Ask for Help Essay Example for Free

Ask for Help Essay Describe the process that you used to take a sample of the puddle-shaped burn pattern on the floor. Why did you also take samples from the portion of the floor that was not burned? To take a sample of the burned floor we scraped the burnt wood will we got loose pieces of it. We did the same to take a sample of the wood that had not been burned. We took a sample of the burned and non-burned wood to compare what made them burn differently. What evidence did the space heater provide? What did the evidence indicate? The space heater was on when the fire started. What information did you gain from the pictures taken at the scene? The information we gained from the pictures taken at the scene was, the victim was laying on the floor during the fire, The crazed glass window is not conclusive, And the fire burned more intensely in the puddle shaped area. (May involve some type of liquid.) To whom did the fingerprints on the match box belong? What characteristics of the fingerprints helped you to determine they were a match? How long does the average IAFIS search take? The finger prints belonged to Donald Parker. The Characteristics of the fingerprints are, Hook, Bridge, Ridge ending, Island, and two bifurcation. It takes 30 minutes for the average IAFIS search. Why is there a charcoal strip inside the containers that you used to collect the floor pieces? Why are these pieces saved after the solution has been prepared for the GC? What elements were present in the gas chromatograph from your puddle sample? How did this differ from the control graph? While performing the autopsy to determine if the victim died in the fire, what signs of inhalation did you look for? Based on the graph, what percentage of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood is deadly? While performing the autopsy the signs of smoke inhalation we looked for was soot in the victims mouth and airways. How does the spectrometer work? What does the absorption of light waves help you to determine? How did you use the calibration curve to determine the blood alcohol content? Explain how the evidence helped you to determine how Trevor  died and whether the fire was accidental or arson.

Social Work Reflective Essay

Social Work Reflective Essay Introduction Reflection forms a central part of social work practice and education, and it is particularly important for social workers in placement settings or newly qualified social workers (Dcruz et al, 2007; Parker, 2010). In its simplest terms, reflection provides us with an opportunity to review our decisions and decision-making processes however, in practice, reflection is a far more complex concept (Trevethick, 2005: 251). It is essential that social workers have the confidence to question their own practice, the organisation that they work in, and dominant power structures in society at large (Fook, 1999). Reflection, and in particular critical reflective practice, forms a key part of this, as social workers are called on to reconsider and reconstruct the dominant social discourse. In this essay I will explore my experience of reflection during my practice placement, and in particular in relation to a specific case study. I will start by outlining my practice setting, and the details of the particular case study. I will then explore my experience of reflection, and how reflective practice supported me to apply theory to practice. Finally take a critical look at my practice, and suggest things that I could have done differently. Although I engage with and explored multiple models of reflection during my placement, the model of reflection that I found most useful was Schons theory of reflection (Schon, 1983; 2002). Schon advocated 2 types of reflective practice. Firstly, reflection-on-action, which involves reflecting on an experience that you have already had, or an action that you have already taken, and considering what could have been done differently, as well as looking at the positives from that interaction. The other type of reflection Schon notes is reflection-in-action, or reflecting on your actions as you are doing them, and considering issues like best practice throughout the process. Due to the limits of the current medium, I will be focusing mostly on reflection-on-action. However, appropriate use of this type of reflection should inform future practice, and encourage appropriate reflection-in-action when presented with a similar situation again. Practice Setting My placement was based at a not for profit mental health agency, where we provided psycho-social support for people who have experienced mental health difficulties. Many of the people that we worked with had been subject to section 2 or 3 orders under the Mental Health Act 1983/2007, and were now experiencing aftercare under section 117. Referrals to the agency could come from social services, GP surgeries, and other not-for-profit organisations. The people with whom we worked usually had a multitude of presenting issues and concerns, and I was aware from the onset that complex settings like this require social workers to be reflective in their practice in order to be able to deal with a variety of situations (Fook and Gardner, 2007). However, it soon became clear to me that the fast-paced working environment, where at times paperwork was promoted over practice, meant that reflection could potentially be ignored in favour of bureaucracy and targets (DCruz et al, 2007). This type of difficulty and uncertainty around reflection is common in placement settings and when starting a new role (Knott and Spafford, 2010). Reflection was particularly important when making the transition from university learning to the learning experienced in a placement setting. Social workers are provided with some guidance in practice to support this process. The Practice Competency Framework (PCF) domains provide some direction about what areas social workers are expected to emphasise in practice, and what needs to be evidenced in order to successfully complete a placement. Values and ethics are central to this framework, and comprise domain 2. Critical reflection is also part of this framework, making up the entirety of domain 6. However, it is essential that social workers do not become complacent in their personal reflection, and they cannot fall back on these types of guidance and procedures as a shield against engaging in reflection on complex ethical subjects (Banks, 2006). Case Study Many of the service users that we worked with had a dual diagnosis (problems with mental health and addiction). These service users particularly challenged me, as I found their intersecting issues usually stretch well beyond their dual diagnosis, to other areas like housing or physical health. I have, therefore, chosen to discuss one such case, where I engaged in substantial reflection. The background to this case study, and my involvement with him, will now be discussed. JK is a man in his 50s who was born in Nigeria but moved to the UK at a young age. When I worked with him, he lived in a housing project that was specifically meant to house ex-offenders. Although JK had a lead key-worker at my agency who was a permanent member of staff, I was responsible for the majority of the key working sessions with JK during my time on this placement. JK had a long history of substance misuse and mental health problems. He was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, and dealt with significant anxiety and depression. He received depot injections monthly for his mental health difficulties, and he found these instances particularly distressing. JK also had a substantial history of criminal activity, which he said became necessary in order to maintain his addiction to certain illicit drugs. I would meet JK in a location of his choosing. Although usually this would mean either in our office or in his room, sometimes we went for a walk and I accompanied him to appointments at times also. This more informal working setting was where he felt he could speak most openly to me. Although I will discuss my involvement with JK more broadly,I will focus on one particular key working session that we had, where JK was most descriptive about all his concerns and the issues that were effecting him (session A). This is significant because reflection is particularly important when a critical incident like this has been experienced, and a less reflective approach could lead to a less holistic or even inadvertently oppressive account of what had transpired (Ruch, 2002). Reflective Practice Different models of reflection supported me throughout the reflective process. Gibbs Model of Reflection (1988) and Atkin and Murphys Model of Reflection (1994) both promote a cyclical approach to reflection, whereby reflection is ongoing and not a linear process. I found this to be the case, as I did not move through stages of refection one after the other, but moved between them, often returning to my conceptual starting point multiple times before settling on a holistic understanding of an event or situation that incorporates all systems influencing that scenario. Keeping a reflective diary of critical issues and my own thought process encouraged me to construct my understanding of the work I was doing, and justify what actions I had taken (White, 2001). Support from colleagues and supervisors was also invaluable in this process (Ruch, 2002). Yip (2006) aptly notes that models like those described above are most useful when starting out the reflective process, and I quickly adapted and developed a model of reflection that was most appropriate for me. Social work has traditionally been constructed as the professional knowing best, and continues to be practised in a way where the practitioner holds most of the power (Holmes and Saleeby, 1993). The power dynamics are slightly different in a non-statutory setting like I was working in. However, these power dynamics cannot be ignored, and underline all social work practice.I acknowledged the inherent power dynamics from the inception of my interactions with JK. I recognised that where unequal power dynamics exist in a relationship, it is usually the partner with the most power that benefits most from the interaction (Milner and OByrne, 2002). This is why it is important for social workers to listen to the perspectives of the people with whom they work, and be willing to accept different paradigms than their own or the dominant paradigm (Milner and OByrne, 2002). When working with JK, I was made aware of his engagement with mental health services, usually provided through the medical professions. He had an allocated community psychiatric nurse (CPN) who would visit occasionally, and at times he also met with a psychiatrist. Throughout my social work education, the difference between the medical model and the social model of experiencing mental illness has been stressed to me, and I clearly saw this when working with JK. The historically oppressive nature of mental health services is widely recognised in literature (Szasz, 1961; Foucault, 1967), and JK expressed to me at times that he felt that he was not listened to by medical professionals, and just moved from service to service having things done to him, rather than with him. Tew (2005) noted that the in the social model of mental distress, core values required include looking at the person and their situation holistically, removing the us and them thinking that tends to dominate mental health services, listening to what people really have to say, and being committed to anti-oppressive practice. I found these to be very helpful in working with JK. During Session A, the fact that I chose to explore JKs mental distress alongside the other issues that were going on in his life allowed me to identify that his physical health, including intense back pain that he has been experiencing, was having a substantial effect on his mental health, and I encouraged him to seek help and support with this. JK clearly appreciated my anti-oppressive approach, where I tried to work with him in partnership, and he was always keen to know when we would meet next. There is a stigma attached to having a mental illness, and even when contact with services has ceased, that stigma usually persists (Miles, 2005). JK had clearly been the subject of this stigma throughout his life. Tew (2005) believes if mental health services were more receptive to the social model of looking at mental distress, then significant amounts of this stigma and the resultant oppression would be removed. Applying Theory to Practice An important part of reflection in social work is the application and consideration of theories in practice (Trevethick, 2012). The theory base of social work is essential to all the work that we do in practice (Teater, 2010). Social workers need to be prepared to critically reflect on the theory that they are bringing to practice. It has been noted that the theory base of social work is dominated by euro-centric discourse, meaning that certain paradigms or perspectives may be excluded unintentionally (Trevethick, 2012). Being from Nigeria originally, and coming from a different cultural background than myself, meant that I had to be particularly careful in applying theory to the work that I did with JK.However, it is also clear that practice cannot just be based on routine or habit, with no basis in evidence (Thompson, 2009). The increasing influence of post-modern theory, which does not promote one paradigm over another, but focuses on the subjective nature of truth, has helped to alleviate these issues in social work to some extent (Fook, 2012). Our agency worked with some of the most marginalised and vulnerable members of society, and engaging in uninformed work with these types of service users is a dangerous undertaking (Collingwood et al, 2008). Through active engagement with reflection, I was able to work with JK using an eclectic theory and knowledge base, but was also careful to note if JK was not comfortable with some aspects of my approach, and adjusted the approach accordingly. Working closely with JK over a period of several months supported me to be able to identify any issues quickly, and by the time I we were engaged in Session A, we had a good working relationship. Of particular importance when working with service users who have a dual diagnosis was systems theory, and I found this theory to be particularly important when reflecting on Session A. Healy (2005) has recognised that systems theory have been highly influential on the knowledge base of social work. As noted above, people experiencing problems with addiction tend to have other issues in other areas of their lives (Tober and Raistrick, 2004).I was able incorporate specific applications of systems theory for the service user group I was working throughout my placement, and in particular with JK. The Six Cornered Addictions Rescue System (SCARS) was useful in that it took into account a person who was dealing with an addictions situation holistically, rather than just focusing on the addiction in isolation (McCarthy and Galvani, 2004). In Session A this allowed me to see how JKs addiction and mental health problems were also linked to issues with accommodation, physical health, relationships and employment. What could have been done differently? I have discussed my work with JK, and reflected on specific incidents and issues with him. However, returning to Schon (1983), he notes that reflection takes place within our own understanding and the meaning that we attribute to an event, rather than within the event itself. Therefore, social workers need to look at their own underlying assumptions, as well as dominant social narratives, in order to shape their holistic understanding and experience of a given incident. Dewey (1993) recognised the importance of discovering new information in reflection. This can come from both internal sources (personal reconsideration) and external sources (professional support or research), and this new information can completely re-construct the way that an incident or event is considered, and change the narrative that we are engaged in. This is helpful in reconsidering an event, and determining whether something could have been done differently or better. In relation to Session A, one area that I reflected on was that I may have focused too much on theory when working with JK. It has been recognised in literature around theory in practice that overly focusing on theory when working with service users can actually hinder the work being done, as the service user can feel depersonalised (Parker, 2010). As noted above, this was particularly important in the case of JK, who was from a different culture than me. More time could have been spent on listening to JK and his perspective, rather than trying to fit him into a theory or model for the sake of evidencing my own case notes or reflective journals. I worked with JK very much in isolation. Although I met his CPN and his drug worker, at no stage was a multi-agency meeting held that I was invited to. To some extent, this was the fault of the other professionals, who did not consult me on the work they were doing with JK, and literature has noted that collaboration is particularly difficult when working with dual diagnosis service users, as mental health and addiction services can disagree over the correct course, or who should take the lead (Clement et al, 1993; Champney-Smith, 2004). However, I could have made more of an effort to engage with them, or at least discuss with JK how much consultation he would like me to have with those other workers. Suter et al (2009) have found that a willingness to communicate is a key characteristic needed for effective collaboration, and after the other professionals were not active in engaging with me, I lost this willingness, potentially to the detriment of my work with JK. It has to be noted that reflection is not always recognised as a self-evidently positive mechanism. There are critics of the way reflection is promoted in current practice environments, with some bemoaning the cult following that has developed around reflection in the social work sphere (Ixer, 1999: 513). Boud and Knight (1996) equally describe how reflection has come to be seen as self-evidently worthwhile without significant critique (p.32). Ixer (1999) recognises that focusing too much on assessing reflection can lead to a prescriptive approach to reflection that is uncompromising. I found this to be the case at times, when I was expected to write my reflections at a certain time, and have reflective supervision in a certain way. As well as this, having someone essentially assessing my reflection made this even more difficult, as I was not able to reflect in a way that was personal for me. Parker (2010) has noted that reflection is not something that can be assessed based on traditional reductionist techniques. Therefore, I found it important to not just reflect on my work and the working environment, but also the process of reflection itself. Conclusion The issues that social workers are engaged with, and that I have discussed here, do not only reflect the concerns of the service user, but are a reflection of the issues that are inherent in wider society (Davis, 2007). Unequal power dynamics, concerns around oppression and issues with stigma are all societal problems that social workers need to engage with not just on a micro-level, but also a macro-level. To some extent this is an area that I found reflection lacking in. I was able to look at my own practice, and my own assumptions and narratives; however, I was unable to determine how best to address wider inequality and societal oppression of people like JK. In this reflective essay, I have explored my practice setting in relation to a particular case study. I introduced the placement setting and the case study, and then looked at my experience of reflection within this setting. I discussed how I engaged with different models of reflection, experienced power dynamics, and explored different interpretations of mental distress. I then moved on to look at how reflection promoted me to engage with theory in practice, in particular in relation to systems theory. Finally, I used this reflection to look at things that I could have done differently, including a decreased focus on theory and engaging more with other services. This type of critical reflection should be ongoing for social workers in practice, and to some extent it would be difficult to work in a complex setting like I was without being reflective. Although I noted some areas I could have improved on in my interactions with JK, what was most apparent in my work with him was that my willingness to explore his paradigm and perspectives opened him up to engaging with me on a range of issues, that otherwise may have remained hidden. References Atkins, S. and Murphy, K. (1994) Reflective Practice, Nursing Standard8(39) 49-56. Banks, S. (2006) Ethics and Values in Social Work, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Cameron, A., Lart, R., Bostock, L. and Coomber, C. (2012) Factors that promote and hinder joint and integrated working between health and social care services, London: SCIE. Champney-Smith, J. (2004) Dual Diagnosis in T. Peterson and A. McBride (Eds.) Working with Substance Misusers: A Guide to Theory and Practice, London: Routledge. Clement, J., Williams, E. and Waters, C. (1993) The client with substance abuse/mental illness: Mandate for Collaboration Achieves of Psychiatric Nursing, 7(4), 189-196. Collingwood, P., Emond, R. and Woodward, R. (2008) The theory circle: A tool for learning and for practice Social Work Education, 27(1), 70-83. Davis, A, (2007) Structural Approaches to Social Work in J. Lisham (Ed.) Handbook for Practice Learning in Social Work and Social Care: Knowledge and Theory, London: JK. Dewey, J. (1993) How we Think: A restatement of the relation of reflective thinking to the education process, Boston: Health Publishing. DCruz, H., Gillingham, P. and Melendez, S. (2007) Reflexivity, its meanings and relevance for social work: A critical review of the literature British Journal of Social Work, 37, 73-90. Fook, J. (1999) Critical reflectivity in education and practice in B. Pears and J. Fook (eds) Transforming Social Work Practice: Postmodern Critical Perspectives, St Leonards: Allen and Unwin, 195-208. Fook, J. (2012) Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice, London: Sage. Fook J. and Gardner F. (2007) Practising Critical Reflection: A Resource Handbook, Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill. Foucault M. (1967) Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason, London: Tavistock. Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Healy, K. (2005) Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Holmes, G. and Saleeby, D. (1993) Empowerment, the Medical Model and the Politics of Clienthood, Journal of Progressive Human Services, 4(1), 61-78. Ixer, G. (1999) Theres no such thing as reflection British Journal of Social Work,29, 513-527. Knott, C. and Spafford, J. (2010) Getting Started in C. Knott and T. Scragg (eds.) Reflective Practice in Social Work, Exeter: Learning Matters. McCarthy, T. and Galvani, S. (2004) SCARS: A new model for social work with substance misuse  Practice, 16(2), 85-97. Milner, J. and OByrne P. (2002) Assessment in Social Work Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.Parker, J. (2010) Effective Practice in Social Work, Exeter: Learning Matters. Miles, A. (1987) The Mentally Ill in Contemporary Society, Oxford: Blackwell. Parker, J. (2010) Effective Practice Learning in Social Work, Exeter: Learning Matters. Ruch, G. (2002) From triangle to spiral: reflective practice in social work education, practice and research, Social Work Education, 21(2), 199-216. Schn, D. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner, New York: Basic Books. Schon, D. (2002) From technical rationality to reflection-in-action in R. Harrison, F. Reeve, A. Hanson and J. Clarke (eds) Supporting Lifelong Learning: Perspectives on Learning, London: Routledge. Szasz, T. (1961) The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct, London: Harper and Row. Teater, B. (2010) An Introduction to Applying Social Work Theories and Methods, Maidenhead: Open University Press. Tew, J. (2005) Social Perspectives in Mental Health London: Kingsley. Thompson, N. (2009) Practicing Social Work: Meeting the Professional Challenge, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Tober, G. and Raistrick, D. (2004) Organisation of Services Putting it all Together in T. Peterson and A. McBride (Eds.) Working with Substance Misusers: A Guide to Theory and Practice, London: Routledge. Trevithick, P. (2012) Social Work Skills: A Practice Handbook, Maidenhead: Open University Press. White, S. (2001) Auto-ethnography as reflexive enquiry: The research act as self-surveillance, in I. Shaw and N. Gould (eds), Qualitative Research in Social Work, London: Sage. Yip, K. (2006)Self-reflection in reflective practice: A note of caution British Journal of Social Work, 36(5), 777-788.

Shakespeares Othello - The Character of Iago :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

The Character of Iago in Othello  Ã‚      One of the most intriguing characters in the tragic play "Othello," by William Shakespeare, is Othello's "friend" Iago. At first glance, Iago seems to have no motive for the destruction he is causing. However, despite Iago's unquestionable malignancy, the motivation behind his actions lie more in Iago's quest for personal gain, as opposed to just being evil for evil's sake. In order to achieve his personal gain Iago manipulates Rodrigo, Cassio and, most importantly, Othello. Iago's main interest is the destruction of Othello. The reason being that Othello has chosen another man, Cassio, as his second-in-command, preferring him to Iago. This resentment, accompanied by Iago's fabricated accusations of adultery and his blatant racism, cause Iago to despise Othello, and shortly thereafter, begin to conspire against him. Instead of just killing Othello, Iago proceeds to attack him emotionally. Iago begins to manipulate the people around him in order to hurt Othello and make him think that his wife, Desdimona, and Cassio are having an affair. The first to fall victim to Iago's manipulation, is Rodrigo. Iago knows Rodrigo has feelings Desdemona, and would do anything to make her his own. Iago tells Rodrigo that the only way to win Desdemona's love, is to make money to procure gifts for her. "...put money in thy purse.." (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 339). However, Iago is just taking those gifts intended for Desdemona and keeping them for himself, and in doing so, making a substantial profit. "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse" (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 376). Rodrigo eventually starts to question Iago's honesty. When faced with this accusation, Iago simply offers that killing Cassio will aid his cause and the gullible Rodrigo falls for it. "I have no great devotion to the deed and yet he has given me satisfying reason," (Act 5, Scene 1, Line 8). In doing this, Iago keeps Rodrigo in the dark and continues to profit from him monetarily. Cassio, like Rodrigo, follows Iago blindly, thinking the whole time that Iago is trying to aid him , when in-fact, Iago, motivated by his lust for power, is attempting to depose Cassio of his position as lieutenant. Iago does this by getting Cassio drunk and causing him to get in a fight and disturb Othello, Othello then demotes Cassio of his rank as second-in-command thus securing the position for Iago.

Alice Walker :: essays research papers

†¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alice Walker was born on February 9, 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia. She was born into a poor sharecropper family, and the last of eight children. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the age of 8 she was accidentally shot in the eye by her brother and was blinded on one eye until she the age of 14 when she got an operation and regained some of her sight. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This experience made her very secluded and reserved. She thought a lot about suicide but found comfort in writing. She became an observer rather than a participator in everyday life. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alice Walker herself has said: â€Å"I believe it is from this period – from my solitary, lonely position, the position of an outcast – that I began really to se people and things, really to notice relationships and to learn to be patient enough to care about how they turned out...† †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  She was one out of only six black students at the Sarah Lawrence College in New York where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW has had some problems of her own; she was very depressed after an abortion in senior year at college. She slept with a razor under her pillow for three nights as she wanted to commit suicide. Instead she turned to writing and in a week she wrote the story â€Å"To Hell with Dying†. She only stopped writing to eat and sleep. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW always turned to writing when she was depressed, in these periods she got the greatest inspiration to her stories. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW and her ex-husband Melvyn Leventhal were the first legally married interracial couple to live in the state of Missisippi (married in 1967, divorced in 1976). They had a daughter, Rebecca. She later remarried fellow editor Robert Allen. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW was active in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. She has spoken for the women’s movement, the anti-apartheid movement, for the anti-nuclear movement and against female genital mutilation. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW calls herself â€Å"a womanist â€Å", her term for a black feminist. She is one of the female Afro-American writers founding the concept â€Å"New Black Renaissance† . Style †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW’s work is deeply rooted in oral tradition; in the passing on of stories from generation to generation in the language of the people. To AW the language had a great importance. She uses the â€Å"Slave language†, which by others is seen as â€Å"not correct language†, but this is because of the effect she wants the reader to understand. Alice Walker :: essays research papers †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alice Walker was born on February 9, 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia. She was born into a poor sharecropper family, and the last of eight children. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the age of 8 she was accidentally shot in the eye by her brother and was blinded on one eye until she the age of 14 when she got an operation and regained some of her sight. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This experience made her very secluded and reserved. She thought a lot about suicide but found comfort in writing. She became an observer rather than a participator in everyday life. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alice Walker herself has said: â€Å"I believe it is from this period – from my solitary, lonely position, the position of an outcast – that I began really to se people and things, really to notice relationships and to learn to be patient enough to care about how they turned out...† †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  She was one out of only six black students at the Sarah Lawrence College in New York where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW has had some problems of her own; she was very depressed after an abortion in senior year at college. She slept with a razor under her pillow for three nights as she wanted to commit suicide. Instead she turned to writing and in a week she wrote the story â€Å"To Hell with Dying†. She only stopped writing to eat and sleep. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW always turned to writing when she was depressed, in these periods she got the greatest inspiration to her stories. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW and her ex-husband Melvyn Leventhal were the first legally married interracial couple to live in the state of Missisippi (married in 1967, divorced in 1976). They had a daughter, Rebecca. She later remarried fellow editor Robert Allen. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW was active in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. She has spoken for the women’s movement, the anti-apartheid movement, for the anti-nuclear movement and against female genital mutilation. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW calls herself â€Å"a womanist â€Å", her term for a black feminist. She is one of the female Afro-American writers founding the concept â€Å"New Black Renaissance† . Style †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AW’s work is deeply rooted in oral tradition; in the passing on of stories from generation to generation in the language of the people. To AW the language had a great importance. She uses the â€Å"Slave language†, which by others is seen as â€Å"not correct language†, but this is because of the effect she wants the reader to understand.

The Profound Ideas of Honore de Balzacs Pere Goriot Essay -- Balzac P

The Profound Ideas of Honore de Balzac's Pere Goriot Honore de Balzac published Pere Goriot in 1834 (1), one of the outstanding novels in his panoramic study of Parisian life, the Human Comedy. Throughout Pere Goriot, Balzac's narrator oscillates between the roles of social historian and moralist. Although the presence of both observer and commentator may initially seem mutually exclusive, it also is a large part of what makes this novel interesting and entertaining. Balzac's readers, as flesh-and-blood humans, do not segregate perception and judgment routinely in their everyday lives. By packaging profound ideas in a way similar to natural human expectation, Balzac's narrator achieves an especially comfortable and effective rapport with readers. One of the central threads of Pere Goriot is the story of Eugene de Rastignac's rise from provincial obscurity to success in Paris. Along the way he learns much about Parisian society and human nature. In the following passage from Pere Goriot, Rastignac pursues success through fashionable dress: Eugene had begun to realize the influence a tailor can exercise over a young man's life. He is either a mortal enemy or a friend, and alas, there is no middle term between the two extremes. Eugene's tailor was one who understood the paternal aspect of his trade and regarded himself as a hyphen between a young man's past and future. The grateful Eugene was eventually to make the man's fortune by one of those remarks at which he was in later years to excel: "I know two pairs of his trousers that have each made matches worth twenty thousand francs a year." Fifteen hundred and fifty francs, and all the clothes he cared to have! At this point the poor southerner felt all doubts van... ...ank and the English mathematician Charles Babbage developed the "analytical engine", precursor to the modern computer. 2 This quote from Henry Reed's 1962 translation, pages 99-100. (Honore de Balzac. Pere Goriot. New York: Penguin Books, 1981) 3 The emphasis is mine. 4 Daedalus was a great inventor in Greek mythology who escaped from prison with his son, Icarus, by flying away on wings of feathers and wax. Not heeding the advice of his practical father, Icarus dared to fly close to the glorious sun. The wax wings melted, and Icarus plunged to his death in the sea below. 5 A corollary is that no one who hasn't been to the "provinces" knows a thing about human life, for a person who lives only in the city will also have a skewed perception. Work Cited Honore de Balzac. Pere Goriot. Translated by Henry Reed. New York: Penguin Books, 1981.

Pestle Analysis

PESTEL analysis of the macro-environment There are many factors in the macro-environment that will effect the decisions of the managers of any organisation. Tax changes, new laws, trade barriers, demographic change and government policy changes are all examples of macro change. To help analyse these factors managers can categorise them using the PESTEL model. This classification distinguishes between: . Political factors. These refer to government policy such as the degree of intervention (interference) in the economy. What goods and services does a government want to provide? To what extent does it believe in subsidizing (grants or loans) (buying) firms? What are its priorities in terms of business support? Political decisions can affect many important areas for business such as the education of the workforce, the health of the nation and the quality of the infrastructure of the economy such as the road and rail system. .Economic factors. These include interest rates, taxation changes, economic growth, inflation (price rise) and exchange rates. As you will see economic change can have a major impact on a firm's behaviour. For example: -higher interest rates may stop investment because it costs more to borrow? – a strong currency may make exporting more difficult because it may raise the price in terms of foreign currency? – inflation may lead to higher wage demands from employees and raise costs -? higher national income growth may increase demand for a firm's products . Social factors. Changes in social trends (fashion/lifestyle) can impact on the demand for a firm's products and the availability and willingness of individuals to work. In the UK, for example, the population has been ageing. This has increased the costs for firms who are committed to pension payments for their employees because their staffs are living longer. It also means some firms such as Asda have started to recruit older employees to tap into this growing labour pool. The ageing population also has impact on demand: for example, demand for sheltered accommodation and medicines have increased whereas demand for toys is falling. .Technological factors: new technologies create new products and new processes. MP3 players, computer games, online gambling and high definition TVs are all new markets created by technological advances. Online shopping, bar coding and computer aided design are all improvements to the way we do business as a result of better technology. Technology can reduce costs, improve quality and lead to innovation. These developments can benefit consumers as well as the organisations providing the products. .Environmental factors: environmental factors include the weather and climate change. Changes in temperature can impact on many industries including farming, tourism and insurance. With major climate changes occurring due to global warming and with greater environmental awareness this external factor is becoming a important issue for firms to consider. The growing desire to protect the environment is having an impact on many industries such as the travel and transportation industries (for example, more taxes being placed on air travel and the success of hybrid cars) and the general move towards more environmentally friendly products and processes is affecting demand patterns and creating business opportunities. Legal factors: these are related to the legal environment in which firms operate. In recent years in the UK there have been many significant legal changes that have affected firms' behaviour. The introduction of age discrimination (discrimination definition: where u make fun and not treat someone right because of their background, colour, how they look or age) and disability discrimination legislation, an increase in the minimum wage and greater requirem ents for firms to recycle are examples of relatively recent laws that affect an organisation's actions. Legal changes can affect a firm's costs (e. g. if new systems and procedures have to be developed) and demand (e. g. if the law affects the likelihood of customers buying the good or using the service). . Different categories of law include: .1) Consumer laws; these are designed to protect customers against unfair practices such as misleading descriptions of the product. .2) Competition laws; these are aimed at protecting small firms against discrimination by larger firms and checking that customers are not exploited by firms with control and power . ) Employment laws; these cover areas such as redundancy, dismissal, working hours and minimum wages. They aim to protect employees against the abuse of power by managers 4) Health and safety legislation; these laws are aimed at ensuring the workplace is as safe as is reasonably practical. They cover issues such as training, reporting accidents and the appropriate provision of safety equipment. http://www. scribd. com/doc/16171096/PESTEL- Framework-and-Porters-Five-Forces-Model

Osmosis Lab

Osmosis Lab March 22, 2013 Amanda L***** Introduction Transport into and out of your cells is important because without cellular transport, the cell could not move material into or out of the cell. This would lead to its inability to survive because cells must take in oxygen and food, and expel waste material that could inhibit the cell from performing in the body. A type of cell transport in particular is passive transport.Passive transport is a kind of  transport  by which  ions  or  molecules  move along a  concentration gradient, which means movement  from an area of  higher  concentration  to an area of  lower  concentration. Passive transport does not require an output of energy. There are 4 main types of passive transport: simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, filtration, and osmosis. In this lab, we are particularly looking at osmosis and how it affects plant and animal cells.Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeab le membrane. In part A of this lab, we submerged the eggs in vinegar overnight, followed by peeling the softened shells from the eggs carefully while trying not to break the membrane the next day. We then recorded any observations we made on the eggs including weight and appearance. Next, we recorded any observations we could make on the carrots and potatoes before we put them into their solution.We then placed the eggs(animal cells), carrots, and potatoes(plant cells) into their solutions and let them stand in their hypotonic and hypertonic solutions overnight followed by observing any changes in weight and appearance the next day. In Part B, we observed an onion cell exposed to distilled water under a microscope, and another onion cell exposed to a saturated salt solution, and drew the two different cells comparing the differences between their exposure to the hypotonic(water) and hypertonic(salt water, corn syrup) solutions. Part APurpose To observe the effects of hypotonic and h ypertonic solutions on plant and animal cells. Hypothesis I predict that the hypotonic solution will cause the plant and animal cells to enlarge due to the difference in concentration on the inside of the cells, and the hypertonic solutions will cause the cells to shrink due to absorption of water molecules in the cells. Materials * 400mL beakers (2) * Tap Water * Eggs (2) * Vinegar * Salt water * Carrots (2) * Corn syrup * Potato strips (2) Procedure Day 1 1. Submerge the eggs in vinegar in a beaker. May have to weigh them down) 2. Leave them undisturbed overnight. Day 2 3. Peel the softened shells from the egg carefully so as not to break the 3membrane. 4. Record any pertinent observations on the egg, carrot and potato strip. 5. Place one egg and carrot in a beaker of water. 6. Place potato strip in a test tube. 7. Place the carrot in a beaker of saturated salt water and use corn syrup for the other egg. 8. Place the second potato strip in a test tube of saturated salt water. 9. L abel the beakers and test tube and place in the cupboard overnight.Day 3 10. Record any pertinent observations. Observations Plant and Animal Cells in Hypertonic Solution: | Solution| Appearance/texture Before| Weight before(g)| Appearance/texture After| Weight After(g)| Egg 1 | Corn Syrup| -translucent-yellowish colour-soft | 77. 53| -opaque-white/yellow colour-feels firm| 51. 17| | | | | | | Carrot 1| Salt solution| -orange-sturdy| 2. 59| -orange-sturdier -appears slightly smaller| 2. 36| | | | | | | Potato 1| Salt solution| -yellowish colour-sturdy| 2. 92| -same colour-sturdier | 2. 85| | | | | | |Plant and Animal Cells in Hypotonic Solution(Distilled Water): | Weight Before(g)| Appearance/Texture After | Weight After (g)| Egg 2| 71. 82| -opaque-orange colour| 84. 10| Carrot 2| 2. 29| -orange colour-not as sturdy| 2. 52| Potato 2 | 2. 49| -yellowish colour-not as sturdy| 2. 98| Part B Purpose To observe changes in plant cells when they are placed in a hypotonic(distilled water) s olution and a hypertonic(saturated salt water) solution. Hypothesis I predict that the hypertonic solution will cause the water to leave the cell, shrinking it due to dehydration from the salt.Materials * Microscope * Microscope slide * Coverslip * Tap water * Saturated salt water * Onion Procedure 1. Prepare a wet mount using distilled water of a thin section of onion skin on a microscope slide. 2. View to draw one to two cells. Use magnification which shows the best detail. 3. Prepare another wet mount using the saturated salt solution instead of distilled water. 4. View and draw one to two cells. Use the same magnification you used for the first drawing. Observations Refer to onion cell drawings. AnalysisMy predictions were both correct in part A and in part B when I stated that the cells would shrink in the hypertonic solution and enlarge in the hypotonic solution. The reason this occurred was because when a cell is immersed into a hypertonic solution, the tendency is for water to flow out of the cell in order to balance the concentration of the solute. When a cell is immersed in a hypotonic solution, it has a tendency to balance concentrations by water flowing into the cell, causing it to enlarge because of the lower concentration of solutes in its surroundings.None of the cells observed had the same weight when removed from their solution meaning they were not isotonic. Had they been isotonic, the solution would have no effect on the cells, therefore when placed in an isotonic solution the cells would tend to neither gain nor lose water. When observing the effects of hypotonic and hypertonic solutions on plant and animal cells, I came to the conclusion that the plant cells did not change much in weight. This is due to their cell walls which make it tougher for the cell to expand.The pressure exerted by water inside the cell against the cell wall is known as turgor pressure. In the drawing of the onion cell exposed to a hypertonic solution, the cell membr ane appeared to be shriveled up inside the cell wall due to its turgidity. Evaluation In part A, I did not experience any errors with the cells themselves, but potential sources of error could have been inaccurate measurements before and after placing the cells in their solution. Other potential sources of error could have occurred while peeling the shell off the egg, causing the membrane to break.In part B, I added too much distilled water to the slide making it difficult to get a good view of the onion cell exposed to the hypotonic solution. When performing a similar experiment in the future, I will be sure to add less drops with the eyedropper to the slide, enabling a clearer view of the cells I am observing. Application Questions 1. If the cells of a fresh water plant are placed in salt water, they will shrivel up due to the concentration difference between the salt water and the contents of the cell (cytoplasm). The water would escape the cell through osmosis causing it to dehy drate resulting in the shrinkage of the plant cell. . The fish that is used to salt water has high solutes and the freshwater is deficient of solutes, so when you place a  saltwater fish  in freshwater, the freshwater will move into the cells, causing them to swell and burst. 3. Grocery stores frequently spray the vegetables because the fresh water enters the plant cells through osmosis and makes them more turgid resulting in longer lasting freshness. 4. The use of road salt in the winter kills the plants alongside the road because the salt causes the cell to enter a hypertonic state. This causes the cytoplasm to move away from cell wall eventually making the plant shrivel up and die. Osmosis Lab Osmosis Lab March 22, 2013 Amanda L***** Introduction Transport into and out of your cells is important because without cellular transport, the cell could not move material into or out of the cell. This would lead to its inability to survive because cells must take in oxygen and food, and expel waste material that could inhibit the cell from performing in the body. A type of cell transport in particular is passive transport.Passive transport is a kind of  transport  by which  ions  or  molecules  move along a  concentration gradient, which means movement  from an area of  higher  concentration  to an area of  lower  concentration. Passive transport does not require an output of energy. There are 4 main types of passive transport: simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, filtration, and osmosis. In this lab, we are particularly looking at osmosis and how it affects plant and animal cells.Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeab le membrane. In part A of this lab, we submerged the eggs in vinegar overnight, followed by peeling the softened shells from the eggs carefully while trying not to break the membrane the next day. We then recorded any observations we made on the eggs including weight and appearance. Next, we recorded any observations we could make on the carrots and potatoes before we put them into their solution.We then placed the eggs(animal cells), carrots, and potatoes(plant cells) into their solutions and let them stand in their hypotonic and hypertonic solutions overnight followed by observing any changes in weight and appearance the next day. In Part B, we observed an onion cell exposed to distilled water under a microscope, and another onion cell exposed to a saturated salt solution, and drew the two different cells comparing the differences between their exposure to the hypotonic(water) and hypertonic(salt water, corn syrup) solutions. Part APurpose To observe the effects of hypotonic and h ypertonic solutions on plant and animal cells. Hypothesis I predict that the hypotonic solution will cause the plant and animal cells to enlarge due to the difference in concentration on the inside of the cells, and the hypertonic solutions will cause the cells to shrink due to absorption of water molecules in the cells. Materials * 400mL beakers (2) * Tap Water * Eggs (2) * Vinegar * Salt water * Carrots (2) * Corn syrup * Potato strips (2) Procedure Day 1 1. Submerge the eggs in vinegar in a beaker. May have to weigh them down) 2. Leave them undisturbed overnight. Day 2 3. Peel the softened shells from the egg carefully so as not to break the 3membrane. 4. Record any pertinent observations on the egg, carrot and potato strip. 5. Place one egg and carrot in a beaker of water. 6. Place potato strip in a test tube. 7. Place the carrot in a beaker of saturated salt water and use corn syrup for the other egg. 8. Place the second potato strip in a test tube of saturated salt water. 9. L abel the beakers and test tube and place in the cupboard overnight.Day 3 10. Record any pertinent observations. Observations Plant and Animal Cells in Hypertonic Solution: | Solution| Appearance/texture Before| Weight before(g)| Appearance/texture After| Weight After(g)| Egg 1 | Corn Syrup| -translucent-yellowish colour-soft | 77. 53| -opaque-white/yellow colour-feels firm| 51. 17| | | | | | | Carrot 1| Salt solution| -orange-sturdy| 2. 59| -orange-sturdier -appears slightly smaller| 2. 36| | | | | | | Potato 1| Salt solution| -yellowish colour-sturdy| 2. 92| -same colour-sturdier | 2. 85| | | | | | |Plant and Animal Cells in Hypotonic Solution(Distilled Water): | Weight Before(g)| Appearance/Texture After | Weight After (g)| Egg 2| 71. 82| -opaque-orange colour| 84. 10| Carrot 2| 2. 29| -orange colour-not as sturdy| 2. 52| Potato 2 | 2. 49| -yellowish colour-not as sturdy| 2. 98| Part B Purpose To observe changes in plant cells when they are placed in a hypotonic(distilled water) s olution and a hypertonic(saturated salt water) solution. Hypothesis I predict that the hypertonic solution will cause the water to leave the cell, shrinking it due to dehydration from the salt.Materials * Microscope * Microscope slide * Coverslip * Tap water * Saturated salt water * Onion Procedure 1. Prepare a wet mount using distilled water of a thin section of onion skin on a microscope slide. 2. View to draw one to two cells. Use magnification which shows the best detail. 3. Prepare another wet mount using the saturated salt solution instead of distilled water. 4. View and draw one to two cells. Use the same magnification you used for the first drawing. Observations Refer to onion cell drawings. AnalysisMy predictions were both correct in part A and in part B when I stated that the cells would shrink in the hypertonic solution and enlarge in the hypotonic solution. The reason this occurred was because when a cell is immersed into a hypertonic solution, the tendency is for water to flow out of the cell in order to balance the concentration of the solute. When a cell is immersed in a hypotonic solution, it has a tendency to balance concentrations by water flowing into the cell, causing it to enlarge because of the lower concentration of solutes in its surroundings.None of the cells observed had the same weight when removed from their solution meaning they were not isotonic. Had they been isotonic, the solution would have no effect on the cells, therefore when placed in an isotonic solution the cells would tend to neither gain nor lose water. When observing the effects of hypotonic and hypertonic solutions on plant and animal cells, I came to the conclusion that the plant cells did not change much in weight. This is due to their cell walls which make it tougher for the cell to expand.The pressure exerted by water inside the cell against the cell wall is known as turgor pressure. In the drawing of the onion cell exposed to a hypertonic solution, the cell membr ane appeared to be shriveled up inside the cell wall due to its turgidity. Evaluation In part A, I did not experience any errors with the cells themselves, but potential sources of error could have been inaccurate measurements before and after placing the cells in their solution. Other potential sources of error could have occurred while peeling the shell off the egg, causing the membrane to break.In part B, I added too much distilled water to the slide making it difficult to get a good view of the onion cell exposed to the hypotonic solution. When performing a similar experiment in the future, I will be sure to add less drops with the eyedropper to the slide, enabling a clearer view of the cells I am observing. Application Questions 1. If the cells of a fresh water plant are placed in salt water, they will shrivel up due to the concentration difference between the salt water and the contents of the cell (cytoplasm). The water would escape the cell through osmosis causing it to dehy drate resulting in the shrinkage of the plant cell. . The fish that is used to salt water has high solutes and the freshwater is deficient of solutes, so when you place a  saltwater fish  in freshwater, the freshwater will move into the cells, causing them to swell and burst. 3. Grocery stores frequently spray the vegetables because the fresh water enters the plant cells through osmosis and makes them more turgid resulting in longer lasting freshness. 4. The use of road salt in the winter kills the plants alongside the road because the salt causes the cell to enter a hypertonic state. This causes the cytoplasm to move away from cell wall eventually making the plant shrivel up and die. Osmosis Lab Name: ____Justine Basilone___ Osmotic Regulation Virtual Laboratory Biology Go to the following virtual laboratory: http://www. glencoe. com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/LS03/LS03. html Answer your questions in this word document, save the file and submit through Edmodo. Your answers should be at least 2 complete sentences if not more! Part I: Observations & Data: Read the Introductory information and the Procedure located in the window to the left of the screen and then perform the laboratory. For your convenience, the data table has been inserted below – fill this one in (the website tends to delete data): Molecules Name |Red Blood Cell: |Red Blood Cell: | | |Net Water Movement In / Out |Appearance of Cell | |Hypotonic Solution | |Blown up and fat | | |Moves in to red blood cell | | |Isotonic Solution | |Normal, did not appear different | | |Moves in and out of red blood cell | | |Hypertonic Solution | |Shriveled up | | |Moves out of red blood cell | | | Elodea: |Elodea: | | |Net Water Movement In / Out |Appearance of Cell | |Hypotonic Solution | |Gets bigger | | |Moves in to Elodea | | |Isotonic Solution | |Appears the same. | |Moves in and out of Elodea (stays the same) | | |Hypertonic Solution |Moves out of Elodea |The inside shrinks and gets smaller | | |Paramecium: |Paramecium: | | |Net Water Movement In / Out |Appearance of Cell | |Hypotonic Solution | |Paramecium blows up and gets bigger. | |Moves in to Paramecium | | |Isotonic Solution | |Seems to stay the same. | | |Moves in and out of Paramecium | | |Hypertonic Solution | |Shriveled up and makes the cell appear smaller. | | |Moves out of Paramecium | | Part II: Questions & Conclusions: 1) Did water move into the cells or out of the cells while they were surrounded by hypotonic solution?Water moved into all of the cells while they were surrounded by hypotonic solution. 2) In which direction did the water move through the cell membrane when the cells were surrounded by the hypertoni c solution? The direction that the water appeared to be moving through the cell membrane was both ways, in and out. 3) Compare and contrast what happens to an animal cell, a plant cell, and a Paramecium cell in a hypotonic, and isotonic, and a hypertonic solution. (Does the cell wall make a difference? ) What seemed to surprise me most is that no matter what cell was used each solution had the same effect of the cells, no matter what kind it was. So no, the cell wall does not appear to make a difference. ) Could Elodea or Paramecium from a freshwater lake be expected to survive if transplanted into the ocean? Explain. Since they both react the same to different solutions I do believe that it is possible for both cells to be transplanted in the ocean and survive. 5) If you were to grill a steak, would it be better to put salt on it BEFORE or AFTER you cooked it? Explain why, USING THE TERMS OF OSMOSIS from this activity. While grilling a steak it is better to put salt on it before yo u grill it so while it is grilling osmosis will occur and it will retain the salt. So instead of it just sitting on top of the steak it will be on the inside. Giving it more flavor of the salt while eating it. ) Why does salad become soggy and wilted when the dressing has been on it for a while? Explain why, in terms of osmosis. The reason why salad becomes soggy and wilted when dressing has been on it for a while is because as it is sitting there osmosis takes place and the salad begins to take in the moisture of the salad dressing, leaving it soggy and wilted. 7) An effective way to kill weeds is to pour salt water on the ground around the plants. Explain why the weeds die, using the principles discovered in this virtual lab. I believe that the weeds would die due to the fact that as the weeds take in what they think is just water only to later dry out by taking in the salt along with it using osmosis.