Personal Narrative Essay - Original Writing - 1716 Words

Personal Narrative We all like to pretend that we have control over our lives. Being in control makes us feel powerful, like we are ready for anything. With everything that goes on in the world we never can truly be in full control of our lives, but the moments that we felt we were in control are looked back as good times in our lives. Of course, it’s the moments where we lose control that stick with us the most. The day I found out I would lose my dad for a year started a little differently than most days. I woke up around 11 to the sharp pain of being hit in the side with a stick. Jolting upwards in pain, I slammed my head against the bottom of my brother’s bed, forgetting that I slept in a bunk bed. Now fully awake and in splitting pain I turned to face my attacker. My three year old brother squealed with laughter as he wound up for another swing with his menacing weapon, a two-foot blue plastic lacrosse stick. To this day I have no idea where he got that stick, no o ne has ever played lacrosse in my family nor did we ever buy a lacrosse stick. â€Å"Thwack!† My leg shot up with pain after my brother Keegan’s latest hit. â€Å"Wake up RyRy!† my assailant giggled as he dropped his weapon. He looked at me with a smile across his face with not a hint of remorse in his blue eyes. Some people might have been surprised that a three year old could brandish a weapon but, Keegan was an ingenious child. Keegan has always been big for his age, with big blue eyes and buzz cut hair heShow MoreRelatedPersonal Narrative Essay - Original Writing949 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Narrative I am at room in a very spacious hotel with beautiful ambience and a relaxed atmosphere, far away from the hustles and bustles of this world. And as i could visualize an endless wilderness and say; â€Å"it’s in middle of nowhere†, so is this locational description of this hotel. What I now know though, is that it’s at the periphery of our Narok County, deep at the Maasai Mara, Kenya. The hotel usually visited by the high and mighty of this world: Hollywood movie producers, renownedRead MorePersonal Narrative Essay - Original Writing951 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Narrative The most influential event in my life was moving from Herriman to Draper. The move was accompanied with much sadness and frustration, but I have come to realize that the positive effects far outweigh the negative ones. The biggest result of the move ended up being the ward family we moved into. Other things I was able to do after the move were making friends and discovering many things that I could be passionate about. I am LDS and I have been my entire life. Where we lived outRead MorePersonal Narrative Essay - Original Writing1716 Words   |  7 PagesPersonal Narrative We all like to pretend that we have control over our lives. Being in control makes us feel powerful, like we are ready for anything. With everything that goes on in the world we never can truly be in full control of our lives, but the moments that we felt we were in control are looked back as good times in our lives. Of course, it’s the moments where we lose control that stick with us the most. The day I found out I would lose my dad for a year started a little differently thanRead MoreHow I Am A Writer Essay1112 Words   |  5 PagesReflective As a writer, I would consider myself to be a very strong writer. When it comes to writing or having different writing assignments, I have to write everything down on a piece of paper to get my thoughts out and just let my pen flow. I tend to write essays only when I am assigned, but for the most part, I write everyday. I personally like to write about me in particular but mainly I enjoy writing about overcoming different obstacles people face in life or about the future. As a writer, youRead MoreNarrative Writing : High School917 Words   |  4 Pagesrequired a freshman writing class, I was irritated and dreaded the experience so much that I delayed taking the course to second semester. Very confident in my writing ability as my high school featured a grueling English department and having received high grades on my history and sociology essays in first semester classes, I presumed that I wouldn’t learn anything in FWS. Though I struggled with the drafting process, as my preferred method of essay writing involved writing the entire piece to perfectionRead MoreMy First Time Making A Career Goal1516 Words   |  7 Pagesmethods of writing and writing in different purposes. I also learned different things just by having online discussions and most importantly, I learned how to improve my writing skills and how this course changed my perception of English and apply it in the future. I have gained so much knowledge about writing in this class and it made a great impact on my skills. These lessons I have learned in this class has been very beneficial and I will carry these lessons in the future. The first essay we did inRead MoreCree Poetic Discourse By Neal Mcleod1640 Words   |  7 PagesThe Power of Evolution In the essay â€Å"Cree Poetic Discourse†, the author Neal McLeod addresses an intellectual problem that the western academic writing approach harms the indigenous Cree narratives. According to McLeod, the Cree narrative process, which involves poetic thinking, embraces new possibilities and keeps changing (9). This evolution process not only depends on various occasions of speaking but also depends on different storytellers and audiences who absorb stories, thus allowing Cree poeticRead MoreNananna1497 Words   |  6 PagesRiding The Pine: Tim Bowling’s personal reflection of professional hockey in â€Å"Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey Goodbye† In â€Å"Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey Goodbye,† Tim Bowling, an author, poet, and a fishing boat deckhand (Stewart et al 237), articulates how professional hockey has evolved over his lifetime. He laments how a game he was enamoured with no longer captures his complete attention and is not as relevant in his life as it once was. However, Bowling admits he still has a sheepish curiosity for the latestRead MoreVisual Exploration Of Video Games1260 Words   |  6 Pagesdeveloped my existing skills and brought me out of my comfort zone of traditional essay writing. The review process was another major way that I was able to develop as a multimodal communicator. While I still have room to improve in the creativity and visual components of my work, this course has given me much needed exposure to these aspects of communication while also further developing my strengths in analytic writing and reading. The review process was a critical part of my development as a multimodalRead More`` 13, 1977, 21 By Jonathan Lethem1359 Words   |  6 Pages The essay I am analyzing is entitled simply as â€Å"13, 1977, 21† by Jonathan Lethem. It’s personal narrative that is a retelling of the author’s childhood and it starts with Lethem confessing that he saw the original Star Wars movie twenty-one times in one summer when he was thirteen years old. Despite what some readers may think, this essay is not about any kind of obsession he may have with Star Wars. He tells more about the aspects of his childhood that related to the detail of his almost religious Personal Narrative Essay - Original Writing - 1716 Words Personal Narrative We all like to pretend that we have control over our lives. Being in control makes us feel powerful, like we are ready for anything. With everything that goes on in the world we never can truly be in full control of our lives, but the moments that we felt we were in control are looked back as good times in our lives. Of course, it’s the moments where we lose control that stick with us the most. The day I found out I would lose my dad for a year started a little differently than most days. I woke up around 11 to the sharp pain of being hit in the side with a stick. Jolting upwards in pain, I slammed my head against the bottom of my brother’s bed, forgetting that I slept in a bunk bed. Now fully awake and in splitting pain I turned to face my attacker. My three year old brother squealed with laughter as he wound up for another swing with his menacing weapon, a two-foot blue plastic lacrosse stick. To this day I have no idea where he got that stick, no o ne has ever played lacrosse in my family nor did we ever buy a lacrosse stick. â€Å"Thwack!† My leg shot up with pain after my brother Keegan’s latest hit. â€Å"Wake up RyRy!† my assailant giggled as he dropped his weapon. He looked at me with a smile across his face with not a hint of remorse in his blue eyes. Some people might have been surprised that a three year old could brandish a weapon but, Keegan was an ingenious child. Keegan has always been big for his age, with big blue eyes and buzz cut hair he modeledShow MoreRelatedPersonal Narrative Essay - Original Writing949 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Narrative I am at room in a very spacious hotel with beautiful ambience and a relaxed atmosphere, far away from the hustles and bustles of this world. And as i could visualize an endless wilderness and say; â€Å"it’s in middle of nowhere†, so is this locational description of this hotel. What I now know though, is that it’s at the periphery of our Narok County, deep at the Maasai Mara, Kenya. The hotel usually visited by the high and mighty of this world: Hollywood movie producers, renownedRead MorePersonal Narrative Essay - Original Writing951 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Narrative The most influential event in my life was moving from Herriman to Draper. The move was accompanied with much sadness and frustration, but I have come to realize that the positive effects far outweigh the negative ones. The biggest result of the move ended up being the ward family we moved into. Other things I was able to do after the move were making friends and discovering many things that I could be passionate about. I am LDS and I have been my entire life. Where we lived outRead MorePersonal Narrative Essay - Original Writing1716 Words   |  7 PagesPersonal Narrative We all like to pretend that we have control over our lives. Being in control makes us feel powerful, like we are ready for anything. With everything that goes on in the world we never can truly be in full control of our lives, but the moments that we felt we were in control are looked back as good times in our lives. Of course, it’s the moments where we lose control that stick with us the most. The day I found out I would lose my dad for a year started a little differentlyRead MoreHow I Am A Writer Essay1112 Words   |  5 PagesReflective As a writer, I would consider myself to be a very strong writer. When it comes to writing or having different writing assignments, I have to write everything down on a piece of paper to get my thoughts out and just let my pen flow. I tend to write essays only when I am assigned, but for the most part, I write everyday. I personally like to write about me in particular but mainly I enjoy writing about overcoming different obstacles people face in life or about the future. As a writer, youRead MoreNarrative Writing : High School917 Words   |  4 Pagesrequired a freshman writing class, I was irritated and dreaded the experience so much that I delayed taking the course to second semester. Very confident in my writing ability as my high school featured a grueling English department and having received high grades on my history and sociology essays in first semester classes, I presumed that I wouldn’t learn anything in FWS. Though I struggled with the drafting process, as my preferred method of essay writing involved writing the entire piece to perfectionRead MoreMy First Time Making A Career Goal1516 Words   |  7 Pagesmethods of writing and writing in different purposes. I also learned different things just by having online discussions and most importantly, I learned how to improve my writing skills and how this course changed my perception of English and apply it in the future. I have gained so much knowledge about writing in this class and it made a great impact on my skills. These lessons I have learned in this class has been very beneficial and I will carry these lessons in the future. The first essay we did inRead MoreCree Poetic Discourse By Neal Mcleod1640 Words   |  7 PagesThe Power of Evolution In the essay â€Å"Cree Poetic Discourse†, the author Neal McLeod addresses an intellectual problem that the western academic writing approach harms the indigenous Cree narratives. According to McLeod, the Cree narrative process, which involves poetic thinking, embraces new possibilities and keeps changing (9). This evolution process not only depends on various occasions of speaking but also depends on different storytellers and audiences who absorb stories, thus allowing Cree poeticRead MoreNananna1497 Words   |  6 PagesRiding The Pine: Tim Bowling’s personal reflection of professional hockey in â€Å"Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey Goodbye† In â€Å"Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey Goodbye,† Tim Bowling, an author, poet, and a fishing boat deckhand (Stewart et al 237), articulates how professional hockey has evolved over his lifetime. He laments how a game he was enamoured with no longer captures his complete attention and is not as relevant in his life as it once was. However, Bowling admits he still has a sheepish curiosity for the latestRead MoreVisual Exploration Of Video Games1260 Words   |  6 Pagesdeveloped my existing skills and brought me out of my comfort zone of traditional essay writing. The review process was another major way that I was able to develop as a multimodal communicator. While I still have room to improve in the creativity and visual components of my work, this course has given me much needed exposure to these aspects of communication while also further developing my strengths in analytic writing and reading. The review process was a critical part of my development as a multimodalRead More`` 13, 1977, 21 By Jonathan Lethem1359 Words   |  6 Pages The essay I am analyzing is entitled simply as â€Å"13, 1977, 21† by Jonathan Lethem. It’s personal narrative that is a retelling of the author’s childhood and it starts with Lethem confessing that he saw the original Star Wars movie twenty-one times in one summer when he was thirteen years old. Despite what some readers may think, this essay is not about any kind of obsession he may have with Star Wars. He tells more about the aspects of his childhood that related to the detail of his almost religious

The American Dream A False Sense of Hope Essay - 1543 Words

In an average day, an American is exposed to over 3000 advertisements, (Kilbourne). Whether they want to admit it or not, they are drawn toward them. A common scheme of the advertisers is to allow the consumer to â€Å"picture the new them.† Whether this be a wealthier them, a skinner them, or a prettier them, they gear there product towards every person and want everyone be able to connect with the advertisement and picture the â€Å"new them.† American Idol, Nutrisystem, and The Biggest Loser, the lottery, and many other â€Å"products† promote that anyone has the chance to be famous, fit, or fortunate. The successes from these â€Å"products† present themselves as they were before, with the sob story that hopefully touches a nerve with†¦show more content†¦It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high w ages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position, (Adams 412). Adams’ true goal of his book was to identify what makes America unique and he did so by proving that America was and still is the only country to have this sort of dream of upward mobility, (Kamp par. 12) As time has went on the meaning of the American Dream has altered. When Adams trademarked the term the American Dream, the idea of it was for people to become â€Å"better and richer and fuller,† (Adams 412), but now as 20th century inventions have been introduced to society the dream has changed. People want what others have and what is portrayed as glamorous and prestigious. A prime example is Gary Soto’s recollection of his childhood obsession with wanting to be like the families he saw on the television saying, â€Å"I very much wanted to imitate [the families from Leave It to Beaver and FatherShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream : The Aspects Of The American Dream797 Words   |  4 PagesA hope, a wish, a dream, but certainly not reality. The proverbial Ame rican Dream consisted first of colonists emigrating to America and find a better life for themselves. The colonists could start from absolutely nothing and shoot to the top of the society. However, for most this dream is known more as a fallacy. The American Dream is Santa Claus. Some people are the beneficiary and believe in it and are filled with a sense of false hope, while others believe they have achieved it themselves andRead MoreOf Mice and Men1630 Words   |  7 Pagescharacters of this novel hope and dream, their plans do not find fulfillment. Due to the lack of fulfillment of their dream, the characters face loneliness setting each apart from the other. Unlike George and Lennie, the other character of Crooks has no one to support him and be there for him as Lennie and George have each other. In the story, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck contrasts the loneliness and isolation experienced by Crooks, whom life has made abandon his dream of equality, with the closenessRead Mo reFalse Deception In The Great Gatsby1739 Words   |  7 PagesIndividuals perpetuate false personas to such an extent that they are convinced into a state of false consciousness of reaching the American dream, ultimately, this facade leads them to their downfall, exposing repressed reality from idealistic lies. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald utilizes symbols to describe the hollow nature of each character’s deceitful persona, which comes to show the ultimate theme of downfall through the individual’s perception of the American dream. The use of gold asRead MoreThe American Dream Is Hard to Achieve in the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald755 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Dream is hard to achieve The Great Gatsby†, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays a world filled with rich societal activities, love affairs, and dishonesty. Nick Carraway is the busy narrator of the book, a curious choice considering that he is in a different class and almost in a different world than Gatsby and the other characters. Nick relates the plot of the story to the reader as a part of Gatsby’s circle. He has hesitant feelings towards Gatsby, despising his personality andRead MoreThe American Dream is most certainly a beautiful one. It has to do with owning your own home in a800 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Dream is most certainly a beautiful one. It has to do with owning your own home in a neighborhood with a good school for the kids and an expensive car in the driveway. Working at a job, that you chose, that provides enough money to realize all of your dreams . Does this sound right? This may have been true when the phrase was coined back in 1931 by James Truslow Adams, in his book The Epic of America, but is certainly not true today. The vast majority of Americans are living inRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1549 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscussion of the passage, poem and scholarly article will show how the path towards the American Dream can turn into a negative or positive outcome in a person’s life. Theme When Mr. Fitzgerald wrote â€Å"The Great Gatsby,† he described the actions of the human society. In a certain way, not only did he describe and critic the high class but also the lower class, which ended up critiquing the American Dream. The American Dream was a idea give to believe that a human being should pursue being happy, wealthyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1548 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscussion of the passage, poem and scholarly article will show how the path towards the American Dream can turn into a negative or positive outcome in a person’s life. Theme When Mr. Fitzgerald wrote â€Å"The Great Gatsby,† he described the actions of the human society. In a certain way, not only did he describe and critic the high class but also the lower class, which ended up critiquing the American Dream. The American Dream was a idea give to believe that a human being should pursue being happy, wealthyRead MoreThe American Dream977 Words   |  4 PagesThe American dream is a subjective idea that can mean money and fame for some or just the idea of freedom to others. What we believe is our path to reach this dream determines whether or not we are blinded by corporations’ image of the â€Å"American Dream†. Corporation’s main goal is to subtly coerce consumers into believing in the corporate world’s idea of the â€Å"American Dream†. They accomplish this by placing consumer’s into general categories which depicts how they will consume and place them in aRead MoreNarratives, It Is How You Interpret The m1091 Words   |  4 Pagesthings differently. Seeing different viewpoints and how it alters our perception of the dream affects the realism of the narrative. Dreams have many important aspects to them, especially in American Literature. I believe one of the most important characteristics dreams possess is its power to make a character more relatable. In Gilman’s â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†, the narrator becomes more relatable with her dream of getting rid of the wallpaper. She becomes more and more like the wallpaper as each dayRead MoreThe American Dream : A New Nation1617 Words   |  7 PagesThe American dream is an ideology that has been around, known, and praised for a long time. It is an aspiration many long to achieve and protect with their lives. A story that has been written out for us and embed in our minds. As children, we begin school and are taught the pledge of allegiance and how important it is for everyone to take a moment to praise and thank what the nation for what it has to offer. We rise and hold this belief too our hearts looking upon the flag representing our nation

The once and future king free essay sample

King Arthur of the Arthurian legends is one of the most unique characters in the history of literature. Since he has been depicted by a variety of writers, there is more than a single description of his personality. The Arthur we know is actually a conglomerate of many different interpretations of one character. For this reason, his character and very person havent been too consistent through the legends. The earliest Arthurian Legends which are also some of the earliest medieval works, describe King Arthur as the traditional Anglo-Saxon war hero; but as the time goes by, and the medieval people start to admire different things, he evolves into a different kind of hero, a chivalric one. Thus, over time, the image of King Arthur has changed from that of an epic hero to one of a symbol of chivalry- this is apparent with the difference in characteristic depiction of King Arthur in the early story of Brut and a later legend, Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, here there is a noticeable change in his personality. The earliest depiction of King Arthur was that of a fierce warrior-king, brutal and unforgiving. The early medieval kings were warlords who surrounded themselves with nobles and knights- called thanes, and protected their lands from foreign invaders through bloody wars and battles. The original Arthurian legends portray King Arthur in such a role- he is frequently described as â€Å"Arthur the powerful† or â€Å"Arthur the brave† and often comes across as bloodthirsty; not unlike Beowulf in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. In reality, these early legends were the Anglo-Saxon cultural perspective of King Arthur. One example of such an Anglo-Saxon view of King Arthur is Brut by Layamon, a British priest; in his poem, he describes Arthur as a savage and fierce warrior, an object of dread to friend and enemy, an epic hero. This is evident in Brut- where in one of his speeches where Arthur curses his enemies, wanting to crush them all: Then said Arthur, noblest of kings: â€Å"Alas, alas, that I spared my foe, that I did not starve him to death in the forest, or cut him to pieces with my sword! [ ] he shall suffer for it the most bitter affliction, harsh treatment I will be his slayer! I will slaughter both Colgrim and Baldof, and all their followers shall suffer death. [ ] I will fittingly avenge all his wicked deeds. If life might endure in my breast, [ ] never again shall Childric deceive me! † (lines 10510-10524) These lines show the brutality and unfettered heroism of King Arthur. His vexed and aggrieved speech about his enemys escape shows his unforgiving nature. Such is his anger that King Arthur wishes for the death of not only his enemies but also of all his followers; he even voices his regret of not having cut them to pieces, and wishes to kill them with his own sword. Not only does this speech show Arthurs merciless disposition, but it is also filled with a vengeance these lines of Arthur are a battle cry as he avows to get his revenge on his enemies. Towards the end of the speech, while vengefully vowing to avenge his defeat, King Arthurs tone is more than just distressed and agitated, it has a quality of firm determination and tenacity. All these aspects of Layamons perspective of King Arthur: determination, brutality, tenacity, vengeance, might and an unforgiving nature, all combined with the right amount of rage and conceit, show that he is, in all aspects, an epic hero. Akin to Beowulf -who with his strength, firmness and pride was the quintessential Anglo-Saxon warrior and champion- King Arthur is the ideal warrior-king. Eventually as literature progressed towards the heart of the Medieval Era, King Arthur evolved from an epic hero to a symbol of chivalric virtues of Camelot. He was no longer known as the brave and strong defender of the British, but as the virtuous upholder of all chivalric values in the great court at Camelot. Contradicting the early medieval stories which revolved around King Arthur, these middle Arthurian Legends portray the king as a minor character whose presence is only felt indirectly as a representative of a chivalry and excellency. This is apparent in the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where Arthur is but a role model for all the knights when it comes to courtly behavior. The knights regard him with a reverence for his lordly ways. When the Green Knight rudely interrupts their feast by barging into their dining hall, all of them remain silent, in anger and in dread, while King Arthur welcomes him graciously as it is seen in the following excerpt from the poem: â€Å" Therefore chary of answer was many a champion bold, And stunned at his [The green knights] strong words stone-still they sat [ ] Then Arthur before the high dais that entrance beholds, And hailed him, as behooved, for he had no fear, And said, â€Å"Fellow, in faith you have found fair welcome;† (lines 20-30) These lines perfectly demonstrate how King Arthur exhibits model knightly behavior. Even though this intruder has disturbed his celebratory feast, he does not lose his temper, instead he follows the first rule of chivalry – hospitality. As we see in this text, the other knights, who sat â€Å"stone still† and â€Å"chary of answer†, do nothing to welcome the new-comer amongst their midst; nevertheless, Arthur does his duty and warmly invites the Green Knight to his court (line 21, line 20). In this way we see how King Arthur has unmatched manners in the court of Camelot- this is the most distinguished factor about him in this story, as the main focus of this legend is on Sir Gawain and his quest. Thus, we can say that King Arthurs one and only role in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight is to set a standard for his knights in social behavior, to remind them of the rules of Camelot. These lines demonstrate Arthurs gallant manner, they also show that Knights of the Round Table have a high place in their minds for him. While they dreaded even speaking to the alarming stranger, their revered King Arthur, who is described as one who â€Å"had no fear†, welcomed him graciously (line 29). Thus, King Arthur is greatly admired by his Knights because they still thought of him as the fearless king of old and also because of his valiant and courtly behavior. This fact greatly impacts most stories of this time because Arthur has a great influence over the Knights of Camelot and most of these stories follow their bold and daring quests. Even if the king, in these legends, seems removed from the thick of the plot line, his presence is still felt from afar, as a social force – for it has already been established that the Knights admired and imitated his social manner and his lordly ways. This remote influence, too, can be observed in the story of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight where King Arthur is neither the the protagonist of the story nor the source of all action, but is the highest authority and the inspiration for Sir Gawain to take up the challenge posed by the Green Knight. This inspiration is noticed when Sir Gawain accepts this quest, â€Å"Would you grant me the grace,† said Gawain to the king, â€Å"To be gone from this bench and stand by you there, [ ] That I have you for uncle is my only praise; My body, but for your blood, is barren of worth;† (lines 117-131). Through Sir Gawains speech we can see that the reason that he is taking up this quest is to be a delegate for Camelot. He says that he wishes to â€Å"stand by† King Arthur, that is, represent him on this quest(line 117). This further establishes the fact that King Arthur is not the main character of the story, as it is Sir Gawain who is the one who actually undertakes the quest. Thus, in this legend, and many others written during this time period, King Arthur turns into a minor character in sharp contrast to the earlier legends which depicted him as the brave warrior at the head of his armies in every battlehe is no longer the main character but his presence is still felt as a significant influence for Sir Gawain to take up this quest. However, as discussed before, the Knights of Camelot, including Gawain, greatly admired Arthur for his chivalric ideals and manner. So it can be said that in the minds of them of the Round Table, King Arthur is simply a personification of all the values of chivalry which they want to uphold as knights. Sir Gawain especially looks to Arthur as a symbol of all knightly or chivalric virtues. He even humbly acclaims that if it werent for Arthurs blood running in him, he would be nothing, â€Å"barren of [his] worth† (line 131). This confirms the fact that Sir Gawain, and all the other knights use King Arthur as a reassurance, feeling that if they had the values of the king, they could do anything; for they has faith in King Arthur and his Round Table, in the chivalric values of Camelot. Therefore, from these examples present in the story if Sir Gawain and The Green Knight we can conclude that the Knights of the Round Table idolized King Arthur not because he was a warrior-king but because he was, to them, the embodiment of all the honorable values of being a knight. As we can see, there are many subtle differences between the two interpretations of King Arthur in the stories of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight and Brut. In the early legends Arthur is described as the fearless warrior-king, the defender of the Britons whereas the later legends depict him as a virtuous leader and the role model for all the Knights of Camelot. This transformation of King Arthurs character over time is very obvious when the texts from different time-periods are compared. In the early legend of Brut, King Arthur is an epic hero- he is the protagonist of the story. The legends of that era revolved around Arthur and his battles. As seen in the story Brut, he is unforgiving and blood thirsty; his thoughts are set on winning and bringing down his enemies rather than trying to settle the conflicts peacefully. This is in contrast to the King Arthur of the later legends, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, who welcomes armed strangers into his castle. In the beginning of this story, when the Green Knight barges into the feast at Camelot on his horse, Arthur welcomes him warmly and invites him to dinner instead of getting insulted and punishing him. He comes across as easygoing and very level headed. Even in moments of anger, this King Arthur of later times remains calm and doesnt show his emotion; this is seen in the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where he remains composed even in the face of danger (in this case- losing one of his best knights, Sir Gawain because of a strangers challenge). In lines 236 and 237 of this legend, it is seen that â€Å"Though high-born Arthur at heart had wonder, / he let no sign be seen [ ]†. Thus, in the later legends, King Arthur-who was a symbol of chivalric virtues and courtly manners- controlled his emotions and remained unruffled when he was challenged. This characteristic of the chivalric King Arthur is distinctly different from the earlier perspectives of him in such legends as Brut. This early King Arthur who was an epic hero, was a most forbidding character, he clearly expressed his anger and was often described as â€Å"stern-minded† (line 111). In Brut, King Arthur often asserted his anger, especially during battles when his mind bore nothing but hatred towards his enemy- â€Å"He laid the shield to his breast; the king was bursting with anger. He smote Borel the earl right through the breast, So that his heart was split. Arthur cried at once: The foremost hath met his fate! Now the Lord help you! † (lines 112-115). These lines show King Arthurs frustration and his hatred and also portray how he openly displays his anger. In sharp contrast to the calm and composed Arthur of the later time-periods, this excerpt from an older legend shows that he was â€Å"bursting with anger†, clearly portraying how the epic hero Arthur did not control his emotions(line 112). In this way, we can see that King Arthurs temperament has changed from vengeful and impulsive to poised and chivalric between the two legends. Overall it is discernible that the kings personality and characteristics have changed over time and this is especially apparent when comparing two works from different time-periods. In this way we can see that the characteristic depiction of King Arthur has evolved over time from a fearless battle hero to a chivalric and virtuous ruler. The early Arthurian legends such as Brut, which were written when poems like Beowulf were popular, described Arthur as an epic hero. But as the time passed by and the virtues of chivalry came into being, the Arthurian legends of that time, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, started to reflect the social focus and began to depict Arthur as an expert in chivalrous values. Thus, it is seen that King Arthurs role in the legends continually changes as the peoples general perspective of a hero changes. The tales of King Arthur have been shaped and reshaped according to the teller of the story. There is not just one perfect depiction of King Arthur, his character is a combination of many perspectives of him. It can be altered to adapt with the times as it has adapted through the Medieval Era. This â€Å"evolution† of his portrayal and the fact that he will never die are what make King Arthur one of the most exceptional characters in literature.

Macbeth Tragic Drama Essays - Characters In Macbeth,

Macbeth Tragic Drama In the tragic drama Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare in 1606 during the English Renaissance, the hero, Macbeth, constantly declines in his level of morality until his death at the end of the play. Because of his change of character from good to evil, Macbeth's attitude towards other characters, specifically Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, and the witches, is significantly affected. The first of the four characters is Duncan. Since Macbeth interacts with Duncan only a minimal amount before Duncan's death, Macbeth's attitude towards him changes very rapidly. Before Macbeth hears the witches' first prophecy, he is very close to Duncan, and would never even think of doing something against him. When the thought of murdering Duncan crosses his mind immediately after he finds that he has just been named Thane of Cawdor, he cannot believe he "yield[s] to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs" (I, iii, 133-35). In scene 5 of act 1, however, his "vaulting ambition" is starting to take over, but partly because of his wife's persuasion. He agrees that they must "catch the nearest way" (17), and kill Duncan that night. On the other hand, as the time for murder comes nearer, he begins giving himself reasons not to murder Duncan: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. (I, vii, 13-16) When Lady Macbeth enters, though, she uses her cunning rhetoric and pursuasion techniques to convince Macbeth that this is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the right thing to do. He then tells her that "I am settled." (79). He is firmly seated in his beliefs that killing Duncan is the right thing to do-until he performs the murder. He is so horrified by this act that for a moment he forgets where he is or whom he is with. We learn from this murder that Macbeth truly had faith in the king and was very loyal, but under the forces of his wife's persuasion and his own vaulting ambition, he is put in the evil frame of mind for just long enough to kill Duncan. This murder does permanently alter him from his moral state of mind, however, and he soon does not feel much remorse for murdering Duncan. The Second of the four characters towards whom Macbeth's attitude changes is Banquo. Before he murders Duncan, Macbeth is a very close friend to Banquo, and they are almost always together. After the murder, however, Macbeth senses suspicion on Banquo's part. He realizes that Banquo's "wisdom that doth guide his valour / To act in safety" (52-53) will cause Banquo to want to turn Macbeth in for his crime. Macbeth knows he must also get rid of Banquo since, according to the prophecy, the throne will pass to Banquo's sons otherwise. Macbeth starts showing his extreme hatred towards Banquo while he is convincing the two murderers that killing him is right: Macb: Both of you Know Banquo was your enemy. Murderers: True, my lord. Macb: So is he mine; and in such bloody distance That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near'st of life; (III, i, 114b-118) Finally, Macbeth actually shows signs of relief when the murderer calls him to the door during his banquet and tells him of Banquo's death: Macb: There's blood upon thy face. Murderer: 'Tis Banquo's then. Macb: 'Tis better thee without than he within. (III, iv, 12-14) Macbeth's last statement, "Tis . . . within", means that Banquo's blood is better on the murderer than in Banquo, showing that Macbeth is, in truth, happy that Banquo has been killed. the killing of Banquo by Macbeth shows extreme selfishness; he cannot bear to see even his best friend's sons succeed him on the throne. However, a more important reason that Macbeth kills Banquo is because of Banquo's suspicion of him, and what Banquo will do to him once he finds out for sure that Macbeth has commited the murder of Duncan. One can see that Macbeth becomes extremely harsh if he wants his way. He will go to horrid extremes just so that he does not have to live his kingship in fear, but instead "to be safely thus." (III, i, 49) Lady Macbeth, the third character, interacts with Macbeth a considerable amount, and influences him greatly. He and his wife as a pair are dangerous because

New Republican Party free essay sample

This paper looks at the Republican Party from the time of Lincoln to the time of George W. Bush. This paper looks at the Republican Party from the time of Lincoln to the time of George W. Bush. It examines how party policy has changed and evolved since then. This paper is written in the first person form as if a speech by Abraham Lincoln comparing national policies in his time to those of present. For students today, it is hard to understand that the Republican Party and the Democratic Party in their present state are far different than the parties they represented two hundred years ago. No one understands this confusion more than I, Abraham Lincoln. As I observe the political landscape today, and the state of the American two party system, I am confused as to where the party I helped create has gone today.

How to Get a Girlfriend in College and Keep Her

How to Get a Girlfriend in College and Keep Her Dating is one of the main concerns students have (besides studying of course), and sometimes it becomes a real struggle. How to find a girlfriend? How to make a good impression on her? How to make this relationship work? These are key questions that might occur in your head. We will try to answer these questions in our guide on how to meet a girl and build a relationship with her that will be actually deep for both of you. Find Inner Confidence Make the first move Many guys feel nervous and act awkward around girls. Its normal because not everyone has the strength to approach and talk to a girl. Most of the time we can see a guy in a high school or college who is staring in admiration at a girl from a distance. That seems creepy to onlookers. Please, dont do that. If you saw a girl who you find attractive in the class or in the library or any other place, come up to her. Or, find her on social media and text her if youre shy. Its the most difficult part because it implies leaving your comfort zone, but its actually a necessary step. Otherwise, you can wait for a girl to come up to you first for a very long time. Show her that you actually exist. Dont take it too seriously Be confident and think about this situation as a part of your life experience. You have nothing to lose, even if she rejects you. Dont make a drama out of the whole situation. Eventually, she is just a person too. So, take a deep breath, calm your nerves and come up to introduce yourself. Dont try to pretend like you dont care and approach her in the sake of curiosity or boredom only. A lot of guys do that to hide their feelings and then wonders â€Å"How to get a girl to like you?† Actually, after such a move, its pretty hard to change a girls opinion. First Meeting Its hard to evaluate the perfect scenario for an acquaintance. In movies, we can see beautiful scenes of a girl in college dropping books down and a guy helping her out. Even though it might happen to you, dont actually count on such a situation. There are a lot of places where you can meet a girl in college. You can start with a compliment or a joke. Or simply introduce yourself in a polite manner. Dont stare at her like youre a crazy man. Smile and speak to her about: College courses Professors Movies and shows Favorite books Hobbies Friends Pay attention to the topics she has a lot to say on. For example, if you are talking about the new microscope that you have bought, and a girl is just nodding her head in reply, try to change the subject. Ask her about her day or what she is doing on the weekend. The best thing for you will be to take her phone number or find her on social media. If you dont speak in person, but via phone or text messages instead, you will feel less anxious. Develop Trust The more you talk to a girl and build trust with her, the deeper relationship you can develop with her. Its not only about being honest but also about making her feel comfortable and safe with you. Show her that she can tell you about her worries and you can give her valuable advice. Avoid keeping secrets and make your intentions clear. A lot of girls are not ready for serious relationships, so you have to understand and appreciate that. Dont hide your feelings. Let her know how you feel. Caution: Remember that lying to your partner is the main reason why couples split up. Be a Good Listener If a girl feels that she can share her secrets with you and speak freely about everything in the world, its a good sign. Be a good listener. Pay attention to what she tells you about her family and friends, studying and job. The more you know about her, the better communication you will have. Try to remember significant information and show her that you understand her and can relate to her problems. Be Positive No one likes moody individuals. When you talk about your problems too much, it makes a bad impression on everyone around you. Its much better when a person you communicate with can feel that you are glad to have this conversation at the moment. Keep a good mood and try to cheer up a girl if shes having a bad day. Unlike the grumpy cat, you wont seem cute when you are not in a good mood. Make an Effort When you have a relationship, you have to put some effort to make it last and prevent from burning down. When you continuously have no time for conversation or dates, it makes you look like a person who doesnt care. A relationship is a constant compromise. You have to understand that managing your schedule to find time for your girlfriend is as essential as giving her time to be on her own. A person needs to have space and time for other things besides a partner. For example, the social circle of her friends or family. Find a balance between being too intrusive and too indifferent. Be polite, confident and caring. These are the most essential components of a long and deep relationship.

Qualitative analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Qualitative analysis - Assignment Example The research had a general question; how can we attract customers to the store more often, foster their loyalty to the store and encourage them to spend more in the store? The four specific research questions were addressed the above four specific objectives. The study was conducted using primary source of data. The data was obtained through oral interviews using interview schedules that were administered by trained interviewers. A sample of 60 respondents was done using a probability sampling technique – stratified random sampling technique. The stratification was done in terms of gender and age characteristics. The method gave six categories. Each category had ten interviews. The results from the study were presented in framework charts and the analysis done using code book technique. Data was collected using open ended interview schedule through face to face interview. The analysis of the data was done using framework charts and code book techniques. The response from each respondent was analysed and groped in to themes to come up with a coding scheme. The responses were then presented in a framework chart. The analysis could vividly show that there were various reasons why different individuals chose to use the Kingston Department Stores (KDS). The reasons ranged from factors related to human resource in the stores; the products they offer to the market; to the types and quality of the facilities they had put up to provide various services to the customers or the clients. From the study it came out that most of the shoppers said that their major reason for going to KDS was because there were a wide range of products under one roof and that the products offered were of high quality. For this reason, they were using the stores because they were able to buy a wide range of goods and services in a more convenient

Content Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 17000 words

Content Writing - Essay Example Thus, it is important that when you hear the word limit, you should be able to create an outline with the arguments that would put your article forward at a glance. This is where we at _________come in. This is important especially for a college entrance essay where a lot of students have applied for limited slots within the university. The admissions committee would readily want to separate the people who have something to say and those who go around the bush. They also want to know you as a person and as a writer in as little time as possible through reading your article. Second, articles are given a limit because they want to know how you would deal with pressure. They would want to know how deep is your understanding of an issue and how you will gather the necessary information into a good essay piece. The common error when writing an article with a word limit is that, people unconsciously disregard the basic essay structure, as they get too absorbed in dealing with the word count. Without the structure, one would lose coherence and would not be able to weave the important points together within the word limit. Our company, ______________, is here to ensure that your essay is given a thumbs-up by whatever institution. Dealing with the stringent requirements of an article would surely be hard to deal with on your own. Our team of writers would readily help you with the needs of your article. They received trainings for writing articles and readily know how to go about with writing the article. Their knowledge on writing is limitless and a big bonus is their innovative style of writing. We would match your needs with skills and talents as soon as we receive your order and this would keep the ball running. Let us help you with writing that article today. Contact our support team now and they would gladly and readily assist you every step of the way. We would provide you with our best writers

Article review in fashion industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Article review in fashion industry - Essay Example However, this may not be always easy for the companies to know what designs offends or goes against cultural beliefs and practices of an individual society2. However, there are certain ways that designers can avoid conflicts and offending others using their designers3. For instance in the case of Urban Outfitters, in the controversy regarding the grey and white striped pattern combined with a pink triangle, may be the Company would have changed the color of the stripes and the triangle shape to a different one, and that way it would not have offended anyone. Also, in cases of ‘Punk as F**k Shirt’ and ‘Pro-booze Shirts for Kids,’ Urban Outfitters would have avoided using offending logos, in particular, to the parents who always wish that their children would not suffer due to negative fashion influences. I believe that it is possible to convince the market people on any controversy, but if only it is not repeated several times. Furthermore, asking for genuine apology can make the market people change their attitude and perceive the apologizing party as sensitive, and thus forgive

Muscular Leg Strength and Sprint Performance Relationship

Muscular Leg Strength and Sprint Performance Relationship 2.0 Muscular Strength vs. Single Sprint Performance Muscular strength is a physiological characteristic thought to facilitate sprint performance, mainly due to the increased ability of the muscle to generate muscular contraction during short-term high intensity activity (Baechle and Earle, 2008). Experts have defined muscular strength as the ability of a muscle or muscle group to exert maximal force against a resistance once, through the full range of motion (Newman et al., 2004). Specifically, literature has deemed the force production capabilities of the legs to be the decisive factor in improving ones ability to sprint (Thorland et al., 1987; Alexander, 1989; Dowson, 1998). For instance, an initial study by Alexander (1989) examined the correlation between leg strength and 100m sprint performance in 23 elite sprinters. For all participants, a significant relationship was found between the two variables. In support, a similar study conducted by Dowson et al. (1998) examined the relationship between leg strength and sprint performanc e in 18 elite male athletes. Again, leg strength was deemed to be a major contributor to ones ability to sprint over shorter distances of 15 and 35m. Although ample studies have investigated the relationship between muscular strength and sprint performance, with several findings recognising strength as a significant facilitator (Thorland et al., 1987; Alexander, 1989; Dowson et al., 1998), a similar investigation by Baker and Nance (1999) deduced that no measure of strength was correlated to either 10m or 40m sprint performance in Rugby League players. Moreover, Cronin and Hansen (2005) examined the relationship between muscular strength and measures of first-step quickness (5-m time), acceleration (10-m time), and maximal speed (30-m time), with all 3 measures of speed proving to be unaffected by muscular strength. It appears that studies examining the relationship between leg strength and sprint performance have produced contradictory conclusions. However more importantly, the investigations discussed above only implemented single sprint trials. Current research has identified that perhaps repeated-sprint efforts reflect a more accurate representation of the intermittent physiological demands of multiple sprint sports, rather than a single sprint (Dawson et al., 1991; Duthie et al., 2006; Oliver et al., 2007). For instance, a study carried out by Dawson et al. (1991) noted that for high intensity efforts of less than 5 seconds such as a 1RM squat or single 40m sprint test, the largest contribution to the energy demands was made by the phosphagen (ATP-CP) energy system. Moreover, Dawson et al. (1991) recognised that the contribution of the glycolytic system in ATP re-synthesis significantly increased when sprint efforts were repeated, which more accurately reflects the physiological demands of intermittent sports. This notion has since received support from other studies examining repeated sprint ability (Newman et al., 2004; Bishop and Edge, 2006). Therefore, although studies have formed contrasting opinions on the effectiveness of leg muscle strength in predicting a single sprint performance (Thorland et al., 1987; Alexander, 1989; Dowson et al., 1998; Baker and Nance, 1999; Cronin and Hansen, 2005), the validity of these investigations appears limited when considering the imprecision of using a single-sprint to assess multiple-sprint sport performers. 2.1 Isokinetic Strength vs. Multi Joint Strength Measures As discussed, it is widely recognised within the literature that RSA is more ecologically valid than a single sprint when assessing team-sport athletes (Dawson et al., 1991; Newman et al., 2004; Duthie et al., 2006; Oliver et al., 2007). Despite this knowledge, the association between muscular leg strength and repeated sprint ability has received scant consideration. However, one investigation by Newman et al. (2004) did specifically examine the relationship between isokinetic knee strength and repeated sprint ability in soccer and rugby players. Newman and colleagues reported that no measure of strength was related to RSA, thus concurring with other similar investigations (Baker and Nance, 1999; Cronin and Hansen, 2005) who albeit implemented single sprint trials. Despite Newman et al. (2004) notions, the methods employed to assess leg strength may have influenced their findings and reduced their validity. For instance, Newman et al. (2004) highlighted that the isokinetic knee exten sion test they implemented was not specific to the conditions and movement patterns performed in the sporting environment. To elaborate, Flint-Wagner et al., 2009 highlighted that isokinetic strength tests generally require participants to be placed in a position that isolates the tested muscle. Specialized apparatus then gives resistance so that no matter how much force is exerted by the participant, movement takes place at a constant speed. Although this method of testing has been established as beneficial during the injury rehabilitation process for testing a specific area or joint movement (Cardone et al., 2004), the validity of the procedure has been has been questioned in able team-sport athletes. For example, research by Duthie et al. (2006) illustrated that during sports performance, seldom does one body part work in isolation at a constant speed. Instead, Newman et al. (2004) and later Duthie et al. (2006) recognised that muscles are required to work synergistically in an i ntegrated and co-ordinated fashion. This indicates that perhaps using a multi-joint strength measure would give a more valid reflection of muscular strength in rugby players, as muscles are required to interdependently. Even so, studies evaluating the effect of leg strength on the ability to sprint have been inclined to implement laboratory based isokinetic strength measures (Adams et al., 1992; Blazevich and Jenkins, 1998; Newman et al., 2004; Kin-Isler et al., 2008). Therefore, a study examining the relationship between a multi-joint strength measure and repeated sprint ability warrants investigation. 2.2 Brief vs. Prolonged Repeated Sprint Ability In addition to the strength measure used, recent studies on RSA have begun to examine the structure of the brief RSA protocols previously implemented (Oliver et al., 2007; Rampinini et al., 2007). To elucidate, a study by Oliver et al. (2007) examined the physiological relationship between brief and prolonged repeated sprint ability protocols. They identified that the participants maximal speed significantly decreased in the latter sets of the brief RSA test, but not in the prolonged test. This suggests that the brief RSA protocol previously employed by Newman et al. (2004) will have influenced the strength/RSA correlation witnessed. For example, Newman and colleagues implemented 20 second recovery periods in the RSA test, less than the half-life of CP re-synthesis (Gaitanos et al., 1993). According to Bishop and Edge (2006) who examined the determinants of RSA in female athletes, a short recovery period between sprints induces the accumulation of H+ ions, causing a reduction in repe ated sprint ability. Therefore, if Newman et al. (2004) had implemented prolonged periods of recovery between sprints (i.e. more than the half-life of CP re-synthesis), the relative contribution of the glycolytic and phosphagen systems will have changed, which would have affected the relationship between muscular leg strength and RSA. This idea was demonstrated by Oliver et al. (2007) who indicated that a relationship between muscular strength and prolonged repeated sprint recovery could be plausible, provided the recovery was long enough for near phosphagen repletion. Furthermore, Oliver et al. (2007) theorised that although brief RSA protocols are accurate for reflecting short intense periods of play, longer periods of recovery between sprints perhaps reflect a more accurate portrayal of the recovery patterns experienced throughout the course of a whole match. This view was endorsed by Bishop and Edge (2006) who stated that a large majority of sprints experienced during intermitte nt sports are separated by rest periods long enough (> 1 min) to allow complete or near complete recovery, over double the amount of rest implemented in the majority of RSA studies (Dawson et al., 1991; Newman et al., 2004; Edge et al., 2006; McGawley and Bishop, 2006; Spencer et al., 2008). Consequently, it appears that the correlation between leg strength and prolonged RSA has yet to be adequately understood, and thus, a study investigating this relationship requires examination. 2.3 Repeated Sprint Ability Protocols In addition to the length of recovery performed, recovery mode has been shown to affect ones performance during repeated sprint exercise, making it a key component of any RSA protocol. Recently, studies have produced contrasting findings in determining whether passive or active recovery is the most beneficial in resisting fatigue. Some studies have proposed that active recovery is superior as blood muscle flow is maintained, which enhances the buffering and removal of hydrogen ions (Bogdanis et al., 1996; Toubekis et al., 2008). Conversely, other studies have indicated that active recovery negatively affects the subsequent sprint performance, by inducing fatigue and slowing the rate of PC resynthesis (Dupont et al., 2003; Spencer et al., 2006). Despite this conflict, time motion analysis has illustrated that phases of recovery in team sports typically involve some sort of active work (i.e. jogging or shuffling into defensive position) (Spencer et al., 2004; Jougla et al. 2009). There fore, active recoveries appear to represent the most valid form of recovery when testing repeated sprint performance in rugby union players. Despite this knowledge, numerous repeated-sprint studies on team sport athletes have implemented passive recovery in their protocols (Bishop et al., 2004; Edge et al., 2006). Another factor that can affect repeated sprint performance is the length of each executed sprint. Previous studies on repeated sprint ability have typically used sprint distances requiring 6 seconds of work to assess their participants (Gaitanos et al., 1993; Dawson et al., 1997; Bishop et al., 2004; Edge et al., 2005). However, Spencer et al. (2004) suggested that shorter sprint durations of 4 seconds provide a more accurate portrayal of the sprint distances typically experienced during team sports. Spencer and colleagues based this notion on their time-motion analysis of RSA patterns in elite field hockey, which is deemed by Spencer et al. (2004) to elicit similar physiological demands to rugby union. In support, other time motion analysis studies by Duthie et al. (2006) and later Deutsch et al. (2007) reported that for all rugby positions, the mean duration of sprints was 2-4 seconds. This suggests that although 6 second sprints have been widely used within the literature, they ma y not be optimal for testing RSA in team sport athletes. This may explain why recent studies on team sport athletes have begun to implement shorter distances of 3-5s in their RSA protocols (Spencer et al., 2006; Oliver et al., 2007; Spencer et al., 2008), rather than the 6 second distances previously employed. Additionally, RSA studies on team sport athletes have typically included 5-10 sprints in their protocols, as this is thought to represent the most accurate depiction of a brief intense period of play (Gaitanos et al., 1993; Dawson et al., 1997; Bishop and Spencer., 2004; Bishop et al., 2004; Edge et al., 2005; Spencer et al., 2006; Oliver et al., 2007; Spencer et al., 2008), shown in table 1. This idea was forwarded by Spencer et al. (2004) who examined the number of repeated sprints executed during a brief intense period of play in elite hockey. A brief intense period of play was defined as a minimum of three high intensity sprints, with a mean recovery duration of less than 21 s. Spencer et al. (2006) findings revealed that the majority of intense phases of play were comprised of 3-7 sprints. Therefore, based on Spencer et al. (2004) findings and the majority of previous RSA studies, 5-10 sprints appear to most accurately represent a short intense period of play in team sports. A further variable to consider when designing RSA protocols is the mode of exercise performed. Although non-motorised treadmills and over-ground sprints provide the most accurate mode of assessing RSA in team sport athletes, they have been sparsely administered within the literature (Spencer et al., 2006; Oliver et al., 2007). In contrast, Table 1 shows that the majority of RSA investigations have implemented cycle ergometers to analyse their participants (Gaitanos et al., 1993; Dawson et al., 1997; Bishop et al., 2004; Bishop and Spencer, 2004; Edge et al., 2005). Recently, experts have questioned the validity of employing cycle ergometry to assess team sport athletes, who primarily execute over-ground sprints in game situations (Fitzimmons et al., 1993; Bishop et al., 2001; Oliver et al., 2007). Therefore, it appears that although cycle ergometers may provide a convenient means for recording muscle biopsies, analysing gas samples and eliminating environmental conditions. For most f ield sports, cycle ergometers provide a poor reflection of the physiological movements typically experienced during a match. Hence, when assessing RSA in team sport athletes such as soccer, hockey and rugby players, the most valid method of assessment appears to be over-ground sprints, as used by Spencer et al. (2008) which is shown in Table 1. 2.4 Explosive Power Although the relationship between muscular leg strength and sprint performance has produced ambiguity within the literature (Thorland et al., 1987; Alexander, 1989; Dowson et al., 1998; Baker and Nance, 1999; Newman et al., 2004; Cronin and Hansen, 2005; Kin-Isler et al., 2008), recent studies have suggested that perhaps explosive power is more of an accurate determinant of sprint performance (Dowson et al., 1998; Hennessy and Kilty, 2001). Explosive power is defined as the maximal force that a muscle or muscle group can generate at high speeds, or (work/time) (Baechle and Earle, 2008). Investigations by Dowson et al. (1998) and Hennessy and Kilty (2001) have tested the effectiveness of explosive power in predicting sprint performance by implementing field based tests such as vertical countermovement jumps. Interestingly, Dowson et al. (1998) identified that the magnitude of force generated during a countermovement jump significantly correlated with the amount of speed an athlete pro duced during a single-sprint performance, indicating that explosive power could potentially be a direct predictor of sprint performance. In support, Hennessy and Kilty (2001) reported a similarly significant relationship between countermovement jumps and sprint performance in female athletes. They attributed this relationship to the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) witnessed during a countermovement jump. To elaborate, the stretch-shortening cycle was found to mimic the eccentric-concentric contractions of the leg extensor muscles experienced during sprinting, which directly facilitated sprint performance. After reviewing the literature, it appears that studies ascertaining the relationship between explosive power and a single sprint performance have produced consistent results, as well as being valuable in terms of ecological validity (Dowson et al., 1998; Hennessy and Kilty, 2001) compared to such laboratory based strength investigations (Adams et al., 1992; Blazevich and Jenkins, 1 998; Newman et al., 2004; Kin-Isler et al., 2008). However, research has continued to solely focus on the relationship between explosive power and a single sprint, neglecting the opportunity to examine the association between explosive power and repeated-sprint ability, despite research highlighting the specificity of RSA to the patterns of play witnessed during multi-sprint sports (Dawson et al., 1991; Newman et al., 2004; Bishop and Edge, 2006; Duthie et al., 2006; Oliver et al., 2007). Subsequently, an investigation examining the effect of explosive power on brief and prolonged repeated sprint ability appears warranted in order to fully establish explosive power as the most accurate physiological predictor of RSA. Accordingly, the primary aim of current study was to examine the effect of muscular strength on brief and prolonged repeated sprint ability using a multi-joint strength measure. A secondary purpose was to ascertain if explosive power was a more valid determinant of brief and prolonged repeated sprint ability than muscular strength.

Black Nationalism Essay

Critically discuss the contributions of both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B DuBois to the idea of Black nationalism in the United States. What were the major obstacles they faced in their articulation of the black Nationalist ideology? Booker T. Washington â€Å"was an American political leader, educator and author† who proved to be one of the most dominate figures in African American history in the United States (Booker, par. 1). William Edward Burghardt Du Bois â€Å"was a noted scholar, editor, and African American activist†¦[who] sought to eliminate discrimination and racism† (.. During the late 19th and early 20th century Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois were two great men who significantly influenced the idea of Black Nationalism in the United States. Though they both wanted to see an America where the Negro was treated with proper respect and equality, their views on how to obtain these noble goals contrasted one another. The ideology of DuBois and Washington were so completely different that people became subjected to following the doctrine of one or the other. With the knowledge that only one could be the â€Å"spokesman† for the race the two began a bitter battle to control the Black Nationalism ideology. Amid the competition against one another, both men still had to face other obstacles such as racism in order to further the goals of blacks of the period. Even though the two men had differing opinions on the ideology of Black Nationalism, both would greatly contribute to the idea of Black Nationalism. However, their differing positions on Black Nationalism portrayed a divide amongst African Americans of the time. To understand why Washington and DuBois had such differing opinions it is necessary to look back into the environments that both men came from. Born into slavery in 1856, Washington was the son of a white man and his slave mother Jane. While growing up in Virginia, Washington worked in both a coal mine and as a salt packer. In 1872 Washington left his work to go the Hampton Institute. The major educational doctrine of the school was that former slaves should receive a practical education that centered on skills instead of a liberal arts education. At the institute Washington worked to pay his way through school. After leaving the school, Washington worked for several years before he received an appointment to establish the Tuskegee Institute in 1881. At Tuskegee, Washington used many aspects of the education he received from the Hampton Institute. One of the central ideas that he brought from the institute was the belief that blacks should learn a trade or skill. (Hine 369) William Edward Burghardt DuBois’ background shaped his paralleling views to those of Washington. In contrast to Washington, who was born on a plantation, DuBois was born in a small North Eastern town where he was subject to little overt racism and acquired a much higher education. He was once quoted as saying, â€Å"I was born free. Washington was born a slave. He felt the lash of an overseer across his back. I was born in Massachusetts, he on a slave plantation in the South. My great-grandfather fought with the Colonial Army in New England in the American Revolution. I had a happy childhood and acceptance in the community. Washington’s childhood was hard. I had many more advantages: Fisk University, Harvard, and graduate years in Europe. Washington had little formal schooling (Hine 400). † This quote exemplifies his opposing foundation compared to that of Washington. DuBois’ background made him more comfortable with confrontation with whites, while Washington’s created a deep subconscious feeling of fear and submission. While DuBois enjoyed the benefits that the upper class life had to offer, Washington was faced with scorn, dehumanization, neglect, and prejudice, all of which he had to overcome. It is apparent for the quote that DuBois sympathizes and understands the demeaning nature in which Washington was treated which is the ultimate result of Washington’s pessimistic attitude toward society. Everyone has a different life experience. What one experiences early in their life shapes the way they think and how they view society later in their life. Typically an early life of tranquility, less hardships, and opportunity to succeed lends itself to one having a more optimistic view of society where as an early life of great hardships and little to no opportunity results in an individual having a more judgmental and disparaging view of society. This was the case with Booker T. Washington. Growing up as a slave, Washington was presented with many emotional and physical hardships which were the causes of his critical view of society. However, Washington manipulated the lessons that his early life experience had taught him to shape his view on society. He utilized these teachings to provide insight on how he wanted to bring about change within society in order to initiate progress and advancement. Booker T. Washington was particularly interested in the advancement of Blacks in a predominantly white society. Growing up as a slave he had little opportunity to achieve anything, however, because he was a slave he learned to value old-fashioned hard work which transposed over to him greatly valuing agricultural education as a major aspect of Tuskegee. With hard work being one of his fundamental values, he was convinced â€Å"that the surest way for black people to advance [in society] was by learning skill and demonstrating a willingness to do manual labor (Hine 369). † In a speech at the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta in 1895, Washington stated that â€Å"no race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in as in writing a poem. It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top (Hine 370). † This statement asserted that Washington believed people, mainly black people, could gain the respect and acceptance of white Americans through acquiring skills and becoming prosperous small farmers, artisans, and shopkeepers. If Blacks were to continuously demonstrate this humility then it will eventually result in the eradication of the race problem of the time. Booker T. Washington’s belief in living a simplistic life in order to progress not only stemmed from the idea of hard work but also carried on to other beliefs such as the importance of liberal arts education and especially the foundation of industrial growth. He was very committed to promoting industrial education. He stresses that many positive things will branch from such a foundation including the growth in black people’s social life, the growth in black people’s educational life, and the growth in black people’s religious life (Hine 371). This statement shows that Washington felt that men and women who acquired these skills would be recognized as productive contributors to the southern economy thereby, once again, deteriorating the color boundary that was separating society at the time. The purpose of Booker T. Washington’s ideas for trying to assimilate Blacks in this manner was simply to avoid protesting and upheaval that could result in people getting harmed. His goal was to assimilate the black people into white America in a civilized manner, however, in order to achieve it he believed that black people should merely understand there place in society. One positive aspect of Washington’s beliefs was that it promoted steady labor. Washington believed in educating blacks in particular skills in order to maintain steady jobs and make a living. It was important that blacks were able to hold a job in order to function healthily as families, provide for themselves, and help develop their economic independence. At the time, there was increased competition between poor whites and blacks. In order for a black worker to get a job, they must not only deal with learning a particular trade but also overcoming racism. Being educated in common manual labor provided the basis for blacks to work up from. Although blacks were commonly restricted to the lower paying jobs, having a formal training in a skill made their value as a laborer rise. This labor also provided another positive aspect in that it transferred money from the white economy to the black economy. By being able to work for whites, blacks were able to use their income as they pleased. No longer did they have the restrictions placed upon them in slavery. Washington advocated a diverse labor field for blacks. Rather than only advocating farmers, he believed that blacks could be educated in other manual labor such as masonry, mining, and smith work. Another positive aspect of Washington’s beliefs is that it was the beginning in raising blacks out of their lower class position. For the first time blacks were not simply working on farms or plantations, they were acquiring skills. These skills provided the foundation for blacks to work up to gaining an education, earning money, and providing for the future of the next generations. This not only benefits oneself, but also the black community. The ideas of Washington did not inspire conflict or fear in whites because whites viewed that Washington was promoting keeping blacks in menial jobs rather than the higher paying work or typically white jobs such as doctors, lawyers, or politicians. The ideas of Washington enabled educational institutions such as the Tuskegee Institute and other black colleges and universities to exist that encouraged agricultural, mechanical, or technical skills. Since these institutions encouraged blacks to only strive for technical careers rather than offering a liberal arts education it did not inspire fear in whites. Whites were willing to allow black schools to exist that encouraged these skills because in turn these skills would offer a cheap labor but effective labor source. Also these institutions were non-threatening to whites because they offered skills and trades versus an education that would allow for black minds to grow and develop. Even though the education that blacks received from these institutions did not compare to those of liberal art universities, it still did offer blacks a chance at some sort of education. Although not encouraging the deeper growth of the black mind, schools like Tuskegee offered its students an education that would allow them to become proficient at a skill and earn an income. Washington believed that by working and hard, increasing their economic holding and becoming masters of many trades that they could eventually end racism and be accepted by whites. He believed that blacks should not let racism deter one from working. Washington once said, â€Å"Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities (Hines 397). † This shows that he believed that blacks must use their opportunities to better themselves rather than focusing on the negative aspects of life. Washington also said, â€Å"In our humble way, we shall stand by you with a devotion that no foreigner can approach, ready to lay down our lives, if need be, in defense of yours, interlacing our industrial, commercial, civil, and religious life with yours in a way that shall make the interests of both races one (Hines 397). † Washington believed that by blacks staying in their positions and working diligently, blacks would eventually be accepted by whites. He believed in blacks about remaining devoted to the white race rather than rising against it. By advocating working within the confines of white society rather than rising in opposition against it, Washington promoted the safety of blacks during this time period. Washington pushed for gradual and deliberate social acceptance of blacks as they began assimilating to white culture. By gradually working towards being accepted, this kept the opposition of whites to a minimum. As long as whites viewed blacks as harmless, blacks were able to continue growing and improving themselves. â€Å"The wisest among my race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forcing,† said Washington (Hines 398). Washington believed that it is impossible to force someone to accept one another; rather one must make people want to accept them. Washington’s goal was not to force blacks into the upper class society, but to gradually encourage their acceptance and possibly an eventual rise in social stature. Despite the many positive and beneficial aspects of Washington’s view of Black Nationalism, there were many drawbacks that hindered the widespread acceptance of his ideology. He believed in maintaining the lower class position of blacks. By saying that all blacks should work in menial labor, he limited the opportunities for black people to strive for anything more. Rather than encouraging and uplifting blacks in believing that they could do anything they wanted to, Washington believed that blacks should remain content in their lower class state. Considering that Washington, a part white and black man, was the spokesperson for the race, he was stating to whites that he was the exception rather than the rule. Whites were able to justify his leadership and politics by attributing his success to his white ancestry. Whites were pleased with Washington’s stance that blacks should stay with basic tasks for a number of reasons. Typically, these jobs were usually lower paying and had terrible working conditions. These jobs were considered lower class labor, and the majority of whites, with the exception of poor whites, were not interested in pursuing these jobs. The lack of competition made it acceptable to the majority of whites. If these jobs were considered â€Å"black jobs† then it was fine for blacks to work in these fields. During this time period, the category of â€Å"black jobs† became redefined to these positions. Whites were moving out of these fields at the same point that blacks were striving to move up in their job status, therefore it was okay for blacks to replace these whites since it did not adversely affect them. Also Washington constantly advocated the point that blacks should work long and hard to â€Å"prove† their worth to whites. He offers a reconsideration of what it means to be black (Owens, par. 2). However, whites were never accepting of blacks. It was almost impossible for blacks to gain acceptance by simply showing their hard work during a time period where they were consistently looked down upon. Washington also believed that blacks must remain passive in their attempts to improve life. While whites used methods such as brute force and intimidation to keep blacks down, Washington believed in turning the other cheek rather than encouraging conflict. At this time period, it would have been almost impossible for blacks to gain any amount of social standing by continuing this passive ideal. As the spokesperson for the black race, Booker T. Washington presented various and influential ideas about Black Nationalism in America. Many of his ideas were beneficial to the black race at the time, such as the advocating of skills and trades, however, other ideas, such as his advocacy for maintaining the social position of blacks and non-confrontation, were not effective in improving Black Nationalism. Washington principles revolved around blacks working as shopkeepers, farmers, and other low-skilled professions. He believed, â€Å"On such a foundation as this will grow habits of thrift, a love of work, economy, ownership of property, bank accounts. Out of it in the future will grow practical education, professional education, and positions of public responsibility. Out of it will grow moral and religious strength. Out of it will grow wealth from which alone can come leisure and the opportunity for the enjoyment of literature and the fine arts (Hine 371). † In stark contrast to this, DuBois believed, â€Å"If my own city of Atlanta had offered it to-day the choice between 500 Negro college graduates – forceful, busy, ambitious men of property and self respect – and 500 black cringing vagrants and criminals, the popular vote in the favor of the criminals would be simply overwhelming. Why? Because they want Negro crime? No, not that they fear Negro crime less, but that they fear Negro ambition and success more. They can deal crime by chain gang and lynch law, or at least they think they can, but the South can conceive neither machinery nor place for the educated, self-reliant, self-assertive black man (Hine 371). † W. E. B. DuBois believed in the opposite of what Washington believed. Instead of believing that the way for blacks to succeed was within industry, DuBois believed it lied not within training but within educating. DuBois believed that the learning that blacks received should go beyond training for work or learning a skill. He believed that it was necessary for blacks to gain an education that would allow them to develop and grow mentally. He mentioned that â€Å"the function of the Negro college, then, is clear, it must maintain standards of popular education, it must seek the social regeneration of the Negro, and it must help in the solution of problems of race contact and cooperation. And finally, beyond all this, it must develop men (Hine 370-71). † By receiving an education, blacks would then become better men and could be able to lead the black race. By having large numbers of educated blacks leading the race, DuBois felt that this was the best way to end racism. In his ideology DuBois felt that there would be a group of blacks that would lead blacks to prosperity, social acceptance and bring about the end of slavery. He characterized this group of people as the â€Å"talented tenth† (Hine 401). In other words, the most educated and best suited 10 percent of the black population would be used to lead the black race as a whole. He affirms to that â€Å"work alone will not do it unless inspired by the right ideals and guided by intelligence. Education must not simply teach work – it must teach Life. The talented Tenth of the Negro race must be made leaders of thought and missionaries of culture among people. No others can do this work, and Negro colleges must train men for it. The Negro race, like all other races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men† (Hine 401). This statement exemplifies DuBois’ strong belief in an elite group of back men how will arise to lead a deprived race into a society that will accept and acknowledge their talents, skills, and wisdom. While advocating for the best of the black race to lead the rest of the black race, DuBois also had different opinions on how to confront racism. Instead of trying to circumvent racism DuBois wanted to attack it, becoming somewhat of a militant leader (Maddox, par.3). He did not promote settling for meager jobs, he wanted to attack discrimination in all forms including disenfranchisement and Jim Crow laws. DuBois was not willing to wait for whites to give blacks their rights. Also DuBois was not tolerant toward blacks who were not willing to fight for their rights. With the ideology that DuBois adopted, there were many positive aspects that he brought to the idea of Black Nationalism. Education is one of the most important aspects that DuBois stressed in his ideology. DuBois believed that blacks could not hope to eclipse their position in life without an education. With this belief he encouraged blacks to go to numerous colleges and universities in order to receive an education. Another positive aspect that DuBois came to push with Black Nationalism was the view that white racism should be confronted. Throughout this time period, white racism was overt and abundantly clear for what it was, however, blacks were not in a position to confront this. Du Bois believed in encouraging blacks to stand up for their rights and for the elite â€Å"talented tenth† to show whites that they were not to be viewed as unrefined barbarians. DuBois believed that whites were more than happy to have blacks working for them. With whites perfectly content to allow blacks to work under them in a neo-form of slavery the same social position that blacks were in would continue to exist without change. With the knowledge that racism would not change unless it was directly confronted, DuBois began to believe in this ideology of confrontation. One of the greatest contributions that DuBois presented was his idea of higher education. He believed that it was essential for blacks to gain a deeper theological education, rather than the basic skilled education. DuBois believed it was important to gain this education in order to gain status of the â€Å"talented tenth. † In his ideals, DuBois believed that it was important that blacks did not need to be lead by one spokesperson such as Washington, but instead could be led by intelligent, resourceful, educated black Americans. Although he had an idea of a more talented group of people, these lines were flexible and able to be changed with new faces of black America. He understood the need to have different and multiple representations, rather than one blanketed statement about black Americans that would encourage misrepresentation and stereotypes. While there were many positive aspects of the ideology that DuBois put forth, there were also some problems. Dubois’ idea of a select group of black intellectuals whose purpose would be to â€Å"set out to organize an aggressive effort to secure the rights of black citizens† is a very potent idea, however, it becomes problematic when one places this enormous responsibility in the hands of such a small group of individuals (Hine 401). The fact that he felt that merely ten percent of the black population would be qualified to lead the struggle for black equality, explained earlier, has its importance. Nevertheless, this idea has some absurdness to it. To put the burden of trying to correct the discriminative situation that was accruing at the time on purely ten percent of the black population could be strenuous on that particular group. Therefore, instead of progression within the movement it would possibly cause a regression within the movement and deter any success that could accrue. This ten percent of black intellectual leaders should not focus on wrestling the task of establishing equal civil liberties for blacks on there own. Instead, they should focus on teaching the remaining ninety percent of the black population to lead as well. By accomplishing this task the black race would not have to rely merely on a few group of individual to fight the struggle for their liberation into a society of equality. Alternatively, many black people will have the ability to lead their own struggle in their particular area of the nation. In contrast to Booker T. Washington’s passive attitude to accomplish black equality, W. E. B. DuBois, on the other hand, had a more aggressive attitude. DuBois felt that to achieve the black community’s goal of eliminating racism the black community should attack it head on. Unlike Washington’s idea of simply sitting back and let the White community slowly accept the black people and recognize them for their hard work, DuBois wanted to actively assert the black community into society swiftly and without prejudice. This tactic could pose to be over aggressive which would ultimately retract from what he wants to get accomplished. Some states, mostly northern states, would be able to tolerate this aggressive tactic and possibly even acknowledge the efforts of DuBois. However other states, particularly the southern states would find his aggressive method as offensive thereby diminishing the popularity of DuBois’ goal viewed by the white community. Another problem with Dubois’ idea on how to confront racism was that it did not take into consideration everybody’s economic standpoint. He believed that with the acquisition of a higher theological education rather than simple basic skills education, the black community will be able analyze the society in which they live and make informed decisions on how they would like to live instead of simply accepting their position in which society had prepared for them. However, for many black to acquire that theological education in that time was quite challenging because not every black person or family could afford to pay for that higher education. To remedy these situation free educational institutions could be established, but somewhere down the line the expense to run the school would become overwhelming without financial support from the state. The black institutions would have extreme difficulty obtaining financial support from a predominantly white state who felt that they had already made a place for the black race. Although both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B Dubois made great contributions to the idea of Black Nationalism, their strategies would be questioned and would also be met with much objection. The major obstacle they faced in their articulation of a Black Nationalist ideology was opposition from each other. Their contrasting up-bringing allowed them to have different views and opinions of society. It also helped in forming their attitude of how to go about expressing their Black Nationalistic ideology. Washington experience as a child made him more passive. â€Å"His childhood was one of privation, poverty, slavery and back-breaking work† (Yankowitz par. 1). Growing up as a slave he learned to be more submissive and accepting of things presented to him and therefore he felt that the opportunity for black people to succeed will come slowly with obedience and serenity. DuBois, however, up-bringing made him have a more forward outlook on society and life in general. Unlike most blacks living in the United States, â€Å"Du Bois had grown up with more privileges and advantages†¦He had suffered neither severe economic hardship nor repeated encounters with blatant racism† (â€Å"W.E. B Dubois†, par 4). Because he grew up in a well-to-do setting he learned to have a more assertive personality resulting in his aggressive approach to confront racism. In a statement made at the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895, Booker T. Washington alludes to his opposition of the tactics utilized by W. E. B DuBois by mentioning that â€Å"the wisest among [his] race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hine 396). This statement affirms that if one is to be aggressive in their manner to acquire equality in the society in which they live, then it would surly lead to the demise of their efforts. The statement can greatly be associated with DuBois’ methods of articulating Black Nationalism ideology. More opposition to Washington’s conciliatory stance on racial matters stemmed from William Monroe Trotter, an educated Harvard editor of the Boston Guardian, who became the most â€Å"vociferous† critic of Washington (Hine 399). Trotter referred to Washington as â€Å"the Great Traitor, the Benedict Arnold of the Negro Race, and Pope Washington† which hardly bothered Washington. However the nicknames did, along with many argumentative articles that he wrote, cause unsettling skeptics about Washington’s techniques Similarly, Booker T. Washington’s method of articulating Black Nationalism ideology contradicted W. E. B Dubois. In his book entitled The Souls of Black Folk, Dubois remarks that â€Å"Mr. Washington distinctly asks that black people give up, at least for the present three things, – First, political power, Second, insistence on civil rights, Third, higher education of Negro youth, – and concentrate all their energies on industrial education, the accumulation of wealth, and the conciliation of the South† (Hine 396). It revealed that Washington did not want black people to expect too much but should greet menial labor as a step in the struggle for progress. DuBois greatly detested this notion and preferred the assertive strategy which he felt to be the most effective way to ensure progress. Though Booker T. Washington and W. E. B DuBois had conflicting ideas of Black Nationalism ideology, the two presented ideas that lasted and effect the ideas of future black nationalist. Works Cited America’s Story from America’s Libraries. 2006. The Library of Congress. 3 Oct. 2006 . â€Å"Booker T. Washington. † Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 21 Nov 2006, 07:24 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 21 Nov 2006 . Hine, Darlene Clark, William C. Hine, & Stanley Harrold. The American Odyssey: Volume Two. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey; Prentice-Hall, 3rd edition 2005. Maddox, Alton H. , â€Å"The untold story of the Civil Rights Movement – Part I. † New York Amsterdam News 96. 44 (2005): 12-14. â€Å"W. E. B Dubois. † MSN Encarta, The Online Encyclopedia. 2006. 6 Oct. 2006 . Owen, Williams R. â€Å"Old Negro, New Negro. † Rev. of The Education of Booker T. Washington: American Democracy & the Idea of Race Relations, by Michael Rudolph West. Black Issues Book Review May 2006: 45 Yankowitz, Donna. â€Å"Booker T. Washington. † 2006. 6 Oct. 2006 .

Policy Analysis Paper: Mental Health Essay

Introduction: This paper will discuss the necessity for social policy change in regards to the mental health system (or lack thereof) within the United States as well as internationally. The need for reform is tantamount in order for marginalized groups with mental disabilities to function well-beyond their capacities. An analysis of policy is needed to better understand the challenges that face current social workers and mental health professionals at this time. Therefore, this paper will discuss eight articles that pertain to the social work school of thought, and will be utilized to a great degree in making an argument for social reform. The peer-reviewed, scholarly articles are presented and discussed to frame a basic foundation on what needs to be done, and if these changes are feasible in nature to our society. Since the topic is on Mental Health Policy, it is important to note any biases or hesitations that a social worker may have towards intellectual and mentally handicapped persons, and view this problem with an open mind free from negative beliefs. Looking at this in the broad sense, this is not just a financial problem, nor a personal problem, but rather, this is a societal problem. There are many different ways in which mental health disorders can be attributed to. Crime, drug addiction, and many other factors are linked to some mental health issues. Depression, which affects millions worldwide can be treated through cognitive behavioral therapy. The best way to treat this problem would be prevention, and that is something that the United States, and the world has been lacking for quite some time. It is important to discuss this issue and provide long-term answers now, lest we face more financial burden and social burdens due to our own ineptitude. See more: how to write an analysis paper on an article examples Literature Review: The first article that will be discussed for this analysis is titled Mental Health and Poverty in the Inner City. This piece of literature examines the correlation between the rise in urbanization and mental health problems (Anakwenze & Zuberi, 148, 2013). It is a fact that the number of people who live in urban populations steadily increased within the millennium and is projected to go up in the next decade (Anakwenze & Zuberi, 148, 2013). This article provides evidence linking the rise of the urban population to the growing number of mental health disorders within it. Living in a densely populated area can bring about many factors that can stimulate mental health problems. Noise, pollution, and lack of adequate green space are some of the problems that individuals face within cities (Anakwenze & Zuberi, 148, 2013). It is no wonder that mental health is of vital importance to the urban population, particularly the urban poor. Poverty is a strong characteristic of city life, and thus, it is necessary to see if there is causation between city-life and mental instabilities (Anakwenze & Zuberi, 148, 2013). The article argues that the relationship between an urban environment and mental health problems can be described as cyclical and non-linear (Anakwenze & Zuberi, 148, 2013). The cycle is reinforced through poverty and this can nurture mental illness if not properly taken care of. The authors challenge current mental health policy and advocate for a system that specializes in prevention and treatment across all populations (Anakwenze & Zuberi, 148, 2013). Crime, substance abuse, and other mechanisms that originate from urban environments can have a bi-directional relationship in regards to mental health and urbanization (Anakwenze & Zuberi, 148, 2013). They reinforce each other, causing a strong hold around the community. It is necessary for a new mental health policy to advocate for interventions within individuals and institutions in order to promote such an improvement in urban life. The many mechanisms that cause socio-economic disparities are outlined in great detail within the article; for example, dense and diverse populations, can  cause great stress to the individual (Anakwenze & Zuberi, 149, 2013). It requires a person to be homogenous in their frame for social networking and diversification (Anakwenze & Zuberi, 149, 2013). The advocacy for a better social policy for urban environments cannot be valued enough. The second article, titled: Grand Challenges: Integrating Mental Health Services into Priority Health Care Platfor ms highlights the necessity for integrating mental health care into global programs designed for health. This synthesizing of mental health policy into global health can have a significant impact in the lives of many individuals all across the globe (Patel et al.,1, 2013). The authors state that mental health problems are among the most frequent and disabling conditions within the planet. It is important to have everyone recognize the gravity of the situation and not take mental health lightly, because it is associated with chronic health problems that can worsen over time (Patel et al.,1, 2013). If left untreated, mental health disorders can have a significant impact on one’s self-care and can be linked to increase morbidity and mortality around the world (Patel et al.,1, 2013). Ineffective treatments can also increase the cost of healthcare and decrease productivity at work, requiring employers to cut costs and become ineffective themselves (Patel et al.,1, 2013). Knowing this, it is important to note that effective treatments for common mental health problems that plague the e ntire population can be utilized in order to help those in need (Patel et al.,1, 2013). However, current policies do not allow easy access to such treatments, therefore, reform is needed to make sure that people have access to the treatments they deserve. The authors argue for a more cohesive network for doctors and patients to communicate about mental health (Patel et al.,1, 2013). For example, there are less psychiatrists in the continent of Africa, than there are in the state of Massachusetts (Patel et al.,1, 2013). Even in developed countries such as the United States, primary care facilities are the governing parties involved in the mental health care system (Patel et al.,1, 2013). This does not allow for adequate treatment and can exacerbate problems even further (Patel et al.,1, 2013). The article states that there needs to be integration in regards to primary care facilities and mental health professionals. The next article, Service development for intellectual disability mental health: a human rights approach talks about the population  of people with intelle ctual disabilities (ID) in regards to mental health reform. The authors state that people with intellectual disabilities suffer from major mental disabilities more frequently than their peers (Evans et al., 1098, 2012). Thus, it is imperative to review the current mental health policy and if necessary, change it to better suit the growing need for people with intellectual disabilities (Evans et al., 1098, 2012). The article uses the mental health policies in Australia as an example, appraising the standards set up by the United Nations on the rights of persons with disabilities. The article demonstrates the need for an in-depth analysis on mental health care on a global scale and must understand the paradigm in which mental health policies are shaped (Evans et al., 1098, 2012). They use the human-rights framework as the perspective in which to base all mental health problems accordingly. Public mental health services must be aware of the ever growing number of patients with intellectual disabilities and plan accordingly to suit the needs of t his population (Evans et al., 1098, 2012). In order to adequately perform these services, great amounts of funding is required to create a stable environment in which to get help for mental disorders (Evans et al., 1109, 2012). This is the problem the authors face and recognize. However, they urge to apply more funding into the mental health system because mental health should be higher on the priority for the population than most would realize (Evans et al., 1109, 2012). They see it as an investment into the well-being of the community. Considering the human-rights approach, it is necessary to improve specialist services and apply better social practice foundations to help these marginalized groups (Evans et al., 1109, 2012). Mental Health Parity: Moving Closer to an Effective National Policy states that mental illness is one of the most leading causes of disabilities in North American’s between the ages of 15-44 (Hebert, 28, 2009). Even with this wide and diverse population, the problem of mental illness still goes u nrecognized in the eyes of the public (Hebert, 28, 2009). Thus, the cost of individuals and families, be it emotional, or financial, can skyrocket if left untreated (Hebert, 28, 2009). As with all the articles, the author advocates for a stronger mental health system for children and adults. They discuss the growing inequity of coverage between mental and physical health, as well as the proportion of insurance coverage in regards to mental health (Hebert,  28, 2009). Therefore, it is important to utilize every resource available to combat mental illness, and the burden should not have to be on the sufferer alone. More resources and a better capacity for understanding mental disorders must be initialized and maintained for proper care of individuals in need (Hebert, 28, 2009). Individuals with dual diagnoses of mental illness and substance abuse disorders are rampant and left untreated by the public, increasing crime and social problems nationwide. The article stresses that â€Å"mental illness is as frightening and debilitating as any major physical disorder† (Hebert, 28, 2009). Social workers and advocates for parity between the mental healthcare system and the physical healthcare system have made great strides within the last decade, however there is still much to be done (Hebert, 28, 2009). Research shows that mental health is directly related to physical health, and the equity between the two systems needs to be further enhanced in order to achieve considerable gains within the community (Hebert, 28, 2009). The article, Cultural Access and Mental Health: An Exploratory Study, talks about the rising rates of depression and other mental illnesses in regards to public concerns. The authors focus on twenty Italian regions and the relationship between health expenditures and hospital discharge rates (Crociata et al., 219, 2013). They cite that mental health disorders are growing in an exponential rate and that proper care must be maintained and development of new programs must be issued in the future (Crociata et al., 219, 2013). Well-being deprivation has been discussed in the article as one of the major causes of mental illnesses among the population (Crociata et al., 219, 2013). This increases the rates of depression and other psychological problems and can stem from factors such as poverty (Crociata et al., 219, 2013). In accordance with the title, the authors believe that culture-related programs can produce positive effects to combat these epidemics (Crociata et al., 219, 2013). Well-being deprivation, in particular, is a preventable problem that results from the lack of attention to oneself. It is important to recognize this as a growing problem and something that the public needs to be aware of in order to maximize prevention and minimize contracting other mental health problems (Crociata et al., 219, 2013). Cultural access allows for empowerment of the self (Crociata et al., 219, 2013). These can include going to concerts, or reading books, and strengthens involvement within the community or within the self. It provides a sense of who we are in this world and how we relate to others in a given timeframe (Crociata et al., 219, 2013). Being involved in these activities can stimulate the ability to take care of one’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Thus, advocacy is important in order to allow a greater number of people to be able to take care of themselves through cultural activities (Crociata et al., 219, 2013). Outlining the Scope of Behavioral Health Practice in Integrated Primary Care: Dispelling the Myth of the One-Trick Mental Health Pony, is an article that addresses integrated primary care practices in conjunction with mental health treatments. The authors indicate that in order to adequately prepare for all aspects of health, primary care facilities must be equipped to handle mental health problems (Miller et al., 2013). They conducted a literature review of several research articles to determine the service of behavioral health practices in regards to primary health care facilities. Depression was the most dominant screening and the most likely to be treated (Miller et al., 2013). However, many other illnesses are lacking in proper treatment by primary care facilities because they do not have the full range of services of other mental health care facilities (Miller et al., 2013). This fragmentation care between the two facilities is apparent in society, as mental health problems are still rampant and left untreated. Therefore, the best option is to have primary care facilities incorporate many of the practices of mental health care and in turn, will help those that need medical treatment (Miller et al., 2013). Allowing a collaboration between healthcare practices is empirically supported to add to the continuity of the primary healthcare system. It will enhance and create opportunities for collaboration in order to improve the prognosis of many mental health patients. It is also seen to have a boosting effect on the economy of the primary healthcare system, as more patients  will utilize these facilities more (Miller et al., 2013). If left fragmented, it will lead to higher costs and poorer outcomes and will eventually exhaust those who are willing to help mental health patients and their families (Miller et al., 2013). The authors advocate for integration and de-fragmentation of services in order to help the public. The next article, International and national policy challenges in mental health, discusses mental health in regards to the global health agenda. The global health agenda is a list of health problems that are being focused on in order to better humanity (Jenkins et al., 101, 2011). These goals are backed by several financial institutions and thus, are more likely to have better research and development against these problems (Jenkins et al., 101, 2011). However, mental health is not specified in the agenda, and therefore, are not fully funded and less likely to have results. The authors talk about the World Health Organization (WHO), along with the World Bank, as key players in the financial and global resources that entail such research (Jenkins et al., 102, 2011). They insist that not much attention is given to mental health because physical ailments such as AIDS, or influenza, take a much more precedent over mental health concerns. It is not specified at all in the priorities of the WHO and the World Bank (Jenkins et al., 102, 2011). The WHO and World Bank created Millennium Development Goals in order to have a structured itinerary on research and development against public health problems (Jenkins et al., 102, 2011). However, there are no goals specifically for the quality of mental healthcare, leaving the mental healthcare system to be on the backend of financial funding and backing by these major organizations (Jenkins et al., 102, 2011). The lack of goals presented by the WHO presents many challenges to mental health, including invisibility and marginalization of people with mental disorders (Jenkins et al., 103, 2011). This is a travesty in its’ own right because many people suffer from these disorders with no help or no treatment  available to them. The final article that I will incorporate to support my argument for a better mental health policy is titled, What kind of evidence do we need for evidence-based mental health policy? The case of the Better Access initiative. This article discusses the Better Access scheme of Australia’s commonwealth on health and aging (Allen & Jackson, 696, 2011). While being very expensive, the authors state that the new mental health policy by Australia helps many of its’ citizens by becoming one of the most significant advances of mental health policy to date (Allen & Jackson, 696, 2011). While not perfect by any means, this new policy has helped those with mental disorders attain better prognoses and a higher quality of living as opposed to the previous regime (Allen & Jackson, 696, 2011). The Better Access initiative has raised many positive evaluations from several governmental sources and while expensive, is projected to help even more in the future (Allen & Jackson, 696, 2011). The authors, who are both psychiatrists themselves and do not get money from the Better Access Initiative assess the risks and rewards of this system and weighs in on the future outcome of the new policy (Allen & Jackson, 696, 2011). In summary, they believe that this initiative is a step closer to achieving a better quality of healthcare for those with mentally disabling disorders (Allen & Jackson, 696, 2011). It is important to note that this is a somewhat new system and that there are relatively many problems, however as with any new policy, it is a step in the right direction even with the humongous financial cost to the government. Discussion: I chose the topic of mental health because there are a lack of policies towards such a large problem that affects millions of Americans. I thought that there is no substitution for quality care in regards to mental disorders and disabilities and this is indeed a heavy burden that we place upon ourselves. I am diagnosed with severe major depressive disorder and it took a long time for me to realize what I was doing was out of the norm in  society. Therefore, I have taken great care to advocate for those with mental disorders in order to ensure that they get quality care, myself included, and that we get a chance for a quality of life equitable to those without mental disorders. While major depressive disorder is common among Americans, it is important to note that cognitive behavioral therapy is only available to those who have insurance, and they need a referral to see a specialist in the matter. I know this from experience, and I am deeply saddened to know that not many people are as lucky as me when it comes to medical expenses. I am a United States Veteran, and I am subject to free healthcare services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, if it were not for this, I would not be among those who will be receiving help due to lack of monetary and financial backing. I can only imagine those people who do not receive treatment for their disorders. It is truly sad that we live in a world where families can be torn apart due to lack of healthcare and prevention, and we need to focus on this problem now rather than later. I believe that the new Affordable Care Act within the United States is a step in the right direction, however, we must be sure to maintain a strong foothold in regards to mental health. I agree with many of the articles that call for an integration between primary care and mental health facilities in order to accommodate those with mental health needs. In order to do this, a policy would need to be enacted that would combine both healthcare systems into one, with the backing of the American Medical Association among other groups. Many groups may be opposed to this scenario, as this will place a great amount of financial burden among insurance companies. However, in order to do what is right, I believe that we must make great financial sacrifices to help those in need. We need to make the changes now, rather than later to see results. I may not know much about the entire healthcare system, however, I do know that it we are morally obligated as a society to take care of those who are in need of help. Perhaps the materialistic nature of capitalism has led us astray, but I have to believe that people are generally good. If we start to  implement some of these problems as goals worldwide, we can increase the financial backing and research into solving these mental health disorders. Doing this will increase functionality of humanity as a whole, and we will be better able to tackle problems of other natures. When we look at what is at stake, it is easy to gather than many of our problems in society can be attributed to some sort of mental health problem. Crime, drug addiction, and many other factors can be controlled easily with the right treatment plan. I am not saying that this will be the cure for everything, but I do believe that if we take better care of our citizens, then we will gain greater rewards as well. Financially this will come at a great cost, but I believe the cost can be negated by the potential rewards that a new policy will bring. It is up to us to make sure that this happens, because the problem of mental health disorders will not go away if we ignore it. In fact, it will become widespread and until we can find a way to prevent or contain it, then we are only digging ourselves deeper and we will have to involve more financial backing as opposed to taking care of it in the first place. I see it as an investment to the future, because in reality, people are the future, and whether we like it or not, the more functional a person can be, the greater amount of good that she or he can give to the world. References Allen, N., & Jackson, H. (n.d.). What kind of evidence do we need for evidence-based mental health policy? 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Outlining the Scope of Behavioral Health Practice in Integrated Primary Care: Dispelling the Myth of the One-Trick Mental Health Pony. Families, Systems, and Health, 32(3), 338-343. Patel, V., Belkin, G., Chockalingam, A., Cooper, J., Saxena, S., & Unà ¼tzer, J. (n.d.). Grand Challenges: Integrating Mental Health Services into Priority Health Care Platforms. PLoS Medicine, E1001448-E1001448.