A critical analysis of the Haringey Serious Case Review in the case of Baby Peter Conolly 2009. The WritePass Journal

A critical analysis of the Haringey Serious Case Review in the case of Baby Peter Conolly 2009. Introduction A critical analysis of the Haringey Serious Case Review in the case of Baby Peter Conolly 2009. ) has shown statistics relating to the profession that should be regarded as rather alarming given the responsibility that is placed on these professionals for the welfare of the nations vulnerable children. These statistics show that many professionals are highly concerned about the security and financial circumstances relating to their jobs, excessive overburden in workload and dissatisfaction in the roles as a result of the former two factors. There is little doubt that the professional error that formed the basis of dismissal of the social workers in the case of Peter Conolly was a knock-on effect of these resource constraints. Although, as noted in this case, it led to a fatal result it is debatable whether these failures to protect children by the state should be attributed to the professionals or rather whether they should be seen as a larger failure of the institutions and organizations tasked with the protection of children. Every Child Matters is a government driven initiative which, amongst other things, promotes the integration of various stakeholders in the field of social welfare in order to present a united front line of support staff. This encourages cross organization communication and early intervention. The emphasis on a network of social welfare professionals working together to prevent cases such as Peter Conolly reinforces the debate of whether it is just and fair to attribute the death of a child to one professional individually, as arguably there are many different workers involved in one case. The SCR report on the death of Peter Conolly mentions a wide variety of persons involved in the welfare of the child. There is some suggestion that other factors should be considered when attempting to attribute accountability to any professional or organization that perhaps was not given enough weight in the case of Peter Conolly. It was noted in the SCR that the mother of baby P. was a well-versed in the social welfare system having grown up in an abusive home and therefore knowing the protocols and factors that were considered in nominating baby P. as a high risk case. The SCR further shows that this mother was often elusive and difficult to get hold of for whatever reason and it can be argued that taking extreme measures in the case of Peter Conolly would have jeopardized other cases that the social worker may have been working on at the time. Although it was classified as a high risk case, the reports from the various parties were that the child was comfortable and happy during home visits and evaluations. It is arguable therefore that the social worker was reasonable in not spending more time and resources on trying to force more home visits on the mother of baby P. Without the value of hindsight, it is arguable that all social workers would like to give parents the benefit of the doubt, as is an occupational hazard. The tragedy of the events should not be judged with this hindsight as it risks being an armchair critic, wise after the events. Methodology The methodology used will be to examine various secondary sources of information relating to the outcomes of SCR for the professionals involved. This will determine whether measures taken against the professionals were extreme in the circumstances, but also whether there is an impact of these SCR on the organizations themselves. The current plans for restructuring of this public sector will also be considered in light of the criticisms raised by the various reports published on the protection of children and the progress made towards those goals. The suggestions forwarded by the Munro report (2011) and the BASW report (2012) will be considered in order to determine whether these suggestions will have a positive impact on the flailing morale and current problems with the social welfare profession. Conclusion and Recommendations The purpose of this research is not to suggest that these failures by any part or member of the organization are in any way acceptable. The death of a child due to abuse and neglect is never acceptable in any situation and in all cases there is a need for SCR to determine if there has been professional negligence in failing to intervene timeously leading to the fatal outcome. In the case of Peter Conolly, where an error in professional judgment was held to be the cause, appropriate action must be taken against unqualified and negligent professionals in the industry. However, if these errors and mistakes are as a result of a resource constraint that could be described as unrelated to the competency of the social worker themselves, the organization should shoulder the responsibility for this failure to take appropriate preventative measures rather than chastising the social worker involved for the purposes of public accountability. The morale in this profession is at an all time low as it is and one cannot risk the further demotivation of staff in these organizations as it will lead for further slipping of standards. Expecting social workers to perform competently and adequately in an environment where their workload is far higher than normal, as well as burdening them with extra responsibilities and duties, not to mention the demotivating effect of fiscal change, is unreasonable in the circumstances and will have a negative effect in the long term on the profession of social welfare. The recommendation therefore will be to revise the disciplinary procedures in SCR in order to firstly determine if there has been a failure of the organization or organizations involved in the case to determine the cause of failure of duty. Such an inquiry should lead to a discovery of professional negligence if such negligence existed in the case. Invariably an examination of the entire procedure and events should yield a fairly conclusive result as to the cause of the failure. Thereafter, any professional failures on the part of a specific social worker or other involved professional should be dealt with in the appropriate manner. A further recommendation is to reallocate certain resources to these organizations so that certain pressures may be relieved. This may include the assignment of additional administrative staff, inclusion of training in work schedules, the immediate filling of departmental vacancies so as not to overburden the social workers and certain tenure for these professionals as there is a clear concern for job security in these circumstances. References Christou Ward v London Borough of Haringey [2012] UKEAT 0298_11_2505 Haringey Local Safeguarding Childrens Board, 2009 (Serious Case Review ‘Child A’) (ref: March 2009) London: Department for Education The British Association of Social Workers, 2012 (The State of Social Work 2012) (Ref: 15/05/2012) London: sn The Department for Education, 2004 (Every Child Matters: Change for Children) (DfES/1081/2004) London: Department for Education The Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2010 (Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children) (DCSF-00305-2010) London: Department for Education The Department for Education, 2011 (The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report, A child centred system) (ref: May 2011) London: Department of Education The House of Commons: The Lord Laming, 2009 (The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report) (ref: 15 March 2009) London: The Stationary Office

Major General George Pickett in the Civil War

Major General George Pickett in the Civil War Major General George E. Pickett was a noted Confederate division commander during the Civil War. A West Point graduate, he took part in the Mexican-American War and distinguished himself at the Battle of Chapultepec. With the beginning of the Civil War, Pickett joined the Confederate Army and was later wounded at the Battle of Gainess Mill in June 1862. Returning to action that fall, he took command of a division in Lieutenant General James Longstreets corps. An effective and charismatic leader, his men earned fame during the final phases of the Battle of Gettysburg when they were part on an assault on the Union lines. Picketts career was effectively ended by his defeat at the Battle of Five Forks on April 1, 1865. Early Life George Edward Pickett was born January 16/25/28, 1825 (the precise date is disputed) at Richmond, VA. The eldest child of Robert and Mary Pickett, he was raised at the familys Turkey Island plantation in Henrico County. Educated locally, Pickett later traveled to Springfield, IL to study law. While there, he befriended Representative John T. Stuart and may have had some contact with a young Abraham Lincoln. In 1842, Stuart secured an appointment to West Point for Pickett and the young man left his legal studies to pursue a military career. Arriving at the academy, Picketts classmates included future comrades and adversaries such George B. McClellan, George Stoneman, Thomas J. Jackson, and Ambrose P. Hill. West Point Mexico Though well-liked by his classmates, Pickett proved a poor student and was better known for his antics. A renowned prankster, he was viewed as someone of ability but who only sought to study enough to graduate. As a result of this mentality, Pickett graduated last in his class of 59 in 1846. While being the class goat often led to short or inglorious career, Pickett quickly benefited from the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. Posted to the 8th US Infantry, he took part in Major General Winfield Scotts campaign against Mexico City. Landing with Scotts army, he first saw fighting at the Siege of Vera Cruz. As the army moved inland, he took part in the actions at Cerro Gordo and Churubusco. On September 13, 1847, Pickett came to prominence during the Battle of Chapultepec which saw American forces capture a key fortification and break through Mexico Citys defenses. Advancing, Pickett was the first American soldier to reach the top of Chapultepec Castles walls. Battle of Chapultepec. Photograph Source: Public Domain In the course of the action, he retrieved his units colors when his future commander, James Longstreet, was wounded in the thigh. For his service in Mexico, Pickett received a brevet promotion to captain. With the end of the war, he was assigned to the 9th US Infantry for service on the frontier. Promoted to first lieutenant in 1849, he married Sally Harrison Minge, the  great-great-grandniece of William Henry Harrison, in January 1851. Frontier Duty Their union proved short-lived as she died in childbirth while Pickett was posted at Fort Gates in Texas. Promoted to captain in March 1855, he spent a brief period at Fort Monroe, VA before being sent west for service in the Washington Territory. The following year, Pickett oversaw the construction of Fort Bellingham overlooking Bellingham Bay. While there, he married a local Haida woman, Morning Mist, who gave birth to a son, James Tilton Pickett, in 1857. As with his past marriage, his wife died a short time later. In 1859, he received orders to occupy San Juan Island with Company D, 9th US Infantry in response to a growing border dispute with the British known as the Pig War. This had commenced when an American farmer, Lyman Cutler, had shot a pig belonging to the Hudsons Bay Company which had broken into his garden. As the situation with the British escalated, Pickett was able to hold his position and deterred a British landing. After he was reinforced, Scott arrived to negotiate a settlement. Joining the Confederacy In the wake of Lincolns election in 1860 and the firing on Fort Sumter the following April, Virginia seceded from the Union. Learning of this, Pickett left the West Coast with the goal of serving his home state and resigned his US Army commission on June 25, 1861. Arriving after the First Battle of Bull Run, he accepted a commission as a major in the Confederate service. Given his West Point training and Mexican service, he was quickly promoted to colonel and assigned to the Rappahannock Line of the Department of Fredericksburg. Commanding from a black charger he dubbed Old Black, Pickett was also known for his immaculate appearance and his flashy, finely tailored uniforms. Fast Facts: Major General George Pickett Rank: Major GeneralService: US Army, Confederate ArmyBorn: January 16/25/28, 1825 in Richmond, VADied: July 30, 1875 in Norfolk, VAParents: Robert and Mary PickettSpouse: Sally Harrison Minge, Morning Mist, LaSalle Sallie Corbell  Conflicts: Mexican-American War, Civil WarKnown For: Peninsula Campaign, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Siege of Petersburg, Battle of Five Forks The Civil War Serving under Major General Theophilus H. Holmes, Pickett was able to use his superiors influence to receive a promotion to brigadier general on January 12, 1862. Assigned to lead a brigade in Longstreets command, he performed competently during the Peninsula Campaign and took part in the fighting at Williamsburg and Seven Pines. With the ascension of  General Robert E. Lee to command of the army, Pickett returned to battle during the opening engagements of the Seven Days Battles in late June. In the fighting at Gaines Mill on June 27, 1862, he was hit in the shoulder. This injury necessitated a three-month leave to recover and he missed the Second Manassas and Antietam campaigns. Rejoining the Army of Northern Virginia, he was given command of a division in Longstreets Corps that September and was promoted to major general the following month. General James Longstreet, CSA. Photograph Source: Public Domain In December, Picketts men saw little action during the victory at the Battle of Fredericksburg. In the spring of 1863, the division was detached for service in the Suffolk Campaign and missed the Battle of Chancellorsville. While in Suffolk, Pickett met and fell in love with LaSalle Sallie Corbell. The two would be wed on November 13 and later had two children. Picketts Charge During the Battle of Gettysburg, Pickett was initially tasked with guarding the armys lines of communication through Chambersburg, PA. As a result, it did not reach the battlefield until the evening of July 2. During the previous days fighting, Lee had unsuccessfully assaulted the Union flanks south of Gettysburg. For July 3, he planned an attack on the Union center. For this he requested that Longstreet assemble a force consisting of Picketts fresh troops, as well as battered divisions from Lieutenant General A.P. Hills corps. Moving forward after a protracted artillery bombardment, Pickett rallied his men with the cry of, Up, Men, and to your posts! Dont forget today that you are from Old Virginia! Pushing across a wide field, his men neared the Union lines before being bloodily repulsed. In the fighting, all three of Picketts brigade commanders were killed or wounded, with only Brigadier General Lewis Armisteads men actually piercing the Union line. With his division shattered, Pickett was inconsolable over the loss of his men. Falling back, Lee instructed Pickett to rally his division in case of a Union counterattack. To this order, Pickett is often quoted as replying General Lee, I have no division. The Battle of Gettysburg. Photograph Courtesy of the Library of Congress Though the failed attack is more accurately known as Longstreets Assault or the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Assault, it quickly earned the name Picketts Charge in the Virginia newspapers as he was the only Virginian of high rank to take part. In the wake of Gettysburg, his career began a steady decline despite receiving no criticism from Lee regarding the attack. Following the Confederate withdrawal to Virginia, Pickett was re-assigned to lead the Department of Southern Virginia and North Carolina. Later Career In the spring, he was given command of a division in the Richmond defenses where he served under General P.G.T. Beauregard. After seeing action during the Bermuda Hundred Campaign, his men were assigned to support Lee during the Battle of Cold Harbor. Remaining with Lees army, Pickett took part in the Siege of Petersburg that summer, fall, and winter. In late March, Pickett was tasked with holding the critical crossroads of Five Forks. On April 1, his men were defeated at the Battle of Five Forks, while he was two miles away enjoying a shad bake. The loss at Five Forks effectively undermined the Confederate position at Petersburg, forcing Lee to retreat west. During the retreat to Appomattox, Lee may have issued orders relieving Pickett. Sources conflict on this point, but regardless Pickett remained with the army until its final surrender on April 9, 1865. Paroled with the rest of the army, he briefly fled to Canada only to return in 1866. Settling in Norfolk with his wife Sallie (married November 13, 1863), he worked as an insurance agent. As with many former US Army officers who had resigned and gone south, he had difficulty obtaining a pardon for his Confederate service during the war. This was finally issued on June 23, 1874. Pickett died on July 30, 1875, and was buried in Richmonds Hollywood Cemetery.

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 16

Case Study Example Also there is a huge risk when company is putting its brand image in the hands of a few. The negative actions of the athletes can have a negative impact on the company. 1.2 If I were Adidas, I would compete with Nike by differentiating Adidas Brand from that of Nike. My marketing strategy would be to stress on producing great shoes on an international scale not just for sportsmen but for everyone and everyday use. I would create a point of difference between Nike and Adidas, and cater to a larger audience. 2.1 Building a brand in a business-to-business context is very different from doing so in the consumer market. The markets of the two are very different. B2C is product driven and a brand is built / created through imagery and repetition. The buying decision in B2C is emotional influenced and depends on factors such as price, desire and status. On the other hand, B2B market is relationship driven and the target market is focused and small. Brand is built through personal relationship. The business decision is a rational one and based on the value that the product creates for the company. Hence, building brands in the two are very different. 2.2 Yes, Cisco’s plan to reach out to consumers is a viable one as it is using integrated techniques to reach its customers. It is using a number of marketing activities to communicate and create value. Also, Cisco efforts are focused on connecting and associating with its consumer base. Cisco is attempting not only to promote itself but also the whole sector and in doing so is creating a niche for itself. 4.1 Customer service is an attitude. It’s not just doing things but building an attitude that keeps the customer happy. Nordstorm has developed attitude to a great extent and has been very successful. It can continue to provide exceptional customer service by making the customer feel important. Until now Nordstorm’s strategy has been a

Lung Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Lung Cancer - Essay Example Lung cancer originates in the lungs. Cancer is a disease that is usually associated with the wild growth of abnormal cells. In lung cancer, abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way in both or one of the lungs. Due to the fact that the cells are abnormal, they do not develop into healthy tissues and do not play any roles similar to those of normal lung cells. As abnormal cells continue to grow, they develop into a large mass known as a tumor. In a case where the tumor is located in the lungs, it can interfere with the lungs normal functions. DNA, which is a genetic component found in cells is contained in all body cells. Duplication of DNA occurs every time a mature cell divides to form new cells. For this reason, the new cells also contain DNA. Cells that are formed from the division of a mature cell are identical to the original cell in all ways. In the case where the cells are abnormal, this is usually related to a DNA error or mutation. This is usually the case in cancer. A lung cancer cell is a result of a series of mutations. Cells undergoing mutation can still function as normal cells; during this stage, the cells are said to be precancerous. With time, the cells become cancerous and it is during this time that they stop functioning as normal cells of the lungs. Lung cancer may be primary or secondary. This is usually determined by the point of origin of the growth of abnormal cells. This is because in some cases, cells travel from the original tumor to other parts of the body and continue growing there.

Gullivers Travels Essay Example for Free

Gullivers Travels Essay When Blackadder and Prince George are faced with dilemma of bribing an MP to vote in the princes favour they provide us with a description of a member of parliament called Sir Talbot Buxomly who is corrupt, cruel, ineffectual and open to bribes. According to Blackadder he is a perfect candidate to become a High Court Judge and even Prince George thinks he is a little over qualified. Blackadder: Sir Talbot has the worst attendance record of any Member of Parliament but if we can get him to support us, were safe hes a violent, bigoted, mindless old fool The use of satire here suggests that the high court judge isnt necessarily as honest as you would expect a person with that much power to be. A comparison with this is Swifts description of the Emperor in chapter two. He describes how he is expensively dressed. He had on his head a light helmet of gold, adorned with jewels, and a plume on the crest. Swift compares him to the pompons King George the first. He was king of England but was brought over from Germany and did not speak the language. When the Emperor speaks at Gulliver he cannot understand a word and this is his bribe at the king. Like Sir Talbot Buxomly, the Emperor is useless and incompetent. When it comes to the actual election, Blackadder confesses that they will cheat in order to win votes. He is not alone in this outlook as one of his opponents, Pitt the Even Younger confesses what he did in order to be a decent politician bad mouthed the opposition. Bribed the newspapers. Threatened to torture the public if his party lost. Once again driving home the point that the politicians will do anything within their power to get a seat in parliament. You can tell that cheating is certainly not beneath them when Pitt the Even Younger told what was a decent politician is in his opinion. I fail to see what more a decent politician could have done Similar examples of satire, which criticise politics and the government are also found in Gullivers Travels. In Lilliput anybody who jumps over the highest rope gets a position in court and how candidates jump over and creep under a stick held at various heights win the silken threads which show the kings favourite. Just like in Blackadder getting a job in the court in lilliput is not to down how good you would be at the job but is down to how much you can creep, crawl and pander to the king. Whoever performs his part with the most agility and hold out the largest in creeping and crawling, is rewarded

Neurosurgeon and Patient :: Neurology Medical Health Essays

Neurosurgeon and Patient Brain injury is an unexpected and complex disability. The brain can be damaged in many ways: as a result of an accident, a stroke, alcohol or drug abuse, tumors, poisoning, infection and disease, hemorrhage, near drowning, AIDS, and a number of other things such as Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. The human brain is one of the most vital and complex organs in the human body. It is where we store our thoughts, feelings and all of our learned behavior. The parietal lobe is the lobe of the cerebral cortex that is at the top of the brain, which processes information in reference to touch, taste, pressure, pain, and heat and cold. The parietal lobes can be divided into two functional regions. One involves sensation and perception and the other is concerned with integrating sensory input, primarily with the visual system. The first function integrates sensory information to form a single precept (cognition). The second function constructs a spatial coordinate system to represent the world around us. Individuals with damage to the parietal lobes often show striking deficits, such as abnormalities in body image and spatial relations (Kandel, Schwartz & Jessel, 1991).Damage to the left parietal lobe can result in what is known as "Gerstmann's Syndrome." This syndrome’s effects include right- left confusion, difficulty with writing (agraphia) and difficulty with mathematics (acalculia). It can also yield disorders of language (aphasia) and the inability to perceive objects normally (agnosia). Damage to the right parietal lobe can result in neglecting part of the body or space (contralateral neglect), which can impair many self-care skills such as dressing and washing. Right side damage can also cause difficulty in making things (constructional apraxia), denial of deficits (anosagnosia) and drawing ability. (Kimura,D.1977) Bi- lateral damage (large lesions to both sides) can cause "Balint's Syndrome," a visual attention and motor syndrome. This is characterized by the inability to voluntarily control the gaze (ocular apraxia), inability to integrate components of a visual scene (simultanagnosia), and the inability to accurately reach for an object with visual guidance (optic ataxia). Special deficits (primarily to memory and personality) can occur if there is damage to the area between the parietal and temporal lobes. Left parietal-temporal lesions can effect verbal memory and the ability to recall strings of digits (Warrington & Weiskrantz, 1977reland et al.

Emergence and Impact of Regional Parties Essay

It is raining acronyms in politics and the vibrant Indian political landscape is flooded. Well, almost so as Regional parties gain ground with amazing alacrity in a diverse India where a fast-transforming political map now promises a never before variety. SAD in Punjab on one side, SP, BSP in Uttar Pradesh on the other, RJD, JD(U) in Bihar as also DMK, AIADMK, PMK, MDMK and DMDK in the deep South and TMC, AGP and others in North-East —they seem to be flowing in from all nooks and corners to lend a different hue, their own hue, to the political waters as they flow in our country today. Though the experiment with regional politics first succeeded in the late 1960s when many parties won against the Congress, it was only post-1989 that regional politics really became a phenomenon, here to stay, courtesy the National Parties themselves. The alphabet-soup illustrating the striking transformation of India’s politics over the past two decades, brewed on the fire provided by the space vacated by National Parties to be wedded to the cause of regional issues, local aspirations and territorial priorities. Also, shrinking space of the National Parties led to creation of a vacuum which the Regional parties were happy to fill. They sprung up and marched ahead as a consequence of the leanings of the public to advance its aspirations. Essentially individualistic, personality-driven parties bound by a lose chain of thought rather than a cohesive coordinated ideology, these pandered to regional populism with a much narrower vision of things sans any broad-based National conse nsus on ideology and issues. But, then, what did the mushrooming of these regional parties, finally, find reflection in? While it strengthened the federal structure with assertion by the States of the Union for its share in power, privileges, taxes, revenues and benefits of micro-macro schemes, it also led to a certain amount of healthy competition inter se states, making us the republic that we really are. It also gave rise to the concept of â€Å"shared sovereignty†, marked by an increase in the capacity of the state to influence its own development performance while enhancing the representative character of India’s democracy. The relentless rise of these regional â€Å"home-grown† parties, sharing the one common attribute of having a mass base in only the state of their birth, led to a spate of constitutional and legislative reforms in terms of judicial, administrative and centre-state relations. Not only this, it weaved together an interplay of forces, prompting National parties to not only rope them in for support but also brought about a dependence which lent a Regional flavor to National Policies. Then, it is in this that emerged the beauty of the dove-tailing of the National and these Regional entities. But, then, since beauty is never blemish-free, there is a flip side too. Given their â€Å"strategic† positioning, the Regional parties have not only exploited this dependence of the National Parties for their own advantage but, at times, even arm-twisted the latter to get their way. There’s a way out of this of labyrinth in which National Parties find themselves lost in and it does not lie in a top-down approach which, in the present times, seems not only inadequate but also outdated. We have an India defined by mobilization of a plethora of identity and interest groups which have taken the shape and form of Regional parties to diffuse real power from the Centre to the states. The National Parties need to wake up and smell the coffee. The crutches of dependence on Regional parties have to go and they have to not only learn to stand on their own feet but even walk that extra mile to fulfill regional aspirations to show that each one of the 28 states matters as much. For this, they must permit regional units to function at the local level as semi-independent units with adequate flexibility for leadership-building at the regional level. This will help balance the regional interest with the National interest which many a times end upconflicting with each other. Besides, a cohesive National party with semiindependent regional strait-jacketed unit to cater to regional interests is the only guarantee for ensuring continuous unification within India’s multi-ethnic diversity which weaves the many strands of region, religion, culture and politics into one social fabric we call India.

Hip-Hop Hold

John H. McWhorter's essay How Hip-Hop Hold Blacks Back discusses the popular subculture phenomenon of hip-hop and its effect on society. Recounting from experiences, McWhorther describes hip-hop as a counter-phenomenon which hinders the cultural and intellectual progress of the black community. Basing the development of hip-hop from the early 1960's to the 1970's, it emerged from the realism brought about by the oppression of the African-American community and how several ideologies, especially on activism, influenced the development of this genre.McWhorter argues on the effect of rap music as a means of creating a backward ideology; it does not provide any room for any intellectual development as far as culture is concerned. As such, he mentions in the end that rap music creates nothing. Rap revolution McWhorter states examples of historical implications of rap music. During the 1970's the idealism brought about by racial oppression, the black community raised different ideals towar ds apartheid and oppression, most notable of which were the ideals of African-American icons such as Malcolm X and Leroi Jones.The most famous of movements was the Black Panthers, a social group that inspired ideological activism as well as employing harsh measures in solidifying their claims. This gave rise to the ‘sticking it to the man' attitude, a kind of social behavior where authority does not apply and individuals tend to view themselves above such authority and law. From these ideologies, it also implies an individualistic notion towards the essence of rap music, which concentrates more on the life of a ‘gangsta' in the street, experiences on drugs, sex, and violence.According to McWhorter, rap music may be viewed as a cultural revolution of the society. That is, the message conveyed by these lyrics express a certain degree of the experiences of the past and conveying it as a detached attitude toward the status quo and authority. McWhorter used several words to d escribe rap music, and from such usage, his writing style clearly presents his bias against it, labeling the music as nonsense and profane. He also states rap music and ideology revolves mainly on the person's apathetic stance toward authority.As described by McWhorter, rap music retards black success since the music itself, according to him, only contains nonsense lyrics which celebrate street warfare, drugs, and promiscuity. McWhorter further mentions that ‘violence, misogyny, and lawlessness are nothing to sing about. He also explains the idea of ‘blaxploitation' which celebrates the idea of a black criminal as a revolutionary figure. This blaxploitation led to the development of the ‘gangsta' style, deviating from the early forms of rap as a ‘pop' or bubble gum music.Rap music is then associated with a constant mindset in disobedience and being above the system. From this point on, rap music has become another form of self-expression, concentrating more o n the aforementioned themes. The lyrics found in these rap songs have become edgy and tantamount to literal translation. As McWhorter mentions specific rap songs depicting these themes, he focuses more on the rapper's individual experiences, as described by the life in the ghetto marred with hardships and suffering.The songs then further downplays into more explicit themes such as detailed depictions of violence and problems against authority such as the inclusion of policemen and its association with violence. As such, these songs then represent explicit choice of word use in the lyrics which directly imply the use of guns and violence and their encounters with authority. McWhorter also adds that the ‘gangsta' type of rap are interspersed with mysoginistic views, viewing women as mere objects and prone to obsscene defamation as expressed in the lyrics.In this case, McWhorter states the use of these words adhere to sexual promiscuity and an apparent attack on the image of wome n. This presents another world-view, according to McWhorter, as he sums up the ‘gangsta' hip-hop genre with ‘Life ain't nothin' but bitches and money' (McWhorter, 4). He then points out that his kind of rap music can go old quickly and the rap music that can truly sell are those that are edgy, political, and representing another view with authority and society. Cultural influences From the aforementioned themes, rap music has then developed into an alternative culture, as it reinforces another kind of social behavior.The meaning implied by the lyrics used in rap songs produces another method of thinking, and from these implications, the behavior that the hip-hop world presents can be accepted as societal norms. The article presents a semi-critique of the notion on rap music and society. McWhorter associates the evolution of the music during the oppressive state of the black community during the sixties and seventies. He implies that rap music is a regressed state of musi c. He argues that although the can remain revolutionary in essence, the themes rap music tries to espouse is somehow degrading to the advancement of the black culture.He mentions the gesticulations, speech mannerisms as influenced by rap music can hinder young black men in searching for careers because of this unruly behavior they find in rap music. He also states that even as the media depict the successful African-American people in the industry, rap music, he argues, still depicts black people are uncivilized. The article is a semi-critique, that in a sense, it only presents the cultural implications of rap music and its adverse effect on society. However, it merely acts as a pure critique rather than a practical critique of rap ideologies.In a way, the article only acts as a reminder of this existing subculture and it does not give any practical situations in which the culture of rap can be addressed. However, the problem also lies on rap's history. Because of its uniqueness and the ‘stick it to the man' attitude, it has permeated through the societal mindset and has transformed into another phenomenological event of human concept. The ‘gangsta' mindset is now deeply ingrained through the consciousness of its audience and therefore can be hard for any critique to change. McWhorter's tone and word used clearly portrays his bias against the ‘nonsense' of hip-hop.This ‘nonsense' is viewed both in the linguistic and ideal sense. Rap music's choice of words is often explicit and profane, and it uses such words with constant repetition as though it is a part of the ‘gangsta' vocabulary. There is even an implication from the examples given by McWhorter that profane words in rap is in itself a standard and to be without such words, it cannot be considered hip-hop or rap. The lingual problem is also associated with gesticulations and speech mannerisms, according to McWhorter, that is considered ‘arrogant' and ‘irritating'.A ccording to the author, the theme that rap music revolves around is nonsense, since it only concentrates on the experience of the individual in his/her conditions supported by a formative mindset from the past. Sex, alcohol, violence and drugs are common themes in rap music, and these degrade the possibility of cultural advancement of a real society not hindered by any racial bias or oppression. Works Cited McWhorter, John H. â€Å"How Hip-Hop Holds Black Back. † The City Journal (Summer 2003).

Comparative Words Lesson Plan

Comparative Words Lesson Plan Use these guidelines to prepare a lesson plan to teach students of any age how to use comparative words and comparative clauses to express the concepts of more or less and greater or lesser. Objectives and Goals Instruct/review adjectives as a part of speechIntroduce students to words that end in -er and/or -estOffer students the chance to practice finding similar items and comparing them through the proper use of language Anticipatory Set​ Ask students what they know about -er and -est words, as well as the word than. Explain that -er adjectives are for comparing two things, while -est words are used to compare three or more things. For older students, introduce and use the terms comparative and superlative repeatedly and hold students accountable for knowing these terms. Direct Instruction Model turning common root adjectives into comparative and superlative adjectives (examples: funny, hot, happy, big, good, etc.)Brainstorm additional adjectives and practice (as a group) putting them into sentences (example: The sun is hotter than the moon. A baby is smaller than a teenager.) Guided Practice Depending on the age and abilities of your students, you can ask the students to write their own comparative and superlative sentences from scratch. Or, for younger students, you can design and copy a worksheet with cloze sentences and they can fill in the blanks or circle the correct suffix. For example: Fill in the Blanks: The ___________ is bigger than the ___________.Circle one: The big (er or est) animal in the zoo is an elephant. Another option is to have students look through the pages of their independent reading books and search for comparative and superlative adjectives. ​ Closure Offer sharing time for the students to read aloud the sentences they completed or composed. Reinforce the core concepts with discussion and question/answer time. ​ Independent Practice For homework, have students write a given number of comparative and/or superlative sentences based on things they find in their homes, books, neighborhood, or imaginations. ​ Required Materials and Equipment Worksheets if needed, paper, pencils, student reading books if needed. ​ Assessment and Follow-Up Check completed homework assignments for correct sentence structure and grammar. Re-teach as needed. Point our comparative and superlative words as they come up in class discussion and whole group reading.

Cyrus the Great - Persian Achaemenid Dynasty Founder

Cyrus the Great - Persian Achaemenid Dynasty Founder Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenid Dynasty (c. 550-330 BC), the first imperial dynasty of the Persian Empire  and the  worlds largest empire before that of Alexander the Great. Was the Achaemenid truly a family dynasty? It is possible that the third main Achaemenid ruler Darius  invented his relationship to Cyrus, in order to give legitimacy to his rule. But that doesnt diminish the significance of two centuries worth of empirerulers centered in southwestern Persia and Mesopotamia, whose territory spanned the known world from Greece to the Indus Valley, extending south to Lower Egypt. Cyrus started it all. Fast Facts: Cyrus the Great Known As: Cyrus (Old Persian: KuruÃ… ¡; Hebrew: Kores)Dates: c. 600 - c. 530 BCEParents: Cambyses I and MandaneKey Accomplishments: Founder of the Achaemenid Dynasty (c. 550-330 BC), the first imperial dynasty of the Persian Empire  and the  worlds largest empire before that of Alexander the Great. Cyrus II King of Anshan (Maybe) The Greek father of history Herodotus never says Cyrus II the Great came from a royal Persian family, but rather that he acquired his power through the Medes, to whom he was related by marriage. Although scholars wave caution flags when Herodotus discusses the Persians, and even Herodotus mentions conflicting Cyrus stories, he may be right that Cyrus was of the aristocracy, but not a royal. On the other hand, Cyrus may have been the fourth king of Anshan (modern Malyan), and the second king Cyrus there. His status clarified when he became the ruler of Persia in 559 B.C. Anshan, possibly a Mesopotamian name, was a Persian kingdom in Parsa (modern Fars, in southwestern Iran) in the Marv Dasht plain, between Persepolis and Pasargadae. It had been under the rule of the Assyrians and then may have been under the control of Media*. Young suggests that this kingdom wasnt known as Persia until the start of the empire. Cyrus II King of the Persians Defeats the Medes In about 550, Cyrus defeated the Median king Astyages (or Ishtumegu), took him prisoner, looted his capital at Ecbatana, and then became king of Media. At the same time, Cyrus acquired power over both the Iranian-related tribes of the Persians and Medes and the countries over which the Medes had held power. The extent of the Median lands went as far east as modern Tehran and westward to the Halys River at the border of Lydia; Cappadocia was now Cyruss. This event is the first firm, documented event in Achaemenid history, but the three main accounts of it are different. In the dream of the Babylonian king, the god Marduk leads Cyrus, king of Anshan, to march successfully against Astyages.The Babylonian chronicle 7.11.3-4 states [Astyages] mustered [his army] and marched against Cyrus [II], king of Anshan, for conquest... The army rebelled against Astyages and he was taken prisoner.  Herodotus version differs, but Astyages is still betrayed- this time, by a man to whom Astyages had served his son in a stew. Astyages may or may not have marched against Anshan and lost because he was betrayed by his own men who were sympathetic with the Persians.   Cyrus Acquires Lydia and Croesus Wealth Famous for his own wealth as well as these other famous names: Midas, Solon, Aesop, and Thales, Croesus (595 BC - c. 546 BC) ruled Lydia, which covered Asia Minor west of the Halys River, with its capital at Sardis. He controlled and received tribute from the Greek cities in Ionia. When, in 547, Croesus crossed the Halys and entered Cappadocia, he had encroached on Cyrus territory and war was about to begin. After months spent marching and getting into position, the two kings fought an initial, inconclusive battle, perhaps in November. Then Croesus, assuming the battle season was over, sent his troops into winter quarters. Cyrus didnt. Instead, he advanced to Sardis. Between Croesus depleted numbers and the tricks Cyrus used, the Lydians were to lose the fight. The Lydians retreated to the citadel where Croesus intended to wait out a siege until his allies could come to his assistance. Cyrus was resourceful and so he found an opportunity to breach the citadel. Cyrus then seized the Lydian king and his treasure. This also put Cyrus in power over the Lydian Greek vassal cities. Relations between the Persian king and the Ionian Greeks were strained. Other Conquests In the same year (547) Cyrus conquered Urartu. He also conquered Bactria, according to Herodotus. At some point, he conquered Parthia, Drangiana, Aria, Chorasmia, Bactria, Sogdiana, Gandara, Scythia, Sattagydia, Arachosia and Maka. The next important known year is ​539, when Cyrus conquered Babylon. He credited Marduk (to the Babylonians) and Yahweh (to the Jews whom he would free from exile), depending on the audience, for choosing him as the right leader. Propaganda Campaign and a Battle The claim of divine selection was part of Cyrus propaganda campaign to turn the Babylonians against their aristocracy and king, accused of using the people as corvee labor, and more. King Nabonidus had not been a native Babylonian, but a Chaldean, and worse than that, had failed to perform the religious rituals. He had slighted Babylon, by putting it under the control of the crown prince while he resided at Teima in north Arabia. The confrontation between the forces of Nabonidus and Cyrus took place in one battle, at Opis, in October. By the middle of October, Babylon and its king had been taken. Cyrus empire now included Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine. To make sure the rites were performed correctly, Cyrus installed his son Cambyses as king of Babylon. Probably it was Cyrus who divided the empire into 23 divisions to be known as satrapies. He may have accomplished further organization before he died in 530.   Cyrus died during a conflict with  the nomadic Massegatae (in modern Kazakhstan), famous for their warrior queen Tomyris. Records of Cyrus II and the Propaganda of Darius Important records of Cyrus the Great appear in the Babylonian (Nabonidus) Chronicle (useful for dating), the Cyrus Cylinder, and the Histories of Herodotus. Some scholars believe Darius the Great is responsible for the inscription on Cyrus tomb at Pasargadae. This inscription calls him an Achaemenid. Darius the Great was the second most important ruler of the Achmaenids, and it is his propaganda concerning Cyrus that we know of Cyrus at all.  Darius the Great ousted a certain King Gautama/Smerdis who may have been an impostor or the brother of the late king Cambyses II. It suited Darius purposes not only to state that Gautama was an impostor (because Cambyses had killed his brother, Smerdis, before setting out to Egypt) but also to claim a royal lineage to back up his bid for the throne. While the people had admired Cyrus the great as a fine king and felt put upon by the tyrannical Cambyses, Darius never overcame the question of his lineage and was called the shopkeeper.   See Dariuss Behistun Inscription  in which he claimed his noble parentage.   Sources Depuydt L. 1995. Murder in Memphis: The Story of Cambysess Mortal Wounding of the Apis Bull (Ca. 523 BCE). Journal of Near Eastern Studies 54(2):119-126.Dusinberre ERM. 2013. Empire, Authority, and Autonomy in Achaemenid Anatolia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Lendering J. 1996 [last modified 2015]. Cyrus the Great. Livius.org. [Accessed 02 July 2016]Munson RV. 2009. Who Are Herodotus Persians? The Classical World 102(4):457-470.Young J, T. Cuyler 1988. The early history of the Medes and the Persians and the Achaemenid empire to the death of CambysesThe Cambridge Ancient History. In: Boardman J, Hammond NGL, Lewis DM, and Ostwald M, editors. The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 4: Persia, Greece and the Western Mediterranean, c525 to 479 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Waters M. 2004. Cyrus and the Achaemenids. Iran 42:91-102.

Statutory Regulations on Consumer rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Statutory Regulations on Consumer rights - Essay Example The various legislations related to the consumer law protect the rights of a person as a consumer, whether it is of dispute regarding the sale and purchase of the goods/services, or it is of dispute regarding the quality of the goods. As a consumer, a person's rights are expressed as a series of "guarantees" that a seller automatically makes to you when you buy any good or service ordinarily purchased for personal use. These dictums manifest there always exist an agreement in between the seller and buyer/consumer while entering in a transaction. The parties to commercial contracts were considered to be themselves the best judges of what obligations should be imposed. For the most part the legislation was drafted from the buyer's perspective, and the legislation seems generally to prefer the interests of buyers. But some provision of the sale of goods legislations(1) does not impinge greatly on party autonomy like the Sale of Goods Act 1893 (UK). Even though the buyer enjoys such privileges, the law always ponders to lay down some provisions to regulate the consumer civil rights, amidst of numerous issues regarding the magnitude of the enhancement of such provisions. The provisions regarding the consumer's rights against the seller under sales law are to be found in the Sale of Goods A... The provisions regarding the consumer's rights against the seller under sales law are to be found in the Sale of Goods Act 1979, which is the derived version of Sale of goods Act 1863, as amended by the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994. Sections 12-15 of the Act lays down some implied terms into contracts for the sale of goods relating to title, conformity with description and sample, quality and fitness. The consumer's basic remedies are rejection of the goods and/or damages. The Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 and the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 implemented recommendations for the control of clauses purporting to restrict or exclude liability under the implied terms as to title, correspondence with description, fitness etc. The Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994 implemented recommendations relating to the reformulation of the implied term as to merchantable quality , making it clear that it applies to minor defects and covers durability of goods.(2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Carter, J. W. (1993) Party Autonomy and Statutory Regulation: Sale of Goods Commentary on rights of Termination, Journal of Contract Law and rejection: Impact of the CISG on Australian, English and Canadian law, 93-122 3. Select Committee on European Communities, (1997) Tenth Report, www.parliment.uk 3 The recent statutes extend the protection not only to individual consumers but to business entities also. Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1994(4) provides that they apply to any term in a contract concluded between sellers or supplier and a consumer where the said term has not been individually

Housing segregation in the us Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Housing segregation in the us - Research Paper Example Gotham (2000, p. 13) found out that while housing subsidy housing programs created a situation for a great number of white families to buy â€Å"new† housing units in suburban areas, African American families were only able to buy â€Å"existing† homes in â€Å"racially transitional neighborhoods† in the inner city. Gotham (2000, p. 13) interpreted his data to mean that his research corroborated research that showed that the â€Å"market-centered† focus of federal housing policy has created obstacles to the â€Å"ability of African Americans to accumulate wealth through home ownership and reinforced racially segregate housing patterns.† For Gotham, the culprit is Section 235 of the 1968 Housing Act that â€Å"was designed to shift the focus of federal housing policy away from dispensing aid to local housing authorities for building public housing to providing direct supply-side subsidies to the private sector to stimulate home ownership for nonwhit es and the poor† (2000, p. 13). Taking off from the work of Oliver and Shapiro (1995), Gotham argued (2000, p. 14) that the operation and implementation of the United States 1968 housing program is an example of the â€Å"racialization of state policy.† Citing the study of Massey and Denton (1993), Gotham (2000, p. 15) specifically pointed out Kansas City as one of the United States’ prime examples of â€Å"hypersegregated metropolitan areas due to the high degree of segregation in housing patterns on a range of indices.† Gotham (2000, p. 16) blames the â€Å"segregative effects of federal housing policies and programs, and private real estate activity† for the hypersegregation. In addition, Gotham said (2000, p. 17) â€Å"the various economic and political dimension of housing-related activities have been conducted through an organized and interconnected system of racial discrimination.† At the same time, Gotham (2000, p. 17) also pointed out racial discrimination was