Thesis Essay for the Laramie Project - 1089 Words

In Moises Kaufmans, The Laramie Project the under lying theme of the novel is people are afraid of change. This can be proved from the novel with the character Cathy Connolly and the struggle that homosexuals have to live in there own society. The juxtaposition of anti-gay demonstrations sparked by religion at a homosexuals funeral, and even the physical setting is related to why people are afraid of change. Whether it is start by homophobia, religion, or opression, people are not just afraid of change in general but change for a free society where homosexuals can express and just be themselves. In The Laramie Project, a character name Cathy Connolly claims that gay the people in Laramie feel the oppression from society, and are†¦show more content†¦Reverend Fred Phelps was the preacher who staged the anti-gay demonstration and Matthew was a homosexual that was brutally beaten and left to die on fence in Wyoming. Simply because he was a homosexual and â€Å"[after] seeing Fred Phelps protesting at Matthews funeral†(Kaufman 79) you can see that Phelps and his followers are afraid of change. Fueled by Phelps religion that being gay is a sin, the religion he preaches further opresses homosxuals. Religion plays a large role on homophobia within Laramie itself. Reverand Phelps was preaching the word of his god, â€Å"Were standing here with Gods message. Were standing here with Gods message. Is homosexuality-is being a fag okay? What do you mean its not for you to judge? If God doesnt hate fags, why does he put em in hell?† (Kaufman 79) Phelps shows absolu tly no respect for the family and friends of Matthew Shepard, it reveals that the Reverend himself is afraid change because if he stoops down that low to shun Matthew from his religion. Religion plays a big role in homophobia in societies all over the word, in alot of religions to be gay was different and being different really meant you were condemed, because anyone who believes in a religion will feel the need to practise the words of their God. The religious juxtaposition in the novel shows that homophobic people are afraid of accepting homosexuals,Show MoreRelatedJohn F. Kennedy Is Not The Only One Of The Best Presidents2421 Words   |  10 Pages451, which was about how the government outlawed books so they could prevent citizens from becoming too smart. My teacher then asked us students to develop a thesis statement from what we had read, since we would be required to write an essay revolved around this thesis statement. Before my teacher tells the students to create â€Å"t he† thesis statement of the book, she begins to feed our class with many ideas the lead their minds in the direction of how books are important, onto of the fact we were

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Queen Elizabeth of England was known as one of the most successful rulers of her time for a number of different reasons. She did many things right, but the most prevailing aspect of her reign was her foreign policy. She was something of a revolutionary leader during that time in a number of different ways. We will write a custom essay sample on Look at the questions or any similar topic only for you Order Now While other leaders were busy fighting big wars to protect themselves from danger, Queen Elizabeth found a way to keep her enemies at bay by pacifying them. She used power and influence to balance between the countries and the powers that would have otherwise been a problem during that time. Though the premise of her policy was to help England, it actually helped much of Europe as a result. For example, European powers like France and Germany were able to build their military power and their financial backing while not having to defend against a large armed force in England. Without having to look too far, one can find some of Elizabeth’s policies being utilized in the world today. In some ways, they are being used in many of the same ways that Elizabeth used her policies back in England. There are some very good examples, including the situation that is currently happening in Ukraine. Ukraine is a country that was involved with the Soviet Union for a long time, so they have struggled in the period shortly following that. The adjustment has been difficult, because the country still holds onto its Russian roots, but it is being pulled towards the Western world. Being in such proximity to both Russia and Europe, Ukraine has to fact tough questions about the direction of their country. China is a country that is always in balance between various powers, as well. On one side of them, there is Japan, who holds much of the world’s power in the financial district. One the other hand, they have to balance between the socialist nations that surround them in the South Pacific. In order to make sure that they keep a good reputation around the world, China has had to keep pacify the Western world. They are a large producer of goods, so in order to stay viable, they have to keep the important trade relationships that have been developed up to this point. On the other hand, the socialist nature of their government makes it difficult for them to relate with countries like the United States and many of the nations in Europe. In the sixteenth century, England found itself in an interesting position. In many ways, the world was changing during that time. Today, it is still a changing world, so countries still have to account for these changes. Instead of having to simply care for today, countries like China and Ukraine have to take into account what might happen tomorrow. This is why it is difficult for these countries to have an economic and military strategy that pleases everyone. Queen Elizabeth was able to balance the interests of her country and many different countries, so that they could become a power in the changing world. If England did not have such a balanced policy, then there is no way they could have charged into the new age in such that they would maintain their power into this current time. How to cite Look at the questions, Essay examples

Masai Music Essay Example For Students

Masai Music Essay Mass People Of the numerous tribes who have remained attached to their traditional lifestyles and cultures in Africa, the Mass are indefinitely amongst some of the most well known. The Mamas occupy the lands between Kenya and Tanzania their name for these seemingly infinite plains is the Serenity. They have successfully maintained a pastoral and nomadic lifestyle structured around their herds of cattle; the Magis relationship to their cattle is unprecedented in African culture. Alongside living a unique lifestyle, the music of the Mamas people is also very unique. Some of the sequences they use in their songs can be seen elsewhere in Africa, however, there are many factors that contribute to a truly special product. The music of the Mass is an integral part of their culture; they have songs for Just about everything they do throughout their typical lives. There is a well known saying amongst the Mamas which translates It takes one day to destroy a house; to build a new house will take months and perhaps years. If we abandon our way of life to construct a new one, it will take thousands of years4 A very stereotypical aspect that many would argue is an integral part of music culture n Africa is drumming. Although different types of drums ranging from bongo drums to different snares and metal dopiness are commonly used to create an easily identifiable beat in many songs, the Mass stand apart from these standards. In fact, the Mass are amongst a small group of people who hardly use any instruments at all in their musical performances. With the exception of the Kudus horn in Unto ceremonies, the Mamas use no other instruments to accompany their singings. They sing typically in a call and answer style using occasional grunts and guttural sounds alongside chanting. A typical group of singers in the Mass community consists of a group of male Moran warriors in rows or a circler . They all partake in a polytechnic style of singing while usually one or sometimes multiple warriors dance in the middles. The most famous Mamas custom is the Dumdum dance. Commonly referred to as the Jumping dance2, this style of dance only consists of one movement: Jumping. When Moran warriors enter a circle enclosed by other Moran warriors singing, they will jump as high as they can over and over spending as little time as possible on the ground. Their displays of athleticism, strength, stamina and undying enthusiasm are targeted towards crowds of Mass females in hopes that they can impress theme. They dance in accompaniment of their normal singing style; chapels, grunting, guttural noises and beads are used to create a rhythmic basis for the dumdum. However, not all members of the Mamas community take part in the Dumdum dance; there are a series of ceremonies that Mass boys must undergo first in order to become a respectable member of the Moraine. There is a thriving culture of warrior-hood and man-hood within the Mass people. Mamas Music By Yemeni member of the Mamas adult community and then eventually a Moran a fear-less Mass warrior. The first ceremony that a typical Mamas boy must take part in is called Manipulate. Boys aged 14-16 will come together from all edges of the Mamas world and be put into a large plot of Mass land selected by the Lobbing (Mamas word for prophet). In this area of land, usually 30-40 houses are built for the boys. The day before the ceremony begins, the boys must spend the night in a forest. At early dawn, they then return to their homestead in loose, black clothing and will articulate in song and dance throughout the entire day. Once the Manipulate is completed, the Mamas boys are now ready for their next and most important rite of passage: circumcision. Circumcision is without a doubt the most important coming of age ceremony. Mass boys are very eager for this ceremony in that they know once completed, they will become an official Mamas adult member. .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 , .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 .postImageUrl , .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 , .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2:hover , .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2:visited , .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2:active { border:0!important; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2:active , .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2 .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u09d51a6f10ebb6f89bb674d7079ff2e2:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Degrading music videos and lyrics EssayPrior to the operation, a Mamas boy must herd cattle for seven days. Once this task is completed, the boy will be ready for circumcision. On the eighth day, the boy will first take a cleansing shower outside in happily cold weathers. When he makes his way towards where the operation will be held, his fellow age mates, friends and male family members who shout encouragement and even nasty comments, will engulf him. Older males will shout out comments such as If you kick the knife, we will kill you! or If you run away from the knife, your society will disown you! 4 . Obviously, the process is very unpleasant. Furthermore, the Mass do n ot utilize painkillers or anesthetics in any way to the patient, so they are fully aware and conscious during the entire operation. In addition, during the actual circumcision process, the boy cannot show any signs of pain, as this would prove him weak and not fit to become a Mass adults. When the ceremony is done, the boy will be gifted with livestock and beads, then he must remain in black clothes for the next 4-8 months until accepted as a true adult member of the Mamas community. Now that the boys have been circumcised and accepted into the Mass community, they are re-located to an Emanate and will proceed with their goal of becoming a Moran A Mass warrior. The Emanate is a warriors ground where hey will live in houses and compete with other warriors for female companions. Fights occasionally break out between initiates, as they may grow Jealous of one anothers female companions. As a result, most people in these camps carry around spears, clubs and shields Just in case a fight becomes very serious. The men are kept at the Emanate for up to ten years practicing Mass culture and traditions until they are ready for the Unto ceremony. The Unto ceremony is when Mass males become Moran warriors. The boys will sing and dance to entertain the Lobbing (prophet) in his residence throughout the ay. Then, they must take chunks out of an animal horn that is set on fire. Their last task is then to raise eight bulls as a demonstration to elders. When these tasks are completed, the warriors are prepared to be initiated as a senior warrior a true to celebrates. The Mass are also very unique in that they structure their entire lifestyle around cattle. As stated earlier, one of the tasks that boys had to partake in is the herding of cattle. This task emphasizes the importance of the cow and teaches the boys about the Mamas way of life. Nothing goes to waste. The cows meat, milk, fat, organs and even blood is eaten and bones are used for tools whilst hides for clothes which are then died red or black for ceremonies . The Mass are a unique tribe that utilize their distinct music and dance in many ways. Their chapel style accompanied by grunts, guttural noises, and polymaths provides grounds for their most famous dance: the dumdum. Although very open to foreigners and even tourists, they do not take their traditions lightly. Each member must partake in multiple rites of passage ceremonies first to be truly accepted by society. I admire their culture and how they have remained attached to their way of fife for so many years. As some encampments have become popular tourist destination sites, I hope that I can one day venture out and witness their truly amazing way of life for myself.

Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility

Introduction Literary work is a reflection of what is happening in the society. Authors normally voice their opinion about issues affecting the society through various themes. These themes are closely linked together through analysis of a character’s actions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the contemporary society, introduction of literature research has extensively increased the volume of literature in every topic of interest researchers may be interested in especially in use of expression tools such as metaphors to present a symbolic view that a character displays in a play or a book. As a matter of fact, irrespective of the level of knowledge and understanding of research facets, literature versions are inclusive of literature tools such as metaphors. Literature comparison is about enjoying the phrases, feeling the narrat or’s words in action, imagining, and placing oneself in the writer’s shoes. Writings with consistent assumptions and symbolic insinuation add comprehensiveness to sentence structures or phrases with hidden meaning. Thus, this reflective treatise analyses the theme of triangulated desires in the books â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† and â€Å"Sense and Sensibility†. The pieces dwell much on marriage and its holistic perception which is influenced by race, gender, family relationships and social status. The books show how an individual’s sense of identity is vulnerable to manipulation by others of higher social class. Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen (1775-1817) relied heavily in a balance of irony, realism, and parody in her genre to present a distinct literary style in depicting different societal setups. Through use of irony, Austen was successful in addressing hypocrisy that was dominant in the 18th century in the theme of tri angulated desires. This themes form the foundations upon which the societies at that time were built. It resonates across generations since its influence is inherent. Triangulated desires as a theme touch on identity crisis, tradition, manipulation, and marriage. As observed, Austen’s society is deeply rooted in their culture and is inflexible to accommodate modernity. They view such ideas as alien with no bearing in their lives.Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the texts â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† and â€Å"Sense and Sensibility†, Austen artistically underscores the traditional position on marriage as a trajectory and paradoxically dependent on desire with homo-social relations forming the underlying huddles towards fulfilling the traditionally internalized protagonist beliefs in marriage as a normative social positioning institution. Austen then endea vors to expose these excesses of female and male ‘homosocial’ and formative desire bonds which climax in either marriage dissolution or final resolution. In addressing this theme, Austen uses ‘homosocial’ desires privilege to authenticate female possibilities in marriage institution. She proceeds to recuperate to different degrees of patriarchal symbolism on gender-class system. The Theme of Triangulated Desires â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† In the text â€Å"Pride and Prejudice†, Austen presents a relationship between Darcy and Bingley as that filled with unending triangulated desires. The ‘steady friendship’ between Darcy and Bingley is a reflection of a powerful visible ‘homosocial’ bond that immediately sparkled at Meryton ball during their first meeting (Austen 1995, p.10). Despite Bingley’s superior social class, Darcy is worn out in strong jealously when the latter enjoys a dance with â€Å"the only handso me girl in the room† (Austen 1995, pp. 6-7). Reflectively, this indifference displayed by Darcy is more than coincidental fancy but an unending desire to hold Bingley in her arms. Darcy proceeds to dance with Bingley’s favorite friend Jane. The erotic triangle between Darcy and Bingley is based on unending ‘homosocial’ desires with Jane being the mediating figure in romance. In this aspect, it is apparent that Darcy would be happier to dance with Bingley instead of dancing besides him holding a heterosexual figure. Since this opinion doesn’t not process, it is apparent that the desires of Darcy are not met. To balance an undying desire and ‘homosocial’ ego, Darcy proceeds to dance with Bingley’s sisters besides openly spurring Elizabeth’s dance offer claiming that â€Å"I am in an honor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men (Austen 1995, pp. 6-7). This is a reaction sentiment Darcy is displaying after feeling slighted by his superior ‘heterosocial’ friend’s currency. In doing so, a reader can identify the lose end competitive logic for triangulated desires between two grown men who belong to different social classes. Macpherson (2003) asserts,Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In any erotic rivalry, the bond that links the two rivals is as intense and potent as the bond that links either of the rivals to the beloved†¦ the bonds of â€Å"rivalry† and â€Å"love,† differently as they are experienced, are equally powerful and in many cases equivalent†¦ not by the qualities of the beloved, but by the beloved’s already being the choice of the person who has been chosen as a rival (21). Besides the hidden desires at dance party, Darcy becomes an obstacle in the intended u nion between Bingley and Jane. Darcy’s desire for Bingley has totally blinded him and he confesses that â€Å"I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success† (Austen 1995, p. 130). When confessing that Jane â€Å"want of connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me,† Darcy with ease â€Å"preserve his friend from†¦ a most unhappy connection,† stating â€Å"other causes of repugnance† as the â€Å"total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed† by the family of Jane (Austen 1995, pp. 134–35). The theme of triangulated desires is presented in the possessive jealousy of a ‘homosocial’ Darcy whose desire for Bingley cannot allow him to let go of the fantasy he has for him. Despite this desire, Darcy composes a passionate letter to Bingley to make a confession of a failed union between him and Elizab eth. In an interesting turn of events, the triangulated desires of Darcy lands on Lydia who is saved from social abjection of being unfit for marriage. Macpherson asserts, Darcy saves Lydia not because he cares about Lydia or about the Bennets—not even because he cares about Elizabeth. Elizabeth acknowledges that Darcy had â€Å"done this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ but it turns out that Darcy saves Lydia because he feels himself, without having â€Å"schemed to do wrong,† to be accountable for Wickham (16). Darcy is fully responsible for the reprehensible actions displayed by Wickam. In fact, he admits this as inspired by ‘homosocial’ desire competition. As a result, Darcy â€Å"becomes the better man in ‘homosocial’ competition with Wickham, and successfully routes his triangulated ‘homosocial’ desire through the â€Å"heterosexual detour† of marriage in the novel’s curiously anticlimactic denouement† (Macpherson, 2003, p.15).Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More After a long struggle, Darcy detours his ‘homosocial’ investments in Bingley and Wickham and is presented as a better person after reviving Elizabeth’s and Jane’s marriage plots. As a result, the new status position Darcy as a superior male among the three males with triangulated desires for ‘homosocial’ clandestine. Elizabeth is described as an essentially masculine person because of her unladylike affection for Jane. Austen asserts â€Å"very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold† (Austen 1995, pp. 21-23). Elizabeth’s homoerotic excesses towards her sister Jane paint her as part of the hidden ‘heterosocial’ society. Reflectively, integrating this in the theme of triangulated desires introduces physical and emotional insistent which is climaxed in momentous fulfillment achievement. Elizabeth is described severally as ‘feeling really anxious†™ and face glowing in presence of the sister more than it should be for sisterly love. Her motivation towards showing concerns to Jane may be classified as a heterosexual courtship with Jane being the sole object of ultimate destination. These desires towards a female of same family indicate an implicit ‘homosocial’ inclination in the romantic chivalry described as unfeminine. Interestingly, these manly features make the ‘homosocial’ Darcy attracted to Elizabeth (Austen 1995, p. 24). â€Å"Sense and Sensibility† Literature is a passionate subject that requires originality when reading through it. Originality is an essential thing required to improve the manner in which we view the narration and understand it. As a matter of fact, from the external focus, a reader can connect the previous arguments in the text â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† and â€Å"Sense and Sensibility† since two have same theme of triangulated desires. Austen is more p hilosophical in her writing of the book â€Å"Sense and Sensibility† than in the book â€Å"Pride and Prejudice†. Though the plot is built in a conservative society, unending desires separate Marianne and Willoughby, who loses her to Colonel Brandon. The theme of hidden and recurring desires control the lives of main character in this wobbly plot. This aspect is narrow and creates an essence of assuming a static plot setting. This is a wise way to maintain the literature touch, making it simpler to understand. In this narration, that is, â€Å"Sense and Sensibility† the author has created a quantifiable and intrinsic reader understanding of what metaphoric use on a character was about and the resultant effect created. Marianne is presented as an intelligent, frank, loving, and musically talented (Austen, 1996). Willoughby is a man of many faults who is appreciative of Marianne and deeply loves her. However, the desire for class and economic power pushes Marianne to exchange marriage vows with crude Colonel. Desires to own a home and forms the main driving force for different character traits exposed by Austen. Across the text, home is presented as the ideal landmark, a beloved place, and a treasure defining happiness. Love without a home is but a fantasy. Though things are falling apart, owing a home to the Dashwood sisters is an accomplishment of triangulated desires. Many characters such as the Steeles, Edward and Willoughby are haunted by the unfulfilled desire to own a roof over their heads. Despite having a shelter, they don’t have land and are considered loosely hanging in the conventional society (Austen, 1996, p. 34). Reflectively, achievement of desired object symbolized good sense. On the other hand, disillusionment is as a result of underscoring on desires and depending on emotions. In her endeavor to achieve her desires, Elinor is patient enough to subject her observation to deep scrutiny before passing judgment. Besides , Colonel Brandon loves Marianne and knows the virtue of rational proclamations in the quest to fulfill the desires of marrying her. Unlike Willoughby, Colonel Brandon is careful when expressing his feelings towards Marianne. In this instance, good judgment and final marriage between the two is as a result of patience in the quest for desires. Though Mrs. Dashwood thinks highly of Willoughby, she is worried by his lack of good judgment and caution. This worry is also directed towards Colonel Brandon’s feelings for the fragile Marianne. Austen (1996) wrote, On every formal visit a child ought to be of the party, by way of provision for discourse. In the present case it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his father or mother, and in what particular he resembled either, for of course everybody differed, and everybody was astonished at the opinion of the others (p 38). In my view, without the theme of desire, these writings would be similar to watchin g a movie with no camera effects, no sound effects, and with unknown characters as the only aim is passing a message. In Austen’s use of the desires as a theme, she succeeds in characterizing the powerful in the society and the weaker ones in their desire to find love, maintain marriages, and climb economic ladder. The patriarchal society is painted as unfair to the female members of the society. In quest to fulfill desires, the male members of these societies share same attitude towards females. Interestingly, the wall limiting desires in both texts is an unending phenomenon which cannot be destroyed. Instead of focusing on either antagonistic or protagonist stand, the narrator present a brief on both sides. She is comprehensive on presenting a quantifiable expository backed by a strong characterization in line with the main theme in the book. Consistent use of this theme more than once alongside other literary devises has made the two main characters, that is, Marianne and Darcy stand out as a protagonist verses an antagonist in a battle to satisfy ego and undying desires. However, at the end of the struggle, the spontaneous desire hits the wall for both characters. Marianne ends up married to Colonel Brandon to the dismay of many readers in the text â€Å"Sense and Sensibility†. The same fate faces Darcy who loses Bingley to Jane despite series of attempts to attract Bingley’s attention. Triangulated desires stops reasoning and slower people from examining the limits of pragmatic possibilities necessary for psychological reconciliation. Fortunately, the self regulating society seems to offer a facilitated explanation for mutual support. Austen has imposed the above thought as an expression to resonate on the need for better life and communicate past negative experiences. Austen suggests that the process of appreciating the social power as a power of the people enables the society to function coherently within minimal tension, despite ha ving different desires. Austen pushes for personal conviction as the basis of the ideal fundamental social norms that minimizes conflict in the process of creating a systematic orientation for fulfilling desires. In presenting the theme of triangulated desires, the author characterizes personal identity as a component of realism. Recognizing aspects of loyalty, moral crisis, honor, and revenge, Austen gives her story a lifeline of a typical society filled by personal interests. She creates a human action drama that combines stories of self-discovery and love. Austen convincingly mingles the ‘futuristic’ and the ‘realistic’ imaginations of the then naà ¯ve society. The theme of triangulated desire is relevant in the contemporary society where difference between unity and hatred is defined by a thin line of personal interests. In most cases, the losers remain to wallow in regret as winners blow trumpet. The driving force towards triangulating desires remains to be family, love and the need to belong. Despite these desires, the society as a bond unites different personalities and these desires often remain hidden within a person. As a matter of fact, love remains to be the sole dictator of human desires. The degree of jealousy often determines an individual’s ability to arrest unbecoming desires. In conclusion, the two texts, â€Å"Sense and Sensibility† and â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† share connections in the plot and theme of triangulated desires. The texts are able to vividly and convincingly present the unending desires. However, they end up in different circumstantial incidences. Acknowledged by many authors as homosocial culturally embedded female writer, Austen presents an experimental imagination of deep heterosexual relationships. Across the two novels, women are displayed as victims of the triangulated desires. References Austen, J. (1995). Pride and Prejudice. New York: Dover. Austen, J. (1996). Sense and Sensibility, New York: Barnes Noble Books. Macpherson, S. (2003). Rent to Own; Or, What’s entailed in Pride and Prejudice.  Representations Journal, 82, 1–23. This essay on Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility was written and submitted by user Leo Erickson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

“Effects of adapting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the Financial Statements and Reporting Quality of the Micro Finance Institutions in Uganda” The WritePass Journal

â€Å"Effects of adapting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the Financial Statements and Reporting Quality of the Micro Finance Institutions in Uganda† 1. Introduction: â€Å"Effects of adapting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the Financial Statements and Reporting Quality of the Micro Finance Institutions in Uganda† 1. Introduction:   2.   Objective:3. Literature Review:3.1 Introduction:3.2 What is Micro Finance?3.3 Micro finance reporting standard:3.4 Overview of Micro Finance Industry in Uganda:3.5 Regulatory Structure for Micro Finance in Uganda:3.6 Overview of Accounting System in Uganda:3.7 Adaptation of IFRS in Uganda:4. Methodology: 5. Conclusion: 6. References:Related 1. Introduction: Over the years Microfinance has become a diverse and growing industry. There are over hundreds of institutions in Uganda providing micro finance services (check website), ranging from grass roots self-help groups and NGOs to commercial banks that provide financial services to millions of microenterprises and low-income households. These Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) receive support and services not only from donor agencies, but also from investors, lenders, network organizations, rating firms, and a host of other specialized businesses. MFIs must follow an industry: Understanding the difference between arrears and portfolio at risk is important. Arrears measure the sum of all past due payments, whereas portfolio at risk is the total value of loans outstanding that have one or more past due payment. The word delinquency may refer to either, which leads to confusion. As mentioned above MFIs also find it hard to comply with the International Financial Reporting Standards completely. For Example: MFIs normally follow a mixed accounting system where the accrual method of accounting is used for expenses and the cash method is used for interest earned on loans.   Although the cash method of accounting may be acceptable for internal management reports, but according to IFRS and IAS an adjustment for accrued interest is required. Therefore, the study will be identifying the differences in the financial reports of the MFIs compared to the IFRS.    2.   Objective: The major objective of the study is to gain an extensive understanding of the Micro Finance sector in Uganda and to identify the effects caused by the implementation of IFRS in the financial statements. While analyzing the implementation of IFRS, the focus of the study is also to identify the differences in the financial statements and reports and whether it complies with IFRS. 3. Literature Review: 3.1 Introduction: Research has been conducted assessing Uganda’s accounting and auditing practices to ensure the quality of corporate financial reporting (Uganda, Accounting Auditing, ROSC, 2005). Further more literature related to the micro finance industries consists of mainly its impact (USAID, 2001) and effects on poverty reduction (J. Morduch B. Hale, 2001). Few guidelines and surveys were conducted by the SEEP Network and CGAP to determine the reporting standard of the Micro finance industry. 3.2 What is Micro Finance? According to Marguerite Robinson the definition of Micro Finance is â€Å"Micro Finance refers to small scale financial services for both credits and deposits that are provided to people who performs agricultural activities; operate small and medium enterprises in developing countries, in both rural and urban areas†. Micro-finance means transactions in small amounts of both credit and saving, involving mainly small-scale and medium-scale businesses and producers. Micro Finance Institution (MFI) set up centers in targeted areas with group members. These group members consists of 25-40 members per groups, this number will vary with different MFIs. The loans are normally disbursed to two or three of the members of self-selected groups (mostly female groups) and the whole group becomes responsible for the repayment by their fellow members. The other members only get their loans when the initial borrowers pay their installments regularly. Members have to attend regular meetings, usually weekly, to repay their loans. The history of microfinance is often associated with the rise of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) providing microcredit services to the poor and the development of a handful of microfinance banks. In the early 1990s, standards began to emerge calling for stronger financial management of microcredit providers, particularly in their delinquency management and reporting. At the same time, credit unions and banks involved in micro lending developed stronger monitoring techniques for their microcredit portfolios. As the micro finance industry grew in capacity and outreach the competition also started to increase, therefore, it became important for the industry to introduce a reporting standard which will increase transparency, facilitate comparability, improve decision-making, and increase investment by making it easier to observe and understand an MFI’s financial health. 3.3 Micro finance reporting standard: Microfinance as an industry does not have a central body or mechanism to address compliance or updates to financial reporting standards. MFIs worldwide do not follow standards, and are only now beginning to use tools like International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)(new developments in mfis). IFRS  is a principle based set of 37 accounting standards. As the need for consistent worldwide reporting standards grows, the goal is to provide a general financial reporting guidance for public companies. Within the European Union (EU) companies with securities listed on stock exchange must adopt  IFRS  for their consolidated financial statements starting in 2005. Many other countries worldwide require  IFRS  as the leading reporting standard. Over 100 countries are currently using IFRS. There are many reasons for implementing  IFRS. Most important is the comparability of financial statements worldwide. For investors and auditors the  IFRS  provide a cohesive view of the consolidated financial statements. (http://ifrs-ebooks.com/ifrs-explanation.html) Since 1990, MFIs have grown in size, type, number, and complexity (BoU report). At the same time, more emphasis has been placed on financial accountability, management, and viability. A growing acceptance of standards for micro finance has emerged since the early 1990s. In 1995, The SEEP Network produced a monograph, Financial Ratio Analysis of micro finance Institutions, which became the standard set of 16 ratios that micro finance institutions monitored. Then, in 2002, micro finance institutions, The SEEP Network, rating firms and donor agencies jointly developed Microfinance Financial Definitions Guidelines: Definitions of Selected Financial Terms, Ratios, and Adjustments for microfinance, known as the Financial Definitions Guidelines. 3.4 Overview of Micro Finance Industry in Uganda: Uganda occupies an area of 241,038 sq km[1] in the heart of East Africa, with a total of over 34.6 million (July 2011 est.)[2]. Approximately 94 percent of the poor live in rural areas where about 75 percent of the population lives (CGAP, 2004) and depend on Agriculture, which contributes about 36.1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Uganda’s financial system is characterized by the co-existence of formal and informal financial markets. The formal financial markets, which mainly comprise of commercial banks, development banks and credit institutions mainly exist in urban areas and offer a narrow range of financial services. They concentrate on providing working capital mainly to medium and large-scale enterprises. Furthermore, the formal financial institutions are inflexible in their operations, with respect to the needs of the small-scale enterprises and the poor people in the rural areas who may not have collateral or well-written feasibility studies to solicit for loans. As such, the rural areas, where the majority of poor people live, remain either under-banked or served by informal financial institutions. MFIs in Uganda consist of moneylenders, micro-finance agencies, Non Government Organizations (NGOs), rural farmers’ schemes and savings societies that provide savings and/or credit facilities to micro and small-scale business people who have experienced difficulties obtaining such services from the formal financial institutions. Their range of activities include; deposit taking, savings schemes, small-scale enterprises, agriculture, real estate, group lending, retail financial services, giving advice on financial matters and training in business management. The Microfinance industry in Uganda is in its advanced stage of evolution. Since the 1990s, Uganda has created a success story by developing the market for microfinance services, which has been considered a role model for Africa and even other regions (Goodwin-Groen et al. 2004). Its growth and development will be a function of the support and effort of practitioners, donors and the Government working together to create an enabling environment for its development. It is readily apparent that the Government is committed to economic and financial reforms. In addition to the other reforms being implemented through its economic policy framework, the Government has shown its commitment to reforming the financial sector.   Operationalization of the Microfinance Policy and the legal and regulatory framework indicates renewed efforts and commitment to improving the financial system. The Government is acutely aware of the limitation of the traditional banking sectors ability to mobilize sav ings from and extends credit to poor people in rural and urban areas. This population has a weak financial resource base and is in dire need of financial services that cater for its unique circumstances. 3.5 Regulatory Structure for Micro Finance in Uganda: The current financial sector policy in Uganda aims primarily at systemic safety and soundness as a supporting bedrock for orderly growth. The policy, drafted by the BoU and approved by Government following multiple bank failures of the late 1990s, was significantly informed by the bitter lessons learnt from these failures and by incidences of fraudulent organizations that fleece the public.   The role of Bank of Uganda, the financial sector regulator, is to ensure systemic safety, soundness and stability of the whole financial sector, and protection of public deposits in the regulated financial institutions. Bank of Uganda issued the policy statement in July 1999 that established a tiered regulatory framework for microfinance business within the broader financial sector. The policy established four categories of institutions that can do micro-financing business in Uganda: Tier 1: Commercial banks.  Ã‚   Banks are regulated under the Financial Institutions Act revised in 2004. Since these are already sufficiently capitalized and meet the requirements for taking deposits as provided for in this Act, they are allowed to go into the business of microfinance at their discretion. Tier 2: Credit Institutions (CIs).   These institutions are also regulated under the Financial Institutions Act 2004. A number of them offer both savings and loan products but they can neither operate cheque/ current accounts nor be part of the BoU Clearing House.   Like banks, they are permitted to conduct microfinance business since they are already sufficiently capitalized and meet the requirements for taking deposits provided for in the Act. Tier 3: Micro Finance Deposit Taking Institutions (MDIs).   This is the category of financial institutions that was created following the enactment of the MDI Act. Originally doing business as NGOs and companies limited by guarantee, these institutions transformed into shareholding companies, changed their ownership and transformed/ graduated into prudentially regulated financial intermediaries. They are licensed under the MDI Act and are subjected to MDI Regulations by BoU. Like Tier I and II institutions (banks and CIs), the MDIs are required to adhere to prescribed limits and benchmarks on core capital, liquidity ratios, ongoing capital adequacy ratios (in relation to risk weighted assets), asset quality and to strict, regular reporting requirements. Tier 4: All other financial services providers outside BoU oversight. This category has SACCOs and all microfinance institutions that are not regulated such as credit-only NGOs, microfinance companies and community-based organizations in the business of microfinance.   These institutions have a special role in deepening geographical and poverty outreach, and in other ways extending the frontiers of financial services to poorer, remote rural people. 3.6 Overview of Accounting System in Uganda: The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) is the only statutory licensing body of professional accountants in Uganda. It was established by the Accountants Statute, 1992, but did not commence operations until 1995. The ICPAU is empowered by the statute to establish accounting standards and to act as a self-regulatory organization for professional accountants, which includes requirements for practicing as a professional accountant in Uganda. The functions of the Institute, as prescribed by the Act, are: To regulate and maintain the standard of accountancy in Uganda; To prescribe or regulate the conduct of accountants in Uganda. The objectives, of the institute included the regulation of accounting practice and the provision of guidance on standards to be used in the preparation of financial statements. As with most developing countries, and in cognizance with developments in the area of accounting at a global level, the ICPAU in 1999 adopted International Accounting Standards (IAS) without any amendments (Dumontier and Raffournier, 1998). Prior to the adoption of IAS, there had been a proliferation of approaches to the preparation and presentation of financial statements in Uganda. One of the more obvious approaches to the presentation of financial statements was based on references to Generally Accepted Accounting Standards (GAAS) and firm law (Samuel Sejjaak, 2003). 3.7 Adaptation of IFRS in Uganda: Since 1998, the Council of ICPAU has adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs, IASs, SIC and IFRIC Interpretations) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), without amendment, for application in Uganda (IFRS for SMEs). International Financial Reporting Standards set out recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements dealing with transactions and other events and conditions that are important in general purpose financial statements. The adoption of IFRS in Uganda to a larger extent is influenced by external factors such as foreign investors, international accounting firms, and international financial organizations among others. However, unless a country opens its doors to these institutions, there is little they can do to politicize the adoption process. The implication is that the more a country is opened to the international environment, the higher the possibility that the country would be coaxed into adopting International Financial Reporting Standards. 4. Methodology: The research will be conducted in an attempt to analyse the index and the quality of the accounting statements of the micro finance industry. Due to this reason the target of this study is the collection of empirical observations concerned to the effect of the adaptation of International Accounting Standards to the quality and quantity of the accounting information that are published. The work of this study will be based on desk research only. A desk-based research will be initiated to make the essential link between theoretical frameworks and empirical observation. Mainly the study will focus on the comparative examination of the annual Financial Statements of Micro Finance Institutions in Uganda registered by the Bank of Uganda (BoU). To examine and analyse the content of those Financial Statements so as to meet the objectives of the project and derive conclusions, the following methods will be taken into consideration. Content analysis has been defined as a systematic, replicable technique for compressing many words of text into fewer content categories based on explicit rules of coding (Berelson, 1952; GAO, 1996; Krippendorff, 1980; and Weber, 1990).  Content analysis enables researchers to sift through large volumes of data with relative ease in a systematic fashion (GAO, 1996). It can be a useful technique for allowing us to discover and describe the focus of individual, group, institutional, or social attention (Weber, 1990). There are two general categories of content analysis: conceptual analysis and relational analysis. Conceptual analysis can be thought of as establishing the existence and frequency of concepts – most often represented by words of phrases – in a text. In contrast, relational analysis goes one step further by examining the relationships among concepts in a text. (Writing Guides, http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/research/content/com2d3.cfm) Another method that can be very significant to the study is the Comparative analysis. Comparative research, simply put, is the act of comparing two or more things with a view to discovering something about one or all of the things being compared. This method may also be appropriate for the study, as it will provide a comparison between the financial accounts of the MFIs with the IFRS. Both content analysis and comparative analysis can be used for the determination of the study. Although there are some limitations with both methods it is thought as the most appropriate methods/tools for the purpose of the study. [TC1] 5. Conclusion: Over the last two decade micro finance has transformed itself to a multi million-dollar industry. To continue its work in poverty reduction MFIs requires support from the international investors and donors. For this they would require to provide evidence of success, sustainability and transparency through the financial statements and reports. MFIs would require presenting the reports in a standardized format, which can be understood by the interest groups. Hence, the implementation of the IFRS became very important in this sector. However, it became quite difficult for the micro finance industry to totally comply with IFRS. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of IFRS in the micro finance industry and what are differences that arise as the result of the implementation.[TC3] 6. References: [1] Source: CIA – The World Fact book Website: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html [2] Source: CIA – The World Fact book Website: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html   [TC1]Not clear what will you use for the study.   [TC2]  [TC2]Maybe you can elaborate more on each method, and then discuss which method you are choosing and why?   [TC3]End with a statement on how this research is going to achieve this goal†¦

New SAT Scoring Advantage

New SAT Scoring Advantage SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips While the new SAT is out of 1600 and the old SAT is out of 2400, the two aren't directly proportional; you can't just multiply your old SAT score by 2/3 and expect the result to be how you'd do on the new SAT. The only way to know for sure how you'd do on the new test (besides taking the new SAT exam) is to use the College Board's data to convert your score from old to new SAT. To find out if you’d score higher on the new SAT and why that might be the case, read on! feature image credit:Aspirational/used under CC BY 2.0/Resized from original. What’s Changed About SAT Scoring? College Board premiered the new SAT March 2016, with a new out-of-1600 scoring system that now gives one out-of-800 Math score and out-of-800 Reading score. The increased importance of Math to the overall SAT score isn’t all that’s changed, however; the difficulty of the individual sections appears to have shifted as well. Based on data released by the College Board, a 700 on the old SAT Math isn’t the same as a 700 on the new SAT Math section, and a 700 on the old SAT Reading and 700 on SAT Writing isn't the same as a 700 on the new SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. Even after adjusting for the 1600/2400 change, it’s easier to get a higher score on the new SAT than it was on the old SAT, especially if you had an average score. The amount by which you’d score higher varies with your scoring range. Old SAT Math vs. New SAT Math The comparison for this section is pretty straightforward: based on the concordance tables released this spring by the College Board, there’s an average 29 point increase on the new SAT Math section compared to scores on the old version. This average does not take into account number of people who score at each score point, however; you can’t expect score 30 points better no matter what your old SAT score was. The graph below sheds a little more light on the matter: Here's an example of how the score difference between the old and new SAT Math sections works out: If you got a 730/800 on the old SAT Math section (shown as a black vertical bar in the graph above) and took the new SAT with exactly the same preparation and skills, you’d likely score a 760/800. If you scored around the national average of 510 on the old SAT Math section, you'd similarly expect to see a new SAT Math score of 540. Old SAT Reading/Writing vs. New SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Comparing old SAT Reading Writing and new SAT Reading and Writing is a little trickier because reading and writing have been smushed into one score on the new SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, or EBRW). The College Board has kindly provided concordance charts to help out with this calculation which show that you can still expect to see higher scores on the new SAT EBRW compared to the old SAT Reading and Writing section scores. If the two tests were exactly equivalent, you’d expect that the combined old Reading and Writing section scores (a range of 400-1600) divided by two would be the same as the concorded new SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score (a range of 200-800), but this is not the case. Instead, students can expect to score between zero and sixty points better on EBRW than they would have on each of the Critical Reading and Writing sections on the old SAT. The graph below gives a more detailed look at how the score increases are distributed across old SAT combined Reading and Writing scores: To put this graph in context, consider the following example: If you took the old SAT, got Critical Reading 700 and Writing 710 (a combined score of 1410, shown as a black vertical bar in the graph above), and took the new SAT with exactly the same preparation and skills, you could expect to score a 740/800 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. If you got around the national average old SAT scores of 500 on Reading and 480 on Writing, you could expect to score a 550 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing - a huge jump. How Do the Changes to SAT Scoring Affect You? The 2016-2017 school year is a unique time for college applications because colleges will be accepting both old and new SAT scores. Theoretically, schools have access to the concordance tools needed to compare old and new SAT scores and admissions officers will do their due diligence to understand that it’s easier to get higher scores on the new SAT. Schools won’t be superscoring between the old and new SAT, so it’s not like you can get a 760 Math on the new SAT and combine that with your Critical Reading and Writing scores from the old SAT for a higher superscore. In practice, however, a SAT result of 510 Math/ 650 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing makes a better impression than 470 Math/590 Reading/590 Writing (even though according to the College Board’s concordance tables and its conversion tool, these scores are equivalent). Even after the old SAT has been phased out entirely from college applications, it will take admissions officers a little while to adjust and align their unconscious, split-second assessments of student scores with the new reality that more students will be getting higher scores on the SAT, and so a 760 isn't as impressive as it used to be. Therefore, if you took the old SAT and scored in a range where you can expect to see at least a 20-point increase in nominal score, you should consider taking the new SAT to see if you can get a higher score. Add effective prep to that score increase, and you might very well be able to get a high enough score on the new SAT to step yourself over the threshold for acceptance for colleges previously just out of reach. Reach/used under CC BY-SA 2.0/Resized from original. What’s Next? How long will colleges accept old SAT scores for? We go over whether it's better for the classes of 2017-18 to submit new or old SAT scores in this article. How can you improve your SAT score? We’ve got fifteen great tips for SAT studying and score improvement here. Want to double-check a specific score for yourself? Use our old to new SAT conversion tool. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Prevention of Falls in Elderly Rehabilitation Patients Essay

Prevention of Falls in Elderly Rehabilitation Patients - Essay Example Research on the elderly has attained ethnographic cross-cultural comparative proportions of investigation, being one of the most necessary requirements of society. Professional acute care, community care with their circumstantial inadequacies and the situational hopelessness of the elderly in those last sad years motivate Sociologists to invest more time on finding alternatives and innovations. One point all the care facilities and Governments usually forget is that the care is necessity-dependent and not just age-dependent. These articles belong to the researched data connected to this field. As the falling of elderly has become a main problem especially so in the western society, because it delays rehabilitation and healing, it is necessary to have as much information as possible on the given area. Critical assessment and comparison of two or more research pieces can give more insight to care workers like me who have to focus on the problem. This is a very pertinent area for a care giving professional and it is better to analyze the research available than simply scanning through it. I would like to appraise both the works, analyse them and compare them. I would also like to critically go through them and point out the areas of deficiency and shortcomings. I have tried to find similarities, glaring dissimilarities and various points that the researches have touched in the process. I feel it is important because of the seriousness of the problem that can make the last days of the elderly very painful, lonely and ailing. It is important to welcome as much research as possible in this region. LIMITATIONS: Both the research work show very limited perspectives of the problem. They do not envelop the entire relevant issue. Instead, they focus on certain practical advice and connected research without concentrating much on day-to-day activities of the care homes that are trying hard for a successful rehabilitation. As these researches are not highly extensive, their field strength is rather limited. Even though they represent two highly important sides of the problem, one approaching from physical angle and another from mental, it is difficult to conclude that both the papers have achieved anything absolutely conclusive. LITERATURE REVIEW: Aging touches different parameters in the Western and Eastern World because in Eastern countries, families take care of the elders under normal circumstances. Problems facing the elderly in European Countries, Australia, USA or Eastern Countries are identical. Caring for the frail elderly does not limit itself to one region or country."Older people in European society are therefore not to be regarded as a homogeneous mass but as a diverse group of people who may have only one characteristic in common - their age" says Hugman (1994, p.7). Restorative care is distinctively different from usual care because they have to be matched with the particular individualistic