Hurst, 2011). Legal and moral considerations over â€Å"preventive medical measures and palliative care† are other reasons that support legalization of euthanasia and physician assisted

Set theory

Set theory Set Theory and Georg Cantor Georg Ferdinand Ludwig Phillipp Cantor, or Georg Cantor, was one of the groundbreaking mathematicians to approach the concept of infinity. He worked intensively with set theory, working with the cardinality of sets, one-to-one correspondence, transcendental numbers, and different types of infinity. Over the course of the study, we shall take a journey through Cantors life, works, and arguments. First, Richard Dedikind proposed the proposition of infinity. He, instead of constructing it, began to recognize it, avoiding an argument made by Gauss: I protest against the use of infinite magnitude as something completed, which in mathematics is never permissible. Infinity is merely a FaÃ' «on de parler, the real meaning being a limit which certain ratios have approached indefinitely near, while others are permitted to increase without restriction. Georg Ferdinand Ludwig Phillipp Cantor was born in 1845 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He was a talented violinist having inherited skills from his father and mother. His father worked in the Saint Petersburg stock exchange. Cantor lived in Russia until he turned eleven. He got sick that year and the family moved to Germany to experience warmer winters. Cantor graduated from Darmstadt in 1860; in 1862, he was enrolled in the Federal Polytechnic Institution in Zurich. When his father died, he received an inheritance that enabled him to attend the university ofg Berlin in 1862. He received his PhD in 1867 for his math paper on number theory. Cantor first began teaching at a girls school. He then moved to the University of Halle where he would be promoted to Extraordinary Professor in 1872 and full professor in 1879. He achieved this status at the young age of 32. Unsatisfied, he wanted to pursue a better job. But his colleague, Leopold Kronecker fundamentally disagreed with Cantors studies. He believed it was incorrect to propose a set with certain qualities without giving certain examples. Georg Cantor suffered from his first bout with depression in 1884. Because of this he took a break from math and began to teach philosophy. He did begin to work with math again, but it was not of the same caliber as before. He tried to reconcile with Kronecker who enthusiastically accepted, but their views on mathematics and philosophy still opposed each other. Many people suggest that because of this conflict Cantor was depressed, but others think it was a cause of his bipolarity. Cantor retired from mathematics in 1913 and suffered from poverty because of WW1. He died on January 1918 in the asylum where he spent his final years. As a mathematician, Cantor contributed many things to the mathematical field. H developed Set theory. He developed countability, denumerability, and 1-to-1 correspondences between sets. He was the first mathematician to theorize different sizes of infinity. Back then infinity was more of a philosophical topic rather than a mathematical topic. Plus, he received a lot of criticism from Leopold Kronecker. So how is a set defined? Cantor defined a set as, â€Å"a collection into a whole, of definite, well-distinguished objects (called the elements of the set) of our perception or of our thought†. For example, every even number from 1 to 100 can be considered a set. Every prime number from 1 to 1000 can be considered a set. Even the amount of vegetables in the world can be considered a set. A set is just a group. In a set, order is not important, for the sets {1,2,3,4,5} and the sets {4,5,2,3,1} are considered equal. To write that set L is equal to set H, you could write L=H. For that to be true, all the elements in set L have to be in set H, and the elements would all have to be equal. If set L contained {1,2,3}, the set H must contain {1,2,3}. However, if L has only some of the elements of H, we call L a subset of H. To show that something is an element of L, we use the symbol â€Å"Ï µÃ¢â‚¬ . If mÏ µL, it represents â€Å"m is an element of set L†. To represent unions between sets, we use. L M means the union of sets L and M. We use the symbol when describing an intersection between sets. We use this notation when trying to find an element between two sets. To get a better representation of the use, let O be the set of odd integers from 1-10 and let P be the set of prime integers from 1-10. When we see O P, the elements of that intersection would be {3, 5, 7}. If we make a union between the sets, the elements of the union would be {1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9}. You can think of union and intersections in the form of a Venn diagram. An intersection would be only the area where the circles intersect. A union would be the entire thing: the middle and the sides. Other important facts about set theory are cardinality and ordinal numbers. The cardinal number of a set represents the amount of elements in a set. An elements ordinal number shows where the number is in a sequence. Sometimes in well-ordered sets you can have each element with its ordinal number. Cantor developed the term enumerability. When a set is enumerable, it means that is cardinal number is the same size as the natural numbers or is the same size as a subset of the natural numbers. In a countable set, there exists an injective function. An injective function is when you can associate distinct values with distinct arguments. This is also referred to as a 1-to-1 function. In addition to injective functions, there is a surjective function where for the function f(x)= y, there exists more than one x value to one y value. Bijection is when for f(x) = y between sets, there exists one and only one value of y. a bijective function is different from an injective function because in an injective function, you can map all them elements from set A to set B with some elements in B left over when with a bijective function all the elements in set A must map over to set B with only one corresponding element. So where does this all tie into Cantors work? Well, to start off he was the first one to actually work with set theory. Through his work, he was able to prove that the set of odd integers is equal to the set of integers overall. For this proof, let us assume that the amount of even integers is equal to the amount of odd integers. Now, people will think, â€Å"But arent the odd integers a subset of the integers?† True, but subsets can have the same cardinality as the whole set. The way Cantor proved this was through proving the odd integers equal to the number of integers with a bijective function: f (x) = y = 2x+1, where x is an element of the entire set of integers. This way, -3 would go to –5, -2 would go to -3, -1 would go to -1, and 0 would go to -1. Through this, Cantor made a groundbreaking discovery. It would lead on to understanding different kinds of infinity. Cantor came up with two great theorems. The first one, Cantors Theorem showed that the power set of a set is larger than the set itself. A power set contains all the subsets of a set. Consider a set whose elements are {1, 2}. The power set of this set would be {{}, {1}, {2}, {1, 2}}. The cardinality of this power set is 4. 4 is greater than two. As we described before, we showed that two sets have the same cardinality if they have the same number of elements and there exists a 1 to 1 correspondence. He proved his theorem by finding a subset, B, that was not in A. Consider a set, A, and its power set P(A). The subset B would be represented by: F(x) is a general bijective function that maps the elements of set As power set to the elements of set A. This shows that for any element x of A, x is an element of B if and only if x does not equal f(x). But then that would mean x is an element of B where x isnt an element of f(x) and then x is not an element of B? Impossible! One of the most famous proofs of set theory was the diagonal proof by Cantor. He applied it to show that the real numbers were more numerous than the naturals, therefore proving the existence of uncountable sets. To prove it, we will use contradiction. Consider a list of the real numbers that could be put into a 1-to-1 correspondence with the naturals. 1 .5657678†¦ 2 .3364625†¦ 3 .2425364†¦ 4 .3544657†¦ 5 .3535465†¦ 6 .1324354†¦ 7 .2000000†¦ Because of their 1 to one correspondence, should we try to construct another element in the list of real numbers, it would already be accounted for. But what the diagonal argument did was it took the first digit of the fist element, the second digit of the second element and so on and so on, all the way to the nth digit and added one to each individual digit mod ten. What would happen is we would add one to the first digit 5 mod ten and get six. Then we would add 1 to the second digit 3 mod ten and get 4. The pattern of numbers follows a diagonal formation, such as the numbers highlighted below. 1 .5657678†¦ 2 .3364625†¦ 3 .2425364†¦ 4 .3544657†¦ 5 .3535465†¦ 6 .1324354†¦ 7 .2000000†¦ The digits we would get are 6, , 3, 5, 5, 6, and 1. From these digits, we make a decimal with each digit in the spot respective to the element they were taken from. For example, 6 would be the first digit because it was taken from the 1st element. 4 would be the next one for it was taken from the second element, and so on and so on. Following that pattern, we would construct the number .6435561†¦. This beauty of this proof is we have just constructed a number that isnt part of the list! Why? For example, if we looked at the mth digit of this new number and the mth digit of the mth element of the list, we would see that they differ by that one number, thereby having created a new number. What we have done here is just made a way to make an infinite list strictly larger than the naturals therefore proving the existence of uncountable sets. What makes this proof so much more amazing is that there are so many ways to represent it. I used decimals to represent it. However, other peop le might use two variables and just switch them when changing by one. Other people might only use 0 and 1. Cantors work became an important part of other mathematicians work. It became an important part in Russells Paradox, Godels Incompleteness theorem, and Turings Entscheidungsproblem (German for â€Å"decision problem†) Through Cantors groundbreaking work, mathematicians were finally able to approach the concept of infinity. No longer was the topic reserved for the philosophers. Infinity could be used as a mathematical field.

Washington Irvings Rip Van Winkle Shapes American Culture Essay

Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle Shapes American Culture "Darkness...lowers upon my mind, and the times are so hard they sicken my soul," says Washington Irving in a letter to a friend (Letters 446). This statement reveals Irving's intense emotional condition, and in many ways indicates the intense social atmosphere as well as his personal conflicts, during the composition of The Sketch Book. Upon the bankruptcy of his family's fortune, of which he depended on solely for his monetary security, Irving found himself flung into the "galling mortifications of independence" (Letters 487). In response to this trauma, he sailed to England to regain his composure and hopefully secure his stake as a writer so he could provide for himself that which would keep him from "being cast homeless and pennyless on the world" (Letters 486). Within statements like these, Irving's countenance is quite apparent. Additionally, it helps to reveal the social atmosphere of the time, as well as increase one's knowledge of "Rip Van Winkle" as it is represent ed in The Sketch Book. And this representation holds great significance to Washington Irving's development as a person, and to American culture's struggle to define itself in a unique (non-British) way. Around 1817 Irving left the United States drained of inspiration, and slid into depression. He wrote of himself to a friend several years later, "I felt cast down,abased,I had lost my cast,I had always been proud of Spirit, and in my country had been, as it were a being of the air,I felt the force of the text 'a wounded spirit who can bear?' " (Letters 743). However, the idea of The Sketch Book which came before he left relieved him to some extent. In many ways, though, hi... ...sponsibilities are. And more particularly what is America's responsibility in trying to create a nation that is unique and separate from its parentage. This is the issue that defines the importance of "Rip Van Winkle," and more particularly The Sketch Book, in the social development of our country. It seems that the particular social and political climate found its summation in our country's search for literary independence. Holistically it was Washington Irving's life, his struggles, his talents, and his perfectly-timed existence in the flow of history that helped to shape and solidify our country's identity, and immortalize him as an author. Works Cited Rubin-Dorsky, Jeffrey. "Irving's Sketches of Anxiety." American Literature. Dec 1986: 507-509, 517-519. Williams, Stanley T. The Life of Washington Irving. 2 vols. London: Oxford, 1935.

British Responsibility After 1763

By around the turn of 1760s decade a great controversy arose in the British parliament over whether to maintain the sugar colonies of the Atlantic Caribbean Islands and forfeit Canada or vice versa. The later had the advantage of a wealthy fur trade, while as mentioned the former was promising in the sugar industry. However, all ended in 1763 by the historic signing of the Peace of Paris which saw the proponents of the Canadian option win. Going by the terms of the treaty, Britain was to benefit from all colonies of North America formerly under France.The regions to the east of Mississippi down to Florida (acquired from Spain) were also declared a British possession as per the terms of the treaty. In as much as the treaty favored Britain, it is important to realize that the cost of maintaining her possession in this area was in turn inflated. The expenses of maintaining, governing and also defending imperial wealthy had a negative impact on the economy of the Britons. This realizatio n had in contrast to the expectation of British policy makers who had thought that the American colonies will be self sustaining.It became expensive for the government of UK to maintain the defense troops in the Canadian soil. Therefore in response the government budgeted to maintain about 8000 troops in North America alone and this was to be maintained by an allotment of the cost of ? 400000. This responsibility proved a burden to the royal government which was already being overburdened by its defense and war plans. Following this, measures to increase revenue were taken and by the following year (1764) George Grenville, prime minister then, introduced an act in parliament, dubbed the sugar act aimed at spreading the burden of empirial maintenance to colonies.As expected the colonialists rose in protest against these measures because they envisioned them as a shifted burden. The French and Indian wars provided a major lesson upon which the British ministry based its policy making in the process of quelling the North American Indians. The Indians who were now becoming a nuisance to the British ministry maintained that that the Ohio state belonged to them. After 1763 the rising resentments in the Ohio prompted the British government to ban settlement in the region to the west of the Appalachians.Dominion Status: Before the year 1763, the empire meant nothing more than a trade region. It provided a wider market and also a source of valuables such as fur from India and Canada, rubber from Liberia of West Africa and sugar from the Caribbean. However, after 1763 it signified dominion as well. The acquisition of empire never came with massive wealthy acquisition as might have been expected. As previously mentioned it brought with it an array of problems in the areas of defense, administration and even finance.The aftermath of the seven years of war (1756-1763) the administration of the empire and ministers back in England agreed unanimously the supremacy of the leg islative parliament should be elevetated to have powers to repeal laws of the empire at large. In addition to this, the strong relation in the empire should be strengthened to facilitate the colonial empire to pay for their maintenance. Augmentation of Imperial Army in Ireland: The imperial ideas of the government back in London were clearly envisaged in the proposition by the British parliament to augment Ireland based army.However, with effect of 1763 there arose a problem in the ‘garrison’ and maintenance of the army, especially in the far away colonies. According to the ministers of the government in London, Ireland had the least opportunity of providing soldiers and recruits to the imperial army. The period between 1763 and 1767 saw the empirial demand for soldiers increase and therefore a quick source for more soldiers had to be sought. The British general who was to approach Ireland to supply extra soldiers had in mind that any indirect rule through Ireland offic ials would not by any means succeed.This conclusion by Townsend was as a result of a long and protracted persuasion of the Irish parliament to accept on the proposal to release recruits to the colonial empire. It was clear that any colonial indirect rule through Irish governors had to be discarded and replaced by the colonial official from England. This last proposal was accepted by the Irish parliament. However, the new system only came with increased responsibilities in terms of military regiments after 1763. French and Indian War: The French and Indian wars brought about policy changes in the ministry back in England.The American revolution of 1760 was sparked off by this policy which had its major aim to collect taxes for the empirical governance. Others still suggest that Quebec Act, which was followed by the proclamation of 1763, the issue of the stamp act, Townsend activities and duties and also the tea act of Bolton are seen as the major contributor to the rapid turn of even ts by the British towards the governance of the empire. Others on this least are the major wars against Indians and France, which are said to have financially affected the British ministry.These issues defined the British approach in the vast North American colony from 1763 to the final dismal of the North American by the independence of America in 1776. Quebec Act of 1774: This act was meant to increase the civil governance in the newly acquired colonies of North America, but as it turned out the act provided in some way for the extension of the territory under the Quebec government to western side, a territory that had been relinquished by the France in 1763. It therefore meant that the act violated the rights the colonists back in Canada considered their natural birthright.References: 1. Anderson, Fred. Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754–1766. New York: Knopf, 2000. 2. Marshal, Peter. British Empire: The Cambridge il lustrated history of the British Empire, Cambrigde University Press, 1999. 3. Cootes, John. Britain since 1700: Longman Secondary Histories, Longman Group Ltd, 1968. 4. Raimo, John W. Biographical Directory of American Colonial and Revolutionary Governors, 1607-1789. Westport, Conn. : Meckler, Books, 1980.

Fascism essays

Fascism essays Fascism is defined as a system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. Fascism takes many forms, but despite the many forms that fascism takes, all fascist movements are rooted in two major historical trends. First, in late 19th-century Europe mass political movements developed as a challenge to the control of government and politics by small groups of social elites or ruling classes. For the first time, many countries saw the growth of political organizations with membership numbering in the thousands or even millions. Second, fascism gained popularity because many intellectuals, artists, and political thinkers in the late 19th century began to reject the philosophical emphasis on wisdom and progress that had emerged from the 18th-century intellectual movement, called the Enlightenment. Adolf Hitler was Chancellor of Germany during World War II. He transformed Germany into a military state, based on the beliefs of Nazism, making Germany an Anti-Semitic, Nationalist state. During his rule, he expanded his empire, conquering most of Europe, and some African states, in an effort to conquer the world. His Germany was a state of racial purity. Millions of Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, and non-Germanic people were slaughtered, because they were considered inferior. The slaughter of the millions of people became known as the Holocaust. Germany and the axes lost World War II, and Hitler committed suicide in 1945. Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) Benito Mussolini was dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943. He was the founder and leader of Il Duce, or Italian Fascism. Mussolini joined the Germans in the Second World War, and following their example, he also had millions of Jews slaughtere ...

Pago De Impuestos De Expatriados Americanos

Pago De Impuestos De Expatriados Americanos Los ciudadanos  estadounidenses que residen en el extranjero tienen la obligacià ³n de pagar impuestos en Estados Unidos todos los aà ±os. Recordar que vivir fuera del paà ­s no es causa suficiente para perder la nacionalidad y, por lo tanto, hay que seguir cumpliendo con obligaciones, como la del pago de impuestos. El propio Departamento de Estado desconoce cuntos estadounidenses residen habitualmente fuera de los Estados Unidos y estima que la cifra puede estar entre los 3 y los seis millones, sin incluir en el cà ³mputo a los militares destinados en el extranjero. Por cierto, esta exigencia de pago de impuestos tambià ©n aplica a los hombres y mujeres que sirven en el exterior en cualquiera de las cuatro ramas de los Ejà ©rcitos americanos (Army, Navy, Air y Marines). Y esta obligacià ³n incluso continà ºa por 10 aà ±os para las personas que renuncian a la nacionalidad para no pagar impuestos. Y es que à ©sta es en la actualidad una de las razones ms comunes por las que se renuncia al pasaporte americano, si bien no es la à ºnica como muestran estos 10 amosos que decidieron abandonar su condicià ³n de estadounidenses. Con la finalidad de informar sobre cà ³mo cumplir con esta obligacià ³n, en este artà ­culo se explica cunto y cà ³mo presentar la planilla de impuestos, cà ³mo identificar a los familiares que no son ciudadanos y un enlace al listado de paà ­ses con los que Estados Unidos tiene un tratado firmado para evitar la doble imposicià ³n. Es decir, para evitar pagar en el paà ­s en el que se vive y tambià ©n en Estados Unidos (pero aà ºn en esos casos en los que no hay que pagar es necesario presentar las planillas). Cunto Hay Que Presentar Las Planillas De Impuestos (Filing) En Estados Unidos el à ºltimo dà ­a para enviar las planillas de las taxes es el 15 de abril. Sin embargo, los expatriados y residentes que viven en el extranjero tienen una extensià ³n automtica de dos meses. En otras palabras, tienen hasta el 15 de junio para cumplir con sus obligaciones tributarias. Si en esa fecha todavà ­a no estn listos para cumplir con el IRS, pueden solicitar mediante la planilla  4868 que se le conceda una extensià ³n adicional hasta el 15 de octubre. Sin embargo, este nuevo plazo puede llevar aparejado que tengan que pagar intereses de demora e incluso una multa. Cà ³mo Desgravar Familiares Extranjeros Puede suceder que un ciudadano expatriado o un residente permanente legal que se encuentra temporalmente en el extranjero està ©n casados o tengan hijos que no tengan su mismo estatus legal, desde el punto de vista americano y, por lo tanto, no tengan un nà ºmero de seguridad social (NSS). Estos nà ºmeros son necesarios para poder desgravar a una persona como dependiente a la hora de rellenar las planillas de impuestos. La solucià ³n para estos casos es solicitar un ITIN, o nà ºmero de identificacià ³n fiscal que se puede solicitar desde el extranjero. Dà ³nde Deben Los Expatriados Enviar Las Planillas De Impuestos Es posible utilizar internet recurriendo a Freefile. O tambià ©n se admite enviar en papel toda la documentacià ³n a: Department of the TreasuryInternal Revenue Service CenterAustin, TX 73301-0215USA Y el pago, junto con la forma 1040-S a: Internal Revenue ServiceP.O. Box 1300Charlotte, NC 28201-1300USA Ayuda Para Rellenar Las Planillas Para Pago De Impuestos Por Expatriados Si tiene dudas, siempre se puede contactar directamente con el IRS, o llamar al 1 267-941-1000 (telà ©fono de pago). Algunas embajadas y consulados, en paà ­ses con un alto nà ºmero de estadounidenses expatriados, brindan un servicio para ayudar a los ciudadanos a cumplir con sus obligaciones tributarias, como son los casos de Londres, Parà ­s, Frankfurt y Beijing. Cuentas Bancarias en El Exterior Estados Unidos impone sobre sus ciudadanos y residentes permanentes legales la obligacià ³n de declarar las cuentas de banco que tienen en el exterior y los intereses que puedan producir. Tambià ©n se debe notificar cualquier tipo de fondos de inversià ³n. La cantidad a partir de la cual se debe declarar son $10,000 La forma a cumplimentar es la TD-90.22.1 Clculo De Ingresos a Declarar Lo ms comà ºn es que los expatriados y residentes permanentes en el exterior ganen sus ingresos en una moneda distinta al dà ³lar americano. Pero la declaracià ³n para el pago de impuestos debe haber convertido todas las cantidades a la divisa estadounidense. Se puede hacer una estimacià ³n anual teniendo en cuenta todas las fluctuaciones en el cambio del valor de las monedas. O si los ingresos corresponden a fechas concretas, es posible declarar el cambio exacto que la divisa extranjera tenà ­a en tal fecha frente al dà ³lar. Tratados Para Evitar La Doble Imposicià ³n Es posible que los expatriados deban  pagar dos veces por los mismos ingresos: en el paà ­s de residencia y en Estados Unidos. Todo depende de si hay tratado de doble imposicià ³n  o no entre ambas naciones. Derechos De Los Ciudadanos Americanos en El Exterior La ciudadanà ­a americana da obligaciones pero, sin duda, tambià ©n derechos y privilegios. Para los estadounidenses en el exterior destacan la posibilidad de cobrar su cheque de jubilacià ³n, aunque no se puede beneficiar de Medicare. Asimismo, en muchos casos pueden transmitir la ciudadanà ­a americana a los hijos que tienen y nacen fuera de los Estados Unidos. Y, por supuestos, si regresan a Estados Unidos pueden pedir una green card para sus familiares. Si bien antes de presentar los papeles informarse sobre posibles problemas. El caso ms tà ­pico es cuando se intenta pedir una green card para el cà ³nyuge, pero el mismo inconveniente se presenta cuando se solicita otro familiar ya que no se pueden probar ingresos en Estados unidos, por lo que es muy conveniente estar informado. Reglas De Pago De Impuestos Para Residentes Permanentes Fuera De Estados Unidos Los residentes permanentes legales tienen una limitacià ³n sobre el tiempo que pueden permanecer en el extranjero sin poner en peligro la tenencia de su tarjeta. Deben pagar impuestos en Estados Unidos por los ingresos que perciban durante su estancia en el exterior. Esto tambià ©n aplica a los residentes permanentes que abandonan su green card para evitar pagar impuestos en Estados Unidos. Este artà ­culo es informativo. No es consejo legal o fiscal.

Real-Time Systems Design, Robustness Challanges Research Paper

Real-Time Systems Design, Robustness Challanges - Research Paper Example The essence of this paper is to focus on the challenges faced by these designers and the important methodologies that need to be applied in order to overcome these challenges so as to ensure the robustness of these systems. Keywords: Real time system design, Robustness, Challenges Introduction Real Time System Design can be defined as a combination of protocols and procedures that are aimed at ensuring a system is made efficient to perform its intended task within the deadline prescribed. The efficiency of such a system is based on correct and timely outputs. [1] For a real time system to be considered robust, it should have the ability to handle errors in explicit conditions and also provide bounded responses including the risk severe consequences. This therefore makes the design of such a system to require maximum attention by designers since even a minor deviation can lead to a disaster during the usage of such systems. [3] Most embedded systems have strong real-time constraints, which it is compulsory to take into account in their design and modelling. Twenty year ago, timed automata [6] was introduced for the purpose of ensuring that their finite-state automata is extended with definite-valued clocks, which can be used to specify how much time may elapse between different events in the system. These requirement therefore leads lot of challenges faced by designers in regard to the robustness of these systems [2]. Our research is aimed at illustrating the different scheduling techniques applicable in this area of design so as to overcome the challenges posed by timely disorder. Our goal is that by the end of discussion in this paper, the various challenges that real time systems designers face in their design procedures and in different real time scenarios would have been discussed in their corresponding circumstances and subsequent solutions formulated. Literature Review It is not always easy to come up with robust real-time system design without major chal lenges. A lot of research has been carried out in this field in the quest to analyze the challenges faced by these designers and various solutions that will ensure robustness of the designs suggested. In [5], the authors illustrates the scheduling techniques applied in order to avoid the challenges caused by time constraints in the design. They bring out clearly the aspect of time acting in different real time scenarios to make a system change with respect to the corresponding circumstances. The authors state that the most challenges faced by real-time system designers are in regard to issues of synchronization and predictability. They also address real time tragic scenarios and case studies from the trusted sources that gives the big picture on the cause and the preventive measures. They also propose two methodologies aimed at achieving predictability; synchronization and parallelism as solutions to the challenges faced. Huang, Jinfeng, et al in [2] explains the large gap that exis ts between system design requirements and the achievements that have been the major challenges in systems design. They state that this is eminent in real-time system design since they require strict time schedules and critical safety requirements. The authors suggest that to ensure robustness, there should be an effective way of supporting predictability. The paper also discusses the role of semantics of design languages in supporting predic

An economic issue due to interest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An economic issue due to interest - Essay Example Before President Bush left the office, he left behind a huge burden on the Americans economy that was used to finance two very expensive wars in the history of America. The debt runs for a period of years until 2011. This is what Obama government had to first deal with when he took over office in 2009. Sound economic policies guide a government to economic growth and expansion. In includes the changes made by the national budget that alters spending and taxes affecting the economy. Fiscal policies play an important role in driving the Americans economy especially after the great depression when the government decided to take a proactive role in guiding US economic affairs. The role of a fiscal policy is to influence macroeconomic productivity levels by increasing or reducing taxes and public spending. Each policy is distinct depending on what the government wants to correct or attain. For instance, a slow economy has high levels of employment, low levels of consumer spending, and les s business. Here, the government will fuel it by reducing the levels of taxation and increase the public spending. More money in circulation will increase consumer spending, boost businesses, and increase employment levels. However, the effects of fiscal policies differ with different economies. This is because in different economies one class or various classes of individuals are affected by a move to cut taxes or increase spending. For instance, in America, arguably only a small percentage pays taxes, which is about one percent of the population. Therefore, a move to increase tax or reduce tax will only affect a small percentage of the population. It is also unknown to what extent a government should get involved in an economy to get it moving, which leaves policy makers on a hanging balance. After Obama joined government, a fiscal policy of its kind was adopted in America to curb