What makes me a great student Essays - Nicole Schmitz, Star Magic

A great student has many aspects and features, which make him/her great. They strive for things that most common students do not and trying things that some of us are too lazy to accomplish. These students put in all their effort even when up against the smallest assignment to the most difficult assignment. Everyone is born with traits. Traits are the part of you, which tells others about you, and your personality. I think one of the traits that I posses and that make me a great student is determination. I am a very determined person and I believe that is the key to being successful. No matter how hard the assignments are, I always give my best and try to complete them on time. When I set my mind on something, I do whatever it takes to get it. If I have any questions or just need help I can always stay afterschool because my teachers will always be there for me. Second, I take pride in my work. I always strive to do better and put as much effort as I can. For example, when I have a science project I don?t just rush through things without putting any effort in my work because that will get me to nowhere and I am really setting myself up for a low grade. On the other hand, with the right amount of effort and hard work I will be bound to receive the grade I want. Another characteristic that I have is confidence in myself. I believe that whatever I put my mind to I can achieve it. I'm confident that I am going to have a good school year. All of my grades will be higher than they were previously. This means working harder, but I can do it. I am also confident that I will go to college and become a very successful young man who will do everything he sets out to do. Being a ?great? student is all about effort. Therefore I am ready to put a lot of effort into all of my works and never hesitate to think outside the box. Students who try their hardest and never give up usually become winners unlike some other students who don?t.

Removing the Holidays

Removing the Holidays Free Online Research Papers You are in class Christmas day having a Christmas party, when suddenly the teacher is pulled out by cops and arrested. You later find out that your teacher was arrested for celebrating Halloween in the class room in a classroom. Is this what our public school system is heading to in the future? Yes, while this that is a very extreme and we do not do that now but teachers are getting in trouble for only talking and celebrating the Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter. While I do understand racial equality I think it is outrage that in order to mention Christmas to my students that I must also I must talk about all the other holidays around that time period as well. December 25th is Christmas none of the other holidays have that day as there celebration day therefore whether you like it or not it is Christmas. The teacher should have the right to discuss what ever holiday they want as long as it does not bother their students are parents. Making laws say either discuss all of them or none of them is just ridiculous. Public school are, by law, longer allowed only discuss Christmas, Halloween, Easter or any popular holiday like those. What I do not get is if public school and other federal buildings are closed for those holidays yet we can not talk about them. Schools are closed usually for Christmas, New Years, for Thanksgiving, for Easter and in the New Orleans area Mardi Gras yet the only one we can really celebrate are Mardi Gras. If they honestly want no specific holiday to be favored in public institutions then why are they still considered federal holidays. The only reason we can celebrate Mardi Gras is because it is consider a cultural holiday more than a religious holiday, but yet there are religions around the area that do not believe in going or doing anything that involves Mardi Gras. Now of days the popular holidays such as Christmas and Halloween are not seeing by children for their religious aspects but more for the cultural ones so why not celebrate. Most children now of days see these holidays as something, children unless taught by their families do not see it for the religious aspects of it. to them Christmas involves a jolly fat man in a red suit bring presents, Easter involves a bunny bringing candy and eggs, Halloween is dressing up and asking people for candy and Mardi Gras is yelling â€Å"Throw me something mister†. It is our adult minds that can not see it for what it is. As we grow we lose the innocence of our youth and seem to forget how to just have fun. That is exactly what these holidays are for these children, FUN. There is no reason why fun could be offense to anyone. As long as teachers do not teach the religious points of any of the holidays and they consider their students religious background, I do not see the problem in having celebration for any of them. As long as a teacher takes in to consideration all the religious backgrounds of their students, there is no reason why they should be banned from celebrating something fun. I know in the area I live in we still say Halloween and Christmas in the classroom and we do not care about the laws on it. the area we live in is almost completely Christian and for the students that do not we do â€Å"Fall Fest† and â€Å"Spring Fling†, but when October 31st rolls around it will be Halloween and there are ghost, pumpkins, bats, goblins, and witches decorating the halls. Teachers are also wearing Halloween stuff and after Halloween it will be Thanksgiving and than Christmas. I work in a school and I can tell you the children are not concerned with the religious aspect of any of the holidays. It is the parents that are concerned with it on a religious aspect. Really the religion should not be brought into it, according our most there is supposed to be a separation of church and state. Wikipedia states: Separation of church and state is a political and legal doctrine which states that government and religious institutions are to be kept separate and independent of one another. The term most often refers to the combination of two principles: secularity of government and freedom of religious exercise.[1] The phrase separation of church and state is generally traced to a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists, in which he referred to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution as creating a wall of separation between church and state. Separation of church and state, though I hate to say this, does not really exist and this just proves it. The term â€Å"separation of church and state† does not exist in our laws, it was said in letter and as for the first amendment schools are not in violation of that either. It is not inferring upon anyone’s right to celebrate the holidays, since these holidays are more apart of American culture and a fun, more than they are religious. In most of the schools they never did teach any of the holidays from a religious point of view therefore they are not in any direct violation of laws. â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment or religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,† first amendment of the US Constitution. Think about what that says it says the government will not get involved in things pertaining to religion therefore they should not even be making laws stating that schools can not practice particular holidays due to religion. With that being said school should, on their on discretion, be able to celebrate what ever holiday the majority of their students believe in as long as they take in consideration the other students that do not believe into account. Also, for the people that do not believe in holidays l ike Christmas, maybe you should explain to your children why Christmas and other holidays like it are so popular. It will not hurt your children to participate in the activities so let them, instead of sheltering them from it teach them to enjoy and embrace the different cultures. Let’s bring FUN back to the holidays and stopped making it about complex adult feelings and the religious aspects of it. Sources: First Amendment Center. A Teachers Guide to Religion in the Public Schools. Nashville: The First Admendment Center, 1999. National PTA. A Parentss Guide to Religion in the Public Schools. Nashville: The First Admendment Center. Research Papers on Removing the HolidaysStandardized TestingLifes What IfsEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyGenetic EngineeringThe Spring and AutumnComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHip-Hop is ArtCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionCapital Punishment

Erre Moscia - Dispelling Linguistic Myths and Legends

Erre Moscia - Dispelling Linguistic Myths and Legends ​ The bulk of our linguistic competency is learned at an early age- normally before we even show signs of having acquired this ability. We listen to pronunciations, intonations and cadences, and use it all to fashion our own way of speaking. As adults, we can watch this process taking place in young children learning to talk. What we dont usually observe is that we begin to form opinions about another person based solely upon the way he or she speaks. Accents define us in more ways than we care to admit. Usually these preconceptions remain subconscious, only revealed, for example, when we believe someone with a heavier accent less intelligent than ourselves. Other times, the notions are much closer to the surface.One such highly debated presumption of Italian phonology centers on the misunderstood letter r which is typically pronounced as an alveolar trill in the front of the mouth. However, in some parts of Italy, notably Piedmont and other parts of the northwest near the French borde r, r is produced as a uvular sound in the back of the mouth. This is known as erre moscia or soft r and many Italians have crowned this unfortunate pronunciation wrong, going so far as to say that all those who speak with erre moscia are either snobby or have a speech impediment. Before making such assumptions about erre moscia, we must understand a few simple facts about its background. The History of R The letter r has a distinct history in many languages. In the phonetic table of consonants it hides under the label liquid or approximant, which are just fancy terms for letters halfway between consonants and vowels. In English, it is one of the last sounds to be developed, possibly because children arent always certain what people are doing to produce the sound. Researcher and linguist Carol Espy-Wilson used an MRI to scan the vocal tract of Americans saying the letter r. In order to produce r, we must constrict our throats and lips, position our tongue and engage the vocal cords, all of which requires a lot of well-timed effort. She discovered that different speakers use different tongue positions, yet exhibit no change in the sound itself. When a person does produce a sound differing from normal r, that person is said to exhibit signs of rhotacism (rotacismo in Italian). Rhotacism, coined from the Greek letter rho for r, is an excessive use or peculiar pronunciation of r. Why Piedmont? The phrase no man is an island relates just as well to human languages as to human emotions. Despite the efforts of many language purists to prevent influences from other languages entering their own, there is no such thing as an isolated linguistic environment. Wherever two or more languages exist side-by-side, there is the possibility of language contact, which is the borrowing and intermingling of words, accents and grammatical structures. The northwest region of Italy, because of its shared border with France, is in a prime position for infusion and mixing with French. Many of Italys dialects evolved similarly, each changing differently depending on the language with which it came into contact. As a result, they became almost mutually incomprehensible. Once any alteration has taken place, it remains within the language and is passed from generation to generation. Linguist Peter W. Jusczyk has conducted research in the field of language acquisition. It is his theory that our capacity to perceive speech directly affects how we learn our native tongue. In his book The Discovery of Spoken Language Jusczyk examines a number of studies which demonstrate that from approximately six to eight months of age, infants can distinguish subtle differences in every language. By eight to ten months, they are already losing their universal ability to detect delicate phonetic differences in order to become specialists in their own language. By the time production begins, they are accustomed to certain sounds and will reproduce them in their own speech. It follows that if a child only hears erre moscia, that is how he will pronounce the letter r. While erre moscia occurs in other regions of Italy, those instances are considered deviations whereas in t he northwest region erre moscia is perfectly normal. It is no secret that r- at least in the beginning- is a very difficult sound to produce. It is one of the last sounds children learn to say correctly, and has proven a rather difficult hurdle for people trying to learn a foreign language who claim they cannot roll their rs. However, it is doubtful that people who speak with erre moscia have adopted that sound due to an inability to pronounce another kind of r. Speech therapists who work with children to correct a variety of impediments (not just for the letter r) say that they have never witnessed a case where a child substitutes a uvular r for another one. The idea doesnt make much sense because erre moscia is still a version of the letter (albeit not the popular one) and still requires complicated positioning of the tongue. More likely, a child will substitute the semivowel w sound which is close to the letter r and easier to pronounce, making them sound like Elmer Fudd when he shouted Dat waskily wabbit! As for a snobbish affectation, there are certainly examples of wealthy, prominent Italians who speak with this accent. Actors who wish to depict an aristocrat from the 1800s are said to adopt erre moscia. There are even more recent examples of wealthy Italians who speak with erre moscia, such as the recently deceased Gianni Agnelli, industrialist and principle shareholder of Fiat. But it should not be ignored that Agnelli was from Turin, the capital city of the Piedmont region where erre moscia is part of the regional dialect. Certainly the phenomenon of erre moscia in Italian speech is not the consequence of any one variable but rather a combination. Some people may choose to use erre moscia in an effort to seem more refined, though considering the stigma attached, it would seem to defeat the purpose. It doesnt appear to be a speech impediment because erre moscia is not any easier to produce than the normal Italian r. More likely it is the result of language contact with French and adoption as part of the native dialect. However there are still many questions surrounding this unusual sound and the debate will continue among speakers of Italian, both native and foreign.About the Author: Britten Milliman is a native of Rockland County, New York, whose interest in foreign languages began at age three, when her cousin introduced her to Spanish. Her interest in linguistics and languages from around the globe runs deep but Italian and the people who speak it hold a special place in her heart.

Genetic risk factors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Genetic risk factors - Essay Example On family history, his mother had a myocardial infarction due to high cholesterol value that lead to formation of atherosclerotic plaque on the coronary vessels occluding the lower cardiac muscle from getting oxygen. This necessitated a surgical procedure of coronary artery revascularization by using a bypass graft but died because of severe complication of dysrhythmias. Considering environmental factors, my father had a history of smoking. He takes one packet of cigarettes per day. He was constantly exposed to fumes on the road following his career as a driver and spending most of the time on the road. He does not perform aerobic exercise other than the natural work that he does. The food he takes is usually sugary with high cholesterol values. The recent test of the cholesterol value indicated that he had high values of low density lipoproteins (LDL) at 146 mg/dl, the high density lipoproteins (HDL) were at 30 mg/dl and triglycerides were at 156 mg/dl. According to Ondrus and Kanovsky (2013), coronary artery diseases disease is brought by formation of occlusion on coronary vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the cardiac muscles. It is a disease that runs down the families because it is genetic predisposition. Condition such as inactivity due to lack or inadequate exercise and taking high cholesterol foods especially the low density lipoprotein and triglycerides predisposes one to having the condition due to formation of atherosclerotic plaque (Velasco & Rojas, 2013). Smoking may precipitate the formation of the plaque (Kakouros & Kokkinos, 2014). This limits oxygenation of the cardiac muscles hence procedure such as coronary artery bypass grafts are needed. Boles (2013) age has also shown relationship of advancing of disease enhanced with inactivity or to long sitting such as drivers. This lead to stasis of blood hence embolism becomes

Police brutality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Police brutality - Essay Example Police have a clearly defined mandate, to prevent crime. In the execution of their duties, the police are obliged to remain within the confines of the law. Failure to abide by the requirements of the law, which stipulates their role, should attract independent investigations and prosecution in a court of law. It is unwarranted for a police officer to use force even for instances where it is not necessary. However, in some instances where there is rebellion from the offenders, the police are required to use reasonable force. In busting and preventing criminal activities, the police have to respect the bill of rights (Johnson 12). In essence, police brutality should be discouraged and taken seriously by the relevant authorities. In the course of their trainings, the police should also be sensitized on this issue such that they are able to understand the scope of execution of their mandate. Despite having to be fair, there is need for the police to ensure they use all the means possible to prevent criminal activities. Brutal police officers should be made to be responsible for their actions. It is important that a police officer act within the scope of the law. Otherwise, non-adherence to the law should attract the relevant punishment as provided. It is unlawful to use excessive force especially when dealing with non-violent and harmless individuals. In such a scenario, it seems that motivation of the police is to stamp their authority and not to discharge their duties as required. Those that are implicated having demonstrated brutal acts should first be investigated and prosecuted in a court of law. Reports have shown that police brutality is mainly directed towards the minorities in the United States (Abbott 60). It is inappropriate for a police officer to think that they are above the law; they forget that the same law is the one that gives them the mandate to discharge their duty. Police brutality

McCain Foods Essay Example for Free

McCain Foods Essay McCain Foods is a Canadian company that produces potatoes and provided all sorts of fries to their customers all over the world. McCain Foods Company is a well-known potato producer. McCain also competes with public companies such as Kraft Foods, Aviko and ConAgra Foods which have a clear advantage in terms of raising capital because they are also producing potatoes as their main product. Private ownership puts the company at a competitive disadvantage. Even so McCain Foods Company tries to inform their customers by doing campaigns and promotion by giving points and free deliveries. Consumer food expenditure on ready-to-eat foods continues to rise due to the success of new dining concepts, and changing lifestyle. Demographic factors, such as more families with working women, smaller family sizes in general, and more disposable income coupled with less disposable time has spurred this trend. Since McCain Foods is more focused on business to business they are partnered with few companies that will help them in packaging, in examining their potatoes quality and distribution. Due to the changes in the external environment that impacts McCain Foods Company sale rates, they made changes to improve their potatoes quality to maintain their customers demand. Such us, using the sunflower oil that reduces saturated fats by 70% instead of using regular vegetable oil. This is made because mainly McCain Foods have a strategy to keep a good relationship with their farmers and customers In the Netherlands, McCain Foods Company is located in Lelystad where the corps are grown and distributed. The distribution of McCain Food products are done by road to the other European countries and ships to be distributed to other countries outside the European region. McCain Food Company McCain Foods is a company located in Canada and a privately owned company established in 1957 by four brothers namely Wallace and Harrison McCain, supported by brothers Andrew and Robert. McCain Foods is the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen French fries and potato specialties. McCain foods also perform in helping the environment and achieved several Charitable Initiatives such as â€Å"Feeding the hungry and supporting education in South Africa† and â€Å"Supporting sport in the UK for ? 5 million to UK Athletics â€Å". McCain Foods is the largest French fry producer in the world, claiming a global market share of almost 33%. (4) McCain operates globally with over 57 production and manufacturing facilities across six continents. The company’s products are available in thousands of restaurants and supermarket freezers in more than 125 countries around the world. The company has least presence in the developing organic foods segment. Natural and organic food products segment is one of the fastest growing categories in food retailing. The company has not acquired any organic brand companies nor has it launched organic products. Internal environment McCain foods  is an organization that has the motto: â€Å"McCain it’s all good†. Their actions, decisions and behaviors are guided by their values and Code of Conduct. McCain is trying to make their business to be more like a family business. Because some companies are known for the products they make, and some are known for the people who make them while McCain likes to be known for both. Their strategy is to keep a good relationship with the farmers and their customers. As it is shown in Graph (1. 1), McCain Foods makes contracts with their supplier partners and grower partners, even though the number of the supplier partners is greater than the grower partners. They also employed a lot of employees to work in their company. With these big numbers McCain Foods is also trying to maintain their relationship with their employees and partners, because these numbers tells us that McCain more or less is depending on their supplier partners, the farmers, and employees. Same thing goes to the Supplier partners and Employees of McCain Foods. This means that there is a mutualism relationship between McCain, the employees and their partners that will bring a good result.

Mental and Social Disorder Essay -- Diseases/Disorders

One in every seventeen people in America suffers from a mental disorder. These disorders inhibit the afflicted person from functioning properly and coping normally with daily life. Many afflicted with a psychological disorder do not exhibit obvious symptoms, as medical advancements have made it possible for these disorders to be suppressed or even nonexistent. Today, however, harsh stigmas exist that unfairly categorize those with a mental illness as violent, unfriendly, and abnormal. The media and federal government are culprits in fabricating the unrealistic depictions of mental disability that define the portrayal of those who are mentally or psychologically disadvantaged. The media is and has been one of the strongest outlets of perpetuating negative mental illness stereotypes. Since the invention of the television and its spread to every American household by the 1960s, television shows have manufactured an image of the mentally disabled as dangerous and unpredictable . The shows depict the mentally ill as very violent; â€Å"One in four mentally ill characters kill someone, and half are portrayed as hurting others .† The ways in which mentally disabled are filmed within a show also differs from the ways that non-disabled characters are shot. Studies show that they are usually filmed â€Å"alone with close-up or extreme shots, reinforcing their isolation and dislocation from the other characters † and from society. In movies, like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the characters who are treated in psychiatric wards are similarly portrayed as crazy and violent, while the mental health field as a whole is negatively stereotyped. Mov ies make the facilities out to be places where electroshock and psychosurgery are commonly practiced medi... ... people with mental illness?." Gale Power Search. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=DA-SORT&inPS=true&prodId=GPS&userGroupName=san47811&tabID=T002&searchId=R3&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm ¤tPosition=3&contentSet=GALE%7CA199865961&&docId=GALE|A199865961&docType=GALE&role=EAIM. "TV dramas give misleading view of mental illness, claims report | Society | The Guardian." Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/22/tv-programmes-mental-illness. Watters, Ethan. "The Americanization of Mental Illness - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/magazine/10psyche-t.html?pagewanted=all.

Gladstone’s liberalism

This question focuses on Gladstone's liberalism and to what extent he applied it during his first ministry, 1868-74. Liberalism is a political philosophy that stresses individual liberty, equal opportunity and rights, Victorian liberalism was a mixture of ideology, morality and self-interest, and it advocated civil and religious liberty. Gladstone was the embodiment of Victorian liberalism, he tried to put forward his liberalism but he often found that he fought a lone battle in the cabinet. To assess the extent of how much Gladstone's liberalism was applied during his first ministry, I will be looking at the acts that were passed during this period and looking at how liberal in nature they were. His attention was mainly focused on Ireland as he said in his own words â€Å"It is my mission to pacify Ireland†. He put forward 3 acts and bills concerning Ireland, at the time these were fairly controversial, as he was one of the first Prime Ministers to address the Irish question. The first act that Gladstone passed as Prime Minister was The Disestablishment of the Irish Church Act. This broke the connection between church and state and ended the Anglican church's status as the established church of Ireland, this aimed to reduce endowments and redistributing a third of its annual reserve to non-religious ends, e. g. improving hospitals. This was quite a liberal act as it allowed people to freely attend whichever church they wanted. This however showed Gladstone's willingness to solve a problem without appreciating its background and not understanding its immediate practical requirements. Th Irish Church Act was Gladstone's first liberal move and gave an indication of the path his future acts would take. His second act in 1870 was The Irish Land Act. This was initially one of his most liberal measures as it gave a lot of the protection to the tenant, the individual, but it was diluted so its effectiveness was reduced. It said that tenants should have greater protection from eviction and should be compensated if their rent was deemed excessive, be given compensation for improvements and repairs they had made and that new tenants should compensate the old tenants for their share in the property. The most important part of this at was the compensation if the rent was deemed excessive; Lord Salisbury objected to this clause as he said that no court had the right to adjudicate on the fairness of rent. This omission made the bill limited and unremarkable, this caused anger as it did not live up to its expectations and it failed to realise the aim of the land-lord. At first this bill promised to be a very important bill as it finally gave protection to the tenants but in the end it just made the tenants position less secure as land-lords could now freely increase rent as there was no-one to stop them. This should have been another success for Gladstone but after it had passed through parliament it became just another ordinary act. The Education Act of 1870 put forward by William Forster allowed for the continuation of denominational schools, but in districts where schooling was deficient a locally elected board would be set up. This had the power to organize schools and enforce the attendance of children aged between 5 and 12 who were not being educated in any other way, the boards could also decide whether religious teaching was to be given in their schools. This mainly benefited the working class who before had been unable to send their children to school because it was too expensive so the children went to work instead. The two main organizations involved in this act were the National Education League and Union. The League was non-conformist and wanted gratuitous secular education, the Union was Anglican and wanted religious teaching. The pressure resulting from the conflict between the two groups produced the Cowper Temple Clause; this meant that only non-denominational religious education was to be provided in schools receiving state aid. This was an important liberal act as it gave educational opportunities to the working class who had never before had the chance of free schooling. Other important acts included The 1870 Civil Service Act. This meant that all positions within the civil service were open to public competition, this was obviously a liberal act as it gave the opportunity to people to hold positions which had never been open to them as before a system of patronage was used. Army reforms were also introduced these were the 1871 Army regulation Act. The aim of this was â€Å"To combine in one harmonious whole all the branches of our military forces†, this abolished the system of purchase, an officer bought his commission and could sell it for whatever he could get, and also flogging in peacetime was abolished. The 1871 University Test Act made positions of teaching at Oxford and Cambridge open to non-Anglicans. The Ballot Act introduced the secret ballot, this meant that people could express their opinions without being persecuted. The Trade Union Act of 1871 legalized trade unions. Workers were now protected and had their interests looked after so if they felt that they were being treated unfairly they could do something about it. All of these acts cohered with the liberal philosophy, they gave long overdue equal rights and opportunities to everyone. One of the final acts by Gladstone was the Licensing Act of 1872. This tightened the control on licensing and fixed public houses opening and closing times, with this Gladstone did his party immense harm by alienating brewers and distillers who naturally turned to the conservatives. Gladstone had no doubt in his mind what had caused his election defeat in 1974, in a letter to his brother he commented † We have been borne down in a torrent of gin and beer†, this act did more harm than good and ended Gladstone's first ministry. Gladstone's serious view of life, his devotion to progress and his insistence on justice and right made him a leader who was idolized or hated. His was the figurehead of liberalism and his many liberal acts showed how passionate he was about it. He was not a great Prime minister but during his first ministry he tried very hard to spread liberalism that appealed rather to a particular mentality that might be found in all classes, so in fact it was above class. In conclusion Gladstone's liberalism was his belief in equal opportunities, in an era when this was not available to everyone it was a very brave belief as many of the population could not afford schooling, but thanks to Gladstone this problem was now fixed. He applied his liberalism to a great extent as he introduced some very important changes, these being the Education and Irish Church acts. The way his ministry ended showed that he had not finished and more was to come, mainly his pursuit of Irish Home Rule. He was probably more important for what he was than what he did.

Fashion Industry

Pakistani fashion industry has grown by leaps and bounds in last twelve to fifteen years. Many famous fashion designers are working in this field and contributing their work to the progress of the industry. With opening of the new institutes and fashion schools our industry has found new horizon with new talent pouring in. As Pakistani fashion industry has many talented and creative fashion designers. Every fashion designer has new and creative ideas which make them distinguish from each other.Famous Pakistani fashion designers names are Ammar Belal, Nomi ansari, karma, Lajwanti, khaddar, Asifa and Nabeel, Sobia Nazeer, HSY, Maria B, Bee jees and more. And I selected two designers for my case study, Ammar Bellal and Tazeen Hasan. Ammar Bellal is basically my inspiration in this case study; he is doing a lot of work on men's wear. Like other Pakistani fashion designers he didn’t opt for bridle wear designing. And my 2nd selected designer Tazeen Hassan says† I design my cu ts with people from real society in mind and not just models†.Her designs are very simple. She sells Pakistani women wear embroidered dresses,bridle dresses, kameez shalwar and lehnga chooli. Although Tazeen hasan is also working good and creating style and designs according to the Pakistani culture but I like Ammar Bellal most. Ammar Bellal's success story is as follow. Ammar Bellal Ammar Belal started his career in 2003 with his street wear brand A B C D, which offered Basic casual wear with a quirky sense of design. [pic] Pakistani fashion designer Ammar Belal is son of khwaja Belal, a textile industry owner.Ammar is a famous Pakistani fashion designer. With in few years he established himself. This Pakistani fashion designer launched his high-end men's wear store. Ammar is doing good work in the field of men's wear. Collections by Ammar Belal Ammar has created many collections. Especially he is doing good work on men's wear. In Pakistan he is the designer who is working on men's wear instead of bridle wear. ABCD casual wear Ammar's previously launched his ABCD casual wear line. This line catch the attention of the many, as many likes it very much.His collection helped him to gather good clientele. [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] There is only a slight design factor incorporated in each garment that Ammar's label ABCD produces. Men's wear Ammar's men wear includes †¢ Shoes †¢ Sunglasses †¢ Shirts †¢ Ties and others accessories [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] Ammar felt that the local market seeks designs and quality with foreign fashion taste.After realizing these needs and wants of the local market he decided to launch a men's wear store, with high quality and low price. Recent collection of 2010 Recently he launched his â€Å"king of Pop† collection, as the title suggests, inspired by Michael Jackson. More specifically, the â€Å"Thriller† era and subsequent punk rock look complete with zipping and studding detail for both men and women. [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] His collection is symbolized through military style embroideries and various silhouettes.His collection ranges from casual and street wear to cocktail dresses and gowns Running Projects Ammar belal is also doing work on many projects including Ammar Belal men's wear, ABCD, AS jeans, Sarah's and ABCD Ethnic. Further he is also planning to make and international corporate empire. Awards His progressive approach t showcasing fashion through music videos and films has earned him various awards that include †¢ Best Emerging Designer (lux 2005) †¢ Best men's wear Designer (Indus 2006) †¢ Best Pret Designer (Sunday 2008) †¢ Best English song (MTV/indus 2006)Apart from fashion designing Ammar has also performed in a film and released a music video. Ammar's opinion about future of fashion industry At PFDE sunsilk fashion week 2010 in Lahore Ammar Belal said, â€Å"I am very excited to be a part of the fashion week in Lahore showcased my wor k with some of the finest designers in our country. I also believe that this is just the beginning of Pakistan's exposure to the international fashion scene. It was the learning experience for us and we as an industry have a long way to go after this initial step†.Ammar is very hopeful about the good future of the Pakistan industry as designers are showing their good talent and creative work. Conclusion I am very hopeful about the best future of Pakistan industry as new and talented designers are coming in this field, and industry has found new horizon on the sky of the fashion. Business of Pakistan fashion industry is going very good, as it ran well in the bad economic condition of international fashion industry.References www. Fashioncentral. com www. bargello. com www. meraforum. com www. scribd. com Fashion Industry Essay question: Does the fashion industry exist mainly to persuade people to spend money on things they do not need? In my opinion,the fashion industry do not not exist mainly to persuade people to spend money on things they do not need. Everybody is free to decide if they want to spend money on fashion or not. First of all, we have to understand: what is fashion industry? With its beginnings in the late 17th century, the fashion industry is a globalized sector that works to meet the demand for apparel and dictates the trends for what should be worn. This industry consists of five distinct and separate levels.These levels are haute couture, luxury wear, affordable luxury wear, mainstream clothing, and discount clothing. The production part of the industry, that which takes the concept for a piece of apparel all the way to the hands of those who purchase it, is made up of four basic sectors. These sectors include producers of the goods necessary to make the apparel, those who create t he pieces, those who advertise and market the goods, and those who sell the goods. According to the concept of fashion industry, we realize that the fashion industry based on man’s demand to exist.The demand is higher so the fashion industry is higher too. The market is government by the law of supply and demand. That is why we can not agree with the essay question. In the society, there are many living standards. People who live in or below poverty line they use mainstream clothing, and discount clothing. People who have high living standard they can spend money on haute couture, luxury wear, affordable luxury wear whatever they think its suitable with their pocket. Some people look at fashion as another form of artistic expression, and as a way to allow people to express their individuality.Without the fashion industry, we wouldn't have a field of business where first a person can create unique forms of apparel, and then be able to sell them to those who want to do more wit h their clothes than just to protect from weather or prevent public indecency. And the fashion industry is like any other businesses. A business needs sales to stay afloat, so they will do whatever they can to convince a person to buy more, whether that’s through advertisement, or sales promotion. That does not automatically make a business evil. Corruption and greed are what make a business evil.If simply wanting sales made a business evil, why are not businesses in the food industry under hot water? Restaurants try to get people to eat food they really do not need; most people have food at home already. Businesses are businesses. They need to make their profits and earn a living. But that does not mean the sole existence of a business is to just make money. Same goes for businesses in the fashion industry. Not all of it is about spending excess amounts of money on luxury items. Without the fashion industry, we would not have apparel for separate events, like work or a party .We would not have special apparel that make us feel confident and boost our attractiveness. And we would not have a fun way of expressing who we are as individuals, without using words. Furthermore, fashion can help you fit in with everyone. No one wants to follow a person who has a bad sense of fashion. i know that this sounds mean and shallow, but it's true. This is the Real world! Also,when you go to school or work, the right uniform or clothes can make everyone recognise that you belong with them, this helps you fit in easily as well.Finally,Spending money on fashion it totally depends on the person. â€Å"FASHION† is there, to somewhat inspire people to feel and look good. However, we should also control ourselves on what our eyes sees, if you do not have the budget. In conclusion, the fasion industry exists because people need it. Not because it exists to persuade people to buy things that they do not really need. Again this may not be the way we want the world to be, but it is true for the real world. Ps:i would like to get some advices . My essay has many mistakes

Thomas Cobb Essays - International Law, Secession, Cobb, Free Essays

Thomas Cobb Essays - International Law, Secession, Cobb, Free Essays Thomas Cobb When Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, Thomas Cobb realized that the South had suffered a major loss in power. Since the Republican party controlled the executive, there was no way the South could have any say in the government. All their opinions could be easily disregarded by the North; their neglect of the Fugitive Slave Law was a perfect example of this. Cobb also understood that the Northerner?s sudden patriotism for the Union was quite out of place. Only fifty-four years earlier, the New England states had threatened to secede from the Union if powers limiting the control of the government were not added to the Constitution. Sensing their loss of control in the government, Cobb felt the only option was to secede. Although this meant a loss of financial aid that comes with being part of a blossoming new nation, the economic repercussions of not seceding would be much worse. Slavery was an important industry in the South. Southerners used slaves to pick their cotton which was their main source of agricultural income. With the new Republican president, they became fearful that slavery would be abolished. Cobb also believed that ?the right to decide [about secession] is one of the ?reserved rights? of the states. He deemed that the sovereign states had the right to decide of federal laws were constitutional and that they had the right to secede from the Union. This, he felt, was implied in Amendments Ten and Twelve. This belief probably stemmed from the fear of tyranny that U.S. citizens felt after their liberation from England. Therefore, Cobb would support decentralization in the government. He also based this idea on the concept of nullification, which said that the states had the final decision on the constitutionality of laws. Cobb viewed the South as a minority who was being taken advantage of by the North. This angered him because he didn?t believe the government was protecting the rights of the states. Instead, they were caving into the extreme ideas of the abolitionists. As he was quoted in Freeling?s Secession Debated: Georgia?s Showdown in 1860: ...?while the constitution is full of checks and balances to protect the minority from the sudden and excited power of a majority, no provision was suggested for the protection of the majority from the despotic rule of infuriated, fanatical, sectional minority.? Cobb supported a system that would put checks and balances on the minority. In keeping with the spirit of the Constitution, Cobb argued that a state as large as Georgia, with more slaves, more people and more voters and more slave holders should receive more respect and have a greater say in the government. Otherwise, Georgia?s rights were not being protected and the concept of democratic America went down the drain. This was as good a reason as any to secede. Cobb asked, why should the South be bound to a Union that didn?t even uphold their right to liberty? By staying in the Union, Georgia would be letting itself be taken advantage of by a sectional minority. Therefore, the only option was to secede and preserve the state?s right to sovereignty.

A Critical Essay evaluating a published piece of research from a research skills and methods point of view

As the article contains a section identifying the methodology used in the article, this will form the basis of analysis. Through examination of the methodologies identified therein, the effective use of these techniques will be critiqued, as well as those present in the article, which have not been identified in the section. This paper will explore the methodology used in the article from a broad philosophical approach to the methodology, to factors of analysis, research methods, data collection and appropriateness of the sources used. Positivist Research Philosophy Positivism is a structured approach to interpretation of research and the use of this methodology aims to replicate or test theory. Use of this methodology sees the researcher making certain interpretations about the data that will be collected. These interpretations will be quantified and generalised using some form of statistical analysis (Carter New, 2004) and thus its application within the natural sciences to the study of a subject in a social reality. This approach is deductive in nature where the research develops a theory and then subjects it to testing in the form of measureable hypotheses (Feyerabend, 1981). This has clear application in the current article as the authors are looking to interpret the data collected to draw certain conclusions about the role of the media in intra-EU immigration. Against this research philosophy it is possible to then examine the different kinds of research methods undertaken. This research philosophy is not identified in the article itself, however it is clear that there is a positivist approach taken to the research as there is a strong representation of certain interpretations made on the basis of collected data. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Method From the outset it is clear that the paper makes use of both qualitative and quantitative research methodology. The article identifies the approach used in testing the hypothesis as linking media framing with normative political theory in a systematic way. This approach superficially indicates the inclusion of qualitative research due to the very nature of normative theory. Qualitative research centers around the idea that meaning is socially constructed by individuals based on their interactions with the world and that the world is not based on positivist or quantitative assumptions (Merriam, 2002; 32). Qualitative research suggests that instead, reality is based on multiple interpretations that change over time, and researchers concern themselves rather with understanding these interpretations at a particular time. This research in particular focuses on plurality of interpretations (Flick, 2009). If one understands normative theory as being prescriptive of how one ideally should o r ought to act, imposing a value judgment based on these interpretations (Over, 2004; 3), one can see the understanding of normative political theory as inherently qualitative in nature. By contrast, quantitative methods of research are those which concern data analysed in terms of numbers (Punch, 1998). It is conceivable therefore that normative political theory may be assisted by quantitative research methods, however essentially this requires a value judgment on what political theory ought to be, is essentially positions itself within qualitative research by its very definition, as a value judgment requires the consideration of factors that typically fall within the realm of qualitative research, such as context and evaluation.Arguably, the omission of this statement of methodology from the section in the article itself is justified through redundancy. That is to say, that to the extent that this is both understood as a methodology of normative theory application, as well as the assumptions made about this theory within the paper rather than a process of research or discovery as to what this theory is, perhaps the inclusion of this consideration in the methodology section is somewhat redundant and unnecessary. A mixed method of qualitative and quantitative research exists in this article further in the identification of content analysis as the primary method of analysis in the paper (Balabanova Balch, 2010; 386). Content analysis classified textual material by reducing it to manageable pieces of data by quantifying the occurrence of certain phrases or themes within a text (Weber, 1980). It is therefore clear that content analysis is quantitative to the extent that it attempts to quantify certain themes within the text itself. However, it is simultaneously qualitative in that it takes account of the context of text components, latent structures of sense, distinctiveness in individual cases and things that do not appear in the text itself (Ritsert, 1972). For this reason, the inclusion of qualitative content analysis in analyzing communication texts, such as the current case of media, these factors are important for including context in the process of analysis. This however is not the quali tative inclusion that is referred to by Balabanova and Balch (2010; 396), as the methodology section purports to include qualitative factors through qualitative reading of selected articles to identify the ethical position and the range of communitarian and cosmopolitan issues. Whilst it arguable that these factors are a necessary inclusion of qualitative factors in the research, this should not be the extent of this inclusion. This is a clear inclusion in the Balabanova and Balch (2010; 386) article if one considers the nature of sources analyzed as being media sources of a particular topic, particularly considering the ethical dimension thereof. There is a definitely inclusion of certain ethical judgments in the content analysis which is essential to the topic itself. To the extent therefore that the content analysis used in the paper is of mixed methodology, this is entirely appropriate given the multifaceted nature of the inquiry itself. By making use of the sources that take ac count of the context, particularly in the choice of sources, it is clear that there are features of qualitative content analysis present in the article. Frame Analysis A further method identified by the methodology section of the article is a framing analysis, which essentially works as a method of defining how an issue is problematised and the effect that this has on the broader discussion (Hope, 2010; 2). Framing, involves selection and highlighting of certain facets of events, making connections between them so that they promote a particular interpretation, evalua ­tion or solution (Entman, 2004). By framing an issue in a certain way the media organize and structure their presentation, in the process including and excluding ideas and argu ­ments to produce a coherent construction and understanding of the issue (Pan and Kosicki, 1993). Despite the inclusion of this methodology, it is questionable whether the authors have made use of this analysis method, as there is no evidence of a discussion involving the framing of the problem statement in a manner that is consistent with this methodology. This is a precise methodology involving various st eps of conceptualization from the primary framework, to the metaframes and finally, the issue frame leading to the problem statement. Essentially, this moves from a very broad general understanding of the issue and moves towards the very specific (Hope, 2010; 5). Whilst it is clear that Balabanova and Balch (2010; 383) have clearly stated their problem statement in the introductory paragraphs of the article, this is not however consistent with the steps of analysis used in a frame analysis. The introduction to the problem statement arguably is well reasoned from the onset, and there is no development or discovery of logic as the process enfolds. Therefore, it is fair to conclude that there is an adequate formation of the problem statement, however this is not done by a frame analysis which purports to form the foundation of the research itself. Data Collection It is arguable that the method of data collection used by Balabanova and Balch (2010) is a qualitative data collection method. This is so because generally empirical or first-hand research is undertaken in quantitative studies which involves the independent collection of data by the researcher, rather than analyzing data that is already available. To this extent, the authors have circumvented a number of logistical issues with regards to the ethics of empirical research. Generally speaking, empirical research must be accompanied by a statement of ethics to ensure that the appropriate ethical standards are adhered to when dealing with research participants. Qualitative data therefore is representative of language data or the experience of the participants of the study, whereas quantitative data is a collection of numbers and figures (Polkinghorne, 2005). Whilst, the article does make use of quantitative data in terms of the fact that it uses this data to form the basis of the analysis , it similarly makes use of qualitative data which can be described as an ‘account’ or ‘evidence’ of human experience (ibid). It stands to reason therefore, that if one considers the subject matter of the article, the findings are a reflection of an experience and otherwise described as evidence of a certain circumstance. To this extent, the quantitative figures are used as a supporting mechanism to add to the validity and reliability of these findings. Validity generally implies that the instrument must measure what it was intended to measure (Barbour, 2008). Therefore to the extent that this data collection method has been used to gather the appropriate evidence and therefore measure the topic of the article, it is a valid mechanism of doing so. The article however does not address the issue of data collection, although it is fairly evident that it is qualitative in nature considering that it was chosen from a specific demographic country, with specific interests in mind when collecting this data. There are certain superficial indicators of reliability in research relating to repetition or consistency in assertion. Golafshani (2003; 598) identifies three types of reliability referred to in research, which relate to, namely the degree to which a measurement, given repeatedly, remains the same, the stability of a measurement over time; and the similarity of measurements within a given time period. Arguably by the very nature of the means of analysis, namely content analysis, these results should prove to be reliable, as the subject of what this method measures is precisely the repeated incidence of specific themes and phrases within the data sampled. The reliability of the data therefore is reliant on the reliability of the tool of analysis in this case. It can be concluded that, despite the lack of discussion as to the reliability of the data, the nature of the test is one which is inherently reliability. This is mitigated further by the limited size of the population of the st udy itself. Sources Cases Generally speaking, it is not appropriate to rely solely on newspaper articles as the basis of academic findings, however for the purposes of the current research, particularly in that the article is based on the influence of the media on the perception of intra-EU migration. As a result therefore the use of these sources is appropriate. The reliability and validity of the research with regards to the sources is upheld in integrity, as there is the adequate inclusion of reputable academic sources, as well as the use of these newspaper sources which form the basis of the data analysis. Conclusion By and large the application of the outlined methodology in the article itself is successful. One could argue that the relevant theoretical considerations with regards to research methodology have been adequately addressed in the article given the length and depth of the subject matter. This however is not to say that the authors have not excluded the fundamental considerations of methodology that merit inclusion, such as more exploration of qualitative research methodology, which has been argued to contribute significantly to the outcomes of the study, yet are not sufficiently included. Despite this exclusion, the collection of data and the sources used to support the hypothesis of the article are sufficient and appropriate in the circumstance, considering that the topic at hand requires an inquiry into the opinions and role of the media in these circumstances. This is supported by a superficial, yet adequate methodological explanation that allows the reader a basic understanding of the methodology used in the paper. References Balabanova and Balch (2010) Sending and receiving: The ethical framing of intra-EU migration in the European press. European Journal of Communication, 25, pp. 382 – 408 Barbour, R.S (2008) Introducing Qualitative Research. Sage Publications: Los Angeles Carter, B and C. New (2004) Making Realism Work. Routledge: London Entman R (2004) Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and US Foreign Policy. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press Feyerabend, P.K. (1981) Realism, Rationalism and Scientific Method. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) Flick, U. (2009) An Introduction to Qualitative Research. (4ed) Sage Publications: London Golafshani, N. (2003) Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research. The Qualitative Report, 8(4), pp. 597 – 607 Hope, M. (2010) Frame Analysis as a Discourse-Method: Framing ‘climate change politics’. Paper delivered to the Post-Graduate Conference on Discourse Analysis March 2010,University of Bristol. Merriam, S. (2002) Qualitative Research in Practice. (1ed) John Wiley Sons: New York Over, D (2004) Rationality and the Normative/Descriptive Distinction in Koehler, D. Harvey, N. (eds) ‘Blackwell Handbook of Judgment and Decision Making’ Blackwell: New York Pan Z and Kosicki G (1993) Framing analysis: An approach to news discourse. Political Communication 10(1): 55–75. Polkinghorne, D. (2005) Language and Meaning: Data Collection in Qualitative Research. Journal of Counselling Pyschology, 52(2), pp 137 – 145 Punch, K. (1998) Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Sage Publications: London Ritsert, J. (1972 Inhaltsanalyse und Ideologiekritik. Ein Versuch uber kritische Sozialforschung. Frankfurt: Athenaum Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag (as translated) Weber, R. (1980) Basic Content Analysis. (2ed) Sage Publications: London A Critical Essay evaluating a published piece of research from a research skills and methods point of view As the article contains a section identifying the methodology used in the article, this will form the basis of analysis. Through examination of the methodologies identified therein, the effective use of these techniques will be critiqued, as well as those present in the article, which have not been identified in the section. This paper will explore the methodology used in the article from a broad philosophical approach to the methodology, to factors of analysis, research methods, data collection and appropriateness of the sources used. Positivist Research Philosophy Positivism is a structured approach to interpretation of research and the use of this methodology aims to replicate or test theory. Use of this methodology sees the researcher making certain interpretations about the data that will be collected. These interpretations will be quantified and generalised using some form of statistical analysis (Carter New, 2004) and thus its application within the natural sciences to the study of a subject in a social reality. This approach is deductive in nature where the research develops a theory and then subjects it to testing in the form of measureable hypotheses (Feyerabend, 1981). This has clear application in the current article as the authors are looking to interpret the data collected to draw certain conclusions about the role of the media in intra-EU immigration. Against this research philosophy it is possible to then examine the different kinds of research methods undertaken. This research philosophy is not identified in the article itself, however it is clear that there is a positivist approach taken to the research as there is a strong representation of certain interpretations made on the basis of collected data. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Method From the outset it is clear that the paper makes use of both qualitative and quantitative research methodology. The article identifies the approach used in testing the hypothesis as linking media framing with normative political theory in a systematic way. This approach superficially indicates the inclusion of qualitative research due to the very nature of normative theory. Qualitative research centers around the idea that meaning is socially constructed by individuals based on their interactions with the world and that the world is not based on positivist or quantitative assumptions (Merriam, 2002; 32). Qualitative research suggests that instead, reality is based on multiple interpretations that change over time, and researchers concern themselves rather with understanding these interpretations at a particular time. This research in particular focuses on plurality of interpretations (Flick, 2009). If one understands normative theory as being prescriptive of how one ideally should o r ought to act, imposing a value judgment based on these interpretations (Over, 2004; 3), one can see the understanding of normative political theory as inherently qualitative in nature. By contrast, quantitative methods of research are those which concern data analysed in terms of numbers (Punch, 1998). It is conceivable therefore that normative political theory may be assisted by quantitative research methods, however essentially this requires a value judgment on what political theory ought to be, is essentially positions itself within qualitative research by its very definition, as a value judgment requires the consideration of factors that typically fall within the realm of qualitative research, such as context and evaluation.Arguably, the omission of this statement of methodology from the section in the article itself is justified through redundancy. That is to say, that to the extent that this is both understood as a methodology of normative theory application, as well as the assumptions made about this theory within the paper rather than a process of research or discovery as to what this theory is, perhaps the inclusion of this consideration in the methodology section is somewhat redundant and unnecessary. A mixed method of qualitative and quantitative research exists in this article further in the identification of content analysis as the primary method of analysis in the paper (Balabanova Balch, 2010; 386). Content analysis classified textual material by reducing it to manageable pieces of data by quantifying the occurrence of certain phrases or themes within a text (Weber, 1980). It is therefore clear that content analysis is quantitative to the extent that it attempts to quantify certain themes within the text itself. However, it is simultaneously qualitative in that it takes account of the context of text components, latent structures of sense, distinctiveness in individual cases and things that do not appear in the text itself (Ritsert, 1972). For this reason, the inclusion of qualitative content analysis in analyzing communication texts, such as the current case of media, these factors are important for including context in the process of analysis. This however is not the quali tative inclusion that is referred to by Balabanova and Balch (2010; 396), as the methodology section purports to include qualitative factors through qualitative reading of selected articles to identify the ethical position and the range of communitarian and cosmopolitan issues. Whilst it arguable that these factors are a necessary inclusion of qualitative factors in the research, this should not be the extent of this inclusion. This is a clear inclusion in the Balabanova and Balch (2010; 386) article if one considers the nature of sources analyzed as being media sources of a particular topic, particularly considering the ethical dimension thereof. There is a definitely inclusion of certain ethical judgments in the content analysis which is essential to the topic itself. To the extent therefore that the content analysis used in the paper is of mixed methodology, this is entirely appropriate given the multifaceted nature of the inquiry itself. By making use of the sources that take ac count of the context, particularly in the choice of sources, it is clear that there are features of qualitative content analysis present in the article. Frame Analysis A further method identified by the methodology section of the article is a framing analysis, which essentially works as a method of defining how an issue is problematised and the effect that this has on the broader discussion (Hope, 2010; 2). Framing, involves selection and highlighting of certain facets of events, making connections between them so that they promote a particular interpretation, evalua ­tion or solution (Entman, 2004). By framing an issue in a certain way the media organize and structure their presentation, in the process including and excluding ideas and argu ­ments to produce a coherent construction and understanding of the issue (Pan and Kosicki, 1993). Despite the inclusion of this methodology, it is questionable whether the authors have made use of this analysis method, as there is no evidence of a discussion involving the framing of the problem statement in a manner that is consistent with this methodology. This is a precise methodology involving various st eps of conceptualization from the primary framework, to the metaframes and finally, the issue frame leading to the problem statement. Essentially, this moves from a very broad general understanding of the issue and moves towards the very specific (Hope, 2010; 5). Whilst it is clear that Balabanova and Balch (2010; 383) have clearly stated their problem statement in the introductory paragraphs of the article, this is not however consistent with the steps of analysis used in a frame analysis. The introduction to the problem statement arguably is well reasoned from the onset, and there is no development or discovery of logic as the process enfolds. Therefore, it is fair to conclude that there is an adequate formation of the problem statement, however this is not done by a frame analysis which purports to form the foundation of the research itself. Data Collection It is arguable that the method of data collection used by Balabanova and Balch (2010) is a qualitative data collection method. This is so because generally empirical or first-hand research is undertaken in quantitative studies which involves the independent collection of data by the researcher, rather than analyzing data that is already available. To this extent, the authors have circumvented a number of logistical issues with regards to the ethics of empirical research. Generally speaking, empirical research must be accompanied by a statement of ethics to ensure that the appropriate ethical standards are adhered to when dealing with research participants. Qualitative data therefore is representative of language data or the experience of the participants of the study, whereas quantitative data is a collection of numbers and figures (Polkinghorne, 2005). Whilst, the article does make use of quantitative data in terms of the fact that it uses this data to form the basis of the analysis , it similarly makes use of qualitative data which can be described as an ‘account’ or ‘evidence’ of human experience (ibid). It stands to reason therefore, that if one considers the subject matter of the article, the findings are a reflection of an experience and otherwise described as evidence of a certain circumstance. To this extent, the quantitative figures are used as a supporting mechanism to add to the validity and reliability of these findings. Validity generally implies that the instrument must measure what it was intended to measure (Barbour, 2008). Therefore to the extent that this data collection method has been used to gather the appropriate evidence and therefore measure the topic of the article, it is a valid mechanism of doing so. The article however does not address the issue of data collection, although it is fairly evident that it is qualitative in nature considering that it was chosen from a specific demographic country, with specific interests in mind when collecting this data. There are certain superficial indicators of reliability in research relating to repetition or consistency in assertion. Golafshani (2003; 598) identifies three types of reliability referred to in research, which relate to, namely the degree to which a measurement, given repeatedly, remains the same, the stability of a measurement over time; and the similarity of measurements within a given time period. Arguably by the very nature of the means of analysis, namely content analysis, these results should prove to be reliable, as the subject of what this method measures is precisely the repeated incidence of specific themes and phrases within the data sampled. The reliability of the data therefore is reliant on the reliability of the tool of analysis in this case. It can be concluded that, despite the lack of discussion as to the reliability of the data, the nature of the test is one which is inherently reliability. This is mitigated further by the limited size of the population of the st udy itself. Sources Cases Generally speaking, it is not appropriate to rely solely on newspaper articles as the basis of academic findings, however for the purposes of the current research, particularly in that the article is based on the influence of the media on the perception of intra-EU migration. As a result therefore the use of these sources is appropriate. The reliability and validity of the research with regards to the sources is upheld in integrity, as there is the adequate inclusion of reputable academic sources, as well as the use of these newspaper sources which form the basis of the data analysis. Conclusion By and large the application of the outlined methodology in the article itself is successful. One could argue that the relevant theoretical considerations with regards to research methodology have been adequately addressed in the article given the length and depth of the subject matter. This however is not to say that the authors have not excluded the fundamental considerations of methodology that merit inclusion, such as more exploration of qualitative research methodology, which has been argued to contribute significantly to the outcomes of the study, yet are not sufficiently included. Despite this exclusion, the collection of data and the sources used to support the hypothesis of the article are sufficient and appropriate in the circumstance, considering that the topic at hand requires an inquiry into the opinions and role of the media in these circumstances. This is supported by a superficial, yet adequate methodological explanation that allows the reader a basic understanding of the methodology used in the paper. References Balabanova and Balch (2010) Sending and receiving: The ethical framing of intra-EU migration in the European press. European Journal of Communication, 25, pp. 382 – 408 Barbour, R.S (2008) Introducing Qualitative Research. Sage Publications: Los Angeles Carter, B and C. New (2004) Making Realism Work. Routledge: London Entman R (2004) Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and US Foreign Policy. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press Feyerabend, P.K. (1981) Realism, Rationalism and Scientific Method. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) Flick, U. (2009) An Introduction to Qualitative Research. (4ed) Sage Publications: London Golafshani, N. (2003) Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research. The Qualitative Report, 8(4), pp. 597 – 607 Hope, M. (2010) Frame Analysis as a Discourse-Method: Framing ‘climate change politics’. Paper delivered to the Post-Graduate Conference on Discourse Analysis March 2010,University of Bristol. Merriam, S. (2002) Qualitative Research in Practice. (1ed) John Wiley Sons: New York Over, D (2004) Rationality and the Normative/Descriptive Distinction in Koehler, D. Harvey, N. (eds) ‘Blackwell Handbook of Judgment and Decision Making’ Blackwell: New York Pan Z and Kosicki G (1993) Framing analysis: An approach to news discourse. Political Communication 10(1): 55–75. Polkinghorne, D. (2005) Language and Meaning: Data Collection in Qualitative Research. Journal of Counselling Pyschology, 52(2), pp 137 – 145 Punch, K. (1998) Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Sage Publications: London Ritsert, J. (1972 Inhaltsanalyse und Ideologiekritik. Ein Versuch uber kritische Sozialforschung. Frankfurt: Athenaum Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag (as translated) Weber, R. (1980) Basic Content Analysis. (2ed) Sage Publications: London

Paulson Statement on Regulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Paulson Statement on Regulation - Essay Example He reiterated his confidence in the strength and resiliency of the country's capital markets, and that the country would be able to work its way out of the situation. In his introduction, the Secretary remarked that the most pertinent priority of the government was to limit the actual effects of this crisis on the country's real economy. He advised that the key to keeping the country's economic state above water was to maintain liquid and stable financial markets, and that banks must put in their fair share by making credit readily available both to ordinary citizens and businesses. He added that there must be vigilant efforts introduced in order to dilute the destructive effects of the recent housing downturn on the economy. In addressing the importance of orderly financial markets, Paulson stated that the recent turmoil the capital markets have been facing were largely in part to the reduced access to short-term funding, which in turn caused widespread liquidity issues even with the biggest investment banks. As a result of these volatile conditions, Bear Sterns, the country's 5th largest investment house, found itself in bankruptcy. He justified the Federal Reserve's intervention leading to the JP Morgan buyout, stating that market stability was the primary concern of the government and the issue warranted prompt resolution. In light of the Bear Sterns fiasco, the Federal Reserve took a leap of faith by putting forth a temporary program which is meant to provide short-term liquidity to primary dealers. From a historical perspective, such bold moves by the country's central lending institution had not been propagated since the 1930's. While Paulson praised the Federal Reserve for its creativity in dealing with a potentially crippling situation, he chided that such drastic measures also have corresponding repercussions which need to be addressed. He argues that while commercials banks have traditionally had access to the Federal Reserve's liquidity facilities, these have been accompanied by strong regulation and supervision to avoid and potential pitfalls. Hence, the same measures should be enacted this time around if only for the sake of prudence. Paulson suggests that in opening the discount window temporarily to non-insured and non-depository institutions, tighter measures must be enacted in screening these institutions, which will enable them to make better informed lending decisions. In explaining the current mortgage crisis, he admits that its rapid free-fall has adversely affected both financial institutions and capital markets alike. Far from putting the blame on the inherently flawed sub-prime mortgage system, he argues that unsustainable home price appreciation in certain key areas was the primary driver behind the crisis. Also, once stability is restored to the housing sector, this will lead to a much more favorable situation for institutions involved with mortgage-backed securities. Paulson admits that with the current housing crisis, the availability of mortgage financing has been almost non-existent, due largely in part to the crippling liquidity problems that have beset lending institutions. He offers that in order for the housing and mortgage industry to get back on its feet, government-backed institutions such as Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac should be willing to