How Does McEwan Tell the Story in Chapter 9 of ‘Enduring Love’? Essay

Ian McEwan uses a variety of techniques in order to tell the story throughout the novel ‘Enduring Love’. Looking at Chapter 9 in close detail I am going to analyse the ways in which McEwan tells the story with the use of form, structure and language. The majority of the novel is told in the first person however chapter 9 has a third person narrative and is in the present tense. McEwan uses Joe’s narratives in order to explain Clarissa’s perspective. This shifting perspective gives the reader a chance to see Joe from another person’s point of view. By using Clarissa’s perspective, McEwan has created a sense of empathy towards her as Joe is ‘conversationally deaf and blind’ towards her feelings. However it could be argued that this chapter of the novel is more Joe trying to understand Clarissa’s point of view rather than actually telling the story from her perspective, showing the reader only what Joe think she feels other th an what she actually does. Creating an unreliable narrative. Also in chapter 9 the genre is portrayed as more of a romance than a thriller as McEwan uses contemporary romance rather than scientific vocabulary within the narrative, ‘Where’s my kiss? Hug me! Take care of me!’ The use of this romantic narrative takes the novel away from the typical thriller genre in order to tell the story. Although chapter 9 is shown to be of a romantic genre, it still includes conventions which McEwan uses to suggest that the novel is a psychological thriller. The use of a relationship breakdown within this chapter gives the reader this idea. As well as this, towards the end of the chapter the reader is reminded of Joe’s stalker, ‘he sees Parry waiting for him at the end of the brick path he does not even break his stride’ The fact that Jed Parry is waiting at the end of the road for Joe also brings back the idea of a psychological thriller genre. McEwan uses the pace within this chapter in order to effectively tell the story, at the beginning the pace of the narrative is slow, Clarissa is tired and the use of sentences and description suggest that she is calm. It isn’t until the argument breaks out between Joe and Clarissa that the pace begins to pick up. This increased pace within the narrative shows the anger and frustration within Clarissa and is the first sign of the relationship breakdown. Throughout the chapter McEwan shows a sense of frustrated within Clarissa, ‘She stands in the bath and snatches a towel to cover herself’, the idea of ‘snatching’ seems out of character for Clarissa and helps to portray her anger towards Joe and his growing obsession with the accident and the idea that Parry is stalking him. Furthermore, McEwan uses figurative language in order to tell the story, ‘he’s raising his voice over the thunder of the taps’, this use of language could be seen to foreshadow the thunderous argument with is later going to happen between Joe and Clarissa. The irritation within Clarissa is presented in this chapter through the use of figurative language, ‘Joe is hanging in the frame of the bathroom door like some newly discovered non-stop talking ape. Talking, but barely self aware’ Using this quote within the narrative shows how much Joe is getting on Clarissa’s nerves, supporting the idea of a relationship breakdown. The fact that Joe won’t stop talking while she’s trying to relax builds tension within the narrative as Clarissa’s frustration begins to increase suggesting that an argument is about to happen. Throughout chapter 9, Clarissa presents the idea that Joe may not be sane as she discards his claims about Jed Parry, ‘you were so intense about him as soon as you met him. It’s like you invented him’ she suggests to the reader that Joe is imagining everything to do with Jed and the idea that he is stalking him, Clarissa believes that it is just an effect after the traum a of the balloon accident, leaving Joe unstable and ill. McEwan uses this to give the reader another perspective of Joe’s claims as until now we only see the idea that Jed is following Joe. Within this chapter of the novel, the reader becomes aware that Joe is in turn becoming obsessed with Jed, ‘you ought to be asking yourself which way this fixation runs’ Clarissa suggests Joe’s obsession at the same time as discarding this claims about Jed. However at the very end of the chapter we see that Jed is waiting for Joe at the end of the road, reassuring the reader of the reality of the stalker and giving the conventions of a psychological thriller. McEwans use of Jed in this chapter is important as it gives the reader an element of trust within it’s narrator as they begin to believe Joe’s perspective over Clarissa’s.

Fundementals Quality of Management Survey

In a world where the basic fundamentals of business have to constantly change, it becomes essential for any company implement a thorough and effective form of management. Throughout history most civilized societies have constantly searched for ways to better improve the quality of business by improving management. The most common emerging management concept is form of management known as Total Quality Management (TQM). This is a structured system for satisfying internal and external customers as well as suppliers, by improving the production quality of goods and services. Some of the major points of TQM are the creation of a constant sea of purpose for the improvement of product and service; other aspects of TQM include the constant improval and continual process planning. This paper will analyze three different sectors of management and the manner in which each utilizes TQM, including: 1) an organization from the customer service industry (Burger King), 2) a non-profit organization (a public school), and 3) the government (a detective unit within a police municipality). Finally, it will access the importance of leadership within each of the three selected industries as it relates to quality. In order for any company or corporation to maintain a competitive edge they must still follow the basic fundamentals of management which are divided in four major parts. The most common guidelines managers use to ensure effectiveness: 1) planning, 2) organizing, 3) leading, and 4) controlling. Each one of these functions help uphold the quality of any business, however, there are many other functions that also play an intricate part of being successful. Some of these other functions were derived by trial and error, others were imposed because we have become more of a technical society with higher expectations. These other functions include budgeting, evaluating, reporting, and staffing. Although not all of these are the foundations of management, there just as vital to a management team as the four basic others. The first function of management is Planning. In this phase, managers set the tone for all activities run or controlled by the company or business. In the future, this aspect will change in accordance with the philosophy behind TQM. Managers will need to adopt a new philosophy, and end the practice of awarding business on the basis of price tag alone. With so many competitors in every industry, a manager will have to recognize that other elements of planning are important for the business to survive. Customer service and the quality of product or service will come to the forefront of customer choice. A cheap product will not be able to survive in this rapidly changing business environment. Organization is another extremely important aspect of the necessary managerial skills for any manager desiring guaranteed success. Organization can be as simple as instituting training at work in a pattern that overlooks no single employee. A good manager cannot expect employees to train themselves or improve their work manners without additional help. A strong organized training program is sure to enhance even the most successful company. A strong Leadership team is another necessary important aspect for business in the 21st century. This leadership team must be instituted and adopted without fear at the workplace. Employees who fear their supervisors simply cannot evolve into successful employees interested in the growth of their company. A strong leadership team will effectively manage the business with the overall objective of accomplishing the larger goals of the organization. Leadership is also represented by effective communication with other members of the team, the establishment of high standards, and the promotion of continuing education in the line of business. Maintaining Effective Control over the business is also a highly regarded area in effective management. Effective control can be exuberant in a number of ways. One of these ways in accordance with the TQM model is to eliminate slogans, exhortations and targets for the workforce, which can be a cause of negative staff response. The system if annual raises or merit systems should also be eliminated and raises should be given based on performance and quality of workmanship. Numerical quotas for the work force and numerical goals for management should be eliminated as well. The role of TQM in the customer service industry is very important; Burger King, a long-standing successful competitor in this market, owes much of its economic success to its' pricing methodology, sales preservation and enhancement, and ability to compete within the unique structure of the fast food market. Since the market in which Burger King competes is characterized by intense competition with other international fast food chains, regional chains, local independent restaurants, convenience stores, grocery store delicatessens and food counters, the ability to effectively plan plays an crucial role. Organization at Burger King is also key, because the fast food market structure can be best described as a monopolistic market structure in which many firms produce similar goods or services but each firm maintains some independent control of its own price. The TQM element of leadership is important to Burger King because the barriers to entry in this type of market are fairly low and new competitors can easily enter the market. Burger King has taken several steps to place themselves in an optimal competitive position. For example, Burger King's non-pricing strategy has been to invest significant financial resources to advertise products, differentiate themselves from the competition, build brand image, and improve brand loyalty. Although such advertising is fairly expensive, Burger King has used this non-price competitive tool to build brand loyalty and change consumer determinants of demand. Burger King has protected their brand by actively pursuing infringers and protecting their trademarked names. Burger King also uses a pricing strategy to preserve and enhance sales. All of its' prices remain competitive with those of competitors, and Burger King will also implement sales or specially priced items occasionally to attract more consumers. Additionally, Burger King routinely tests and places on the menu new items, in accordance with fast food industry trends and consumer surveys. In this way, Burger King has maintained effectively the phase of control in the TQM model. A non-profit organization, such as a public school, also implements the elements of TQM by means of the principal's actions. For example, the leader in a learning organization implements the aspect of planning by developing and administering policies that provide a safe school environment and establish operational plans and processes to accomplish strategic goals. The principal must be organized, because the major sources of fiscal and nonphysical resources for the school including business and community resources must be analyzed and identified. Additionally, the financial and material assets must be managed, as well as capital goods and services, allocating resources according to district or school priorities. Policy development includes an efficient budget planning process that is driven by district and school priorities and involves the staff and community. A strong leadership quality in the public school system is the ability to identify and organize resources to achieve curricular and instructional goals. Research indicates that the process of planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating a district budget must be analyzed, and techniques and organizational skills necessary to lead and manage a complex and diverse organization must be demonstrated. Furthermore, policy development includes the planning and scheduling of one's own and others' work so that resources are used appropriately, and short- and long-term priorities and goals are met. A government agency, such as the detective task force located within a police municipality is also an organization in which TQM is very important. For example, the DNA analysis conducted by a detective can mean the difference between an individual incorrectly serving a life sentence on death row, convicted as a result of forensic hair analysis. Just within the past few years, the rise of DNA testing has revealed enormous failings in the microscopic hair analysis that was considered reliable a generation ago. The use of forensic DNA analysis in solving crime is proving to be as revolutionary as the introduction of fingerprint evidence in court more than a century ago, so planning and organization in such an environment is essential to eliminating false convictions. The value of DNA to police investigations is enormous, and leadership and control in such an investigation are very important. For example, biological samples collected from a crime scene can either link a suspect to the scene, or rule the suspect out as the donor of the DNA. Evidence from different crime scenes can be compared to link the same perpetrator to multiple offenses, whether the crimes took place locally, across the country, or halfway around the world. Thus, as indicated above, TQM is a business model that affects virtually every type of business sector. The importance of leadership as it relates to quality can be seen in each of the above-mentioned sectors. Leadership is important at Burger King, because the fast food industry is so competitive that strong leadership is the difference between success and failure. In a non-profit organization such as a public school, the quality of education that the students will receive while attending that school is directly related to the type of leadership exhibited by the principal. Finally, in a government organization such as a police department, leadership can mean the difference between an incorrect guilty verdict or letting a criminal go free. Therefore, every type of business would be well advised to implement a TQM model in their management style.

How do electric cooperatives impact the local, as well as the national Essay

How do electric cooperatives impact the local, as well as the national economy - Essay Example The electric cooperatives have raised the standard of living for millions of Americans and have contributed greatly to our gross domestic product. Though electric cooperatives had operated sporadically since the early 20th century in the US, by 1935 electric power was available to very few US farmers. In the United States, electric cooperatives were established to bring electric power to rural areas that were not being served by the large public utilities. The large investor owned utilities saw this as a losing venture with few customers per mile of line ("A 2005 Snapshot, 8). However, by 1941, electric cooperatives were serving 35% of the nation's rural homes ("Historical Overview"). The immediate economic impact was to bring business, manufacturing, and commerce to areas that were previously dependent on agriculture and self-sufficiency. The introduction of electricity also placed an increase demand for electrical appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and radios. This has been extended to "Alaskan fishing villages, dairy farms in Vermont and the suburbs and exurbs in between" (NRECA). Today, the electric cooper atives in the US maintain 43% of the lines and deliver 10% of the nation's electric needs (NRECA). While the impact on the national e... They provide employment for 67,000 workers in the United States that contribute a payroll of $3 billion to the businesses and commerce of the local area of the cooperatives (NRECA). In addition to providing a direct benefit for the people who are employed in the generation and distribution of electricity, there are also indirect economic impacts. Electric cooperatives supply their businesses through local purchases of the required resources. This can be anything from computers to vehicles. This money circulates back through the local economies and generates a ripple effect through the communities. Construction of major projects, though temporary, contributes a considerable financial input to a local area during the life of the project and can have a significant effect on the local economy (Schunk 5). The economic activity from these business transactions creates local jobs for service and retail businesses. In addition to providing employment and stimulating the local economies around the country, the cooperatives contribute $1.2 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue (NRECA). These revenues provide relief for the tax system and generate increased economic activity through the funding of federal infrastructure programs. In addition to the direct input of tax revenue, the electric cooperatives receive a smaller federal subsidy than municipal and investor owned power companies. According to Lawrence R. Klein of the University of Pennsylvania, "...all types of utilities (Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), Municipal Owned utilities and electric cooperatives enjoy some form of subsidy" (qtd. in NRECA). However, the lower subsidy received by the co-ops is substantial and may amount to as much

Effects of Video Games Upon Children and Their Behavior in the Real Research Paper

Effects of Video Games Upon Children and Their Behavior in the Real Life in the USA - Research Paper Example However, despite providing jobs and improving the economy, parents and organizations are concerned about the vast negative effects it has in the American society. Organizations such as the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Academy of Pediatrics state that, vulnerability to violent media, such as video games, can lead to real-life destructive behavior and harm minors in other ways (â€Å"Violent Video Games and Young People,† Harvard.edu). 2. Types of Video Games There are eight main categories of video games namely; action, adventure and role playing, arcade, strategy, simulation, driving and puzzle. a. Action: They are characterized by excessive violence and are generally fast-paced. Majority of mature-rated games fall under this category so they are not appropriate for children. Mild games in this category have suggestive themes. These games may depict a human being against another human being or a human being against an alien or an animal (C aruana, V., Caruana, C., and Bruner, focusonthefamily.com). b. Adventure and Role Playing: These games contain an element of fantasy. They are less violent and less graphic than action games. However, they do contain some level of violence. c. Arcade: Games in this category range from being violent to classic. d. Strategy: These games require the making of tactical movements by the players. They have no violence making them suitable for children but they are quite difficult to play. e. Simulation: Games in this category mainly consist of aircraft simulations. Majority of their themes revolve around destroying enemies. f. Driving: Most of these games involve racing, however, there are a few that are mission-based. Players initially choose car, and with time, they get better and better... This report approves that the impact of exposure to violence in games has become a matter of concern. According to statistics, majority of American teenagers own their own computer or video games and spend approximately five to thirteen hours a week playing these games. This essay makes a conclusion that video games have a prominent place in the culture of the United States. With the passing of time, video games have evolved in many ways. Today, they come with a range of categories from the most violent to the harmless. However, all these games carry some level of harm that mainly depends on the amount of time spent playing them. This has led to concerns about potential harms and effects in the usage of video games. Despite having a number of benefits, the use of video games has been found to contain vast negative effects. Consequently, federal and state laws have been formulated to control these harmful effects and especially on children and teenagers. Parental control is essential to decrease the negative effects of video games on minors. Parents should therefore keep a closer eye on the kinds of video games their children play. Controlling the number of hours children and teenagers spend playing video game is also a positive step towards controll ing their harmful effects. It is not clear how inappropriate video games get to inappropriate audience in the United States. Therefore, there is need for more reviews, tougher laws and censorship to control this.

Airline or Credit Card Membership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Airline or Credit Card Membership - Essay Example This can be seen from the program’s logical options to add member, cancel member, update member information or view member information. Details that can be viewed are the member name, address, phone number, points, address, phone number, notes and member ID number. The other options that exist are to add points for a member, minus points, redeem gift certificates for a member and give the annual present. IV. System Design This is a logic system design for the project. The inner circle is the logical next step to the user’s logging in to the system (Yeates & Wakefield, 2003: 42). The outer cordon and its connectives check the various options, for example, is the user active or not, is she eligible for a reward or not. V. Possible Future Extensions to the Present Design Possible future extensions to the present design might include choice of selection of rewards for users depending on their accumulated points. Not only Gold members should be rewarded, there should also be something for Silver members, Platinum and Bronze, depending on the range of points accumulated during the year. The choice of rewards also makes it more worthwhile for members, when they can choose to accumulate reward points till their target reward can be purchased. This was a good exercise in programming and logic and has not only made the team more aware of the options possible but in doing so also helped them think out of the box to incorporate more options into the scheme that the users are sure to appreciate and enjoy.

Movie Review of Requiem for a Dream Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Movie Review of Requiem for a Dream - Essay Example Hence, what really disturbs the viewer is the strong graphic representation of the painful and miserable conditions that addictions can lead human beings to. All the four characters in the movie, i.e. Sara Goldfarb, her son Harry, Harry’s girlfriend Marion and his friend Tyrone, are shown addicted to drugs. Although Sara’s addiction to drugs begins later in the movie, she is shown addicted to the idea of being on a television show. She is so obsessed with the idea of being on TV that her whole life revolves around it. She spends most of her time watching the TV show, and fantasizing about being on that show. Her obsession with the dream becomes so strong that when she gets a call to tell her that she is chosen to be invited on the show, she starts taking pills to reduce weight in order to fit in her favorite red dress, that she plans to wear on show. She gets addicted to the weight loss amphetamine pills and becomes delusional and psychotic. Through the character of Sar a, the movie has sent a message that addictions are not only related to drugs but are also related to media, weight and looks. The movie has also dealt with the idea of how addiction can lead human beings towards psychiatric problem, crime, aggression and sex. For example, Harry thinks that he will get out of bad life of addiction and illegal drug trade once he makes enough money to start a business with Marion. However, when things do not go as planned, he convinces Marion to have sex with her psychiatrist in exchange of money. This brings a rift in their relationship and from this point on, things start going out of control and their dream start falling apart by blows from the ‘reality’. In this way, the movie represents the menace of drug addiction and how it makes the characters desperately enslaved to the addiction. However, the real theme of the movie is the true cause of the addiction, which lies in the lack of bonding and love in the family. Theme The underlying theme of the movie is lack of bonding between parents and children. Sara and her son Harry are shown getting emotionally distant from each other after death of Sara’s husband. Sara protects her son Harry even when she knows that he makes money by selling the TV set that he steals from home. This shows the helplessness of a mother. The fear of losing him and his love keeps her from confronting him. She is forced to find a companion in a TV set. She believes that her involvement in weight reduction to fit in a red dress that she wore on Harry’s graduation, has renewed her interest in otherwise miserable and empty life. Harry is also shown losing his girlfriend Marion, to addiction. The dependence on drugs and the sexual favors for money makes Marion feel miserable and filthy. Tyrone is shown missing his mother and dreaming of making her proud one day. However, his dream never becomes a reality as his involvement in drug trade lands him in prison. Lack of love and family makes Tyrone more addicted and enslaved to drugs. In this way, every character thinks that once they get what they dream, they will leave the drugs. However, they fail to realize that it is the drugs that are driving them to desire the delusional world, and the addiction will never let them get out of the vicious cycle of ‘just one more time,’ which is a common habit of addicts. The picture of despair, misery and helplessness of the characters in the

Difficult Campaign Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Difficult Campaign - Speech or Presentation Example I am the one who grew up and spent all of my life in this neighborhood. I went to the school not as famous and considered as one of the best institutions around town, like the one my opponent running for the mayor has attended. Instead, I attended local public school and then joined a state college to further my studies. It was a place where I learned my values from my two loving parents i.e. mother and father. This is a place where I learned that it’s not your name what matters but what you get done. This is the place that taught me that one usually gets more done if he is working with the people than fighting with them. Last but not the least, it also taught me that one should always be prepared to bring a real difference in people’s lives by taking on tough fights and challenges and that is what matters the most. I would like to announce that if I am elected as a mayor, I will seize this opportunity to address the challenges of this hometown. I will try my best to re vamp the education system. Having worked with children, I personally feel that education system is the most important area to focus upon and to work hard for its improvement. I have also noticed that many of our school teachers are leaving and I believe it is because the high cost of living that is driving them away as they are not able to cope up with high living standards as compared to others. Moreover, there are other challenges too, for instance, increased traffic in our hometown is one of the most distressing problems as it makes difficult to get around. Therefore, if I am elected as a mayor, I will fix this problem and green technology can then lead the way. I will also try to install trolley rails around town going to and from popular places in our town. I will further try to make transport easier for the tourists and commuters by providing them with â€Å"rent-a-bike† stations for using bikes which will be located throughout the town. Not only this, but ferry service would also be provided to ease transportation. My Dad accomplished many things in his career and throughout his life and accomplishments, I learned something fundamental from him i.e. public service matters and people matters therefore value people! I am always very proud of my family name and my father’s legacy. However, this does not mean that I will stand for a Mayor on my father’s abilities but, I stand for Mayor based on the record of services that I provided to the people of Eugene Oregon. When it comes to my personal record, I have been arrested once for possession of a pot but was released later without trial for lack of evidence. However, this is all part of a life’s journey and is laced with ups and downs. At present, I have become well to do through part ownership of a used car lot and a chain of hair dressing. Furthermore, I have five times been selected by the people of this town for two of the most important offices in this town i.e. Town Attorney and Chief Fiscal Officer. Both jobs have prepared me in a unique way for the job I seek today. I believe I have the perfect experience where it counts the most. I am proud of my record but I still think that I am not done yet. There are still many goals and challenges to be tackled and worked upon, and as a Mayor I will keep on offering new ideas. However, we can work together on the issues we are currently facing in Eugene Oregon. We CAN improve our education systems and we CAN reduce traffic to make this town a better place to live. I

Tourism policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Tourism policy - Essay Example Tourism is a valuable industry for every nation. It not only creates new businesses but also can create jobs, income and can enhance quality of life. For years, tourism industry developed almost fluently and now it has become a chief economic segment. For many countries in the developing world, tourism is a significant basis of income creation and therefore, a key element of economic improvement. A good positive state related to tourism can improve the relationship and it rewards nations. But the consequences of negative conditions such as terrorism are massive on a countries’ financial system. Tourism contributes about 10 percent of global GDP. Tourism industry needs to predict customer requirements, recreate its business strategy, and relocate on providing good services because in recent years customers have become more demanding and a good tourism system can improve the image of the nation. Therefore, the terrorist attacks can play a massively derogatory role in a countryâ €™s economy and thus, the tourism sector similar to other sectors can bear the brunt of such scenario (Wharton University of Pennsylvania, 2010). Importance of Tourism Tourism has become a key economic activity in the 20th Century. The World Travel & Tourism Council had generated income of US $ 655 billion from tourism industry in the year 1995 and had created 212 million jobs. Global employment growth was estimated at 21 percent in the year 2007. This increase was primarily due to increase in capital investment and it contributed to 610,000 people globally being engaged to the tourism industry. The employment increase was from complimentary services such as entertainment and restaurants. The result of amplified travelling has led to rise in government income and gross output; it has multiplier consequence on global economies (Dunn, 1999). The following table shows the growth of tourism till 1992: Figure 1: Growth of tourism till 1992 (Thompson, 2008). Effect on Tourism Industry due to Terrorist Attacks Terrorist attack has an adverse affect on the tourism industry. It can lead to joblessness, homelessness, deflation, crime and other economic crisis. Several factors associated with tourism such as airlines, hotels, restaurants and catering sectors that are used by any firm or industry and their employees are all affected to a greater or lesser extent. Terrorism can unravel a country’s tourism industry. It affects directly to the tourists’ decision making. The role of tourism in emerging countries is currently so enormous that some downturn in the tourism sector is a serious concern. In general, tourism is one of the best performing economic sectors in the developing countries and can have various dimensional effects (Essner, 2003). Several such instances of the affect of terrorist attacks on the tourism industry will be evaluated in the following sections. Terrorism in Maldives Tourism Industry Maldives is a developing nation and is depended on their tourism industry as a source of income. Maldives is a holiday destination for the tourists due to its famous heavenly as well as

Qasr Al Hosn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Qasr Al Hosn - Essay Example In attempt to preserve it, the building has undergone a number of structural changes, although it remains to show the original and indigenous architecture of the Emiratis, depicting how the past can live through the present.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Despite its long-standing history and rich past, research has been limited on the preservation trance of Qasr Al Hosn. Generally, Qars Al Hosn has not been accorded the level of research that it deserves, resulting in limited attention for the iconic building. It is however clear that historic buildings are vulnerable, and Qasr Al Hosn as well deserves extra care and preservation if it is to last longer than it has. Consequently, this study explores and suggests a blueprint for the preservation Qasr Al Hosn as cultural monument in UAE. The study probes and discusses how the future identity of Qasr Al Hosn should be preserved, and how it will feed into the next generations (Hellyer and Ziolkowski 4). The Abu Dhabi’s story begins from the Qasr Al Hosn, a name that signifies its twin role: â€Å"Hosn† meaning fort, and â€Å"Qasra’ meaning castle. It is imperative to note Abu Dhabi was a region that was ruled by a tribe known as Bani Yas, who inhabited the oasis of Liwa. The Bani Yas tribe visited the island â€Å"Abu Dhabi’ for the purposes of collecting salt and fishing. The tribe did not inhabit the island because it lacked water. However, a wide area of drinking water was discovered in the island in 1760. Sheikh Dhiyab Al Nahyan later built a watchtower in the area to conserve the precious resource, when he discovered the significance of fresh water. This prompted influx of small settlement into the region. Later, the tower was expanded as the settlement in the region increased. It is significant to note the Sheikh Dhiyab Al Nahyan fortified the castle in the 18th century to protect from any form of invasion. This

Reflection on the Development of a Nursing Teacher Essay

Reflection on the Development of a Nursing Teacher - Essay Example This paper describes the highlights from an individual analysis of my competence as a preceptor (Forest, 2004:77-78). Different students have varying learning styles and this gives me the impetus to assess whether I have been able to address the needs of each student (Black, 2004:68). I have to discern the abilities of the students carefully in order to determine whether they have gained the relevant skills. Using the John’s reflective model, I embarked on a reflection to identify my progress as a nurse playing the assessment role. Guided by this model, I related to experiences in the workplace, their consequences, and influencing factors and highlighted how such experiences have improved my learning process. Due to the varying learning needs of students, I have allocated different sessions for each student whom I should assess. I give attention to first year students who are new in the course and are taking their first clinical practice. Understanding their personality is ess ential as it helps me determine the best approaches to use to impart skills in each student. (Fleming, McKee, and Huntley-Moore, 2011:450-457). In addition, students need guidelines to help to help them run activities on their own. Understanding the different learning styles and designing appropriate assessment skills will help me become a better preceptor (McDonough and Osterbrink, 2005:89-90). In the future, I should be able to assess each student extensively and help him or her improve in learning the relevant nursing skills. From my own learning orientation, I can present concepts effectively and then advance to giving details of the concepts. However, I realize that this puts off analytic learners who expect a stepwise presentation of ideas so that they can construct the complete picture. I have to broaden my assessment methods and rise above the challenge. Experience has taught me how to address the different personality types in assessment. Endowed with characteristics of an introvert, it becomes demanding to design effective modules for students who are extroverts, as they need more interactive sessions (Li, Chen and Tsai, 2008:71-74). However, I have been trying to give students group work tasks on critical issues at times in order to address the needs of judging extroverts. Feelers need a more sensitive approach that will create a favorable learning environment. Understanding the varying needs prompts me to use a more integrative assessment approach. Through this understanding, it becomes easier for me to develop strategies and standards of assessment. A nurse preceptor has the responsibility of nurturing the traits of a good nurse in the learners. I realize the importance of this and I have been presenting them with tasks that build patience and compassion. Nurses should be able to nurture well and possession of this trait prompts many students to take up nursing after their personality type tests (Li, Chen and Tsai, 2008:71-74). As an assessor, I s hould complement this trait with a critical understanding of the nursing practice in the students. An efficient nurse should be able to make critical judgment on different occasions. In order to build this criticality in making judgment, i present my students with critical tasks each week in which they describe their actions and ethics and values that dictated their decisions in each task. The most important aspect I have learned as a nurse teacher is that facilitation of the learning process is more effective

Sickle Cell Disease Essay Example for Free

Sickle Cell Disease Essay This research informs the reader about Sickle cell disease. The goal is to raise awareness by describing what the disease is and where it originated. It gives advice on how to recognize signs in a crisis and how to help prevent any further symptoms. This focus uses facts from medical websites such as Web MD and Mayo Clinic. This research highlights every thing there is to know about sickle cell disease through detailed descriptions of where it comes from, how it is passed on, what it does to the body, and what can be done to help prevent it from getting really bad. Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that is a genetic disease, which is inherited through parents. The bone marrow produces abnormal red blood cells that are a crescent shape. These red blood cells then get suck in the veins and cause many medical difficulties. This review will not investigate any personal experiences or experiences of any person. The sources mainly conclude that there are various researches trying to reveal helpful information for suffering patients. Researchers from the FSCDR administration found out that regular blood transfusions can reduce the occurrence of strokes and attacks in sickle cell patients. Regular monthly blood transfusions can help raise red blood cell counts and therefore reduce sickling and blood clots causing health complications. Further research into preventative remedies includes bone marrow transplants. Written by Vanessa Wasta this research goes in depth about how bone marrow transplants for patients with sickle cell disease work. Explaining the procedure and requirements of it. Then in another article Saint Louis University Medical Center researchers study therapy to relieve sickle cell pain. This study investigates treatment for young adults who are suffering from a pain crisis. St. Jude Children’s Hospital did research on how drug reduces hospitalizations and what the cost is treating young children with sickle cell anemia. The article goes in depth on how a new drug is demonstrated to be effective for treatment of adults and children with sickle cell anemia reducing hospitalizations and cut annual estimated medical cost by 21 percent for affected in fants and  toddlers. Further more a research found by Victor R. Gordeuk, MD discussing the basic transitional research program in sickle cell disease. Explaining how there are two components of the research. First is to study the neurodevelopmental status in children younger than 4. The second is to expose high school students to a laboratory research to cultivate interest in scientific research related to sickle cell disease. Johns Hopkins Medicine then shows how low vitamin D levels raise anemia risk in children. The low levels of â€Å"sunshine† vitamin D appear to increase a child’s risk of anemia, according to new research. The study is believed to be the first one to extensively explore the link between the two conditions in children. Then Georgia health Sciences University discovers that nitric oxide impacts the source of the sickle cell pain crisis. They reveal that nitric oxide gas appears to directly impact the source of the classic pain crisis of sickle cell disease found from re search. The main findings that I have come across is describing where it comes from, how it is passed on, what it does to the body, and what can be done to help prevent it from getting really bad. The genes you inherit determine the different forms of sickle cell. However, the most common form of sickle cell is sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell disease is a disorder in which the body forms sickle-shaped red blood cells (sickle-shaped means the blood cells are shaped in the form of a crescent). Normal red blood cells are disc-shaped that are similar to doughnuts but without the hole in the middle. The normal cells move quite easily through the blood vessels and contain a protein called hemoglobin. The hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Unfortunately, sickle cell contains hemoglobin called sickle cell hemoglobin or hemoglobin S. Sickle cell tends to block the flow of blood through the blood vessels of the limbs and organs, which may cause severe damage in the organs. â€Å"Sickle cell anemia occurs because an abnormal form of hemoglobin (HbS) is produced. HbS molecules tend to clump together, making red blood cells sticky, stiff, and more fragile, and causing them to form into a curved, sickle shape†. Miller, R. (2012, September 01). Sickle Cell Anemia. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/blood/sickle_cell_anemia.html. It gives a higher possibility that the carrier of sickle cell disease (SCD) can obtain infections. Sickle cell anemia is caused by mutation in the gene that tells your body to produce hemoglobin. The sickle cell gene is passed down from generation to generation in a pattern called auto-somal recessive inheritance. In other words, both the mother and the father must be carriers, or pass down the defective form of the gene in order for the child to be affected by SCD. However, if only one parent carries the sickle cell trait, the disease would not affect the child, but that child will become a carrier of the sickle cell trait. With one normal hemoglobin gene and one defective hemoglobin gene, people that carry the trait produce both normal and defective sickle cell hemoglobin. Although their blood only contains a certain amount of sickle cells and may not experience any symptoms, they have a very high possibility of passing that defective trait onto their offspring if the carrier has interaction with another carrier of the disease. Because an individual that has sickle cell is actually born with the disease, they experience symptoms after the first four months of the infant’s birth. â€Å"About 2,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease each year in the United States.† Sickle Cell Disease Symptoms, Causes, Treatments. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/pain-management-sickle-cell-disease. There are six main symptoms: anemia, episodes of pain, hand-foot syndrome, frequent infections, delayed growth, and vision problems. In the symptoms of anemia, sickle cells are fragile. They break apart easily and die leaving the carrier with a shortage of red blood cells. Red blood cells normally die out within 120 days; however, for people that have sickle cell, their red blood cells die out within 10 to 20 days. Because of this shortage, the body cannot obtain the oxygen it needs in order to feel energized. Episodes of pain are exactly how it sound, yet they are called crises. Pain occurs when each sickle-shaped red blood cell blocks the flow of blood through the blood vessels. Pain may occur in the chest, bones, joints, and abdomen. One of the first signs of sickle cell in an infant is the swelling of the hands and the feet. The swelling is caused by the sickle-shaped red blood cells blocking the blood flow to the hands and feet. Infections are a very common symptom that a sickle cell carrier has to undergo. Sickle cells can damage the spleen and because the spleen is the organ that fights off infections, the  body is more vulnerable to infections. Due to the shortage of red blood cells in the body, the body is not obtaining enough nutrients and oxygen that it needs to grow. As a result of that, the infant or child experiences a delayed growth. Another symptom includes vision problems. We see due to tiny blood vessels that are supplied to our eyes. In sickle cell, those blood vessels may be plugged up with sickle cells damaging the retina. Sickle cell symptoms are mainly determined by how severe the sickle cell may be. When the disease becomes very severe, some symptoms may include paleness, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, yellowing of the eyes and skin, painful and prolonged erection, confusion, urinary tract infection, gallbladder infection, and more. Sickle cell is a diverse disease; it is an inherited blood disease that affects people mainly of African ancestry. This disease also affects other people of different ethnic groups such as people who are of Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern descent. In the United States, between 90,000 and 100,000 people have sickle cell disease. One in every twelve African American carries the sickle trait and two million people carry the trait, meaning they carry a gene for the disease. The disease occurs amongst one out of every five hundred African Americans and one out of every thirty-six thousand Hispanics birth. Due to sickle cell anemia, this disease can lead to a variety of complications, including stroke, acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, organ damage, blindness, skin ulcers, and priapism. Acute chest syndrome is a life-threatening complication. It causes chest pains, fevers, and lack of breath. In many cases, this syndrome is caused by a lung infection, but in this specific situation with sickle cell, it is caused by sickle cells blocking the blood vessels in your lungs. Sickle cell anemia may also cause pulmonary hypertension, which means high blood pressure in the lungs. It causes shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, which can eventually be fatal. â€Å"Sickle cell anemia varies from person to person. Some people who have the disease have chronic (long-term) pain or fatigue (tiredness). However, with proper care and treatment, many people who have the disease can have improved quality of life and reasonable health much of the time.† What Is Sickle Cell Anemia? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca/. There is no cure for sickle cell anemia; however, specialists are working on a cure at this very moment. One thing that people should do prior to making appointments for checkups, if they are a parent of a child with sickle cell disease, or if they have sickle cell disease, note any symptoms that they have experienced, write down questions to ask, and bring someone for moral support whether they are a friend or a family member. â€Å"Different techniques work for different people, but it might be worth trying heating pads, hot baths, massages or physical therapy†. Sickle cell anemia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/basics/coping-support/con-20019348. Sickle cell disease is an unheard of disease to many people and there’s no clear physical appearance to tell if someone is diagnosed with the disease unless they mention it, but it is a disease that may have fatal results and it is a disease that needs to be studied more in depth. These researches explain different things that are being worked on to help prevent sickle cell pain and other medical complications. With the different researches it is found that therapy, blood transfusions, and transplants can be helpful. In the informative research that is about to be conducted there would inform the readers about sickle cell disease, what it is, and what can be done to help prevent pain and any other health complications. 1. Miller, R. (2012, September 01). Sickle Cell Anemia. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/blood/sickle_cell_anemia.html Sickle cell anemia article presents information about the disease for kids and teens to understand. It introduces topics such as where it comes from and how it is inherited. It lets the other peers know information on how it can be treated and pain crisis prevented. 2. Sickle cell anemia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/basics/coping-support/con-20019348 This article describes what sickle cell is and breaks down in simpler terms what can be done to help patients with this disease. It shows pictures and demonstrations on how the red blood cells work in the body. 3. Sickle Cell Disease Symptoms, Causes, Treatments. (n.d.). Retrieved

Person centred reviews in adult services

Person centred reviews in adult services The underlying principles for this assignment are to critically evaluate my professional development in a practice placement setting and record reflections for future learning. Within this essay, I will include my reflections on the social work process of assessment, planning, intervention and review, and will critically analyse what I feel was successful and unsuccessful in each process, with efforts to identify what could be changed to enhance future practice. I will also include my knowledge, skills and values incorporated into my practice with two service users and my group work, while explaining my efforts to promote anti-oppressive practice. Throughout my assignment I will endeavour to portray my learning journey from the beginning to the end of my placement and conclude with future learning needs, to enhance my practice as a social worker. Introduction: The practice placement I acquired was a Court Childrens Officer (CCO), based at the Belfast Family Proceedings Court. It forms part of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. My role as a CCO, formerly known as a Child Welfare Officer, was to use my training and experience to ascertain the wishes and feelings of children and their families in private law matters. The role falls within family and child care services and determines that the childs interests remain paramount in court proceedings. As a CCO my role was to deal with cases where assistance was needed to help parties focus on the needs of their children, as opposed to continuing the incriminations as to who was responsible for the breakdown of their relationship. As a CCO I was then asked to present the information to court in oral or written report format. The CCO is used if other efforts to get the parties to reach a decision in the interests of their children have failed. This is to prevent the court process itself cont ributing to a lengthy breach in contact before it reaches a decision. As a CCO I was also responsible to act as liaison officer between the court and HSS Trusts, or other agencies (e.g. NSPCC etc) in respect of the courts decisions. Although employed by the Trust, I was responsible to the court. Before commencement of this placement I had limited understanding of the court process, and the legislation involved in private law cases. I was excited about the prospect of the experience I would gain having undertaken law and court modules, and attended court for certain flexible learning days, but I was also anxious about identifying the social work role within such a specific placement. I feel nervous and uncomfortable. Im finding the role intimidating being surrounded by legal professionals and legislation (being just a student). Im worried about having to provide oral and written evidence to the court, and perhaps having to disagree with the legal representatives views in court. I feel deskilled and anxious (PPDW: 21/01/10). After this initial anxious stage I began researching private law and knowledge, and used my practice teacher and on site supervisor to ask questions. Having completed a practice placement last year I already knew of the benefits of using reflection as a crucial aspect of my practice and learning. Thompson (2005) explains that it is important that practitioners use not only established theories, but use their own knowledge and experience to meet the needs of service users. He claims that reflective practice should help us to acknowledge the important links between theory and practice and to appreciate the dangers of treating the two elements as if they were separate domains (Thompson, 2005: 147). I was anxious to identify the social work process within my placement, as it was not evident on commencement. I was already familiar with the process of assessing, planning, intervention and review having had a previous placement with adults with learning disabilities. Within a court, however, this was very different, as a direction of the court determined my involvement with service users. Schà ¶n (1987) identifies that more than a process is needed with service users practitioners need to incorporate experience, skills and intuition for outcomes to be successful. The knowledge and skills that I identified, within my Individual learning plan, were skills in working with children, assertiveness skills, report writing and presenting skills, organisational skills, and group facilitation skills. I also wanted to enhance my value base as my previous placement helped me challenge issues around learning disabilities and the current placement is a very different setting. I wanted to devel op my values around childrens feelings about parental separation, and also working in partnership with children to ascertain their wishes and feelings about contact issues. I have outlined below the three cases I intend to use that will help identify my professional development within my placement setting. I will use these to provide an analysis of how my knowledge, skills and values have been developed through the social work process. Family C: Polish origin Child C (Age 7) currently resides with her father. The parental relationship lasted for seven years. Mother (Ms C) moved out of the family home to gain alternative accommodation when the relationship broke down. Ms C and the childs contact have been very sporadic since. Contact has not taken place since December 2009. Mr C is concerned with Ms Cs new accommodation being unsuitable for the childs safety staying overnight claiming alcohol misuse and the child coming home smelling of smoke. Ms C requires an interpreter and is seeking a Contact Order. As directed by the court I carried out an assessment of Ms Cs home, and also used mediation and counselling when meeting with the parties to focus on the childs best interests. The childs wishes and feelings were also ascertained. Family E: Child E (14) currently resides with his father (Mr E). Mother (Ms E) is seeking a Residence Order. Father currently resides with the child in a family hostel provided by the Belfast Housing Executive, which Ms E is concerned about. Court direction stipulated me to ascertain the childs wishes and feelings about residence with his father and contact with his mother. In addition to this I used mediation as an intervention to try to help the parties reach agreement about the child. I concluded my work with the family using a Person Centred Review with Child E to determine if the plans implemented earlier in my practice were working, and what he would like to change when his case was due for review in court. Group Work: My group work consisted of working with teenage girls at a high school in North Belfast; they were aged 14/15. I worked alongside the Health for Youth through Peer Education (HYPE) team who regularly visit schools to promote sexual health awareness. I co-facilitated this group and worked to educate the group about sexual health and relationships. This was to promote the need for the provision of accurate information to prevent teenage pregnancies and STIs, which have been highlighted as statistically higher in this area of Northern Ireland. Preparation of placement As indicated above, to prepare for this placement, I began by developing my knowledge base around the court setting and private law, so that I could be accountable to the court and the Trust for my actions. Trevithick (2000:162) claims to be accountable denotes professionalism by using knowledge, skills and qualifications, and adhering to values and ethics when serving a client. I began to tune in to the placement setting using knowledge, skills and values, with legislation such as The Children (NI) Order 1995, The Family Law Act (NI) 2001 and The Human Rights Act 1998. I tuned into the court setting and the rights of the service users who used it. Article 3 of the Children (NI) Order 1995 claims that the court should act in the best interests of the child, and I was interested in seeing if this occurred or if parental interests were considered higher. I tuned into the effects that divorce and separation have on children, and focused on gaining knowledge on how to minimize the negative impact this may have on children. The issue of contact in private law proceedings is a complex subject which raises questions of rights, responsibilities and ownership of children (Kroll, 2000: 217). I was initially interested in researching if children knowing both parents were in their best interests, and why. Having had a placement with adults and learning disabilities last year I had reflected on the medical model versus the social model of disability, this placement was very different in that it would be the a legal context versus the social work role. I found this initially difficult as the legal obligations of the court over-shadowed the social work process. Court directions dictated the aspects of work to be done, which I found difficult as service user needs were not necessarily established and met. Assessment: Ms Cs assessment required me to meet with her, discuss issues regarding contact with her child, and investigate her living environment to determine if it was suitable for the child to have contact in. Prior to Ms Cs assessment it was necessary for me to tune in to contact disputes between parents. I recognised that there is significant animosity with both parties, but that having contact with both parents is in the childs best interests to promote for attachment, identity and positive relationships. To initiate Ms Cs assessment I had received court directions, a referral and met with her legal advisor. I was at this time I was informed that Ms C was Polish and required an interpreter. The Human Rights Act 1998 and the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 both stipulate that an interpreter should be provided for health services to promote anti-discriminative practice and equal opportunities. I was then required to make a referral to the Trust interpreting service, and they informed me that they would make initial contact with Ms C. I found this unnerving, as the interpreter would be making first contact with the service user, and I would have liked the opportunity to explain my role. Having carried out previous assessments, I knew that communication was essential for the assessment and central to the process of gathering information and empowering service users (Watson and West, 2006), therefore to not be able to make initial contact with a service user I found to be restrictive and stressful. On initial contact with Ms C (and the interpreter) communication was difficult to establish. I found that by communicating through an interpreter I was limited in gathering information. I found it difficult to concentrate on Ms C, especially observing body language and tone of voice; instead I focused on the interpreter and actively listening to her. Ms C came across as frustrated and disengaged, showing signs of closed body language. I felt empathetic to Ms C because of the court process she was involved in, and the fact that she had to go to court to gain contact with her child. I felt the initial meeting with Ms C was not as successful as I had hoped, I was not able to discuss the issues affecting her, and unable to establish an effective working relationship due to the barrier on an interpreter. I left the meeting feeling deskilled and questioning my practice. On reflection, I should have provided more time to Ms C due to the language obstacle and gathered more information on her issues. I should have focused on Ms C and not the interpreter, and used the interpreter more effectively to establish a relationship. For future learning I will endeavour to use these reflections. The next part of Ms Cs assessment was her home assessment. I was initially reluctant to carry out a home assessment, as I had no previous experience, and did not know what was classed as an unsafe environment for children. I began tuning in and identified that a home assessment required strong observational skills for child protection concerns. I also discussed the home assessment with my practice teacher and on site supervisor for aspects I should be concerned about within the home. It was indicated that a safe environment for a child did not have to be overly clean, just safe considering where the child sleeps, fire hazards, is there evidence of drug or alcohol use, or smelling of smoke (as Mr C alleges). On entering Ms Cs home, as the interpreter had not arrived yet, I was reluctant to try and converse with Ms C. Ms C spoke limited English, and I did not want to confuse or alarm her by trying to discuss the case issues. However, I did try to use body language and facial expressions to reach for feelings and try to build a rapport by asking general questions about weather and work etc. I feel this helped our relationship, and helped me empathise about how difficult it must be to not be able to communicate effectively. By the time the interpreter had arrived I felt more at ease with Ms C, and addressed her (as opposed to the interpreter) with non-verbal cues such as nodding and body language. I felt more comfortable talking with Ms C, I felt more able to understand her frustrations at the court process, her ex-partner and his allegations. Prior to the assessment of the home I had gained stereotypical perceptions about Ms Cs home. I thought that the house, as it was in a working class area, would be unclean and neglected. However, the assessment of the home, using observational skills, indicated no child protection concerns, a clean environment for a child, and Mr Cs allegations unfounded. On reflection of my perceptions I feel I was oppressive to Ms C having been so judgemental, and I felt guilty about my opinions having been class discriminatory. Throughout the assessment with Ms C I found that by using an interpreter Ms C was able to stay informed and in control over her situation (Watson and West, 2006). I feel that by working with Ms C has helped my challenge my future practice with individuals who are non-English speakers. It will help me consider the needs of the service user, before judging them solely on language or their country of origin to provide equal opportunities. I now feel interpreters are required for a balance of power between the worker and service user, and promote anti-discriminatory practice. Planning: According to Parker and Bradley (2008: 72) Planning as part of the social work process is a method of continually reviewing and assessing the needs of all individual service users. It is based upon the assessment and identifies what needs to be done and what the outcome may be if it is completed. Prior to the beginning of placement I had limited experience of planning, or group work. It was important for me understand the facilitation and communication skills needed for successful group work, and help to develop my understanding of group dynamics, group control, and peer pressure for this age group. The key purpose of planning the group was to enable the young people to develop their knowledge and skills to be able to make informed decisions and choices about personal relationships and sexual health. I began preparing for the planning stage of the social work process by meeting with the HYPE team and researching their work. I was interested in the sexual health training for young people at school, as my own experience at school showed that the information was often limited, and I was interesting in finding out if it had been challenged. I then began by tuning in to how I wanted to proceed through the planning process, and researching the topics of the different sessions as I considered I had limited knowledge on sexual health awareness. As I had to plan every week separately it was important to tune in to each and use knowledge, such as group work skills to inform my practice. During initial sessions I noted how group members were quiet and withdrawn, this was important to note as the subject of sexual relationships may have been embarrassing for them to discuss. I too felt uncomfortable discussing the material, as I had limited understanding of sexual health, but it was important for the group to overcome these anxieties and work through them together. I identified that ice breaking techniques were required to facilitate trust and partnership. As the sessions progressed, one of the main challenges found was that peer influence was a major issue, with some of the participants controlling other quieter members. I felt it was necessary to include all members and encouraged participation using games. However, it was important not to push individuals when they became uncomfortable, as this could cause them to withdraw and disengage, disempowering them. Another challenge was that despite time management of the sessions, inevitably there had to be flexibility. Some of the group monopolised more time than others and it was necessary to be able to alter the plans according to time restraints. I also needed to be aware of my own values when planning sexual health awareness training, as it is still regarded as a controversial issue, especially in Catholic schools with teenagers (www.famyouth.org.uk). I considered sexual health awareness to be a great benefit in schools, but obviously due to religious considerations many Catholic schools continue simply to teach abstinence as the only form of contraception. This was important to consider as the group was facilitated in a Catholic school and many of the members or their teachers could have had religious views and opinions on the sessions, creating tension or animosity. Reflecting on this parental consent had been provided for the group, but the group itself were required to take part during a free period. I consider this to be an ethical dilemma as the childrens views werent regarded as highly as their parents. If undertaking this group in future, I feel it would be necessary to ask the group if they wish to take part, and gi ve the opportunity to withdraw promoting anti-oppressive practice. Intervention: Prior to this practice placement I had limited experience using intervention methods. My previous placement focused on task centred work with service users, but in the court childrens service this could not be facilitated due to the time restrictions of the court. I had also previously used Rogerian person centred counselling which I found I could use some of the theory and apply it to this setting. After gathering a range of information from the court referral, C1 and other professionals, I began to tune in to Es case. I had been directed by the court to ascertain his wishes and feelings in regards to residence and contact arrangements, and mediate between his parents to find agreement about the childs residence. As Child E is fourteen, I felt it was necessary to research levels of development for this age group and understand, according to psychologists, what level Child E would be at emotionally, physically and psychologically. I found that Child E should be at a level of becoming more independent, having his own values, and being able to make informed choices. One of the most important issues, through mediation, was challenging my own values and becoming aware of my own stereotypical views on adults who have separated, and the effects on their children. I had to challenge the idea that Child E just wanted to reside with his father as he was the less disciplined parent, or that Child E would most likely be playing his parents off against each other to get his own way. However, by challenging these views, and working with the parties through mediation, I came to realise that E had strong views about living with his father and had a stronger attachment to him. By reflecting on my values I realised that it was oppressive to consider the child as manipulating and could have affected my work with him. I found that having to be a neutral third party in mediation was difficult, I found myself having a role as a witness, a referee and a peacekeeper trying to find common ground. Despite this I feel a third side was necessary to help the parties work through issues. I found the most difficult aspect of this role to be impartiality as I found myself empathizing more with the mother (as the child refused to live with her). However, I also understood the childs reasons behind his decision. During mediation, and in court, I also challenged my judgements on gender and the notion that the mother is the nurturer or primary care giver in the home (Posada and Jacobs, 2001). The child clearly stated that he wanted to reside with his father, and when using questioning skills to probe about this, he claimed he had a stronger bond with his father, and that his mother was continually ridiculing him. I found myself having to alter my views about attachment and mother being the primary care giver and focus on what the child wants. As the intervention progressed I used family mediation session to work through issues. I found that effective communication was principal in ascertaining Child Es wishes and feelings, and helping the parties consider his views, as opposed to their own relationship incriminations. This not only empowered E by promoting partnership, but also gave him the knowledge that the court would be considering the information he provided. Within the meeting I felt I could have paced the meeting better and made better use of silences with E, as I dominated the conversation. I consider mediation to be successful as it helped the parties focus on the needs of the child, and helped them realise that they had a childs feelings to consider instead of the adversarial relationship built from court. Review: Prior to the review process I had experience of carrying out person centred reviews (PCR) through my previous practice placement. I had previous training on PCRs and found them to be more effective than traditional reviews, due to the service user involvement. A PCR is an example of a person centred approach and the information from a review can be the foundation of a person centred plan (Bailey et al., 2009). Within the family proceedings court the purpose of reviews are to reassess interim plans, and either change them, or confirm they are working for the child(ren). In Child Es case a review was necessary to indicate if living with his father was working, and to discuss if he wanted to change anything about his interim plans, which were introduced three months earlier. Within the court childrens team a review is fundamental to consider what is in the childs best interests, assess what is working and what is not working, and how to progress (considering the childs wishes and feelings). Child centred preparatory work with Child E was fundamental to the review success as it established what was important to him (Smull and Sanderson, 2005). Reflecting on my person centred work last year; I recognised that it was important to have preparatory work with Child E as it promoted choice and options to explore. I had also recognised that the information gathered from the preparatory work could be the foundations of the review itself, especially if Child E felt embarrassed or shy speaking out in front of his family on the day of the review (Smull and Sanderson, 2005) I conducted the review with Child E and his parents present, but reflecting on this it could also have been useful including his school teacher or other friends to have a holistic approach. Throughout the review I feel I was able to engage the participants successfully using goals to focus on, and we were able to create a person centred plan for Child E. During the preparation for the review Child E had expressed that he felt he was having too much contact with his mother, and would like to limit this, he also expressed that this was an awkward subject to discuss with his mother present. I identified this in the review as child E did not wish to. I used skills such as facilitation and communication to show that Child E felt strongly about this issue, and both parents claimed they understood his view point. The review was also useful in presenting the information in court, as the child could not be present and I could advocate on his behalf. On reflection of Child Es review I feel it was a successful measure to determine what was working and not working since plans were implemented from the last court date. I had confidence in facilitating the review, but I did feel I perhaps dominated the conversation as both parents were hostile towards each other, and Child E was shy and unassertive about expressing his feelings. During future reviews I will endeavour to promote communication between parties, while empowering of the child. I will use better use of silences and encourage active involvement. Conclusion: No matter how skilled, experienced or effective we are, there are, of course, always lessons to be learned, improvements to be made and benefits to be gained from reflecting on our practice (Thompson, 2005: 146) I feel this PLO has provided me with learning opportunities and identified my learning needs. It has encouraged me to reflect on my knowledge, skills and values and ensured that I used my reflections to learn from my practice. At the beginning of placement I was concerned I would oppress the service users by having limited understanding of the court process, and unable to work effectively as a result. However, through training, help from my practice teacher and knowledge, I soon realised that the placement was about providing support, not being an expert. I feel I was able to establish a balance of the legal requirements of court and social work role, which has contributed to my learning experience and future knowledge. As my placement progressed I used tuning in and evaluations to analyse my practice, and use them to learn from. My placement has enabled me to improve my court report writing skills, presentations skills and legislation knowledge, which I consider to be invaluable for the future. In terms of future professional development, I will endeavour to challenge my stereotypical assumptions about service users, I will seek advice and guidance from more experienced members of staff, and I will use knowledge and theory to inform my practice prior to meeting service users. Future learning requires me to continue to develop skills in working with children, to use silence as a skill, as listen actively to what the service user wants. Having an opportunity to work within the court system has been invaluable, but I would also like the opportunity to have more experience working with children to enhance my knowledge, skills and values further. References: Bailey, G., Sanderson, H., Sweeney, C. and Heaney, B. (2008) Person Centred Reviews in Adult Services. Valuing People Support Team. Kroll, B. (2000) Milk Bottle, Messenger, Monitor, Spy: Childrens Experiences of Contact. Child Care in Practice: 6: 3 Parker, J., and Bradley, G. (2003) Social Work Practice: Assessment, Planning, Intervention and Review. Learning Matters Ltd. Posada, G and Jacobs, A. (2001) Child-mother attachment relationships and culture. American Psychologist. 56(10), 821-822. Schà ¶n, D. (1987) Educating the Reflective Practitioner. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Smull, M and Sanderson, H. (2005) Essential Lifestyle Planning for Everyone. The USA: Learning Community Thompson, N. (2005) Understanding Social Work: Preparing for Practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Trevithick, P. (2005) Social Work Skills: A Practice Handbook (2nd Ed). Buckingham: Open University Press. Watson, D and West, J (2006) Social Work Process and Practice: Approaches, Knowledge and Skills. Basingstoke; Palgrave Macmillan Williams, P (2006) Social Work with People with Learning Disabilities. Learning Matters Ltd Webpages: http://www.famyouth.org.uk/pdfs/CondomControversy.pdf accessed 24/4/10

Renaissance in 12th Century Culture and Thought

Renaissance in 12th Century Culture and Thought How appropriate is the label renaissance, when applied to twelfth century thought and culture? Introduction During this essay we shall be exploring the period of the Twelfth Century in Europe. We are concerned with the extent to which this period, which was one of extraordinary social, economic, and political change, with profound developments in thought and culture can be considered a Renaissance. First it is necessary to examine the true meaning of the label ‘renaissance’. What are the most important features of a renaissance that mark it out from other periods of time? In the first part of our work we shall attempt to define the parameters of what a ‘renaissance’ is. The Second part of our work will examine the historic background of the Twelfth Century. We shall briefly examine the most important developments during a period that has done much to shape the modern world, including the rise of humanism, the individual, the reform of the Church, the creation of Universities and the development of legal codes throughout Europe. Why was the Twelfth Century such an important period in medieval history and did these profound changes and developments constitute a renaissance in the manner of the renaissance of the 15th Century? In our final Chapter we will present the case that using the term ‘renaissance’ for the Twelfth Century is misleading, unsuitable and inappropriate. Although the twelfth century was extremely important, with profound developments in many fields, this does not necessarily make it a ‘renaissance’. Many historians would also argue that applying such labels is detrimental to the study of history; in this chapter we will examine some of their arguments. In our conclusion we will conclude on whether it is accurate, useful or appropriate to apply the term ‘renaissance’ to the Twelfth Century. The term ‘renaissance’, or re-birth is usually associated with the Italian Renaissance in the 14th and 15th Centuries which later spread throughout Europe.[1] This period saw a revival in classical texts and sources of knowledge in a variety of fields, mathematics, law, philosophy, art and education to name but a few. Educational reform spread these ideas throughout Europe, leading to developments in knowledge, technology and agriculture, as well as social changes which saw a population shift to towns and cities.[2] In essence renaissance is referring to a revival, in this case the classic texts and teachings of the Ancient Greeks. It is generally accepted by historians today that there were several ‘renaissances’ in Europe, in the Ninth, Twelfth and 14th Centuries, where increased access to classical texts and other social factors led to artistic, technological and social developments throughout Society.[3] When referring to the Twelfth Century Renaissance most historians mean the period between 1050 and 1250, and unlike the early period of the later Renaissance, developments happened throughout Europe and did not begin in one region or Country.[4] Chapter One The Twelfth Century was arguably one of the most important in medieval times, if not in the whole of European History. The rediscovery of many Latin and Greek texts following the fall of the Greek Empire and increased contact with Islamic scholars led to an increase in scientific knowledge, and to developments in all intellectual fields. The Twelfth Century saw great advances in technology, which combined with a warmer climate and greater stability led to an agricultural surplus, an improved quality of life and new opportunities. This more dynamic European Society invented spectacles, paper, developed the use of gunpowder, more accurate clocks and printing methods.[5] For a period the Latin and Greek texts were simply re-produced by an increasing number of European Scholars. Gradually once all these works were discovered and thoroughly absorbed, many Scholars began to build upon this knowledge and adapt it for contemporary use, no more so than in the field of law. Roman law and a revival of jurisprudence spread throughout Twelfth Century Europe, replacing traditional, custom based law and helping create stability. One of the best examples of this was in Henry II of England’s legal reforms. Like in many parts of Europe trial by ordeal or battle was still common, and the application of the Kings justice was not uniform throughout his British territories. Henry II established trial by jury and set up magistrate courts so that his representatives could administer legal rulings on his behalf. This was the beginning of the Modern day justice system, it made the legal system fairer and helped establish the authority of the Church and State throughout Europe.[6] The artistic pursuits flourished during the Twelfth Century, the fields of poetry, architecture, music, and literature all developed greatly. This was partly a result of the increased wealth and security in many parts of Europe, but it was also an indication of the self confidence, creativity and curiosity of a more dynamic European Society eagerly absorbing new sources of knowledge from the Latin and Greek texts, the Islamic and Byzantium worlds.[7] This artistic revival also had some links to the more humanist philosophies and teachings from the great Twelfth Century scholars and teachers. Humanist thought also developed in the period around the Twelfth Century, and many academics, such as Morris, believe that the Twelfth Century saw the beginnings of the discovery of the individual and the origins of rational thought.[8] The rise of the individual led to a wider interest in self expression, human relations and self discovery, it was a point when man became interested in the positi on of the individual in relation to Society and its institutions.[9] This apparent rise of rational thought however did not coincide with a decline of the powers of the Church. Indeed during this period the Christian Church went through a period of dynamic reform, strengthening its influence and power to a point where the Pope would attempt to exercise power and influence over Monarchies and Empires. It was Innocent III, a proponent of both religious and secular legal codes, who called for a Crusade against the infidels in 1198, and he who made the English King John his vassal.[10] The Twelfth Century remained a period of faith where to even question whether there was a God was considered madness. How then was the knowledge gleaned from the classical Greek and Latin texts disseminated throughout Europe? The establishing of Universities in places such as Paris, Oxford and Bologna was perhaps one of the greatest events of the Twelfth Century. Students from all over Europe travelled to these centres of learning, and helped to spread their new scholastic thought and ideas back to their homelands.[11] The Universities not only helped to re-introduce classical knowledge back into Europe but helped build upon and adapt the works to better serve the very different European Society that they inhabited, a Society that was rapidly changing and beginning to explore the world outside the European frontiers. We have established then that the period of the Twelfth Century, which for many academics means 1050-1250, was a period of great economic, social, political and religious change. In our next chapter we will argue that the label Renaissance is worthy of such a profoundly important era. Chapter Two The Twelfth Century did indeed contain many of the features that defined the 15th Century Renaissance in Italy. The discovery of Latin and Greek texts allowed for great advances in the scientific, social, political and legal fields as well as other intellectual pursuits. After the long process of absorbing the vast array of texts, Twelfth Century Scholars built upon that knowledge just as some of the great Italian minds in Florence did several hundred years later. The adoption of Roman legal canons and the revival of the arts are two examples of a European re-birth a fundamental change in Society for the better inspired by the classical works.[12] If anything the Twelfth Century was perhaps even more open minded than its later Italian Renaissance, adopting and learning from cultures previously regarded as heathens and heretics. A Renaissance cannot be defined simply as an interest in classic texts or the adoption of some aspects of ancient Intellectual ideas into Society. The Italian Renaissance was a flowering and development of ideas that were inspired by classical texts and sources. The Twelfth Century saw rapid developments in virtually every intellectual pursuit as a result of the re-discovery of Latin and Greek texts. It helped lead to the rise of new towns and helped spread vernacular literatures. As Haskins demonstrates it was in many ways the early beginnings of the modern world, surpassing the achievements of the authors of those ancient texts. ‘It saw the culmination of Romanesque art and the beginnings of Gothic, the revival of the Latin classics and of Latin poetry and Roman law: the recovery of Greek science, with its Arabic additions, and of much of Greek philosophy: and the origin of the first European universities.’ Another main feature of the Italian Renaissance is the spread of humanist ideas and philosophy. We have previously demonstrated that Humanist thought and philosophy flourished in the Twelfth Century, and the origins of the Individual, an important Western concept, arose in this period of intense intellectual change and development. The supremacy of the Church was not challenged, but a philosophy of rationality and of valuing the human spirit that so defined the Italian Renaissance and indeed the later Enlightenment flourished in the newly created schools and Universities of Twelfth Century Europe.[13] It is irrelevant to compare the relative contributions of each Renaissance in a bid to establish which is more important or which period contributed more to the formation of modern, secular Europe. We are merely concerned with whether the label ‘renaissance’ is a suitable label for the Twelfth Century. Academics such as Haskins and Brooke do clearly believe it was a Renaiss ance and have given clear evidence to support their claims.[14] In our final chapter we will examine the theories of other academics who argue that it is neither appropriate nor relevant to describe the Twelfth Century as a Renaissance. Chapter Three For many historians, such as Panofsky and Chenu, it is inaccurate to describe the Twelfth Century as a true ‘renaissance’.[15] There are several different reasons for this approach. Scholars like Panofsky believed that although Latin and Greek works were re-discovered and that this led to a degree of development, the change was limited to a small range of Intellectual pursuits. Although many in the Twelfth Century imitated the texts and borrowed some of their teachings, they failed to truly appreciate the fact that the ancient world was a completely different culture from their own, their understanding of the works and of the time itself was limited and narrow and unlike the scholars, artists and philosophers of the Italian Renaissance they did not seek to return to classical age or change the society in which they lived, merely adapt some classical teachings to suit their environment.[16] Other historians are not quite so dismissive of the huge range of achievements in the period around the Twelfth Century, and historians like Chenu recognise the importance of the era whilst believing that the label of renaissance does not do the period justice. The engine of artistic, economic and political growth was not the re-discovery of the Latin and Greek texts but the improving economic and social conditions. The true re-birth was the revitalization of the Christian Church, which inspired a new hunger for learning, discovery, and invention and created an atmosphere in which the ancient texts could be adapted to improve the conditions of a newly invigorated Christian Society which was increasingly placing rationality and reason at the heart of its teachings. The Twelfth Century was a unique, profoundly important era that should be studied in its own right, not as a mere pre- Renaissance but an age that helped usher in the beginnings of Modern Western Society.[17] Conclusion In conclusion then, how appropriate is the term ‘renaissance’ to describe Twelfth Century thought and culture? This essay has demonstrated that the Twelfth Century was a period of momentous social, economic, political and religious change. Those developments had a major impact in shaping the modern Western World. Increased prosperity and security created new opportunities and a seemingly universal desire for learning and advancement led to new inventions, the formation of new institutions and the adoption of philosophy which facilitated the rise of humanism and the individual as the centre of Western thought. The contribution of classic Latin and Greek texts cannot be underestimated, the knowledge revealed and subsequently built upon spurred developments in medicine, law, philosophy, technology, theology and art. Unlike the Italian Renaissance Twelfth Century men did not hark back to the ancient times, nor did they wish to re-order Society, merely make it better, more Ch ristian and more humane. It is our conclusion then that using the label ‘renaissance’ for this period is useful in initially expressing the profound importance of this period both in Medieval history and in the effect it has had on the development of Western culture itself. Through its usage we demonstrate that the 14th and 15th Century Renaissances were not as unique as many historians would have us believe, and that the so called dark ages were not the continuous period of ignorance and backwardness so often imagined. But the Twelfth Century is more than a pale imitation of the Italian Renaissance, it is a period of time worthy of separate study and analysis, in the future it maybe that Society will regard this period as the true Renaissance and the later Italian period a development on the achievements and work of a dynamic, original and inspired Century. Bibliography Benson R L Constable G (eds.), ‘Renaissance and Renewal in the Twelfth Century’ (Cambridge Mass., Harvard University Press, 1982, 1991). Brooke C N L, ‘The Twelfth Century Renaissance’ (London, Thames Hudson, 1969) Chenu M-D, ‘Nature, Man and Society in the Twelfth Century ‘(Chicago, Chicago UP, 1968, 1997) Constable G, ‘The Reformation of the Twelfth Century’ (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1996). Cook W R Herzman R B, ‘The Medieval World View: An Introduction’ (Oxford, OUP, 1983) Duby G, ‘The Europe of the Cathedrals’ (Geneva, Skira, 1966) Haskins C H, The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century (classic) (Cambridge Mass., Harvard UP, 1927) Hollister C W, ‘The Twelfth Century Renaissance’ (New York NY, Wiley, 1969) Holmes U T, The Idea of a Twelfth-Century Renaissance Speculum 26 (1951) Morris C, ‘The Discovery of the Individual 1050-1200’ (Toronto, Toronto UP, 1987) Packard S R, ‘Twelfth Century Europe’ (Amherst Mass., Massachusetts UP, 1973) Panofsky E, ‘Renaissance and Renascences in Western Art’ (New York NY, Harper Row, 1970) Southern R W, ‘Medieval Humanism and Other Studies’ (Oxford, Blackwell, 1970, 1984) Stiefel T, ‘The Intellectual Revolution in Twelfth Century Europe’ (London, Croom Helm, 1985) Swanson R N, ‘The Twelfth Century Renaissance’ (Manchester, Manchester University Press, 1999) Treadgold W (Ed), ‘Renaissances before the Renaissance: Cultural Revivals of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages’ (Stanford Ca., Stanford UP, 1984) Trevor-Roper H R, ‘The Rise of Christian Europe’ (London, Thames and Hudson, 1965) Wolff P, ‘The Awakening of Europe’ (Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1968, 1985) Footnotes [1] Ferruolo, Stephen C, ‘The Twelfth-Century Renaissance’ in Treadgold W (ed), Renaissances Before the Renaissance: Cultural Revivals of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (Stanford Ca., Stanford UP, 1984) p.114 [2] Haskins C H, The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century (classic) (Cambridge Mass., Harvard UP, 1927) p.5 [3] Cook W R Herzman R B, The Medieval World View: An Introduction (Oxford, OUP, 1983) p.212 [4] Swanson R N, The Twelfth Century Renaissance (Manchester, Manchester University Press, 1999). [5] Packard S R, Twelfth Century Europe (Amherst Mass., Massachusetts UP, 1973) [6] Haskins C H, The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century (classic) (Cambridge Mass., Harvard UP, 1927) pp193-224 [7] Brooke C N L, The Twelfth Century Renaissance (London, Thames Hudson, 1969) [8] Morris C, The Discovery of the Individual 1050-1200 (Toronto, Toronto UP, 1987) [9] Ferruolo, Stephen C, ‘The Twelfth-Century Renaissance’ in Treadgold W (ed), Renaissances Before the Renaissance: Cultural Revivals of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (Stanford Ca., Stanford UP, 1984) p.126 [10] Cook W R Herzman R B, The Medieval World View: An Introduction (Oxford, OUP, 1983) p.203 [11] Stiefel T, The Intellectual Revolution in Twelfth Century Europe (London, Croom Helm, 1985) [12] Hollister C W, The Twelfth Century Renaissance (New York NY, Wiley, 1969) [13] Ferruolo, Stephen C, ‘The Twelfth-Century Renaissance’ in Treadgold W (ed), Renaissances Before the Renaissance: Cultural Revivals of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (Stanford Ca., Stanford UP, 1984) pp122-132 [14] Brooke C N L, The Twelfth Century Renaissance (London, Thames Hudson, 1969) [15] Chenu M-D, Nature, Man and Society in the Twelfth Century (Chicago, Chicago UP, 1968, 1997) [16] Ferruolo, Stephen C, ‘The Twelfth-Century Renaissance’ in Treadgold W (ed), Renaissances Before the Renaissance: Cultural Revivals of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (Stanford Ca., Stanford UP, 1984) p116 [17] IBID, P.134

An Analysis Of British Literature Essay -- essays research papers

An Analysis of British Literature Death is inevitable and what happens after death will always be a mystery to the living. For this reason, the afterlife has always been a topic which artists have chosen to explore in their works. Throughout the chronology of British literature, artists have used society's views as a basis to examine the afterlife, and look at it in new ways. The afterlife has been a theme in British Literature from the Anglo-Saxon period of Beowulf to the twentieth century writings of Dylan Thomas. The mysteriousness of the afterlife makes it a topic which artists will always be eager to analyze. During the Anglo-Saxon Period which lasted from 449 AD to 1066 AD, the popular belief of the times was that a person's life was predetermined by Wyrd, the Old English word for fate, and there was nothing which the individual could do to change his destiny. The most famous writing from this epoch is the epic poem Beowulf. Beowulf, the main character, had no fear of the evil monster Grendel because he believed "Grendel and I are called/ Together," by fate. He also displayed his faith in the beliefs of society when he told Hrogthgar "Fate will unwind as it must." When Grendel died, the soldiers "had no semse of sorrow, felt no regret for his sufferings," because they believed Grendel was destined to die, and there was no way to defy destiny. They also did not pity Grendel because they considered him to be entirely evil because it was his fate. The Anglo-Saxon's strong belief in fate led to them not fearing death as much as during other times periods in British Literature. Beowulf's strong belief in fate was a reflection in the society's pagan belief in fate. Due to the fact that the society at the time of Beowulf was pagan, they did not believe in the afterlife. The Christian revision to Beowulf illustrated a different outlook on death and the afterlife. When monks were copying the story, they realized it dealt with pagan ideals, and they incorporated Christian ideals into the text. The monks included the concept God was the ultimate one who controls fate. This was shown when Beowulf told Hrogthgar "God must decide/ Who will be given to death's cold grip." The monks also inserted the idea that there is an afterlife. When... ... in the afterlife. Throughout the chronology of British literature, artists have presented many different perspectives on the afterlife. There are views which I agree with, and there are views which I don't agree with. One of the ones which I support is John Donne's idea of death not being a terrible thing because it leads to the afterlife which is a better place. I support this idea because I have been raised in a rather religious family, and it has been instilled in me that death is not bad, and there is an afterlife to go to. I also agree with the ideas in "Ulysses" and "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" that one should struggle to make the most out of his life and to make it meaningful. This idea is very appealing to me because I believe a person should always attempt to make the most out of what he/she is given, and it is important to never give up. While I don't agree with the poems which state that there isn't an afterlife, analyzing and thinking about them has been valuable for me because it has forced me to consider my views, and to build up a stronger support of my views to counter the ideas presented in these poems.