The Case for Literature-Based Reading Programmes at the Elementary Essay

The Case for Literature-Based Reading Programmes at the Elementary School Level - Essay Example The publication of children's literature has increased substantially and its incorporation into reading programmes has also increased significantly (Harris, 1992). At the same time, there has been a simultaneous interest in literature-based reading instruction. Nonetheless, the importance and the usefulness of children's literature have been questioned. The nature of these attacks, however, seem to have less to do with the value of the instructional approaches and substantive materials than a preoccupation with preparing students for standardized tests and a stubborn adherence to traditional methods. Of particular concern is the use of children's literature as a means for teaching children how to decode information in order to perform better on standardized tests. This instructional method, without more, neglects the very purposes of literature-based reading instruction and renders the inclusion of children's literature in elementary reading programmes an almost tangential inclusion. The strict emphasis on decoding and on standardized testing, while of some relevance to literacy, is harming the very goals and usefulness of literature-based reading instruction. This essay will argue that the inclusion of children's literature is of fundamental importance to effective reading programmes at the elementary school level. ... As a preliminary matter, it is essential to identify the theoretical foundations of literature-based reading instruction. This is because the mere inclusion of literature in a reading programme, without a corresponding shift in instructional methods, may defeat or diminish the very purposes of the programme. Serafini argues that in order for elementary teachers to implement a quality literature-based reading program and make a substantial shift in the way that children's literature is used in the curriculum, they must first make a parallel shift in the theoretical perspectives they use to ground their practice. Without this parallel shift, teachers may simply change the materials they use to teach reading, relegating children's literature to an instructional device in the service of higher test scores. In order to make a shift, however, one must first understand what the theoretical perspectives are and how they influence classroom practice (2003, np). The modernist approach to reading and literacy is a major obstacle to more comprehensive literature-based reading goals. This approach begins with the premise that the meaning of a text is located solely within that text. This is an extraordinarily limited and strict perception of reading. In short, there is one true meaning in the text and children are required to decipher or decode this meaning from the text. This type of reading perspective excludes an interactive approach to the text; more troubling, perhaps, is the fact that it subordinates rather completely the context in which the text is examined and enjoyed. This type of approach is typically implemented as part of a reading skills programme. Teachers teach students how to decode true meanings, students

Undocumented Students Essay Example for Free

Undocumented Students Essay There are thousands of undocumented students from different countries that migrate to the United States of America seeking a better way of life; however, the reality of that being possible is unlikely high. According an activist from the Lulac Association, over three million students graduate from U. S. high schools every year. Most get the opportunity to pursue a college degree, strive for their vocational goals, and reach for their American dream. Unfortunately, there are many students that see their dreams go down the drain for not having the right documentation to obtain a job and/or go to school. That is the main reason why undocumented students who are pursuing a higher education must be able to apply for a visa that can allow them to work on their field of study as well as to get financial aid, pay taxes, and become productive citizens who contribute to this country. This country is viewed as a melting pot for their many races, however, the reality is that even though they are many cultures, many believes, and nationalities, there are still some people in congress that do not believe in giving the immigrants the opportunity to growth professionally, and individually in this country even though this should be â€Å"a free country†; a country where people have freedom, a country of opportunities. Undocumented students should be able to obtain a visa to allow them to work for many reasons; one of them is for them to be able to get financial aid and pursue their dreams. There are many undocumented students that are in universities all over this country that are forced to dropped off for not having the money to continue paying for their education. It is a fact that undocumented students are only able to apply for state aid and many of the times the funds are not enough or they aren’t any. According to a financial representative at El Centro College, the maximum amount that a student applying for state aid can get a year is around $1,700. That money is not even enough for books; let me not mention that they are not able to et a job because they do not have the documentation to do so. If the government could at least pass the dream act; a bill that congress is attempting to provide immigration relief for undocumented youths through legislation known as the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act). The Act has been introduced in each subsequent Congressional session in various forms, for the last 10 years since 2001. Th e latest version passed the House in December 2010, but was defeated in the Senate. According to the PEW Hispanic Center in Washington, D. C, however, approximately 65,000 youths do not get this opportunity because they are smeared with the inherited label of being illegal immigrants. These youths have lived in the United States for most of their lives and want to be recognized as Americans. Yes, it would be great for this undocumented student to have the documentation that could allow them to better themselves and be productive to this country. But how do this students can be productive in this country if they are not allowed to? It is of major importance for this government to do something about this specific situation; there is a great need of open minds that are willing to support the legalization of millions of undocumented students. By giving this students the right to work and better themselves educationally, the economy in this country would get better; thousands of jobs would be created and the people that not report taxes would be able to do so and that would help stabilize the economy. I want to emphasize that in this country there is nothing free! Many republicans complain because according to them illegal people in this country do not pay taxes. It is a fact that even when you go grocery shopping there is a percentage of taxes that must be paid in addition to your purchase, if you own a home weather or not you are legal or not you must pay taxes every year for that property. Opponents should realize that not paying taxes is just an excuse and a migratory reform shouldn’t be an option but must be a law taken into action. I have a dream†, a famous quote from Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. whom devoted his life to stop segregation. If he would be alive is for a fact that he would fight for the rights of undocumented students to achieve a migratory reform. It is inhuman to have many professionals working in construction or and or cutting yards because they cannot work on their field of study. Legalization of undocumented students is a need that this country is no longer going to be ble to ignore. In conclusion, yes, undo cumented who are pursuing a higher education should be able obtain a visa that can allow them to work on their field of study as well as get financial aid because at the end of the day this country is going to rely on next generation’s capacity and education to help this economy get through this bad crisis. This kids/ young people are tomorrow’s future and they deserve an opportunity to prosper, to conquer, and to shine!

Ethical Issues in Business: Accounting and Environmentalism

Ethical Issues in Business: Accounting and Environmentalism Cassandra Swinden Part A: This section is to outline the importance of social accounting and social reporting and to define this with an in depth explanation; in terms of within a business society. The use of the company Apple as a case study and further references, will allow a detailed analysis of these terms, to give a deeper understanding to the reader. Social accounting and reporting is a huge factor in measuring companies’ performances, however there is no single agreed definition. Therefore we could ask what actually is social accounting and reporting, if there is no official identity to the terms. Social accounting and reporting is a way of evaluating a business’s performance only on numerical figures. It takes into account other Stakeholder groups rather than just Shareholders, as it highlights the importance of a business responsibility to differing issues. Issues include; environmental, local and national involvement (charity). This statement can be supported by many sources including; D. Crowther (2000) as he defines social accounting in this sense as an approach to reporting a firm’s activities which stresses the need for the identification of socially relevant behaviour, the determination of those to whom the company is accountable for its social performance and the development of appropriate measures and reporting techniques. [1] Another definition to identify the term â€Å"social accounting† comes from O,Dwyer (2006). However he defines the term from the perspective of an accountant stating â€Å"social accounting scholars are a group of individuals with ‘commitment to stakeholder accountability and democracy’†.[2] However this is not always be case, as social accounts may be biased for different reasons. Accountant’s desire for work fees could lead them to saying things which aren’t completely true, which can cause huge legitimacy problems. Secondly soc ial accounting can also be recognised as a contributing factor of many social conflicts and disputes. This links to Apple as looking at the report â€Å"Apples un-kept promises†; we can see that legitimacy problem have arisen, from the claims made in their progress report. Apple claims: â€Å"We don’t tolerate underage labour. Our code requires our suppliers to provide special treatment to juvenile workers.†[3] However the China labour watch disclosed in their report ‘Apples un-kept promises’; that within 2 factories they found many underage workers and employment right were minimal or even non-existent. However social accounting may seem a positive driver for pleasing numerous Stakeholders, nevertheless it still has its disadvantages as a performance measure. Stuart Cooper (2004) â€Å"Social and environmental accounting is flawed as it does not address the problem of the capitalist system†. This suggests that as long as money is the main objective in companies, they will never be legitimate with its social accounting objectives. Apple are a company which seem to adopt a capitalist culture, due to evidence discovering the length of working hours and the wage workers receive. â€Å"Working hours are too long, with 7-day weeks, shifts exceeding 12 hours and 80 hours of overtime a month not uncommon. It appears that falsified attendance records help disguise the real figures†. [4] Further from this the pay rate is at only ‘$1.20 per hour’. Looking at Grey, Owen, Adams theory of social responsibility stances we can see that Apple clearly adopts an expedients approach, as they only proposed changes in 2012 (the progress report), to rebuild their tattered reputation. The report â€Å"un-kept promises† published by the China Labour Watch, showed how all promises mentioned in the progress report, to better employment rights and increase interests with different Stakeholder groups, were shattered, as independent enquiries were made to show that workers were receiving less than adequate treatment, for example no action was made to better environmental issues. To conclude social accounting is an important measure for all businesses. However its importance differs in different ways, as some businesses only accepts social responsibility as long as it benefits them. However some companies genuinely put the importance of social responsibility, before profits and reputation, these companies usually take a deep ecologist view to responsibility and include companies such as Greenpeace. Overall social responsibility is mainly adopted for self-benefits, and this is where the term â€Å"Green wash† has emerged. Part B: This part of the essay outlines what is meant by the term ‘ethical issues’, giving an understanding of the two theories ethical relativism and ethical absolutism. The report is also to highlight the importance of ethics within companies, and give justification for its importance. Furthermore the use of Apple articles and further references will allow an assessment to be made, and assumptions on Apples performance to these matters will be highlighted. The use of different viewpoints from varying Stakeholders will make the reports analysis more solid, as this will allow advantages and disadvantages to be seen in differing scenarios, rather than just seeing the benefits/negatives of main Shareholders. Ethical issues are mainly defined through two different theories; either relativism or absolutism. Ethical absolutism is a theory where something is only right or wrong, it does not consider any other situations or scenarios. On the other hand Ethical relativism this theory were nothing is categorically right or wrong, as it is mainly relies on the circumstances of an individual, culture, beliefs or emotions. Therefore there is more tolerance on positive or negative actions that may be seen as immoral due to the moral absolutism theory. Looking at Apples Progress Report for 2012 outlines, how Apple have managed ethical matters to suite many Stakeholders involved within the company, demonstrating strong cooperate responsibility. Many statements are made within report; differing amongst Stakeholder groups, however the quote â€Å"We require that our suppliers provide safe working conditions, treat workers with dignity and respect, and use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever Apple products are made.† [5] This statement evidently indicates the importance of the employee, pressure groups and environmentalists to the Apple brand; this analytically shows good responsibility to these stakeholders welfare. However contrasting this other sources have indicated that Apple has not complied with many of the statements they have made, regarding their ethical responsibility. A report called the ‘Other Side of Apple’ by the Friends of nature, the IPE and green Beagle (2011) found that â €Å"it was discovered that Lian Jian Technology had environmental violations, as they â€Å"did not carry out the appropriate measures which resulted in hazardous waste material run off. They also had not filled out the hazardous waste transfer manifest documentation.† [6] From this we can evidently assume that Apple have minimal interest in changing practices to make them more environmentally friendly, they’d rather pay heavy fines. As changing practices would be costly and may affect the annual profits of Apples displeasing the Shareholders. This indicates that social responsibility is only implemented for the interest of Apple. Similarly according to a report from the China Labour watch show cased many ethical issues involving employees throughout all three factories, issues such as; an immense number of underage workers were discovered and of which did not receive any exceptional protection/treatment in comparison to workers of age. They were made to work within t he same conditions and hours of employees of legal age. Additionally all workers were made to sign documents to falsify the hours that they do, therefore breaking employment regulations. However overseas employment is greatly important to many less economically developed countries, Apple provides an income for their employees, as well as giving them opportunities to learn new skills, and increasing their life satisfaction. A Case Study involving Man Power to recruit a workforce force from the Monga-hit region of Rangpur, supports this as â€Å"the government assigned a quota to send 18000 poor people from the Monga-hit region comprising greater Rangpur to overseas countries with job.† [7] As well as offering â€Å"loans to poor youths of the Monga-hit region consisting of greater Rangpur for overseas employment.† [8] This shows the importance of companies being overseas, as governments of these less developed countries heavily encourage inward investment, as it benefits them in many ways; as the government gain more taxation to improve public services, as well as less dependency on them for income. Shareholders will also benefit as wages are much lower overseas, therefore increased profits could be made, increasing dividends. To conclude Apples performance towards its promises to alter social issues, have been extremely poor. As evidence through investigations by the Chinese Labour Watch and a report from the Friends of nature, IPE and Green Beagle all have identified many issues involving numerous Stakeholders, including: employees, environment and its suppliers, where all parties were suffering from the production of Apple products. However on the other hand these factories do play an important role economically to the countries. As they provide employment to very low-skilled people, and most likely pay better wages than competitors. As well, governments promote inward investment into countries like these, as they financially aid the country through additional taxes, as well as a reduction in the unemployed, therefore less dependence on the government for survival. This view is supported by the Case Study on Manpower. Overall for Apple to be socially responsible they do need to address ethical issues th at have been mentioned, as eventually them only providing the advantage and employment to a country won’t be enough. In the future more damage could be made environmentally, costing the government large amounts of money. Part C: This part is to outline why companies might possibly report on environmental responsibility, it is argued many only report on these issues for business case reasons. Furthermore an analysis on what is meant by the term business case will be made, through the use of differing definitions from a range of sources. Applying apple to principles to help understand why companies report on environmental issues and what impact business case reasons has on a company, this will give a greater understanding of the importance of business case, as it will give more personalised answers as Apple may have a differing situation/position to other companies. Also using an existing company to show proposed changes, will lead to a sustainable planet. Finally there will be an explanation on what is understood by the term â€Å"Greenwash†, using multiple references and also demonstrating how it distresses particular Stakeholders. Companies that do things to reflect environmental responsibility but however only do them to in fact increase profitability, sales and even reduce waste to only reduce unit price of products, are only doing these things for business case reasons. Whereas if companies actually take a moral responsibility to environmental practices i.e. reduce their carbon emissions, they are doing this for ethical reasons instead of business case reasons. Therefore business case reasons highlight that companies only demonstrate an environmental policy to maintain a good reputation, however the practices they change/implement is done only to benefit themselves. However according to a report â€Å"beyond the business case† by Thomas Dyllick and Kai Hockerts they state â€Å"A single-minded focus on economic sustainability can succeed in the short run; however, in the long run sustainability requires all three dimensions to be satisfied simultaneously.† [9] This statement suggests those bus inesses that only concentrate on business case issues, intending to make changes to gain economic advantages; this will not benefit them in the long run. As mentioned they need to focus on all three dimensions which include; economic, ecological and social aspects. Therefore, for a business to be a success they need to take into account environmental and social issues. This statement links to Apple as evidence suggests that Apple heavily focuses on economic issues, however neglecting ecological and social issues, which affects a vast majority of Stakeholders, and the reputation of the business. A report called the ‘Other Side of Apple’ by the Friends of nature, the IPE and green Beagle (2011) identified many environmental issues within the company which affected many internal Stakeholders. For example in the Lain Jian factory they used an alcohol based solution to clean screens and other parts within the construction of their products. However Apple changed its process â€Å"In August, 2008, however, W (Suzhou) suddenly began requiring its employees to replace the alcohol-based cleaner with n-hexane. When interviewed, workers at the factory stated that n-hexane evaporated much more quickly than the alcohol-based cleaner, thereby i ncreasing their efficiency rate.† [10] But controversially Apple didn’t recognise the dangers of this solution, by not reporting the change to the authorities this violated China‘s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases. Not only this, it affected the health of many employees in the company, as it is a poison it left many sick, as the chemical can cause unresponsiveness of limbs. â€Å"Many of the employees at Lian Jian Technology have been falling sick†, â€Å"According to hospital tests and the doctors ‘diagnosis, these employees ‘upper and lower peripheral nerves had been damaged† [11] This clearly shows major environmental and social issues in Apple, and how the importance of increased efficiency was more important, than ensuring the safety of its employees. A lot of employees form this incident decided to leave the company, as it was unsafe for them to work there. They received little compensation, and many of employees had to leave as they were given no other option, leaving them unemployed again and vulnerable as their skill set is minimal. Therefore Apples business case, really need altering as this undoubtedly demonstrates the importance of having all three dimensions (economical, ecological and social) as mentioned in the report â€Å"beyond the business case†. Greenwashing is a tool which a lot of major companies use to make them appear that they take responsibility for environmental issues, but in real terms they don’t; they only publish what they do to enhance their business reputation and brand image, which could possibly increase profitability and sales. It’s only done for self-interests. This is supported by a view from greenwashingindex.com as they state â€Å"It’s greenwashing when a company or organization spends more time and money claiming to be â€Å"green† through advertising and marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact. It’s whitewashing, but with a green brush.† [12] Overall from the evidence gathered about business case reasons, which are now known as actions that only benefit the company i.e. increased profits? Are a big tool used in companies, however this continuous approach to only look at economic advantages does not benefit companies in the long-run. As from the report ‘Other Side of Apple’ by the Friends of nature, the IPE and green Beagle, showed how they only focused on economic benefits through replacing a cleaning solution, which increased efficiency, however it led to huge pay-outs and loss of many employees, meaning large costs and a tattered reputation. This highlights that the view of needing to concentrate on all 3 dimensions, by Thomas Dyllick and Kai Hockerts is grossly important. This leads to the view of Greenwashing, many companies use this tool to appear environmentally involved, but only for self-interests, such as increased brand image and reputation, as well as the possibility of more sales. To conclude comp anies to succeed in the future need to really take on board the importance of environmental and social issues for them to be a success. As these responsibilities are becoming more important to consumers, and other Stakeholders in this day and age. References: D. Crowther, Social and Environmental Accounting (London: Financial Times Prentice Hall, 2000), p. 20. Carol A. Tilt. (2008). Corporate Responsibility, Accounting. Available: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=2ved=0CDAQFjABurl=http://www.springer.com/cda/content/document/cda_downloaddocument/9783642026294-c1.pdf?SGWID=0-0-. Last accessed 25th February 2014. China Labour Watch. (July 29, 2013). Apples un-kept promises: Cheap iPhones come at high costs to Chinese workers. Available: http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/pdf/apple_s_unkept_promises.pdf. Last accessed 22nd February 2014. Hilmar Schmundt and Bernhard Zand. (July 29, 2013). Undercover Report: Apple Faces Fresh Criticism of Factories. Available: http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/labor-violations-rife-at-apple-manufacturing-partners-in-china-a-913652.html. Last accessed 25th February 2014. Apple. (2012). Apple Supplier Progress Report 2012. Available: http://images.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2012_Progress_Report.pdf. Last accessed 24th February 2014. Friends of Nature, IPE, Green Beagle. (2011). The Other Side of Apple. Available: http://www.ipe.org.cn/Upload/Report-IT-V-Apple-I-EN.pdf. Last accessed 27th February 2014. The Financial Express. (2010). Call to restore overseas employment opportunity for Monga-hit poor. Available: http://search.proquest.com/abiglobal/docview/615328153/3EEA779477A241BCPQ/2?accountid=10472. Last accessed 26th February 2014. Thomas Dyllick and Kai Hockerts. (2002). Beyond the business case for cooperate sustainability. Available: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=2ved=0CDUQFjABurl=http://www.researchgate.net/publication/36386947_Beyond_the_Business_Case_for_Corporate_Sustainability/fi. Last accessed 26th February 2014. [1] D. Crowther, Social and Environmental Accounting (London: Financial Times Prentice Hall, 2000), p. 20. [2] http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=2ved=0CDAQFjABurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springer.com%2Fcda%2Fcontent%2Fdocument%2Fcda_downloaddocument%2F9783642026294-c1.pdf%3FSGWID%3D0-0-45-811809-p173912904ei=oUcBU7_hC-H17Aak8IGwCwusg=AFQjCNEdu9SuaBK8pz77C14bqGV6TQOy5gbvm=bv.61535280,d.ZGU [3] http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/pdf/apple_s_unkept_promises.pdf [4] http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/labor-violations-rife-at-apple-manufacturing-partners-in-china-a-913652.html [5] http://images.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2012_Progress_Report.pdf [6] http://www.ipe.org.cn/Upload/Report-IT-V-Apple-I-EN.pdf [7] http://search.proquest.com/abiglobal/docview/615328153/3EEA779477A241BCPQ/2?accountid=10472 [8] http://search.proquest.com/abiglobal/docview/615328153/3EEA779477A241BCPQ/2?accountid=10472 [9] http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=2ved=0CDUQFjABurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fpublication%2F36386947_Beyond_the_Business_Case_for_Corporate_Sustainability%2Ffi. [10] http://www.ipe.org.cn/Upload/Report-IT-V-Apple-I-EN.pdf [11] http://www.ipe.org.cn/Upload/Report-IT-V-Apple-I-EN.pdf [12] http://www.greenwashingindex.com/about-greenwashing

Wilkie Collins The Moonstone Essay -- Wilkie Collins Moonstone Essays

Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone Near the beginning of Wilkie Collins’s novel, The Moonstone, John Herncastle’s cousin explains, â€Å"The deity commanded that the Moonstone should be watched, from that time forth, by three priests in turn, night and day, to the end of the generations of men†¦ One age followed another—and still, generation after generation, the successors of the three Brahmins watched their priceless Moonstone, night and day† (2). As a result of remembering the past, and specifically their deity’s command, the Indian priests are bound by a circular, repetitive chain of events. In contrast, Rosanna Spearman and Franklin Blake, two non-Indian characters in the novel, are able to use their memory of the past to break the cycle of repetitive, unwanted events in their lives and effect desired changes. Each Indian priest’s self-concept never changes; he is simply an embodiment of his office or his societal role, and he lives solely to watch the Moonstone. The self-concepts of Rosanna and Franklin, however, do change over time. Through battling haunting effects of the past and fighting against negative self-concepts, Rosanna and Franklin additionally align themselves with a progressive notion of history as they battle against the cyclical notion that binds the Indian priests. The past has the power to corrupt or infect the lives of characters like Rosanna and Franklin, but when these characters confront and remember the past, they are freed from its ability to perpetuate a cyclical series of unlucky events. For example, Rosanna’s past as a thief causes Franklin to suspect her of having stolen the Moonstone as well. He says, â€Å"’Rosanna Spearman came to my aunt out of a reformatory? Rosanna Spearman had once b... ..., generation after generation, the successors of the three Brahmins watched their priceless Moonstone, night and day† (2). Even the end of the novel isn’t really an end to the repetition of events in India; Mr. Murthwaite writes, â€Å"So the years pass, and repeat each other; so the same events revolve in the cycles of time. What will be the next adventures of the Moonstone? Who can tell?† (466). In contrast, Rosanna Spearman and Franklin Blake, two non-Indian characters in the novel, are able to use their memory of the past to break the cycle of repetitive, unwanted events in their lives and effect desired changes. Through battling haunting effects of the past and fighting against negative self-concepts, Rosanna and Franklin additionally align themselves with a progressive notion of history as they battle against the cyclical notion that binds the Indian priests.

Caffeine in Coca-Cola Essay

Design Question: Does the caffeine in Coca-Cola affect blood pressure? Hypothesis: The amount of caffeine in Coca-Cola will cause to the adrenal glands, located on the top of the kidneys, to release more adrenaline which will in turn cause an increase in blood pressure. As the amount of Coca-Cola decreases, so will the difference between initial blood pressure and blood pressure after the consumption of the caffeine. Variables: Vemier Labquest Procedure: In order to test my hypothesis, I decided to use a common caffeinated beverage, Coca-Cola. The amount of caffeine in each bottle is given as 48mg/500mL. So, to keep my calculations clean my initial test was with 500mL of the Coca-Cola. I took my blood pressure with a Vermier Labquest before I consumed any caffeine to have a control variable. It was a manual blood pressure monitor, so I took my own blood pressure. After placing the cuff on my arm, I squeezed the bulb until the cuff pressure reached 170 mm Hg. Then, I released the bulb and let the pressure drop until it was 50 mm Hg and I used the release valve on the bulb to completely release the pressure and stopped the data collection. This data was recorded. Next, I measured the amount of the Coca-Cola used for the current test into a measuring cup and then consumed it. I waited 20 minutes after consumption to take my blood pressure again. Caffeine has been reported to take affect after a time period of 15-45 minutes. I did an identical test every day for five consecutive days with varying amounts of Coca-Cola consumed. On the first day, I consumed 500mL, 400mL on the second day, 300mL on the third day, 200mL on the fourth day, and 100mL on the fifth day. I recorded my blood pressure pre-caffeine consumption on each day. * Spike in blood pressure during the third trial could also be due to the additional consumption of food during the time between initial blood pressure data collection and post-caffeine consumption data collection. No other trials had outside influences on data. Data Processing: The following is a line graph that represents the systolic pressures of each trial before and after caffeine consumption: There are noticeably great differences between the different trials up until the fourth trial when the systolic pressures seem to be nearly the same. The pressure at trial three seems to be an outlier. The following is a line graph that represents the diastolic pressures of each trial before and after caffeine consumption: The correlation between the diastolic pressures does not go along with my hypothesis in showing that the blood pressure will rise as the caffeine intake rises. The spike at trial three is also an outlier here like it was with the systolic pressures. Both of these graphs help to illustrate the change in the pressures visually. Conclusion: Although there is some relation between caffeine intake and a rise in blood pressure, my data was not one-hundred percent accurate in showing that the more caffeine consumed the more of an increase. This would have been shown had the data for trial three been less of an extreme. If the systolic pressure had fallen between 117 and 129 (The systolic pressures for trials 4 and 2) then the data would appear to be much more consistent. The cause of this could be directly due to the fact that I was also eating at the time of the trial whereas with the other four tests, the only thing that I was ingesting at that point in time was the Coca-Cola. I chose to do this experiment on myself for that very reason: I can control my consumption and I am aware of everything consumed that may or may not affect the outcome of the data. If I were to redo this entire experiment, I would also choose to use myself as the test subject. This keeps my variables to a minimum and ensures uniformity. I would also make sure that at the time of the trials that nothing but the actual product, in this case Coca-Cola, was being consumed; especially in the time period between consumption of the test product and then the second blood pressure reading. I would also change my equipment. The blood pressure monitor that I used was manual and at times very unreliable. If given the opportunity to redo this, I would purchase a digital blood pressure cuff that would insure that each reading could not be the product of operator error. This could have also been a factor that led to the outlying data for trial three. Time between consumption and taking a blood pressure reading could also be altered. I used twenty minutes due to the fact that it is a short amount of time and I would not have to worry about controlling possible outside factors for a long period of time. However, if I had let the caffeine be in my system for up to 45 minutes, there may have been more of a noticeable effect to the change in my blood pressure. My hypothesis that the amount of caffeine in Coca-Cola will cause to the adrenal glands, located on the top of the kidneys, to release more adrenaline which will in turn cause an increase in blood pressure. As the amount of Coca-Cola decreases, so will the difference between initial blood pressure and blood pressure after the consumption of the caffeine was somewhat proven to be right. Yes, blood pressure did rise each and every time that I drank the Coca-Cola. However, the latter portion of the hypothesis is still unclear. It is unclear due to the data collected in trial three thus the need to redo trial three for an accurate confirmation of my hypothesis.

A Contemporary Take on The Blithedale Romance

Four individuals get together with thoughts on what an ideal society should be in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Blithedale Romance. † Blithedale was a modern Arcadia founded by Charles Fourier which was eventually destroyed by the behavior of individuals who are only interested for themselves. These said members are the very four individuals who are the main characters in the novel.These are Hollingsworth, a philanthropist and misogynist who wants to make Blithedale a colony for the reformation of criminals, Zenobia, an outspoken and opinionated feminist, Priscilla, a seamstress from the city and Miles Coverdale, the poet who is also the narrator in the story. Throughout spring and summer, Hollingsworth, Zenobia, Priscilla and Coverdale formed an intense friendship with one another. Just like the weather, this bond disintegrates the exact moment autumn comes. The book ends tragically. Coverdale is an unreliable narrator.It was as if his manner of speaking represents s pirituality to the masses who are already secular. This makes him appear someone who tries to popularize his beliefs. He is also a voyeur because he avoids interaction with those around him. He also doesn’t like to be seen. Since he is the narrator, it seems as if he has the power. Truth is, his personality influences how the story is told. The politics, personal liberation and communal utopia he has in his head still depends on how the three other characters take it. Zenobia is the representation of the eternal feminine, to the delight of modern-day feminists.The text describes her as â€Å"earthy, maternal, natural, sensual, domestic, brilliant, loving and demanding. † Nonetheless, Zenobia is complicated and she represents the varying feminist qualities just as she mirrors the â€Å"materiality of the world† and her â€Å"resistance to desire. † It seems as if Zenobia was already the image of the feminist politics. On the other hand, Hollingsworth is of ten perceived as the American sterotype. He intends to â€Å"convert the heathen. † This is his way to redeem the fallen. He has projects that are philanthropic by nature. It masks his â€Å"will to power.† Hollingsworth is the typical white and male of today. It also seems that throughout the text, he is so masculine. Each trait he has reflects traditional masculinity. Finally, there is Priscilla. She is the exact opposite of Zenobia. She is passive, innocent, vulnerable and can easily be manipulated. She suffers from the control of the men in her life. However, in the book as written by Hawthorne, it will seem that Priscilla overpowers Zenobia. In the society that they are in, Zenobia’s strong feminist views do not coincide with the traditional norms.†The Blithedale Romance† may be a classic but it is still relevant especially during political seasons. With the background check on the time Hawthorne wrote this, the Transcendentalists, Utopian Movem ent, Unitarians and Universalists still remain in the political ideologies of today. Just like modern Americans, the characters in the story are unsatisfied with what the United States is now. They believe that they are still living in the â€Å"sinfulness of man. † They intend to make heaven here on earth. In the book, they called their utopia â€Å"Happy Valley.† We see politicians striving for the same goal today. Each one of them have their own logos. In contemporary America, politicians always trying to fix things that do not need fixing. They believe they can ignore human nature.. It is interesting to point that the ideologies represented in the book didn’t work. It is pretty much a prediction because these movements – Socialism, Misogyny, Feminism – also do not work today. The part where Zenobia seems to be uncontrolled is an allusion to the power of the feminist movement. If you think about it, women want to be heard.They have strong convic tions and if the reader will use Zenobia as the symbol of the feminist movement, he can conclude that she bowed down to Hollingsworth, who represents the traditional male. It is unfortunate that despite women’s determination to be heard, the masculine driven society we live in today results to an â€Å"abrupt and dramatic suicide† of the feminist’s beliefs. 1 Hawthorne, during his time, was known to be a romance novelist. This work is different from his previous masterpieces simply because of its relative realism.He made sure that the novel deals with social events that occur in an everyday fashion. There is also romance in extraordinary events. The novel manages to analyze the characters through the historical and social forces. Take this for example. A main complication in the novel is the conflict between the individual and the community. There is a subjectivity on the self because the focus is on will and personal freedom. Early on, it has been said that the town did not succeed because of the self-interest of the four characters.That is why as much as the characters offer ethical benefit in order for the other person to do well, the individualism appears to be self detemination. The pursuit of one’s personal gain only complicates the matter even more. 2 Another conflict is Hollingsworth’s take on spirituality. It seems that it is so intangible that it needs public reckoning but most individuals in Blithedale wish to see this spiritual belief in evidence which the four characters cannot explain. Clearly, â€Å"The Blithedale Romance† is a romantic perception of something so real such as a society.As much as one wishes to strive for utopia, the human nature of selfishness, self-interest and self-again will always prevent this from happening. Another concern is the different mindsets of people, as seen among the four characters in â€Å"The Blithedale Romance. † This only comes to show that there will always b e misunderstanding among us. 1 Hoeltje, Hubert H. Inward Sky: The Heart and Mind of Nathaniel Hawthorne, page 313, Duke University Press, 1962 2 Craig White, â€Å"A Utopia of Spheres and Sympathies†, Utopian Studies, 1998.

The Difference Between Sessions and Cookies in PHP

The Difference Between Sessions and Cookies in PHP In PHP, visitor information designated to be used across the site can be stored in either sessions  or cookies. Both of them accomplish much the same thing. The main difference between cookies and sessions is that information stored in a cookie is stored on the visitors browser, and information stored in a session is not- it is stored at the web server. This difference determines what each is best suited for. A Cookie Resides on the User's Computer Your website can be set to place a cookie on a users computer. That cookie maintains information in the users machine until the information is deleted by the user. A person may have a username and password to your website. That information can be saved as a cookie on the visitors computer, so there is no need for him to log in to your website on each  visit. Common uses for cookies include authentication, storage of site preferences, and shopping cart items. Although you can store almost any text in a browser cookie, a user can block cookies or delete them at any time. If, for example, your websites shopping cart utilizes cookies, shoppers who block cookies in their browsers cant shop at your website. Cookies can be disabled or edited by the visitor. Do not use cookies to store sensitive data. Session Information Resides on the Web Server A session is server-side information  intended to exist only throughout the visitors interaction with the website. Only a unique identifier is stored on the client side. This token is passed to the web server when the visitors browser requests your  HTTP address. That  token matches your website with the visitors information while the user is at your site. When the user closes the website, the session ends, and your website loses access to the information. If you dont need any permanent data, sessions are usually the way to go. They are a little easier to use, and they can be as large as needed, in comparison with cookies, which are relatively small. Sessions cannot be disabled or edited by the visitor.  Ã‚   So, if you have a site requiring a login, that information is better served as a cookie, or the user would be forced to log in every time he visits. If you prefer tighter security and the ability to control the data and when it expires, sessions work  best. You can, of course, get the best of both worlds. When you know what each does, you can use a combination of cookies and sessions to make your site work exactly the way you want it to work.