The Impact Of Media On Social Media - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2242 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/04/05 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Social Media Essay Did you like this example? Many years ago I broke my foot. When the hospital sent me home, they provided me with a crutch that I had to use in order to get around. It was the most frustrating experience trying to hobble around everywhere navigating with this tool that was supposed to be helpful but really seemed more like a huge hindrance. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Impact Of Media On Social Media" essay for you Create order In many ways, modern technology is like that crutch, provided to us and meant as a helpful tool, but with some negative consequences. As this new extension of ourselves, smartphones and computers have become a social crutch, this thing we can not seem to go anywhere without, but hindering us as we struggle to interact and relate to each other. Many people see social media as helping them be more social but instead, it seems to actually be preventing us from making meaningful connections. There are numerous ways in which people disconnect due to social media and technology use, and it has a dramatic effect on our ability to be social. In this modern world of constant digital connection, we are more disconnected than ever. The proliferation of social media has diminished peoples social skills, impacted the ability to feel empathy, and is causing mental health issues. Social media can impact our social skills in several ways. One problem is that social media encourages people to form and cherish artificial bonds in place of actual friendships. Sociologist Maryanne Gaitho indicates in her article What Is the Real Impact of Social Media? that the term friend as used on social media lacks the intimacy identified with conventional friendships, where people actually know each other, want to talk and have an intimate bond by interacting face to face. In other words, when people do spend time together, they are just staring at their smartphones and missing out on true social moments. This is preventing real connections with one another. People have become less interested in meeting others in person and more fixated on their phones and affects our ability to have a deep and meaningful conversation. As such, we can see how social media is significantly impacting our communication skills. The extensive use of social media platforms can also cause the loss o f language. As discussed by Allison Graham in her TEDxTalk, How Social Media Makes Us Unsocial, messaging and texting has become our primary means of communication, and people often use shortened versions of words in order to type and deliver their messages as quickly as possible. Ms. Graham explains, In texting things like OMG, WTF, LOL people are unconsciously losing the nuance of words, and with it the ability to be fully communicative and be interactive in conversation. Simply put, people need to engage in authentic communication in order to truly connect. According to Susan Tardanico, CEO of the Authentic Leadership Alliance, a leadership and communications consultancy, in her article Is Social Media Sabotaging Real Communication?, Studies show that only 7% of communication is based on the written or verbal word, with a whopping 93% based on nonverbal body language. In other words, it is only when we can hear a tone of voice or look into someones eyes that we are really able to know how someone is truly feeling and forge connections. There are many ways that we can correct the decline of social and communication skills, and the impact it has on our relationships. One very helpful way can be through practicing mindfulness. As discussed by authors Daphne Davis and Jeffrey Hayes in the APA Journal of Psychotherapy article entitled What Are the Benefits of Mindfulness? A Practice Review of Psychotherapy-Related Research, in being more mindful, we are m ore aware of the world around us and how we interact with others. Basically, being mindful gives us the skill to recognize when we are allowing ourselves to be distracted and not living in the moment. Creating a gratitude journal can also be a good way in developing mindfulness. This helps us recognize moments and people we appreciate, which in turn can inspire us to initiate more meaningful interactions as well. In the Journal of Personality and Social Psychologys article Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-being in Daily Life, authors Emmons and McCullough discuss that experiences and expressions of gratitude have been treated as both basic and desirable aspects of human personality and social lifeand deeper, more satisfying personal relationships. We can also strive to take time away from our phones and develop hobbies and activities which involve spending time with people and cultivating closer relationships. Finally, and most importantly, turn off your phone at certain times of the day. When you are in a meeting, at the gym, or having dinner, use that time to engage and interact with people. By putting the phone away when at restaurants, you are sending the message that you are there to listen and to be heard, developing deeper bonds with friends and family. You can also create sacred spaces in your home that are device-free, and when you have visitors make these locations a place for conversation instead. Another major negative effect Social Media can have on people is the way it impacts empathy. People tend to disconnect/detach from emotions when they are provided with too much information. In a TedTalk by Jacquelyn Quinones, an expert in technological communication, she discusses the issue of how technology detrimentally impacts empathy in people. She states that a 2011 survey showed that 3 out of 4 college students are 50% less empathetic today than they were 30 years ago, linking this decline of empathy to around 2001, it is correlated with the period of the creation and usage of social media. With the increase of technology use fueled by the rise of Social Media in our lives, there is a digital information overload resulting in the phenomena of screen disconnect. In other words, people become statistically numb as the overload of images and information freezes their emotions and blocks the ability to feel empathy. Psychology Today author Tim Elmore explains in an article titled How Our Screens Diminish Our Empathy, Screens separate us from real pain. We watch murders and robberies on TVsee criticism take place on Twitterwatch catastrophic fails on Youtube. Somehow, seeing so many tragedies numbs us to the reality of the pain. The screen distances usour mind doesnt know the difference between a real experience and an imagined one. Its like a show. Basically, this lack of empathy divides us by shutting us off from emotions, causing what is referred to as an empathy gap. Social Media drives and perpetuates this empathy gap and the outcome can result in cyberbullying. The stu dy featured in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Empathy Gaps for Social Pain: Why People Underestimate the Pain of Social Suffering suggests that people have difficulty appreciating the full severity of social suffering unless they themselves experience it. The findings show that an understanding of this empathy gap, especially in the case of bullying, is crucial because it has implications for how outsiders react to socially distressing events and the degree of punitive measures that are taken in support of victims (Nordgren et al). Simply put, because empathy is dulled through overstimulation, people are losing the ability to truly empathize with the suffering of others. This is especially prevalent in cyberbullying. Michael Hamm, a researcher from the University of Alberta conducted a study that showed the effects of social media on bullying. It concluded 23 percent of teens report being targeted and 15 percent said they had bullied someone on social media. Teenagers can misuse social media platforms to spread rumors, share videos aimed at destroying reputations, and blackmail others. In other words, the empathy gap has an extreme effect on the increase of cyberbullying and those doing the bullying do not comprehend the damage they are inflicting on someone elses mental health. Furthermore, outsiders are also lacking the ability to relate to the victims of these instances because of their empathy gap. It is possible to shift our use of social media in order to help everyone become more empathetic through self- awareness. The following are some ways to minimize screen disconnect and combat the empathy gap and cyberbullying. According to Nordgren et al: improved counseling for bullied students or simulating self-induced mild states of social pain to heighten understanding of others pain could help fix the gap as a means to correct distorted judgments of social painOur perception of social pain matters as much as our understanding of physical pain. Not only do estimates of social pain govern how we empathize with socially traumatic events, but they guide our approach to how well we advocate on a victims behalf. One example of this would be involving schools and having young students participate in role-reversal workshops to experience bullying and teach empathy. Additionally, a way to address the issue of diminishing screen disconnect, is being aware of avoiding or blocking sites that are too intense or traumatic. One should take caution in the viewing too many videos that highlight real violence for fun. We also need to be conscious of how much time we are spending on social media, being aware that it can prevent us from having meaningful connections, and affects our ability to truly connect and feel empathy for others. German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer once wrote about the high importance of the art of not reading. He spoke on how excessive reading could lead clever minds to become the playground of others thoughts. With so much to read, he feared that people would read themselves stupid. How poignant his thoughts are now in this modern age, where we deal with a similar issue due to social media. Instead of a sabbatical from reading books, we need one from screens and reading too much social media, breeding disconnection our own thoug hts and feelings and those of others. In the modern era and proliferation of social media, we need to remember to check in with our emotions and be aware of our actions and reactions to what we are viewing. It is within our power to combat the empathy gap and screen disconnect through self-awareness. Probably the most important issue to address regarding the effect social media is its effect on the increase in mental health issues. Researchers have shown that high social media correlates to depression, anxiety, and stress. In her article Health officials: Social Media Affects Students Mental Health, Karenna Meredith interviewed clinical psychologist Stephen Thayer and Utah-based licensed social worker Clair Mellenthin who both agree that social media can affect the mental health of young adults. Thayer said when it comes to social media the poison is in the dosage. When we stay in our private, online, social worlds we miss out on the social crucible of face-to-face interaction that forges emotional resilience and character. Pandering for likes on Facebook or Instagram does little more than feed an addiction to validation. Additionally, according to Mellenthin, This perceived validation can manifest itself in a certain number of likes or feedback a person receives on a post, which has a direct correlation to a persons level of anxiety or depression. In doing so, we are allowing others to attribute value to our self-concept. Social media is also changing our sense of identity as people try to up their se lf-worth in relation to what others think about us through our posts. Furthermore, according to social media expert Bailey Parnell, in her Tedx Talk, another detrimental stressor is exposure to what can be called The Highlight-Reel everyones best and brightest moments posted on social media. This can cause people to struggle with insecurity because of comparing their behind-the-scenes lives with everyone elses best moments, leading people to feel their lives are inferior. There is also a third stressor known as FOMO (the fear of missing out). This is a real social anxiety when one feels they may be missing a potential connection, event, or opportunity. The need to engage in social media eventually becomes an addiction, not unlike substance abuse. People get dopamine spikes attention through social currency and start to need and crave it. Then when it falls short of expectations, it leads to higher levels of anxiety, depression. In ways of improving social medias effect on mental health, the same simple solution can be used; to simply give yourself perm ission to check and putting the phone down, Mellenthin said. Another suggestion is to only post things you truly care about and that are important to you; and not things that you are seeking out approval or attention from other people. If you feel you are experiencing these negative symptoms from social media use, you can work to create a better online experience for yourself. One way is to unfollow brands, celebrities, or friends from your timeline that you find are making you feel bad. Another key thing to remember is to model good behavior online just as you would offline. Lastly, be mindful and take breaks from too much internet use. Although social media has had had an effect on peoples social skills, empathy, and mental health, it does not have to continue to be the case. Social media does not have to be detrimental. It can cheer you up, make you laugh, inspire positive social change and actions, and connect people. We just have to be mindful of how much control we give it over our daily lives.

Myths of Aging - 1021 Words

Myths of Aging Leslie L. Sanderford GRO320 Instructor Peggy Allen June 13, 2011 Largest among the growing populations is the age group 65 and older. This course required us to complete Dr. Woolf’s myths of aging quiz. This quiz has 25 questions all about aging issues. In our textbook, â€Å"Adult Development and Aging,† Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Fields (2011) state, â€Å"Everyone does not grow old in the same way. Whereas most people tend to show usual patterns of aging that reflect the typical, or normative, changes with age, other people show highly successful aging in which few signs of change occur† (p. 16). An analysis of Dr. Woolf’s myths of aging quiz will show several different areas to consider in regards to the†¦show more content†¦They are both extremely mentally sharp as well as physically healthy. On the flip side of these wonderful, and healthy individuals who are a part of my personal life I have to make note of the elderly and disabled people who are accurate in regards to the questions on the quiz . These are the people that I work for on a daily basis at my job. The 62 year old man who has mental and physical impairments, continuing to decline with a lack of funds and resources available to him. The 55 year old woman who is on disability and who has aged 20 years since her accident despite her chronological age. I do feel that some of the â€Å"myths† of aging are accurate, it simply depends on the individual we are addressing. The aspect of old age that I believe I will find the most rewarding is when my children are grown and on their own, and hopefully are self sufficient and building families. I don’t want to wish my years away but I really hope I will be able to be a part of my children’s lives when they are adults; just like my parents have been a part of my life! The most challenging part of aging I think for me will be the many years that I know I will need to continue working in order to provide for my family. This is one of the major rea sons why I am back at school finishing this degree, to hopefully make myself more marketable and increase my earning potential. Also challenging for me is worrying about mine and my husband’s health as we age and how to pay for healthShow MoreRelatedMyth on Aging Essay1593 Words   |  7 PagesThere are many misconceptions when we talk about sex especially to old age generation. During the first day of class in HS 107, we talked about myths on aging. According to many people, they believed that â€Å"Majority of old people have no interest in, nor capacity for, sexual relations† (Facts on Aging Quiz). In our society, many people believe that older adults do not have sex when they reach the certain old age. Many argue that as you grow older your body becomes frail, thus, decreasing and diminishingRead MoreThe Myth And Its Impact On Development And Aging1805 Words   |  8 Pages退éˆ  ÃªÅ¾ ªere have been different myths developed with regards to development an d aging. The first myth relates to the brain. The myth that people only utilize 10 percent of their brain is an attractive spectacle among psychology scholars and academic aspirants. There have been numerous studies that speculate to the truth concerning the utility of brainpower. Most of the studies have concluded that 10 percent was the appropriate amount. The majority claim is contrasted by a survey that indicates peopleRead MoreDiscrimination And Prejudice Against The Elderly877 Words   |  4 PagesNational Institute on Aging. According to Doctor Butler, the three primary prejudicial attitudes seem to be: (1) old age, and the aging process; (2) discriminatory practices against older people; and (3) institutional practices and policies that perpetuate stereotypes about older people. Much of what passes for knowledge and understanding of aging are myths, misleading information, or just bad information. Our youth oriented culture has developed a fear and prejudice against aging persons and unquestionablyRead MoreAging : An Inevitable Part Of Aging Essay1300 Words   |  6 PagesWhy are we so afraid of aging? Aging is a normal process of life; the only ones that do not age are the dead ones and Tina Turner’s legs. If the only way not to get old is to die, so why do we get so upset when we find the first white hair? It is probably because there are so many myths out there about old age. So, before we start crying because of that one (or one hundred) white hair in our head, let bust some of those myths and understand what we can do to age well. †¢ Myth #1: o Dementia is an inevitableRead MoreChallenging Aging Stereotypes : Strategies For Creating A More Active Society Essay1548 Words   |  7 PagesIn Dr. Marcia Ory’s article titled Challenging Aging Stereotypes: Strategies for Creating a More Active Society, many common misconceptions about the elderly are presented and disputed, while also addressing the effect these stereotypes have on the elderly’s view of themselves and how it affects their physical wellbeing. Solutions to getting the older population active and engaged while taking care of their bodies are also presented. This assessment provides a comprehensive breakdown of these topicsRead MoreHow Can I Live?1274 Words   |  6 PagesBuettner gives a presentation that attempts to answer this question. In the presentation, he explains a few myths about longevity before discussing three Blue Zones that exist in the world, where living to be over one hundred years old is most common. This information was gathered t hrough research by National Geographic and the National Institute on Aging in which they discovered many facts about aging and longevity that many people never knew to be true. As Buettner says, Our approach to finding longevityRead MoreStereotype About Old People, And Aging People And The Society1601 Words   |  7 Pages Kevens Louis Dr. Harvey Research Paper Stereotype About Old People, And Aging People And The Society Usually when people talk about stereotypes, first thing that pop up in someone mind are gender and racial. There are more than gender and racial in stereotypes category. Like age-based stereotype when someone talk about old people they always come up with those: they drive slow, drink decaf coffee ,can t see , are health freaks, love children and many more. As people live longer, the populationRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Alcohol Abuse1477 Words   |  6 Pagesimportant because it has helped many aging adults who are unable to work stay above the poverty line when it comes to income. B. As adults emerge into older adults I think that there are many myths and misconnections that come along with getting older. I think that the biggest myth is that all older adults will develop dementia at some point in time. I think that dementia is a medical condition, it is not a normal part of aging. I have worked with older aging adults for a few years now and I haveRead MoreCommon Fat And Weight Loss Myths1272 Words   |  6 Pages8 Most Common Fat and Weight Loss Myths By Gizewski Bogumil Jul 29, 2011 Today in North America, people are bombarded daily with mixed messages about fat and weight loss. All of this information, much of which is contradictory, has confused the general public about fat and weight loss more than ever before. In this article, I will set the record straight about some of the common fat and weight loss myths. Hopefully, after reading this you will be able to separate fact from fiction when it comes toRead MoreSummary of Proud Family Show886 Words   |  4 Pages and even the bullies in her life. This show shows a lot of stereotypes among all races. For example: The shapes of the females that were not Caucasian had more curvature at the hips and a smaller waists. Over Turning the Feminine Mystique This myth states that women are the weaker sex, should be the nurturers of the family, and that they do not belong in the work place. The women in the proud family are mothers, but they are very strong and intelligent women. Many of the women in the Proud Family

Amy Tan free essay sample

Although the daughters know some Chinese words and the mothers speak some English, communication often becomes a matter of translation, of words whose intended meaning and accepted meaning are in fact quite separate, leading to subtle misunderstandings. †¢The first mention of this difficulty with translation occurs when Jing-mei relates the story of her mother’s founding of the Joy Luck Club. After attempting to explain the significance of the club’s name, Jing-mei recognizes that the concept is not something that can be translated. She points out that the daughters think their mothers are stupid because of their fractured English, while the mothers are impatient with their daughters who don’t understand the cultural nuances of their language and who do not intend to pass along their Chinese heritage to their own children. Throughout the book, characters bring up one Chinese concept after another, only to accept the frustrating fact that an understanding of Chinese culture is a prerequisite to understanding its meaning. †¢The Power of Storytelling Because the barriers between the Chinese and the American cultures are exacerbated by imperfect translation of language, the mothers use storytelling to circumvent these barriers and communicate with their daughters. The stories they tell are often educational, warning against certain mistakes or giving advice based on past successes. For instance, Ying-ying’s decision to tell Lena about her past is motivated by her desire to warn Lena against the passivity and fatalism that Ying-ying suffered. Storytelling is also employed to communicate messages of love and pride, and to illumine one’s inner self for others. †¢Another use of storytelling concerns historical legacy. By telling their daughters about their family histories, the mothers ensure that their lives are remembered and understood by subsequent generations, so that the characters who acted in the story never die away completely. In telling their stories to their daughters, the mothers try to instill them with respect for their Chinese ancestors and their Chinese pasts. Suyuan hopes that by finding her long-lost daughters and telling them her story, she can assure them of her love, despite her apparent abandonment of them. When Jing-mei sets out to tell her half-sisters Suyuan’s story, she also has this goal in mind, as well as her own goal of letting the twins know who their mother was and what she was like. †¢Storytelling is also used as a way of controlling one’s own fate. In many ways, the original purpose of the Joy Luck Club was to create a place to exchange stories. Faced with pain and hardship, Suyuan decided to take control of the plot of her life. The Joy Luck Club did not simply serve as a distraction; it also enabled transformation—of community, of love and support, of circumstance. Stories work to encourage a certain sense of independence. They are a way of forging one’s own identity and gaining autonomy. Waverly understands this: while Lindo believes that her daughter’s crooked nose means that she is ill-fated, Waverly dismisses this passive interpretation and changes her identity and her fate by reinventing the story that is told about a crooked nose. †¢The Problem of Immigrant Identity At some point in the novel, each of the major characters expresses anxiety over her inability to reconcile her Chinese heritage with her American surroundings. Indeed, this reconciliation is the very aim of Jing-mei’s journey to China. While the daughters in the novel are genetically Chinese (except for Lena, who is half Chinese) and have been raised in mostly Chinese households, they also identify with and feel at home in modern American culture. Waverly, Rose, and Lena all have white boyfriends or husbands, and they regard many of their mothers’ customs and tastes as old-fashioned or even ridiculous. Most of them have spent their childhoods trying to escape their Chinese identities: Lena would walk around the house with her eyes opened as far as possible so as to make them look European. Jing-mei denied during adolescence that she had any internal Chinese aspects, insisting that her Chinese identity was limited only to her external features. Lindo meditates that Waverly would have clapped her hands for joy during her teen years if her mother had told her that she did not look Chinese. As they mature, the daughters begin to sense that their identities are incomplete and become interested in their Chinese heritage. Waverly speaks wishfully about blending in too well in China and becomes angry when Lindo notes that she will be recognized instantly as a tourist. One of Jing-mei’s greatest fears about her trip to China is not that others will recognize her as American, but that she herself will fail to recognize any Chinese elements within herself. †¢Of the four mothers, L indo expresses the most anxiety over her cultural identity. Having been spotted as a tourist during her recent trip to China, she wonders how America has changed her. She has always believed in her ability to shift between her true self and her public self, but she begins to wonder whether her â€Å"true† self is not, in fact, her American one. Even while a young girl in China, Lindo showed that she did not completely agree with Chinese custom. She agonized over how to extricate herself from a miserable marriage without dishonoring her parents’ promise to her husband’s family. While her concern for her parents shows that Lindo did not wish to openly rebel against her tradition, Lindo made a secret promise to herself to remain true to her own desires. This promise shows the value she places on autonomy and personal happiness—two qualities that Lindo associates with American culture. †¢Jing-mei’s experience in China at the end of the book certainly seems to support the possibility of a richly mixed identity rather than an identity of warring opposites. She comes to see that China itself contains American aspects, just as the part of America she grew up in—San Francisco’s Chinatown—containe †¢ Storytelling – Narrative Style, Symbolism, Figurative Language †¢She uses storytelling to in order for the different characters to understand each others struggles as well as the reader to understand the lives and emotions of both the mother and the daughters †¢The stories they tell are often educational, warning against certain mistakes or giving advice based on past successes. For instance, Ying-ying’s decision to tell Lena about her past is motivated by her desire to warn Lena against the passivity and fatalism that Ying-ying suffered. Storytelling is also employed to communicate messages of love and pride, and to illumine one’s inner self for others. †¢Another use of storytelling concerns historical legacy. By telling their daughters about their family histories, the mothers ensure that their lives are remembered and understood by subsequent generations, so that the characters who acted in the story never die away completely. In telling their stories to their daughters, the mothers try to instill them with respect for their Chinese ancestors and their Chinese pasts. Suyuan hopes that by finding her long-lost daughters and telling them her story, she can assure them of her love, despite her apparent abandonment of them. When Jing-mei sets out to tell her half-sisters Suyuan’s story, she also has this goal in mind, as well as her own goal of letting the twins know who their mother was and what she was like. †¢Storytelling is also used as a way of controlling one’s own fate. In many ways, the original purpose of the Joy Luck Club was to create a place to exchange stories. Faced with pain and hardship, Suyuan decided to take control of the plot of her life. The Joy Luck Club did not simply serve as a distraction; it also enabled transformation—of community, of love and support, of circumstance. Stories work to encourage a certain sense of independence. They are a way of forging one’s own identity and gaining autonomy. Waverly understands this: while Lindo believes that her daughter’s crooked nose means that she is ill-fated, Waverly dismisses this passive interpretation and changes her identity and her fate by reinventing the story that is told about a crooked nose. †¢ All the stories in her books are interlocking personal narrative in different voices. The narrators appear as characters in each other’s stories as well as tell their own stories, Tan does not have to fully develop the narrator’s voice in each story. While American daughters like Jing-mei employ personal narrative as a way of telling stories, the ’’ Because this indirect means is the only way Jing-mei’s mother c an interpret and express her experiences, she is shocked into silence when her daughter speaks directly about the daughters she abandoned in China years earlier. Point of View †¢In â€Å"Two Kinds† the perspective moves back and forth between the adult and then child. In this way, Tan tells the story through the child’s innocent view and the adult’s experienced eyes. This allows reader to make judgments of their own, to add their own interpretations of the mother daughter struggle. Figurative Language †¢This literary device also invites readers to think about the way memory itself functions, how we use events in the past to help make sense of our present. Literary critic Ben Xu explains that ‘‘it is not just that we have ‘images,’ ‘pictures,’ and ‘views’ of ourselves in memory, but that we also have ‘stories’ and narratives to tell about the past which both shape and convey our sense of self. Our sense of what has happened to us is entailed not in actual happening but in meaningful happenings, and the meanings of our past experience . . . are constr ucts produced in much the same way that narrative is produced. ’’ †¢In other words memory is a two-way street; it shapes the story as much as the story makes the memory. In Xu’s words, ‘‘memory is not just a narrative, even though it does have to take a narrative form; it is more importantly an experiential relation between the past and the present, projecting a future as well. ’’ Tan’s style is mainly composed of storytelling as a way for her characters to share their history and retell the significant events of their lives. The Chinese mothers find it exceptionally difficult to talk about their lives due to the language barrier; therefore Tan uses a strategy that is borrowed from Chinese folk tradition called talk story (Brent). E. D. Huntley defines talk story as ‘‘a narrative strategy for those characters whose ties to Chinese tradition remain strong. ’’ It allows these characters to ‘‘draw on traditional oral forms to shape their stories and to disguise the urgency and seriousness with which they are attempting to transmit to their daughters the remnants of a culture that is fading even from their own lives. ’’ This means that the mothers, ‘‘who have been socialized into silence for most of their lives,’’ learn to ‘‘reconfigure the events of hese lives into acceptable public utterances: painful experiences are recast in the language of folk tale; cautionary reminders become gnomic phrases; real life takes on the contours of myth (Huntley). † Story telling serves many different functions in the novel. Primarily, the mother’s use storytelling to communicate with their daughters about their past and better relate to their daughters. In Kitchen God’s Wife, Winnie and Pearl have a hard time understanding each other’s situation as they have had a disconnect since Pearl was a teenager. However, after Winnie tells Pearl the stories of the hardships she had to face living with her abusive husband in China and how that has made her the hard person she is today, Pearl is able to connect better with her mother and understand where she is coming from. Another purpose of storytelling is so the mother’s can teach their daughters important life lessons that can help them be happy as many of the daughters are struggling with their marriages. Thus, she knows that the only way to save her daughter is to tell her story, the story of how her submission to fate and other people’s wills led to discontent and even agony. In her novels, Amy Tan allows her characters to employ storytelling as a device for shaping their histories and making coherent sense of the significant events of their lives. For these characters, storytelling is a means of keeping the past alive and building a bridge between it and the present, of transmitting cultural codes and rituals, of subtly educating their daughters, and finally of somehow imprinting the essence of their selves on the next generation. Tan is especially gifted at weaving multiple stories with a variety of narrators into the intricate fabric of each book. Tan herself has recognized her own ability to construct distinctive and memorable narratives, commenting that her storytelling gifts are responsible in large measure for the ongoing popularity-with readers and critics alike-of her work. She has said that her childhood exposure to Bible stories as well as tons of fairy tales, both Grimm and Chinese (Wang) has made stories a significant element in her writing, and she credits her parents with both instilling in her the impulse to tell stories and providing her with models for unforgettable. In an interview with Gretchen Giles, Amy Tan reveals that she learned the craft of story construction from her father, a very busy Baptist minister who managed to spend quality time with his children by reading his sermons to them and then asking for their opinions on content and language. Citations Xu, Ben. ‘‘Memory and the Ethnic Self: Reading Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club,’’ in MELUS, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 3-16. Huntley, E. D. Amy Tan: A Critical Companion, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998. Brent, Liz. ‘‘Amy Tan Criticism Overview. ’’ Short Stories for Students. Ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1997. 19–20: 288.

Microsoft Essays (1587 words) - Microsoft Litigation, Microsoft

Microsoft MICROSOFT Briarcliffe College Microsoft Corporation, leading American computer software company. Microsoft develops and sells a wide variety of computer software products in more than fifty countries. Microsoft's Windows operating systems for personal computers are the most widely use operating systems in the world. Microsoft had revenues of $14.4 billion for the fiscal year ending June 1998, and employs more than 27,000 people in 60 countries. Microsoft has it's headquaters in Redmond Washington. Microsoft's other well known products include, Word, a word processor; Excel, a spreadsheet program; Access, a database program; and PowerPoint, a program used for making business presentations. These products are sold separately from Windows as a part of Microsoft Office. Microsoft also makes Back Office, an integrated set of server products for businesses. Microsoft's Internet Explorer allows users to browse the World Wide Web. Among Microsoft's other products are reference applications; games; finical software; programming languages for software developers (eg; Visual Basic) ; input devices, such as pointing devices and keyboards; and computer related books. Microsoft operates The Microsoft Network (MSN), a collection of news, travel, financial, entertainment, and information Web sites. Microsoft and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) jointly operate MSNBC, a twenty four hour news, talk, and information cable television channel and companion Web site. Microsoft was founded in 1975 by William H. Gates III and Paul Allen. The pair had teamed up in high school via their hobby of programming on the original PDP-10 computer from the Digital Equipment Corporation. In 1975 Popular Electronics magazine featured a cover story about the Altiar 8800, the first personal computer. The article inspired Gates and Allen to develop the first version of the BASIC programming language for the Altiar. They licensed the software to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), the Altiar's manufacturer, and formed Microsoft (originally Micro-soft) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to develop versions of BASIC for other computer companies. Microsoft's early customers included fledgling hardware firms such as Apple Computer, maker of the Apple II computer; Commodore, maker of the PET computer; and Tandy Corporation; maker of the Radio Shack TRS-80 computer. In 1977 Microsoft shipped it's second language product, Microsoft FORTRAN, and it soon released v ersions of BASIC for the 8080 and the 8086 microprocessors. In 1979 Gates and Allen moved the company to Bellevue, Washington, a suburb of their hometown Seattle. ( Microsoft moved to it's current headquaters in Redmond in 1986.) In 1980 International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) chose Microsoft to write the operating system for the IBM PC personal computer, to be introduced the following year. Under time and pressure, Microsoft purchased QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System) from Seattle programmer Tim Paterson for $50.000 and renamed it MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System). As part of it's contract with IBM, Microsoft was permitted to license the operating system to other companies. By 1984 Microsoft had licensed MS-DOS to 200 personal computer manufacturers, making MS-DOS the standard operating system for personal computers and driving Microsoft's enormous growth in the 1980's. As sales of MS-DOS took off, Microsoft began to develop business applications for personal computers. In 1982 Microsoft released Multiplan, a spreadsheet program, and the following year, it released a word processing program, Microsoft Word. In 1984 Microsoft was one of the few established software companies that to develop application software for the Macintosh, a personal computer developed by Apple Computer. Microsoft's early support for the Macintosh resulted in tremendous success for it's Macintosh Application software, including Word, Excel, and Works (an integrated software suite). Multiplan for MS-DOS, however, faltered against the popular Lotus Development Corporation. In 1985 Microsoft released Windows, an operating system that extended the features of MS-DOS and employed a graphical user interface. Windows 2.0 released in 1987, improved performance and offered a new visual appearance, In 1990 Microsoft released a more powerful version, Windows 3.0, which was followed by Windows 3.1 and 3.11. These versions which came preinstalled on most personal computers, rapidly became the most widely used operating systems. In 1990 Microsoft became the first personal computer software company to record $1 billion in annual sales. As Microsoft's dominance grew in the market for personal computer operating systems, the company was accused of monopolistic business practices. In 1990 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began investigating Microsoft for alleged

Free sample - Childrens Health. translation missing

Childrens Health. Children's HealthAccording to the auther the reason of this study is because of the emerging potential toxity in humans. The investigation done is on how urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolities is related to childrens intellectual functioning. He has taken a comprehensive study of elementary children in five cities in south Korea by taking a cross-section examination on   the urine phthalate concentrations on both the children and their mothers.   The findings show that they measured  Ã‚   â€Å"mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) and mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP)† which are metabolies of â€Å" di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), and mono-nbutyl phthalate (MBP), a metabolite of dibutyl phthalate (DBP)† in the urine .   â€Å"The geometricmean (ln) concentrations of MEHP, MEOHP, and MBP were 21.3 ÃŽ ¼g/L [geometric SD (GSD) = 2.2 ÃŽ ¼g/L; range, 0.5-445.4], 18.0 ÃŽ ¼g/L (GSD = 2.4; range, 0.07-291.1), and 48.9 ÃŽ ¼g/L (GSD = 2.2; range, 2.1- 1645.5), respectively†. The chronological results show that the full scale IQ and verbal IQ were nagatively associated with DEHP but not   WITH DBP metabolities. The results of this finding   are very comprehensive as thay also show that there is a negative relationship between trhe children vocabulary use and the concentration of the urine. After an extensive marternal IQ controll the findings shw that a large inverse relationship between DEHP metabolities and the use of vocabulary also remained. There is a difference between boys and girls as boys show a negative association between increasing MEHP phthalate concentrations and the total sum of DEHP metabolite concentrations while girls   shown   had little or no association between these variables. Howevr the auther does not show clear evidence on the same and critical study in the field is highly required. In the methods of study the auther extensively talks of  Ã‚   a study conducted between april and october 2008 which was named â€Å" Effects of Pollution on Neurobehavioral Development and future Policies to Protect our children†. The study assessed different elements such as Lead, Mercury and manganese in the dlood as welll as neurocognitive functioning of children including attention and concentration together with   their general intelligence. So as to asses the childrens marternal IQ, their child developmental state, their mothers were also interviewed. The study was well formulated and carried out as mothers were   given quistionares which were to be filled on the details regarding the surrounding environment. The study had followed all the rules and regulations as it had been passed by â€Å"The Institutional Review Board of Seoul National University Hospital†.   Applications had been sent to elementary children and their mothers for them to participate i n the study and 667 children accompanied by their mothers turned in. While measuring childrens cognitive functioning, students were availed with a form,   â€Å"KEDI-WISC† which consisted   vocabularly, arithmetic, picture arrangement and block design tests. The form according to the auther is validated   with Korean children to use as a determiner of global estimates of intellectual functioning. Since the examiners in the study were not aware of the children IQ, they used   â€Å"Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS) â€Å" to their mothers while they were measuring   martenal cognitive function. The tests on this included   pure arrangement, vocalbulary use and block design tests.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On determining phthalate metabolites in urine   in the   study   â€Å"primary metabolite of dibutylphthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), andtwo secondary metabolites of DEHP, mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl)phthalate (MEOHP) were used†. Urine was collected using paper cups from   all the children who were subject to the study between nine and eleven in the morning. After collection, th urine was placed in containers   â€Å"(high-clarity polypropylene Falcon tubes)† and stored at –20 °C   untill the analyzation of the . Field blanks consisted of purified water. The are then brought to room temperature and vortexed after thawing.  Ã‚   Acritical and extensive of the methods used has been well shown in the study following all steps and explanation of the procedures. At all   this study has a critical and technical approach as it takes the   reader through all the steps used in the study. While doing the statistcal analysis the study, used t-tests of the students or â€Å"(ANOVAs)† for testing continues variables and the chisquare test for categorical mvariables. A comprehensive use of   linear regression analysis was used in the study to analyse the association between â€Å"urine phthalate (MEOHP,MEHP, and MBP) concentration and WISC IQ scores†. Since the distribution of the metabolite was skewed in the sample, log-transformed values were highly used. From the variables on the analysis carried out regression models have been built. Taking th IQ score as the primary dependent variable and the urine phthalate concentrations as the primary independent variables.   A set of covariates based on the predicators childrens cognitive functioning helped to perform the regression analysis.   After this study models have been improved on the developmental socioeconomic and IQ variables. The study however does not give us clear evidence on the martenal IQ as it present models with and without   the Martenal IQ. In the study all analysis were considered important. The study in their results analyzing the relationship between environmental exposure to phthalates and children’s IQ scores show that there is a negative association between IQ and urine phthalates in humans. The study is of great significance comparing it with other studies that have been done since its the first to show the above results. It is there true to say that a child’s IQ may be affected by genetic, educational, familial and social factors.however these results may contrast with any   observed association between the line of study and the income. To help readers nunderstand this , this study tried to determine whether â€Å"phthalates were inversely associated with children’scognition independent of potential confounders†. Before the study could adjust for martenal IQ, it found inverse relationships between â€Å"MEHP, MEOHP, and the sum of secondarymetabolites for DEHP and the children’sFSIQ, VIQ, and vocabulary and block design Scores † also vocabulary score was negatively associated with MBP. This study found that maternal IQ is one of the cofounders of children’s IQ. The study also found that adjusting for a confounder that has a stronger effect than the valuable of interest can most of the time lead to underratings in the true effect of this variable. Control for maternal IQ according to the study had a great impact on the effect size of the alliance between phthalates and IQ. It may act as a confounder especially if the maternal IQ and the level of phthalates in children   have a link to each other. It is noted that MIQ might have had an influence on the childrens environmental exposure to the substances which were to be seen on th level of phthalate metabolites.  Ã‚   All in all MIQ have effects on the children IQ, therefore affecting affecting the association between child IQ and phthalate level however the study revealed that after MIQ, MEHP, MEOHP, and the sum of secondary metabolites of DEHP had been adjusted there were inverse relationships with children’s vocabulary scores. We cannot at whtsoever means say that this study provided enough evidence of a definative association between phthalates with children’s IQ indipendent of MIQ because there could be a residual confounding of matarnal IQ. The study shows that children are of special concern regarding phthalate exposure due to their neurodevelopmental state. Also if they are subjected to neurotoxic agents, there is likelyhood that they will suffer due to critical periods of vulnerability for their developing nerves. Even after birth, Neurotoxic agents could disrupt the temporal and regional emergence of critical Developmental processes. Even if this study has most of advantages, it has some disadvantages. Atleast 16 phthalene metabolites in urine can be measured but in this study only three were measured which were limited to the specifications of the study. They measured three based on availability of standard , childrens likely exposure, and technical experience of the analysis. They only used one measurement, which may not have same results as when they would have in examining the level and severity of chronic exposure. Judging from a single spot-urine measurement could have given wrong answers, as it may not reflect long term-exposure since Phthalates are rapidly metabolized and excreted. However, on phthalate measurements over time according to other different studies, there is moderate consistency. The study assumes that when multiple experiments are consistent, then a single measurement reflects a typical measurement. Another limitation is that the study did not show results of maternal levels of exposure. Also the maternal IQ had a large effect size on the associations making it not possible to tell whether the quality of the home environment and stimulation provided in the home could be   potential confounders. This article is a succes as it gives the readers a clear picture of what was carried out , the mode of study, the evidence used, materials and methods. Many of the readers would get   the objectives of the writer and accesit according to his or her expectations. However, the study has been based on many assumptions making the reader to doubt its results. I would recommend that as you read this article it is critical that you have your objective of the findings and the discussion made by the writer keeping in mind that   it has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Colorado School of Mines GPA, SAT ACT Requirements

Colorado School of Mines GPA, SAT ACT Requirements Admission to Colorado School of Mines is selective, and in 2015, only 38% of all applicants were admitted. To get in, youre going to need grades and standardized test scores that are well above average. In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of successful applicants had high school averages of 3.5 or higher, SAT scores (RWM) of about 1200 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 24 or higher. The higher those numbers, the better your chances of receiving an acceptance letter. The average ACT composite for accepted students is 30. Note that there are many red dots (rejected students) and yellow dots (waitlisted students) hidden behind the green and blue throughout the graph. Many students with grades and test scores that were on target for Colorado School of Mines did not get in. Note also that a few students were accepted with test scores and grades a little bit below the norm. This is because Mines uses has holistic admissions admission decisions are based on more than numerical data. The Mines application asks for information about your extracurricular activities and awards, and you also have the opportunity to provide a personal statement. The college also pays close attention to the rigor of your high school courses, especially in math. How Do You Measure Up? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In with this free tool from Cappex. To learn more about Colorado School of Mines, high school GPAs, SAT scores and ACT scores, these articles can help: Colorado School of Mines Admissions ProfileWhats a Good SAT Score?Whats a Good ACT Score?Whats Considered a Good Academic Record?What is a Weighted GPA? If You Like Colorado School of Mines, You May Also Like These Schools   Stanford University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphCornell University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphCal Poly:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphCarnegie Mellon University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphPurdue University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphHarvey Mudd College:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Sunset Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sunset - Essay Example The only sound one hears is the splash of water and the signing of birds. Birds are seen that are returning to their nests after struggling for one more day of their survival. One sees them live in present only and this makes an individual wonder how they have no knowledge of their tomorrow and yet they are happy and happier than an individual can ever. One realizes how far we have run from this present in our striving for a better tomorrow. And this sudden realization at a beach is enough to bring a smile on our face. While taking a short walk on the shore when the sun is setting below the horizon, one realizes how one more day of our life has gone by. One wonders what he was when the sun rose today, and what we are now when the sun is setting down. One wonders what have he has achieved and what is the purpose of an individual’s life because this train of thought leads one to the answer of what he wants to achieve. It is the sweet and beautiful moment that an individual actually achieves by visualizing this sunset. The joy of every moment doubles when one shares it with a loved one. There is no place better than a beach and no time better than the sunset to celebrate the mere existence of the significance of another person. It is a perfect time to express one’s feelings and let the other person know how valued they are. Away from the noise of the world, hearts meet right when the sun decides to settle down and the water decides to rise. One realizes how lonely and meaningless the world would be if it was not for our other half. Souls connect when you stand by the seaside, holding hands with your beloved and watching the sun go down. A sunset is not just a sunset. The setting sun, orange sky, signing birds, the sound of water, creates a perfect harmony that soothes an individual’s soul. It is where the relentless mind finds peace,

Social Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Social Psychology - Essay Example The study of social influence, social comparison, conformity, obedience, motives, group processes, attitudes and attitude changes involve social psychology to very large extent in understanding the culture and background of a region together with its history and social practices, and helps to track the means to change mindsets and augment the economy. Undoubtedly, the individual has a huge responsibility in social behavior and practices. Human nature is hereditary and follows the pattern and practices an individual sees and observes around him. As such, the study on self and one’s identity has a special place in the study of social psychology. Every individual is naturally inclined to be self-centered, and central to all his or her life is the concern for the security and well-being of the individual within the social standards, resources and beliefs being followed in the region. The purposes and goals of the individual have a lot to do with the resources and influence society brings about with the help of the natural environment, traditional customs and leadership unique to the region. Man has always had the capability to understand what he is like and the desire to know what he would like to be. Progress is achieved when one puts one’s perception and experience to work and grasp what is feasible and attainable. It makes sense to the individual to seek better things in life and see all round progress and prosperity where he is concerned as well as where others are also involved. The means to these issues are interpersonal relationships, social standards and understanding of one’s culture. The events in Rwanda some decades ago shocked the world and exposed the incapacity of the United Nations to quickly and effectively deal with the situation. A mute world looked on as marauding mobs went on rampage, looting and massacring a hapless minority whose only fault lay in the lopsided governing

Harrison Bergeron Essay Example for Free

Harrison Bergeron Essay In the short story, â€Å"Harrison Bergeron†, Kurt Vonnegut portrays a society in which â€Å"everyone is equal†. Through the efforts of the Handicapper General, all persons who were endowed with anything more than moderate talents are forced to wear various devices meant to make everyone equal, intellectually and physically. Through showing his audience what a truly â€Å"equal† society could be, as well as how government could regulate equality, Kurt Vonnegut clearly makes the point that truly equality leads to a loss of true individuality within a society. Each person in society has talents that another does not, which is what creates diversity in our communities and careers. By removing this diversity from society by making every person equal, the government is inviting its own demise. The first example of how idealistic equality creates a lack of individuality is in the scene where George and Hazel Bergeron are watching ballerinas on television. George notes, â€Å"They weren’t really very good – no better than anybody else would have been, anyway†. By leveling the playing field, and forcing ballerinas to wear weights and masks to hide their talent and beauty, the Handicapper General has taken away from the dancers their unique talents for dancing and eliminating any competition between ballerinas. If all dancers must be equal, this eliminates the need for any one ballerina to spend extra time practicing, or trying to be a better ballerina. This, in turn, could create a less than desirable work ethic, as the ballerinas do not have to work as hard to be competitive. As Philip Fetzer explains, â€Å"†¦ even if it were possible to create a society based on equality of ability, it would not be desirable to do so. A society without differences of ability would generate no leaders, no great works of art or literature, no new ideas. The society would quickly stagnate†. The second instance in which Vonnegut shows his readers the impact of an equal society is when George and Hazel are talking about what society would be like without handicaps to make everyone equal. George cannot think for more than a few seconds at a time because of the handicap that he must wear in his ear, to distract him from his thoughts by blaring loud noises at random. All people who have above â€Å"average† intelligence are required to wear such a device to eliminate any unfair intellectual advantage over others. However, by scaring off the thoughts of truly intelligent people, the government is also creating a society in which nothing will ever change. Without the truly intelligent men and women in any society, there are no new inventions or new ideas that, in the past, have revolutionized a society. By making all people intellectually equal, the government and the society itself will remain unchanged and unadvanced. Ironically, George believes that without handicaps to keep everyone equal, â€Å"pretty soon we’d be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else†. However, without competition, society would revert to the dark ages, unable to compete with other societies and develop new technology and innovation. As Christopher Alexion points out, human beings must be careful with creating equality, because of the risk of taking it â€Å"to extremes that eventually destroy whatever it was we were trying to protect. Thats why our efforts toward equality need vitally to be guided by a love of liberty. Naked equality is just another name for tyranny – for if everyones going to be equal in all aspects, then no one can really be free†. The final example of the effect of a truly equal society occurs when Harrison Bergeron appears on television with all of his clanking weights and extreme handicaps. Harrison is athletic and intelligent, and has an obscene amount of handicaps because of this. Harrison attempts to overthrow the government, by declaring himself â€Å"the Emperor†, and removing all of his handicaps, as well as those of his chosen Empress. By having independent thoughts and beliefs, Harrison leads his own revolution in an attempt to change society for the better. Harrison sees that the constant equality means that people are no longer competitive, and he decides to try to change that. However, he is killed by the government in the process, and any dreams of change die with him. As Steven Saus notes, â€Å"The maximization of human potential and the potential of society can only be achieved by allowing all individuals to have the best opportunity to succeed within the limits of their primary characteristics†. Any person who has new ideas or tries to initiate change within an equal society would be met with the same fate, and consequently, nothing would ever change. By creating a society in which every person is equal, Kurt Vonnegut is able to show his readers how devastating to a society equality could be. At a time when political correctness is a must, and society strives for equality, it is easy to see how true equality could lead to a lack of diversity and competition within a society. Although Vonnegut’s society was a fictional one, a society similar to the one in â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† would become a stagnant and unmotivated environment, falling behind in innovation and invention. Ultimately, the equality in this story will lead to the demise of the society.

Morality in Young Goodman Brown by Hawthorne and The Tell Tale Heart by

Morality in Young Goodman Brown by Hawthorne and The Tell Tale Heart by Poe 'Young Goodman Brown,' by Hawthorne, and 'The Tell Tale Heart,' by Poe, offer readers the chance to embark on figurative and literal journeys, through our minds and our hearts. Hawthorne is interested in developing a sense of guilt in his story, an allegory warning against losing one's faith. The point of view and the shift in point of view are symbolic of the darkening, increasingly isolated heart of the main character, Goodman Brown, an everyman figure in an everyman tale. Poe, however, is concerned with capturing a sense of dread in his work, taking a look at the motivations behind the perverseness of human nature. Identifying and understanding the point of view is essential, since it affects a reader's relationship to the protagonist, but also offers perspective in situations where characters are blinded and deceived by their own faults. The main character of Poe?s story embarks on an emotional roller coaster, experiencing everything from terror to triumph. Both authors off er an interpretation of humans as sinful, through the use of foreshadowing, repetition, symbolism and, most importantly, point of view. Hawthorne teaches the reader an explicit moral lesson through the third person omniscient point of view, whereas Poe sidesteps morality in favor of thoroughly developing his characters in the first person point of view. Third person omniscient point of view, dialogue, and imagery are three literary tools used to reveal the intimate thoughts and feelings of the key characters in Hawthorne?s ?Young Goodman Brown.? For example, Faith bids her husband farewell ?softly and rather sadly? (Hawthorne 133). The tranquility of her adieu... ...ther serves to excite and stimulate our senses as we travel into the deranged mind of a killer ? offering us a unique perspective through the first person point of view. Similarly, the ending of ?Young Goodman Brown? offers a moral, but leaves the main character in a state of discord and callousness towards his wife, and his religion. The story is didactic, because the main character is punished for his transgressions. Symbolism, evident especially in Hawthorne?s allegory, and the repetition of Poe?s suspenseful tale serve to further the goals of each writer. Ultimately, Hawthorne?s Goodman Brown becomes isolated from humanity, an issue of the head and the heart, and Poe?s narrator withdraws inside himself, an issue purely of the mind. Recognizing this discord from the self and humanity is essential to understanding the behavior of these troublesome characters.

A Format Paper Essay

Paragraphs in a Poetry Analysis Essay: Note: It is important to follow the guidelines for each paragraph as you would a cooking recipe. In other words, for each body paragraph, follow the simple ingredients. Format/Recipe for an Introduction: a). Write one to two sentences that briefly summarize the poem. Your first line should state the name of the poem, the poet’s full name, and the speaker’s intent or main idea. Note: For example, if you were writing about Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, your first line would look something like, â€Å"William Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 18’ discusses the conflict that the speaker faces in trying to preserve the beauty of a young and innocent man. †Notice how this opening line follows the above instructions. b). Write about to three sentences that allow you to transition to the element that you will be discussing in your paper. This part is not your argument; this part is designed to transition yourself and your reader to the main point of your paper. ). Write a one to two sentence thesis statement. Your thesis statement will state your overall argument and include at least three rhetorical devices that you will analyze in order to support your argument. Note:For an in-depth discussion on constructing a solid thesis statement for this type of essay, feel free to refer to my previous article in the link provided here:Thesis Statement for a Poetry Analysis Essay Format/Recipe for Body Paragraph 1: a). Write one to two sentences that provide a discussion of your argument. Be sure to also mention one rhetorical device that you will use for support. This part of your paragraph should explain your argument and explain how and why the rhetorical device supports your claim. b). Quote a relevant line/lines that illustrate the rhetorical device that you are discussing, and make sure the quote is relevant to your argument. c). Write about two to three sentences that analyze this quote. Your analysis should reinforce your argument and your discussion of the rhetorical device. d). Write one closing sentence to seal off the paragraph. Format/Recipe for Body Paragraph 2: ). Using a transitional phrase, write one to two more sentences that further discuss your argument. Also, mention another rhetorical device that you will use for support. Your rhetorical device should be different from the first one that you discussed. However, this paragraph is set up just like body paragraph 1. b). Pick another relevant line(s) that support your claims about the second rhetoric al device. Again, make sure that the line(s) are relevant to your argument. c). Have about two to three more sentences that provide an analysis of these quoted lines. Just like body paragraph 1, your analysis should support your argument and the rhetorical device that you are discussing. d). Provide one closing sentence that seals off your paragraph. Format/Recipe for Body Paragraph 3: a). Starting with another transitional phrase, write one to two sentences that discuss your overall argument even more. Just like body paragraph 1 and 2, this paragraph will also include a discussion of a rhetorical device that proves your argument. Your rhetorical device needs to be a different from your first and second body paragraphs. When it comes to content and organization, body paragraph 3 will look just like body paragraph one and two. b). Provide a different line or lines that further emphasize your argument about your third rhetorical device. These lines need to relate to your argument. c). Just like body paragraph 1 and 2, include about two to three sentences that analyze your quoted lines. Just like body paragraph 1 and 2, your sentences should prove your argument, and show the reader how the rhetorical device that you are discussing illustrates your claims. d). Seal off your paragraph with one concluding sentence. Format/Recipe for a Conclusion: a). Write about one to two sentences that re-mentions your thesis statement from letter â€Å"c† in your introduction. Be sure to re-phrase your sentence structure so that you are not repetitive. b). In about three to four sentences, re-mention the rhetorical devices that you discussed to support your argument, and reiterate how these rhetorical devices proved your point. c). Write about two intelligent closing sentences that offer your reader some insight or philosophy about the poem that you wrote about. Editing:

Identify Legal Requirements For Dealing With Complaints

Julia B 304 Task C: Organisational requirements for dealing with complaints Company should have Concerns and Complaints Policy in place. The main aim of it is to ensure that complaints procedure is properly and effectively implemented and that service users feel confident that their complaints and worries are listened to and acted upon promptly and fairly. When dealing with complaints company are to ensure that: service users and their representatives, carers and visitors are aware of how to complain and that company provides easy to use opportunities for them to register complaints a named person is responsible for administartion of the procedure every written complaint is acknowledged within two working days investigations into written complaints are held within 28 days all complaints are responded to in writting by company omplaints are dealt with promptly, fairly and sensitively with due regard to the upset and worry that they cause to both staff and service users Company believes that complaints are best dealt with on a local level between the complainant and the home, but if either of the parties is not satisfied by a local process the case should be reffered to the Care Quality Commission. Legal requirements for dealing with complaints Legal requirement for dealing with complaints is to follow Health and Social Care Act 2010 and National Minimum Standards – complaint policy. Related article: Assignment 205 Task These standards require care home managers to have clear procedures that enable service users to make their views, concerns and worries known, and that reassure them that appropriate action will be taken. Policies and procedures for dealing with suspicion or evidence of physical, financial or material, psychological or sexual abuse, neglect, self harm or degrading behaviour should also be put in place. Standards requiers that every care home: have clear and effective complaints procedure, which includes the stage of, and ime scales, for the process and that service users know how and to whom complain staff listen and act on the views and concerns of service users and others before they develop into formal complaints complaint procedure is explained to service users in appropriate language and format all complaints are responded within 28 days servise users, if they wish, can make a complaint one-to-one with a staff member or independent advocacy/interpreters of their choice service u sers and their families are assured they will not be victimised for making a complaint a record of raised complaints is kept and checked at least three-monthly

Han Chinese and Starbucks Essay

Han Chinese and Starbucks Essay Han Chinese and Starbucks Essay Case Study Chapter 4 Starbucks 1) In my opinion, the key factors Starbucks had to consider before opening shop in China were all based on one thing; Starbucks had to determine why the Chinese would go to a cafà ©. Since the majority of China’s population is tea drinkers, they had to figure out what they could do to bring tea drinkers into a coffee shop. One of these factors is the fact that Starbucks has determined its target market to be the young people in china coined â€Å"little emperors†. They appeal to these young people and their desire for change and sophistication. Another factor Starbucks uses to its advantage is the fact that the Chinese want a comfortable place outside of their small dwellings where they can meet with family and friends. Starbucks capitalized on this by creating larger meeting areas than their North American stores. They made these areas comfortable and cool places for the people to get together and have a latte. Another important factor is that Starbucks has m ore food items on their menu such as duck sandwiches, and green tea cheesecake. Starbucks is not just a drink in china it is a place to meet and look modern. 2) China is a dictatorship so change to how a business operates can happen overnight. One of the key things Starbucks had to do to bring their brand to China was they had to find a Chinese partner that would understand the political and business markets in China. They did this by authorizing local companies to use their brand and the partnering with them. Starbucks started small in China buy only receiving royalties on the licenses, but in 2006 they started buying up shares so they could have more control over their company. China entering the World Trade Agreement in 2001 made buying out their partners and going at the business on their own a lot easier. 3) The Demographic Factor that was

General Information on the Writing Process

General Information on the Writing Process What Is the Writing Process Writing is a complex combination of skills which is best taught by breaking down the process. The writing process involves a series of steps to follow in producing a finished piece of writing. 5 Easy Writing Process Steps STEP 1. The writing process usually begins with the writer wanting or having to convey something. They must have a desire or obligation to share something important with their reader. A student writing an essay or paper must not only complete the assignment, they must seek to make sure their professor, or reader, understands the idea, impression or feeling they are attempting to communicate. A journalist responsible for writing an article or column must write in a way so that most every reader understands the point of telling the story in the first place. A person writing copy for an advertisement, or writing a script for a commercial, is ultimately writing to communicate a message – that the product being featured should be purchased. ESSAY FORMAT In higher education, the same goes for the student writing to complete an assignment. They are either a given a particular topic to write about, or students are provided a basic assignment where they have to create an argument about a topic of their choice as long as it pertains to the course. Free writing and research are ideal ways to begin the writing process. It always benefits the student to research a topic they are writing about. This informs them, educates them and helps them begin to mentally frame their essay. A quick online search is a good place to begin collecting information to make one’s argument or point. The student conducting the research should also write down important information and thoughts that come to their mind as they read. STEP 2. Most academic essays and papers call for some argument to be made, a point that the student will defend in their essay with credible evidence. In this step, the student chooses the direction of their essay, what it will argue for or against. But as they do so, they should keep in mind that their mission is to convince the reader that their argument has credibility, that it’s believable and true. So the student must use the body paragraphs of their essay to provide evidence that validates what they are arguing. STEP 3. Next in the writing process: planning and outlining the first draft of the essay. This requires accomplishing the previous steps and building on them. The student will center the entire essay on the thesis statement, incorporating it into each and every paragraph for emphasis. In the outline, they are to literally plan out the content and placement of each paragraph; they are to strategically place certain information into each essay to further solidify the point they are going to make when the write the first draft of their essay. STEP 4. Next in the writing process is the actual plugging away at the keyboard – the writing of the first draft. It requires a professional and conversational tone, one that speaks with confidence and conviction. Writing is not everyone’s forte. That’s a given. But writing these kinds of essays trains a student to make a case for something – which is often required verbally in the workforce, whether it’s why someone deserves a raise, a newer office, a different route, a longer lunch, a better assistant. People, in all aspects of life, to be successful or to get what they want in life, must have the ability to convince another person that what they are arguing is true. STEP 5. Once the first draft is written, it’s time to reread the essay for many reasons. One, in particular, is making sure the argument the essay is attempting to make is done successfully, that it ultimately convinces the reader to believe the argument the essay is making. Also, an essay should be reread several times in search of misspelled words, punctuation errors and incomplete sentences. Once errors are found, they should be corrected promptly. Finally, once this is done and the student is confident in their essay, they should read it once more before turning it into their professor for a graded evaluation. If you need help with essay writing, is your best bet. Our professional writers can provide professional assistance writing on virtually any topic. In order to request assistance, visit our order page and place an order!

Cigarette taxes comments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cigarette taxes comments - Essay Example He is assessed, for example, 10 cents as tax for each box. Since he purchased ten boxes, he is supposed to pay a dollar for taxes. Now since he does not want to pay that much tax, he falsifies the receipts, erase the 0 to make it appear that he only bought 1 box, instead of 10. Then he only pays 10 cents. This is tax evasion. And it is illegal. Tax avoidance on the other hand is when a person chooses legal means to pay less tax. For example, New York City charges 10 cents per box of cigarettes. However, in Austin, Texas, for example, the cigarette tax is only 1 cent per box. A person avoiding tax would rather buy cigarettes in Austin than in New York City. This is legal. He does not falsify anything. He does not under-declare amounts. Now it is understandable that people avoids tax. People want to save money. They would look for places where they can buy things less expensively. That is but natural. And they could not be faulted for that. They cannot be blamed if they look for places who charges lower taxes and buy their cigarettes there. And they cannot be blamed if they choose methods to limit the taxes they pay as long as they do it legally. Now, with the problem of the city losing revenue, I think it can be addressed by formulating better regulatory policies. They could promote effective prevention of smuggling of cigarettes, limit mail-order purchases. They could also be stricter in enforcing licenses and they could punish unlicensed vendors and those that violate the law. With respect to those who avoid tax by buying from out-of-state retailers, I don’t think they can do anything about that. It would be too costly to put check points on state boundaries. If the cigarette is bought in another state within the US, it would be difficult to prevent it from entering another US state. This is also the same or people who buys cigarettes in duty free shops. In sum, although I agree that

Re-write an old report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Re-write an old report - Essay Example An electronic chart is ECIDIS only if it adheres to the performance standards authorized by International Maritime Organization (IMO).Basic measure of IMO standard is; feature assessment, and functions for a safe utility to serve the navigation purpose (IMO, 1995).With integrated Global Positioning System (GPS), ECDIS assist and enhance navigation performance by automatically determining the position (Gould et al.2009).In this way locating position becomes a simplified task, however, according to Sauer et al. (2002)the system monitoring requirement increases with ECDIS. But ECDIS has got edge which can not be ignored. Its most important advantage is designing and monitoring. Route designing was manually done in past, ECDIS made it much easier and the process more efficient. Moreover, manual designing can damage the chart and can hide important description on the chart (Yu-xin et al. 2004). 2.1.The basic purpose of Transas Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS Navi-Sailor 3000 provides the navigator with all the information from different navigational sensors presented in electronic navigational chart. All the information provided at on chart assist in ensuring a safe passage. Route planning functionality is enhanced by different functions and integrations (ZORA, 2009).According to TRANSAS (2009), Navi-Sailor 3000 is developed to not only meet SOLAS convention but also to meet the requirement of IMO resolution to be implemented in all commercial vessels and Military ships. 2.2. Feature Appraisal of Navi-Sailor 3000 Software Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS assist the navigator in understanding marine environment by numerous functions and features. Nearly all the features that ensure safe navigation are available by the software, for instance, beacons, buoys, lighthouses, areas, and dangerous objects. Some of the functions used are: Positioning Route planning and monitoring Alarms Electronic log and Playback Function ECDIS and Navi-Sailor 3000 Integration 2.2.1. Positioning The system is fully prepared to assist the navigator by providing all the essential information. Current ship position and motion vector is displayed at top position as shown in figure 1.In addition, radar/ARPA information and AIS data is also obtained from this system. Furthermore, Navi-Sailor 3000 also provides a feature of ship contour display according to parameters and chart scale. Additional date is obtained from system’s navigational sensors. Figure 1: Current ship position (TRANSAS, 2009) 2.2.2 Route planning and monitoring Through route planning feature, Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS provide; geographical data, such as course and waypoints, scheduled information, such as, estimated time of arrival and departure, and average speed, weather calculations and other updated information. In addition to route planning function, ‘Check Route’ function is also available. It enables route checking from threats to navigation. There are customization options to set the mode by user acc ording to varying safety contours and depth. Planned route can also be checked and amended simultaneously. In addition to route planning and checking, planned route can also be monitored by Navi-Sailor 3000

Relationships in working with young people Essay

Relationships in working with young people - Essay Example Many organisations have been on the forefront in ensuring this is a prevalent occasion as it cements the functionality of the same organisation. For instance, this project was developed to assist the youth in the working environment (The factory sequence 3: Paul’s perspective, 3’00’’). This was to improve their working environment and ensure they are comfortable with what was offered. In making this a reality, the project manager approached working youth and engaged the youth in lengthy talks. This was initiated to get information on what they needed and how they wanted it. Therefore, it openly states that communication was an ideal aspect in getting to know what the youth need in the working environment. There are many issues youth have to deal with, including employment. This is an issue that is affecting a number of families in the society. To save the situation, youths have to look for other avenues of looking for employment. This includes the informal sector, where youths have to start working to support their families. Aggressive and creative youths have to look for employment in supporting their younger siblings. This includes fending for their food, clothing, and getting enough cash to send them to school. In most cases, youths of age 16 and 17 have to look for employment to get more resources. ... In some instances, youths save enough cash and pursue their higher education later in life. This means that all is not lost, especially when youths have networks and can make strong relationships in the informal sector. Building a relationship with the youth does not cost a lot in terms of money. When building a relationship with the youth, you only need to engage in dialogue, talk about issues and make lasting friendship (The factory sequence 2: Kawsar’s perspective, 00’04’’). This is done on a frequent basis where the youth meet, exchange ideas and make decisions. This does not involve use of resources as it is a social activity. However, the issue of resources chips in when they have to make a project from their ideas. In such a case, the only resource that is spent is time. The youth have to spare enough time to relate, talk, dialogue and exchange ideas with other youth. As much as a project is in the offing, the youth will have a stronger bond and rel ationship. In making a strong relationship with the youth in the streets and factories, the project initiators engaged in frequent talks. These lively talks made a concrete bond between the youth and the project initiators. Since they communicated on a frequent basis, they gathered substantial information that could be used in developing the project. The relationship between the youth and the project initiators was enhanced by an agreement point. This is where the project initiators respected the needs of the youth and had to make better ways of giving the youths what they need. In continuous interaction with the youth, the project initiators discovered that the youth had wider perspectives

Diagnosing Diabetes Mellitus

Diagnosing Diabetes Mellitus Introduction In this practical, enzymatic assays were used to determine the glucose concentration of patients in plasma samples. The use of enzymes as a marker for analytical analysis of plasma samples are very reliable due to the high specificity, reproducibility and sensitivity of enzyme assays (glucose HK assay kit). The first assay used is a glucose oxidase assay, this assay measures the glucose levels in plasma by using enzymes such as glucose oxidase to catalyse the oxidation of D-glucose which is present in plasma into D-Gluconic acid. The reaction is coupled to another chemical reaction where a reduced form of o-Diansidine is oxidised to an oxidised form of o-diansidine. This occurs in combination with a formation of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is then broken down and reacts with H2SO4 to form a coloured compound that can be spectrophotometrically detected at a wavelength of 540nm. Another popular glucose measuring assay is the hexokinase assay. This assay catalyses the phosphorylation of glucose present in the sample in presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by using hexokinase to form glucose-6-phosphate (G6P). G6P is then oxidised in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to form 6-phospho-gluconate, this reaction is catalysed by the presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). While this reaction is undergoing, the NAD is reduced to NADH. This creates a colorimetric signal that can be detected at a wavelength of 340nm by a spectrophotometer. These assays are two of many assays used to measure glucose in patients. They are commonly used to determine if the patient is diabetic or for routine uses to monitor patients who are already diagnosed with diabetes. Glucose Oxidase assay Materials Pipette and tips Eppendorf tubes Potassium phosphate Glucose oxidase (1U/ µl) Peroxidase (0.01U/ µl) O-Diansidine hydrochloride Patient samples x6 (2 for each patient) Stop solution (Sulphuric acid H2SO4) 96 well plate Plate reader Method Firstly, 3ml of glucose oxidase reagent was prepared by adding 60 µl of glucose oxidase, 30 µl of peroxidase and 60 µl of o-diansidine hydrochloride in 2,85 ml of 0.1 potassium phosphate to create a solution at a pH of 7.5. Calculations: Glucose Oxidase (1U/ µl) => (1000 U/ml)/(20 U/ml) =50 (3ml)/50=0.06ml =60 µl Peroxidase (0.01 U/ µl) => (10 U/ml)/(0.1 U/ml) = 100 (3ml)/100 =0.03ml =30 µl O-Diansidine hydrochloride => 1:50 dilution needed 3ml=3000 µl 3000/50=60 µl Then, a set of 6 standards were prepared by diluting a 0.1M stock glucose solution in water as followed: Table 1. Preparation of standards volumes Final concentration (mM) 0.1 stock glucose solution ( µl) Purified water ( µl) 0 0 200 5 10 190 10 20 180 15 30 170 20 40 160 25 50 150 Then, 50 µl of the samples (provided) and standards were added in duplicate on a 96 well plate as shown below (See Table 2.). Table 2. 96 well plate distribution 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 A 25 QC4 Patient 1 T=1 Patient 2 T=1 Patient 3 T=1 25 QC4 Patient 1 T=1 Patient 2 T=1 Patient 3 T=1 B 20 QC7 Patient1 T=2 Patient 2 T=2 Patient 3 T=2 20 QC7 Patient 1 T=2 Patient 2 T=2 Patient 3 T=2 C 15 QC11 15 QC11 D 10 10 E 5 5 F 0 0 Then 100 µl of the assay reagent prepared earlier was added to each well. After 30 minutes of incubation at 37 °C, the reaction was stopped by adding 100 µl of sulphuric acid to each well. The plate was then read at 540nm on a plate reader. Results After reading the plate at 540nm on the plate reader, the following results were obtained: Table 3. Sample Absorbance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 A 0.640 0.126 0.160 0.099 0.087 0.686 0.129 0.082 0.090 0.093 B 0.545 0.193 0.141 0.139 0.087 0.567 0.204 0.176 0.113 0.041 C 0.442 0.266 0.410 0.303 0.104 D 0.261 0.283 E 0.193 0.144 F 0.049 0.048 Results highlighted in red were omitted from further calculations due to preparation errors. 200 µl instead of 100  µl of assay reagent was added to well A9, this diluted the signal creating an inaccurate result. The well was re-prepared in well C9 but the time interval between the substrate and stop solution was unequal to the duplicate in well A3, therefore, the result of well C9 was omitted from further calculations. Finally, the result of well B11 was omitted from further calculations since the assay reagent was not added to the well, therefore there was no chemical reaction (same value as blank). Table 4. Standard Absorbance Standards (mM) 0.000 5.000 10.000 15.000 20.000 25.000 Absorbance Date: 25/01/2017 0.049 0.144 0.291 0.442 0.545 0.640 Date: 25/01/2017 0.048 0.193 0.283 0.410 0.567 0.686 Mean 0.049 0.169 0.287 0.426 0.556 0.663 Standard deviation (n=2) 0.001 0.035 0.006 0.023 0.016 0.033 CV % (n=2) 1.458 20.563 1.971 5.312 2.798 4.906 Table 5. Standards mean absorbance recapitulative Standards Concentration (mM) Abs 1 0 0.049 2 5 0.169 3 10 0.287 4 15 0.426 5 20 0.556 6 25 0.663 A standard curve can be plotted using the results generated by the wells containing the standards. Figure 1. Standard curve of the Absorbance versus concentration The precision of the standard curve can be determined by calculating the coefficient of variation (CV% where CV=standard deviation (SD)/mean) for each standard as shown below: Figure 2. Comparison of the coefficients of variations percentages of the standard duplicates          Results are usually rejected if the difference in values is greater than 20% for more than 75% of the calibration standards. In this case, the precision of the curve is acceptable since all the CVs of the points (except from 1) are below 20 % (EMEA or Desilva). The accuracy and the precision can be further analysed by the quality controls (QCs) which were ran in duplicate on the plate. Table 6. Quality control results Absorbance Results QC (4 mM) QC (7 mM) QC (11 mM) 0.126 0.193 0.266 0.129 0.204 0.303 Mean 0.128 0.199 0.285 Standard deviation (n=2) 0.002 0.008 0.026 CV % (n=2) 1.664 3.918 9.196 As shown above, the CVs of the QCs are below 20% meaning that the precision of the duplicates is acceptable. By extrapolating the mean absorbance from the QCs, the corresponding concentrations can be determined. QC performances are determined by calculating the precision and accuracy of these. The precision is determined as a CV% (CV%, where CV = SD/mean) and the accuracy as absolute bias (% RE, where relative error [RE] = [measured value actual value]/ actual value). If these are between  ±20% ( ±25% for low QC and high QC) and the target total error (sum of these two values) is below 30% (40% for low QC and high QC), then the results generated from the standard curve are acceptable (De silva EMEA). Table 7. Quality control precision and accuracy QC (4 mg/ml) QC (7 mg/ml) QC (11 mg/ml) Absorbance 0.128 0.199 0.285 Concentration 3.29 6.13 9.57 CV % (n=2) 2.595 5.092 10.958 Bias % 17.8583547 12.48608 13.03319986 Total error 20.453 17.578 23.992 Following the results shown above, it can be determined that the precision and accuracy of the results are acceptable for each control. Once this has been determined, the results generated from the samples can be analysed reliably. Finally, by extrapolating the absorbance generated from the samples on the standard curve, a corresponding concentration can be determined as shown below: Table 8. Sample results Patient1(t=1) Patient 1 (t=2) Patient 2 (t=1) Patient 2 (t=2) Patient 3 (t=1) Patient 3 (t=2) absorbance 0.130 0.159 0.095 0.126 0.09 0.087 Concentration (nM) 3.37 4.53 1.97 3.21 1.77 1.65 Hexokinase assay Due to time constraints, the hexokinase assay was not performed. Despite this, some results were provided to determine the glucose concentrations of the 3 patients. Results Table 9. Standards, quality controls and samples results provided Standards: Glucose concentration mM Absorbance 0 0.048 5 0.154 10 0.366 15 0.496 20 0.725 25 0.854 Samples and quality controls: Sample Absorbance IQC1 0.162 IQC2 0.260 IQC3 0.393 Patient 1 sample 1 0.269 Patient 1 sample 2 0.411 Patient 2 sample 1 0.196 Patient 2 sample 2 0.303 Patient 3 sample 1 0.206 Patient 3 sample 2 0.236 A standard curve can be plotted using the standard results provided: Figure 3. Standard curve of absorbance over concentration By extrapolating the absorbance from the quality controls and samples, the corresponding concentrations can be determined as shown below: Table 10. Quality control results QC (4) QC (7) QC (11) Absorbance 0.162 0.26 0.393 Concentration (nM) 4.27 7.16 11.10 Bias % 6.68430505 2.347304 0.871558008 The bias calculated is within the 20% range meaning that the assay is accurate and the results generated are validated. Finally, by extrapolating the provided absorbance of the samples on the standard curve, a corresponding concentration can be determined. Table 11. Sample results Patient1 (t=1) Patient 1 (t=2) Patient 2 (t=1) Patient 2 (t=2) Patient 3 (t=1) Patient 3 (t=2) absorbance 0.269 0.411 0.196 0.303 0.206 0.236 Concentration (nM) 7.43 11.63 5.27 8.44 5.57 6.45 Discussion The results obtained by the glucose oxidase assay are very different from the hexokinase assay, even though the accuracy and precision of both assays are acceptable. Meaning that there must have been an error in preparation of the samples, standards or controls of one of these assays. It has been predetermined that a preanalytical error was made during the storage of the patient samples prior to their use in the glucose oxidase assay. The samples were thawed and not kept on ice which degraded the samples, this explains the low values for the patient concentrations.   Due to the abnormal results obtained in the glucose oxidase assay (t=1 and t=2 decrease in glucose concentrations for patient 3), the results were omitted from further clinical interpretation. The results provided in the hexokinase assay seem to be more correct (increase in glucose concentrations from t=1 to t=2). Taking this into account, the results obtained from the hexokinase assay were used for the clinical interp retation of the patients. The paired samples which were ran on the assays were samples collected during a glucose tolerance test.   A glucose tolerance test (commonly called GTT or OGTT) is performed on a patient to help diagnose diabetes. It is used to help diagnose disorders such as pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, gestational diabetes (for pregnant women) and reactive hypoglycaemia for example. The test involves the administration of a glucose dose (usually 75g in liquid form) to a fasting patient. Blood is taken before the ingestion of the dose and 2 hours later. The results from the blood glucose levels help determine glucose disorders(ref). GTT is a widely-used tool for diagnosing gestational diabetes. It is offered to women who are 24-28 weeks pregnant and present a risk factors such as an elevated BMI, family history of diabetes or a previous pregnancy of a large baby. Patient 1 is a 36-year-old female who is 28 weeks pregnant. She was offered a routine GTT following the last pregnancy since the baby was large. Her fasting glucose was 7.43 mmol/L and her blood glucose levels after 2 hours was 11.6mmol/L. In the UK, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, a fasting glucose greater than 5.6 mmol/L and/or a 2-hour blood glucose level greater than 7.8mmol/L for pregnant women is considered diagnostic for gestational diabetes (NICE guidleines). Therefore, the patient in question is diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Patient 2 is a 67 year old female, she was referred for a GTT following the results of her fasting plasma glucose to be 5.6mmol/L at a routine GP check-up. According to the results from the hexokinase assay, her fasting glucose was 5.27mmol/L and her 2-hour plasma glucose levels were 8.44mmol/L. These results indicate that the patient has an impaired glucose tolerance (fasting glucose less than 7mmol/L and 2-hour plasma level between 7.8 and 11.1mmol/L). This diagnosis is given when the results do not indicate diabetes but are still abnormal. Further check-ups need to be planned to routinely check for diabetes. Patient 3 is a 24 year old male. He is affected by cystic fibrosis which requires annual pancreatic function tests such as GTTs. His fasting blood glucose levels were 5.57mmol/L and the 2-hour blood glucose levels were 6.45mmol/L following these results it is safe to say that this patient is healthy (fasting plasma levels less than 5.5mmol/L and plasma glucose levels at 2-hours less than 7.8mmol/L). Conclusion By using an enzyme assay, blood glucose levels from patients can be monitored. These assays are reliable due to the specificity, reproducibility and sensitivity of the enzymes. By measuring the glucose levels of samples before and after the administration of an oral dose of glucose, the results can help diagnose several types of diabetes such as gestational diabetes in pregnant women. There are a variety of available assays that can measure glucose from serum samples, but they all function on the same principle of catalysing a reaction to produce a detectable signal that is correlated to a concentration. The use of internal quality controls is an indispensable way of testing the reliability of the results.