The forgotten group memeber case Essay Example

The forgotten group memeber case Essay Example The forgotten group memeber case Essay The forgotten group memeber case Essay Essay Topic: Sociology The facilitator, Christine, is assumed to embrace the same roles and adhere to the equivalent theories defined for a leader. Also, it is believed that the principles taught within Professor Rasmussens Organizational Behaviour class are consistent with those discussed by Dr. Keeping. The outcomes associated with the alternative solutions are based upon the likelihood of their interpretations within the group meeting corresponding with our interpretations of the theories utilized and are not explicitly applied with certainty. Statement of the Problem Due to lack of: clearly defined team roles, demonstrated leadership qualities, effort by all members and acknowledgment of communication barriers, conflict was imminent within the group. Immediate problems to be addressed by all members of the group include Janets feelings of exclusion from the group and Christines lack of insight into the apparent causes of Janets loss of motivation to be a group member. Professor Rasmussen must decide whether to resolve the feelings of inequality between the group members and if delegating a further assignment to Janet is appropriate. Analysis of the Problem As stated in the course outline received by all students at the commencement of the term, group work is considered to be the primary medium through which applying the theories learned in class is to be implemented. Causes of animosity within the group may be attributed to group dynamics, norm formation, leadership inefficiencies, perceptions, conscientiousness and communication barriers. As explained by Professor Rasmussen during the second class, all groups undergo four stages of interaction: forming, norming, storming and performing1. These four phases are also referred to as mutual acceptance, communication and decision making, motivation and productivity and control and organization. Interaction amongst those who have had no previous relations together is facilitated through the first stage; where personal preferences and work schedules are exchanged, strengths and weaknesses made apparent and expectations clarified2. The first group meeting held was used to recognize these necessities. The second stage, where norms, goals and performance ideals are mutually established through discussion, should not occur without careful consideration and input by all members. The formation of the group failed to fully complete this stage however, allowing the ambiguous actions of members to be perceived incongruently. Norms are behaviours that social groups deem proper when interacting, so that actions may be consistent and activities made predictable3. To be effective, all must clearly understand and adhere to these expectations for there to be cohesiveness. At the commencement of the semester, Professor Rasmussen defined his norms for the groups and required all students to sign a contract, indicating that all expectations have been acknowledged. Unfortunately, within Christines group, not all members abided by the norms. One member in particular, Janet, failed to fulfill the contract to its fullest extent, however, one should not fault the lack of cohesiveness strictly to Janet. The group accepted the norms delivered by Professor Rasmussen but did not redefine or set out norms to be suitable for them selves. Nor was the contract or its contents reviewed during the group meetings. Therefore, it may be inferred that the group failed to establish strict rules or guidelines, causing the situation they are presently in. Christine, as facilitator, should have ensured that the norms were set as they are a vital aspect of a successful group4. Christines style of leadership throughout this situation may be described using the theory of Leader-Member Exchange. This theory focuses upon the unique relations between a leader and their subordinates. Greater personality similarities contribute to closer relations, allowing for stronger bonds to be forged5. These strong personality connections cause the subordinate to be designated a member of the ingroup. The ingroup consists of those who receive special preferences such as inclusion within social activities that occur outside of the organization. Those subordinates who do not receive this special treatment are considered the outgroup members. As facilitator, Christine did not form a strong inter-personal relationship with Janet, her subordinate. As sole member of the outgroup, Janet did not satisfy the need to relate to her colleagues as defined by ERG; a theory first proposed by Clayton Alderfer that defines the needs of existence, relatedness and growth as essential to human motivation. The need of relatedness is the ability to identify with ones peers and establishing a sense of belongingness6. Janet was not able to experience the cohesiveness established through the extracurricular social interactions. The rest of the members were able to receive these benefits and become highly cohesive due to their designated statuses as members of the ingroup. Because Janet was excluded from the ingroup and was allocated to the outgroup, she was lead to encompass unmotivated behaviours. She was lead to feel unmotivated, as she was a victim of the fundamental attribution error principle. This theory states that one may have their preferences and ideals seen as the primary cause of their actions although situational attributions may be the proper cause7. Janet experienced this bias by the members of her group, as she chose to help her boyfriend with his project instead of meeting with the group at the designated time, as she previously agreed to. From her perspective, she did not intentionally choose to spend the allotted time with her boyfriend, however the group feels that her actions were a blatant attempt to avoid contributing further. This principle was also used by Janet, as she attributed Christines lack of social inclusion to the general dislike of her personality. Due to the diverse personality composition of the group, it is imperative that the leader manages the situation with care to ensure that conflicting ideals do not affect the groups cohesiveness. Stereotypes attributed amongst the members of the group lead to distrust as well as communication problems. A leader must recognize these issues and allocate the required time towards helping the group unify8. When Christine first met with her group, she made stereotypical assumptions about each individual based upon her first impressions and the brief biographies supplied to her. One may describe representativeness heuristics as a method in which a person evaluates others based on characteristics or previous occurrences9. Christine utilizes this principle when she assumes that Janet is unmotivated and uninterested with the group project; as she was late to the first meeting and mentioned all her free time was spent with her boyfriend. This causes the group to feel as though Janet does not want to work with them, which leads her to feel unwelcome. Although Janet has contributed her allotted portion of the assignment, Christine still holds negative feelings due to selective perception10; the ability to omit information, which does not correspond to, established beliefs. Despite the fact that Janet was a fully contributing member, the group continued to hold a negative bias due to her lack of social activity. Also, Mike had the tendency to put forth less effort than other group members, which is looked upon as free riding. A free rider is one who tries to maximize their outputs while minimizing their level of inputs11. Due to his lack of focus and recurring need to bring humour to all situations, Mike is seen as a fully contributing member because of his constant presence. Christines lack of leadership contributed to the differing ways in which each individual was treated, causing the group to have a lack of respect for her position. A persons conscientiousness defines the range of tasks they wish to sustain and the variety of activities in which they chose to involve themselves. A person who appears to focus on effectively completing a small number of goals is viewed as displaying high-conscientiousness. They value the characteristics being responsible, organized and self-disciplined. Anchored at the opposing end of the continuum are those whom are regarded as exhibiting low-conscientiousness. They apply themselves to a large number of responsibilities that often cause them to become overwhelmed by the volume and incapable of applying the effort required. People within this category tend to be careless, irresponsible and lack self-sufficiency12. In applying this theory to the case, it is apparent that Janet tends demonstrate characteristics consistent with a less-conscientious person. She is studying at a university, maintaining two jobs and is fully committed to a serious relationship. Therefore, Janets time is greatly consumed with a larger variety of activities than others within her peer group. This detracts from her performance in the group-case study. Communication is an essential element for coordinating efforts and sharing information within any interpersonal atmosphere13. Barriers to communication arose concerning Mikes free- riding tendencies and Janets failure to attend group meetings regularly due to Christines failure to fulfill the role of facilitator. Instead of avoiding the conflict, Christine should have resolved the issues as they became apparent, for they caused stronger concentration upon Janets individualized status.

Spanish Word Order in Forming Sentences

Spanish Word Order in Forming Sentences Compared with English, Spanish allows considerable latitude in the word order of sentences. Whereas in English, most simple sentences are formed in the pattern of subject, verb, then object, in Spanish any one of those sentence parts can come first. Word Order in Simple Spanish Statements As a general rule, it is almost never wrong to follow the common sentence structure of subject-verb-object (known to grammarians as SVO). Note,however, that in Spanish it also common for object pronouns to come before verbs or be attached to them if the verb is an infinitive or command. But while English allows variation primarily for questions and poetic effect, in Spanish ordinary statements can start with the subject, the verb or the object. In fact, starting a statement with the verb is very common. For example, all the following sentence constructions are possible as a translation of Diana wrote this novel: Diana escribià ³ esta novela. (Subject comes first.)Escribià ³ Diana esta novela. (Verb comes first.)Esta novela la escribià ³ Diana. (Object comes first. In this construction, an object pronoun is often added to help avoid ambiguity. This sentence order is far less common than the first two.) So do all those sentences mean the same thing? Yes and no. The difference is subtle (in fact, sometimes there is no substantive difference), but the choice of wording can be a matter of emphasis rather than something that might come across in a translation. In spoken English, such differences are often a matter of intonation (which also occurs in Spanish); in written English we sometimes use italics to indicate emphasis. In the first sentence, for example, the emphasis is on Diana: Diana wrote this novel. Perhaps the speaker is expressing surprise or pride about Dianas accomplishment. In the second sentence the emphasis is on the writing: Diana wrote this novel. (Perhaps a better example might be something like this: No pueden escribir los alumnos de su clase. The students in his class cant write.) In the final example, the emphasis is on what Diana wrote: Diana wrote this novel. Word Order in Simple Spanish Questions In Spanish questions, the subject almost always comes after the verb.  ¿Escribià ³ Diana esta novela? (Did Diana write this novel?)  ¿Quà © escribià ³ Diana? (What did Diana write?) Although it is possible in informal speech to phrase a question like a statement as can be done in English -  ¿Diana escribià ³ esta novela? Diana wrote this novel? - this is seldom done in writing. Omitting the Subject in Spanish Although in standard English the subject of a sentence can be omitted only in commands, in Spanish the subject can be omitted if it is understood from the context. See how the subject can be omitted in the second sentence here because the first subject provides the context. Diana es mi hija. Escribià ³ esta novela. (Diana is my daughter. She wrote this novel.) In other words, it is not necessary in the second sentence to provide ella, the word for she. Word Order in Sentences Including a Relative Clause A common word order that may seem unfamiliar to English speakers involves subjects include a relative clause- a sentence fragment that includes a noun and verb and typically begins with a relative pronoun such as that or which in English or que in Spanish. Spanish speakers tend to avoid placing verbs far away from the subject, forcing them to invert the subject-verb order. The tendency can best be explained with an example: English: A cellphone that I had in order to make videos disappeared. (The subject of his sentence is cellphone, which is described by that I had in order to make videos. This sentence may seem somewhat awkward in English because of so many intervening words between the subject and verb, but there is no way to avoid the problem without making an even clumsier sentence.)Spanish: Desaparecià ³ un mà ³vil que yo tenà ­a para realizar và ­deos. (By putting the verb, desparecià ³, first, it can come next to un mà ³vil. Although it would be possible to roughly follow the English word order here, doing so would seem awkward at best to a native speaker.) Here are three more examples that use similar patterns. The sentence subjects and verbs are in boldface to show how they are closer in Spanish: Ganà ³ el equipo que lo merecià ³. (The team that deserved it won.)Obtienen trabajo las personas que ya muchos aà ±os de experiencia laboral. (Persons who already have many years of work experience get jobs.)Pierden peso los que disfrutan de correr. (Those who like to run lose weight.) Key Takeaways A subject-verb-object word order is usual in both Spanish and English simple statements, but Spanish speakers are more likely to modify the word order as a way of changing emphasis.In both English and Spanish questions, the verb typically comes before the subject.Spanish speakers often place the verb of a sentence first when the subject includes a relative clause.

Promoting Individual Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Promoting Individual Health - Essay Example The plan is based on providing knowledge and awareness of the ethical issues associated with health and especially the inherent. In the given plan, a specific scenario of Erick is looked at. Erick is suffering from Autism Spectrum. The plan thus analyses the causes of his behaviour and seeks to link it to the causes of the health promotion as well as providing teaching lessons to his parents on the importance of health promotion, how to adapt to the current situation of their son and finally, Erick’s learning because of disability. In addition, the plan analyses the position of the parents of Erick and especially the case of Molly. The plan is very important since it equips an individual with psychosocial behaviour that affects the wellness of an individual in terms of behaviour, cognitive abilities, environmentally among many more (Rappaport & Seidman 2000, p. 171). A scenario of Erick is chosen to be used as a point of reference. Erick is a son of Molly and James. His mother, Molly, suffers from diabetes and his father, James, works as a driver, driving long distance vehicles and thus he is rarely at home. Eric has a learning disorder, though mild. He also suffers a little in the autistic spectrum. He often gets frustrated and as a result, throws anger tantrums at the fellow students and teachers, especially when he goes to school whereby he attends a mainstream school. Autistic spectrum refers to the conditions that an individual suffers from that majorly affects the communication by an individual, their interests, social interaction and also affects the behaviour of an individual (Pandora 2006, p. 96). In addition, the autism spectrum also includes childhood autism and Asperger syndrome. The condition may not show its symptoms immediately, but after some time. The condition of Eric has been contributed by several psychosocial

Eating disorders Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Eating disorders - Annotated Bibliography Example Mainly, people lack awareness of these disorders or they are ashamed of discussing their symptoms with other people (Becker et al 1999, p. 1092). According to the authors, these disorders mainly occur in young women who are in adolescent age. Nevertheless, 40 percent of binge-eating problem appears in young men and boys. The authors insist that the disorders are prevalent in societies that are highly developed in comparison to undeveloped societies. The occurrence is also along socioeconomic classes. According to the authors, the disorders appear to be caused by genetic, psycho-developmental and also social-cultural aspects of a person. They also argue that in some cases eating disorders may cause depression which may result to suicide by the individual. Treatment of eating disorders can be through outpatient management and medical treatment. Although outpatient setting is more adequate in critical cases, inpatient care is more appropriate. Some of the indications of inpatient care include; extreme loss of weight which is rapid. On the other hand, high risk of suicide and acute medical disorders are symptoms of outpatient treatment (Becker et al 1999, p. 1092). The authors insist that medical treatment mainly aim at both preventing and correcting the complications of excess weight and purging. Treatment also occur routinely mainly involving educating the patients on the importance of taking a keen notice on the symptoms and monitoring any body weight change. Educating about how to adjust nutrition and caloric intake is also an important aspect in medical treatment. This treatment involves individual, group and family support for the task to be successful (Becker et al 1999, p. 1095). The authors also propose that psychiatric treatment approaches can play an important part in treating people with eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is a condition that responds well family therapy. Interpersonal interaction is also

Tourture Or Not To Tourture Essay Example for Free

Tourture Or Not To Tourture Essay The case presented points out a terrorist that has entrenched bombs in several places of the city. He is not ready to reveal the positions of the bombs that he has planted. These bombs well explode shortly being a cause of the death of many innocent lives. The terrorists is not willing to disclose the where he has implanted the bombs using any of the standard procedures. The last option the authorities think is left is torturing the terrorist blameless wife. The authorities think using torture will be an appropriate solution to make the terrorist disclose the location of the concealed bombs. The scenario presented is incredibly sensitive one; taking any decision regarding this case seems morally incorrect. Due to the blast, if innocent people are killed without any reason that seems immoral. While if the blameless wife of the terrorist is tormented for no apparent reason that also seems unethical. Still if I had to make a decision, I would agree with the authorities to torture the wife of the terrorist. As I believe saving the lives of hundreds of people is more essential rather than doing injustice a single person. Although torturing seems an unethical tactic to use but the outcome that will be generated will be that the lives of hundreds will be saved. If we focus our attention on the results, the agony of one individual does not seem such a ghastly alternative to choose. The decision taken is falling in line with doing evil but for a noble cause. This preference is based on the utilitarian approach which is associated with providing with the The greatest happiness for the greatest number It talks about those ideas that should be adopted which leads to the betterment for the maximum number of citizens. In the utilitarian approach the appropriateness of the decision is determined by the outcome. You can use morally incorrect ways in this approach, as long as the outcome of the idea is righteous. It is summarized as â€Å"the ends justify the means for a decision† in the deontological approach the ethical law is provided the greatest weight as apposed to the consequences of the outcome which is the case in utilitarian. This ethical philosophy cannot be applicable in all cases as diverse cases have to be dealt in a distinctive fashion. (Wikipedia) Lets consider another case if ten people were traveling in a boat and due to the boat being over loaded it was sinking. If some weight was removed from the boat, that is if two people were thrown out of the boat, the boat would be prevented from sinking. Considering the utilitarian approach, it suggests that we should choose the alternative of throwing two peolple out of the boat. It gives its justification on the basis it is better to save the lives of eight people rather to leave them all to die. Although it seems morally incorrect to do this but the outcome is better for the majority of people. Utilitarianism has a very elevated ethical opinion; it supports the contentment of all, even if an individual has to pay for it.   An appropriate case in point was pointed out by Jonathon Glover is that even if a person has a lot of money and with that he can go on a tour to Europe. But the utilitarian approach suggests the â€Å"greatest good for the greatest people† hence instead of that person going on a tour he will donate the money for charity to help the greatest number of people. (â€Å"Utilitarianism and its critics† by Jonathon Glover.) Similarly in this case it is morally objectionable to make the terrorist’s wife to suffer, but a crucial step to take. Since not taking this step will lead to a disaster of hundreds being murdered, this seems morally disgusting. So the success will be in following the utilitarian approach in which most horrible scenario can be avoided. If we do not torment one person and let hundreds being killed as a result that seems a much dreadful end result than torturing one person in order to save the lives of hundreds. Hence the torturing of one person can be justified in this case as that is the only way the terrorist will reveal the exact location of the bombs and the innocent public can be saved from being ruthlessly slaughtered. The utilitarian philosophy emphasizes on accepting the least terrible proposal in comparison with the worst proposal, which is being followed in the cases mentioned above. Reference: Bentham, Jeremy (2007). The Classical Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill. Hackett Publishing Company.

Manic Hamlet in Shakespeares Hamlet :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet

Manic Hamlet      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Manic: affected by violent madness . When one is affected by mania it becomes the dictator of his or her actions .   This holds true in William Shakespeare's Hamlet . In the play, Hamlet is depressed to the point of mania. His entire existence is engulfed in his melancholia.   Hamlet's words, thoughts, interactions and most tangibly his actions make his heavy-heartedness an undeniable reality. The degree of Hamlet 's depression is set by his ennui and his melancholy itself is revealed through his tenacity. Throughout the play Hamlet's actions are plagued by his overbearing depression. This depression in combination with Hamlet's mania is what makes his a bipolar disorder sufferer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Psychologically, mania is described as a mood disorder characterized by euphoric states ,extreme physical activity ,excessive talkativeness, distractedness, and sometimes grandiosity. During manic periods a person becomes "high" extremely active , excessively talkative, and easily distracted. During these periods the affected person's self esteem is also often greatly inflated. These people often become aggressive and hostile to others as their self confidence becomes more and more inflated and exaggerated.   In extreme cases (like Hamlet's) the manic person may become consistently wild or violent until he or she reaches the point of exhaustion. Manic depressives often function on little or no sleep during their episodes.   Ã‚  Ã‚   At the opening of the play Hamlet is portrayed as a stable individual . He expresses disappointment in his mother for her seeming disregard for his father's death. His feelings are justified and his actions are rational at this point, he describes himself as being genuine. As this scene progresses it is revealed that Hamlet views himself as being weak: "My father's brother, but no more like my father/ than I to Hercules" (1.2.153) The doubts that Hamlet has concerning his heroism become particularly evident in his actions as the story progresses. These doubts are a major hindrance to his thoughts of revenge.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet wishes to avenge the murder of his father and rectify this great injustice. The conflict between his desire to seek revenge and his own thoughts of incompetence is the cause of his initial unrest. "Haste me to know't , that I , with wings as swift / As meditation or thoughts of love , / may sweep to my revenge (1.5.29-31).   Here Hamlet pleads to the Ghost of King Hamlet to reveal the name of his murderer.

Business value

There is increasing pressure on business to be more flexible and to deliver products and services to customers quickly. IT practices often inhibit these business goals. IT is expected to deliver both cheap, reliable operations AND create new business value. These goals can get confused by both business and IT leaders and leadership can mix these up when evaluating IT or when doing IT planning and budgeting. IT is a key player in delivering most business strategies these days. Too often, IT leaders see â€Å"getting to know the business† as secondary to almost every other IT Issue, such as planning and architecture.Spending time In the business Is seen as a â€Å"boondoggle. † â€Å"Technocrats† Is confusing and frustrating for business. This can work against IT plans and strategies because business leaders don't understand how these plans/strategies relate to their own needs, Issues, and strategies. Business expects IT communication to be In business language. 1. How effective is the partnership between IT and the business at Hefty Hardware? Identify the shortcomings of both IT and the business. DB 2. Create a plan for how IT and the business can work collaboratively to deliver theSway Store program successfully. DB Synopsis This case highlights a retail firm struggling to make sense of the increasing criticality of Information technology (IT) to the business and the value IT is currently delivering. Torn between â€Å"keeping the lights on† and â€Å"delivering new products and services to customers†, successive Close have failed to connect effectively with their business partners despite seemingly effective relationships at the mid-management level. How to collaborate effectively with the business at all levels remains the key IT challenge.

What +-Motivates Me

Different things motivate me to learn. I can relate to Sara’s story because I am about the same way when it comes to learning or doing something. I need to know I am going to gain something from it. I know that going back to school and getting my degree will better help my me get a better career and will benefit my family in the long run. I see myself making goals and visualizing me with my degree as Chris does with his â€Å"finish line† visual. I always prepare myself for something coming up and slowing me down which it has in the past. Real life experiences have knocked me down more than once and I can justify with Fred’s story on future and past experiences. I have been laid off first because I had no degree in my past and I look back at that and it motivates me a great deal to keep going forward with school. I like to learn new stuff and accept challenges in a new job or learning something new just like Jamie in her story. I think what content that motivates me the most me the most to learn is Practical context. It is hard for me to just go do something without knowing I am going to benefit from it. I am the type that has to have someone push me or set me straight. For example I went on a job interview and they really liked my experience and skills but told me I wasn’t going to work out because they needed someone with a BA degree and told me that once I got so many credits under my belt they would consider me in the future if a spot is available. I have seen several job postings and they want you to have college credits. I know if I get my degree I am going to gain a lot from it and that motivates me to get out there, learn and move forward. Personal context is something I can also relate to motivate me to learn because I always visualize me getting that degree and starting my career as a Social worker or a Parole officer, so when I actually see myself doing this I get motivated and excited to do my classes. If I ever have doubt or think I can’t, I really just visualize how it will be and it helps me.

Lustreware - Medieval Islamic Pottery Technique

Lustreware - Medieval Islamic Pottery Technique Lustreware (less commonly spelled lusterware) is a ceramic decorative technique invented by 9th century C.E. Abbasid potters of the Islamic Civilization, in what is today Iraq. The potters believed that making lustreware was true  alchemy  because the process involves using a lead-based glaze and silver and copper paint to create a golden shine on a pot that contains no gold. Chronology of Lustreware Abbasid 8th c -1000 Basra, IraqFatimid 1000-1170 Fustat, EgyptTell Minis 1170-1258 Raqqa, SyriaKashan 1170-present Kashan, IranSpanish (?)1170-present Malaga, SpainDamascus 1258-1401 Damascus, Syria Lustreware and the Tang Dynasty Lustreware grew out of an existing ceramic technology in Iraq, but its earliest form was clearly influenced by Tang dynasty potters from China, whose art was first seen by those of Islam through trade and diplomacy along the vast trade network called the Silk Road. As a result of ongoing battles for control of the Silk Road connecting China and the West, a group of Tang dynasty potters and other craftsmen were captured and held in Baghdad between 751 and 762 C.E. One of the captives was the Tang Dynasty Chinese craftsman Tou-Houan. Tou was among those artisans captured from their workshops near Samarkand by members of the Islamic Abbasid Dynasty after the Battle of Talas in 751 C.E. These men were brought to Baghdad where they stayed and worked for their Islamic captors for some years. When he returned to China, Tou wrote to the emperor that he and his colleagues taught the Abbasid craftsmen the important techniques of paper-making, textile manufacture, and gold-working. He didnt mention ceramics to the emperor, but scholars believe they also passed along how to make white glazes and the fine ceramic pottery called Samarra ware. They also likely passed along the secrets of silk-making, but thats another story entirely. What We Know of Lustreware The technique called lustreware developed over the centuries by a small group of potters who traveled within the Islamic state until the 12th century, when three separate groups began their own potteries. One member of the Abu Tahir family of potters was Abul Qasim bin Ali bin Muhammed bin Abu Tahir. In the 14th century, Abul Qasim was a court historian to the Mongol kings, where he wrote a number of treatises on various subjects. His best-known work is The Virtues of Jewels and the Delicacies of Perfume, which included a chapter on ceramics, and, most importantly, describes part of the recipe for lustreware. Abul Qasim wrote that the successful process involved painting copper and silver onto glazed vessels  and then refiring to produce the lustrous shine. The chemistry behind that alchemy was identified by a group of archaeologists and chemists, led by who reported Spains Universitat Polità ¨cnica de Catalunya researcher Trinitat Pradell, and discussed in detail in the Origins of Lustreware photo essay. The Science of Lusterware Alchemy Pradell and colleagues examined the chemical content of glazes and the resulting colored lusters of pots from the 9th through 12th centuries. Guiterrez et al. found that the golden metallic shine only occurs when there are dense nanoparticulated layers of glazes, several hundred nanometers thick, which enhance and broaden the reflectivity, shifting the color of the reflected light from blue to green-yellow (called a redshift). These shifts are only achieved with a high lead content, which potters deliberately increased over time from Abbasid (9th-10th centuries) to Fatimid (11th-12th centuries C.E.) luster productions. The addition of lead reduces the diffusivity of copper and silver in the glazes and helps the development of thinner luster layers with a high volume of nanoparticles. These studies show that although the Islamic potters may not have known about nanoparticles, they had tight control of their processes, refining their ancient alchemy by tweaking the recipe and production steps to achieve the best high reflecting golden shine. Sources Caiger-Smith A. 1985. Lustre Pottery: Technique, tradition, and innovation in Islam and the Western World. London: Faber and Faber. Caroscio M. 2010. Archaeological Data and Written Sources: Lustreware Production in Renaissance Italy, a Case Study. European Journal of Archaeology 13(2):217-244. Gutierrez PC, Pradell T, Molera J, Smith AD, Climent-Font A, and Tite MS. 2010. Color and Golden Shine of Silver Islamic Luster. Journal of the American Ceramic Society 93(8):2320-2328. Pradell, T. Temperature resolved reproduction of medieval luster. Applied Physics A, J. MoleraE. Pantos, et al., Volume 90, Issue 1, January 2008. Pradell T, Pavlov RS, Gutierrez PC, Climent-Font A, and Molera J. 2012. Composition, nanostructure, and optical properties of silver and silver-copper lusters. Journal of Applied Physics 112(5):054307-054310.

Cempoala - Totonac Capital and Ally of Hernan Cortes

Cempoala - Totonac Capital and Ally of Hernan Cortes Cempoala, also known as Zempoala or Cempolan, was the capital of the Totonacs, a pre-Columbian group that emigrated to the Gulf Coast of Mexico from the central Mexican highlands sometime before the Late Postclassic period. The name is a Nahuatl one, meaning twenty water or abundant water, a reference to the many rivers in the region. It was the first urban settlement encountered by the Spanish colonization forces in the early 16th century. The citys ruins lie near the mouth of the Actopan River about 8 kilometers (five miles) in from the Gulf of Mexico. When it was visited by Hernan Cortà ©s in 1519, the Spaniards found a huge population, estimated at between 80,000-120,000; it was the most populous city in the region.   Cempoala reached its fluorescence between the 12th and 16th century AD, after the previous capital El Tajin was abandoned after being invaded by Toltecan-Chichimecans. The City of Cempoala At its height during the late 15th century, Cempoalas population was organized into nine precincts. The urban core of Cempoala, which includes a monumental sector, covered a surface area of 12 hectares (~30 acres); housing for the citys population spread far beyond that. The urban center was laid out in the way common  to Totonac regional urban centers, with many circular temples dedicated to the wind god Ehecatl. There are 12 large, irregularly shaped walled compounds in the city center that contain the main public architecture, temples, shrines, palaces, and open plazas. The major compounds were composed of large temples bordered by platforms, which elevated the buildings above the flood level. The compound walls were not very high, serving as a symbolic function identifying the spaces which were not open to the public rather than for  defense purposes. Architecture at Cempoala Cempoalas central Mexican urban design and art reflect the norms of the central Mexican highlands, ideas which were reinforced by the late 15th-century Aztec dominance. Most of the architecture is built of river cobbles cemented together, and the buildings were roofed in perishable materials. Special structures such as temples, shrines, and elite residences had a masonry architecture built of cut stone. Important buildings include the Sun temple or Great Pyramid; the Quetzalcoatl temple; the Chimney Temple, which includes a series of semicircular pillars; the Temple of Charity (or Templo de las Caritas), named after the numerous stucco skulls that adorned its walls; the Cross Temple, and the El Pimiento compound, which has exterior walls decorated with skull representations. Many of the buildings have platforms with multiple stories of low height and vertical profile. Most are rectangular with broad stairways. Sanctuaries were dedicated with polychrome designs on a white background. Agriculture The city was surrounded by an extensive canal system and a series of aqueducts which provided water to the farm fields around the urban center as well as the residential areas. This extensive canal system allowed water distribution to fields, diverting water from main river channels. The canals were part of (or built onto) a large wetland irrigation system that is thought to have been built during the Middle Postclassic [AD 1200-1400] period. The system included an area of sloping field terraces, on which the city grew cotton, maize, and agave. Cempoala used their surplus crops to participate in the Mesoamerican trade system, and historic records report that when famine struck the Valley of Mexico between 1450-1454, the Aztecs were forced to barter their children to Cempoala for maize stores. The urban Totonacs at Cempoala and other Totonac cities used home gardens (calmil), backyard gardens which provided domestic groups at the family or clan level with vegetables, fruits, spices, medicines, and fibers. They also had private orchards of cacao or fruit trees. This dispersed agrosystem gave the residents flexibility and autonomy, and, after the Aztec Empire took hold, allowed the homeowners to pay tributes. Ethnobotanist Ana Lid del Angel-Perez argues that the home gardens may also  have acted as a laboratory, where people tested and validated new crops and methods of growing. Cempoala Under the Aztecs and Cortà ©s In 1458, the Aztecs under the rule of Motecuhzoma I invaded the region of the Gulf Coast. Cempoala, among other cities, was subjugated and became a tributary of the Aztec empire. Tributary items demanded by the Aztecs in payment included cotton, maize, chili, feathers, gems, textiles, Zempoala-Pachuca (green) obsidian, and many other products. Hundreds of Cempoalas inhabitants became slaves. When the Spanish conquest arrived in 1519 on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Cempoala was one of the first cities visited by Cortà ©s. The Totonac ruler, hoping to break away from Aztec domination, soon became allies of Cortà ©s and his army. Cempoala was also the theater of the 1520 Battle of Cempoala between Cortà ©s and the captain Pnfilo de Narvaez, for the leadership in the Mexican conquest, which Cortà ©s handily won. After the Spanish arrival, smallpox, yellow fever, and malaria spread throughout Central America. Veracruz was among the earliest regions affected, and the population of Cempoala sharply declined. Eventually, the city was abandoned and the survivors moved to Xalapa, another important city of Veracruz. Cempoala Archaeological Zone Cempoala was first explored archaeologically at the end of the 19th century by Mexican scholar Francisco del Paso y Troncoso. American archaeologist Jesse Fewkes documented the site with photographs in 1905, and the first extensive studies were conducted by Mexican archaeologist Josà © Garcà ­a Payà ³n between the 1930s and 1970s. Modern excavations at the site were conducted by the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) between 1979-1981, and Cempoalas central core was recently mapped by photogrammetry (Mouget and Lucet 2014). The site is located on the eastern edge of the modern town of Cempoala, and it is open to visitors year-round. Sources Adams REW. 2005 [1977], Prehistoric Mesoamerica. Third Edition. Norman: University of Oklahoma PressBruggemann JK. 1991. Zempoala: El estudio de una ciudad prehispanica. Coleccion Cientifica vol 232 INAH Mexico. Brumfiel EM, Brown KL, Carrasco P, Chadwick R, Charlton TH, Dillehay TD, Gordon CL, Mason RD, Lewarch DE, Moholy-Nagy H, et al. 1980. Specialization, Market Exchange, and the Aztec State: A View From Huexotla [and Comments and Reply]. Current Anthropology 21(4):459-478.del Angel-Pà ©rez AL. 2013. Homegardens and the dynamics of Totonac domestic groups in Veracruz, Mexico. Anthropological Notebooks 19(3):5-22.Mouget A, and Lucet G. 2014. Photogrammetric archaeological survey with UAV. ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences II(5):251-258.Sluyter A, and Siemens AH. 1992. Vestiges of Prehispanic, Sloping-Field Terraces on the Piedmont of Central Veracruz, Mexico. Latin American Antiquity 3(2):148-160.Smith ME. 2013. The Aztecs. New Yo rk: Wiley-Blackwell. Wilkerson, SJK. 2001. Zempoala (Veracruz, Mexico) In: Evans ST, and Webster DL, editors. Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland Publishing Inc. p 850-852. Edited and updated by K. Kris Hirst

Introduction to early childhood Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Introduction to early childhood - Assignment Example Economic and political system of the country currently influences early child education (Li & Chen 1). The government encourages parents to enroll their children to early childhood education because it strengthens their educational foundation. Studies confirm that this education increases the readiness of children to learn in higher education levels. Children with early childhood education backgrounds usually perform well in primary school. ECE not only improves students’ performance in schools, but is also influences their social and economic status in adulthood. In an effective early childhood education systems, teachers and parents have to ensure that they create a good relationship with children. Parents are also encouraged to cooperate with teachers in supporting their children’s early education. They should create a good relationship with children in order to enhance their intelligence and social competence. They should also ensure that their children attend preschool at the right age. The country’s Ministry of Education recommended that children should att end preschool at the age of 3 to 6 years. In China early childhood education, children are usually divided according to their ages. The government recommends three groups that include junior that consists of children of age 3, middle that has 4-year-old children and seniors who are 5 years old. Effective early childhood programs should consist of appropriate learning environments and effective curriculum. It should also have well trained caregivers who can effectively meet the needs of each child (Vaughan 1). In the past early childhood education in china was poor because parents paid little attention to it. This is because most of them were not aware of the importance of ECE. In addition, most of them were homemakers. As such, they did not see the need to take their young children to school since early childhood schools were viewed at care centers. However, currently with increased