Friday, November 29, 2019

 What is the importance of this scene to the play Essay Example

  What is the importance of this scene to the play? Essay Shakespeares work was meant to be performed in the form of a play, although we so often read it as a literary text today. However years ago when it was written there were no special effects, props and lighting to tell the story, to create tension or to show the audience what kind of society Romeo and Juliet were growing up in. So Shakespeare had to use the characters speech and actions to do all this and to set the scene for the audience. In Act III, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, the character who Shakespeare uses the most to do this is Benvolio. The scene starts with two characters talking, Benvolio and Mercutio. Straightaway the audience can tell what types of people they are from their names, for example Benvolio means kind and gentle, whereas Mercutio suggests that he has an aggressive and explosive personality. It is likely that the audience would be expecting a conflict from Mercutio and for Benvolio to try and calm down this conflict and they are not disappointed. Benvolio is also used by Shakespeare as some sort of narrator, setting the scene and telling us what the atmosphere is like on the streets of Verona. A film may have had a shot of the sun or people struggling in the heat. Shakespeare could not do this as they were written as plays so he gets Benvolio to set the scene the day is hot. Later he tells the audience how much tension there is on the streets of Verona and how everybody is watching and waiting for trouble. here all eyes gaze on us. Shakespeare also gets Benvolio to say that he is worried that if the Capulets come that there will be a conflict and that they will not scape a brawl. By doing this the audience knows that there might be a fight and this raises their expectations of there being one. We will write a custom essay sample on   What is the importance of this scene to the play? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on   What is the importance of this scene to the play? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on   What is the importance of this scene to the play? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This initial conversation between Mercutio and Benvolio is used by Shakespeare to raise the tension. Mercutio teases Benvolio for being quick tempered and shows the audience that he has no respect for the way Benvolio acts, kind and gentle. It is clear to the audience that Mercutio would be up for a fight. The way he jokes about a fight in a tavern with swords gives us an impression of how violent the streets of Verona can be. This quite light opening to the scene is dramatically contrasted with the gruesome ending. The entrance of the Capulets is emphasised by Benvolios sudden shout, By my head, here come the Capulets. He would have said this in quite a shocked and scared way. This would make the audience worry and makes the scene more dramatic because it suggests that their arrival might be going to lead to some kind of violence. As Tybalt enters, Shakespeare makes use of the technique of a dramatic aside when he says to his friends Follow me close for I will speak to them. The audience hear this but Mercutio and Benvolio dont so it makes the audience again expect trouble. Tybalts change of tone to a friendly Gentlemen good den makes the audience wonder about his true motives and what will happen next. They already know from this aside that Tybalts friendly approach isnt really that friendly. Shakespeare then raises the tension even further because the supposedly friendly banter between Tybalt and Mercutio is delivered with real nastiness. The words are friendly but the tone is hostile. The over the top politeness borders on sarcasm and could be played that way by the actor who plays Tybalt. Even though Mercutios tone is quite comical and humorous, his words are layered with malice. Shakespeare tries to structure their argument so that it resembles a verbal swordfight, with attacks and counter attacks. By doing this he is building up the tension leading to the real swordfight. Their quick talking also helps to speed up the pace of the scene and makes it more exciting. Mercutio deliberately misunderstands Tybalts meaning of the word consort. Shakespeare uses this to show that there is no sympathy between them. They are edging towards a fight Tybalt: Mercutio, thou consortst with Romeo. Mercutio: Consort! What, dost thou make us minstrels? The audience would have been concentrating on the argument at this point to see what will come out of it, so when Benvolio interrupts, it is like he stops the action and makes the audience wonder what is going to happen next. It sets the scene for the arrival of Romeo and the tension rises again when he does. The person that Tybalt was hoping to meet has arrived. This is where Shakespeare uses a technique called dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is where the audience knows something that the characters on the stage dont. The audience already know that Romeo has married Juliet in secret so they will be anxious to see what will happen next. They also know that the ending is not a happy one so they know that what does happen next is going to be one of the most important parts of the play. Romeos speech patterns are not as sudden or nearly as violent as Mercutios and Tybalts. He takes his time to say what he wants to say and in the end doesnt say it all. Shakeseare makes it a lot longer than it needs to be when all the audience want to see is Romeo telling Tybalt he has married Juliet his cousin. In the end Mercutio suddenly loses his temper and begins a serious verbal attack on Tybalt, referring back to the previous conversation that him and Tybalt were having about his fighting skills and says, alla stoccata carries it away. It shows that after all is said and done the favourite way to settle an argument in Verona is to have a fight. Shakespeare lightens the atmosphere by using humour in the scene, which makes it more varied and entertaining for the audience. He keeps Mercutio true to his character when he gets him to joke about during the swordfight and when he is dying. He calls Tybalt ,Good King of cats making fun of his name. He makes a pun about himself being, a grave man tomorrow, meaning that he will be dead as well as serious. The way that Mercutio dies is very important to the way the play develops. Romeo tries to play the peacemaker and get between Tybalt and Mercutio but all he does is stop his friend from defending himself which allows Tybalt to stab him. The nastiness of the situation is shown when Mercutio blames Romeo and curses both the Montagues and the Capulets. He says, A plague o both your houses It also shows that whatever Romeo tries to do he cant cheat his fate. This is a pivotal point in the whole play. From being a peacemaker and a lover Romeo turns into a killer. Romeo totally changes after Mercutios death and becomes like the others in Verona and follows the code of revenge. Shakespeare also gets Romeo to speak differently. When he was trying to play the peacemaker he was calm in the way he talked. Now Shakespeare uses the technique of assonance and repetition to show Romeos anger and determination and to wind up the tension. Alive,in triumph! And Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective levity And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now! After Romeo kills Tybalt he realises what he has done in a fit of temper. He says, I am fortunes fool. There is more dramatic irony here as the audience already know that Romeo and Juliet are going to die and that they are star-crossed lovers. Shakespeare again keeps the audience on tenterhooks though by getting the Prince to banish him rather than to ask for his execution. It is ironic that it is Benvolio the peacemaker who is arrested after the deaths of Tybalt and Mercutio but Shakespeare needs somebody to report to the Prince what happened and so he carries on in his role as narrator. The reactions of the Montagues and Capulets show how they still hate each other despite everything and are looking for more blood. Lady Capulet vows for revenge and demands it. Romeo slew Tybalt. Romeo must not live. As the scene ends tension is lower but there is an air of foreboding and the audience knows that things can only get worse, they just dont know exactly how. I think that Act III, Scene 1 is important and is the most pivotal point of the play. Everything before builds up to it and everything afterwards is a result of it. When Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo goes crazy and seeks revenge on him because he killed someone he deeply loved. Romeo cant control his anger and so contributes to his own unhappiness despite himself. The murder of Tybalt would have come as a shock to the audience as Romeos character goes from lover to hater. It also shocks the audience because before the murder he refused to fight Tybalt when he was insulting him. It shows us that in the end, Romeo has the potential to be just as hot headed as Mercutio. Another apparent change in this scene is the atmosphere which becomes tenser as the characters are behaving differently and out of control. Act III, Scene 1 is definitely the most pivotal point of the play, because this is the twist in the story. After this everything changes. The Prince banishes Romeo which eventually leads to the final tragedy. This scene is a turning point which can be felt in the mood, the way the characters behave and what happens as a result. It is where happiness and comedy turn to tragedy.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Book Outline How to Outline a Novel with 11 Steps for Success [Video]

Book Outline How to Outline a Novel with 11 Steps for Success [Video] Book Outline: How to Outline a Novel with 11 Steps for Success Outlining. That word may conjure images of 7th Grade English, scribbling at your desk in frustration while a stern teacher looks over your shoulder as you try to learn how to outline.A book outline can be almost as intimidating as that teachers blatant glare.Many of us learned how to outline in middle school, and it’s a skill we haven’t revisited since our braces came off and the acne faded away. But have no fear! You’re a grown-up now, and this project isn’t being graded, which means learning how to outline a book can (and will!) be pain-free, especially with the right help.Here are the different book outlining methods well cover in this post:Use a mind map book outlineSimple book outlineChapter-by-chapter outlineSketched book outlineOutline with ScrivenerBasic outlinePost-it note outline methodThe snowflake methodThe skeletal outlineNovel outline templateThe reverse outlineYou have free reign to structure your story outline to benefit your writing proces s- whether that’s a spaghetti-on-the-wall approach or a color-coded Excel spreadsheet.Us at Self-Publishing School? We love this tried-and-true Mindmap to Outline procedure. Book Outlining The Whole Process All in OneWe understand you.Your life is busy and sometimes you want all the (book-related) goods in one place. We heard you and we listened!Chandler Bolt created this all-in-one exclusive training for serious soon-to-be-authors. If you want to learn how to outline and everything else about the book writing process,make sure to sign upto save your spot!Because if you want to learn how to outline, you may as well get as much information as you can right away. Trust us, itll make your writing process that much easier.What if you could outline your book in just 24 hours?Join hundreds of other like-minded writers in a challenge that will give you all the tools, information and motivation you need to finish your outline!Click the button below to learn more about how Well basi cally hold your hand while you outline your book! (if we can do it, you can too!).Join the 24 Hour Book Outline ChallengeWhat is a Book Outline?A book outline is a roadmap or blueprint for your story. It tells you where you need to go and when in chronilogical order.Its easy to see this term and wonder exactly what that means. Is it a bullet list of topics for your book? Is it a chapter by chapter overview written in paragraphs?No matter how you write an outline, the purpose is the same.Think of it as a GPS of sorts but instead of giving you driving directions, your outline will give youwriting directions.Why Should IWrite a Book Outline?No matter which type of book outline you choose, planning before you write has many benefits. Its not just about getting your thoughts on the paper, either. Its about so much more than the actual writing. Outlines can do a number of things for you:help you define your goalsfinish your manuscript quickerstay focusedavoid plot holescreate a cohesive p lansee your story from start to finishhelp you stay motivatedensure you can focus on thequality of your writing instead of what to writeYou don’t need to spend huge amounts of time learning how to outline a book, but some (mostly painless!) prep before writing will be time well-spent since you won’t be spinning your wheels by staring at the blank screen of death.When you start with a plan, you’ll unconsciously make connections and think about your draft, even when you’re not actively writing. Mentally writing in the shower is one of the perks of outlining, because it will get your thoughts percolating. Be sure to keep paper and pens scattered about so you can capture your brilliance the minute it bubbles up, rather than letting all those ideas fade away.Once you have a plan to write your book in outline form, you’ll be better able to put these thoughts to paper and compose your chapters when you do sit down to write. This means a finished book in l ess time!And I have some good news: there’s no â€Å"right† way to outline. Each writer will have their own process that’s personal to them. Keep reading for tips on how to outline different ways. If one of these exact methods doesn’t strike a chord with you, you can combine methods to create your own way that works best for your unique book.Are you writing a fiction or non-fiction book? Depending on which youre working on, the outlining process may look be different.Thankfully, there are plenty of relevant tips you can apply in the section about outlining a non-fiction book. Likewise, even if you’re writing non-fiction, the section on how to write a fiction outline can help spark some ideas for your process, so we recommend authors of all types of books read the full list.NOTE: We go in-depth with everything covered in this blog post along with the writing, marketing, and self-publishing process in our VIP Self-Publishing Program.Click here to lea rn moreHow to Write a Nonfiction Book OutlineMost non-fiction authors find outlines useful due to the nature of their books. Generally, works of non-fiction require research and citation of sources (although many novels require their own research!).An outline can help organize your research so it doesn’t overwhelm you, plus your outline will help you create the best structure for your finished book. These are some of the beneficial methods we recommend for you.#1 Mindmap + Book OutlineThis is the main method of outlining that we teach in Self-Publishing School. The mindmap method requires you to create a brain dump based on your book’s topic. Write your topic in the center of a piece of paper, then use lines and words to draw as many connections as you can. It doesn’t need to make perfect sense from the get-go- the goal is free-form thinking to get all of your ideas out of your head and onto the page.You’ll start to notice connections between different c ategories of information. This makes it easier to spot the relevant â€Å"book-worthy† ideas. Then you can pluck those ideas out of your mindmap and put them into a cohesive book outline. We also recommend doing a mindmap for each chapter you select from your original mindmap. It will help you structure your entire book chapter by chapter. Fun, and so easy- we told you this would be (mostly) painless!At Self-Publishing School, we encourage students to make a mess with their mindmap.Regardless of what your mind map looks like in the end, it is an essential element to your book writing process.This mind map will be the jumping off point for you to begin your outline. In this brief video, Chandler explains how to turn your mindmap into an outline: #2 Simple Book OutlineA simple book outline is just as it sounds; keep it basic and brief. Start with the title. Don’t get too hung up on the perfect title at this stage of the process; you just want to come up with a good-for- now placeholder.You can always change the title later- in fact, you probably will- but starting with some kind of title gives you a better idea of where you want your book to go.Plus, outlining your book this way jump-starts the creative process.Next, you’ll list all of the key points that cover your book’s overall theme and message. You’ll use these key points to generate your notes. Later, you’ll flesh out these notes to draft your book chapters.#3 Chapter-by-Chapter Book OutlineYour chapter-by-chapterbook outline is a pumped-up version of the simple book outline.To get started, first create a complete chapter list. With each chapter listed as a heading, you’ll later add material or shift chapters around as the draft evolves.Create a working title for each chapter, and list them in a logical order. After that, you’ll fill in the key points of each chapter.Finally, you’ll link your resources as they would appear in each chapter, inc luding books, interviews, and Web links.Heres a great example of a chapter-by-chapter nonfiction book outline completed with bullet lists:#4 Sketch Your Book OutlinePerhaps you find the idea of a written outline confining. That’s OK - there’s another option which might appeal to your artistic side.Dan Roam, author of The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures, wrote about how sketching your ideas can simplify complex thoughts.To create this type of book outline, hand-draw your book concept in sequential order.This may be as simple or as elaborate as you desire. Feel free to use a Bic pen and a spiral notebook, or take it to the next level with a color medium on canvas-sized paper.The great thing about drawing your book is that you can later use the images as promotional and marketing material!#5 Book Outline With ScrivenerIf you like being uber-organized, then the writing software Scrivener might appeal to you. Their book outline progra m allows you to upload your research, organize it by moving it around, and filing it into folders.Like many writing software programs, it does have a fairly extensive learning curve, which can be a major downside- especially if you tend to procrastinate and really want to get your book published quickly.However, some writers say it revolutionized their organizational process for longer works.You can learn more about the program and its uses hereor check out this tutorial for an overview. How to Outline a Novel in 6 WaysWhile you can incorporate the book outlining tips we shared in the non-fiction section above, creating an outline for your novel will be inherently different from creating a non-fiction outline.Your novel outline will require a few different elements like: character developmentcharacter arcsthe evolution of plot pointsthe first slapthe second slapthe breaking pointthe climaxresolution of conflictWhile the methods may be different, the goal is the same- organization an d pre-planning so that you can write a great, cohesive book much faster.#1 Basic DocumentYour goal with the Basic Document format is to use a Word or Excel table to give structure to your theme. Create a table and organize and summarize your key points and plot.You’ll then create a separate section for characters and themes, and an additional section with relevant research.#2 Post-It WallThis is for the creative mind, and another method we teach in Self-Publishing School. All you need is a blank wall and a box of Post-It notes. Carry a pad of Post-Its with you wherever you go, and doodle your book on the fly.Write your ideas and inspiration on your Post-Its when the mood strikes you.Next, affix the Post-Its containing words, snippets, doodles, and phrases to the wall. After a week of this exercise, organize these words into novel outline form. Voila- simple, effective, creative!#3 The Snowflake MethodThe Snowflake Method was created by fiction writing coach Randy Ingermans on based on the notion,â€Å"Good fiction doesn’t just happen. It’s designed.†The process of the snowflake method focuses on starting small, then expanding. For example, you’d start with one line from your book, then add a paragraph, then add a chapter.Since the snowflake method is fairly detailed and based on scientific theory, Randy’s article is worth a read so you can review the detailed steps involved in this outlining method.#4 The Skeletal OutlineIf you’ve ever written a term paper or thesis, then you’re probably familiar with the skeletal outline. You’ll lay out your narrative points in the order they’ll appear in your story, which involves a broad 7-step story arch.This gives you a big picture idea of the flow of your story, so you can adjust your story and add subplots for maximum impact.#5 Novel Outline TemplateWhy reinvent the wheel? If you’re impatient to jump right into the fun part- writing!- or yo u aren’t sure exactly how to format your novel outline, then a pre-formatted template outline might be your saving grace.A fill-in-the-blank novel outline can help you develop your plot, characters, and ideas without getting bogged down with the notion of striving for â€Å"proper† outline form.#6 The Reverse OutlineSometimes looking at the problem from a different angle can give you the answer to the question. The same applies to outlining.Reverse outlining is exactly what it sounds like: Write down how your novel ends. Then once you know the ending, outline backwardto get to that happy (Or sad? You’re the author!) ending.This method often helps if you want to plant seeds and have a lot of shocking foreshadowing moments.Authors like George R.R. Martin have to use these methods in order to make sure the plot lines up.For more ideas and creatives ways to jump-start your novel outline, check out How to Write a Novel Outline.Here’s the takeaway: No matter w hich option you choose, ultimately, you’ll write faster and better with a book outline. If one way doesnt work well for you, then experiment and try another. Remember, your goal is a finished manuscript, not the gold medal for â€Å"Most Perfect Book Outline.†Discover what works best for you and you’ll be one step closer to a finished book.Ready to become a published author?Make sure to take advantage of this free training. It will take you through everything you need to go from blank page to published author in as little as 90 days! Youll have your outline started before your training is even finished.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

WK 2 PS240 Evolutionary Psychology Research Paper

WK 2 PS240 Evolutionary Psychology - Research Paper Example unique from the next culture, yet many traits and behaviors are still present in all of them, which leads evolutionary psychologists to believe that these traits and behaviors simply evolve throughout all humans over the course of time. Natural selection is one of the most touched upon subjects in evolutionary psychology as it contains the most evidence that human instinct is indeed evolutionary; natural selection is also a vital component to evolution. Natural selection refers to the non-random, progressive â€Å"process by which biological traits become either more or less general in a population as a function of differential reproduction (Buss, 2003).† The prevalence - or gradual disappearance - of specific traits over time reveals how humans either increase their dependency for a trait or decrease their dependency based on their environment. When human beings alter their behavior and actions to help them survive, those changes gradually become more regular in a population over successive generations. An example of natural selection as it relates to evolutionary psychology is the human body’s adaptive response of fear. An evolutionary behavior is defensive responses when human beings are subjected to various types of fear-inducing incidences. During environmental extremes, such as dangerous weather, the fear that is felt by humans allows them to behave protectively and to seek shelter. The fear that arises when an individual is faced with a loss of territory or material resources keeps the individual on guard for further threats, as well as prompts them to monitor and protect what remaining resources that they have. These behavioral traits, as a result of evolution and natural selection, have been hereditarily passed down from generation to generation because they have proven to be useful to the survival of human

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The application paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The application - Term Paper Example Initially, extremely excited and optimistic, Jason was momentarily awfully despondent. He could not remember the last time he had encountered such a communication crisis in a company, and was at a loss on how to even initiate solving this mess of a situation. Equipped with more than fifteen years of experience as an international crisis communications consultant, and having a doctorate of philosophy in communication, he always prided himself on dealing with the intra-company issues swiftly and proficiently. Maybe it was the semantic noise (2) in the form of confusing vocabulary and mixed phrases used by the lower staff, or the inflexibility of the thought process (3) of the higher managements in the form of tunnel vision, Jason was hitting hard walls wherever he goes. When Jason’s company was approached by the Targeta Inc., a retail giant in States, they thought that it will be just like any other acquisition case. Targeta had recently acquired a small Quebec based clothing co mpany Simmona Inc., and was having problems with synergizing cultures, and internal and external communications. Jason further deduced that Targeta was probably going through an information management crisis (4) in the new market, and needed an advisor to figure out ways to ingratiate in the local market. Simmona, an almost two hundred years old company, operated seven big stores in the province of Quebec, Canada. Their main suppliers were local emerging and already established French designers; not even a single product in the stores was imported from outside of the Quebec. Their biggest location was within the Montreal downtown, with a huge store on the ground floor, and headquarters on the upper levels. The local French Quebecois community had a huge symbolic interaction (5) with these stores, and considered them as a part of their heritage. The firm’s logo was a maple leaf, which is also the national Canadian symbol. At each store, Simmona employed a manager, an assistant manager, and twenty other staff people. Along with these 154 people, forty five more people worked at the head office, which included the CEO John Simmona, and ten other senior officials. Post acquisition, all of the senior management at the head office was changed, most of them appointed from within States. However, Targeta decided to keep all the store officials, including the store managers, and assistant managers. Ever since the new management took over, the profits have sharply declined, thus resulting in James arrival to sort out the problems and present a plan of action (6). To begin with, Jason immediately went on to conduct written surveys, and verbal interviews of the store employees. His surveys mostly consisted of binary questions (7), with yes/no answers, and were regarding interactions with previous owners, views about the new management, and other related issues. Along with this, he also questioned local friends and other acquaintances, to get to know what general po pulation thought about this acquisition. He also went to the neighborhood library and read all the available six month old newspapers, focusing mostly on the business sections. He wanted to get as much information as possible regarding events surrounding this acquirement. He did realize that before this acquisition, there was a mystification (8) attached to these stores. Simmona family,

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Contemporary Practice Of Political Spin Essay

The Contemporary Practice Of Political Spin - Essay Example The United States of America is the world’s most prominent democracy, and though never openly calling itself secular, it has been overt in proving its colorblindness in the matter of religion. But without doubt, Americans are probably more devoutly religious then any other people of the West. This devoutness has been the target of the Republican party of the United States ever since George W. Bush won the election in the year 2000. The stance taken by the present government in the issue of gay marriages and the status of immigrants in the United States provides ample proof of the importance of ambiguity and ‘spin’ in U.S political rhetoric. The Republican Party cannot openly show its opposition to the proposition of same-sex marriages, considering the position that gay people have managed to win in society. Neither can the US government openly state that it considers closing the borders of the country a viable option for ensuring home security, considering that a giant portion of the American workforce comprises of immigrants living and working illegally. Thus in both cases the government has cultivated the backing of the Christian right by using religious terminology and hyperbole.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

How Google is Changing Your Brain Article Analysis

How Google is Changing Your Brain Article Analysis When in doubt ask your all-knowing friend google. The authors Daniel M. Wegner and Adrian F. Ward who wrote How Google is Changing Your Brain published in 2013 in the Scientific American. Wegner and Ward argue that instead of relying on the diversity of our friends knowledge, people tend to ask google first. The article begins building credibility with convincing facts and examples; however, toward the end of the article, the sudden flip to how google is good weakens their credibility and ultimately, the article. In the article, the authors first set the stage by describing a birthday party scenario and how each person knows intuitively what to do. While one may remember the time and place of the party, the other may take note of the dress code.   The article then outlines that when presented with new information, people distribute remembering certain facts among their social group. When someone does not remember the right name or how to fix a broken machine they simply turn to someone who knows. The authors provide a few more examples to instill the idea of not only do people know the information stored within their minds; but, also the information of members of their social group. Throughout the entirety of the article, the authors use many strong examples and experiments that strengthens their claim, credibility and appeal to ethos. Mentioning the experiments boosts Wegner and Wards credibility showing that they have done their homework while providing statistics and facts. They also use their own experiments to support their claim which show they have first-hand experience with the subject. Adding to Wegner and Wards ethos appeals, they also have strong appeals to logos, with many facts and logical progressions of ideas. They point out facts, that show people are relying on computers to remember information, instead of the diverse information their friends may possess: We found that those who believed the computer had saved the list of facts were much worse at remembering. People seemed to treat the computer like transactive memory partners off-loading information to this cloud mind rather than storing it internally. These facts support the idea that people are beginning to rely on the internet and computers, instead of themselves and friends. Wegner and Ward continue with many more supporting ideas: it seems that the propensity for off-loading information to digital sources is so strong that people are often unable to fix details in their own thoughts when in the presence of a cyberbuddy. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ As we off-load responsibility for many types of information to the Internet, we may be replacing other potential transactive memory partners friends, family members and other human experts with our ever present connection to a seemingly omniscient digital cloud. These are a few of the many ideas, that support the authors claim that this is a real and substantial problem that humans are relying less on each other, and more on the internet. The convincing statements appeal to logos and presses upon the reader that this is a topic worth discussing. However, the end of the article lacks the same effectiveness of the paragraphs before it. For example, Wegner and Ward notes that the internet is up to date, not subject to the distortion that afflicts human memory, and quicker than calling a friend hoping they have the information you seek. This damages the strength of their credibility and their argument. Additionally, the authors last statement in the article, refers to the internet in a way that weakens the articles purpose. While returning to the introduction in the conclusion is a  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   frequently used strategy, they chose to abandon if not to totally disregard their beginning statement. Wegner and Ward states that humans are being freed from the necessity of remembering facts. The sudden dependence and off-loading of information to the internet is a movement that people should embrace. Though the article begins by effectively persuading to the readers the importance of the diversity of information their friends possess Wegner and Ward loses power in the end, where they need to drive home their argument. Readers can see a problem exists throughout the article; however, the sudden shift to downplay the problem, makes the reader not take it seriously in the end. Wegner, Daniel M., and Adrian F. Ward. How Google Is Changing Your Brain. Scientific American 309.6 (2013): 58-61. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Volunteering for a Food Drive Essay -- Contribution to My Community Ser

Volunteering for a Food Drive "I'm hungry. Let's get something to eat before we go." It was around ten o'clock on a Saturday morning. Normally my parents might find me in bed or playing on the computer at this time, but I was dressed and grasping the doorknob in our kitchen on this particular morning. I felt a slight wave of hunger flow through my body, so I suggested to my mother that we have a light mid-morning snack to tide us over before lunch. I searched through a cupboard and found some crackers to take with us. It was going to be a hard day, and although I knew the people at the church would probably bring snacks and refreshments for us, I wanted to be sure that I had a full stomach on which to work. I wouldn't realize the true meaning of hunger, however, until my day of work on the postal workers' food drive was done. My mother helped out at various times throughout the year at volunteer events in the community. When I was born, she passed a few of her traits to me, and I, too, became interested in volunteering. I spent a day each summer going down to my grandmother's church and helping out with a summer fair by selling items and collecting money for the church. As Mom started to talk about the postal worker's food drive for the local food cupboard, I was anxious to help out in my own community. The idea fascinated me, helping out my neighbors by collecting and dispersing food to where it was needed. I knew I'd feel just like Robin Hood†¦taking from the rich and giving to the poor. In this case, though, all of the process was voluntary. My impression of hunger and starvation was limited in the past to the memorable television commercials for UNICEF and the children's funds around the world. I never realized that hunger might occur closer to home. I certainly never thought that anyone within my neighborhood or my town would be hungry. Mom drove us to where the food cupboard was located, at the Congregational church. As I entered in to the large meeting room downstairs at the church, I was met by around eight smiling residents of our town. A few of them were older ladies; a couple of them were middle-aged men. I would come to know them better as my visit elapsed at the church. I was unsure and a bit nervous at first. I hadn't visited the church since my elementary grades during which I participated in a weeklong summer Bible school. I... ...t to help out my neighbors. But a part of me still housed despair. Most of this food would be used by the next food drive in about six months. I could only compare it to when I was a child, seeing an ambulance rush by my house; I wasn't sure whether to think that someone was hurt or that someone was helping. Now I wasn't sure if I should think of the suffering person or the people who helped by donating food. My hope was that the people needing help would find it partially because of my assistance. But I knew there would be some that, for some reason or another, declined to have the assistance. They were still suffering. By the end of the day, my view of hunger had completely changed. After my help, I sometimes wondered about the people who really needed food whenever I was grabbing a bite to eat. I sometimes worried about the people who were too afraid or too proud to seek help. And I sometimes thought about the time when I was the driver of the ambulance. From then on, I searched through the cupboards to find extra cans that we could donate during the food drives. And when it was ten in the morning and I needed something to eat, I reconsidered how hungry I really felt.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Privacy by default

The word ‘pervasive' is indicative of the intrusive nature of TIT, as can be evidenced by two of its features, namely data collected would come from various origins, and that it would be done without the user's awareness. The paper highlights five objectives to be achieved for TIT to avoid being misused and end up harming the users. The right of deletion, the right to be forgotten, data portability, privacy, and data protection principles must not be compromised or neglected. The following examples below list just three common ways that these five objectives were not met in many internet applications.Firstly, one such risk is that a user's personal information might not be directly known, but it could be revealed through lots data collection from different sources or even uncover new information, thus violating the users privacy. A person who does not wish to be recognized online can therefore be identified through such means. Secondly, the paper details that many applications only consider the installation of â€Å"information security, privacy and data protection† only as an afterthought, rather than in the beginning, at the drawing board.This compromises the application's security and the users privacy substantially, as he capabilities of these measures would be reduced. Thirdly, with the advent of cloud computing and social networking services, the likelihood of users becoming â€Å"locked-in† to a particular TIT service provider increases because it becomes more difficult to import and export their information to other service providers. The lack of data portability here also means that users do not have control over their own data. The paper mentions that there are t-von. O general principles that should be followed in the policy making of TIT. Firstly, the TIT should not â€Å"violate human identity, human integrity, human rights, privacy or individual or public berries†. Secondly, individuals should have control of all their p ersonal information created or processed within the TIT, unless such an action violates the first principle. With regards to this, the paper illustrated four methods to reaching the objectives: 1 . Privacy, data protection and information security risk management 2. Privacy by design and Privacy by default 3.Data protection legislation: harmonistic/coherent application/enhanced enforcement 4. Standardization Each of the above four options address various challenges related to TIT. The first option is not simply a technology-focused idea, as the paper states that it loud also be important to look into other measures, such as legal, regulatory, procedural and organizational. The main idea of this option is to avoid leaving said protection measures till the end of the development process as an afterthought, but to be included at the planning stage, with an adherence to best practices to avoid or reduce common risks.The second option operates on the basis that while the technology might not be the factor that puts privacy and security at risk, but the way that it is created and implemented. It claims that applications should not collect data necessary to its functions, and that users should be made aware of what information would be gathered from them as well as what said information would be used for. Users should also be informed on how to exercise their rights, and the applications should adhere to data protection principles.The flashlight application example mentioned before was in clear violation of this, and this real life example further enforces the need for an option such as this. From the technical standpoint, the paper states that personal data protection should be defined, such as in-built privacy options and mechanisms to inform ND educate users on data processing, although the challenge would be to do such things while operating within limited processing power and/or memory of the applications.The third option focuses on the legal aspect of data prot ection, such as strengthening, clarifying and harmonize the powers of data protection authorities in order to make sure that all legislations are enforced, and not just pick and choose specific laws to be followed. The paper also states that violations should be sanctioned significantly to deter people from making applications that would neglect such issues. This is to ensure transparency of applications and for users to have control over their own data.The â€Å"concept of indirectly identifiable data† also has to be improved and elucidated to avoid uncertainty in legislations. The last option, standardization, allows ease of conformity with legal requirements and certification due to the clarity provided from it, thus being cap bled of educating users on how to exercise their rights and allowing them to make informed choices. One weakness with standardization is that â€Å"standards are voluntary and non-binding†, and thus it might not be very effective. It would req uire measures which are more binding.The impact of these options is the building of trust between consumers and the applications. Trust is important in this online environment because without trust, consumers are less likely to buy and use new applications, thus slowing progress of the invention of new technologies, economic growth, and cause the public sector to take longer to benefit from digitizing its services. The paper concludes that having a binding law with more data protection enforcement is the best option to achieve the goals for TIT to ensure that the applications are trustworthy and compliant with user rights.

Friday, November 8, 2019

An Interesting Coming of Age Ritual in Germany

An Interesting Coming of Age Ritual in Germany This weekend my soon to be 14-year-old son took part in a ceremony that I had known only from my knowledge about the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the Jugendfeier also known as Jugendweihe.   A quick history of this coming of age ritual It marks the coming of age of the participants with a memorable celebration and it thought as an alternative to religious initiations like the Kommunion and Firmung (Catholic Church) or Konfirmation (Protestant Church) where children declare that they choose to be self-declared members of these churches. While the concept is from 1852, the Jugendweihe was adopted in 1954 by the socialist GDR and turned into a ritual where the young had to make an oath (scroll to the end of this article to find the oath with translation into English) in favor of the socialist state. The Jugendfeier nowadays does not require the participants to make any vow or swear an oath. The only tradition that has survived the GDR is that they all get a rose and a book with thought provoking texts about becoming an adult.  You can read a bit more about this event that still is popular among former inhabitants of the GDR or their descendants here on Wikipedia. From a fathers experience We took part in this event due to the fact that my son Simon goes to a school in the Eastern part of Berlin with many parents that still seem to feel some (N)Ostalgy  and brought this topic up in class. As 20 out of 28 classmates of Simon wanted to participate in it, we didn’t want him to stand out and asked him whether he’d like to participate or not. At that age it is important for him to be part of the group and so he decided for it.   As I was born in Western Germany and had gone through a rather Catholic education and initiation I didn’t have any idea what to expect but neither had I any rejection of that idea nor was I much excited about it. I took Simon to parachute jumping last year which we inofficially declared to mark his transition into an adolescent. His mother, originating from Poland, another formerly socialist country, didn’t really know the Jugendweihe either but we were on the same track regarding our participation. Its seems still pretty popular The fact that we had to register for the event in 2013, almost 18 months ahead of time, shows how popular it still is. There were also several seminars planned that would cover certain topics of adolescence and start a thought process in the children about who they wanted to be and become. Many of those seminars where also thought to be lead or at least organized by the parents. But this task seemed to be more difficult than many had hoped. In those months until the Jugendweihe, Simon took part probably in two events and I didn’t really get the impression that he took much from it. In socialist times, those preparations would have been organized by the state and would have included quite some propaganda.   Its not the ritual, its what you make of it I’m not blaming others. I understand that our lack of deeper interest and conviction in the sense of such an initiation also had a huge influence on everything. Another parent with more enthusiasm would have described this experience probably quite differently.   When the great day came, we were invited with approximately 2000 other people to meet at the Friedrichstadtpalast, a revue theater in the evening. There the Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands (HVD, Humanistic Organisation of Germany) had organized quite a show with professional dancers and singers and has managed to get some popular entertainers like e.g. Joko Winterscheidt or actress Anna Loos to leave a few encouraging words to the children. My interim conclusion Parts of it I personally found a bit over the top and it all was a bit surprising as neither of us really knew what to expect of that day. On the other hand it was mainly entertaining and short enough to enjoy it and the message for the young participants was to trust in themselves, to question authority and to understand that with growing up they will be confronted with new rights and obligations in their life. I can’t really object to that, can you? The rest of the day As everything started at 8.30h on Saturday morning, we were home by noon and both families (my son’s mother remarried a while ago and has two little adorable daughters today) had a nice brunch   in a cafà © next door and then just enjoyed the rest of the day with my half of the family. A unique experience I am very thankful to have been able to witness this event. In a way it was inpiring, though I would have also enjoyed a more humble approach to it all. Coming of age is a challenge for all members of the family and I would have integrated the parents and siblings way more into the preparation. But as I don’t expect others to take care of my responsibilities, my overall experience was a positive one. I hope you enjoyed this little insight into the German culture and I would like to know what you do in your culture to mark the coming of age of your children. If you are religious: do you consider the existing religious rituals to also cover the coming of age or is it rather focussing on being a more responsible member of your church/religion? Das à ¶ffentliche Gelà ¶bnis   The public oath of the GDR Jugendweihe (not in use nowadays) (as found first on this page  which also contains many more information on the topic of GDR but unfortunately only in German language.)  My translation is at times very literally so that you can also learn something about the German sentence structure and grammar here. Where a literal translation would be difficult or impossible to understand, I have put a more comprehensible version into parenthesis. Liebe junge Freunde!Dear young friends. Seid ihr bereit, als junge Bà ¼rger unserer Deutschen Demokratischen Republikare you ready as young citizens of-our German Democratic Republic mit uns gemeinsam, getreu der Verfassung,  with us together, according the constitution fà ¼r die große und edle Sache des Sozialismus zu arbeiten und zu kmpfenfor the big(ger) and noble cause of-the Socialism to work and to fight und das revolutionre Erbe des Volkes in Ehren zu halten, so antwortet:  and (to keep) the revolutionary heritage of-the Nation in honor to keep, so answer: Ja, das geloben wir!Yes, this-is-what we pledge! Seid ihr bereit, als treue Sà ¶hne und Tà ¶chter  Are you prepared, as faithful sons and daughters unseres Arbeiter-und-Bauern-Staates nach hoher Bildungof-our workers- and peasant nation (to strive) for higher education und Kultur zu streben, Meister eures Fachs zu werden,  and culture (to strive), (to become) Master of-your (professional) discipline, unentwegt zu lernen und all euer Wissen und Kà ¶nnen fà ¼r die Verwirklichung  incessantly to learn and all (to utilise) your knowledge and skill for the realization   unserer großen humanistischen Ideale einzusetzen, so antwortet:  of-our grand humanistic ideals (to utilise), so answer: Ja, das geloben wir!Yes, this-is-what we pledge! Seid ihr bereit, als wà ¼rdige Mitglieder der sozialistischen Gemeinschaft  Are you ready, as worthy members of-the socialist community stets in kameradschaftlicher Zusammenarbeit, gegenseitiger Achtung  always (act) in companionate cooperation, mutual respect und Hilfe zu handeln und euren Weg zum persà ¶nlichen Glà ¼ckand help (to act) and (to always unite) your path to personal fulfillment immer mit dem Kampf fà ¼r das Glà ¼ck des Volkes zu vereinen, so antwortet:  (always) with the struggle for happiness of the nation (lit.: the people), so answer: Ja, das geloben wir!Yes, this-is-what we pledge! Seid ihr bereit, als wahre Patrioten die feste Freundschaft mit der Sowjetunion  Are you prepared as true patriots, the steadfast friendship with the Sovjet Union weiter zu vertiefen, den Bruderbund mit den sozialistischen Lndern zu strken,  further to deepen, the brotherly association with the socialist countries to strengthen, im Geiste des proletarischen Internationalismus zu kmpfen,  in-the spirit of-the proletarian internationalism to fight, den Frieden zu schà ¼tzen und den Sozialismus gegen jeden imperialistischen Angriffthe peace to protect and the socialism against every imperialistic attack zu verteidigen, so antwortet:  to defend, so answer: Ja, das geloben wir!Yes, this-is-what we pledge! Wir haben euer Gelà ¶bnis vernommen.  We have heard (lit.: perceived) your pledge. Ihr habt euch ein hohes und edles Ziel gesetzt.  You have (set) yourselves a high and noble goal (set). Feierlich nehmen wir euch auf in die große Gemeinschaft  Solemnly take we you in, into the grand collective des werkttigen Volkes, das unter Fà ¼hrung der Arbeiterklasse  of-the working nation, that under the leadership of the working class und ihrer revolutionren Partei, einig im Willen und im Handeln,  and her revolutionary party, united in will (intention) and acting die entwickelte sozialistische Gesellschaft  (errects) the developed socialist community in der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik errichtet.in the German Democratic Republic (errects). Wir à ¼bertragen euch eine hohe Verantwortung.  We transfer to-you a huge responsibility. Jederzeit werden wir euch mit Rat und Tat helfen,  At-any-time will we (help) you with advice and deed (help), die sozialistische Zukunft schà ¶pferisch zu gestalten.(to design) the socialist future creatively (to design).

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Sample Common Application Essayâ€Topic of Your Choice

Sample Common Application Essay- Topic of Your Choice Alexis chose option #7 for her Common Application essay. This is the popular topic of your choice option on the 2018-19 application. The question asks, Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one youve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. The other six essay options on the Common Application give applicants so much flexibility that it is rare for a topic not fit elsewhere, but in some cases the topic of your choice is indeed the best choice. This is true for Alexiss essay below. Sample Essay on the "Topic of Your Choice" Option My Hero Harpo In middle school, I took part in an essay competition where we had to write about one of our strongest role models- who they were, what they did, and how they had influenced us. Other students wrote about Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, George Washington, etc. I, the youngest of five sisters and one of the quietest people in the school, chose Harpo Marx. I did not win the competition- to be honest, my essay wasn’t very good, and I knew that, even at the time. I had bigger, better things to worry about, though. I was taking swimming lessons, and was terrified of discovering a shark in the deep end. I was making little hats for my dog Alexa, which she did not appreciate. I was busy working on a clay chess set in art class, and learning how to garden with my grandmother. I’m getting off-topic, but my point is: I didn’t need to win a competition or write an essay to feel validated. I was learning who I was, and what was important in my life. Which brings me back to the Marx Brothers. My great-uncle was a big old-movie buff. We’d go over to his house most mornings during summer vacation, and watch Philadelphia Story, The Thin Man, or  His Girl Friday. My favorites, though, were the Marx Brothers’ films. Duck Soup. A Night at the Opera (my personal favorite). Animal Crackers. I can’t logically explain why I found these particular movies so hilarious and entertaining- there was something about them that not only made me laugh, but made me happy. Now, of course, watching those movies again, I’m reminded of those summer mornings, and of being surrounded by the people I loved, unconcerned with the world outside, that adds another layer of appreciation and joy. The brothers each brought their own unique humor to the pictures, but Harpo- he was perfect. The hair. The wide ties and crazy trench coats. The way he doesn’t have to say anything to be funny. His facial expressions. How he offers people his leg when they try to shake his hand. The way you can see the change in him when he sits down at the piano or the harp. The subtle shift from comedian to musician- not a complete shift, of course, but in that moment, you know just how talented and hard-working he must have been. I love that rather than being a full-time, professional musician, which he certainly could have done, Harpo (known as Adolph off-screen) instead devoted his time and energy to entertain, to make people laugh, to be a big goof with a bicycle horn and a killer whistle. I identified with him- and still do. Harpo was quiet, funny-looking, not the most outgoing or famous performers, silly, and still insanely dedicated and a serious artist. I don’t plan on going into show business. I mean, never say never and all that, but I don’t see myself as ever really getting bitten by that particular acting or performing bug. But the lessons I’ve learned from Harpo (and Groucho, Chico, Zeppo, etc.) are the kind that can transcend careers. It’s ok to fall down (a lot.) Learn to laugh at yourself. Learn to laugh at your family. Making faces is a perfectly good way to express yourself. Wear the weird clothes. Don’t be afraid to show off your talents when given the chance. Be kind to children. Have a cigar, if you want. Make up a silly song, or a goofy dance. Work hard at what you love. Work hard at what you don’t love, but what is still necessary. Don’t shy away from being the strangest, brightest, wildest, wackiest, passionate you you can be. And also carry a bicycle horn with you, just in case. A Critique of Alexis's "Topic of Your Choice" Essay With the topic of your choice essay option, one of the first issues to consider is whether or not the essay should have been presented under one of the more focused Common Application prompts. Its easy to be lazy and simply choose topic of your choice to avoid thinking too hard about the most appropriate fit for an essay. For Alexiss essay My Hero Harpo, the topic of your choice option does, in fact, work well. The essay could potentially fall under Common Application essay option #5 on a realization that sparked a period of personal growth. Alexiss experiences watching Marx Brother movies did lead to an understanding of personal identity and life balances. That said, an essay on comedic actors doesnt quite fit the general seriousness of the option #5 prompt. Now lets breakdown some of the important elements of Alexiss essay: The topic. Harpo Marx is a rather unusual focus for an admissions essay. This can be a good thing, for Alexiss essay wont be a clone of other essays the admissions office receives. At the same time, one could argue that Harpos slapstick comedy is a rather superficial focus for an application essay. This certainly could be true if the subject matter were handled poorly, but Alexis manages to turn an essay focused on Harpo Marx into an essay that is really about much more than Marx. Alexis identifies with Harpo, and she explains why she identifies with him. In the end, the essay is as much about Alexis as it is Harpo. It is an essay that reveals Alexiss self-awareness, analytical skills, and sense of humor.The tone. Many applicants wrongly assume that an application essay needs to shine a bright light on a writers accomplishments while hiding any warts. The reality, however, is that were all quirky, flawed, complex people. Revealing an awareness of this fact is a sign of maturity, and it will often play well in an admissions essay. Alexis succeeds admirably on this front. The overall tone here is conversational and slightly self-deprecating. Alexis identifies with Harpos goofiness and his decision to focus on bringing happiness to others rather than personal prestige. We finish Alexiss essay with a sense that she is reserved, silly, able to laugh at herself, yet quietly confident. The overall impression is certainly a positive one.   The writing. Alexiss language is clear and engaging, and she avoids common stylistic errors. The essay has a strong voice and personality. The essay does, in fact, have several sentence fragments, but these are clearly used deliberately for rhetorical punch, not because Alexis is a grammatically inept writer.  The impact. Its always important to step back from an application essay and consider the big picture: what will a reader take away from the essay? Alexiss essay doesnt present any remarkable accomplishment or impressive talent. It does, however, present a student who is thoughtful, self-aware, generous, talented, and quietly ambitious. Does Alexis come across as someone who the admissions folks would want to join their campus community? Yes. Make Your Essay as Strong as Possible If a college requires you to submit an essay with the Common Application, it is because the school has holistic admissions- the admissions folks want to get to know you as a whole person, not as a simple compilation of numerical data such as grades and standardized test scores. Along with extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and in some cases an interview, the essay can plan an important role in the admissions process. Make sure yours is as strong as possible. As you write your own essay, be sure to avoid the bad essay topics,  and follow these tips for a winning essay. Most of all, make sure that your essay makes a good impression. Does it present a dimension of your personality and interests that isnt obvious from other parts of your application? Does it present you as someone who will contribute to the campus community in a meaningful way? If yes, your essay is performing its purpose well.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Responsibility of Firefighting Teams Term Paper

Responsibility of Firefighting Teams - Term Paper Example The fire and rescue team has a responsibility to give support and restore stability in case of natural disasters like terrorist attack, radioactive emission, nuclear disaster and floods. The government supports the service team nationally to help it work effectively with other local bodies requiring local, regional, national response. To address large issue the local and the regional bodies come together. They are utilized to consider and plan for wide area risks like floods and other major outbreak of diseases. In the Fire Control project, it is ensured that the fire and rescue team gets the required mobilizing and response tools they need to continue a world-class enabled service. Communities and local government remain committed to working with Fire Control teams so that best services are delivered and can successfully meet up the challenges of the twenty-first century. The Fire and Rescue services team have, to enter an agreement with the local bodies that they agree to perform t he task so as to run the new control service and keep the department informed of any issues that might arise. (Fire and Rescue service 2008-11, n.d. p.12) They also have a duty to participate constructively and wholeheartedly in any other regional arrangement that m fight exists. They also have a duty of working closely with fire Recontrol technology,y providers and subcontractors and to report about the progress regularly to the communities and local governments. Firelink provides for the crucial internal communication between the communication rooms and various vehicles of Regional control centers (Fire and Rescue service 2008-11, n.d. p.23) The roles of fire and rescue teams have become even more important because of the changing temperature in a global context. It has been found out that an increase in 1 degree centigrade in summers increases the number of outdoor fires by 24000 to 40000 per year in England and Wales while an increase of two degrees would increase the chances of outdoor fire by thirty four to fifty six percent.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Effective Assessment Strategy Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9750 words

Effective Assessment Strategy - Dissertation Example nt of the new learner's linguistic proficiency level and in the subsequent placing of these learners in a class which corresponds to their level (Gottlieb, 2006). As a pre-entry level to basic ESOL tutor, I can confirm the imperatives of accurate assessment of individual learner levels. While conceding to the fact that differentiations in linguistic proficiency, areas of weakness, strengths and capacity to assimilate exist between any two learners, the tutor's capacity to design an effective Group Learning Plan (GLP), is largely dependant on the accuracy of the assessment tests. Quite simply stated, should assessment be inaccurate, resulting in some learners being placed in a higher level, they will not be able to follow the GLP and may not comprehend the tutor's in-class explanations and instructions. Samway (2006) confirms this last point and provides confirmatory empirical evidence which effectively illustrates that should initial assessment tests erroneously place ESOL students in a higher level, the student in question, not having the requisite linguistic proficiency skills to assimilate lectures and discussions or to comprehend the assig ned reading material, will simply not benefit. Consequently, it is absolutely imperative that initial assessment tests accurately reflect the new students linguistic and numeracy skill level. Bearing the import of initial assessment in mind, this research aims to determine whether or not Carshalton College, where I work, has an effective assessment strategy and constructively exploits assessment to promote the government's widening participation objective. In order to fulfil the above articulated objective, the research shall undertake the critical analysis and examination of a number of pertinent and interrelated issues.... In 1999, a committee chaired by Sir Claus Moser, investigated the linguistic, reading, writing, and maths skills’ deficiencies which confront numerous adults in England. The committee, publishing its findings in a report entitled Fresh Start, clarified all of the scope, extent and range of the problem and, more importantly, sought the identification of the means and ways by which this problem may be confronted. Among the report’s key findings were: †¢ Approximately 7 million adults across England do not have the reading, writing and English language skills of an 11 year old and an even greater number lacked basic maths skills (A Fresh Start, 1999). †¢ Approximately half a million adults across England, referred to as ESOL learners, have difficulties comprehending and speaking English because it is not their first language (A Fresh Start, 1999). †¢ People with lower levels of linguistic, numeracy and literacy skills tend to be unemployed or, if employed, earn very low incomes. More importantly, their opportunities for improving their livelihood are severely limited by their linguistic, numeracy and literacy skills (A Fresh Start, 1999). †¢ People with lower levels of linguistic, numeracy and literacy skills are vulnerable to ill-health and mental problems. In addition, they are socially marginalised (A Fresh Start, 1999). The government responded to the Moser report through the articulation of a national strategy whose key goal was the extension of the requisite help for adults who needed to improve their English language, reading, writing and maths skills was launched.