Freedom of Speech Essay

In the United States we have many freedoms that we as citizens possess. Freedom of speech is one of the freedoms we enjoy. But what is the meaning of the word â€Å"freedom†, and how free is our speech? The word free, according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary means: having the legal and political rights of a citizen. With this in mind, it does not mean that we have the right to do and say as we please. The First Amendment states: â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances† (The Constitution of The United States). The Citizens of the United States misinterpret the phase â€Å"Freedom of Speech† to suit their own needs and wants. In this essay we will discuss how our interpretation of our freedom is only a myth brought on by our selfish ways and thoughts and interpreted according to what we feel it means in the situations that fit best. The First Amendment has been interpreted by the Supreme Courts to only protect citizens in certain applications and situations and, not protect some companies and corporations nor does it offer to protect citizens of the United States from speaking against the government. Governmental agencies have twisted the first amendment to fit what the individuals of that particular agencies likes or dislikes, and their view of certain speakers. When the first amendment was written it was meant strictly for congress not to be able to make any laws to hinder our so called â€Å"Freedom of Speech†. The first amendment has absolutely no bearing on private of public laws that have gone into effect that limits what can or can’t be said. In the article â€Å"Can the FCC Shut Howard Stern Up† by Jeff Jarvis, he states that the FCC enforces rules that unevenly depending on who says a certain phrase. The FCC condemned Howard Stern for his explanation of sexual colloquialisms, but did not punish others’ references to â€Å"giving head† and â€Å"finger-banging your boyfriend† (Jarvis). The FCC has had its way with instituting censorship on the radio and television by threatening stations with gigantic fines for not complying with their agenda of what is allowed to be talked about or seen. At one point in time, FCC chairman Powell urged broadcasters –under threat of gigantic fines–to adopt a â€Å"voluntary† Code of Good Practices and stated â€Å"It would be in your best interest to do so. â€Å"Voluntary doesn’t mean voluntary†, more like volun-told (Jarvis). The censorship doesn’t apply only to the media either. Schools have jumped in on the band-wagon with trying to censor out what they feel is inappropriate for everyone else. In April 2004 at Poway High School in California a student wore a t-shirt expressing his views about homosexuality after the â€Å"Day of Silence† organized by a Gay-Straight Alliance club. The day of silence was designed to encourage tolerance. When the student was asked to remove his shirt or turn it inside out, he refused and was forced to spend the day in a conference room in the schools front office (Taylor, Kelly 2013). How does the school justify that his anti-homosexual shirt was any different than being forced to endure a full day of silence that was ok with the school? The student later sued the school (Harper v. Poway Unified School District). The courts upheld that the school officials are permitted to censor what students are allowed to wear and not allowed to wear. Another student in Ohio banned a shirt that the school officials found questionable. The shirt in question was a Marilyn Manson rock band t-shirt that depicted a three faced Jesus on the front and the word believe on the back with the letter l-i-e highlighted. The student believed his right to free speech had been violated when the school officials told him to change the shirt, turn it inside out or leave the school and be considered a truant (Schools Win Rights To Ban). The student lost his case against the school, even though the shirt did absolutely nothing to disrupt classes or learning. All it did was cause officials to strut their power to take away free speech and censor the kids. While some schools are busy trying to ban clothing and other things that it considers inappropriate or offensive, some schools are just plain banning everything whether harmful of not if they feel it is controversial. In an article by Denise Penn titled â€Å"Gay/Straight Clun Banned in Orange County, CA H. S. †, she describes a group of teenagers who tried to start a club dropped off an application in the school office. The principal wanted to approve the Gay/Straight Alliance club, went to the superintendent for guidance and it was taken out of her hands. The school board engaged in several delays and finally held a public forum about the club. The students endured antigay rhetoric at the forum (Penn). The students faced a panel that took an extremist position. The school officials done away with a program that provided counseling for at-risk students in elementary, middle and high schools, who were having adjustment problems in school. The counseling was provided by interns and cost the school district nothing at all and helped kids. It also took some of the strain off the teachers so they could concentrate on teaching and not on the troubled youths. The council ended the program because it â€Å"burdened the school to administer the program†. The censorship of speech is even taking hold of the political arena. The McCain-Feingold â€Å"Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act† criminalizes political speech in connection with political and even state elections (Roane). The law makes it a felony for a corporation, labor union, or non-profit advocacy group to criticize or even mention a member of congress in broadcast ads within 60 days prior to a federal election. It is now a federal crime for state and local candidates, officeholders and political parties to engage or participate in political speech that attacks or even supports candidates for federal office (Roane). If it is illegal to voice anyone’s opinion, then the government has taken away a big chunk of our freedom of speech to support or object to any candidate. It basically makes it illegal for anyone to place an ad on the radio or television to support them in any federal election. The law also dictates what money can be used for certain applications and also lessens the chance for newer candidates to be heard, unless they already have a name for themselves in the public arena. It basically guarantees already elected officials a better chance for re-election in future elections (Roane). The government is closing down on our freedom of speech slowly by instituting their power to censor our speech. Whether it is through the schools, limiting what any students can say or wear, or through banning clubs that school official think could be objectionable, or through the media outlets governed by another governmental agency. Our freedom of speech is being taken away from us a little at a time without us even knowing it.

“Helen” by Hilda Doolittle Essay

The first thought I come up with when reading Doolittle’s Helen is the extreme difference between her poem, and Poe’s poem, Helen. Doolittle and Poe both describe Helen using her face, eyes, legs, hands, and knees; however, Doolittle expresses the speaker’s growing hatred of Helen while Poe adores her deeply. Doolittle makes an interesting choice when she says â€Å"all Greece† instead of â€Å"all Greeks.† She appears to be referring to more than just the people of Greece, but instead the entire culture that lies within Greece. Doolittle expands upon the speaker’s hatred of Helen by including â€Å"all Greece,† especially with her continual use of such dark and descriptive words as â€Å"hate† and â€Å"revile.† I find it interesting that Doolittle starts the first two stanzas with â€Å"all Greece† and the third words describing an extreme dislike, and still begins the final (third) stanza with â€Å"Greece sees unmoved†¦Ã¢â‚¬  still being insulting towards Helen. The entire poem remains with the same theme, and continues being both vivid and descriptive. In the first stanza Helen is described with words like olive and white which are both associated with beauty, but she is also described as having â€Å"still eyes† which creates the idea of a statue like person. The second stanza becomes more involved with Helen being detested by Greece. She is described as wan and growing paler (white). She is remembering what she did wrong in her past, and this begins to change her beautiful appearance. In the end, Helen progresses to either a completely statue-like stage, or perhaps even death. She is unmoved with â€Å"cool feet,† white, and â€Å"amid funereal cypresses.† These words are most associated with death, the skin is a pale color – almost white, and they are cold to the touch, just as Helen is described. She goes into this statue/death stage being hated by Greece for causing the Trojan War. The poem encompasses the fact that Greece has no mercy for Helen, even when she smiles. The only way for her to attain compassion, love, and mercy is through her death.

Ambivalant Title of ‘the Demon Lover’ and ‘the Open Window’

Man has always lived in a most deceiving world, and departed from that idea, every self-respecting author wants to make his readers more sensitive to our planet as it stands. In libraries, shelves are overloaded with committed novels, but it is certainly possible to make an issue and to make the audience well-aware of its own naivety by the use of an ambivalent title, as Elizabeth Bowen and Saki have tried to do with their respective short stories ‘The Demon Lover’ and ‘The Open Window’. The first tale yet, ‘The Demon Lover’, shows that it is not that difficult to put one on the wrong track. The title implies that it might be a ghost story, which was still very popular those days, but after a first lecture we can conclude that this is not the case. In spite of the spooky setting – such as the old dusty house in a abandoned neighborhood – and implicit assumptions about the potential presence of a ghost, there are no explicit clues that come up to the reader’s first expectations. Even the suspicious letter on the hall table is not convincing enough; what is more, the fact that no one significant had any key of the house, that there was no stamp on the envelop, that the letter was signed with the first letter of Mrs. Drover’s name and that â€Å"she went to the mirror† (p. 4, l. 27) to see her reflection raises the question whether she did not write it herself. The only demons that occur in the story are those of Mrs. Drover’s past: she is constantly betrayed by nervous twitches as â€Å"an intermittent muscular flicker to the left of her mouth† (p. 4, l. 36), and by the flash-backs to her cold lover in her youth. Incapable to leave her traumas behind, not a single day passes without being haunted by delusions, which is at a low ebb when she mistakes the taxi driver for her formal fiance and she drives completely mad. Delusions could also be found in the other story, ‘The Open Window’. Just like in Bowen’s story, one might be mistaken about the fact that the text deals with paranormal phenomena – for instance the beginning the story that could be interpreted as a ghost story, but â€Å"an undefinable something about the room seemed to suggest masculine habitation† (p. 69, l. 25) shows that there are actually still living there. It starts already with the names of the protagonists: one might think those do not have any significant purpose within the story, but in point of fact, these names are the foundations of he tale. On one hand, Vera’s name could be an ironic prophecy: although it might be a word pun for ‘veracious’, it draws the audience’s attention to be very careful with her treacherous tales. On the other hand, by becoming nuts at the end of the story, Mr. Nuttel wears a very appropriate name. For both of them, the title can have a different meaning: a symbolical for Mr. Nuttel, for whom the fresh air blown into the room represents a new start in life, and a useful one for Vera, who is very keen on deceiving and telling great stories. â€Å"Romance at short notice was her specialty† (p. 70, l. 30)) What is more, because she is a professional manipulator, differences between reality and imagination become slightly invisible, but the open window will open their eyes too, so that they will be forced to think twice. The conclusion is simple: different interpretations ascribed to an ambivalent title do not only broaden one’s horizon, but one could also gain a clear understanding of social standards, human mind and the world in general. And last but not least, it is the perfect way for man to overcome their own naivety.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 119

Assignment Example According to the analysis, Ahli Bank Q.S.C. has a very high leverage ratio of 6.35. However, Mazaya Qatar Real Estate has a very low leverage value. The outcome of the two companies insinuates that the one of them does poorly as its assets may not be enough to settle its debts. Specifically, Mazaya Qatar Real Estate is better that its competitor that is burdened by debts. According to this ratio, Mazaya Qatar Real Estate is in a better position to settle its debts than its competitor. The liquidity ratios also insinuate some crucial aspect of the financial situation of the two companies. It gauges the ability of the business to pay its bills. The liquidity ratio of Mazaya Qatar Real Estate is higher that of Ahli Bank Q.S.C. A higher liquidity ratio means that the company can comfortably pay its expenses. Mazaya Qatar Real Estate has 10.76 while Ahli Bank Q.S.C has 1.16. In respect to this, the real estate company still stands stronger as both the acid-test or current ratio and the net working capital indicate a similar outcome. The profitability ratios also had much information about the two companies. The ratios determine the corporation’s ability to earn profits. In this case, Mazaya Qatar Real Estate depicted lower profitability than its counterpart. It posted a cash return on capital invested of 0.11 while Ahli Bank Q.S.C posted a 0.24. It indicates that Ahli Bank Q.S.C can make more earnings if profitability is calculated before the calculation of interest and tax. However, the net profit margin indicate otherwise. If profitability is calculated after taxation, the ration depicts that Mazaya Qatar Real Estate has higher profitability than its counterpart. The efficiency ratios were also computed. They designate the ability of the company to utilize its assets. In this segment, Mazaya Qatar Real Estate depicted a higher asset turnover ratio than Ahli Bank Q.S.C. It means that it has a higher

International Consumer Behaviour Analysis Assignment

International Consumer Behaviour Analysis - Assignment Example This is because; people have different preferences and tastes that change from one place to another and across generations. Mobile technology has been experiencing various changes in terms of development; technology has been the cornerstone for the changes that continue to characterize the industry. The smartphone, which is the current technology in use in the manufacture of mobile phones in several companies, describes a phone that has advanced features to enhance its computing ability. In general, smartphones have features that have many similarities with computers and those of other consumer devices that are common in the business and social world, for instance PDA (personal digital assistants), digital cameras as well as navigation units with the GPS technology. The smartphone industry in the United States has been fast growing, with many companies fighting to have and increase their market share. In this regard, many companies have been developing and launching various smartphones and related technologies that meet the various needs of people in their corporate, individual and social needs. Statistics that have been collected about the use of smartphones and their respective brand preference by consumers in the United States has shown different results. Currently, android tops the list on the smartphone platform, commanding a 52.1 percent of the market share, while Apple comes second with 41.9 percent. Other companies in that order include, Microsoft at 3.4 percent, blackberry and Symbian at 2.3 and 0.1 percent respectively as shown. The smartphone industry has been enjoying an increasing demand from its consumers worldwide; these have been attributed to various factors that are characteristic of consumers in the market. One of the factors that has played a huge role towards this development is the ever-increasing advancements in information and

Positive Thinking and Health Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Positive Thinking and Health - Research Paper Example Describing her experience as a breast cancer patient, Ehrenreich castigates the elaborate positivity that is associated with the pink ribbon culture observing that the â€Å"cheerfulness of breast cancer culture goes beyond mere absence of anger to what looks, all too often, like a positive embrace of the disease†. Even though, testimonies provided in books such as The First Year of the Rest of Your Life may assert otherwise, by highlighting the understandably life altering powers of cancer that can possibly act as a source of redemption or even a bridge between an individual and the divine, Ehrenreich’s claims regarding the futility of positive thinking on physical health are echoed in the research conducted by Petticrew et al. who declare that aspects related to positive thinking such as fighting spirit, willpower and hopefulness do not have a noteworthy or significant impact on the recurrence and survival rates for cancer as reflected by the examinations of 10 cases of patients who coped with cancer by maintaining a fighting spirit and 12 patients who approached the disease with hopefulness, additionally, the findings postulate that the role of positive factors and aspects in combating diseases has been exaggerated by psychologists thereby, discrediting findings that have established a correlation between the strengthening of the immune system through positive thinking techniques. (1066). However, a study conducted at the Ben-Gurion University of Negev in Israel which questioned a sample size of 255 breast cancer patients and 367 physically fit females regarding their life experiences concluded that women who face traumatic, negative and hurtful experiences carry a higher risk of being victimized by breast cancer (Smith). This research aids the assertion that positive thinking can indeed enhance an individual’s ability of maintaining a healthy physical state and combating the occurrence of diseases such as cancer. Wilkinson and Kitzinger note that the foundations of prior literatures regarding the beneficial effects of positive thinking on cancer mortality rates and the psychological state of patients are largely dependent upon self-report data which hampers the validity and objectivity of the available evidence, this view postulates that the subjectivity of perceptions, conversational devices and the contextual meaning of positive thinking diminish the accuracy of patients’ internal cognitive statuses thereby, leading to the generation of biased data on the helpful effects of positive thinking on cancer patients (797-811). Fredrickson’s arguments in favor of the merits of positive thinking however, are not based upon self-report data whose objectivity has been questioned by Wilkinson and Kitzinger with regards to the studies conducted on cancer patients. Empirical data gathered by Fredrickson claims that the broaden-and-build theory of positive psychology is

How does Webers concept of status group challenge Marxs views on Essay

How does Webers concept of status group challenge Marxs views on polarization of classes in societies - Essay Example For Marx, society is not merely a collection of separate, competing individuals, although that is the appearance that capitalist society presents. Throughout history societies have divided into competing classes, defined structurally and economically in terms of their relationship to the means of production. "In the Communist Manifesto Marx and Engels comment that the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." (Bottomore, 1983, p. 75). Thus, he viewed the bourgeoisie as the owners, and the proletariat as the non-owners, of the means of production. Marx believed that capitalist society was increasingly becoming polarized into "two great opposed camps" of bourgeois and proletarians, which is destined to lead to conflict among these classes. Through its own instruments of development, it is bound to give rise ultimately to its own dissolution--to a revolution that will result in the overthrow of capitalism and to the creation of a socialist order. The conquest of political power by the working class will lead, firstly, to the creation of a socialist state--a state in which the working class is the ruling class and which functions in the interests of the working class. Thus, the "dictatorship of the proletariat" will replace the "dictatorship of the bourgeoisie". By the term "dictatorial", Marx does not indicate that such states have a dictatorial political form, but rather that they rule in the interests of a particular class. However, the "dictatorship of the proletariat" is only the "first phase" of post- capitalist era. Its ultimate aim is to abolish the private ownership of the means of production, and hence the social and economic basis of class divisions. In addition, Marx believed that the rise of...(Giddens, 1971, p. 37). Weber notes that there is class conscious organization where (a) there are no groups between the real adversaries, (b) large numbers of persons are in the same class situation, (c) it is technically easy to organize those in the common class situation, and (d) where the goals of the class are well understood, and this understanding is led by those outside the class (intelligentsia). (Giddens and Held, p. 72)

Febrile Seizures Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Febrile Seizures - Research Paper Example Up to 5% or may be more in the population is estimated to have had at least one seizure arising from any cause during their lifetime. Epilepsy can be found in any individual ranging from young babies to aged old men and women. It is clinically known that epilepsy can have its beginning or onset in both old age and in childhood. The underlying causes of seizure in medical terms in unknown. More than 32 different kinds of seizures are known today (Seizure and Epilepsy, 3). These are divided into focal seizures and generalized seizures. A seizure is caused by an electro chemical disorder in the brain. Chemical reactions are used by the brain cells to produce the electric discharges. When there is an imbalance of excitation and inhibition in a particular area of the brain a seizure can occur. In a seizure attack, the normal regulated function of the nerve cells in the cerebral hemisphere gets disrupted (Appleton & Marson, 2). Many people also some patients suffering from seizures have th e notion that the actual seizures are ones that have strong, uncontrolled movements. They believe that having an uneasy pain or feeling in the stomach, going blank for a few moments, or jerking of the arm few times is not to be assumed to be a seizure. It can be at most considered to be a minor spell. But the fact is any change in the sensation or behavior that arises from an uncontrolled activity of electric neurons in the brain is a form of seizure. In the human brain, the undersurface area of the temporal lobe is very prone to have seizures. The temporal lobe consists of the regions of the brain that are mostly involved in causing adult epilepsy. These temporal structures are coined by Greek names, such as the amygdale which means an almond and hippocampus which means a sea-horse. The amygdala and the hippocampus are the target areas for surgical removal during surgery for curing epilepsy. The amygdala and the hippocampus are also involved in controlling the expression of emotion s and in the ability of the brain to form memory. Seizures can also be caused by brain poisoning caused by lead and carbon monoxide (Seizure and Epilepsy, 2). Types of seizures Seizure is divided into two categories. These are known as a partial or focal seizure and a generalized seizure. Partial seizures are one that start at one side of the hemisphere of the brain where as the seizures that begin in both the sides of the hemisphere of the brain at the same time are known as generalized seizures (Pitkanen, et al, 6). Partial seizures are further classified into simple partial seizures that have no alteration in consciousness or memory and secondly complex partial seizures that have alteration in consciousness or memory (Fisher & Saul, 6). Simple partial seizures are characterized by motor seizures that include twitching, unusual sensations, unusual visions, sounds and smells as well as distortions of perception. Seizure activity can reach up to the autonomic nervous system that can result in flushing, tingling sensations or nausea. These symptoms of simple partial seizures remain in the clear consciousness and are in full recalling ability for the patient. Complex partial seizures that were previously known as psychomotor seizures or the temporal lobe seizures or the limbic seizure is another type of partial seizure. Complex partial seizures can have an aura, which is a symptom or a warning of the seizure (Fisher

Contract and procurement management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Contract and procurement management - Case Study Example The budget of Ruralshire County is short and it is expecting high quality of services. Traditionally, only a small number of local contractors have the high capacity (100 seater) vehicles for these routes and because the routes are long they are challenging in terms of the ability of vehicles to keep to time, especially in adverse traffic and weather conditions. In keeping with wider practice, bus and coach operators deploy older vehicles to school transport and pupils can expect to travel in vehicles more than 10 years old.  The client is unhappy at the high cost and unreliability of a cluster (8) of long-distance routes transporting around 700 secondary age pupils from the city of Maynard Kaines (located outside the county) to Amplewealth (the county town) some 22 miles away where these children attend four local grammar schools. The combined cost of these contracts is 1.1M per annum. This report intends at identifying the important of this project. This report also intends at identifying the important of reverse e-auctions for the upcoming project. Moreover, this report ends at presenting a business case that identifies the benefits, costs, risks and gaps of the upcoming project (Worksafe.vic.gov.au, 2015). Effective procurement is a key to provide best services to businesses and customers. Selection process of suppliers is a way to identify a best person or company for a service. There are a lot if procurement approaches to select vendors to get service and goods. There are a lot of possible re-procurement approaches to achieve the business objectives mentioned in our case study of home-school transportation. In our case it is important to reduce the costs associated with the transportation of children from homes to schools. The award of new contract is strongly associated with the cost effectiveness of the transportation coupled with less travel time (Imagination.lancs.ac.uk, 2015).

Writing a paper regarding the movie Miss Representation Essay

Writing a paper regarding the movie Miss Representation - Essay Example The media is evolving in the way it portrays women for the past few years however it is quite intriguing that it is not completely evolved. Women still play the roles of being sexual objects; little emphasis is made on their educational achievements and careers. However there are few films in the media which try to show women with strong personalities, depicting them as intellectual, self-reliable, unswerving and sincere. However still many images in the media today emphasizes on the traditional woman representation of being emotional, inactive and reliant. Research studies have revealed that may children especially in the adolescent stage heavily rely on the social media to supplement information needs. This really underscores the effectiveness of media in instilling appropriate moral conducts to the children. They follow whatever the media deems good or bad (Lauzen, 1999). It is quite disappointing that women in reality as shown through the media don’t usually support their fellow women who aspire to take up leadership positions. Even though we know that women hold the largest numbers of the electorate. This revelation raises a troubling question; why women still transmit this misconception? This is a shortcoming in the campaign against feminism as revealed in the documentary. There is wide campaign to educate people about the problems that women are experiencing. The irony is that women themselves tend to aggravate the situation instead of improving it. Little is done to help them derive mechanisms of reducing these stereotypic images. Possessing the knowledge alone is not adequate. As Katie Couric reveals that maybe she has been a source of perpetuating the misrepresentation of women in the media through her wearing of short skirts and a revealing blouse during her presentation of various television news programs.

Examine the value of planning given the History of Urban Development Essay

Examine the value of planning given the History of Urban Development in the US from the 19th century onwards - Essay Example The planning is still on, and the American towns and cities continue to exhibit noteworthy and extensive growth. All American cities exhibit high degrees of marvelous design in the way they appear and how they function. Most of the present-day cities started by being centers of particular reasons. Some began as trade centers while others started as storage and manufacture centers. Some cities also started as agriculture and market centers where produce from surrounding lands was kept. In the history of the US also, some cities began at the junctions of large transport routes such as large rivers, ocean ports or large roads. Therefore, it can be shown that most of these cities were planned for. At the time, for example, the leaders of the people decided on the towns that were market centers or those that were administrative centers. This illustrates massive planning over time in the growth of cities. At the start of the 19th century, most of the cities were planned in such a way that they provided protection in times of war. City walls were constructed in such a way that when there was war, the rural populace would hide behind the walls. This was a time when warfare was common in the land. Such walls required massive innovation and planning so that they would serve their purpose.

Medication vs. Natural Treatment for ADHD Essay Example for Free

Medication vs. Natural Treatment for ADHD Essay Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (also known as ADHD) is an increasing struggle among children in today’s society that affects them at home, in their social lives and academically. Many people think that all-natural treatments are the only way to help children who struggle with ADHD; however, despite the controversy over using medication with possible side effects, Adderall can be a helpful tool in the battle against ADHD. ADHD is a chronic neurological condition that affects millions of children and can often carry into adulthood. Signs and symptoms of ADHD may include trouble staying focused, trouble listening, difficulty completing tasks, fidgets and squirms and tends to be forgetful. Clearly, having these symptoms can make it difficult for a child to succeed in school and in other activities as well. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011) Many people believe that medication will affect a child negatively but medications are used every day to help with medical issues. For instance, if your child had diabetes would you hesitate to treat the disease with medication? Obviously, parents would do what was needed to help their child overcome this disease. In the same way, we need to be open to the idea of using medication to treat ADHD. There are many treatments available to help in the battle against ADHD. Medication is a controversial subject when it comes to treating any disorder; however, when medicine is used under a doctor’s supervision and distributed correctly, it can have a positive effect on the problem. When medication is taken, it enters the bloodstream and the key ingredients begin to stimulate the brains production of norepinephrine and dopamine which improves a person’s concentration and alertness. People with ADHD also tend to suffer from high blood pressure and rapid heartbeat but when medication is taken, it can help to get these problems under control and return the person’s system back to a normal state. (Nall) Another method of treatment that is widely used is natural treatment such as dieting and counseling. Some people may see positive results with Natural Treatments but for some children, medication is the only way to get their symptoms under control. Some experts believe that ADHD can be caused by food allergies and that by using the elimination diet, you can locate the allergy and treat the symptoms. In an elimination diet, you remove foods one at a time that your doctor believes may be causing the symptoms. Gradually, you begin re-introducing these foods back into your diet and when your symptoms return, then a diagnosis can be confirmed. (Elimination diet and, 2011) There has also been much thought put into the effect that processed sugar has on ADHD and research shows that it can have an effect on children’s activity levels. Nutritionists suggest that adding high fiber foods such as berries and other fruits, whole grains and oatmeal to your child’s diet that it can help manage their glucose levels and aid in the treatment of ADHD. These diets may be useful in the battle against ADHD but you can’t guarantee that this will help with the symptoms. There are so many processed foods available in the market today that it is very hard to keep sugar and other processed ingredients out of your diet. In order to follow through on the diet, one must make their child’s food and snacks and keep up on a very strict regime to make sure that they do not consume the â€Å"culprit† foods. Not every person can keep up on a diet to this extreme and that is when medication is available to help keep the symptoms under control. Counseling such as behavioral training can be an effective treatment for ADHD. Also available is learning behavior management that can be an essential part of any ADHD treatment. There are three levels of ADHD behavioral training that they focus on: * Parent training * Classroom behavior modification * Special education placement Although behavioral training management can be effective, according to WebMD, most experts agree that combining behavior management along with medication treatment can be the most effective treatment plan. One medication that has been used to treat ADHD is Adderall (Dextroamphetamine-amphetamine). Adderall was approved for treatment by the FDA in 1996 and has become a very popular choice in treatment. Adderall is considered a stimulant medication and according to The Mayo Clinic it appears to boost and balance levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Adderall helps to improve symptoms such as attention problems, impulsivity and hyperactivity. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011) Adderall has many possible side effects that can cause concern, but if under a doctor’s supervision it is considered a safe treatment. (Monson Schoenstadt, 2008) When taking treatments into consideration, one must figure out if the side effects of the medicine are a small price to pay to conquer the annoying and life interrupting symptoms of ADHD. There are many benefits to both methods of treatment. When using the natural methods such as diet and counseling, you do not have the possibility of side effects like you do with the medication but for more severe forms of ADHD, you do not see as high of an improvement rate. Although there are the chances of side effects when taking Adderall, it does have more of a calming effect on the patient. The benefits of using Adderall include being able to focus, sit still, complete schoolwork and help in many other areas that ADHD affects. I know that with my own personal experience as we have walked through the battle of ADHD with my son, it is difficult to find the correct treatment plan that needs to be followed. We tried diets and counseling but could not seem to get a grasp on his symptoms. After being against medication for such a long time, we finally sat down with our pediatrician and explored all options available to us. Our pediatrician explained to us that when people have cancer, they need treatments of chemotherapy and or radiation to kill the disease. In my opinion, Adderall is the â€Å"chemotherapy and radiation† for ADHD. We tried for many years to help our son succeed in school and it wasn’t until we started his treatment of Adderall twice a day that we started to see improvement. Adderall is not an â€Å"instant† fix but given time, it is effective. Our son is now going into high school and not only does he have passing grades, but we no longer get calls from the teachers because he is unable to sit still and pay attention. Anytime medications are used in treatment plans, there is always a possibility of side effects. By going about treatment with medication in the proper manner and following your doctor’s advice, Adderall and other medications can be a very useful tool in gaining control of your child’s ADHD. I do believe that natural treatments are always the best option and should be considered first, but when these treatments do not help solve the issue then you need to consider other options. When your child suffers from ADHD and it affects all areas of their lives, you need to be open to whatever options are available to help you get the situation under control. By using Adderall and natural treatments such as diet and counseling together, you can get control back of your child’s behavior and see many benefits in the home, social setting and school settings. References (2011). amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, adderall. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/amphetamine_and_dextroamphetamine/article.htm Elimination diet and food challenge test for diagnosing allergies. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergies-elimination-diet Mayo Clinic Staff. (2011, Feburary 10). Mayo clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/DS00275 Monson, K., Schoenstadt, A. (2008, July 10). emedtv.com. Retrieved from http://adhd.emedtv.com/adderall/adderall.html Nall, R. (n.d.). ehow.com. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5406378_adderall-work-add_.html

User Interface: Complexity, Types and Performance

User Interface: Complexity, Types and Performance User interface complexity A user interface is the means in which a person controls a software application. A user interface should provide the user with an easy experience, allowing them to interact with the software in a stress-free and natural way. The GUI (graphical user interface) is a program that contains graphical controls which the user can select with a keyboard or mouse. â€Å"The GUI complexity is the most important value to consider when selecting a technology for user interface classes. (Rayhan, 2003)†. To decide on the complexity of the user interface it is important to consider all possible user interfaces for the ePS system. We should also reflect on a variety of categories which include simple data input, static view of the data, customisable views, dynamic view of the data and interactive graphs. The simple data input allows the user to enter data into the system. The static view of data can be either a table, tree or graph that is not affected by the changes in the system data. â€Å"The customisable view allows the user to customise the appearance of static data without making a new request to the server. The dynamic view of data is automatically refreshed to stay current while the underlying system data changes. The interactive graphs are similar to dynamic views. The graphical view is automatically updated as the underlying system data changes (Rayhan, 2003).† Below is a list of user interfaces for the ePS system: Login user interface: The login user interface allows the user to enter their username and password to gain access to the system. Create E-Prescription user interface: The Create E-Prescription user interface allows the general practitioner user to create an E-Prescription for a patient, view their personal details and view their medical history. Dispense medicine user interface: The dispense medicine user interface allows the pharmacist user to view the patients E-Prescription, check if the medication is in stock and dispense the medicine. Manage ADR report user interface: The manage ADR report user interface will load a ADR report form on a web page for the user to enter in their adverse drug reaction to a particular medicine. Deployment constraints for user interfaces The deployment constraints are as imperative as the complexity of the user interface. When considering deployment constraints it is essential to have categories in which to compare. The following deployment constraints can occur within our ePS system: Any web browser on the internet: This deployment constraint must allow the user interface to perform on any web browser on any computer. The web browser Opera does not support Java which means that all images and much less dynamic HTML, so the user interface would be presented in text form only. Late-Model web browser on the internet: If each web browser is no more than a few generations old then we will also know that the computer is also no more than a few generations old. Number and types of users The number and type of users influence the technology selection in two ways. One influence being that a large number of users can force the technology for the entity, control and lifecycle classes to balance well. A large number of users can also encourage the selection of user interface technology. A larger audience makes straightforwardness of deployment and maintenance costs major factors. Small number of dedicated users: These are a small group of users who can help to outline the system and who profits from the system. Since these groups are willing to invest their own time to learn the system, functionality is the main priority. General use within an organisation: In regards to the system, this group of users are generally much larger, but they can be less motivated. These types of systems tend to support the organisation rather than contributing to the business. For example time tracking and benefits management. Large audience with high interest: The ePS system must have a large audience that are extremely involved. These users may be unconnected from one another. The users may log on to the system to exchange information e.g. the E-Prescriptions or to collaborate information about the patients and the medicine. Huge audience with low interest: In terms of the ePS system, it must attract and serve indecisive audience. If the ePS system runs slowly and wastes the audiences time it will cause the audience to be disengaged. Available bandwidth The bandwidth available is also another crucial factor when selecting technologies. Certain groups of technologies can allow developers to meet low bandwidth restrictions. However, other technologies make bandwidth constraints worse. The categories for bandwidth restrictions are as follows: Dial-Up connection: The dial-up connection is now the least common type of connection to the internet. However, Dial-Up connection is suitable for systems that let users view text, images and to enter data. This would be suitable for the ePS system when the user logs in and loads the ADR report form. The ADR report will load up on a web page. Fast internet connection: Fast internet connections consist of digital transmissions over phone lines, cables and satellite transmissions. This is mainly to enable a quicker internet connection. Dedicated network between client and server: This type of connection will allow the client and serves to exchange data at considerably high speeds. Types of System interface The technology for a system interface is determined by a current outer system. If an external system is not available, you must describe the system interface and then select an applicable private technology. System interfaces are divided into the following three categories: Data transfer: Many system interfaces exist merely to transfer large lumps of information from system to system. These interfaces are referred to as electronic data interchange. Services through a protocol: This system interface will allow a system to make requests through an agreed protocol. The server will allow a system to validate itself and request data by sending predefined codes. Direct access to system services: This system interface will allow a client system to directly call selected methods in the server. The server exposes these certain methods for remote access. Performance and Scalability The performance and scalability requirements are becoming one of the most important features in the selection of technology. Performance must be balanced against data integrity and any multiuser system and there aren’t many single user systems left. The performance and scalability factors are usually found by inspecting the class diagrams and sequence diagrams from the analysis model. The following are the three main categories that may affect the performance and scalability: Read-only: Certain systems only allow the user to view system data, but do not allow them to update it. Isolated updates: In most systems the user is allowed to change the systems data and the changes do no conflict with one and other. Concurrent updates: In some systems many users change the systems data, but with some changes affecting the same data. The following sections below describe the performance and scalability factors for each use case in the ePS system: Create E-Prescription use case: In the Create E-Prescription use case the system retrieves and displays the patient’s record. After the user enters the diagnosis and the system must update the current data with the new data. This use case is described as â€Å"Isolated updates† or â€Å"Concurrent updates†. Dispense medicine use case: In the dispense medicine use case the system retrieves and displays the patients E-Prescription. After the user checks the stock levels and dispenses the medicine the system must update the status to â€Å"Complete†. This use case is either described as â€Å"Isolated updates† or â€Å"Concurrent updates†. Record ADR use case: In the record ADR use case the system retrieves and displays the ADR entity objects. After the user updates the entities the system must update the data with the new data. This use case is either described as â€Å"Isolated updates† or â€Å"Concurrent updates†. Login use case: In the login use case the system locates the user entity object that corresponds to the actual user. Once the object is located, the system must determine whether the username and password is valid. The means the systems needs to read the username and password from some sort of persistent store. No data will be updated therefore the â€Å"Read-only† description is appropriate. Macro and Micro Environmental Analysis: Proton Macro and Micro Environmental Analysis: Proton Macro: Macro environment refers to the overwhelming and external factors that the firms cannot have the influence on which can affect its business if not addressed. The economy of Malaysia has been in a healthy growth, however it the year of 2012 has dropped. In addition, the inflation rates of the year 2012 have dropped from a whopping 2.7 to satisfactory 1.3 during a year. These factors have directly affected the inflation and unemployment rates of Malaysia, this is because the inflation rates have fallen and the unemployment rated have fallen as well. Micro: Micro environment refers to the internal factors that relates to a business environment which can affect the business’ operation. These factors are suppliers, shareholders, competitors, customers and distributors. These factors have played a very big rule in the performance of proton, where proton has a big problem with their suppliers, as well as a drop in its market shares, as they have a big competitor in the market which is Perodua, the other factor that has affected proton is the customs, where Proton is facing difficulties in dealing with their customers, in fact proton is losing its customers due to the lack of service and lack of trust. Cross Culture and Global Issues: Being an automobile industry, this firm has to deal with other cultures on a daily basis. Cultures are hard to define values, norm, and traditions. Understanding culture is an extremely complex concept. Various theories have been made on culture but the most projecting perhaps is of Greet Hofstede’s. Hosfsted’s Cultural Dimensions: Collectivism and Individualism: This refers to the extent to which people of a country a willing to work together. In collectivistic societies people tend to better put the groups needs first eliminating personal goals, whereas countries with invidualistic culture have follow personal or individual attainment over the groups. Power Distance: this refers to the extent to which people accept the hierarchal position to be authority in the business environment. Meaning in high power distance societies like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, people tend to respect the authority because of their hierarchal of social status other than personal achievement like that in the low power distance societies like France, Italy. Uncertainty Avoidance: Refers to the extent to which people accept change in the society. Countries like Indonesia, North Korea, and Japan represent a high uncertainty avoidance whereby they dislike change. Masculinity and Feminism: relates to the role of women in different cultures, masculine culture believes Male to be the dominant part of the family and the only one allowed to support the family financially. Cultures with low masculinity dimension show females to be an important part of the workforce. Global issues: When it comes to addressing global issues to and automobile industry (Proton) most of the issues are relevant, whether it is of rising cost, taxation, global financial crises, regulations safety and health issues, all of the issues can be tracked back to an automobile industry (proton). There are many factors that Proton has to constrains before going overseas, for example, the tax fees is different in different countries, as well as the economic condition which will affect the sales, these are some of the issues that have to be addressed from Proton. Business volatility and risk Management: Considering the automobile industry (Proton), it took thousands of failed attempts before finally making a plane that could’ve worked. With every attempt being shot down, the amount of risk involved kept increasing but it was a necessary evil to reach to the point now where cars are made with perfection and counter abilities to have a safe driving. In the case of Proton, there are a number of risks involved which the mangers in charge have to think about. Initially, since the automobile industry is a huge business, the risk of investing enormous capital is the prime risk which decides the fate of the operation. Secondly, there is the risk of economic decline or inflation to sweep over which would directly affect the businesses in the service industry such as carmakers. Thirdly comes the cost of the fluctuating cost of material steals globally which has been increasing. The point is not to note out the risks involved the point is to manage risks relating to the merger effectively. Branding Success and Challenges: Branding is a concept originated for as far back as the 1200 in Sweden, where they used to burn insignia’s on a horse to differentiate it from others. For a company that wants its name out in the market, it takes extensive marketing, heavy funds, and a lot of patience because it takes a while. Reaching brand awareness is only the first step, and then the company needs to reach its target market, once it’s done then it comes Brand loyalty, whereby customers prefer choosing a brand they have become loyal to. If the brands present a particular negative perception of the company then it may take a long time and efforts to change the perception of the masses. For example, when Lexus was first revealed and appreciated by the masses, it was unknown that it belonged to Toyota, because of Toyota’s perception of being an economical and affordable automotive vehicle. Business Sustainability: It is one thing to start a business but it is another to sustain it. By sustaining it doesn’t always mean running it profitably, it also include social and environmental obligations, risk and opportunities it has. There are a number of ways in which companies can ensure their business sustainability which would be as follows; Shareholder engagement. Environmental management system. Reporting and disclosure. If proton implements these sustainable strategies into their operation and monito the quality, sustainability can be expected. Tuckman theories on teamwork: Introduction For the subject of Business and Commercial Awareness, we got an assignment to make a business plan for Proton. According to Dr Mahathir’s statement â€Å"our immediate plan would be to change its strategy from being a maker of cheap cars to become a world standard car manufacture†. Stage one: Forming The class was divided into a group of five members, each of the members was giving a department to work on, and these departments are Finance, Operation, Human Resource, and marketing. Unfortunately I was given Finance department, where I have to analyse the current situation of Proton’s finance performance. However, before the assignment my knowledge of finance was substantially lower than an average final year student of Business Administration, but I have had a mind-set to not pay attention to things that do not interest me for as far back as I can remember. Stage two: Storming Then we moved into the second stage which is storming, in this stage we started to push against boundaries. We have many conflicts between us in the nature of our working style, where each of the members has a different working style, for example in marketing department, where Amir and Khider were handed this part, they had many issues in solving the problems which cause frustration to the entire group, as well as I was giving Finance department, which was a big challenge for my authority. As the team work wasn’t clearly defined, which cause us to feel overwhelmed by the workload. I believe that it was mission impossible for us to overcome the issues we were facing in this stage; we could not even come up with the framework for our strategies, which was a big disappointment. We end up working these issues out with Dr Tan, and finally we could move to the next step. Stage three: Norming In this stage we finally identified our goals, and each of the members is fully aware of the methods and the strategies which should be adopted in order to achieve our goal. As well as trust and apperception was built between us, where the leader of our group Ben was a big motivation for us, he has helped each of us to take responsibility for progress towards achieving the goal. As most of the discussions were conducted through a facebook page. Stage four: Performing In this stage we solved all the problems and issues by using appropriate controls, and we have achieved and effective and satisfying result. It was amazing that we worked collaboratively to achieve our goal, as there was caring from the members towards each there. For example Brain Scot was very helpful in helping me with my part in Finance department, he recommended me on how to finalize my part. In addition to, the commitment from the group members increased positively towards the group work comparing to the first stage.

The Department Of Social Work Social Work Essay

The Department Of Social Work Social Work Essay The needs of older people are rarely considered outside of their age-related ailments. Community services remain geared towards the younger generation more specifically children and young people, while older peoples needs tend to be looked at peripherally. A question that springs to mind is how risk is assessed in an older person with mental health issues. A starting point could be to look at a definition of risk. Risk can be defined as the possibility of beneficial and harmful outcomes and the likelihood of their occurrence in a stated timescale (Alberg et al in Titternon, 2005). Risk is also a common feature in assessment frameworks by agencies and policies in social care and health. Hence the need to attach significance to risk issues in several public inquiries. However, these seem to be primarily related to child death inquiries where risk assessment and risk management are seen as the ongoing needed requirements to improve best practice. Most available research studies of risk and older people seem to focus on falls and other everyday risks they might encounter when seeking to return home after a hospital admission. Langan Lindlaw (2004) comment that mental health service users have become increasingly defined in terms of risk and dangerousness, despite consistent research evidence that their contribution to violence in society is minimal. They further stipulate that continued focus upon risk means that there is a danger that people so defined will be excluded from decision-making about their lives. This could be related to theory and research evidence that suggests that although older people with mental health needs are at increased risk of admission to long-term care, staff tend not to be well informed about their mental health needs (Nicholls, 2006). This could be related with mental health issues coexisting with other medical conditions in later life, leading to this client group being commonly treated in mainstream settings rather than mental health related institutions. In regards to legislation and policy that incorporates risk assessment, we have the NHS and Community Care Act (1990) which spells out the duty to assess those in need of community care services. More specifically to risk related interventions, these should be the least restrictive and clients ought to be encouraged to use their own resources or develop new ones as per Mental Health Act (1983), Mental Capacity Act (2005) and Safeguarding Adults. Moreover in context of the National Service Framework for Older People (2001) person-centred care is key, where the aim is for older people to be treated as individuals and receive appropriate and timely packages of care which meets their needs as individuals, regardless of health and social services boundaries (DH, 2001). The No Secrets guidance (2000) encourages services users to have greater control of their lives by being given the opportunity to take and manage risks. There is also the Risk and Choice Framework (2007) which provides guid ance on risk assessment and tools. However, current policy and legislation seems to hold long-held ageist assumptions about capacity and capability. For instance, the NSF for Older People (2001) and Essence of Care (2003) require service providers to ensure that care for this client group is fully integrated and holistic in nature. Hence the intended use of the FACS (Fair Access to Care Services) criteria to ensure equality. Yet, these eligibility criteria can prevent an important focus on an older persons biography in terms of the strengths and abilities they gained over their transitional experiences. In this instance, policy relating to risk assessment needs to consider the impact of age and life course stage. Moreover, has concluded by McDonald (2010) legislation alone will not change the way in which professionals respond to older people and further analysis is needed in regards to the factors that influence decision making in the context of risk. Through our lifespan risk can be perceived as beneficial and part of everyday life as it enables learning and understanding. However, one cannot dismiss the negative consequences of risk and subsequently the need for it to, at times be monitored and restricted. Thus risk assessment becomes a significant element of many frameworks. Risk assessment has been defined as the process of estimating and evaluating risk, understood as the possibility of beneficial and harmful outcomes and the likelihood of their occurrence in a stated timescale (Titterton, 2005: 83). In that context, such process should look at a situation or decision, identify the risk and qualify/rate it in terms of likelihood, harmfulness or even low, medium or high risk. Thus, a risk assessment will only identify the probability of harm a risk may have to the related client and others. Subsequently, intervention strategies should aim at reducing harm. Irrespective of this a risk assessment cannot prevent risk (Hope and Sparks, 2000) and most models of risk assessment recognise that it is not possible to eliminate risk, despite the pressure on public authorities to adopt defensive risk management (Power, 2004). This defensive risk management is perhaps in response to some of the high profile cases dominated in the media over the recent years, which has directed the focus of community care policy to minimise risk. Also the government current emphasis on risk when it comes to mental health related incidents/cases conveys a highly misleading message to the public which in turns seems to contribute to the defensive nature found in the professionals that carry assessment and are meant to support this client group. As commented in the Health Select Committee (2000) the current blame culture risks driving away much needed staff from mental health services. The parallel concern becomes what are acceptable risks and how these might conflict with the agenda of person-centred assessments and user empowerment. As put in Carr (2011) defensive risk management or risk-aversive practice may result in service users not being adequately supported to make choices and take control, hence being put at risk. Risk assessment is not only about negative labelling with adverse consequences. It has the value of promoting safety and, where necessary, identify appropriate intervention and support for service users. The methods most used in assessing risk in social work are: actuarial and clinical methods. Adams, Dominelli and Payne (2009) state that the actuarial method involves statistical calculations of probability where an individuals behaviour is predicted on the basis of known behaviour of other in similar circumstances; clinical assessment employs diagnostic techniques relating to personality factors and situational factors relevant to the risk behaviour and the interaction between the two. This latter is the more familiar method in social work practice. Both methods have limitations in terms of generalising behaviour (actuarial method) and risk assessment being a subjective process (clinical methods), i.e. influenced by assessors background, values and beliefs. As such, it is central fo r professionals to be aware of the limitations of risk assessment tools. Thus far, risk and its assessment seem to vary which reinforces the need for partnership and collaborative working as a way forward in integrating health and social care to provide a person centred support to mental health service users. Alaszewski and Alaszewski (2002) found that users, families and professionals had differing views about risk and safety. Nicholls (2006) refers to the Green Paper on Independence, Well-Being and Choice, which found that service users believe that professionals are too concerned about risk, and that this gets in the way of enabling service users to do what they want to do. In relation to older people, the Single Assessment Process stipulates the need for a coordinated approach by which health and social care organisations work together to ensure person-centred, effective and coordinated care planning (Nicholls, 2006). This entails sharing information, trusting one anothers judgement, reducing duplication, and together ensuring that the range and complexity of an older persons needs are properly identified and addressed in accordance with their wishes and preferences. Such collaborative working between professionals and service users can address potential conflict, evaluate strengths, needs and risk where the effectiveness of intervention is likely to be improved and the outcomes for service users more positive (Adams, Dominelli and Payne, 2009). The implications for social work practice is that the needs for service users with mental health issues frequently cross organisational and professional boundaries. For example, professionals working with older people with mental health issues are more than likely to work alongside a range of practitioners from different health and social care disciplines and organisations. Thus, one needs to consider how organisational cultures may impact or influence on how risk is perceived as subsequently assess. As put by Neil et al (2009, p.18) risk decision making is often complicated by the fact that the person or group taking the decision in not always the person or group affected by the risk. Waterson (1999) further suggests that professionals and users tend to disagree on the levels of risk, not least because risk is subjective and can apply to environments as well as to people. Alaszewski and Manthorpe (1998) equally argue that risk is perceived differently by different professionals and allocating blame is one of the main concerns of public enquiries into failures of community care interventions. As current society develops into a culture of blame and risk-aversion, there is an emphasis on the need to minimise uncertainty about risks and attribute individual culpability. As put by Parton (1998) blaming society is now more concerned with risk avoidance and defensive practice than with professional expertise and welfare development. This defensive form of social work in risk assessment put at risk effective and open collaborative and partnership working. Todays dominance of individual accountability (or culpability) might make social work lose sight of their traditional values where service users are meant to be empowered to make informed decisions about the risks they are prepared to take and the support they feel they might need. As stated in Carr (2011) practitioners are less able to engage with individuals to identify safeguarding issues and enable positive risk tasking. As a result issues of discrimination, inequality and anti-oppressive practice start emerging with a clie nt group that is already vulnerable. Both stigma and discrimination against older people is further accentuated by a diagnosis of mental health. It is reported that older people with mental health needs are at greater risk of abuse than other groups of older people (Nicholls, 2006). In regards to risk assessment, literature stresses the need for mental health service users to be included in that process, to have choice and opportunities to take risks towards maintaining their independence and self-determination, as put by Lawson (1996: 55) risk taking is choosing whether or not to act to achieve beneficial results in an awareness of potential harms. As mentioned before risk taking is part of life, but too often for older people the presence of an element of risk results in the prescription of care solutions or admission to residential care which may not be the older peoples own wishes. For example, in placement experience when older clients were admitted to hospital the local authority primary goal was to ensure clients remained at home for as long as possible however the package of care was delivered in accordance with the local authoritys interpretation of these clients needs such as dictating bedtime routines and dismissing the need for social interaction. In this instance, the risk assessment tended to focus on the workers interpretation of perceived need. This could relate to the findings of Langan Lindlaw (2004) study where service user involvement in risk assessment was variable and depended upon individual professional initiative. The concern here is that being overpreoccupied with risk can be to the detriment of assess ing needs suggesting a primary concern with organisational procedures and resource-allocation over service users wellbeing. As put by Munro (2002) social work should be much more than minimising risk, it should be about maximising welfare. Carr (2011) further suggests that this also impacts of practitioners ability to engage with service user to enable positive risk-taking, leaving clients unsupported in taking control. Discrimination may also occur has a result of the level of risk attributed to a service user. Whereby over-estimation can lead to unwarranted labels and under-estimation lead to inappropriate service provision and/or risk to others (Langan Lindlaw, 2004). Inflexible labelling is both unhelpful and often stigmatising. As found in research, people with mental health problems are a far greater risk to themselves than they are to the general population and while there are instances where intervention is required this should not be done in a way that pigeonholes this client group as if the category of dangerousness (Tew, 2011) is solely related to mental heath issues. In an attempt to answer the initial question, of how risk is assessed in an older person with mental health issues, risk assessment of older people with mental health issues is more likely to take place in crisis situations. Hence interventions might be more reactive rather than proactive, where professionals focuses on weaknesses and inabilities rather than strengths and abilities. Professionals may play safe by minimising risk at the expense of user empowerment. To better understand how risk, strengths and difficulties are assessed in regards to risk assessment in older people with mental health needs (and other mental health service users) we need to put it in the context of current political and social perception. The latter being significant given that research into causes and effects of mental health in older people are limited, also there is limited research on how mental health service users manage risk. Therefore, it is essential that risk assessment moves from a one-size fit all approach or a sort of tick-box exercise to being an inclusive process where the individual involved brings expert knowledge that needs to be incorporated into the assessment of risk. As found in Langan and Lindlaw (2004) few service users were fully involved in risk assessment. Similarly, Stalker (2003) makes reference to the omission from research of services users who are perceived to be at risk or a risk. Littlechild Hawley (2010) suggest that little is k nown about how social workers actually assess risk and that judgements made by individual professionals can vary when using the same risk assessment tools. Petch (2001) adds that overemphasising the importance of accurate risk assessment may lead to misleading conclusions about the level of risk posed by someone and as such expose this group to unnecessary restrictions. From some of the literature review and research available risk can be viewed as a social construction, perception of risk differs between professionals (and service users) and society has its own normative views on risk and its overtly concerned with the consequences of risk behaviour in relation to mental health. Moreover, the role of the media in shaping and, one could argue, amplifying some of these concerns must also be acknowledged. Nonetheless, this does not make risk inexistent. The key seems to be for the needs and risk of mental health service users to be assessed from a holistic approach, avoiding judgements, placing the service user at the centre and valuing their perspective as a contributing expert while at the same time recognise that risk is contextual as well as its fluid, i.e. risk can change. Risk assessments need to be comprehensive and build on a bigger picture of the service user by drawing on their strengths and aspirations. Tew (2011) reiterated that the dominant discourse around risk tends to pathologise service users where social and environmental context is not considered. Also that this leads to a paternalistic practice where service users needs are provided for without considering their rights. The concept of risk is complex, making its assessment challenging. This is reflected in the different ideas and approaches to risk assessment as well as the inkling that we are moving to a risk dominated society. As a result, the attitudes and behaviours of such society are weighed in policy and practice in relation to service users with mental health issues whereby isolated incidents involving people with mental health issues become exaggerated to generate perceptions that such client group are inherently dangerous and need to be controlled and confided (Gould 2010). Undisputedly, it is a major challenge to get the right balance when making difficult risk decisions. On the other hand, risk assessments are needed to improve the validity and reliability of decision making particularly where there may be concerns about an individuals capacity to make informed judgements. However, risk can never be eliminated altogether, and occasionally decisions will be made in good faith, on the best evidence available. As proposed by Stalker (2003) more studies are needed to address the complex nature of risk as well as positive-risk taking in regards to service users with mental health needs. This in addition to the need for research to include services users perspectives as well as other variables such as race and gender. In regards to older people, if as a social group they tend to be institutionally marginalised then it might be equally easy to negate the views of people with mental health problems who equally challenge societys assumptions of capability in regards to managing risk. Risk assessment is central to social work practice; however it must not depersonalise the service user and merely identify them through a compilation of risk variables. Additionally the discourse around risk assessment needs to move from a concern about risk adversity to a probability of negative and positive risks. Equally antagonistic is the use of the term dangerousness to define vulnerable service users. Such language can impact on collaborative and partnership work between professionals and service users. Moreover, as put in Tew (2011) the ongoing rituals of risk assessment may impact further on service users sense of self and undermine their capability to manage risky situations. Also, as stated in Petch (2001) the re will always be people in the community who pose risk, whether or not they suffer from mental health, and singling out or blaming a particular group of professionals will not change this. Thus, a risk assessment is made on a balance of probabilities rather than exact conclusions. While striving for uniformity within risk assessment is a move towards equity, flexibility is also important given the subjective contexts of risk and mental health needs. Peoples lives involve many changing and interrelated variables which will always create some difficulty in balancing risk assessment. In the end, life cannot be without risk and risk-taking is part of the process that makes us who we are, complex beings.

Social Isolation In The Interesting Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Eq

Olaudah Equiano in his Interesting Narrative is taken from his African home and thrown into a Western world completely foreign to him. Equiano is a slave for a total of ten years and endeavors to take on certain traits and customs of Western thinking. He takes great pains to improve himself, learn religion, and adopt Western mercantilism. However, Equiano holds on to a great deal of his African heritage. Throughout the narrative, the author keeps his African innocence and purity of intent; two qualities he finds sorely lacking in the Europeans. This compromise leaves him in a volatile middle ground between his adapted West and his native Africa. Olaudah Equiano takes on Western ideals while keeping several of his African values; this makes him a man associated with two cultures but a member of neither. Olaudah Equiano during his long journey is exposed to Western ideas and customs. Although he is initially frightened by them, writing "and I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits, and that they were go to kill me" (755), he eventually begins to see Europeans as "men superior to us" (762). In this change of perceptive Equiano begins to endeavor to emulate his more pale counterparts. To further this cause, he begins to improve himself through education. He embarks on a quest to read and write having already partially learned his adopted tongue some two to three years after he arrives in England. He is put into school by Miss Guerins while his master's ship is in port and while in her service Equiano is taught Western Christianity and baptized. He thus begins to take on the European religious character as well as the new Enlightenment ideal of self-improvement. During Equiano's service... ...other leaving him somewhere between both. Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative provides insight into cultural assimilation and the difficulties such assimilation. The writer embraces several Western traits and ideals yet guards his African virtues jealously. In doing so however, he finds himself somewhere in between a full European and a displaced African. This problem of cultural identity Equiano struggled with is still present in modern American society. The modern day African-American appears to also be in the process of deciding the between two competing cultures and often being left somewhere in middle becoming a victim of cultural identity just like Olaudah Equiano some 250 years ago. Works Cited Olaudah, Equiano. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Yassa, Written by Himself. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995.

Consumer rights :: essays research papers

Caveat Emptor  Let the buyer beware  Consumer should be responsible about what he wants to buy, prices and quality  Upto the consumer to chose wisely Consumer Protection  Sometimes impossible to know whether the product is will work properly or not  At point of sale consumer are protected by law concerning some aspects of their purchases despite principal of caveat emptor Consumer Rights  United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Rights- 8 basic consumer rights that as consumers we are entitled to  Rights are  SAFETY - products/services should not hidden safety hazards in natural use - Fair Trading Act NSW has safety standards for particular types of products - Unsafe products can be banned ( product faulty and can not be sold again) or recalled (all stock taken back repaired and then put on the shelves)  INFORMATION - information provided to customers must be accurate – consumer must be able to make an informed choice - labeling/advertising must not be misleading - Information required by law: - Prices - Capability of the product - Content and weight of packages - Care and size labeling on clothing - Country of origin of product - Safety instructions of use of the use of dangerous products - Fiber content of soft goods like soft toys - Date stamping - Additive labeling of foods and drinks i.e. colouring  CHOICE - chose from a section of products - but or refuse to buy goods o services - to chose the seller they want to but from - to be free from unreasonable pressure to buy  RIGHT TO BE HEARD - if small shop is difficult to be heard because no superiors - if large company you can: - talk to manger - make bad publicity - if concerning the law talk to Department of Fair Trading - If government co operation then talk to OMBUD (representative from the government) - Australian Consumers Association – group of consumers  SATISFACTION OF BASIC NEEDS - access to basic essential goods and services - adequate food clothing shelter health care education and sanitation  TO REDRESS - Receive a fair settlement of just claims including compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services - Can ask for refund, replacement, repair - Faulty goods - Goods that are not fit for the purpose - Foods that are different to the example or description given - Services not carried out with due care or skill  CONSUMER EDUCATION - inform themselves on specifications, requirements, capabilities of product or service - part of consumer’s responsibility - understand any terms condition contracts legal documents they sign - Before consumer buys should - Think - Is product necessary (avoid impulse buying) Consumer rights :: essays research papers Caveat Emptor  Let the buyer beware  Consumer should be responsible about what he wants to buy, prices and quality  Upto the consumer to chose wisely Consumer Protection  Sometimes impossible to know whether the product is will work properly or not  At point of sale consumer are protected by law concerning some aspects of their purchases despite principal of caveat emptor Consumer Rights  United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Rights- 8 basic consumer rights that as consumers we are entitled to  Rights are  SAFETY - products/services should not hidden safety hazards in natural use - Fair Trading Act NSW has safety standards for particular types of products - Unsafe products can be banned ( product faulty and can not be sold again) or recalled (all stock taken back repaired and then put on the shelves)  INFORMATION - information provided to customers must be accurate – consumer must be able to make an informed choice - labeling/advertising must not be misleading - Information required by law: - Prices - Capability of the product - Content and weight of packages - Care and size labeling on clothing - Country of origin of product - Safety instructions of use of the use of dangerous products - Fiber content of soft goods like soft toys - Date stamping - Additive labeling of foods and drinks i.e. colouring  CHOICE - chose from a section of products - but or refuse to buy goods o services - to chose the seller they want to but from - to be free from unreasonable pressure to buy  RIGHT TO BE HEARD - if small shop is difficult to be heard because no superiors - if large company you can: - talk to manger - make bad publicity - if concerning the law talk to Department of Fair Trading - If government co operation then talk to OMBUD (representative from the government) - Australian Consumers Association – group of consumers  SATISFACTION OF BASIC NEEDS - access to basic essential goods and services - adequate food clothing shelter health care education and sanitation  TO REDRESS - Receive a fair settlement of just claims including compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services - Can ask for refund, replacement, repair - Faulty goods - Goods that are not fit for the purpose - Foods that are different to the example or description given - Services not carried out with due care or skill  CONSUMER EDUCATION - inform themselves on specifications, requirements, capabilities of product or service - part of consumer’s responsibility - understand any terms condition contracts legal documents they sign - Before consumer buys should - Think - Is product necessary (avoid impulse buying)

Haya

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (NEW CURRICULUM ACCORDING TO CATALOGUE 2005 – 2006) NAME: ID #: Tel #: P. O. Box: E-mail: MAJOR REQUIREMENTS CR CORE BUSINESS COURSES ACCT 210 CONCENTRATION 3 BUSS 200 BUSS 211 ACCOUNTING CR 3 3 ACCT 215 ACCT 217 to ACCT 250 3 ACCT 217 to ACCT 250 3 2 ACCT 217 to ACCT 250 3 BUSS 230 3 ACCT 217 to ACCT 250 3 BUSS 239 0 0 Any business elective Total Crs 3 15 BUSS 240 BUSS 245 1 BIDS CR BUSS 248 0 INFO 205 3 BUSS 249 3 DCSN 205 3 DCSN 200 3 INFO 210 to INFO 250 6 FINA 210 INFO 200 MKTG 210 3 or DCSN 210 TO DCSN 250 6 3 Any business elective 3 MNGT 215 3 33 CR Total Crs ENTREPRENEURSHIP 15 CR ENTM 220 TO ENTM 250 3 15 ENTM 220 TO ENTM 250 3 48 ENTM 220 TO ENTM 250 3 ENTM 220 TO ENTM 250 3 Total Crs. : GENERIC CONCENTRATION ACCT 217 TO MNGT 250 Total Crs. : A student can choose to graduate with a maximum of two concentrations Any business elective REQUIREMENTS FROM OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 3 15 CR ECON 211 3 Total Crs FINANCE ECON 212 3 FIN A 215 to FINA 250 3 ENGLISH 208 3 FINA 215 to FINA 250 3ELECTIVE (200 & above) FOR ARTS STUDENTS MATH 203 3 FINA 215 to FINA 250 3 FINA 215 to FINA 250 3 FOR SCIENCES STUDENTS MATH 204 3 MATH 204 CMPS 209 3 CMPS 209 ELECTIVE (200 & above) 3 Students cannot choose EDUC 219, EDUC 227, ECON 213, STAT 201, STAT 210, STAT 234, ITEC 242, PSPA 275 as free non-business electives UNIVERSITY GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 3 ARABIC a ARABIC a Any business elective 3 Total Crs MANAGEMENT 15 CR MNGT 220 TO MNGT 250 3 MNGT 220 TO MNGT 250 3 MNGT 220 TO MNGT 250 3 3 MNGT 220 TO MNGT 250 3 3 Any business elective 3SEQ Id: CVSP 201 or 202 or 205 or any 207 (A,B,C,†¦) 3 SEQ IIe: CVSP 203 or 204 or 206 or any 208 (A,B,C,†¦) HUMANITY I from: Civilization Sequence, Arabic, English, History or Philosophy 3 Total Crs MARKETING 15 CR 3 MKTG 222 3 HUMANITY II from: Civilization Sequence, Arabic, English, History or Philosophy 3 ENGL 203b ENGL 204 ENGL 204c ELECTIVE (200 & above) MKTG 240 Two more from CVSP 201-208 or the selection of two approved humanities courses as listed in the aub catalogue 2005-2006 Total Crs. : TOTAL CREDITS NEEDED FOR GRADUATION 42 90 3 MKTG 215 to MKTG 250 3 MKTG 215 to MKTG 250 3 Any business elective Total Crs 3 15 IF EXEMPTED FROM ARABIC, ONE ADDITIONAL ELECTIVE COURSE IS REQUIRED; ARABIC 213, 214, 217& 218 ARE EXCLUDED b IF EXEMPTED FROM ENGL 203, STUDENTS MUST TAKE ENGL 204. c IF EXEMPTED FROM ENGL 204, ONE ELECTIVE COURSE FROM OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS IS REQUIRED. d STUDENTS WHO ELECT CVSP 205 MAY NOT ENROLL IN CVSP 201 OR 202 OR VICE VERSA. e STUDENTS WHO ELECT CVSP 206 MAY NOT ENROLL IN CVSP 203 OR 204 OR VICE VERSA. 18-Aug-05

Promote communication in health and social care setting Essay

  Identify the different reasons why people communicate when working in a care setting communication is a key factor, you need to be able to communicate with a wide range of people such as service users, families and/or carers, other members or staff and management, you will also have to come into contact with other professional from time to time such as; doctors, nurses and social workers. Communication is the basis of all relationships, regardless of weather the relationships are personal or professional, and regardless of the nature of the communication. see more:explain how children and young people use communication methods in different ways Reasons why people communicate Explain how communication affects relationship within the work setting Communication affects relationships in many different ways in the work setting. Relationships are important and relationships are built of trust and understanding between people makes it easier to get things done. The benefits of effective communication in the workplace are that it is:- A happier, less-frustrating workplace experience. Frees up employees to focus on other more productive activities. An increase in satisfaction from workplace activities and workplace relationships. An increase in productivity can lead to an increase in pay, promotion, and prestige The key relationships are with the people that I support. The skills that I have learned as a care assistant will help me to build relationships and this will be important to ensure that the right outcomes are met, for example somebody may have identified that they would require support in their lives and they need to sure that the people they are working with are honest and trustworthy. Read more:  Describe the Different Ways That People Communicate Relationships with colleagues and other professionals are vital if people are to work together effectively. Showing respect for the work that other professionals undertake is an essential building block of a good professional relationship. It is important to take the time to find out what other people do and think about what you could learn from them, and remember that everybody makes a contribution. Demonstrate how to establish the communication and language needs, wishes and preferences of individuals. All relationships start through communication, when providing support for people you must ensure that you are a good communicator. You will have to gain an understanding of messages that are being communicated from others and be able to communicate back when you’re not always able to use words. When you first meet somebody and talk to them you would usually be using two language systems to enable communication and thy will be verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication: is when we communicate our message verbally to whoever is receiving the message. Nonverbal communication: is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. Such messages can be communicated through gesture, body language or posture, facial expression and eye contact. Body language is very important when you communicate as it affects the way people interoperated what you are trying to say. Effective communication requires you to have the ability to understand you’re own and other peoples non verbal behavior. Your body often sends messages to other people unintentially. Describe the factors to consider when promoting effective communication When people communicate they tend to take notice of somebody’s tone of voice and facial expressions first other than what is actually being said. As a care assistant being able to understand the factors that contributes to good communication is very important as this will allow me to gain an understanding of every service user and also be able to tell if anything is affecting them or causing them upset or pain. Demonstrate a range of communication methods and styles to meet individual needs. There are many different ways to communicate and ensuring that you are using the right level and type of language is very important to ensuring that you are being understood fully. Communicating with people may not always be about speaking or even non-verbal communication, you can communicate in a wide of different ways these are:- Email audio (speaking, singing) telephone conversation texting using a mobile (short messages) visual (seeing pictures, slides, artwork, written words) kinesthetic (teaching someone by showing them how to do something, hands-on instruction, texture) face-to-face vs. long distance   Interperators (if you are trying to communicate with somebody who’s language you do not speak) technological (some people prefer reading books, other prefer reading them via electronic screen) Demonstrate how to respond to an individual’s reaction when communicating A response during communication is important for the communication to take place. If someone is talking to you and you are not responding, it is difficult for communication to take place. When you respond to someone, it shows that you are listening to them, which then shows that you understand what they are saying and are interpreting it correctly. However, the response doesn’t need to be verbal. A simple nod can even be considered communicating, as long as both participants are aware of each other and understand what is being said. When communicating it is important to remember that when communicating you can often learn as much by observing as by what you hear. It is important to learn to listen with your eyes. An important part of responding appropriately to communication is recognizing when people are distressed and know how to deal with it. It is importing to have an understanding of the effects of emotions, as they can often be an indicator of a potentially highly charged or dangerous situation. There are some general indications that a person is becoming distressed and these can be obvious to see:- i. breathing patterns ii. excessive sweating iii. face and neck become red and flushed iv. body language v. eyes for example pupils dilate vi. change in facial expressions vii. change in tone of voice for example voice may become raised Explain how people from different backgrounds may used and /or interpreter communication methods in different ways When you are first communicating with somebody it is important to find out about communication issues the person you are communicating with. You can discover a great deal about possible communication issues by simply observing somebody’s behavior. Observation should be able to establish What language is being used If the person is experiencing any hearing or visual impairment If they have any physical illness or disability If they have any learning disabilities Any of these issues could have a huge affect on how well we communicate and can allow you to put steps in place to help communicating easier. Identify barriers to effective communication Hearing Impairment- A service user that has a hearing impairment in one or both ears. Visual sight- A service user that has no visual sight or poor vision or sight in one eye. Disability/learning difficulties- A service user that might have a condition that might stop them from communicating effectively and might need visual aids to help them communicate. Learning and speech impediment- A service user that finds it hard to communicate through speech and gets frustrated because they are not understood. 0ther languages (cultural backgrounds or English as an additional language)- you may need an interpreter or find other means of communicating with service user that do not speak English. Different family background personality. Demonstrate ways to overcome barriers to communicate Physical barriers Physical and environmental factors can cause problems when we communicate. When you are communicating it is important to consider the surrounding that you are in when you’re communicating, for example people find it difficult to talk in noise and crowded places. Understand what could be barriers to communication can allow myself to ensure that communicating id done effectively these could be:- Hearing loss Physical disability Visual impairment Learning disability Dementia Language differences Distress Demonstrate how to access extra support or services to enable individuals to communicate efficiently. If I am having any communication problems with a service user I would seek advice straight away as the longer I leave It the longer the problem will take to get resolved. Also the service user may become upset and frustrated and this can cause more barriers when communicating. The person I would go to first is my organiser and if they are unable to resolve the problem they will get in touch with people who can. These could be:- Translation services- can help with changing written txt from one language to another. Interpreter services – they convert spoken language from one to another. Speech and language services- support for people who have had a stroke or have problems with speech. Advocacy service- support people who are unable to speech for themselves. This service try’s to understand the needs and wishes of people and will argue on their behalf. Explain the meaning of the term confidentiality Within the care sector there are legal requirement under the data protection act 1998 to ensure that all records are confidential. This act gives people the right to see all the information recorded about them weather it’s their medical records or the social service file. Confidentiality means keeping all information with the work place safe and only be passed on where there is a clear right and need to do so if it could cause half to an individual. Confidentiality is an important right to everybody and it is very important as a care assistant to remember this as because service users might not trust a care assistant who can not keep things private additionally by breaking confidentiality you may be putting service users at risk if their personal details get out for example home address. All service users records will be kept in a locked office and they will also be kept on the computer which will be password protected and there will be policies on record keeping within the office place. Demonstrate ways to maintain confidentiality in day to day communication. The principle of confidentiality is about trust and confidence that people might have in care workers. Care workers need to ensure that they do not discuss one person who you support with another person that you also support. The most common way in which confidentially is breached is by people talking about work issues with family and friends. It is done very easy and very tempting to discuss the days events especially if you have had a stress full and it is often therapeutic. But by doing this if you don’t keep peoples details confidential and anonymous this could break confidentiality. Every organisation will have policies on confidentiality and the disclosure of information. As a care assistant it is important that I know where the policies can be found and what information is in the policies.

A brief description of the arts

â€Å"What is art?† Different people can come up with different answers to this question, and they can all be correct.This reflects the dilemma that has hounded the concept of art from the first time man attempted to define it. As society evolves art does, too; as such, to attempt to place boundaries around art is as futile an exercise as to define the former, since both share the characteristic of perpetual change.With this fact in mind, I have decided to limit the references used in this paper to sources that are not only up-to-date but likewise education-related.   Solely for the purposes of coherence and clarity, I have chosen to adopt the standards set by the revised North Carolina Arts Education Standard Course of Study (http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/curriculum/artsed/scos/artsed.pdf) and the Arts Education Mandate of the Washington OSPI [Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction] which provided a chart of the elements and principles of organization of the s ubjects to be discussed.It is my belief that an exposition of the subjects of painting, dance, theater, and music done along the lines of education is more relevant than any discussion done in another perspective.I will begin my discussion with the subject of painting. Painting is a branch of the visual arts – this alone sets it apart from the other three subjects, which are all branches of the performing arts. The Encarta encyclopedic entry (2005 edition) for painting defines it as an art wherein â€Å"color, derived from any of numerous organic or synthetic substances, is applied to various surfaces to create a representational or abstract picture or design†.There are quite a number of techniques in painting that correspond to the medium used by the artist, the most popular of which are as follows: oil, fresco, tempera, enamel, encaustic, gouache, grisaille, watercolor, and acrylic.There is another way of classifying painting styles, and that is through the subject ( what is depicted) of the work. Mural paintings, still life paintings, icon paintings, and miniature paintings are some of the categories under which a work may be classified. In this discussion it is important to cover drawing – another branch or form of visual art – briefly, since painting employs the basic principles in drawing.To quote the entry for â€Å"drawing† in the Encarta encyclopedia: â€Å"In drawing from any object or model, the first step is to observe and sketch in the dominant structural lines, contours, and masses. The more important details are added and corrected, and the minor details are left to the last.† This approach is likewise often used by painters.As for the elements in painting, I have taken the liberty of taking on the elements prescribed by the Arts Education Mandate of the Washington OSPI, which are as follows: (1) color, (2) form, (3) line, (4) shape, (5) space, (6) texture, and (7) value/shading. These elements – w ith the exception of space – are unique to the art of painting as far as the other subjects of this paper are concerned because simplistically speaking, the said elements are applicable only to the visual, and not the performing arts.Music concerns the arrangement of sounds artistically over a period of time. As in painting, the field of techniques (or means of expression) for this particular art form is vast. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the world is divided into musical cultures, with each culture carrying a distinct sound and a distinct method of producing music.Aside from that, with the steady progress of technology came the intermarriage of cultures, which in turn paved the way for an expansion in the methods by which a person can express himself musically.I found more than twenty types of musical compositions, but for the sake of brevity let me just mention a few: aria, ballad, chant, hymn, sonata, symphony, and the tone poem.   Although there is an overwhelmi ng number of techniques of execution in music, all these share the same elements: (1) beat / rhythm, (2) expression [dynamics, style, tempo, phrasing], (3) form, (4) harmony, (5) melody, (6) notation, (7) pitch, (8) texture, (9) timbre / tone color.