Midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Midterm - Essay Example Thus, globalization per se, is vital ingredient of development that is distinct in its economic integration of resources, transforming social values and shifting power dynamics across nations. 2. What is globalization? Brawley (200, p.21) asserts that globalization is driven by technology that accelerates integration of economic forces vis-a-vis market, firm, production and national financial system on a global scale with wider ramifications on the socio-political dynamics of nations across globe. The multi-dimensional aspects of globalization emphasize new business imperatives that promote significant shift in division of labor and acts as catalyst for new socio-political order. Guttal (2007, p. 524) rightly argues that neo liberal policies facilitate process of globalization and various factors like fiscal reforms, liberalization of trade, convergence of knowledge and technology etc., undertaken on national level encourage creation and distribution of wealth across larger area of p olitical economy. Globalization therefore leads to new global economy and development where benefits cascade down to more people in the world. 3. Why globalization? Change is inherent part of development and process of globalization emerged gradually from the fundamental compulsions to infuse financial aids to poverty stricken nations, who were stripped of their wealth by the colonial rulers by the wealthy nations. But the aids were conditional to local reforms and economic liberalization that attracted foreign businesses (Schaeffer, p.8). This gradually led to globalization where emigration and immigration of people was seen as important part of growth, creating not only wealth but also influencing the socio-economic and political transformation of states. Today, it is intrinsically linked to development and serves as a major tool to advance and promote the interests of people from diverse background across the globe. Hence, it has emerged as hugely crucial process that impacts gro wth of individuals, business and nations and promotes creation of wealth leading to development. 4. Government controls and Global compulsions In the current environment of globalization and highly competitive business, inter-dependency of resources has compelled nations initiate reforms and economic liberalization for attracting foreign investment. Economy today, is market driven that has necessitated opening of domestic market for global businesses. The major stumbling blocks to globalization processes are: taxations, currency fluctuation, inflation, government laws, restriction in trade, exit policies, ownership etc. Deregulation of control therefore, becomes essential for creating facilitating environment for foreign business. The national policies and legal parameters therefore emerge as vital ingredients that promote trust amongst foreign business and domestic actors thereby creating conducive environment for business with diverse consequences for people in different setting ( Shaeffer, p.11). The government initiatives in liberalizing economic policies that give incentives to FDI and welcome privatization greatly attract foreign businesses. At the same time, government control helps to reduce risk and misuse of power by the big corporate bodies and

Marketing evaluate of online gambling in Indonesia Essay Example for Free

Marketing evaluate of online gambling in Indonesia Essay Introduction Developing our company business of online gambling enter to new market –Indonesia due to more and more competitors share market of China now, otherwise, the Chinese government crackdown illegal online gambling website from end of 2009 to now, so we must be to reduce the business risk and look for other potential new market to do the business and make sure company business stable development. The article will be introduce gambling, online gambling history, business environment and relation of market analysis of China, also guide to know currently status of online gambling and trend in China market. For new Southeast Asia market, why need to go to Indonesia and isn’t others country, its every important question for us to know. We will be chose two markets of Southeast Asia countries as Thailand and Malaysia making comparisons with the new market as Indonesia. Before comparisons, also we should be known about Thailand, Malaysia market, how about those country business environment, and online market analysis. According with result from comparisons, we will get the answer in below review about why choose Indonesia to do business of online gambling, and SWOT analysis about doing business in Indonesia. After that, also have formulate market strategic about what’s the best way to go to do business, and how to developing business in Indonesia as market resource, campaign, and local agent of online gambling etc. After Analysis Indonesia market and compare with other Southeast Asia country, we also need to know how to enter Indonesia market of doing business and develop the business Statement of the problem What is the market value of Indonesia for doing business of online gambling? Indonesia is the third largest populated country in Asia after China and India, have enough resource in internet circumstance, economy and marketing resource to do business. Otherwise, Indonesia is the worlds most populous Muslim country, with about 90% of its 237 million citizens practicing Islam, Under Islam, gambling of all kinds is strictly prohibited, but gambling often continues as an important part of life of some Muslims. Revenue is major value for a firm; Indonesia lost around $320Million by illegal in 2009, its more than others Southeast Asia. Follow the economy growth, Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy and has delivered consistently high annual growth exceeding 6% in both 2007 and 2008. Growth of between 2% and 4. 5% is expected in 2009. The market will generate more and more revenue in the future. What are the aspects of value analysis for new market? For the paper will do the analysis of Existing market as China, Malaysia and Thailand about environment analysis, market analysis, and currently status, after analysis different between Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, we got know value of Indonesia market. Others, to develop business in the new market, we also need to do competitors analysis, customer analysis and 4p analysis to know our company advantage and disadvantage. Existing market analysis China market- Environment analysis According to the latest figures from CNNIC, the number of Internet users in China rose to 420 million at the end of June, 2010, an increase of almost 36 million users in the first six months of year 2010 and including 115. 1 million users in the rural areas. The current Internet penetration rate in China is 31. 6% acording to Internet World Stats statistics. YEAR| Users| Population| % Pen. | Usage Source| 2000| 22,500,000| 1,288,307,100| 1. 7 %| ITU| 2001| 33,700,000| 1,288,307,100| 2. 6 %| ITU| 2002| 59,100,000| 1,288,307,100| 4. 6 %| ITU| 2003| 69,000,000| 1,288,307,100| 5. 4 %| CNNIC| 2004| 94,000,000| 1,288,307,100| 7. 3 %| CNNIC| 2005| 103,000,000| 1,289,664,808| 7. 9 %| CNNIC| 2006| 137,000,000| 1,317,431,495| 10. 4 %| CNNIC| 2007| 162,000,000| 1,317,431,495| 12. 3 %| CNNIC| 2008| 253,000,000| 1,330,044,605| 19. 0 %| CNNIC| 2009| 384,000,000| 1,338,612,968| 28. 7 %| CNNIC| 2010| 420,000,000| 1,330,141,295| 31. 6 %| CNNIC|. Mature netizens take a larger percentage in the age structure of the Chinese Internet users than before, and those above the age of 30 accounts for 41% of the total. At the same time, the educational background and income level of the Chinese netizens has lowered. The time period spent in the use of the Internet by Chinese netizens continues to increase and reached an average of 19. 8 hours per week per user. China Market analysis According to China Internet Market 2009 Q2 Report, the market size of China Internet in Q2 2009 is 16. 76 billion Yuan, having increased 17% compared to last quarter with a 22. 2% increase compared to Q2 in 2008. Also China is the worlds biggest online gaming market. According to the director of the Chinese development firm, Sino, Richard Li, the Chinese gambling market turns over $100 billion, 95 percent illegally. Just like Western countries, China needs to fund social services for its aged population, so pragmatism, rather than intolerance for bourgeouis entertainment, is triumphing. Current status and trends of online gambling in China After Germany world cup, more and more online gambling companies enter to China. In end of 2006, just have around 20 companies in China market, until 2010, have more than 100 companies, the competitor increase fourfold. The market share reduces compare with before. Otherwise, we know the only forms of legal gambling in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are the two government lotteries: the Welfare Lottery and the Sports Lottery. These are is very popular in China. From end of 2009 to now, the Chinese government strengthen promote Chinese lotteries, and crackdown illegal online gambling website and closed around 300 website. Lead Chinas lottery market has generated RMB69. 4 billion in profits around in 2010 alone. Even so, the revenues generated by illegal gambling operations in mainland PRC are estimated to be 10-20 times larger than the combined revenues from both legal lotteries Trends of Online gambling in China These indicators tend to imply that gambling is socially acceptable in China, and that Chinas enforcement policy extends only to unsanctioned casino operators, not to the citizens actually playing. Recently there have been signs that change is imminent, and that we may soon see the birth of Chinese legislation that governs online casinos in China. Ultimately the reasons come down to money. The last decade has seen an unprecedented level of economic development in China, such that there are now far more wealthy Chinese than ever before and these people are clearly gambling, whether they have to travel to Macau or beyond. Regulating the industry would allow the Chinese government to keep a larger portion of that growth capital inside China through licensing fees and through taxation. In the meantime, however, Chinese gambling fans continue to break the law whenever they visit an online casino. Malaysia Market Environment analysis. In Malaysia, it may come as a surprise to many that the Malaysia has one of the highest internet penetrations in the world, with 65. 7% of its population going online. It is fast catching up with America, which has over 74% of its population online. There are 16 million internet users in Malaysia. YEAR| Users| Population| % Pen. | Usage Source| 2000| 3,700,000| 24,645,600| 15. 0 %| ITU| 2005| 10,040,000| 26,500,699| 37. 9 %| C. I. Almanac| 2006| 11,016,000| 28,294,120| 38. 9 %| ITU| 2007| 13,528,200| 28,294,120| 47. 8 %| MCMC| 2008| 15,868,000| 25,274,133| 62. 8 %| MCMC|. 2009| 16,902,600| 25,715,819| 65. 7 %| ITU| 2010| 16,902,600| 26,160,256| 64. 6 %| ITU| Malaysia Economic Analysis The country’s rich natural resources ensure sound developments in agriculture, forestry and mining. Economic growth is also attributed to its border with the Strait of Malacca which is an important international shipping crossroad, which promotes the country’s international trade. Malaysia’s well developed manufacturing sector produces a diverse range of goods. The first three quarters of 2009, however, witnessed steep decline in the country’s economic growth. Volume of exports reduced drastically due to reduced consumer goods demand globally. The situation, however, improved somewhat in the Q4FY09. The Tenth Malaysia Plan is all set to be introduced in June 2010. Malaysia Market analysis As for casino gambling in Malaysia, there are very few options. The country has only one legal casino, and though it is large and very complete, it is the only place where Malaysians can legally play table games and card games in the country. This has lead to a problem with underground gambling dens and sports betting shops that the Malaysian government is currently working to solve. Before July 2009, online gambling is legal, and most of online gambling company get the operate license in Malaysia. After the 6 July 2009, The Malaysia government cancelled the entire license and does not offer licenses to open internet gambling sites. And also takes some measures to ensure that Malaysian players do not use foreign internet gambling sites. Also, Malaysian banks are not supposed to authorize transfers to or from online gambling websites. This rule is very loosely followed, however, and there is still a number of banking methods open to Malaysian players who want to gamble online. In fact, some of the bigger online gambling websites that are hosted in other countries even offer their services in Malay, letting players make the best of their internet gambling experience. Current status of online gambling in Malaysia Malaysian gambling laws forbid all forms of sports betting except for horse racing, and online gambling in all forms is equally prohibited. But online gambling sites in Malaysia has proven been most popular in the Sarawak region, where visitors are 48 more likely to visit. Sarawak stands out from other Barisan Nasional and even other Malaysian states in that the regional government disapproves the federal government’s moves to legalize online gambling. And most of gamblers go to there for online gambling. Thailand Market Environment analysis The population of Thailand is now 66. 4 million, about 10 million of whom live in the capital city of Bangkok. Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads, and thus strains of Mon, Khmer, Burmese, Lao, Malay, Indian and most strongly, Chinese stock produce a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous unity. YEAR| Users| Population| % Pen. | GDP p. c. *| Usage Source| 2000| 2,300,000| 61,528,000| 3,7%| US$ N/A| ITU| 2007| 8,465,800| 67,249,456| 12. 6%| US$ 3,759| ITU| 2009| 16,100,000| 65,998,436| 24. 4%| US$ 3,940| ITU| 2010| 17,486,400| 66,404,688| 26. 3%| US$ 4,403| ITU| According to estimates of United Nations Population Information Network, the population of Thailand would be about 74 million in the year 2050. Until 2010s, total have 17. 4million internet user have 26. 3% population used Thailand Market analysis The primary form of legal gambling in Thailand is the national lottery. It was started in 2003, mostly because a large underground lottery system was already operating and the government felt the best way to drive it out was to create an officially sanctioned lottery system. But even the legal lottery is not immune from illegal activities in 2006 the prime minister and other government officials were accused of skimming more than $1 billion from state lottery revenues. Online gambling in Thailand is also forbidden. The Thai government does not provide licenses that would allow internet gambling websites to be hosted in Thailand. In fact, they have never even considered allowing for online gambling in Thailand since land-based gambling is mostly forbidden. In spite of the ban on internet gambling the Thai government does very little to prevent players from using foreign online gambling sites. These websites are hosted in different countries, places where the Thai government has no jurisdiction. This means there is little they can do to prevent players in Thailand from using them. There are many online gambling sites that accept Thai players, though few are available in Thai. Current status of online gambling in Thailand Online gambling continues to permeate all countries and cultures, despite governments persistent efforts to outlaw the practice. Thailand is the latest country to find increasing numbers of citizens wagering online. If individuals running illegal sites are identified, the Thai Anti-Money Laundering Office will freeze any assets and arrest and prosecute those deemed culpable. Gambling in Thailand is highly illegal, but base on DSI data reveals at least 10,000 subscribers to suspected gambling sites. Soccer wagering has become an increasingly popular form of play, particularly among younger gamblers. The appeal of gambling online continues to grow worldwide, and the most logical reaction of government is to tax the hobby and enjoy a steady new revenue source, rather than waste funds fighting a battle that is unwinnable. Indonesia Market Environment analysis Indonesia is the third largest populated country in Asia after China and India. also is Southeast Asia’s largest economy and has delivered consistently high annual growth exceeding 6% in both 2007 and 2008. Growth of between 2% and 4. 5% is expected in 2009. The consumer market continues to grow in the world’s fourth-largest country. There are more than 237 million citizens, 50% of whom are under the age of 30. GDP per person exceeds its ASEAN neighbors such the Philippines and Indonesia has a GDP per person three times that of Vietnam. Indonesia is a thriving democracy with significant regional autonomy Indonesia is a market-based economy but the government plays a significant role in the countrys economy with 160 government-owned enterprises. Indonesias GDP per capita ranks fifth after Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand. Indonesias GDP was US$258. 3 billion with a GDP per capita of US$1,193 in 2004. Indonesias real GDP grew at an average of 4. 6% annually from 2000 to 2004 driven by domestic consumption accounting for nearly three-quarters of Indonesias GDP Current status of online gambling in Indonesia According to Indonesian gambling laws all forms of gambling are illegal and prohibited. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country and about 90% of its 237 million inhabitants ardently practice Islam. Gambling of all kinds is strictly prohibited by Islam. According to statistics, however, there are 23. 7 million residents who don’t practice Islam and many of them have found ways to gamble. Illegal gambling is prevalent throughout Indonesia. Dense population and police corruption have allowed illegal casinos to operate without regards to the Islamic ban on gambling. That’s the reason for many of the online gambling company go in to Indonesia market. In additional this country is a biggest country compare with other Southeast Asia country. Compare analysis with other Southeast Asia country. Population Indonesia is the third largest populated country in Asia after China and India. Also is Southeast Asia’s largest economy and has delivered consistently high annual growth exceeding 6% in both 2007 and 2008. Growth of between 2% and 4. 5% is expected in 2009. The consumer market continues to grow in the world’s fourth-largest country. Indonesia is a market-based economy but the government plays a significant role in the countrys economy with 160 government-owned enterprises. Indonesias GDP per capita ranks fifth after Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand. Internet user. With 30 million Internet users as of the end of 2009, Indonesia is the 5th largest Internet market in Asia (after China, Japan, India, and South Korea). The number of Internet users in Indonesia is growing really fast (the highest growth among Asia countries after China), especially the number of users who use their mobile phone to access the Internet. In five years, about more than half of the Indonesian population or 150 million people are projected to have access to the Internet (most of them through their mobile phone). Compared to the population (not Internet users) of Singapore (4.8 million), Malaysia (27 million), South Korea (48. 6 million). Thailand (67 million), Vietnam (86 million), and Philippine (90 million), it is clear that the number of Internet users in Indonesia will be significantly higher than the number of Internet users in those countries. Usage of Internet Internet users in Indonesia spend about 17. 2 hours online per month According to a survey conducted by Nielsen Indonesia, most Indonesians use the Internet for checking email (42%), reading newspaper (39%), searching for information about products or services (29%), reading magazines (27%), and chatting (23%). A study by comScore shows only 50% of Indonesian Internet users do online shopping and they spend only 1% on their online time for shopping. Clearly, online shopping is still not the main reason for Indonesians to go online. While Indonesians are still cautious in using the Internet for shopping, there are very enthusiastic to online social networking. 28 million Indonesians have account(s) with Facebook, making them the 3rd largest Facebook users in the world. As of June 2010, Indonesians also produced the 3rd highest number of tweets in the world. It is not surprising at all that 87% of Indonesians does social networking and they spend 32. 6% of their online time or 5. 8 hours per month in websites such as Facebook and Twitter Most Internet users (84. 2%) in Indonesia use Search to find information they are looking for. The average number of Searches per user is 91. 4. 80% of Indonesian Internet users uses Google to do their Search. Above data is higher than others Southeast Asia country. Considering its high economic and Internet user growths, Indonesia has a great potential for Internet business. However, it would not be easy to win in this industry due to online gambling is specially industry in Indonesia. External analysis- Conclusion Considering its high economic and Internet user growths, Indonesia has a greater potential for Internet business compare others Southeast Asia. Moreover, the Internet business there is still in a very early stage with a limited number of local players and products/services offered. However, it would not be easy to win in this industry. Unsophisticated payment infrastructure and conventional mind-set of its people will become the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs and investors who want to explore Indonesia’s untapped potential in Internet business. The general message is that entrepreneurs and investors with long time horizons should look at Internet business in Indonesia as an alternative worth considering depending on the nature of the investment and the risk tolerance of the entrepreneur or investor. Internal analysis-Customer Behavior analysis Common Casino games of Indonesian Members play. * Baccarat * Blackjack * Sic Bo Current Indonesia Members’ Behavior Following table is current Indonesia members’ behavior of deposit and wager, the data is base on my current company data. Indonesia Business Performance Annual stake generated: â‚ ¬ 14. 3 Million and revenue generated â‚ ¬ 657, 000(third higher than others Southeast Asia) Competitor analysis-4P analysis For now total have 4 major competitors doing business in Indonesia market Analysis above the data, doing online gambling business in Indonesia, should offer more competiveness product and promotion to attract new customer due to the current Indonesia member generated revenue is higher than existing market, additional the External analysis, new market as Indonesia has a greater potential for Internet business. References * Rocky Fu (August 2009)China Internet Market Size in Q2 2009 * Internetworldstats(July 2010) China ecommerce and Internet Market Report * casinolistings(2009)The future of gambling in China * Casino King David Information as thing, Gambling History in China * Gamingzion (2007) Information as thing. Gambling in China * Economy watch(2010) Malaysia Economy * Tom B. (2010) Information as thing. Chinese Law Enforcement Rounding Up Illegal Online Gambling Operators * Michael F. (2010) Information as thing. Journal of the China Arrests 3,430 with Online Gambling Ties * Asiaplace (2009) Information as thing. Malaysia Cracks Down on Internet Gambling * KEN NG, Klang(2009) Information as thing, Legalise online gambling * Cyrildason(2010) Information as thing, Sports Betting in Malaysia * Brian M. (2010)Online Gambling in Malaysia Most Popular in Sarawak * TomWeston (2008)Online Gambling Grows in Popularity in Thailand * CoolFounders (2010) A broader look at Indonesia startups and internet Business prospects * MR. SUNDERASAN(Oct 2009) PESTEL analysis of Indonesia * Water stone (2010) Indonesia online 2010.

MacBeth :: essays research papers

A.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Title: Macbeth   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Author: William Shakespeare   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publisher: The Bobbs-Merrill Company Inc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Date: 1968   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pages: 156 B.)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Macbeth begins with three witches setting the tone of the play. The three witches throughout the play will make predictions and keep the readers continually wondering.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The king of Scotland, Duncan, receives a message saying that his army has defeated a Norwegian invader. Macbeth, an army general in his army, received most of the credit for the victory. Because of this victory and Macbeth’s part in it he is given the title, Thane Cawdor. Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, begins to get greedy and wants as much power as she can get and will stop and nothing to obtain it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Macbeth and Banquo, another general in the army are returning from the battle when they encounter the three witches. They announce that Malcolm will one day be heir to the throne. This prediction makes Macbeth happy because he had dreams of one day being king.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The announcement that upsets Macbeth is that King Duncan announces that his son Malcolm will take over the throne after his death. After the king’s announcement he plans to visit and dine with Macbeth at his home.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The idea of power again enters the minds of Macbeth and his wife after this announcement and they start thinking how to gain control of the throne themselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s home Lady Macbeth plans to kill Duncan. She plans to do this while he’s sleeping, but in his sleep he resembles her father and she is unable to go through with it. So Macbeth carries out the plan. The two also made sure that they covered their tracks by making it look like the servants killed the king. After hearing the news about their father, Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan’s sons flee fearing for their lives.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Macbeth immediately takes control of the throne assuming he is the new

Education reforms Essay

Education reforms are procedures that bring systematic changes in the education sector in a society or community. Education reforms date back in the time of the Roman Empire during Christianity due to the need to teach the roman about Christianity. The modern reforms were preceded by the neo classical education that was similar to the classical education in m any way. The need for modern reforms is backed by many reasons, which include the economic reasons, different philosophies in the education, different aims of education and the essence of educating all the people unlike in the past when education was meant to be for the well up families. Reforms in the modern education have been of paramount importance, this is because the classical education system answered the question about when where, what, who, and how, and leaving the questions of which and why, more so, the classical education preferred the use of the ancient languages like the Latin and Greek thereby deprecating the local languages and this produced odd effects in the social arena. The child study program that was introduced by Jacques Rousseau that meant to educate the children as they developed to adult hood was very important though it was rarely implemented but enabled the later thinkers. He advocated for the removal of the children from the society and utilize their potential and curiosity by teaching them through experience instead of intellectually. In countries like Prussia, Spain, Soviet Union, Germany and France, the education reforms were of great important since education is used to install a symbol of national unity, culture and maintain a national language. This resulted to many children being taught the national language in their early childhood and the immigrants were also forced to learn these language so that they would be easily be assimilated into these nations. Education reforms have been carried out to attain many different objectives, but in general most reforms are directed to address the problems within the society, this general view has enabled these reforms to be implemented, some of the societal problems being addressed are problems of poverty, class and gender. These changes are proposed by thinkers and are then implemented through the society change institutions like the education of certain class of individuals in the society; ruling class, immigrant class or the ruling class. Education reforms have been seen as an avenue to achieve democracy. This is because when the general public is educated, it is likely to make wise informed decisions in all aspects in life (economic and social aspects) and therefore guarantee high levels of democratic governance that can only be achieved through education. Educational reforms for democratization have been recorded in Plato and US during the reign of Thomas Jefferson. Social economic problems have been associated with lack of proper education therefore resulting to the need for education reforms. It has been observed that education reforms have had good yields of creation of wealth and improving the social welfare. In 1950 in Kerala, India, the improvement in the health standards of the women was associated with the increase in the education levels of women due to the educational reforms. In Iran the increase in level of income and efficiency in farming methods had a correlation with the education reforms. Good educational reforms such as the libertarian that allowed the parents or guardians to select the best schools for their children has enabled the children to excel in their academic performance due to the increased competition among the schools. The competition has compelled the schools to offer better education and improve the standards in schools. The increased demand for parents to take the responsibility of their children learning through home education has been accepted in many countries since the parents can monitor their children closely rather than taking them to the public schools whose performance is questionable. There has also been the introduction of online learning where by a student can study online ether at home or at the office. These reforms have yielded good results since students is able to monitor himself and plan his/ her work after considering the tasks he / she should accomplish. The introduction of the adult education has earned better fruits than offering the adults with opportunities. This is usually implemented better by having a public library fully equipped with academic resources for use. Other reforms that have had good results include the involvement of the students in the learning activities through participation in classrooms. The students are used by the board of governors and the school authorities to know the changes that are essence. Some of the problems that have resulted due to the education reforms is the introduction of the public schools, these schools are supported by the locals through the levies they pay. This means that the schools have different learning facilities depending with the financial endowment of the locals and the ability to pay the taxes. The schools within the poverty ridden areas are likely to be failing. This has resulted to division in the performance of schools in different states when weighed on a common scale. This is a great mistake since their should be equality in funding of all schools in all states so that all the children have equal opportunities. Another problem is the no child left behind policy; this ensures that all children pass the federal exams without which the schools will lose its federal funding. This further forces the teaching staff to teach the students the exams, what is likely to be tested, and the students are left with the purpose of memorizing rather than understating what is taught. This action goes against all the fundamental principles of teaching. Another problem with the public education program is that the teachers only teach what they know, and since the teaching fraternity is dominated by the white with rare cases of colored that found their way to America through the illegal immigration, slave trade or brain drain, this means that the teachers cannot teach or answer question about the non white cultures or traditions The education reforms have had very positive impact to the student from the disadvantage families, those living below the poverty line and may be have single parent’s whiles others have emotional, physical or mental disabilities. These kinds of children have diminished expectation and were given less attention in classrooms, but with the reforms, they have experienced different kind of classrooms whereby they interact with others and compete in performing complex tasks The reforms have been characterized with clear cut goal and objectives to be achieved that are communicated to the parents, teachers, and the students who must come to an agreement on how viable and sustainable is the reform. The reforms must provide a school culture that provides an atmosphere for learning whilst linking all the cultures of all students and backgrounds. Proper management of the reforms is essential, this involves considering all the internal and external environment, the expected results should be listed and control measures put in place in case the objectives are not attained. The kind oaf reforms that should be encouraged are the once that have been evaluated keenly and found to have a positive net effect, this is because some reforms are likely not to meet the expectation. Formal procedure for reforms should begin by identification, formulation, appraisal, implementation, completion and the evaluation.

Migrations CCOT Essay

From 1700 to 1900 the migrations of people from Europe and Africa to the US grew and then receded due to the limits the U.S. put on immigrants.At the beginning of the period, Europeans stuck to their side of the ocean. However, When the Irish potato famine struck in 1845 however, there was a mass exodus of irish people in search of a steady source of food and a new life. In the beginning on the African side of things, there was a mass movement of africans to the US due to the slave trade but by the end of the period the slave trade was outlawed so there was a mass migration of Africans who migrated as indentured servants to find a better life. During the 18th century, there was much migration in between the thirteen colonies, Europe and Africa. In the 18th century, the slave trade was in full swing. People from the colonies and Europe were buying slaves very frequently. There were many slave markets and any child born to a slave also became a slave. Millions of Africans were shipped across the Atlantic Ocean. During this time, although people went from Europe to the colonies, it was only to strengthen the colonies themselves. During the 19th century, the migration patterns changed. In 1845 the Irish potato famine made 250 thousand people migrate from their homes. The country had no food and was riddled with disease so the Irish people came to the U.S. to try to start a new life for themselves. In addition to this, people from Europe came to the U.S. as indentured servants to have a better life. In Africa, by 1807 the slave trade had been abolished.

Coalition vs Common App Which Should You Use

Coalition vs Common App Which Should You Use SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips When it comes to college applications, you have a few options for how you can apply. Two of these are the Common Application (or Common App) and the Coalition Application (or Coalition App). In this extensive guide to the Coalition vs Common App, we’ll go over the major features of the two application systems and take a look at their biggest pros and cons. We’ll then review the colleges that don’t accept either application system, and offer you tips on whether you should choose the Coalition or Common App. Coalition vs Common App: What Are They? The Common Application and Coalition Application are online platforms that allow you to apply to multiple colleges at once. Both systems streamline the college application process by letting students fill out critical details such as their contact information, extracurricular activities, grades, and essays just one time. Using the Common App and Coalition App is free for students, though you’ll likely have to pay application fees, which can vary depending on the colleges you’re applying to. (If you're worried about these costs, you canapply for a fee waiver.) To use these two application systems, simply go to their respective websites and make an account. You can then search for colleges that accept the Common App or Coalition App. The big benefit here is that you can apply to schools through a centralized college application system instead of having to submit all your applications individually.This type of system not only makes the whole college application process a lot easier, but also saves you a ton of valuable time since you won’t have to keep filling out the same information for each school. Note that someschools require supplementary materials, such as another essay or portfolio, in addition to the basic information required by all schools. You should typically be able to submit these supplementary materials to a school using that school’s application on the Common App or Coalition App. Now that we've gone over the basics of the two application systems, what are the pros and cons of the Coalition App? The Common App? We take a look at these next. The Coalition App: Pros and Cons We’ll start by taking a look at the much newer Coalition App, which was only released in 2015. What makes it a good college application system to use? What makes it difficult? Finally, how does it compare with the Common App? Let's find out. Advantages of the Coalition App Most schools that use the Coalition App offer good financial aid packages to students. In case you didn’t know, the Coalition’s actual name is the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success (makes sense now, doesn’t it?). One of the system’s biggest selling points isits members' emphasis on supporting "lower-income, under-resourced, and/or first-generation students."If you’re worried about money, know that the schools on the Coalition App will be willing to lend you a hand. Some popular schools accept the Coalition App but not the Common App. These schools include Clemson University, Elon University, North Central College, Texas AM, the University of Montana, the University of New Mexico, UT Austin, and Virginia Tech. The Coalition App's locker feature lets you easily organize and save your information. You can keep track of important materials, such as essays or videos, starting as early as 9th grade. And what's great is that you have unlimited digital space, too! You can add people, such as your parents, mentors, counselors, or teachers, to your Coalition account. This lets you conveniently collaborate on any parts of your application with which you might need some extra guidance or advice. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Disadvantages of the Coalition App Far fewer schools accept the Coalition App than they do the Common App. This is the biggest drawback of the Coalition App. According to the official website, 139 schools will be accepting the Coalition App for the 2019-20 school year- but this pales in comparison with the more than 800 schools that accept the Common App. The interface can be a little wonky and hard to navigate at times. The Coalition App is still a fairly new application system, so compared with the Common App, its interface might feel a little less intuitive. The Common App: Pros and Cons The Common App has been around since 1975 and is well established among colleges. But does this necessarily make it a better application system than the Coalition App? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons. Advantages of the Common App It’s accepted by 800+ colleges, some of which are outside the US.The Common App is by far the most popular and widely used centralized application system. You can see the entire list of schools on the Common App website. Because it's been around for more than four decades, many high school counselors and teachers are familiar with how to use it. This fact is especially important when you ask for letters of recommendation from teachers- if they already know how to submit them through the Common App, this will cut their time in half and make the whole application process a lot easier for you as well. It offers more essay prompts than other college application systems do. Many schools require applicants to submit a personal statement, and since the Common App offersseven possible prompts to choose from, you’ll have a solid variety of topics to choose from. This is especially helpful if you often struggle to come up with an essay topic on your own. The Common App's rollover feature makes it easy to start your applications early and save any information you’ve already filled out. A new edition of the Common App opens each year on August 1, but with the Account Rollover feature, students can retain basic info they’ve already put into their applications without having to start over. Disadvantages of the Common App More than a million students use the Common App each year, and since the staff isn’t huge, it can take a while for them to get back to you if you have a technical issue. This is especially frustrating if you’re trying to turn in a college application right before a deadline and need a response ASAP. Definitely aim to submit all your applications as early as possible, just in case you run into any problems! The interface can run slowly at times, especially around application deadlines when more students are rushing to get in their college applications. Which Colleges Do NOT Accept the Coalition or Common App? Although the Common App and Coalition App are popular in the college application process, there are many schools that do not accept either the Common App or Coalition App. With these colleges, you must submit your application through an entirely different system. This could be a different centralized college application system, such as the Universal College App, or, more likely, a platform that’s entirely unique to the school. Here are some well-known schools that do not accept the Common App or Coalition App: Auburn University Brigham Young University Duquesne University Georgetown Loyola University Chicago MIT United States Military Academy (West Point) United States Naval Academy University of California system (including UCLA and UC Berkeley) In general, public schools are more likely to have their own online application platforms. In addition, some schools that use the Common App and/or Coalition App have their own university systems as well (meaning you can choose whether to apply through the school's online system or the Common App/Coalition App). You can see the list of schools that accept the Coalition App here,and search for schools by name on the Common App website here. The type of application system your schools use in the admissions process will have a big impact on whether you ultimately choose to use the Coalition or Common App (or neither- or both!). The choice is yours! Coalition vs Common App: Which Should You Choose? Before you choose the Common App or Coalition App, it’s important to know that you will not have any disadvantage by choosing one platform over the other. In other words, if given a choice between the Coalition App and Common App, it won’t make any difference whether you apply through one or the other- they’re both viewed equally by schools. In a recent US News article, Heidi Meyer, executive director of admissions at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, states, "We want to students to use whatever application best fits their life and where they are planning on attending or applying for school." Basically, whether you should use the Common App or Coalition App ultimately depends on your own preferences and what system the schools you’re applying to accept (and don’t accept). Below are some quick tips to help you make a decision when it comes to the Coalition vs Common App: Apply Through the Common App If †¦ You’re applying to schools that do notaccept the Coalition App and/or all your schools accept the Common App. If all the schools you're applying to accept the Common App (and not all use the Coalition App), you’ll save time and energy by choosing the Common App. Apply Through the Coalition App If †¦ All your schools accept the Coalition App and some of them do not use the Common App. If all your schools accept the Coalition App but not all of them use the Common App (e.g., Virginia Tech), then the more practical option is to apply through the Coalition App. All your schools use the Coalition App and you prefer the Coalition App's interface and features over those of the Common App. If you want to get started on college applications early and are a fan of the locker feature, for example, the Coalition App will better serve your needs than the Common App will. What’s Next? Struggling to decide between the Common App and the Universal College App? No worries! We've got an in-depth guide that goes over the biggest pros and cons of each application system. What schools accept the Common App? The Universal College App? Check out our guides for updated lists of schools and what application platforms they use. Trying to write the Common App essay? Let our expert tips lend you a hand! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Nature and Needs

Nature and Needs Introduction Students who bear the tag of ‘gifted children’ possess a prominent ability of high levels of achievement, performance and creativity. Special needs often arise either from the interactions of these students with the environment such as in school, family and the society or due to their internal characteristics as gifted students.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Nature and Needs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Their characteristics as gifted students are their strengths and can cause problems if taken to the extremes and therefore early identification of these characteristics and development of a plan would help the students utilize their strengths and associated problems as motivational tools for further achievement. However, the strengths of gifted students and their linked problems can act as positives to encourage the students to realize their potentials fully despite presence of limitati ons such as family poverty, social degradation, and substance abuse often faced by the gifted students in their day to day lives. Strengths and associated problems A major characteristic of all the gifted students is their inherent ability to acquire, gain and retain information concerning a certain task or topic quickly. The rationale here is that, their intellectual ability is relatively higher than that of others and therefore they tend to be impatient with other students who have a lower ability of gaining information (Barbara, 2002, p.6). The ability to acquire and sustain information is the basis for good performance in not only academic fields, but also in social and economics fields. In a common class of both gifted students and regular students, problems of fast learners and slow learners often arises as the levels of understanding and concept conceptualization differs from one student to another depending on whether a student is gifted or not. The inherent strength creates a personality, which resists common routines and procedures of doing things because gifted students have the ability of developing accurate shortcuts of solving complex problems within shortest time possible. This ability encourages creativity and innovations and poses a challenge to the other students to improve. Encouragement of the gifted students to develop new methods of doing things and using these methods as a positive motivational tool would propagate innovation of new skills.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, gifted students own an intrinsic belief and motivation that achievement and success in any task given is possible. For instance, in subjects or academic concepts that ordinary students tackle with difficulties, gifted students believe otherwise. The gifted students usually see the exact opposite of what others see although in the same class, environmen t and under the same learning conditions (Webb, 1994, p.23). Their focus on the possibilities of success and achievement in complex activities helps them to be outstanding achievers even with the limitations of resources and facilities especially in less developed learning institutions. A problem of resistance to direction frequently arises simply because these students remain focused and determined to succeed in the activity they are involved in regardless of how difficult it may be. Although taken as a problem, strong focus on the course of success remains a positive attribute to achievement and accomplishment of a task with lasting results depends on the creation of an unshaken believe of succeeding despite any possible limitations. Regular students who develop this intrinsic motivational believe of succeeding and achieving are more likely to be achievers the same way as the talented students as achievement lies in the mindset and hardworking. In addition, high self-expectation u sually underlying many gifted students facilitates their desire to continue their quest of high performance and achieve higher goals. The personal attitude and expectation of high academic performance and achievement may pose a problem of perfectionism and depression especially when one fails to achieve a set goal (Kerr, 1992, p. 45). Personal expectations to achieve a goal motivate a student to put extra efforts and dedicate extra time in a specific task. For instance, gifted students with problems in certain topics or subjects allocate extra time and efforts to such topics and expect an improvement in performance while on the other hand; regular students may neglect such topics and opt to concentrate on the easy subjects. The characteristic personality of perfectionism often found in gifted students pushes them paragon in all the topics in any course and this leads to increased good performance by the gifted students. The desire to be perfect in all academic aspects can positively help the underperforming students to improve while at the same time help the gifted students to continue performing better and better.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Nature and Needs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More High alertness, increased levels of concentration and eagerness to learn new skills are further strengths of the gifted students over the other students. For instance, normal students have a concentration time of maximally two hours after which the level of concentration drops and conceptualization of facts diminishes. With talented students, their concentration period goes far beyond two hours and conception of information remains undisturbed (Webb, 1994, p. 25). All through, the students remain alert, focused and eager to absorb more information. Inactivity and idleness frustrates gifted students as they prefer doing something than idling. Preoccupation of the students with academic work offers adequ ate time to the students to perfect on areas they feel lacking or incompetent. To avoid such frustrations, allocation of extra reading materials to the students would allow the gifted students to remain preoccupied for longer times and thus utilize their alertness to help them explore their potentials positively. Gifted students portray a sense of organization. These students organize themselves and their items in an orderly manner and as a result, people view them as complicated and bossy (Kerr, 1992, p.46). Fortunately, this attribute affects their academic performance positively and helps to shape their future careers. A problem linked to the inherent desire of organization arises mainly because these students formulate complicated rules to guide them in their pursuit to remain organized. For instance, gifted students follow strict timetables with time limits in their revision time. This organization helps the students to allocate adequate time for all the subjects and thus reduc es chances of overemphasis on one subject at the expense of the others. Strict follow up of the timetable allows balanced study period yielding to balanced performance. Conclusion The strengths of the gifted students underscore their characteristics and acts as the driving force for continued creativity, high academic performance, and future career achievements of these gifted students.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overemphasis of the possible problems linked to the strengths of these students could lead to poor exploration of the students’ full potential while positive application of the strengths would result to full exploration and realization of their inherent abilities and potentials. Integrating gifted students with normal students poses healthy challenges to the normal students who may opt to assimilate the strengths of the gifted students and therefore this justifies the need to use the strengths as positive aspect to propagate high achievements and success. Reference list Barbara, C. (2002). Growing up gifted. New York: Merrill. Kerr, A. (1992). Smart girls, gifted women. New York: Ohio Psychology Press. Webb, J. (1994). some of my best friends are books: Guiding gifted readers. New York: Ohio Psychology Press.

A List of General Expository Essay Topics

A List of General Expository Essay Topics Expository essays discuss topics by using facts rather than opinions, requiring students to evaluate and investigate while setting forth their arguments clearly and concisely. Teachers often include expository essays as part of assessments, especially in college-level courses, so students can help themselves succeed by practicing writing these types of essays. When teachers are  integrating writing throughout the curriculum, students can use expository essays to demonstrate what theyve learned in other courses. Sample Expository Essay Topics From Students Tenth-graders wrote the following general expository essay topics. Students can practice writing these topics or use the list to come up with topics of their own. The important thing to remember is that these expository essays are based on facts rather than the writers beliefs or feelings. Explain why you admire a particular person.Explain why someone you know should be regarded as a leader.Explain why parents are sometimes strict.If you had to be an animal, which would you be and why?Explain why you especially enjoy a particular teacher.Explain why some cities have curfews for teens.Explain why some students are forced to leave school once they are sixteen.Explain how moving from place to place affects teens.Explain why getting a drivers license is an important event in the lives of many teenagers.Describe the major stressors in teens lives.Explain why you like or dont like working in a team.Describe some nonmaterial things that make you happy.Explain why some teens commit suicide.Explain how music affects your life.Explain the impact of different music genres on society.Explain why students listen to a particular type of music.Explain why some teens skip school.Explain the likely consequences of skipping school.Describe the likely consequences of doing poorly in scho ol. Explain why teens do drugs.Describe the likely consequences of selling drugs.Describe the likely consequences of taking drugs.Explain why teens smoke cigarettes.Explain the likely consequences of being kicked out of school.Explain the likely consequences of skipping classes.Explain the likely consequences of brothers and sisters constantly fighting.Explain why teens wear makeup.Explain the consequences of having alcohol on the school campus.Explain the likely consequences of being sexually active without using protection.Explain why some teens parents do not like to be alone with their childs boyfriend or girlfriend.Explain the likely consequences of increasing the time between classes from five to 15 minutes.Explain why some teens join gangs.Explain the difficulties some teens have once they are in gangs.Explain how life for a teenager changes once she has a baby.Describe what you feel a boy should do if he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant.Explain why you should or should not la ugh at embarrassing moments. Describe the effects of marijuana.Explain the likely consequences of teens becoming sexually active.Explain why it is helpful to organize your materials and activities.Explain why your schoolwork is important.Describe the ways you help out at home.Explain the likely consequences of abolishing capital punishment.Explain the consequences of adopting a pass/fail grading system.Explain the likely consequences of enforcing an 11:00 p.m. curfew.Explain the likely consequences of ending forced busing.Explain why some teenagers dislike saying the pledge to the flag.Explain why some schools dont have open lunch policies.Explain why most teenagers are materialistic.Explain why some teens get jobs.Explain the consequences of having a job while in high school.Explain the likely consequences of dropping out of school.Describe some productive ways students can spend their leisure time.Explain why dealing with their parents divorce can be difficult for many teens.Explain why teens love their parent s even when family situations are difficult. Describe the things that bring you the greatest happiness.Describe three things you would like to change the world and explain why you would change them.Explain why you prefer living in an apartment (or house).Describe the likely consequences of requiring a childbearing license.Describe three objects that symbolize our culture and explain why you selected them.Explain why you are interested in a particular career.Explain the likely consequences of requiring students to wear school uniforms.

Benchmarking Sustainability Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Benchmarking Sustainability Practices - Essay Example Benchmarking sustainability practices is an important area for all businesses to focus on strongly. Sustainability issues maintain the level of success and profitability for the organization and allow them to reap further rewards and benefits from the business that they are conducting. The use of benchmarking practices can be successful for all organization in implying those business practices that can derive the optimum level of successful results. The economic benefits, the environmental benefits and the growth of the tourism business can allow it to measure its success with the sustainability benchmarking practice. Tourism business is a very versatile business and to maintain its success level its sustainability elements need to be worked upon closely and made sure that the best benchmarking practices are implemented. The other businesses in which sustainability benchmarking practices can be used are the pharmaceutical sectors. The pharmaceutical business needs to be constantly making sustainable improvements and maintain their level of products. Sustainable benchmarking practices are extremely important to practice in the pharmaceutical industry. The housing sector business can also use the sustainability benchmarking practices for making their business successful and profitable in the industry. The housing sector may be faced with constant change in demands from the customers and therefore they need to maintain their level of quality and price. Sustainability benchmarking practices can be used widely in the housing sector business.

Child pschyology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Child pschyology - Research Paper Example d psychology mainly studies the mental and cognitive processes and other factors that combine to give meaning to how a child reacts and use that information to improve parenting, health, education, mental hygiene and other areas devoted to child benefits. Child psychology thus enables us to understand the behavior of children. To understand the child behavior we, therefore, need to consider the child and his or her environment as an arrangement of correlating variables. Viewing behavior, or in fact any set of data in its entirety, in context has been labeled by many analysts as a field (Einstein, 1933; Kohler, 1925; Lewin, 1954). Context is generally defined as the circumstances that surround a particular situation. A child’s growth and development depends on the environmental as well as personal variables that make up the context. For example, the personal variables for a class of kindergarten children may include their genders, age, nature and upbringing; whereas the environmental variables may include the aspects of the surrounding in which the adult and children interact, such as the physical characteristics of the classroom (Parke & Gauvain, 2009; Fishbein, 1984). At later stages in a child’s life these environmental factors have a much larger scope and include factors such as social interactions, gatherings and the culture in which (s)he lives. All these factors eventually have a great influence on how a child grows. The culture in which a child lives shapes up the values and beliefs which give a special meaning to the observable elements of behavior, customs and artifacts. Beneath these values and beliefs lie the foundational idea that are called shared assumptions. These assumptions influence the behavior of children and play a great role in developing their perception. The socioeconomic level of people is influenced by many factors including their family background, education, job status, and their nationality. Children rose in families with a high

Compare and Contrast two pieces or two authors using three literary Essay

Compare and Contrast two pieces or two authors using three literary critics. The stories used are How I Got That Name by Marilyn Chin and White Trash Primer by Lacy M. Johnson - Essay Example â€Å"How I Got My Name† depicts how the poet got her name ‘Marilyn’ and further illustrates social issues revolving family, and Americanization. As a reader, it is apparent that Chin is comfortable in her own voice as she tells her life experiences. In terms of structure, the poem is a four-stanza poem that utilizes free verse. It flow is natural and conversational, Chin’s tone changes from stanza to stanza. She incorporates irony, assonance, alliteration and other literary devices to add on to the flow of the poem (Cucinella 56). Its subtle complexity is reason for its continued popularity among audiences from all lifestyles in America. The subtitle to this poem is â€Å"an essay on assimilation† and this highlights the main theme that the poem tackles. Assimilation in America is difficult and the poem aptly captures her struggle (Cucinella 157). In addition, the subtitle signals to the reader that one should be sensitive and attentive to Chin’s struggle. Chin shares, both directly and indirectly, her experiences as a foreigner in America. Her father gives her the name ‘Marilyn’ derived from the legendary actress Marilyn Monroe. Her father’s choice of name illustrates that he had already envisioned his family as Americans; which they were not (Cucinella 54). Additionally, the name also depicted the influence that American pop culture had on Chin’s father. Her father easily assimilated into the American culture and wished his family would also follow suit. Despite being assimilated quickly, the family stayed true to its Chinese traditions and culture. Her father was the patriarch of the family and nobody dared to question his authority and decisions. Throughout the poem, Chin hints at the internal struggle she underwent as she integrated into the American culture. The second stanza provides proof â€Å"The further west we go, we’ll hit east; the deeper we dig,

Judaism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Judaism - Research Paper Example Judaism is the foremost among the three Abrahamic faiths including Christianity and Islam. Most of the Jews around the world reside in Israel or USA according to The Jewish People Polcy Planning Institute. Back in 2001 half of UK’s population claimed to be Jewish as well. What concerns the scholars of religion and theology the most is the original teachings of the religion founded by Moses. For the Jews, however, their history begins from Abraham (BBC 2012). Jews believe in one God and Torah as their Holy Scripture. Theirs is an oral law by tradition and the interpretation of the laws is called â€Å"halakhah†. Their spiritual mentors are known as Rabbis and their place of worship is the Synagogue. One of the most tragic events in the Jewish history took place at the time of the Holocaust in which nearly six million Jews were killed by Nazis on Hitler’s command. This gave rise to a lot of hatred and grudge against the Christians and many Jews fought to live for t heir rights dying on the way. Addressed as â€Å"Children of Israel† in the Holy Scriptures who traveled from Sumer (near Babylon) to Egypt with Prophet Abraham in around 1700 BC and from there to Canaan with Prophet Moses around 1200 BC, united under Saul then David then Solomon around 900 BC, fell captive to Assyrians in 722 BC and later to Chaldeans in 587 BC only to fall victim of the enchanting Hellenistic culture during Alexander’s reign along with the Greco-Roman civilization (Miller et al 136). The Scriptures refer to them as the superior race, fallen in the hands of Satan despite all the privileges it received from their God, Yahweh. The Kabbala, according to a Jewish historian, Faber d’Olivet, has its roots in the Ancient Egypt (d’Olivet 28). History tells that during 1200 BC and 1000 BC people living in the Western end of the Fertile Crescent and in Western Asia, called the northern portion Phoenicia and Lydia, while the southern section was kn own as Canaan and later Israel and then Palestine. Today, the region that is along and near the Mediterranean Sea forms the nations of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and portion of Egypt and Turkey. The early writing system had started and evolved from Egypt and Mesopotamia. However the Phoenicians worked on developing the alphabets for future model of Western alphabets. They were the first great sea traders of the world. During the same time Greek City-States were flourishing. While the Phoenicians did not believe in after life and sometimes sacrificed their own children to win favor from the many Gods they worshiped, Egyptians worshiped the Sun as well as the Moon, attributing to their Gods the characteristics of animals and humans. They thought Pharaoh was the representative of these Gods. On the other hand the Greeks attributed to their Gods and Goddesses the attributes of humans because they considered them superior beings and practiced rituals to win favor from them. They als o believed that the priests and priestesses were mediums of communication of the Gods at oracles which were sanctuaries especially meant for them. This was done in the form of question and answer pertaining to the future. They were later conquered by Romans, who like Greeks were very particular about the ritual performance. Early Romans believed that spirits inhabited everything. Some of these were attached to the home which included the ancestral spirits called the â€Å"

Understanding Innovation and Change in an Organization Coursework

Understanding Innovation and Change in an Organization - Coursework Example From this study highlights that  the empowerment of employees allows room for improved performance in their work processes through provision of autonomy that promotes job satisfaction. Empowering employees to develop organization-wide innovation generates strong senses of teamwork and cohesion through ensuring that employees have an active awareness of organizational strategy and objectives. Change allows for implementation of policy and makes companies more efficient and prepared for daily business tasks. Organizations should learn of ways of becoming comfortable with changes within the business environment. Multiplicity of backgrounds and personality traits and types is accommodated through innovative processes requiring various skills and competences. Rapid organizational changes are difficult because culture, routines, and structure of organizations reflects the persistent imprint of historical performance.  This study outlines that employees are not motivated to develop new ideas in environments where nobody listens to them. Some managers listen to ideas with reluctance to affect them and these results in loss of opportunities. Multiplicity of backgrounds and personality traits and types is accommodated through innovative processes requiring various skills and competences. One of the common barriers to change an innovation within organizations is leadership or management that is not receptive to new perspectives and ideas.

Judaism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Judaism - Research Paper Example Judaism is the foremost among the three Abrahamic faiths including Christianity and Islam. Most of the Jews around the world reside in Israel or USA according to The Jewish People Polcy Planning Institute. Back in 2001 half of UK’s population claimed to be Jewish as well. What concerns the scholars of religion and theology the most is the original teachings of the religion founded by Moses. For the Jews, however, their history begins from Abraham (BBC 2012). Jews believe in one God and Torah as their Holy Scripture. Theirs is an oral law by tradition and the interpretation of the laws is called â€Å"halakhah†. Their spiritual mentors are known as Rabbis and their place of worship is the Synagogue. One of the most tragic events in the Jewish history took place at the time of the Holocaust in which nearly six million Jews were killed by Nazis on Hitler’s command. This gave rise to a lot of hatred and grudge against the Christians and many Jews fought to live for t heir rights dying on the way. Addressed as â€Å"Children of Israel† in the Holy Scriptures who traveled from Sumer (near Babylon) to Egypt with Prophet Abraham in around 1700 BC and from there to Canaan with Prophet Moses around 1200 BC, united under Saul then David then Solomon around 900 BC, fell captive to Assyrians in 722 BC and later to Chaldeans in 587 BC only to fall victim of the enchanting Hellenistic culture during Alexander’s reign along with the Greco-Roman civilization (Miller et al 136). The Scriptures refer to them as the superior race, fallen in the hands of Satan despite all the privileges it received from their God, Yahweh. The Kabbala, according to a Jewish historian, Faber d’Olivet, has its roots in the Ancient Egypt (d’Olivet 28). History tells that during 1200 BC and 1000 BC people living in the Western end of the Fertile Crescent and in Western Asia, called the northern portion Phoenicia and Lydia, while the southern section was kn own as Canaan and later Israel and then Palestine. Today, the region that is along and near the Mediterranean Sea forms the nations of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and portion of Egypt and Turkey. The early writing system had started and evolved from Egypt and Mesopotamia. However the Phoenicians worked on developing the alphabets for future model of Western alphabets. They were the first great sea traders of the world. During the same time Greek City-States were flourishing. While the Phoenicians did not believe in after life and sometimes sacrificed their own children to win favor from the many Gods they worshiped, Egyptians worshiped the Sun as well as the Moon, attributing to their Gods the characteristics of animals and humans. They thought Pharaoh was the representative of these Gods. On the other hand the Greeks attributed to their Gods and Goddesses the attributes of humans because they considered them superior beings and practiced rituals to win favor from them. They als o believed that the priests and priestesses were mediums of communication of the Gods at oracles which were sanctuaries especially meant for them. This was done in the form of question and answer pertaining to the future. They were later conquered by Romans, who like Greeks were very particular about the ritual performance. Early Romans believed that spirits inhabited everything. Some of these were attached to the home which included the ancestral spirits called the â€Å"

What Factors Influence Gang Behavior Research Paper

What Factors Influence Gang Behavior - Research Paper Example In order to be able to solve this problem, it is important to study the reasons or the root causes of gang behavior with the intention of trying to prevent new gang membership, while at the same time embarking on a mission to dismantle the already existing ones. This paper is a critical evaluation of the factors that influence gang behavior. Factors that Influence.Human beings are born innocent, free of sins and incapable of making any decision. However, as they continue to grow, they are faced with numerous challenges raging from family issues to other environmental factors, which influence their innocent minds either into becoming responsible persons or the worst of criminals in the society. To begin with, parents contribute a significant percentage towards the success or failure of a child in terms of behavior. This is due to the fact that they act as immediate role models and a source of inspiration for their growing children. It is for this reason that Carlie (2002) observes tha t poor parentage is a major contributing factor to gang behavior. For example, if one or both parents are gang members, more often than not, it becomes likely that their children will follow that route. This may be worse in families that are dysfunctional and which are characterized by numerous cases of domestic conflicts and child abuse. The rationale of this assertion is that if a child is subjected to these factors, he will grow up believing that violence is a virtue and unless this mentality is changed through proper guidance and counseling, then, the child would have neither a reason nor the guts to refrain from joining violent organizations. Outside family circles, growing up children and youths are influenced by peer pressure to engage in antisocial behavior, which may include gang membership. Peer pressure refers to the powerful influence that a group of people in the same age group have on each other. In this context, it has been noted that people tend to acquire the behavi ors of other members of their social groups as a way of trying to fit into those groups. This factor has been blamed on other negative behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse, fornication, among others and gang membership cannot be excluded from this list. According to myelsie.org (2010), â€Å"young people are very susceptible to peer pressure.† One reason for this is that young people always want to identify with friends and when it comes to choosing between friendship and conscience, most of them will definitely choose friendship even if it means that they would have to tolerate and involve themselves in criminal activities. In the US, it is a fact that gang membership is highly prevalent in schools and even if a child comes from a family that is opposed to gang membership and activities, he or she may end up joining the gangs so as not to be rejected or harassed by his or her peers (myelsie.org 2010). Poverty is blamed for numerous atrocities and gang behavior is one of such. Everyone wants to lead a comfortable life, to drive beautiful cars, drink high quality beer or wine, to live in a luxurious home among others. Whereas it is difficult for a normal civilian, especially from poor neighborhoods, to acquire these items, it is highly

Early Childhood Education Programs Essay Example for Free

Early Childhood Education Programs Essay Early childhood education or preschool education is education for children in the early stages of their childhood before they join school. Several researches that have been conducted by neuroscientists, pediatricians and other stakeholders shows that the biggest portion of the brain architecture takes place in the early childhood years. Research studies have also found out that intellectual and emotional development is critical during the first three years of life. Maria Montessori was one of many educationists who believe that the foundation of human development is laid during the childs early years. She declared that: The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six, (Pandor, 2008 para. 3). Many other educationists assert that the quality of education is determined in the first years of a child in school. Early Childhood Education Programs Preschool education or early childhood education is a quality education and it is beneficial to children from all economic and social groups. Development of quality early childhood programs should be emphasized as it can be viewed as a social and economic strategy. Investing in these programs is therefore not only important to the child but also to the development of the state and the country at large. A research conducted by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) in five states of the United States found out that â€Å"quality public preschool programs produce broad gains in childrens learning and development,† (NIEER, 2005 para. 4). According to the same study, state funded programs were found to have significant gains regardless of the child’s ethnic or economic and social background. The effects of the preschool programs were estimated by testing the literacy skills, vocabulary and academic skills of the kindergarteners. A total of 5,071 children in 1, 320 classrooms were tested in either English or Spanish depending on the child’s strongest language. The impacts on mathematics, literacy and language were statistically significant compared to the children without the program. Vocabulary scores were 31 percent higher than gains of children without the program. On mathematical skills which included basic skills such as counting money, simple additions and subtractions, number concepts and telling time, the gains increased to 44 percent. In print awareness the gains were 85 percent greater for children enrolled in state sponsored preschool programs compared to the growth of children who are not enrolled (NIEER, 2005). According to the NIEER study, participants at the age of 20 years were more likely to have cleared high school if they enrolled for the preschool programs. They were less likely to have required remedial education and also less likely to have committed juvenile crimes which warrant arrests. With the unnecessary costs of remedial classes and expenditure for justice systems and in addition to the increased revenues, it was estimated that there was a return of $7 for every dollar that was invested. At 27 years of age, participants had gained a higher level of education and their earnings were higher than those who did not enroll for the early childhood school programs. The number of those who received the social services was significantly low and the numbers of arrests were fewer. These studies were carried out on children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The befits gained can be intertwined in the sense that once this child gains a higher level of education most likely the earnings will be high, consequently economic prospects will be high, improvement on financial decisions, improved health and housing (NIEER, 2008). An opportunity to live in a classroom community, interact and get along with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds can be considered as a social benefit for children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Learning how to get along with others will result to improved social skills and emotional competence. These programs set a stage and give a child preparedness to enroll for the formal education. Apart from improving on their communication skills and getting higher scores in school tests, they have lesser behavioral issues once they enroll in the formal learning process. When a child goes through the pre kindergarten learning they succeed in school and become good citizens, earn more, commit less crimes and pay more taxes. â€Å"Every dollar invested in quality early care and education saves taxpayers up to $13. 00 in future costs,† (http://web. mit. edu/workplacecenter/docs/Full%20Report. pdf. n. d pp. 2). The success of the early child leaning relies heavily on the quality of the preschool programs. In an effort to improve the schools and the learning process, most states in United States have established public preschool programs to cater for less privileged and disadvantaged. Most of these programs are established on the principle that early intervention will help the child unleash his full potential. For example the mission for Head Start is â€Å"to ensure that no child in America is trapped in poverty’s grasp,† (United Way of America, 2005 pp. 1). These programs have been criticized and their effectiveness has been questionable. From the findings of NIEER (2005) studies, â€Å"vocabulary gains were three or four times greater than those in the Head Start study,† (para. 9). In spite of this big difference in performance, such aspects such as the class size and the length of day remained the same. This difference was attributed to high educational qualifications and good remuneration for teachers in state funded pre-kindergarten programs compared to Head Start. Almost all state funded programs studied in the five states required teachers to be licensed, have a certification in early childhood education and be a holder of a BA degree. In the case of Head Start the requirements half of the teachers were required to have a two-year Associate’s degree while the rest to have a Child Development Associate (requires only 120 hours of training to acquire CDA credential) or an equivalent (LIFESTYLENIEER, n. d). Abbot, another preschool program in New Jersey was established to serve the highest poverty districts within the state. Substantial resources have been invested in the school and NIEER annual report rated it as one those with highest quality standards nationwide. According to the Abbot preschool program longitudinal effects study by Frede et al (2007), â€Å"the results presented provides clear evidence that by participating in a high-quality program regardless of auspice, children are improving in literacy and math at least until the end of the kindergarten year,† (pp. 35). It therefore remains clear that high standard and accountability are key factors to the success of these programs. Recruitments of qualified and well educated teachers as has been observed in performing preschool programs are instrumental in guaranteeing good quality. These teachers must be adequately compensated to boost their morale and hence increasing productivity. The classes should be manageable. This can only be achieved by having a reasonable child to teacher ratio. Finally there should be strong supervision to ensure that standard and quality of learning is uncompromised. Conclusion All children are entitled to quality education. From the studies conducted a disadvantaged child is likely to gain more from preschool program. If these programs are expanded more disadvantaged children will enroll and they will develop positive peer effects when they enroll for the formal school learning. â€Å"Failing to invest sufficiently in quality early care and education shortchanges taxpayers because the return on investment is greater than many other economic development options,† (http://web. mit. edu/workplacecenter/docs/Full%20Report. pdf. n. d pp. 2). There should be universal large-scale and state wide programs to benefit the minority and the poor. Reference: Early Childhood Education for All, a Wise Investment, retrieved on 20th July 2008 from http://web. mit. edu/workplacecenter/docs/Full%20Report. pdf. Frede E, Jung K, Barnett W. S, Lamy, C. E Figueras, A. (2007): The Abbott Preschool Program Longitudinal Effects Study (Apples). Retrieved on 20th July 2008 from: http://nieer. org/resources/research/APPLES. pdf LIFESTYLENIEER (n. d): Economic Benefits Of Quality Preschool Education for Americas 3- And 4-Year Olds. Retrieved on 20th July 2008 from: http://nieer. org/resources/facts/index. php? FastFactID=6 Martina, A (2008): Column: Early Connections Are Key For Infants To Thrive. Retrieved on 20th July 2008 From: http://detnews. com/apps/pbcs. dll/article? AID=/20080715/OPINION03/807150398/100 National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) (2005):New Study Shows High Quality State Pre-K Programs Improve Language and Math Abilities of Children of All Backgrounds: State Programs with Higher Teacher Qualifications Outperform Head Start , retrieved on 20th July 2008 from http://nieer. org/mediacenter/index. php? PressID=46 Pandor N (2008): A call to focus on firm foundations for learning, Journal of Education, Vol. 8. Issue No. 11, pp 21-27, Retrieved on 20th July 2008 from http://www. anc. org. za/ancdocs/anctoday/2008/text/at11. txt United Way of America (2005): Early Childhood Education, retrieved on 20th July 2008 from http://www. liveunited. org/_cs

The Practice And History Of Alchemy Chemistry Essay

The Practice And History Of Alchemy Chemistry Essay Alchemy, derived from the Arabic word al-kimia (ØلكÙÅ  Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒâ„¢Ã…  ÃƒËœÃƒËœÃ‚ ¡, ALA-LC: al-kÄ «miyÄ ), is both a philosophy and an ancient practice focused on the attempt to change base metals into gold, investigating the preparation of the elixir of longevity, and achieving ultimate wisdom, involving the improvement of the alchemist as well as the making of several substances described as possessing unusual properties. The practical aspect of alchemy can be viewed as a protoscience, having generated the basics of modern inorganic chemistry, namely concerning procedures, equipment and the identification and use of many current substances. Alchemy has been practiced in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), India, Persia (modern Iran), China, Japan, Korea, the classical Greco-Roman world, the medieval Islamic world, and then medieval Europe up to the 20th century and 21st Century, in a complex network of schools and philosophical systems spanning at least 2,500 years. HISTORY What existed before modern Chemistry? After the death of Alexander the Great of Macedon (323 B.C.), much of the conquered territories in the Persian Empire that were located in the Middle East and northern Africa, began to dissolve. Ptolemy, one of Alexanders generals, established a kingdom on the coast-line of Egypt. As its capital, Alexandria was considered to be one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world at that time; Ptolemy and Ptolemy II founded the Temple to The Muses, otherwise known as The Museum, to continue scholarly activities and studies of the day. The Museum could be considered an equivalent to a university or a research institution by todays standards. At the Temple of The Muses, Greek philosophy, considered to be the basis for western-scientific ideas and reasoning, fused with local Egyptian khemeia, the ancient art, religion, and ceremonies of embalming the dead to create Greek-Egyptian khemia. Because the art of khemeia had been shrouded in mysticism, religion, and the secretive language of obscure symbols, common people were afraid of the practitioners and their seemingly dangerous yet powerful knowledge of chemicals. There were two major unfortunate byproducts of Greek-Egyptian khemeia that were a result of these cryptic practices and obscure languages and symbols. First, the secretive nature of this field slowed its progression so that no one could profit from anothers mistakes or learn from anothers brilliance. Secondly, anyone who spoke in the obscure languages and symbols of Greek- Egyptian khemeia couldnt be understood, so just about anyone who could make up nonsensical words could pass as a scholar. As time passed, Greek-Egyptian khemeia began to fall further into obscurity, where shadowy practices of wizardry, magic, and sorcery seemed to flourish in mysticism. Of these, a Greek- Egyptian by the name of Bolos of Mendes (c. 200 B.C.) promised a tool which would allow for ways of turning common metals, such as lead and iron, into gold and silver. Although it was not completely understood how this would be done, this tool, referred to as The Philosophers Stone, was the dream of many. Although The Philosophers Stone has never been found, the actual search for it has assisted in the study of metallurgy and methodologies of modern day chemistry by refining many of the practical laboratory techniques, skills, and glassware that are still used today, such as those used in distillation, filtration, crystallization, coagulation, evaporation, and extraction. In 4th century A.D., because Roman Emperor Diocletian feared that a cheap source of silver and gold could bankrupt the already shaky Roman economy and Pope Zosimuss recognition that Greek-Egyptian khemeia was a practice of pagan learning, little was done to stop the destruction of the Alexandrian Museum and its libraries by Christian riots. As a result, the study of Greek-Egyptian khemeia went underground and would remain as a hidden practice until the 7th century, where it emerged in the middle-east. In the early 7th century, Arabic tribes unified and began to conquer much of the middle-east, western Asia, and northern Africa. These conquering armies soon began to march on Eastern Europe, where the inhabitants of Constantinople, with the help of a khemeia practicing Greek-Egyptian named Callinicus, used Greek fire as a form of defense against the intruders (670 A.D.). Greek Fire, a flammable mixture of sulphur, namptha, and quicklime, was placed into a bronze tube, mounted on a castle wall or the bow of a ship, and was lit by a torch to spout fire at anyone who approached. Although this method was able to stave off some of the attacks by land and sea, the Arabic forces soon gained control of Constantinople, discovered the philosophy of Greek science, and began to utilize the practices of Greek-Egyptian khemeia for their benefit. In Arabic, Greek-Egyptian khemeia was translated into the term al-kimiya, flourishing not only as a science of metallurgy, but with the guidance of Jabir ibn-Hayann (c.760-815A.D.), its use in medicine as well. It was Al-Razi (c.850- 925A.D.), however, who perfected the use of plaster of Paris in mending broken bone, His meticulous ability to logically organize his notes and writings showed the importance of clarity with laboratory procedures to the point where he became the first to document and describe the comparisons between smallpox and chickenpox. Many of his works were translated into Latin nearly 600 years later and made an impact on lab methodologies of performing medicine and other experimental research that are still used today. With all of the practical aspects that al-kimiya had to offer, it always had a way of returning to the mystical and what we may refer to today as non-scientific practices. Not only was there a search for The Philosophers Stone, but with a broadened focus on medicines within al-kimiya, finding a single cure for all sicknesses, The Elixir or Life, and discovering a potion for maintaining youth, The Fountain of Youth, became some of the new mystical treasures. With these new promises of magical discovery, al-kimiya remained in a shroud of mystery and the study of chemicals was still considered a dark craft. As western European Crusaders clashed with Arabic Armies in the southern and eastern Europe, an intermingling of ideas and different cultures gave way to growth and appreciation of Arabic arts, science, and mathematics in the west. By the time the last Moorish strongholds in Western Europe were pushed from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century, it became ever so clear that the Latin translations of Arabic sciences and mathematics would forever change the west, thus bringing a close to The Medieval Ages and an opening to the Scientific Renaissance. Known as alchemy, by the Latin translation from the Arabic term al-kimiya, its practice thrived in Europe after being gone for nearly 800 years. Although it was still considered pagan learning in some circles, it thrived in underground communities where the search for the three mystic treasures of The Philosophers Stone, the Elixir of Life, and the Fountain of Youth continued. As Bombastus von Hohenheim (1493-1541A.D.), better known as Paracelsus, studied the medical works of earlier alchemists, in particular Al-Razi, he believed that searching for cures by alchemical means could have a large impact on medicine, also. Until Paracelsus, only organic plant preparations were used for cures and remedies in treating diseases, but he believed that minerals synthesized in the lab were the key to the future of health care. Although he gained many followers, his efforts wouldnt be recognized by traditional European medicine, since he was considered an alchemist. In fact, it would be well over a century after his death until others would recognize his efforts and put them into practice. One of Paracelsus followers and fellow practitioner of alchemy, Andreas Libau (1540-1616A.D.), wanted to bring more clarity and rationality to this field. In 1597 he published ALCHEMIA, which summarized medieval achievements of alchemy, writing with clarity and with minimal mysticism. When theories based upon mysticism were unavoidable, he would reluctantly include them and refer to them as Paracelsians. This book was revolutionary for the field of medicine, the emerging field of a more scientific-based alchemy, and for western science in general because it was one of the first known attempts in separating scientific facts of chemistry from mysticism. Like Al-Razi, Andreas Libau set a standard for alchemists by documentation of important laboratory methods and skills in the preparation of medicinal chemicals within his publications, explaining how mineral salts and acids could be used as curing ailments. It wasnt until Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604-1668A.D.), however, that laboratory method and procedures would lead to the synthesis of Sodium Sulfate, Na2SO4 .10H2O(s), also known as Glaubers Salt. He found that it not only made a mild laxative for medicinal purposes, but when produced in mass quantities it could be commercialized to the general public to make a profit. Etymology The word alchemy derives from the Old French alquimie, which is from the Medieval Latin alchimia, and which is in turn from the Arabic al-kimia (ØلكÙÅ  Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒâ„¢Ã…  ÃƒËœÃƒËœÃ‚ ¡). This term itself is derived from the Ancient Greek chemeia (à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ·ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ µÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±) with the addition of the Arabic definite article al- (ØÙ„Ùâ‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ½).It used to be thought that the ancient Greek word was originally derived in its turn from Chemia (ÃŽÃŽÂ ·ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±), a version of the Egyptian name for Egypt, which was itself based on the Ancient Egyptian word kÄâ€Å"me (hieroglyphic Khmi, black earth, as opposed to desert sand). Some now think that the word originally derived from chumeia (à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡Ãƒ Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ µÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±) meaning mixture and referring to pharmaceutical chemistry. With the later rise of alchemy in Alexandria, the word may have been mistakenly thoug ht by ancient writers to derive from ÃŽÃŽÂ ·ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±, and thus became spelt as à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ·ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ µÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±, and the original meaning forgotten. The question of the etymology of the word alchemy is still open, and recent research indicates that the Egyptian derivation of the word may be valid. Alchemy as a philosophical and spiritual discipline Alchemy became known as the spagyric art after Greek words meaning to separate and to join together in the 16th century, the word probably being coined by Paracelsus. Compare this with one of the dictums of Alchemy in Latin: Solve et Coagula   Separate, and Join Together (or dissolve and coagulate). The best-known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into gold (called chrysopoeia) or silver (less well known is plant alchemy, or spagyric); the creation of a panacea, or the elixir of life, a remedy that, it was supposed, would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the discovery of a universal solvent. Although these were not the only uses for the discipline, they were the ones most documented and well-known. Certain Hermetic schools argue that the transmutation of lead into gold is analogical for the transmutation of the physical body (Saturn or lead) into (Gold) with the goal of attaining immortality. This is described as Internal Alchemy. Starting with the Middle Ages, Persian and European alchemists invested much effort in the search for the philosophers stone, a legendary substance that was believed to be an essential ingredient for either or both of those goals. Pope John XXII issued a bull against alchemical counterfeiting, and the C istercians banned the practice amongst their members. In 1403, Henry IV of England banned the practice of Alchemy. In the late 14th century, Piers the Ploughman and Chaucer both painted unflattering pictures of Alchemists as thieves and liars. By contrast, Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, in the late 16th century, sponsored various alchemists in their work at his court in Prague. It is a popular belief that Alchemists made contributions to the chemical industries of the day-ore testing and refining, metalworking, production of gunpowder, ink, dyes, paints, cosmetics, leather tanning, ceramics, glass manufacture, preparation of extracts, liquors, and so on (it seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the water of life, was a fairly popular experiment among European alchemists). Alchemists contributed distillation to Western Europe. The double origin of Alchemy in Greek philosophy as well as in Egyptian and Mesopotamian technology set, from the start, a double approach: the technological, operative one, which Marie-Louise von Franz call extravert, and the mystic, contemplative, psychological one, which von Franz names as introvert. These are not mutually exclusive, but complementary instead, as meditation requires practice in the real world, and conversely. Several early alchemists, such as Zosimos of Panopolis, are recorded as viewing alchemy as a spiritual discipline, and, in the Middle Ages, metaphysical aspects, substances, physical states, and molecular material processes as mere metaphors for spiritual entities, spiritual states, and, ultimately, transformations. In this sense, the literal meanings of Alchemical Formulas were a blind, hiding their true spiritual philosophy, which being at odds with the Medieval Christian Church was a necessity that could have otherwise led them to the stake and rack of the Inquisition under charges of heresy. Thus, both the transmutation of common metals into gold and the universal panacea symbolized evolution from an imperfect, diseased, corruptible, and ephemeral state towards a perfect, healthy, incorruptible, and everlasting state; and the philosophers stone then represented a mystic key that would make this evolution possible. Applied to the alchemist himself, the twin goal symbolized his evo lution from ignorance to enlightenment, and the stone represented a hidden spiritual truth or power that would lead to that goal. In texts that are written according to this view, the cryptic alchemical symbols, diagrams, and textual imagery of late alchemical works typically contain multiple layers of meanings, allegories, and references to other equally cryptic works; and must be laboriously decoded in order to discover their true meaning. Psychology Alchemical symbolism has been occasionally used by psychologists and philosophers. Carl Jung reexamined alchemical symbolism and theory and began to show the inner meaning of alchemical work as a spiritual path. Alchemical philosophy, symbols and methods have enjoyed something of a renaissance in post-modern contexts. Jung saw alchemy as a Western proto-psychology dedicated to the achievement of individuation. In his interpretation, alchemy was the vessel by which Gnosticism survived its various purges into the Renaissance, a concept also followed by others such as Stephan A. Hoeller. In this sense, Jung viewed alchemy as comparable to Yoga of the East, as and more adequate to the Western mind than Eastern religions and philosophies. The practice of Alchemy seemed to change the mind and spirit of the Alchemist. Conversely, spontaneous changes on the mind of Western people undergoing any important stage in individuation seems to produce, on occasion, imagery known to Alchemy and relevant to the persons situation. His interpretation of Chinese alchemical texts in terms of his analytical psychology also served the function of comparing Eastern and Western alchemical imagery and core concepts and hence its possible inner sources (archetypes). Marie-Louise von Franz, a disciple of Jung, continued Jungs studies on Alchemy and its psychological meaning. Alchemy as a subject of historical research The history of alchemy has become a vigorous academic field. As the obscure hermetic language of the alchemists is gradually being deciphered, historians are becoming more aware of the intellectual connections between that discipline and other facets of Western cultural history, such as the sociology and psychology of the intellectual communities, kabbalism, spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, and other mystic movements, cryptography, witchcraft, and the evolution of science and philosophy. Modern connections to alchemy Persian alchemy was a forerunner of modern scientific chemistry. Alchemists used many of the same laboratory tools that are used today. These tools were not usually sturdy or in good condition, especially during the medieval period of Europe. Many transmutation attempts failed when alchemists unwittingly made unstable chemicals. This was made worse by the unsafe conditions in which the alchemists worked. Up to the 16th century, alchemy was considered serious science in Europe; for instance, Isaac Newton devoted considerably more of his writing to the study of alchemy (see Isaac Newtons occult studies) than he did to either optics or physics, for which he is famous. Other eminent alchemists of the Western world are Roger Bacon, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Tycho Brahe, Thomas Browne, and Parmigianino. The decline of alchemy began in the 18th century with the birth of modern chemistry, which provided a more precise and reliable framework for matter transmutations and medicine, within a new grand design of the universe based on rational materialism. Alchemy in traditional medicine Traditional medicines involve transmutation by alchemy, using pharmacological or a combination of pharmacological and spiritual techniques. In Chinese medicine the alchemical traditions of pao zhi will transform the nature of the temperature, taste, body part accessed or toxicity. In Ayurveda the samskaras are used to transform heavy metals and toxic herbs in a way that removes their toxicity. These processes are actively used to the present day. Nuclear transmutation In 1919, Ernest Rutherford used artificial disintegration to convert nitrogen into oxygen. From then on, this sort of scientific transmutation has been routinely performed in many nuclear physics-related laboratories and facilities, like particle accelerators, nuclear power stations and nuclear weapons as a by-product of fission and other physical processes. In literature Sir Thomas Malory uses Alchemy as a motif that underlies the personal, psychological, and aesthetic development of Sir Gareth of Orkney in Le Morte dArthur .Sir Gareths quest parallels the process of Alchemy in that he first undergoes the nigredo phase by defeating the black knight and wearing his armor. After this, Gareth defeats knights representing the four elements, thereby subsuming their power. In fighting and defeating the Red Knight (the overall purpose of his quest) he undergoes and passes the rubedo phase. Gareth, toward the end of his quest, accepts a ring from his paramour, Lyoness, which transforms his armor into being multicolored. This alludes to the panchromatic philosophers stone, and while he is in multicolored armor, he is unbeatable. A play by Ben Jonson, the Alchemist, is a satirical and skeptical take on the subject. Part 2 of Goethes Faust, is full of alchemical symbolism. According to Hermetic Fictions: Alchemy and Irony in the Novel (Keele University Press, 1995), by David Meakin, alchemy is also featured in such novels and poems as those by William Godwin, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Emile Zola, Jules Verne, Marcel Proust, Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, James Joyce, Gustav Meyrink, Lindsay Clarke, Marguerite Yourcenar, Umberto Eco, Michel Butor, Paulo Coelho, Amanda Quick, Gabriel Garcà ­a Marquez and Maria Szepes. Hilary Mantel, in her novel Fludd (1989, Penguin), mentions the spagyric art. After separation, drying out, moistening, dissolving, coagulating, fermenting, comes purification, recombination: the creation of substances the world until now has never beheld. This is the opus contra naturem, this is the spagyric art, this is the Alchymical Wedding. In Dantes Inferno, it is placed within the Tenth ring of the 8th circle. In Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, there are several references to Nicholas Flamel, and a stone that could turn metal into gold and create an elixir of immortality was sought after by both the villains and Harry and friends, for different reasons. In contemporary art In the twentieth century alchemy was a profoundly important source of inspiration for the Surrealist artist Max Ernst, who used the symbolism of alchemy to inform and guide his work. M.E. Warlick wrote his Max Ernst and Alchemy describing this relationship in detail. Contemporary artists use alchemy as inspiring subject matter, like Odd Nerdrum, whose interest has been noted by Richard Vine, and the painter Michael Pearce, whose interest in alchemy dominates his work. His works Fama and the Aviators Dream particularly express alchemical ideas in a painted allegory. The Rise and Demise of Phlogiston, the Birth of Modern Chemistry, and the importance of Measurement Chemistry (1600A.D. to present) Originated and published by J. J. Becher in the late 17th century journal Opuscula Chymica Rariora, roughly translated as The Work of Rare Chemistry, it was known as the first attempts to explain chemical burning and rusting. Becher said that many common day materials contained a substance called phlogiston, translated from Greek, meaning to set on fire. G. E. Stahl, a medical doctor of the same time period and a proponent of phlogiston, explained in a separate publication that: all inflammable objects contained phlogiston which made it possible for them to burn, and as the object burned, phlogiston was poured out into the air. Wood and coal contained a great deal of it, the ashes left after burning did not. Since communication of scientific discoveries was now common place, Stahl supported his theory with meticulous laboratory procedures and qualitative observations. Some of the qualitative observations he made while burning phlogiston rich substances are listed below: 1. Flames extinguish in airtight space because air becomes saturated with phlogiston. 2. Charcoal leaves little residue upon burning because it is nearly pure phlogiston. 3. Mice die in airtight space because air saturates with phlogiston. Phlogiston was considered to be a massless or near massless substance, since no measurement device had ever existed that could experimentally measure it. Because of this inability to quantify the mass of phlogiston, qualitative experimentation, which was limited to the description of the five human senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, was the only way in which the phlogiston theory could be supported. Another qualitative evidence of phlogiston theory was the white powder residue or rust that was found on the surface of tin after it was heated in the air. Also referred to as calx, meaning limestone, it was believed that this is what remained after phlogiston left the tin metal. Working from previous tin experiments, Antoine Lavoisier (1743- 1794A.D.), a master of building precision instrumentation, attempted to determine the mass of phlogiston with a mass balance that he had manufactured. After evacuating air from a glass vessel that contained tin Filings, he then sealed and began to heat it on his precision mass balance. If the phlogiston theory were correct, he could open the vessel let the phlogiston escape, and finally quantify a value that had eluded scientists for 5 decades. As Lavoisier opened the heated glass vessel, he instead measured a small increase in mass, which went against the phlogiston theory altogether. Although other scientists who held steadfast to the phlogiston theory would make rebuttals that phlogiston must then have a negative mass, these attempts would fall short as other experiments that utilized precision measurements began to compile. For the first time in history, Lavoisier showed that a carefully designed experiment using precision measurement technology could be used as evidence to disprove a theory. More important than disproving the phlogiston theory was the realization that precision instruments yielded important quantitative information about the field of chemistry. Less than a decade later, Lavoisier published his Elementary Treatise of Chemistry (1789), which is considered the first modern chemistry textbook. In it, one could find a well documented view of The Law of Conservation of Mass and the rejection of the existence of phlogiston, along with various new chemistry theories and laboratory techniques that relied upon BOTH qualitative descriptions and quantitative measurements with the help of measurement technology. It not to say that Lavoisier had all the correct theories within his treatise, but rather that the field of modern day chemistry would emerge, depending more heavily upon precision measurements of chemical phenomena rather than the mystical notions of alchemy, like phlogiston and the three mystic treasures.