Understanding Cross

Understanding Cross Summary The article by Fink, Neyer and KÃ ¶lling (2007) presents a comprehensive research on cross-cultural management. The paper explores the variations in culture and how the variations affect managers and employees in a managerial environment. The paper brings out the incidences of management that emerge from cross-cultural variations. The paper approaches the issue from a theoretical concept using the Parsons and Shils’ theory of action.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding Cross-Cultural Management Interaction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Three fundamental issues of cross-cultural management are explored in the article. These are cross-cultural standards of management, the impact of cross cultural attributes on personality traits, and the managerial dimensions of managing in a cross-cultural environment. The article develops a model of management that can help in enhancing management and adj usting employees and managers in a cross-cultural context of management (Fink, Neyer KÃ ¶lling, 2007). Strengths The method of research that is used in the paper is quite comprehensive in the sense that it borrows from both literature and a deeper exploration of a theoretical concept to develop a cross-cultural model of management. The qualities of the sources used in the paper are of a desirable standard. The paper makes use of other resources to build up literature, resulting in comprehensive outcomes that are founded in the cross-cultural model of management that is developed by the researchers. The paper makes use of specific and limited sources in the literature. This helps the researchers to focus on the main issue that informs the research (Krishnaswamy, Appa Mathirajan, 2006). The multilevel perspective that is taken in the article is desirable; that is, exploration of cultural dimensions of cross-cultural management, the cross-cultural standards of management and the imp acts of cross-culture on personality traits of manager and employees. It helps in the development of relational concepts of cross-cultural management, thus making the deductions more comprehensive in scope. The other feature that is important in this research is the summarization of literature under each mini-research into a conceptual perspective. This implies the value and the critical contribution of literature, making the research to attain the exploratory attribute (Mitchell Jolley, 2013). Weakness The researchers did not limit the research questions, a factor that works negatively when it comes to narrowing down of the research topic. However, the research questions in the article are specific. This aided the researchers to focus on the main goals of the research. The literature is quite limited and seems insufficient when it comes to development of deductions or recommendations that are universal. The researchers ought to have expanded the research in order to broaden the sc ope of the research (Mitchell Jolley, 2013). Why the article is critical to human resource managers The contemporary managerial environment has increasingly become complex due to globalization and its impact on management. Cross-cultural perspectives are, therefore, quite common in the contemporary managerial environment. The article presents a comprehensive research into the cross-cultural antecedents of management. The concept of cross-cultural management developed in the article can be aped and replicated in organizations that are going international in their operations.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Human resource managers find it complex to manage organizations that draw people from diverse cultures of management. This is analyzed in the article. Reading the article can, therefore, help human resource managers to identify the aspects of variations of cultur e in their organizations and develop effective tactics of dealing with the problems of adapting and managing in culturally diverse environments (Tjosvold, 2003). References Fink, G, Neyer A., KÃ ¶lling, M. (2007). Understanding cross-cultural management interaction. International Studies of Management Organization, 36(4), 38-60. Krishnaswamy, K. N., Appa, L. S., Mathirajan, M. (2006). Management research methodology: Integration of principles, methods and techniques. New Delhi: Pearson Education. Mitchell, M. L., Jolley, J. M. (2013). Research design explained. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Tjosvold, D. (2003). Cross-cultural management: Foundations and future. Aldershot: Ashgate.

Free Essays on Myocardial Infarction

The heart is arguably the most vital organ in the human body. What happens when the heart muscle begins to die? A myocardial infarction (or heart attack) is the death of a part of the heart muscle due to its sudden loss of blood supply. What causes this sudden loss of blood supply? What is reperfusion? What is a PTCA? What causes the heart muscle to lose its blood supply? Usually, the loss of the heart’s blood supply is caused by the total blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot on a cholesterol plaque in the artery. Cholesterol is a fatty chemical which is a part of the outer lining of cells in the body. Cholesterol plaque is the formation of a hard substance within the walls of the artery caused by deposits of cholesterol over time. This process begins while a person is in their teenage years. If a person begins eating unhealthy foods at a young age, he or she will be prone to a heart attack at a later age. What is reperfusion? Reperfusion is the main goal in treating heart attack victims. The chance of survival increase the sooner reperfusion is established. This process restores blood flow to the heart muscle. Once blood flow is restored, the patient becomes pain free. If done soon enough, the amount of damage to the organ is minimized and the pumping of the muscle is preserved. Optimal benefit is reached if reperfusion can be attained between 4 and 6 hours after the attack. The most common method of reaching reperfusion is by performing a PTCA. The most direct method of opening a blocked artery is to perform an immediate coronary angiogram and PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty). A tiny plastic catheter with a small balloon at the end is advanced into the artery. It is moved up to the blockage point and is inflated thus pushing the clot and plaque out of the way. This process can be up to 95% effective within the first 60 minutes. This process also allows testing of the status of... Free Essays on Myocardial Infarction Free Essays on Myocardial Infarction The heart is arguably the most vital organ in the human body. What happens when the heart muscle begins to die? A myocardial infarction (or heart attack) is the death of a part of the heart muscle due to its sudden loss of blood supply. What causes this sudden loss of blood supply? What is reperfusion? What is a PTCA? What causes the heart muscle to lose its blood supply? Usually, the loss of the heart’s blood supply is caused by the total blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot on a cholesterol plaque in the artery. Cholesterol is a fatty chemical which is a part of the outer lining of cells in the body. Cholesterol plaque is the formation of a hard substance within the walls of the artery caused by deposits of cholesterol over time. This process begins while a person is in their teenage years. If a person begins eating unhealthy foods at a young age, he or she will be prone to a heart attack at a later age. What is reperfusion? Reperfusion is the main goal in treating heart attack victims. The chance of survival increase the sooner reperfusion is established. This process restores blood flow to the heart muscle. Once blood flow is restored, the patient becomes pain free. If done soon enough, the amount of damage to the organ is minimized and the pumping of the muscle is preserved. Optimal benefit is reached if reperfusion can be attained between 4 and 6 hours after the attack. The most common method of reaching reperfusion is by performing a PTCA. The most direct method of opening a blocked artery is to perform an immediate coronary angiogram and PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty). A tiny plastic catheter with a small balloon at the end is advanced into the artery. It is moved up to the blockage point and is inflated thus pushing the clot and plaque out of the way. This process can be up to 95% effective within the first 60 minutes. This process also allows testing of the status of...

Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations - Essay Example Junginger ascertains that his company adopts majority of the best D&I practices in the industry, as identified by the U.S Department of Commerce benchmarking study. More than internal practices, however, the challenge to the firm’s D&I efforts are posed by external elements, principally the discriminatory attitudes of customers who stay at the company’s hotels. The firm’s hotels located in other countries are also constrained by the social prejudice (by Western standards) that may have been built into the culture of the place. The company must train its personnel not only to observe D&I practices within the company, but also how to deal with people and situations that are discriminatory against them. An Interview with Phillip Junginger*, D&I strategic officer, Human Resources Department Phillip Junginger* is the strategic officer for a four-star international hotel chain based in the U.S. ... This insight provides him with a greater motivation and sensitivity not only towards those of different cultures, but also of different races, ethnicities, religions, and other personal circumstances. Question 1: How does your firm integrate D&I in your corporate planning? PJ: In our hotel, we deal with people of different backgrounds, both as customers and as internal stakeholders. The hotel industry is all about people, and all about dealing with them in the most intimate way because we provide a home for the customers, so moreso for the employees. Therefore, our D&I is part of our core organizational values. It is not just one separate plan in itself, but it is integrated in all managerial planning, from strategizing at the executive level, to the tactical and the operational levels (especially in dining, housekeeping, and hotel amenities), where we try to meet customers’ preferences and employees circumstances. --------------- * Names have been modified upon the request of the interviewee. Question 2: In your personal role, how do you perceive your goals and responsibilities? PJ: When I look at my role as the main officer in charge of D&I strategy, I am overwhelmed by the tremendous responsibility of that position. Diversity and inclusion is a double-sided blade; the strategies we design should make people of all backgrounds feel accepted the way they are, and usually these pertain to the minority groups, but then it must be done in a way that does not alienate members of the majority group. Doing so would continue to drive a wedge among the groups, which is exactly what we try to eliminate. The difficulty here is that

Selling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Selling - Essay Example Of course trust level is the thing which enhances the every relationship bonding but when we talk about selling it values a lot – as selling relationship are business type in nature sort of. The best salesperson never compromise on its reputation or trust and always tried its best to deliver at time. And this trust of a salesman highly depends on the customer and salesman relationship – that is understand the customer need, his level of satisfaction and having honest dealing with him. The simplest example I want to give here for my above statement is the relationship between the doctor and a sales person of a pharmaceutical corporation. Doctor never having its personal affiliation with the company whose medicine he usually does prescribe actually it is his relationship with the representative of that company who push him to recommend its medicine - in point of fact the key of selling moves around personal business relationship. The best salesman always follows the strat egy which is do business with persons not with companies. A part from all above, customer entertainment which a salesman providing him also groomed that relationship – that is having outdoor eating and other recreational activities you know giving your customer casual environment. Selling is a sort of profession which very much focused relationship ethics and you now tough times which we say ups and downs are the part of every relation. If both ends have a healthy relation then these tough tome (like any delay in scheduled delivery of stock etc) can be easily tackled. Networking, another very potential term in career of salesman. How I tell you this. Basically it increases your social relations. It also happens that buyer recommend you to others thus give a boost to salesman business. But it is better to network always rather if you want some type of business dealing. The approach to do networking always expands and strengthens the relationship in improved

Candys dog Essay Example for Free

Candys dog Essay In Section three of â€Å"Of Mice and Men† we come to a significant part of the story where Carlson shoots Candy’s dog. From previous sections in the book, Steinbeck has made it evident that Candy’s dog is important to Candy. When we are first introduced to Candy and his dog, Steinbeck repeatedly describes both characters as â€Å"old†, showing how alike both are. â€Å"Old Candy, the swamper, came in and went to his bunk, and behind him struggled his old dog. † In this sentence, the adjective used to describe both characters is â€Å"old†. This suggests the similarity between them, showing that they are both reaching nearer to the end of their life. While Slim, George, Candy and his dog are in the bunk house, Carlson comes in and talks to Slim. He then complains about the smell of the dog. â€Å"God awmighty that dog stinks. Get him outta here, Candy! † Carlson makes it clear that he doesn’t like the dog being in the bunk house as it brings a foul smell with it. But when Candy hears Carlson say this, he reaches over to pat his dog as if it is fully aware of what is being said. This action evinces that Candy is apologising to the dog on Carlson’s behalf. Candy treats his dog like a human as his dog is his only companion. However, the workers at the ranch see him only as a dog. When Carlson mentions to Candy about shooting his dog, Candy’s actions and dialogues convey how Candy feels about this idea. â€Å"Candy looked about unhappily. ‘No,’ he said softly. ‘No, I couldn’t do that. I had him too long. ’ Candy is reluctant to let Carlson shoot his dog and we know this through the use of the adverb â€Å"unhappily†. Candy words make it evident that he is not ready to lose his only company. Candy purposefully tries to delay Carlson when he says, â€Å"You ain’t got no gun. † He is hopeful that Carlson doesn’t have the necessary items to kill Candy’s dog with. When the men hear the shot that marks the death of Candy’s dog, Candy’s reaction towards the death of his dog illustrates his emotions. â€Å"For a moment he continued to stare at the ceiling. Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent. † This action symbolises an act of rejecting the outside world. Candy’s dog was his only way of staying happy. But now that his dog has been shot, he has nothing else in the world that is worth living for. During this conversation between Carlson and Candy, George interrupts. â€Å"George said, ‘I seen a guy in Weed that had an Airedale could herd sheep. Learned it from the other dogs. ’† George tries divert Carlson’s attention to a different topic. This indicates that George is attempting to assist Candy in saving his dog. George is being empathetic towards Candy as he might understand how Candy will feel when he loses his only companion. He is taking into account other’s feelings before his own. We see this previously in the book where George stands up for Lennie when Curley threatens him. George’s only companion is Lennie and he has travelled with Lennie in search of work for a very long time. George may be the only person who realises how difficult it will be for Candy if he found himself alone after a very long time. As Carlson continuously encourages Candy to let him shoot Candy’s dog, Carlson turns to Slim for support. He asks Slim, â€Å"I bet Slim would give you one of his pups to raise up, wouldn’t you, Slim? † From previous descriptions in the book, the audience is aware that Slim is an influential character in the novel. Steinbeck makes a direct judgement about him unlike he does with the other characters in the book. Steinbeck describes him as â€Å"Majestic† and â€Å"Prince of the ranch†. Nearing the death of Candy’s dog, Steinbeck once again shows us the importance of Slim’s character at the ranch when Carlson asks for Slim’s opinion on the matter. When Slim agrees with Carlson that Candy’s dog should be shot Candy look’s helplessly at Slim: â€Å"Candy looked helplessly at him, for Slim’s opinions were law. † Steinbeck yet again directly informs the reader that Slim’s opinions are not taken lightly but seriously by the men on the ranch. It is clear that the men on the ranch constantly have respect for Slim and they do as Slim says. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE John Steinbeck section.

Should the U.S. build a National Missile Defense System? Essay

Should the U.S. build a National Missile Defense System? â€Å"What if free people could live secure in the knowledge that their security didn’t depend upon the threat of instant U.S. retaliation to deter an enemy attack?† Ronald Reagan; 1983 In his speech of March 23, 1983, President Reagan presented his vision of a future where a Nation’s security did not rest upon the threat of nuclear retaliation, but on the ability to protect and defend against such attacks. The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) research program was designed to tell whether, and how, advanced defense technologies could contribute to the feasibility of this vision. What is a national missile defense (NMD)? A NMD is in theory â€Å"a technological shield that could destroy all incoming missiles† (Cirincione and Von Hippel 1). A NMD would most likely employ ground-based missiles that would intercept and destroy incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). ICBMs are missiles that are capable of hitting targets thousands of miles away from their launch site. The National Missile Defense Act â€Å"calls for developing a missile-defense system that could protect the United States from an attack by a handful of nuclear armed ballistic missiles† (Ballistic Missile Defenses). It is important to realize the proposed NMD would not be designed to protect against an all out nuclear attack featuring hundreds of missiles. Is a NMD a good thing for the United States? I believe the United States should not develop and deploy a NMD system. How does the NMD work? According to the Federation of American Scientists at fas.org, there are five elements involved in the missile defense system. The first rudiment is the Ground Based Interceptors (GBI). These are the weapons of the system. Their job is to intercept ballistic missile warheads and through the force of impact, destroy them. The GBI includes the interceptor, its launch and support equipment, missile silos, and personnel. The missile is make of an EKV and boosters, and the GBI sites would be capable of holding 20 missiles with eventual upgrade to 100. The next part of the system is called the Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2). This is the brains of the system and it controls and operates the missile defense system. It provides decisive support systems, battle management systems and displays, and also situation awareness information. Satellites... ...iew: Desirability and Feasibility of Ballistic Missile Defenses.† The Last Fifteen Minutes: Ballistic Missile Defense in Perspective. Ed. Joseph Cirincione and Frank Von Hippel. N.p.: Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers, 1999. 6-15. Gordon, Michael R. â€Å"Russians Firmly Reject U.S. Plan to Reopen ABM Treaty.† New York Times. 21 Oct. 1999: A3. Hulme, Dr. Derrick. â€Å"Arms Control.† World Problems and Conflict. Alma College, Alma, MI. 17 Nov. 1999. Krepon, Michael. â€Å"Missile Defense: Not Such a Bad Idea.† The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. May-June. 1999: 31-33. Mendelsohn, Jack. â€Å"Missile Defense: And It Still Won’t Work.† The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. May-June. 1999: 29-31. National Academy of Sciences. The Future of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1997. Ray, James Lee. Global Politics. 7th ed. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. â€Å"Selling Russia on Missile Defense.† New York Times. 21 Oct. 1999: A24. â€Å"What Proponents of Missile Defense Argue and Rebuttals.† Council for a Livable World. n. pag. Online. Internet. 2 Nov. 1999. Available WWW: http://www.clw/org/ef/bmdrebuts.html. Federation of American Scientists – www.fas.org

George Herbert Mead and Erik H. Erikson Essay

George Herbert Mead was a ground-breaking sociologist that coined the phrase â€Å"self† and the theory behind it in the early 1900’s. The self can simply be defined as, â€Å"the part of an individual’s personality composed of self-awareness and self-image.† Mead’s primary approach to social behaviorism centered around the idea that one’s self is purely a product of social interaction with others. Sociologists today find Mead’s work important as the self is needed for survival of society and culture. Comparatively, Mead shared some intellectual sociological similarities with Erik H. Erikson. Particularly with Erikson’s broader view of socialization: his eight stages of development. Mead understood the self to thrive as long as four major components that revolved around social cooperation fell into place. The first belief he transmitted was that the self was not present in a person at birth. It must be developed over time through social reciprocity with other individuals. Mead then believed that social experience is the product symbol exchanges. In other words, human beings can find meaning not only through language and words but also within the use of actions and such other symbolic representations. His next conceptualization assumed that in order to fully understand one’s intentions we must take the role of the other. What Mead plainly meant by this was that anticipation of how another human being will react can often be attained when we imagine ourselves in another person’s shoes. His final inference about the self is by taking on the role of another we then become self-aware. This idea spilt the concept of self into two parts, the I and the me. The I part is used to describe the self in action, the subjective aspect of self. The me part outlines the self as we imagine others to see us. Mead then theorized that the development of these four components could be achieved in four basic stages. In developing the self, we must learn to take the role of another. Infants lack the social experience to do this so they achieve responses through imitation, or the mockery of actions. Children learn to use symbols and language to evolve the self through play. Play involves the assumption of a singular role in a singular situation. This role is typically modeled on significant others, such as parents, those most  important to a child in their life. The child gradually learns to accept the roles of several other people at once in a singular situation as opposed to just one at a time. Mead called this evolution engaging in games. Therefore, if play refers to a game of catch, then exhibition in games would be the sport of baseball. The final stage of development occurs when one is able to recognize the roles of many others in many situations. Mead referred to this as the generaliz ed other. The existence of self depends upon the existence of society and culture in a very key way. The primary reason self is so important perhaps revolves around communication for survival. In order for the world to be able to support society and culture in any facet people must communicate. Mead described this as transmission through the use of words, hand and facial gestures and a general sense of self composure. Without total and proper development of the self, communication would be extremely difficult. If everyone in the world suffered deficient or no personal growth people would struggle to find ways both as a culture and as a society to flourish within inter-group communication. Erik H. Erikson explained socialization with the theory that people face challenges throughout the life course that develop and shape personality indefinitely. He mapped out these potential challenges within eight generalized stages. These stages stretch to include infancy, toddlerhood, preschool, preadolescence, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood, and old age. Though Erikson presented a much broader and different view of socialization than Mead, their works remain similar because they share one familiar aspect, the self. Erikson never used the phrase â€Å"the self† within these eight stages of development, however, he explains that in many of these stages communication with family members, peers and society in general helps to play crucial roles in the proper development of one’s personality. George Herbert Mead was indeed a brilliant sociologist and theorist. By studying the concept of the self, Mead relayed the idea that social experience or lack thereof could create or destroy a human being thereby affecting society and culture as we know it. He concluded that the self  continues to change and evolve as we encounter social experiences. Throughout this evolution, we remain creative individuals. It is in the shadow of this creativity that we, indeed, play a very distinctive role in our own socialization process.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 117-118

CHAPTER 117 Langdon felt his stomach drop as the CIA helicopter leaped off the lawn, banked hard, and accelerated faster than he ever imagined a helicopter could move. Katherine had stayed behind to recuperate with Bellamy while one of the CIA agents searched the mansion and waited for a backup team. Before Langdon left, she had kissed him on the cheek and whispered, â€Å"Be safe, Robert.† Now Langdon was holding on for dear life as the military helicopter finally leveled out and raced toward the House of the Temple. Seated beside him, Sato was yelling up to the pilot. â€Å"Head for Dupont Circle!† she shouted over the deafening noise. â€Å"We'll set down there!† Startled, Langdon turned to her. â€Å"Dupont?! That's blocks from the House of the Temple! We can land in the Temple parking lot!† Sato shook her head. â€Å"We need to enter the building quietly. If our target hears us coming–â€Å" â€Å"We don't have time!† Langdon argued. â€Å"This lunatic is about to murder Peter! Maybe the sound of the helicopter will scare him and make him stop!† Sato stared at him with ice-cold eyes. â€Å"As I have told you, Peter Solomon's safety is not my primary objective. I believe I've made that clear.† Langdon was in no mood for another national-security lecture. â€Å"Look, I'm the only one on board who knows his way through that building–â€Å" â€Å"Careful, Professor,† the director warned. â€Å"You are here as a member of my team, and I will have your complete cooperation.† She paused a moment and then added, â€Å"In fact, it might be wise if I now apprised you fully of the severity of our crisis tonight.† Sato reached under her seat and pulled out a sleek titanium briefcase, which she opened to reveal an unusually complicated-looking computer. When she turned it on, a CIA logo materialized along with a log-in prompt. As Sato logged in, she asked, â€Å"Professor, do you remember the blond hairpiece we found in the man's home?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Well, hidden within that wig was a tiny fiber-optic camera . . . concealed in the bangs.† â€Å"A hidden camera? I don't understand.† Sato looked grim. â€Å"You will.† She launched a file on the laptop. ONE MOMENT PLEASE . . . DECRYPTING FILE . . . A video window popped up, filling the entire screen. Sato lifted the briefcase and set it on Langdon's thighs, giving him a front-row seat. An unusual image materialized on the screen. Langdon recoiled in surprise. What the hell?! Murky and dark, the video was of a blindfolded man. He was dressed in the garb of a medieval heretic being led to the gallows–noose around his neck, left pant leg rolled up to the knee, right sleeve rolled up to the elbow, and his shirt gaping open to reveal his bare chest. Langdon stared in disbelief. He had read enough about Masonic rituals to recognize exactly what he was looking at. A Masonic initiate . . . preparing to enter the first degree. The man was very muscular and tall, with a familiar blond hairpiece and deeply tanned skin. Langdon recognized his features at once. The man's tattoos had obviously been concealed beneath bronzing makeup. He was standing before a full-length mirror videotaping his reflection through the camera concealed in his wig. But . . . why? The screen faded to black. New footage appeared. A small, dimly lit, rectangular chamber. A dramatic chessboard floor of black-and-white tile. A low wooden altar, flanked on three sides by pillars, atop which burned flickering candles. Langdon felt a sudden apprehension. Oh my God. Filming in the erratic style of an amateur home video, the camera now panned up to the periphery of the room to reveal a small group of men observing the initiate. The men were dressed in ritual Masonic regalia. In the darkness, Langdon could not make out their faces, but he had no doubt where this ritual was taking place. The traditional layout of this Lodge Room could have been anywhere in the world, but the powder-blue triangular pediment above the master's chair revealed it as the oldest Masonic lodge in D.C.–Potomac Lodge No. 5–home of George Washington and the Masonic forefathers who laid the cornerstone for the White House and the Capitol Building. The lodge was still active today. Peter Solomon, in addition to overseeing the House of the Temple, was the master of his local lodge. And it was at lodges like this one that a Masonic initiate's journey always began . . . where he underwent the first three degrees of Freemasonry. â€Å"Brethren,† Peter's familiar voice declared, â€Å"in the name of the Great Architect of the Universe, I open this lodge for the practice of Masonry in the first degree!† A gavel rapped loudly. Langdon watched in utter disbelief as the video progressed through a quick series of dissolves featuring Peter Solomon performing some of the ritual's starker moments. Pressing a shining dagger to the initiate's bare chest . . . threatening impalement should the initiate â€Å"inappropriately reveal the Mysteries of Masonry† . . . describing the black-and-white floor as representing â€Å"the living and the dead† . . . outlining punishments that included â€Å"having one's throat cut across, one's tongue torn out by its roots, and one's body buried in the rough sands of the sea . . .† Langdon stared. Am I really witnessing this? Masonic initiation rites had remained shrouded in secrecy for centuries. The only descriptions that had ever been leaked were written by a handful of estranged brothers. Langdon had read those accounts, of course, and yet to see an initiation with his own eyes . . . this was a much different story. Especially edited this way. Langdon could already tell that the video was an unfair piece of propaganda, omitting all the noblest aspects of the initiation and highlighting only the most disconcerting. If this video were released, Langdon knew it would become an Internet sensation over night. The anti-Masonic conspiracy theorists would feed on this like sharks. The Masonic organization, and especially Peter Solomon, would find themselves embroiled in a firestorm of controversy and a desperate effort at damage control . . . even though the ritual was innocuous and purely symbolic. Eerily, the video included a biblical reference to human sacrifice . . . â€Å"the submission of Abraham to the Supreme Being by proffering Isaac, his firstborn son.† Langdon thought of Peter and willed the helicopter to fly faster. The video footage shifted now. Same room. Different night. A larger group of Masons looking on. Peter Solomon was observing from the master's chair. This was the second degree. More intense now. Kneeling at the altar . . . vowing to â€Å"forever conceal the enigmas existing within Freemasonry† . . . consenting to the penalty of â€Å"having one's chest cavity ripped open and pulsing heart cast upon the surface of the earth as offal for the ravenous beasts† . . . Langdon's own heart was pulsing wildly now as the video shifted yet again. Another night. A much larger crowd. A coffin-shaped â€Å"tracing board† on the floor. The third degree. This was the death ritual–the most rigorous of all the degrees–the moment in which the initiate was forced â€Å"to face the final challenge of personal extinction.† This grueling interrogation was in fact the source of the common phrase to give someone the third degree. And although Langdon was very familiar with academic accounts of it, he was in no way prepared for what he now saw. The murder. In violent, rapid intercuts, the video displayed a chilling, victim's point-of-view account of the initiate's brutal murder. There were simulated blows to his head, including one with a Mason's stone maul. All the while, a deacon mournfully told the story of â€Å"the widow's son†Ã¢â‚¬â€œHiram Abiff–the master Architect of King Solomon's temple, who chose to die rather than reveal the secret wisdom he possessed. The attack was mimed, of course, and yet its effect on camera was bloodcurdling. After the deathblow, the initiate–now â€Å"dead to his former self†Ã¢â‚¬â€œwas lowered into his symbolic coffin, where his eyes were shut and his arms were crossed like those of a corpse. The Masonic brothers rose and mournfully circled his dead body while a pipe organ played a march of the dead. The macabre scene was deeply disturbing. And it only got worse. As the men gathered around their slain brother, the hidden camera clearly displayed their faces. Langdon now realized that Solomon was not the only famous man in the room. One of the men peering down at the initiate in his coffin was on television almost daily. A prominent U.S. senator. Oh God . . . The scene changed yet again. Outside now . . . nighttime . . . the same jumpy video footage . . . the man was walking down a city street . . . strands of blond hair blowing in front of the camera . . . turning a corner . . .the camera angle lowering to something in the man's hand . . . a dollar bill . . . a close-up focusing on the Great Seal . . . the all-seeing eye . . . the unfinished pyramid . . . and then, abruptly, pulling away to reveal a similar shape in the distance . . . a massive pyramidical building . . . with sloping sides rising to a truncated top. The House of the Temple. A soul-deep dread swelled within him. The video kept moving . . . the man hurrying toward the building now . . . up the multitiered staircase . . . toward the giant bronze doors . . . between the two seventeen-ton sphinx guardians. A neophyte entering the pyramid of initiation. Darkness now. A powerful pipe organ played in the distance . . . and a new image materialized. The Temple Room. Langdon swallowed hard. On-screen, the cavernous space was alive with electricity. Beneath the oculus, the black marble altar shone in the moonlight. Assembled around it, seated on hand-tooled pigskin chairs, awaited a somber council of distinguished thirty-third-degree Masons, present to bear witness. The video now panned across their faces with slow and deliberate intention. Langdon stared in horror. Although he had not seen this coming, what he was looking at made perfect sense. A gathering of the most decorated and accomplished Masons in the most powerful city on earth would logically include many influential and well-known individuals. Sure enough, seated around the altar, adorned in their long silk gloves, Masonic aprons, and glistening jewels, were some of the country's most powerful men. Two Supreme Court justices . . . The secretary of defense . . . The speaker of the House . . . Langdon felt ill as the video continued panning across the faces of those in attendance. Three prominent senators . . . including the majority leader . . . The secretary of homeland security . . . And . . . The director of the CIA . . . Langdon wanted only to look away, but he could not. The scene was utterly mesmerizing, alarming even to him. In an instant, he had come to understand the source of Sato's anxiety and concern. Now, on-screen, the shot dissolved into a single shocking image. A human skull . . . filled with dark crimson liquid. The famed caput mortuum was being offered forth to the initiate by the slender hands of Peter Solomon, whose gold Masonic ring glinted in the candlelight. The red liquid was wine . . . and yet it shimmered like blood. The visual effect was frightful. The Fifth Libation, Langdon realized, having read firsthand accounts of this sacrament in John Quincy Adams's Letters on the Masonic Institution. Even so, to see it happen . . . to see it calmly witnessed by America's most powerful men . . . this was as arresting an image as any Langdon had ever seen. The initiate took the skull in his hands . . . his face reflected in the calm surface of the wine. â€Å"May this wine I now drink become a deadly poison to me,† he declared, â€Å"should I ever knowingly or willfully violate my oath.† Obviously, this initiate had intended to violate his oath beyond all imagination. Langdon could barely get his mind around what would happen if this video were made public. No one would understand. The government would be thrown into upheaval. The airwaves would be filled with the voices of anti-Masonic groups, fundamentalists, and conspiracy theorists spewing hatred and fear, launching a Puritan witch hunt all over again. The truth will be twisted, Langdon knew. As it always is with the Masons. The truth was that the brotherhood's focus on death was in fact a bold celebration of life. Masonic ritual was designed to awaken the slumbering man inside, lifting him from his dark coffin of ignorance, raising him into the light, and giving him eyes to see. Only through the death experience could man fully understand his life experience. Only through the realization that his days on earth were finite could he grasp the importance of living those days with honor, integrity, and service to his fellow man. Masonic initiations were startling because they were meant to be transformative. Masonic vows were unforgiving because they were meant to be reminders that man's honor and his â€Å"word† were all he could take from this world. Masonic teachings were arcane because they were meant to be universal . . . taught through a common language of symbols and metaphors that transcended religions, cultures, and races . . . creating a unified â€Å"worldwide consciousness† of brotherly love. For a brief instant, Langdon felt a glimmer of hope. He tried to assure himself that if this video were to leak out, the public would be open-minded and tolerant, realizing that all spiritual rituals included aspects that would seem frightening if taken out of context–crucifixion reenactments, Jewish circumcision rites, Mormon baptisms of the dead, Catholic exorcisms, Islamic niqab, shamanic trance healing, the Jewish Kaparot ceremony, even the eating of the figurative body and blood of Christ. I'm dreaming, Langdon knew. This video will create chaos. He could imagine what would happen if the prominent leaders of Russia or the Islamic world were seen in a video, pressing knives to bare chests, swearing violent oaths, performing mock murders, lying in symbolic coffins, and drinking wine from a human skull. The global outcry would be instantaneous and overwhelming. God help us . . . On-screen now, the initiate was raising the skull to his lips. He tipped it backward . . . draining the blood-red wine . . . sealing his oath. Then he lowered the skull and gazed out at the assembly around him. America's most powerful and trusted men gave contented nods of acceptance. â€Å"Welcome, brother,† Peter Solomon said. As the image faded to black, Langdon realized he had stopped breathing. Without a word, Sato reached over, closed the briefcase, and lifted it off his lap. Langdon turned to her trying to speak, but he could find no words. It didn't matter. Understanding was written all over his face. Sato was right. Tonight was a national-security crisis . . . of unimaginable proportions. CHAPTER 118 Dressed in his loincloth, Mal'akh padded back and forth in front of Peter Solomon's wheelchair. â€Å"Peter,† he whispered, enjoying every moment of his captive's horror, â€Å"you forgot you have a second family . . . your Masonic brothers. And I will destroy them, too . . . unless you help me.† Solomon looked almost catatonic in the glow of the laptop sitting atop his thighs. â€Å"Please,† he finally stammered, glancing up. â€Å"If this video gets out . . .† â€Å"If?† Mal'akh laughed. â€Å"If it gets out?† He motioned to the small cellular modem plugged into the side of his laptop. â€Å"I'm connected to the world.† â€Å"You wouldn't . . .† I will, Mal'akh thought, enjoying Solomon's horror. â€Å"You have the power to stop me,† he said. â€Å"And to save your sister. But you have to tell me what I want to know. The Lost Word is hidden somewhere, Peter, and I know this grid reveals exactly where to find it.† Peter glanced at the grid of symbols again, his eyes revealing nothing. â€Å"Perhaps this will help to inspire you.† Mal'akh reached over Peter's shoulders and hit a few keys on the laptop. An e-mail program launched on the screen, and Peter stiffened visibly. The screen now displayed an e-mail that Mal'akh had cued earlier tonight–a video file addressed to a long list of major media networks. Mal'akh smiled. â€Å"I think it's time we share, don't you?† â€Å"Don't!† Mal'akh reached down and clicked the send button on the program. Peter jerked against his bonds, trying unsuccessfully to knock the laptop to the floor. â€Å"Relax, Peter,† Mal'akh whispered. â€Å"It's a massive file. It will take a few minutes to go out.† He pointed to the progress bar: SENDING MESSAGE: 2% COMPLETE â€Å"If you tell me what I want to know, I'll stop the e-mail, and nobody will ever see this.† Peter was ashen as the task bar inched forward. SENDING MESSAGE: 4% COMPLETE Mal'akh now lifted the computer from Peter's lap and set it on one of the nearby pigskin chairs, turning the screen so the other man could watch the progress. Then he returned to Peter's side and laid the page of symbols in his lap. â€Å"The legends say the Masonic Pyramid will unveil the Lost Word. This is the pyramid's final code. I believe you know how to read it.† Mal'akh glanced over at the laptop. SENDING MESSAGE: 8% COMPLETE Mal'akh returned his eyes to Peter. Solomon was staring at him, his gray eyes blazing now with hatred. Hate me, Mal'akh thought. The greater the emotion, the more potent the energy that will be released when the ritual is completed. At Langley, Nola Kaye pressed the phone to her ear, barely able to hear Sato over the noise of the helicopter. â€Å"They said it's impossible to stop the file transfer!† Nola shouted. â€Å"To shut down local ISPs would take at least an hour, and if he's got access to a wireless provider, killing the ground-based Internet won't stop him from sending it anyway.† Nowadays, stopping the flow of digital information had become nearly impossible. There were too many access routes to the Internet. Between hard lines, Wi-Fi hot spots, cellular modems, SAT phones, superphones, and e-mail-equipped PDAs, the only way to isolate a potential data leak was by destroying the source machine. â€Å"I pulled the spec sheet on the UH-60 you're flying,† Nola said, â€Å"and it looks like you're equipped with EMP.† Electromagnetic-pulse or EMP guns were now commonplace among law enforcement agencies, which used them primarily to stop car chases from a safe distance. By firing a highly concentrated pulse of electromagnetic radiation, an EMP gun could effectively fry the electronics of any device it targeted–cars, cell phones, computers. According to Nola's spec sheet, the UH- 60 had a chassis-mounted, laser-sighted, six-gigahertz magnetron with a fifty-dB-gain horn that yielded a ten-gigawatt pulse. Discharged directly at a laptop, the pulse would fry the computer's motherboard and instantly erase the hard drive. â€Å"EMP will be useless,† Sato yelled back. â€Å"Target is inside a stone building. No sight lines and thick EM shielding. Do you have any indication yet if the video has gone out?† Nola glanced at a second monitor, which was running a continuous search for breaking news stories about the Masons. â€Å"Not yet, ma'am. But if it goes public, we'll know within seconds.† â€Å"Keep me posted.† Sato signed off. Langdon held his breath as the helicopter dropped from the sky toward Dupont Circle. A handful of pedestrians scattered as the aircraft descended through an opening in the trees and landed hard on the lawn just south of the famous two-tiered fountain designed by the same two men who created the Lincoln Memorial. Thirty seconds later, Langdon was riding shotgun in a commandeered Lexus SUV, tearing up New Hampshire Avenue toward the House of the Temple. Peter Solomon was desperately trying to figure out what to do. All he could see in his mind were the images of Katherine bleeding in the basement . . . and of the video he had just witnessed. He turned his head slowly toward the laptop on the pigskin chair several yards away. The progress bar was almost a third of the way filled. SENDING MESSAGE: 29% COMPLETE The tattooed man was now walking slow circles around the square altar, swinging a lit censer and chanting to himself. Thick puffs of white smoke swirled up toward the skylight. The man's eyes were wide now, and he seemed to be in a demonic trance. Peter turned his gaze to the ancient knife that sat waiting on the white silk cloth spread across the altar. Peter Solomon had no doubt that he would die in this temple tonight. The question was how to die. Would he find a way to save his sister and his brotherhood . . . or would his death be entirely in vain? He glanced down at the grid of symbols. When he had first laid eyes on the grid, the shock of the moment had blinded him . . . preventing his vision from piercing the veil of chaos . . . to glimpse the startling truth. Now, however, the real significance of these symbols had become crystal clear to him. He had seen the grid in an entirely new light. Peter Solomon knew exactly what he needed to do. Taking a deep breath, he gazed up at the moon through the oculus above. Then he began to speak. All great truths are simple. Mal'akh had learned that long ago. The solution that Peter Solomon was now explaining was so graceful and pure that Mal'akh was sure that it could only be true. Incredibly, the solution to the pyramid's final code was far simpler than he had ever imagined. The Lost Word was right before my eyes. In an instant, a bright ray of light pierced the murkiness of the history and myth surrounding the Lost Word. As promised, the Lost Word was indeed written in an ancient language and bore mystical power in every philosophy, religion, and science ever known to man. Alchemy, astrology, Kabbalah, Christianity, Buddhism, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, astronomy, physics, Noetics . . . Standing now in this initiation chamber atop the great pyramid of Heredom, Mal'akh gazed upon the treasure he had sought all these years, and he knew he could not have prepared himself more perfectly. Soon I am complete. The Lost Word is found. In Kalorama Heights, a lone CIA agent stood amid a sea of garbage that he had dumped out of the trash bins that had been found in the garage. â€Å"Ms. Kaye?† he said, speaking to Sato's analyst on the phone. â€Å"Good thinking to search his garbage. I think I just found something.† Inside the house, Katherine Solomon was feeling stronger with every passing moment. The infusion of lactated Ringer's solution had successfully raised her blood pressure and quelled her throbbing headache. She was resting now, seated in the dining room, with explicit instructions to remain still. Her nerves felt frayed, and she was increasingly anxious for news about her brother. Where is everybody? The CIA's forensics team had not yet arrived, and the agent who had stayed behind was still off searching the premises. Bellamy had been sitting with her in the dining room, still wrapped in a foil blanket, but he, too, had wandered off to look for any information that might help the CIA save Peter. Unable to sit idly, Katherine pulled herself to her feet, teetered, and then inched slowly toward the living room. She found Bellamy in the study. The Architect was standing at an open drawer, his back to her, apparently too engrossed in its contents to hear her enter. She walked up behind him. â€Å"Warren?† The old man lurched and turned, quickly shutting the drawer with his hip. His face was lined with shock and grief, his cheeks streaked with tears. â€Å"What's wrong?!† She glanced down at the drawer. â€Å"What is it?† Bellamy seemed unable to speak. He had the look of a man who had just seen something he deeply wished he had not. â€Å"What's in the drawer?† she demanded. Bellamy's tear-filled eyes held hers for a long, sorrowful moment. Finally he spoke. â€Å"You and I wondered why . . . why this man seemed to hate your family.† Katherine's brow furrowed. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"Well . . .† Bellamy's voice caught. â€Å"I just found the answer.†

102 Visual Rhetoric Professor Ramos Blog

102 Visual Rhetoric Quick Write Quick Write Think about how you engage with media in an average day. Write for three minutes listing where you encounter the various visual forms. 1. We live in a Visual Culture We live in a visual culture. We are saturated in images at nearly every moment of our waking lives. For this reason, it is important to develop critical thinking skills that allow us to read images. I challenge you to engage with images actively instead of passively. Take the images apart in order to understand their messages. Accept, reject, or qualify those claims. This week, you can find an image you find interesting or provocative in some way to use for your weekly journal response. 2. Visual Media as Texts Learning to read images, deconstruct, and engage with them will make us better readers of texts, and vice versa. Visual materials that accompany written arguments serve several purposes. First, they appeal to the reader’s emotions. While images can be logical, they first appeal to the senses of the reader before they are analyzed more logically. In other words, their immediate impact is more on the viewer’s heart than the mind. Pictures can also serve as visual evidence, establishing proof that something occurred or appeared in a certain way. Pictures can help clarify data with graphs and tables and can also be used to confuse or trick an audience with graphs and tables. Pictures can add humor or satire to an argument. Visual images can be read as text, as such we need to think critically about them. Looking closely we can discern not only what they show but also how and why. Appeals to Emotion Images can be used to instill an emotional response in the audience. Even implied images in texts can be very emotionally powerful. A description of blood stained clothes draws certain emotions in a reader. Lawyers know how important visuals can be. They dress their defendants in suits and ties to make them seem more credible. Types of emotional appeals: appeal to pity appeal to fear appeal to self-interest Sexual bandwagon humor celebrity testimonials identity prejudice lifestyle stereotypes patriotic Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not Reason. – Benjamin Franklin Misleading Visuals http://callingbullshit.org/tools.html Seeing vs Looking â€Å"Seeing is a physiological process involving light, the eye, and the brain† (144). â€Å"Looking is a social process involving the mind† (144). Seeing is denotative, literal. Looking is connotative, figurative. The example the book gives is of an apple. The difference is the definition of an apple versus what that apple represents or symbolizes in our society. What do apples signify in our society? Page 147 in our textbook has a checklist for analyzing images. Images as Arguments Images can be used to help us see the argument that the author is intending. They can be used to lower our skepticism, visual proof of something that happened. This is problematic nowadays with the popularity of programs such as Photoshop, where images can be changed or manipulated. Now more than ever, we have to be weary of taking images at face value. We have to critically think about images and their intended effect. Three basic questions we can ask. Who produced the image? Who distributed the image? Who consumed the image? Our textbook suggests a rule for writers. If you think that pictures will help you make the point you are arguing, include them with captions explaining their sources and relevance. I Have a Dream Speech The now famous speech â€Å"I have a Dream† by Dr. Martin Luther King was aided by visuals when it was delivered. He is at the Washington Monument, speaking to hundreds of thousands, smiling and waving. Behind him is the Lincoln Memorial. In this Aug. 28, 1963, black-and-white file photo Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, addresses marchers during his â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The 45th anniversary of the iconic leader’s most memorable speech coincides with the day when another African-American leader, Barack Obama, is scheduled to makes a historic speech of his own, accepting the Democratic Party’s nomination for president of the United States Aug. 28, 2008, in Denver, Colo. (AP Photo/File) This image shows him speaking with people and some police behind him. The image you choose to use will add meaning to your text. Be careful which images you choose. What does it say if we use his mug shot from one of the many protests he was arrested at? Or this one. Have you ever seen this image of Dr. King? Or this one? Time’s Man of the Year 1964 The image your choose can help your audience understand your argument. Image Analysis Take a couple minutes and analyze this image.

70+ Plot Twist Ideas and Examples To Blow Your Readers Away

70+ Plot Twist Ideas and Examples To Blow Your Readers Away 70+ Plot Twist Ideas and Examples Guaranteed to Blow Your Mind Away As R.L. Stine once said, â€Å"Every story ever told can be broken down into three parts. The beginning. The middle. And the plot twist.†The legendary plot twist is a staple in almost every genre and medium of storytelling - one that’s fun to read but hard to write. To help you become a veritable Chubby Checker, here's a definitive resource that's all about the art of the twist.What is a plot twist?A plot twist is a story development that readers do not expect in which either something shocking happens or something shocking is revealed. Generally, the storyteller will set up expectations and then "twist" those expectations by revealing new information through subsequent plot points.The criteria for a plot twist tends to be made up of the following:It must be narratively sound,It must be unexpected, andIt might be foreshadowed.To no-one’s surprise, plot twists are particularly prevalent in mysteries, thrillers, and suspense fiction. However, the twist takes no pr isoners and has reared its head in almost every genre out there, which brings us to†¦Want to read some of the best, most twisted thrillers and suspense books out there? Check out these 50 best suspense books of all time, or our list of  23 psychological thrillers that will make your head spin.50+ plot twist ideas in pop cultureIf you seek inspiration for crafting your own twists, there’s no better place to start than with some of the most popular unexpected plot-turns in film and literature. But be warned: there be spoilers ahead. With that in mind, here are over 50 examples of plot twists in film and literature. Just in: SEVENTY plot twist ideas to fuel your story! I Am Your FatherMum’s the word when it comes to family secrets, right? Not so fast. This is the plot twist that concerns a revelation about the key character’s family. It could be that there is a surprising reveal regarding parentage - or perhaps it’s uncovered that the protagonist was an orphan all along.Made legendary by Star Wars, this type of plot twist is nevertheless widespread in all genres and mediums, as there’s no drama quite like family drama. As George Carlin once said: â€Å"The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. In a pivotal battle, Luke discovers that Darth Vader, his ultimate nemesis, is actually his father.Angels Demons. Robert Langdon is shocked by the revelation that the late pope’s aide is actually His Holyness’s’s son - conceived through artificial insemination.Shutter Island. During an investigation of a disap pearance from a remote asylum, U.S. Marshal Edward â€Å"Teddy† Daniels realizes that he himself is the missing patient - and the husband and murderer of the woman that he had been trying to locate.More plot twist examples of this flavor:The Man From Earth. Right before he dies from a heart attack, Will learns that the unaging Professor John Oldman is actually his father.Oldboy.   Mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-su falls in love with a young restaurant chef who is later revealed to be his daughter.The Kite Runner. Amir has mixed feelings when he discovers that his closest childhood friend, Hassan, is his half-brother.The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy is befuddled to discover that the Wizard of Oz is a middle-aged man using a microphone.The Prestige. Robert Angier, a rival stage magician, doesn’t realize that â€Å"Alfred Borden† is actually a double act of twin brothers until it’s too late.Gossip Girl. The end of the series pans to a shot of Dan H umphrey, revealing that he was Gossip Girl all along.Did we say that there were only 55 examples in this list? Well, how about THIS twist: here are 15 more!10+ plot twist ideas for youNow that you have an idea of what plot twists look like, you might find it easier to write your own. But in case you’re still struggling to come up with a twist, here are some hypothetical scenarios to jumpstart your thinking.56. CHARACTER A is persuaded by CHARACTER B that it is all a dream - when it’s actually not.57. A gift from CHARACTER B to CHARACTER A is really a trap.58. It is revealed that the NARRATOR is Death.59. An ARCHAEOLOGIST at a dig comes across his own skeleton.60. CHARACTER A discovers the real identity of CHARACTER B through an old yearbook.61. It is revealed that all the sounds that CHARACTER A has heard throughout his life has been inside his own head.62. CHARACTER A believes he is in Hell. It’s actually Earth.63. It is revealed that CHARACTER A and CHARACTER B are not themselves because they were body-swapped.64. CHARACTER A is informed that the previous events were actually part of an alternate reality simulation.65. It is revealed that SANTA CLAUS is real.66. A promise that CHARACTER A and CHARACTER B made when they were children is not really what they think it to be.67. CHARACTER A is set up with CHARACTER B, a rich politician, and finds herself falling in love with CHARACTER B’S GIRLFRIEND.68. CHARACTER A goes on a series of blind dates without realizing that it is all being filmed for the next experimental season of The Bachelor.69. A key strength of CHARACTER A becomes a key weakness.70. CHARACTER A experiences puzzling and unexplained flashbacks because she is the reincarnation of GEORGE WASHINGTON.Now, over to youA well-written plot twist makes for some of the most exciting, mind-blowing, and dramatic stories in history, which is why it’s so important to get it right. Here’s the second plot twist for this post: it’s now up to you to write your own.And before you go, here’s one more: you don’t have to be alone when writing it. Leave your best (or favorite) plot twists below in the comments, and we’ll reply to every one of them!Are you writing your own plot twists? How is it going? If you'd like to share your experiences or bounce ideas off of us, just comment below.

Should minors who commit violent crimes be tried as adults Research Paper - 1

Should minors who commit violent crimes be tried as adults - Research Paper Example Has there been a day that a war was crucial in the reputation of a nation and the adults did not reach a decision to give them weapons? This is a clear line drawn between the adults and minors, why then should we conclude that this case is different and this minor deserves equal treatment as adults and be locked away in prisons with the grownups (Bernard, 2010). For years now, history has come to the defense of the minors, nations that have attempted to recruit children in warfare have had the leaders tried or sanctioned. This case has also cut across decades where children have had to face the juvenile system. Why then change this after having proven productive for ages. Currently, the status of this dilemma stipulates that they should be tried separately although there are lawmakers who insist otherwise. Research conducted recently has demonstrated that transfer of minors from the juvenile courts to adult courts has not reached the goal of lowering recidivism, on the contrary, it aggravates the situation by making the crimes increase. The minors have always positioned minors for redemption and reform. Juvenile detention facilities possess the same programs implemented to assist in the reformation process unlike the prisons (Bernard, 2010). Trying them as adults would hurt the economy, some of the verdicts would mean life imprisonments, what good does this do where they feed and pay salary to wardens for their entire life whereas the juvenile facilities would have reformed them and brought them back to the society to be beneficial to entire economy. Minors introduced to the prison system have their social lives terminated and altered to a direction that would otherwise not have been acquired if it were for the juvenile facility. Basically, it is unethical to see children as young as 13 undergo the same hard task and punishment as the seniors, prisons are not friendly places

Cry, the Beloved Country Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cry, the Beloved Country - Essay Example The novel’s setting is in South Africa. This article will review a clear plot of the novel by including some short text quotes. The essay will also discuss some of the themes portrayed by the main character in the novel. The novel was published before the apartheid system was implemented in South Africa. Basing on the book, one can tell that the village dwellers led a desolate life. The setting of the story is in South Africa where the main themes of the book are presented. Paton portrays the book as a social gripe against the societal structures that later led to the rise of apartheid (Paton 1). In his view, he tries to establish a purposeful analysis of what is entailed in the black society. According to his judgment, the black society endured from moral concerns and social volatility while, on the other hand, the whites were affected by native crime. These factors were influenced by the breakdown of the tribal organization, crime and migration of individuals to urban center s (Paton 1). The book’s chronicles reveal Paton’s message through themes like reconciliation, inequality, injustice and Christianity. Paton clearly reveals how reconciliation between members of a family is of vitality in reuniting the family members. On the one hand, inequity and injustice are based on the same category whereby, these issues are prevalent in the setting of the book. Paton presents the village life as desolate since the local government was not funding community projects in the area. In essence, the whites had brought tragedy to their homeland. Paton states â€Å"The tragedy is not that things are broken. The tragedy is that they are not mended again. The white man has broken the tribe† (Paton 23). This was a revelation of how tragic the whites had turned out to be even in countries inhabited by the Africans. In addition, Paton also features on the detrimental effects of the characters fear in relation with the South African society. He presents the fear in his characters in chapter 12 where he says, â€Å"For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much†. Even though fear is prevalent in this society, some characters were able to overcome it through their abilities. The portrayal of Stephen Kumalo in the novel depicts his courageous nature while facing worldly challenges. This can be established from his search of Gertrude; his immoral sister, and his son who was involved in murder and other shameful acts in the city of Johannesburg. The book presents this as a journey for Stephen when Paton writes â€Å"The journey had begun. And now the fear back again, the fear of the unknown, the fear of the great city where boys were killed crossing the street, the fear of Gertrude’s sickness† (Paton 13). The narrator shows the Christian religion in the novel as a significant theme that was incorporated in the strangles of injustice. This reveals quite a vital lesson to readers in general. The presentation of Chr istianity in the setting of this publication was unjust and also resulted from the invasion of the whites in the country. Even though the religion factor helped characters like Stephen to face tremendous hardships, the religious world was incorporated in unjust ways. Paton is quick to reveal the unjust acts involved in Christianity. He notes that the black priests were paid less wages as compared to whites. This reveals that even though the white priests were living luxurious lives, they were rooted in injustice. These acts had placed the needy community in the wrong leadership hands. In