Monday, August 19, 2019

Womens Roles in The Yellow Wallpaper and The Withered Arm

Women's Roles in The Yellow Wallpaper and The Withered Arm In the late 19th century, women were expected to conform to the conventions of society. This meant that they were expected to get married young, pure and beautiful. They were treated like objects as if men bought them. How the woman felt was irrelevant in this period. Women were expected to produce an 'heir and a spare'. Women were also victim to double standards. For example, women had to deal with a child out of wedlock yet were given no responsibility for this. This contrasts strongly to a woman's role in society today. However, women are still expected to get married and give birth to a child. I am going to explore this issue in two short stories; The Yellow Wallpaper written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892, and The Withered Arm written by Thomas Hardy in 1887. The Yellow Wallpaper is about a women suffering from postnatal depression that is given the 'rest cure'. She feels trapped and eventually goes mad. The Withered Arm is about a milkmaid called Rhoda who had a child out of wedlock and has been excluded from society. The man with whom she had the child with gets married to a young girl who Rhoda resents and in a dream disfigures her arm. The young bride tries to cure her arm by touching a recently executed man who turns out to be Rhoda's son. The shock kills the young bride and the husband sees the error of his ways and soon dies himself. In The Withered Arm, Hardy portrays how negative life was for women in Victorian society. However, on the other hand, he clearly shows sympathy for the plight of women which suggests he had a desire for change. Hardy shows how the role of women in Victorian society was to get married. If... ...ath also forces Farmer Lodge to see the error of his ways. In The Yellow Wallpaper, The speaker defies the conventions of society by creeping around openly in front of John, however, in the same moment; she appears to have gone mad. This appears to be the only way out for her. Both stories symbolise how hard it was not to conform to society; a person died in one and in the other, a person went mad. They show that emancipation was almost impossible for a woman in Victorian times. The two stories use different narrative viewpoints. The Withered Arm uses the third person narration, which is seen to be more sympathetic towards the plight of women and more objective. The Yellow Wallpaper uses the first person narration, which seems less convincing and bias, however it also symbolises the aloneness of the speaker and her lack of voice empathises her plight.

Goals :: essays papers

Goals In many people lives, there are many different interests. This mean that a person may give special attention to something that they love to do in life. In most cases, that person would work very hard to accomplish their hearts desire. However, a person may feel life has nothing to offer him, or her in this world; People who think this way are either ignorant or are deceiving themselves. In fact, everyone should want to have a purpose or a goal in life. My goal in life is to become a better person in everything I do. In order for me to do so, I must create steps to accomplish this. By doing so I would have to work hard to reach these goals. One of my interests is to become a professional singer. Pursuing this, I made several steps a head. I went to Erasmus Hall High School and majored in music. Professionally had my voice trained to hit various Octaves. I also sung with different types of groups and meet famous gospel artists. I would say that I'm on a great start having this as a career. These are just some of the steps that I've made so far in becoming a professional singer. Another career goal is to get a good paying job. I plan to use typing to help me accomplish this. It would also help me with PC programming and office skills. I am also learning how to build computers from scratch. A friend is teaching my husband and I how to build a computer. Besides my friend, I also read books and witch video tapes that explain how to build a computer. As you can see I have a number of different goals I want to accomplish; but I have to keep telling myself that I am one person, and I can only do but so many things at one time.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Mongolian History :: essays research papers

Mongolia RISE OF GHENGIS (Chinggis) KHAN After the migration of the Jurchen, the Borjigin Mongols had emerged in central Mongolia as the leading clan of a loose federation. The principal Borjigin Mongol leader, Kabul Khan, began a series of raids into Jin in 1135. In 1162 (some historians say 1167), Temujin, the first son of Mongol chieftain Yesugei, and grandson of Kabul, was born. Yesugei, who was chief of the Kiyat subclan of the Borjigin Mongols, was killed by neighboring Tatars in 1175, when Temujin was only twelve years old. The Kiyat rejected the boy as their leader and chose one of his kin instead. Temujin and his immediate family were abandoned and apparently left to die in a semi-desert, mountainous region. Temujin did not die, however. In a dramatic struggle described in The Secret History of the Mongols, Temujin, by the age of twenty, had become the leader of the Kiyat subclan and by 1196, the unquestioned chief of the Borjigin Mongols. Sixteen years of nearly constant warfare followed as Temujin consolidated his power north of the Gobi. Much of his early success was because of his first alliance, with the neighboring Kereit clan, and because of subsidies that he and the Kereit received from the Jin emperor in payment for punitive operations against Tatars and other tribes that threatened the northern frontiers of Jin. Jin by this time had become absorbed into the Chinese cultural system and was politically weak and increasingly subject to harassment by Western Xia, the Chinese, and finally the Mongols. Later Temujin broke with the Kereit, and, in a series of major campaigns, he defeated all the Mongol and Tatar tribes in the region from the Altai Mountains to Manchuria. In time Temuj in emerged as the strongest chieftain among a number of contending leaders in a confederation of clan lineages. His principal opponents in this struggle had been the Naiman Mongols, and he selected Karakorum (west-southwest of modern Ulaanbaatar, near modern Har Horin), their capital, as the seat of his new empire. In 1206 Temujin's leadership of all Mongols and other peoples they had conquered between the Altai Mountains and the Da Hinggan (Greater Khingan) Range was acknowledged formally by a council of chieftains as their khan. Temujin took the honorific chinggis, meaning supreme or great (also romanized as genghis or jenghiz), creating the title Chinggis Khan, in an effort to signify the unprecedented scope of his power.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

The Lost Generation

Both Remarque’s â€Å"All Quiet on the Western Front† and Hemingway’s â€Å"The Sun Also Rises† relate to the theme of hopelessness during the lost generation. Remarque’s story is set during the war from a younger German soldier, Paul, through him the suffering and difficulties are presented as fruitless and with out a main goal to look forward to when they return home. Throughout the military travels of the younger soldiers like Paul, Remarque’s view on wars disadvantages on people are clearly stated through the eyes of Paul. Towards the end of his life, he grows happy to die and is glad to pass away from all the pain emotionally and physically he and his comrades had to endure during the battle. Carrying on through the book is the sense of empty hopelessness that nothing will become good and there is nothing to look forward to after their arrival home. On the other side, Hemingway’s older veteran characters, Jake and Brett, play the role of two empty people who are looking for direction in life after the devastating war. Jake however becomes a redeemable character through his journey to overcome his psychological and physical damage from the war and gains sympathy. However Brett does not earn any more respect or accomplishes any growth in overcoming her war wounds. This takes its own path in the end when Jake moves on from Brett’s taunting attitudes and starts to gain his balance in life again. Hemingway’s hopelessness is conveyed more positively than Remarque’s critical outlook on war. Throughout both book the characters struggle with their emotional difficulties to stay attuned to their prewar lives and struggle with hope for the future. However Hemingway takes the path of a more positive ending while Remarque creates a happy doom for his brave, suffering characters. There are many parallels between the characters in each book enough though the themes and perspectives are entirely different. The main point serves the same purpose, whereas the lost generation was hopeless unless they rarely saw a glimpse of the future after recovery. The tone of the overall book has an almost empty and predictable attitude about it, the men have no hope for themselves, and they do not convey a sense of need to get home or to survive but merely to continue to take orders until the end. The hopelessness conveyed by the characters in â€Å"All Quiet on the Western Front† is the kind of hopelessness when you know you cannot personally change the outcome of your fate knowing the future results in death. Most of the reality of the brutal war is exposed through battles or bluntly stated by another distraught soldier. A sense of urgency is not present when knowing that at any moment a comrade could be returning with â€Å"screams of intolerable pain. [Knowing] every day that he can live will be howling [with] torture† (72). The lack of urgency communicates that death is a causal event during war and the witnesses are used to the terrible sight of mangled or dead bodies. Some even accept that they will one day become like those they see in pain and fear life over death. â€Å"Every face can be read† on the appearance of each soldier who knows they are subject to the â€Å"embrace† of â€Å"the front† (53). Faces can easily be read because the same fate awaits all the soldiers, death and no hope. The characters see no future and are trudging along in an empty cycle. The circle is completed with unfilled desires to keep living when the discovery of Paul with â€Å"his face [of calm expression] as though almost glad the end had come† establishes that he was happy to leave pain, suffering and damaged forthcoming opportunities to a peaceful afterlife (296). The lost generation shared a â€Å"common fate [which] ruined [them] for everything† upcoming in the future to better their lives such as a family or a job offer as mentioned by various characters but created disappointment at the realization their dreams would not come true. This contributed to the plummeting feelings the lost generation carried with them. Hemingway disguises his characters want for redemption and amount of hopelessness they feel. The book has a more up beat consistency than â€Å"All Quiet on the Western Front† and more is said in what the Jake is not saying than what he and Brett bluntly state. Brett cannot be with Jake because she would â€Å"tromper† or commit adultery since Jake cannot satisfy her needs sexually (62). Instead Jake secretively takes a prostitute out to dinner but ends up dumping her on his friends while he leaves with Brett. Jake did not sleep with the prostitute, Georgette, because he felt ashamed and helpless about his physical injury from the war. He does not feel man enough to sleep with a prostitute, he feels discouraged about his future plans and ability to gain happiness as part of the lost generation. To fill the void opened from war, Jake, Brett and their comrades drink to escape their persisting troubles and pains. Jake has a miserable life and to make it better he finds it easier to get drunk and not fix his problems. â€Å" ‘Don’t get drunk, Jake,’ she [Brett] said. ‘You don’t have to. ’†¦ ‘Don’t,’ she said. You’ll be alright. ’† Brett reassures Jake (245). The pain and emptiness ceases with alcohol and distracts from the wars wounds. Contrasting to Paul and the other lost generation soldiers in â€Å"All Quiet on the Western Front†, Jake proves he is able to redeem himself and looks to the future. Ja ke uses religion as a parallel to his emotional stability. When starting out Jake was not religious and just went through the movements of going to church and â€Å"being a good Catholic†, however as he progresses he finds that he should care more about religion and has a want to be more involved. The parallel of him wanting to be more involved is when he breaks away from Brett and starts off new; and for the first time believes in his future after he returned from the war. Jake’s break through occurred when he â€Å"stoop up, gripped with [his] toes on the edge of the raft as it tipped with [his] weight, and dove cleanly and deeply, to come up through the lightening water, blew the salt water out of [his] head, and swam slowly and steadily to shore† (242). As Jake comes out of the water, he symbolizes a baptism and the rebirth of himself into a more understanding and less negative man. Along with becoming less frightened of the future Jake was able to let go of Brett and her ability to draw men in. He finally cleansed himself of her and his past troubles and looks to days ahead. Rarely does Jake interact with a genuine character, more often does he associates with deceptive, greedy, manipulative or mean people of the lost generation. The main character that is sympathetic is Jake, he battles the most with his physical injury and because of that, Brett puts him through emotional misery. Even as Brett â€Å"kissed [Jake he] could tell she was thinking of something else† and finally understood that she just used him for her own personal benefit (245). After his â€Å"baptism† Jake was close to moving on from Brett and almost did until she pulled him back in again. The fact that Brett is thinking about someone else is the last straw for Jake and he is done with her. From this kiss on, Jake is cold and a little immature towards Brett. This signifies his final connection with her emotionally and he takes steps to begin a new life. Brett consciously talks bout her other men with Jake while she knows how he feels about her. She almost flaunts them in front of Jake by complimenting them saying â€Å"he’s my sort of thing† (247). Brett is attracted to the bad boys who show her attention but aren’t controlling. She disregards Jake as a candidate for her commitment and love since he cannot satisfy her sexually; she only uses him emotionally t hen ditches him when a better offer comes along. She is aware she cannot be with him and it hurts him to see her go off with men, however she does nothing to change this. She even goes as far as to bring the men over to Jake’s place to have a drink. Because of her blatant disrespect for anyone but herself she is not a redeemable character and no sympathy is given to her. Jake is the only character that deserves sympathy while Brett does not even deserve respect from Jake. Similar to sympathy, Jake becomes a redeemable character towards the end of his journey with Brett after the war. He clearly stands opposed to Brett who is neither sympathetic nor redeemable. During Jake’s baptism and revelation, he proves to want to redeem himself, if not to others at least to himself. He is aware that he is not the most religious man but tries to convince himself otherwise to morally feel better. Jake is Catholic and by the end of the book becomes more religious and understands the meaning of religion rather than just going through the motions at church. He values the importance of God when Brett states she does not really care for him or religion since it’s a waste of her time. Jake at least holds on to that the whole book and increases his religious activities and symbolism towards the end. Not only does Jake morally and mentally redeem himself but he also redeems his time wasted on Brett. One of their last interactions Jake unmistakably communicates his annoyance and irritation with Brett, â€Å" ‘You like to eat, don’t you? ’ she said. ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I like to do a lot of things. ’ â€Å" (250). Jake becomes fed up with Brett’s constant lack of acknowledgement that he is always there for her and not some one to use when her love life is not thriving. He grows tired of constant games and realizes there is nothing left for them together. After more small talk is exchanged between the two, Jake is ready to let her go for good and finally gains enough confidence that everything will be okay with out Brett. Brett tries to make herself sound more appealing to Jake by explaining, â€Å"it makes one feel rather good deciding not to be a bitch† (249). Other than making the decision to not be a bitch, Brett makes no other attempt to redeem herself or acknowledge that she played with Jake’s feelings and ruined part of his life for holding on to him for such a long time. She cannot get over her self absorption to realize she messes with men for her own benefit whether it be money or sex, and doesn’t care who she hurts along the way, mainly Jake. There is no evidence that she is a redeemable, sympathetic or a caring character. Although she has issues because she, too, is considered the lost generation, that does not give her the right to act above everyone else and hurt Jake. Jake also traumatized by the war does not use women to make Brett jealous or ever hurts her. He is always there when he is needed to support her dramatic lifestyle. Brett has no compassion for anyone but herself therefore making her unredeemable and Jake redeemable. Although each stories have their differences in almost all aspects there is one overall main point: the lost generation was hopeless and it was a difficult time for those people. Each book expresses the same bigger picture but is differently executed. Jake’s tone which represents the overall feel of the book communicates the idea of a ghostly and missing man looking for a happier path in life to escape his sadness and pain. He rarely finds little pleasures and mostly describes scenes as dark or dark imagery, only a few times is light mentioned when redemption or renewal of a character is occurring. Paul’s description of the war gives off a more pessimistic tone as he always comes back to the idea that the lost generation has nothing to return to at home. However he finds simple pleasures more enjoyable and tries to make the most of them. Both characters portray a sense of despair and loss of direction in life but differently executed. Hemingway chooses to exhibit his characters as striving to change their lives while Remarque’s turns negatively towards death and meaninglessness. Hemingway does not refer to the war but instead barely mentions it or Jake will see military like actions between people symbolizing the war and the lost generation. The fact that Hemingway does not mention the war, yet the book is about war, further proves that in Hemingway’s writing, what is not being said is more important. The tone is important to both novels to relay the same message but entirely different outcomes and themes. The lost generation was a sad hopeless group of veterans who, if not killed, had to aimlessly go through life feeling like there was no purpose or they didn’t belong. Hemingway and Remarque’s classic novels illustrate the hard times during and after the war and the many similarities that are present.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Promote communication Essay

In this assignment I will be identifying systems that promote communication and assessing my knowledge, understanding and skills required to develop communication systems for meeting individual outcomes. Your ability to communicate is about delivering your message clearly and understandably to others in order to achieve good communication skills. Communication is very important as day to day we are always communicating or using communication techniques to communicate with others. Our body position and what we do with our body is also a way of communicating for example if someone asks you a question and the reply is yes or no we can answer this by shaking our heads which is communicating back to them with the answer but without speaking. In society today we have so many more ways of communicating than we did 50 years ago such as mobile phone, internet access, writing letters etc these are all ways we can communicate and what we do in our day to day lives. I personally work in a small residential home where communication is a key factor in my day to day job role, we are all expected to follow and provide the best communication we can. My job role is very much involved with the clients in which I am always communicating in different ways to meet their individual needs. Some of my clients have different impairment needs for example some have visual impairments and some have hearing impairments which makes it harder for them to communicate with others and can leave the clients feeling very frustrated and lonely if they feel that they cannot communicate with people, eventually it may make them want to give up trying and then they become feeling all alone and not having their needs met. This is why my job is very important by having good communication skills I can meet all their needs and communicate with them and they are able to communicate back to me. Day by day I’m still learning new techniques and skills in order to communicate and make the clients feel better in themselves as I can communicate with them in a way they can understand and not find it difficult for them, for example I have one client which has an hearing impairment and finds it very difficult to communicate with others although client A has an hearing aid client A still has trouble to communicate, in order for me to communicate with client A I often use icture cards which I can hold up and show to client A for example I hold up a picture of a drink or food then by doing this I know if client A wants any and then they can respond to me either by speaking to me or shaking their head. This makes client A feel wanted and not that they are being left out and not being spoken to I also hold cards up of a toilet, the words hot and cold and much more, client A likes the idea of pictures cards and never knew we could do this until they came to stay with us, so where they thought they would move into a care setting and nobody would communicate with them, client A was very relieved that pictures card where invented. I felt good in myself when I was providing this communication as I knew I was doing something which was making a client feel better in themselves and made it very rewarding for me. I also use techniques like signs, symbols and objects in order to communicate with the clients with hearing impairments. However in my work place I have a few clients with slight hearing impairments where they can hear me if I higher the tone of my voice slightly and they also lip read which can also be classed as a way of communicating. I find using these communication techniques helps not only the clients but also me as when I’m promoting communicating with them I feel rewarded and good about myself knowing that my clients are happy and getting what they wish. Writing information or certain things down is one way I have also found is an effective way of communicating especially times like meal times when I can write down the options available and then the client can respond to me with their answer once they have read what I have written down. I think anyone with communication barriers will find it difficult to communicate but there is always a way to outcome the situation and work around it for example client B’s first language was not English which made it hard for client B to communicate with others around the home even though he could speak slight English the other clients found it hard, we overcome this situation as we got a translator in for a little while each week which made client B’s English more sufficient in order for everyone to be able to communicate with client B a little better, now I hear client B having full conversations with others which makes us feel better as a home knowing we promoted this communication. Clients with visual impairments must find it really difficult to try and communicate with others as not only can they not see the person, they do not know where the person is positioned and sometimes who they are (if they have never met the person before). This is why it is very important to always be at the same level as the person you are trying to communicate with for example if a client is sitting down then the carer is expected to kneel down to the clients eye level and communicate with them face to face and not stand above them and have to shout in order for them to understand you. In a care setting communication should always be at the top of the priority list as if the clients are not being communicated with then their day to day basic needs are not being met.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Financial Management – Meaning, Objectives and Functions

Meaning of Financial Management Financial Management means planning, organizing, directing and controlling the financial activities such as procurement and utilization of funds of the enterprise. It means applying general management principles to financial resources of the enterprise. Scope/Elements Investment decisions includes investment in fixed assets (called as capital budgeting). Investment in current assets are also a part of investment decisions called as working capital decisions.Financial decisions – They relate to the raising of finance from various resources which will depend upon decision on type of source, period of financing, cost of financing and the returns thereby. Dividend decision – The finance manager has to take decision with regards to the net profit distribution. Net profits are generally divided into two: Dividend for shareholders- Dividend and the rate of it has to be decided. Retained profits- Amount of retained profits has to be finalized whi ch will depend upon expansion and diversification plans of the enterprise.Objectives of Financial Management The financial management is generally concerned with procurement, allocation and control of financial resources of a concern. The objectives can be- To ensure regular and adequate supply of funds to the concern. To ensure adequate returns to the shareholders which will depend upon the earning capacity, market price of the share, expectations of the shareholders. To ensure optimum funds utilization. Once the funds are procured, they should be utilized in maximum possible way at least cost. To ensure safety on investment, i. , funds should be invested in safe ventures so that adequate rate of return can be achieved. To plan a sound capital structure-There should be sound and fair composition of capital so that a balance is maintained between debt and equity capital. Functions of Financial Management Estimation of capital requirements: A finance manager has to make estimation wi th regards to capital requirements of the company. This will depend upon expected costs and profits and future programmes and policies of a concern. Estimations have to be made in an adequate manner which increases earning capacity of enterprise.Determination of capital composition: Once the estimation have been made, the capital structure have to be decided. This involves short- term and long- term debt equity analysis. This will depend upon the proportion of equity capital a company is possessing and additional funds which have to be raised from outside parties. Choice of sources of funds: For additional funds to be procured, a company has many choices like- Issue of shares and debentures Loans to be taken from banks and financial institutions Public deposits to be drawn like in form of bonds.Choice of factor will depend on relative merits and demerits of each source and period of financing. Investment of funds: The finance manager has to decide to allocate funds into profitable v entures so that there is safety on investment and regular returns is possible. Disposal of surplus: The net profits decision have to be made by the finance manager. This can be done in two ways: Dividend declaration – It includes identifying the rate of dividends and other benefits like bonus. Retained profits – The volume has to be decided which will depend upon expansional, innovational, diversification plans of the company.Management of cash: Finance manager has to make decisions with regards to cash management. Cash is required for many purposes like payment of wages and salaries, payment of electricity and water bills, payment to creditors, meeting current liabilities, maintainance of enough stock, purchase of raw materials, etc. Financial controls: The finance manager has not only to plan, procure and utilize the funds but he also has to exercise control over finances. This can be done through many techniques like ratio analysis, financial forecasting, cost and p rofit control, etc

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Hum 176 Sylabus

The course provides an introduction to the most prominent forms of media that influence and impact social, business, political, and popular culture in contemporary America. It explores the unique aspects of each medium as well as interactions across various media that combine to create rich environments for information sharing, entertainment, business, and social interaction in the U. S. and around the world. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. †¢Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies govern ing your current class modality. Course Materials Campbell, R. , Martin, C. R. , & Fabos, B (2012) Media & culture: An introduction to mass communication (8th. New York, NY: Bedford/St. Martin’s. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: The Formative Influence of Mass Media on American Culture DetailsDuePoints Objectives1. 1. Summarize the evolution of mass media. 1. 2. Identify the effects of mass media on American culture. ReadingRead Ch. 1 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"The Media and Democracy† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Agenda Setting and Gate-Keeping† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions listed below. 15 Week One DQ#1Do traditional media have an advantage over emerging media? If so, what are they? If not, why not? Week One DQ#2 The Internet has provided many forms of social media and new forms are continuously emerging. Which forms of social media do you use on a regular basis and why? Are there any social media that you previously used but no longer use? If so, why? If not, why not? Week One DQ#3 Identify a single type of media (Internet, social media, newspaper, magazine, radio, or television) and describe the changes that have occurred to that type of media over the last 5 to 10 years.What implications so you see for the next 5 years? Explain. Week One DQ#4 If you were a reporter with access to all forms of media distribution, which do you choose first to tell a story? Why? How you might have answered this question differently 20 years ago? Week One DQ#5 In the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, television news was broadcast by three major television networks. There were practically no opportunities to â€Å"talk back† to the television. Now, through the Internet, there are many ways to respond to both television and Internet news. Do you think this has had a positive or negative effect on A merican culture?Why? Week One DQ#6 Is new media â€Å"mass† or not? Why? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsMass Media: Research the evolution of mass media, which has changed significantly over the last 100 years. Some forms of mass media have changed so much that they are almost unrecognizable. What are the implications of these changes? How do you see these changes continuing to change the industry? Briefly describe how this activity applied to the weekly concepts. Mass Media Effects on American Culture:Choose an aspect of American life or culture that is or has been influenced by mass media. What are the effects of this influence? What effects does the media influence have on that part of the culture? Is this beneficial? Explain. Assignment Effects of Mass Media WorksheetResources: Week One Readings and Videos Compose answers to fill in the Effects of M ass Media Worksheet. 50 Week Two: Critical Approaches to Mass Media DetailsDuePoints Objectives2. 1. Explain the implications of media convergence, in terms of both technology and business. 2. 2. Identify issues resulting from dependency on mass media. . 3. Describe the value of media literacy. ReadingRead Ch. 1 and 2 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Going Viral: Political Campaigns and Video† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Tablets, Technology, and the Classroom† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"The Impact of Media Ownership† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Two DQ#1 From your own experience, think of an example in which the media have been accused of unfairness. Draw on comments from parents, teachers, religious leaders, politicians, and so forth.Do you think these criticisms were justified? Why, or why not? Week Two DQ#2 Although in some ways postmodern fo rms of communication, such as e-mail, smartphones, and Twitter, have helped people participate in global life, do you think these media have also caused harm to traditional or native cultures? If so, how and why? If not, why not? Week Two DQ#3 How would you define media literacy? What do you think it would take to be considered â€Å"media literate†? Week Two DQ#5 Imagine that you are in a situation for an extended period of time without access to mass media. Would your life style be significantly different?Explain. Week Two DQ#6 According to the textbook, which form of media convergence, technology or business, has the most influence on your news consumption? Why? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsMedia Convergence: The term media convergence refers to the merging of media content. One definition applies to technology, and the second refers to business: c orporate media conglomerates (see Ch. 1 & 12). Research the implications of this latter phenomenon.What conflicts of interest could occur within media conglomerates, and how could such conflicts affect society’s media consumption? Briefly describe how this activity applied to the weekly concepts. Mass Media: Consider the many different mass media resources for gathering information, such as the Internet, radio, television, and so on. If you were to obtain information from only one of the sources, would your information be reliable and accurate? Why or why not? Assignment Media Convergence WorksheetResources: Week Two readings and videos Compose answers to fill in the Media Convergence Worksheet. 50Week Three: The Significance of the Internet and the Digital Age DetailsDuePoints Objectives3. 1. Explain the implications of easily obtainable information in the digital age. 3. 2. Assess credibility issues regarding information on the Internet. 3. 3. Explain the concept of the dig ital divide. ReadingRead Ch. 2, 11, 13 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"User-Generated Content† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Net Neutrality† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Three DQ#1 Do you think the Internet can make democracy work better?If so, how? If not, why not? Week Three DQ#2 Do you think the Internet has a significant influence on political campaigns? Why or why not? Week Three DQ#3 Do you think the concentration of media ownership limits the number of voices in the marketplace? Explain. Week Three DQ#4 How do you know whether you can trust Wikipedia or another online resource? Week Three DQ#5 The digital divide refers to people that have access to digital media versus those that do not. Are people who do not have a smartphone at a disadvantage (that is, are they on the wrong side of the digital divide)? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsArtists in the Digital Age: The Internet allows for numerous ways for the public to obtain music without paying for it. The Internet also provides numerous ways for artists to promote tours, new music, and memorabilia. Do you think the Internet has created more harm than good to artists in the music industry? Explain your answer. Ethical Responsibilities: What are the ethical responsibilities of Internet users? Include at least two basic ethical responsibilities to which Internet users should always adhere.Do you practice specific manners or â€Å"netiquette† during online interactions that you also expect from others? What kinds of ethical compliance do you expect in online transactions? Assignment Internet and Information PaperYour pen pal from a part of the world that lacks ready access to the Internet has written you a letter and asks you to explain several concep ts. Hello, I hear so many good things and am so fascinated with what you can do with the Internet. Finding all this information so quickly must make your life very easy. But please tell me: how do you assess the value of all this information you find on the Internet?How can you be sure that it is reliable and credible? Also, I have heard the term â€Å"digital divide. † What exactly does it mean, and how do you think this divide could be bridged? Thank you for helping me to understand these issues! Best regards, Your friend Resources: Week Three Readings and Videos Write a 700-to 1,050-word letter in which you respond to your friend’s questions. 50 Week Four: The Role of Social Media and Virtual Networks DetailsDuePoints Objectives4. 1. Explain the role of social media and virtual networks in a broader media culture. 4. 2. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of social media.ReadingRead Ch. 11 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"The Rise of Social Media† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Four DQ#1 The Week Four Toolwire Learnscape explores the effectiveness of using social media to bring attention to WhizBang Games. In general, do you think the benefits outweigh the problems of publicizing any business in this way? Why, or why not? Week Four DQ#2 Social media appears to add different benefits and values. What benefits do social media offer for your personal use?What type of negative experiences, if any, have you had from social media? Compare your answers with those of your classmates. How do they differ? Week Four DQ#3 Do you think virtual interactive communities are genuine communities? Why, or why not? Week Four DQ#4 Given the trends in online gaming, what roles beyond entertainment do you see for gaming in the near future? Week Four DQ#5 Do you think the makers of violent and sexually themed games should be held responsible for the behavior of those who play them? Why, or why not? How much responsibility do parents have in allowing children exposure to these sources?Week Four DQ#6 At what age do you think is appropriate for a child to have access to social media? Why? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsControversial Issue in Gaming: In this week’s Toolwire ® Learnscape, you meet with advertisers for the game you are promoting for WhizBang. You must provide the VP with details regarding controversial issues in electronic gaming. What are the most controversial issues in electronic gaming today? Mass Media Posters:Social media has grown over the last few years, infiltrating many different categories of people. Choose an age group that you can identify with. Create two posters, using Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® slides, depicting the advantages and the disadvantages of social medi a on society. Take into consideration the effect that social media has on your age group. Share your two posters with your class as a reply to this thread. Read through your classmates’ posters and comment on the ideas expressed in the posters. Assignment Social Media AssignmentChoose one of the following options:Option 1: Toolwire ®: Examining the Use of Social Media Access the Toolwire ® Learnscape: Examining the Use of Social Media through the link located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities. Complete the Toolwire ® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Write 250 word response to each of the following questions: †¢What are the advantages and disadvantages of social media? †¢How might knowing these advantages and disadvantages alter how a person might use social media? Option 2: Social Media Paper Write 700- to 1,050-word paper and address each of the following: Identify at least three different social media networks and describe ho w they are used. †¢Explain the advantages and disadvantages of social media. †¢Explain how knowing the advantages and disadvantages might alter how a person would use social media. Support your findings with specific examples. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. 100 Week Five: The Impact of Audio Entertainment: Music and Radio DetailsDuePoints Objectives5. 1. Explain the reflective relationship between American culture and the audio entertainment media. 5. 2. Assess how music and radio have affected American values. 5. 3.Analyze the influence of music and radio on social behavior. ReadingRead Ch. 6 and 7 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"Recording Music Today† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Alternative Strategies for Music Marketing† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Radio: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Going Visual: Video, Radio, and the Web† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Five DQ#1 Over the last century, do you think music has changed from being about artistic expression to being more about money and business?Why or why not? Week Five DQ#2 Is it possible for a band or artist to make topical or political commentary in a song today while focusing on turning a profit? Week Five DQ#3 Can you think of a particular song or album that strongly affected your understanding of culture and society? If so, how did it do so? If not, why don’t you think you had that experience? Week Five DQ#4 Should National Public Radio (NPR), a source for news, commentary, and culture, continue to receive public funding? Why, or why not? Week Five DQ#5 Which of the two do you think had more influence on American culture: rock usic of the ’70s or talk radio of the ’90s? Why? Week Five DQ#6 What artists and bands have had the greatest effect on popular culture? Explain why. Do you t hink the changing genre of popular music influences the culture of different eras? If so, how? If not, why not? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsMedia Effectiveness: Select a breaking news story and find out how many ways that story is being delivered to an audience: online, traditional media, radio, or television.Which is most effective, and why? Did Music Rock Your World? Reflect back on your childhood and how you absorbed information and entertainment. Did you listen to music on the radio or from another source? How did music influence you as a child? How did music affect your social behavior? Assignment Influence of Music Presentation Resources: Week Five Readings and Videos Create a 5- to 8-PowerPoint ® slides to answer and illustrate the following: †¢In what ways have music and radio shaped American culture and its values? †¢Identify and introd uce your favorite musician, band, or type of music. Explain how American culture and social behavior have been shaped by the music you listen to. †¢Conclude your presentation by summarizing how audio media either reflect or influence social behavior and attitudes. 100 Week Six: The Power of Images: Television and Film DetailsDuePoints Objectives6. 1. Explain the reflective relationship between American culture and the visual entertainment media. 6. 2. Assess how television and film have affected American values. 6. 3. Analyze the influence of television and film on social behavior. ReadingRead Ch. 8, 9 and 15 of Exploring Media & Culture.Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"Blurring the Lines: Marketing Programs Across Platforms† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"What Makes Public Television ‘Public’? † on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Based On: Making Books Into Movies† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"More Than a Movie: Social Issues and Fi lm† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Six DQ#1 Choose a movie or show of a time you are familiar with that best reflected the popular culture of this country. What cultural aspects were present that made the movie or show appealing?Do you think those movies or television shows are still relevant and accurate? Why, or why not? Week Six DQ#2 Imagine a world without movies. What would it be like? Why? Week Six DQ#3 Some people consciously decide to not own a television set. Do you think they are wise, or are they missing out? Why do you think so? Week Six DQ#4 YouTube could be called television of the future. Do you think YouTube and television are more alike or different? Why? Week Six DQ#5 In 1939 Gone With the Wind was released with a swear word in it: â€Å"Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. † Today it would hardly be noticed.What do you think this change says about American culture? Participatio nParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsEntertainment Think of an entertainment event that influenced you in some way. What effect did that event have on your life? What influence does that type of event have on American culture? Good or Bad? Television and film have been intricately woven into the fabric of American culture over the last 60 years. Think of a specific television program or film that you think affected American culture in a positive or negative way.Explain your opinion. Did it have a lasting effect or create a permanent change? Do you see this as a good or bad result? Assignment Influence of Visual Media Paper Resources: Week Six Readings and Videos Write a 350- to 700-word paper in which you investigate the interrelationship between culture and the visual entertainment media, such as television and film. Include answers to the following questions: †¢In what w ays have various forms of visual entertainment media shaped American culture and its values? †¢Are the social influences of the visual entertainment media mostly positive or negative?Explain. Illustrate your answers with specific examples. Conclude your paper by summarizing how visual media either reflect or influence social behavior and attitudes. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. 75 Week Seven: The News Media: Journalism and Democracy DetailsDuePoints Objectives7. 1. Assess how information media affect American values. 7. 2. Explain the social responsibilities of the news media. 7. 3. Describe the role of the news media in politics. 7. 4. Evaluate the transformative effect of electronic media on journalism. ReadingRead Ch. and 14 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Newspapers and the Internet: Convergence† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Fake News/Real News: A Fine Line† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"News papers Now: Balancing Citizen Journalism and Investigative Reporting† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Journalism Ethics: What News Is Fit to Print? † on Video Central. Watch â€Å"The Objectivity Myth† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"The Contemporary Journalist: Pundit or Reporter? † on Video Central. Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. Discussion QuestionsParticipationWeek Seven DQ#1 How comfortable are you with the credibility of the information you find on the Internet? For example, consider websites such as dailykos. com, drudgereport. com, huffingtonpost. com, mrc. org, and so on. What, if anything, makes you comfortable about the credibility of these sources? Why? Week Seven DQ#2 Many news media now attempt to increase popularity by incorporating entertainment value into their news items along with information value. Do you think this affects the ability of news media to uphold their social responsibilities? Week Seven DQ#3During the past election, did you ever find yourself following a political story or candidate on the Internet? Did you follow similar stories on candidates through television or in your local paper? What were the differences between Internet reporting and television/newspaper reporting? In your opinion, what are the general effects of the Internet on politics? Week Seven DQ#4 Do you think news reporting has changed significantly with the advent of the Internet and converging media? Why, or why not? Week Seven DQ#5 Do you think the media adequately holds politicians accountable for their actions?Why, or why not? Week Seven DQ#6 American newspapers are reputedly dying. Do you think electronic media have had a major or minor influence on their alleged demise? Explain. 15 Participate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. Supplemental QuestionsPrinciples of Journalism Walter Cronkite, a well-respected American journalist, defin ed the principles of journalism this way: fairness, balance, truth, and honesty. Do you think these principles exist in today’s news journalism? If so, how? If not, how does today’s practice diverge from them?Give specific examples. Political Balancing Act Think about a recent media event involving a political issue that interests you. What role did the news media play? In your opinion, did the news media act ethically? Did they present a balanced or unbalanced view of the event? In what ways? 10 Assignment News MediaChoose one of the following options: Option 1: Toolwire ® Learnscape Credibility and Impact Access the Toolwire ® Learnscape: Credibility and Impact: Exploring the Internet and Politics through the link located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities.Complete the Toolwire ® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Write 250-word response to the following question: †¢Do the information media have social responsibility? If yes, in what ways? If no, why not? Option 2: Journalist E-mail You are a rookie news journalist, and you just completed your first major assignment covering a political campaign, including extensive research of websites to provide the political background of your story. Your best friend emails you and asks how it went. Write a 350-to 700-word e-mail to your friend in which you detail the challenges you faced regarding the following: Your responsibility as a journalist to provide fair, honest, and balanced coverage. †¢How you struggled with whether your story was socially responsible. †¢Assessing the credibility of the political Internet sites you visited for your research (consider Drudge Report, Daily Kos, Politico, Colbert Nation, The Hill, etc. ). Your awareness of how political news reporting might influence public opinion and American values. †¢100 Week Eight: Advertising and the Culture of Consumerism DetailsDuePoints Objectives8. 1. Explain the role of advertising i n a culture of consumerism. 8. . Outline key persuasive techniques used in consumer advertising. 8. 3. Identify critical issues in advertising. ReadingRead Ch. 12 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Advertising and Effects on Children† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Advertising in the Digital Age† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Filling the News Hole: Video News Releases† on Video Central. Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. Discussion Questions ParticipationWeek Eight DQ#1 Can you think of an experience where advertising shaped your consumption? Explain.Week Eight DQ#2 Controversial topics in advertising include targeting children(sometimes even in schools); advertising alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs; creating a culture of excessive consumerism; promoting unrealistic ideals of beauty and gender roles; deceptive marketing; and aggressive political advertising. Which of these issues do you find most problematic? Why? Week Eight DQ#3 Are there particular advertisements that you find offensive? Which ones, and why? Week Eight DQ#4 Are there particular advertisements that you find annoying? Which ones, and why? Week Eight DQ#5The city of San Francisco in 2010 banned toys in McDonald’s children’s meals. McDonalds responded by offering the toys for a nominal additional cost to the meal. How important do you think the toys were to the sales of those meals? Why? 15 Participate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. Supplement QuestionsCommercial Comparison Find a commercial from the 1960s or 1970s from the Electronic Reserve Reading page or elsewhere, and then a recent one for the same brand or a comparable product. Write a 200-word paragraph comparing the two commercials.What elements have changed in the presentation of the product and in the strategies to sell it? Include links to both commerc ials. Consumer Advertising Techniques Paragraph Consumer advertising has infiltrated all aspects of life. Identify one online advertisement and the persuasive techniques it uses. Evaluate whether these techniques are effective or ineffective. Write a 200-word paragraph discussing the techniques. What elements have influenced the techniques? 10 Assignment Effects of Advertising PresentationResources: Week Eight Readings and Videos Choose a product or service from these examples: †¢Fast food Class of consumer product †¢Personal care †¢Automobile Research online to analyze how that product or service has been advertised. Prepare an 8-to 12-slide PowerPoint ® presentation in which you investigate the role of advertising in a culture of consumerism. Be sure to discuss the following areas: †¢What are the key persuasive techniques used in advertising for your selected product or service? Illustrate with specific examples, explaining how each technique works. †¢Di scuss whether any of the following critical issues that related or connected with you product or service: oChildren and advertising oAdvertising in schools Health and advertising oPolitical advertising †¢Find one example of a commercial or advertisement of your product or service that strikes you as particularly creative and appealing. Consider some of the following questions: oWhat are the elements that are unusual? oWhat is the target group of the commercial? oHow does the commercial appeal to consumers? oWhy do you believe this commercial to be effective in brand name recognition? oWho determines ethical standards for advertising? oHow are ethical standards met (or pushed to their limits)? †¢Summarize the ways in which advertising has affected American culture.Illustrate your findings with specific examples. If you use external references, make sure to list your references on the last slide. Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines. 100 Week Nine: Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age DetailsDuePoints Objectives9. 1. Assess the tension between free speech and constraints on free speech in media. 9. 2. Explain the legal and regulatory safeguards on free speech in the media. ReadingReview Ch. 7, 15 and 16 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Bloggers and Legal Rights† on Video Central.Watch â€Å"The First Amendment and Student Speech† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Nine DQ#1 Do you think online content should ever be censored? Explain. Week Nine DQ#2 Do you think the current movie rating system serves its intended purpose, or should it be changed? Why, or why not? Week Nine DQ#3 Between 1949 and 1987, the Fairness Doctrine was an FCC rule designed to provide â€Å"reasonable, although not necessarily equal† opportunities in presenting opposing viewpoints in radio broadcasting in order to avoid one-sided presentations.The practice was repealed under President Reagan as part of a wider deregulation effort. Do you think the Fairness Doctrine should be revived, revised, or left dead? Why? Week Nine DQ#4 Some organizations and political figures have declared that Internet access is a civil right. Do you agree or disagree with this thinking? Why? Week Nine DQ#5 What if an Internet search engine limited results to one political viewpoint or another? Would that be legal? Ethical? Explain. Week Nine DQ#6Occasionally search engines and social media sites have been accused of bias or slanted results when they appeared to curtail or advocate one political stance or another. This becomes a subject of debate because these tools are so universally accessed. However, what if a search engine excluded results that promoted hate speech, Internet piracy, or pornography? Is it appropriate to violate some individuals' rights of freedom of speech in any of those cases, or does freedom of speech trump all other concerns? Explain your thoughts. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion.Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplement QuestionsFree Speech Paragraph Identify an aspect of free speech. What are the legal safeguards in the Constitution protecting it? Do these regulations apply differently at the personal level than at the media level? Free Speech Activity Identify an aspect of free speech. Research the legal safeguards around it. Create a single Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® slide depicting those safeguards. Include speaker notes. Share your slide with the class as a reply to this thread. Assignment Free Speech PresentationResources: Week Nine Readings and VideosSelect and research a recent controversial issue in the media that stretched societal tolerance of free speech. Create a presentation, using Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® (6 to 10 slides) or another multimedia tool, in which you explain and discuss the following: †¢The issue itself and why it caused controversy †¢What was done to resolve the controversy? †¢If a legal case, what were the grounds for the verdict? †¢Do you agree with the outcome, or would you have liked to see a more stringent or more lenient resolution? Why? Illustrate your responses. Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines. 150