The Effectiveness Of Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter Essays

The Effectiveness Of Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter Winston 1 The Effectiveness of Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter The effectiveness of symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter adds to the story. Hawthorne uses symbolism in many ways throughout this novel. By adding this marvelous feature he makes it clear to what he is trying to accomplish. The scarlet letter itself is symbolic. In this novel locations, colors, and people are all major elements of symbolism that bring out the story. Unlink other forms of symbolism used by Hawthorne location was a key ingredient in the creation of The Scarlet Letter. She silently ascended the steps, and stood on the platform, holding little Pearl by the hand. The ministry felt for the child's other hand, and took it. The moment that he did so, there came what seemed a tumultuous rush of new life, other life that his own, pouring like a torrent unto his heart, and hurrying through all his veins, as if the mother and the child were communicating their vital warmth to his half-torpid system. The three formed an electric chain (181). The scaffold is the location where most important events take place. The scaffold is, where Hester is sentenced to wear the scarlet letter, and is also the location where Dimmesdale died confessing his adultery. All public humiliation as well as punishment takes place at the scaffold. Hawthorne uses the forest is another effective use of symbolism. He shows how anything affiliated with the forest is considered evil to the Puritans, however he uses Pearl to show the forest as being beautiful and natural. Winston 2 Hawthorne uses also color as another major form of symbolism. According to American Literary Classics, Outside the door of the prison, ?the black flower of civilized society,? sprung a wild rosebush in nominal of the deep sympathetic heart of Nature. Black, thus, seems to symbolize the dogmatic, harsh, and restrictive nature of Man's law and civilized society, whereas, Red is symbolic of the open freedom of Nature. Hawthorne well placed locations help intertwines location with color and nature. ?The people strike me not as characters, but as representatives.?(James, Henry) Hester Prynne and Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale share a common trait; they both symbolize sinners. Hawthorne also stresses that Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and Hester are all symbolic of liars, they are all evil in someway or another. Rev. Dimmesdale hates himself, because he is the Great Rev. who everyone looks up to but he himself is living in a total lie, so much that he is his own worst enemy. ?He thus typified the constant introspection wherewith he tortured, but could not purify himself? his bad deed (141). The character of Roger Chillingworth is symbolic of his own name. ?We (Dimmesdale and Hester) are not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world. There is one worse than even the polluted priest! That old man's revenge has blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart (179).? This is the unpardonable sin which make Chillingworth pure evil, the devil at heart. Pearl, Hester's child, is symbolic of changing Puritan society. She is the out come and cause of the scarlet letter. Born of sin, rebellious to the Puritan way of life, but not evil. When Wilson first sees her, he calls her a ?Red Rose?, then letter asks he who made her. She intelligently responds without hesitation, that she was plucked off the rose bush outside the prison door. Winston 3 Hester Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter, use of symbolism adds to the story. Without his effective use of symbolism the plot, theme, the whole novel would not flow. By allowing so many locations, colors, and people to have more than just one general meaning, allows the reader think, ?what if?. Hawthorne uses symbolism in The Scarlet Letter is so effective it urges the reader to read the novel more than once. By adding this marvelous feature he makes it clear to what he is trying to accomplish. In this novel locations, colors, and people are all major elements of symbolism that add to the story. Bibliography Annotated Bibliography Bercovitch, Sacvan ?The Scarlet Letter: A Twice- Told Tale? Nathaniel Hawthorne Review 10/12/1996 Online 23 March 2000 Available: http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/nh/sb1.html. The writer

Heres Why Your College GPA Matters

Here's Why Your College GPA Matters In high school, you likely focused on getting good grades- and, consequently, having a high grade point average (GPA)- because you wanted to get into to college. But now that youve done that, you may be wondering, Does GPA matter in college? While this may seem like a simple question, it doesnt have a straightforward answer. In some situations, your college GPA can matter quite a bit; on the other hand, a GPA can mean nothing beyond whether or not you can graduate. Why Your GPA Matters in College There are many reasons you will want to maintain a good GPA in college. Ultimately, you will need to pass your classes in order to get your degree, which is the point of going to college in the first place. From that perspective, the answer is clear: Your GPA matters. If your GPA drops below a certain threshold, your school will send you a notice youve been  placed on academic probation  and tell you what steps to take in order to recover from it. Along the same lines, you may need to keep it at or above a certain level to keep your scholarships, other financial awards or loan eligibility. Additionally, things like academic honors, research opportunities, internships, and some classes have GPA requirements. Its always a good idea to ask your academic adviser about any GPA requirements you should be aware of, so you dont find out youre in trouble after its too late to fix it.   Do College Grades Matter for Jobs? Your GPA may or may not play an important role in your life after college- it depends on your post-graduate plans. For example, Graduate school admissions are very competitive, and youre required to put your GPA on an application. If youre interested in furthering your education but the damage to your GPA is already done, dont fret: Good scores on the GRE, GMAT, MCAT or LSAT could make up for a sub-par GPA. (Of course, getting into grad school will be a lot easier if you focus on maintaining a good GPA from the start of college.) Even if youre not thinking about more school, you should know some employers will ask you for your GPA when you apply for a job. In fact, there are companies- generally, large companies- who require applicants to meet the basic GPA requirement.   Beyond the aforementioned situations, theres a good chance your GPA may never again come up after graduation. In general, employers focus more on your level of education, not the grades that got you there, and theres no rule that says you  need  to put your GPA on your resume. The bottom line: Your college GPA is only as important as it is for your future plans. While you may not feel pressure to focus on maintaining a high GPA as you did in high school, theres no reason why you shouldnt work hard in your classes and succeed as best you can academically. You never know, after all, what jobs or graduate school programs you might end up applying for years after you graduate.

Compensation, Benefits and Information Systems

Compensation, Benefits and Information Systems The reasons for employee benefits Most modern organizations are recognizing the employees’ compensation as one of the significant organization practices. Studies indicate that not only the employees that benefit from such practices but also the organizations (Shields, 2009). Most organizations perceive employees’ compensations as being costly. However, the benefits surpass the costs involved.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Compensation, Benefits and Information Systems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In essence, proper compensation ensure continuous flow of qualifies staff with required skills and technical competence to keep the organization at the competitive edge. The organizations have to recognize the fact that the qualified staff with required skills and technical competence is the key driver for their growth and development. With current competitive environment, organizations find it necessary to keep such qualified staff within their workforce. In addition, organizations must remain flexible when it comes to the management of employees’ compensations and benefits On the part of employees, increased compensation and benefits ensure augmented productivity due to the satisfaction they receive from such benefits. Well-compensated employees feel protected from social ills that may affect the work processes that in turn may result in decreased performance. In other words, compensation and benefits that takes into consideration needs of workers are critical in the general output of the employees. The application of agency theory in executive compensation In the context of an organization, an agency is an entity that acts on behalf of the principle. The principle, in this context, is the shareholders (Shields, 2009). The principal have the responsibility of compensating the agent that can either be a CEO or any other entity hired by the principal to perform a particular d uty. According to the agency theory, the agent must be loyal and obedient to the principle. The agents are compensated based on their loyalty that determines the level of performance. In essence, the organizations must apply the principle-based executive compensation strategies to ensure cordial relations between the agents and the principle. The advantage with principle-based executive compensation is that it irons out the differences that may arise between the principal and the agent. Main forms of performance-related pay option The performance-related pay covers various forms of employees’ compensations that take into consideration the output of individual workers. In other words, workers are compensated according to the individual performance. The performance-based pay is applied in the circumstances where workers can easily show a discrepancy in their productivity depending on the individual endeavor.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In such situations, performance-based pay is believed to have greater chance of increasing workers performance.  There are various forms of performance-based pay. However, the most commonly practiced include the piecework pay where the compensations are based on each unit of output. Piecework pay is majorly applied in public institutions. The advantage of piecework compensation is that it prevents public wastage and less costly in terms of financial management. The greater disadvantage with this form of performance-based compensation is that it does not motivate workers particularly in the situations where output cannot be measured. The other form of commonly used performance-based pay is the result oriented pay. In this form of performance-based payments, workers are compensated according to the quantity of output or measured value. The compensation increases with the increase in the results. The re sult oriented pay is closely related to merit pay where the compensation is pegged on the individual contribution in the general performance. Profit related pay is another form of performance-based payment where the organizations reimburse their employees depending on the level of profits or gains made by the company.  One of the major advantages with all these forms of payment is that the employees are motivated to attain the greater output. The forms of compensation also enhance the performance culture among the employees and within the organization. However, these forms of compensation can hardly be determined without appropriate measurement procedure. In the circumstances where the output cannot easily be measure, performance based compensations have increased limiting factors. References Shields, J. (2009). Managing employee performance and reward: concepts, practices, strategies. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.

Should You Drop A Class Does It Look Bad Why

Should You Drop A Class Does It Look Bad Why SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you struggling in a class or simply not enjoying it and wondering if you should drop it?Are you worried about how this might look to colleges and future employers? Should you drop a class? Read this guide to learn about the benefits and drawbacks to dropping and how to decide whether or not you should drop a class. What Does It Mean to Drop a Class? Dropping a class means that you have chosen to unenroll in that course. In order toofficially drop a class, you often have to visit your academic counselor or the school office and fill out a form thatmay need to be signed by the teacher of that class. Many high schools only allow students to drop a class before a certain deadline. This deadline varies by high school and can sometimes be a month into the semester, halfway through the semester, or a different cutoff date.If you’re thinking about dropping a class, first make sure it’s still an available option. Ask your academic counselor or look at your school’s student handbook to find information on drop deadlines. Once you have dropped a class, you no longer have to attend it, and you will no longer receive a grade in that course. Instead, there will usually be a â€Å"W† (for â€Å"Withdrawn†) next to the course’s name, instead of a letter grade, on your transcript.This â€Å"W† will not affect your GPA.If you drop the class early enough, usually within the first few weeks, your transcript may not even show the dropped class. However, if you miss this deadline, your transcript will show that you withdrew from the course, even if you sign up for a new course in its place. If you drop a class and later decide to retake it, you will have to retake the entire course, no matter how far along the course was when you dropped it.Also, your transcript will usually show that this wasn’t your first time enrolling in the class and that you retook it (sometimes with an â€Å"R† next to the letter grade received). After you drop a class, you may need to enroll in a new course to take the place of the one you droppedin order to have enough credits to graduate on time, but this isn't always required. Your advisor will explain if this is something you need to do. Why Might You Want to Drop a Class? There are a number of reasons a student may want to drop a class, including: You signed up for too many honors or AP courses and don't have enough time to devote to all of them. The course you signed up for is not what you expected it to be, and you no longer find it interesting or useful. You signed up for too many classes above the normal high school course load and need to drop one. You don't like the way the class is being taught and feel you won't learn much from it. The class you signed up for is too challenging, and you don't think you'll be able to pass it or get a good grade in it. Your interests or future college major changed, and you decided to take classes in a different field. The class you're in is too easy, so you are dropping it and changing to a more advanced version of the class or the next course in the sequence. Why Might Dropping a Class Be Bad? Students often worry that dropping a class will hurt their chances of getting into their top colleges. They may think that colleges will see them as quitters or not intelligent if their transcript shows that they dropped a class or classes. Students may also worry that dropping a class will prevent them from graduating high school on time because they won't be taking enough credits that semester. Why Might Dropping a Class Be Good? Dropping a class is much better for your GPA than failing a class or getting a C or D in it isbecause a dropped class does not affect your grade point average. Dropping a class may also raise your GPA because itcan allow you to spend more time on other classes and raise your grades in them. If you are really struggling with a class, dropping it can also significantly reduce your stress and anxiety. Should You Drop a Class? Clearly thereare positives and negatives to dropping a class. So when does it look bad to drop a high school class?Read through the next section, asking yourself the seven questions listed below, to help you decide whether it would be best to drop a class or stick with it. Consideration 1: What Grade Are You Getting in the Class? If you believe you will fail the class or get a low grade no matter what you do, it is usually better to drop it, because getting a C, D or F can significantly hurt your GPA and usually looks worse to colleges than dropping a class does.If you just happened to get a low score on one test or project, you may want to talk to the teacher about the probability of improving your grade before dropping the class. It could have been just an exceptionally difficult assignment, and there will be chances to raise your grade in the future. If you are trying to get a perfect or close to perfect GPA and are worried that one somewhat low grade on your GPA will hurt your chances of getting into top colleges, it is generally OK to drop one class for that reason, but colleges would prefer to see a few B’s on your transcript rather than a lot of dropped classesbecause the latter may cause them to think you have difficulties completing things. Consideration 2:How Have You Tried to Raise Your Grade? If you are thinking about dropping a class because you are not getting a good grade, first ask yourself if you have tried to improve your grade.This can include studying more, setting aside more time to work on the class, and speaking to the teacher about ways to improve your grade.If you have already tried to raise your grade but are still close to failing, it is usually better to drop the class. If you think there are ways you can raise your grade, you may want to try those methods and see if they improve your grade before dropping the class.However, be aware of how much time is left in the semester. It’s much easier to raise your grade three weeks into a class than when the class is more than halfway over. Consideration 3:Is the Class Affecting Other Areas of Your Life? If the class you are considering dropping is so challenging or time-consuming that it is causing your grades in other classes to suffer, it’s better to drop the class.This will strengthen your transcript in the long run because, after dropping the class, you’ll have a better chance of getting good grades in the rest of your classes. The same is also true if you find a class so overwhelming that it causes you a lot of stress, anxiety, or worry. Feeling this way can cause other areas of your life to suffer, and that isn’t worth it just to stick with one class. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Consideration 4:Do You Need to Know the Material the Class Covers for Future Classes? Will the information you learn in this class be used for future high school or college classes?Not understanding the material well now, even if you pass the class, could hurt your future grades. If you are taking a class that is important to your academic and professional future but feel like you don'tunderstand the material, it may be better to drop the class and take it again in the future if you think things will be better the next time.This is a key consideration. Don’t expect to retake a class again and get a higher grade or understand the material better if the only change is the semester you took it. Potential changes that could justify retaking the class a different semester include: having the class taught by a different teacher, having more time to focus on the class because your other classes or extracurriculars will be less time-consumingthan they are now, or knowing thatyou’ll study the subject between now and the time you retake the classso that you start the class with an introductory knowledge of the material. Consideration 5:What Other Class Options Are There? Are there other similar options for the class, such as taking it at a regular level instead of honors or AP?If so, this may make it easier to drop the class and switch to a less demanding variation of it. This is an especially good option if you need the class in order to graduate because it allows you to complete the requirement, but usually with a higher grade than you would have received if you’d stayed in the original class.Colleges also prefer that you take a lower level course and get a good grade than take an advanced level with a very low grade. Consideration 6:Will Your Transcript Show That You Dropped a Class? Many high schools offer a period (often up to the first two weeks or month of class) when students can drop a class without it showing up on their transcript at all.This allows students to try out classes in a low-risk way. If this is the case for you, and you find yourself in a class you either don’t like or can’t manage during this add/drop period, you should feel free to drop the class.There will be no mark on your transcript, so colleges won’t ever see or know that you dropped the class.If you drop a class early on in the semester, try to add another class in its place so you still have a full schedule and can be sure of meeting the number of credits required for graduation. If this is a class you are required to take but found too challenging, be sure to be more prepared the next time you take it.Talk to the teacher about materials you can review before you retake the class so that the information is more familiar and you have a head start. Consideration 7:Have You Dropped Other Classes Before? Is this the first class you have dropped? If so, it is usually fine to drop the class if you find it overwhelming or not what you thought it would be, even if the dropped course shows up on your transcript.Having one dropped class on your transcript will almost never have an effect on your chances of getting accepted to colleges. College admissions officers are generally very understanding, and they know that if a student dropped one class in high school, they may have simply taken on too much or misjudged what a class would cover. However, if you have dropped more than two classes, this may be concerning to colleges because it may show a habit of giving up or not seeing things through.If you have dropped multiple classes before, try to figure out if there’s an underlying reason. Do you sign up for too many classes and find yourself overwhelmed? Do sign up for honors or AP classes but find them too challenging? Figure out why you have dropped multiple classes and work to end the cycle, whether it’s by taking fewer classes, taking more introductory classes before moving on to advanced levels, or another method. If you are worried about multiple dropped classes on your transcript affecting your college applications, you can attach a note to your application, explaining the situation and the work you’ve done to stop the pattern and improve since then.If you are an underclassman thinking about dropping a class, be aware that students often find the classes they take their junior and senior years to be more difficult, so if you drop a class or two as an underclassman, it may make deciding whether to drop an additional class later on a more challenging decision because your transcript will already show that you have dropped classes before. Summary: Should You Drop a Class? So, if you're struggling with a class or just really not enjoying it, is it OK to drop it? As mentioned above, in most cases it's OK to drop a class, especially if you haven't dropped a class before. Colleges understand that sometimes circumstances change, and having one dropped class on your transcript won't hurt your college applications. However, there are still some considerations to keep in mind. First, if you drop your class too late, you may get a low or failing grade for it, which could really hurt your GPA. Second, dropping a required class could mean you need to retake it during the summer or risk not graduating on time. And, finally, if you've dropped multiple classes already, that could negatively impact your college applications since schools may think you're not capable of following through with things you started. If you're still struggling to decide whether to drop a class, set up an appointment with your guidance counselor or academic advisor. They'll be able to look at your complete situation and help you make the best decision. What's Next? Wondering what colleges look for on high school transcripts and how strong yours is? Read our guide to learn what a transcript includes and why it’s often the most important part of your college application. Trying to decide how strong your GPA is? Learn what a good GPA is, what a bad GPA is, and where yours stands. Wondering which classes you should take in high school?We have a guide that lays out the high school classes you should take in every major subject area,as well as electives, in order to impress colleges. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Second Amendment of the US Constitution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Second Amendment of the US Constitution - Essay Example Several issues still remained unaddressed, for example, whether legislation, less stringent than the D.C. state violate the Second Amendment, whether lower courts will use their dicta with regards to allowable restrictions, and what to what extent should the courts apply scrutiny when analyzing a statute that imposes upon the Second Amendment. Keeping in view several issues and the interpretations in focus it all has helped in shaping the nation’s gun control debate. There are several societies and groups which are supporting an individual right to own a personal gun licensed by the National Rifle Association. Further, it was argued that the Second Amendment will provide all citizens with not only with powers of militia but they will possess a power and right to own a gun. Moreover, the agencies which propel a stricter gun control such as Brady Campaign believed that the Second Amendment is not a blank check for anyone to possess a gun. It is required to place certain restrict ions on firearms; some of these rules include the right who can have them, what specific condition is necessary for carrying a gun, where these firearms can be taken and what category of firearms are safe to carry and what is the appropriate place to buy such things(Ersin, 2014).In the context of the above-stated information, we turn now to the case of Ivette Ros was dismissed from Wells Fargo after the corporation found that she had a hidden carry license and a gun.Ivette was brought up in a house where her father kept guns.

The Increasing Cost of Health Care as New Technologies are Introduced Research Paper

The Increasing Cost of Health Care as New Technologies are Introduced - Research Paper Example Moreover, implementing new medical technologies in any hospital or clinic is not an inexpensive procedure. This is because medical innovations in the medical sector are taking place at a time when the healthcare sector is also suffering from the scarcity of resources. This has resulted in a need for more rationing of resources, priority setting, and technology management elements. The economic assessment of medical technological innovations is important because it will likely expose the costs as well as consequences of using these innovations in a practical medical setting. Even though individual new medical technological innovations can, by themselves, decrease or increase spending and health care, it has been established that when combined together, they have caused the rise of healthcare costs. Technological innovations in the past decade have resulted in the use of new treatments for formerly incurable conditions such as A.I.D.S. and diabetes, while also effecting the use of new medical procedures for tackling secondary diseases as is the case with dialysis patients (Miller & Sim, 2004). Technological advancements have also resulted in the discovery of better quality methods of treating long-term medical conditions. Whether a newly discovered medical treatment will hike healthcare costs or decrease them is something that is dependent on factors such as its effect on the expanse incurred in taking care of an individual patient. The cost per patient also includes the reality of whether the patient will be hospitalized during the duration of the treat ment or not. The increase or decrease of healthcare costs when medical technologies are used is also dependent on how often the new technology will be used. For instance, new medical technologies created to cure untreatable diseases or survey the population for certain symptoms will mean that the technology will be used

Case study for the value chain analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

For the value chain analysis - Case Study Example It has helped reducing transport costs, which has made it the process cost less than before. CMG operations are superior to Taco Bell and Qdoba. It is more organized and authentic. All CMG restaurants belong to the mother company. They are found at the end of retail lines, in line with other retail shops and free standing places. These locations attract a high number of people who can visit CMG. Taco Bell and Qdoba restaurants use the same methods to locate their restaurants. CMG has focused on opening its restaurants without the use of franchise. It is a move that has given CMG an edge over Taco Bell, which is the most influential competitor. However, the emphasis to open its restaurants has limited the ability of CMG to reach many people. Taco Bell that has embraced franchising has over 5,000 restaurants spread all over the United States. Consumers have a chance to serve food on their own like in a dinner party. The method makes CMG superior to its competitors. Taco Bell has used t he same concept in Cantina Bell. The use of in-house advertising strategies helped CMG to cut its marketing costs, which means an increase in the revenue earned. The company emerged superior to its competitors who were using traditional promotion methods like TV commercials. The methods used by CMG appealed to many consumers who viewed as being unique and cool. The company gained popularity using relatively new strategies. CMG is superior in offering services because employees have perfected the art of customer service. In addition, they provide quality service at all times. It is better compared to Taco Bell, which seem to have run out of ideas on quality service. CMG’s push for sustainable sourcing is the foundation of its Food with Integrity strategy. Chipotle Mexican Grill is focused on getting the best ingredients without compromising the quality of the environment, animals and the respecting the farmers. CMG recognizes the importance of

Cultural Diversity in the U.S, Public Policy toward Native Americans Assignment - 5

Cultural Diversity in the U.S, Public Policy toward Native Americans - Assignment Example The American Civil Law, however, endeavors to protect the interest of the Native Americans from falling prey to discriminatory practices of the American people (Civil Rights and the Native Americans, n.d.). The treatment offered to the Native Americans thus seems quite inconsistent who become more susceptible to the effects of cultural relativity. The government of United States endeavors to maintain a strong binding relationship with the Native Americans. To this end, some of the legislators belonging to the United States Congress have shown increased interest in setting better educational, health and working standards for the American Indians living within close proximity of their territories. These activities reflect that some Americans desire to make the natives enjoy those amenities which were once kept reserved for the American people. However, the Native Americans are increasingly falling prey to problems of cultural relativity and ethnocentrism as reflected by the attitudes of some fellow Americans. These groups of Americans suffer from the fear that a large amount of Native Americans would gradually disturb the unity of the nation and hence poses a considerable threat to the American community. A majority of the American people believe that the due influx of Native Americans in the American community has led to the gr owth of crime and even had contributed to the birth of regional languages thus creating cultural barriers. However, during the period of 2006 significant demonstrations were organized to promote the betterment of the ethnic groups comprising of Latin American people belonging to different regions. There have been similar erroneous remarks made on Native Americans as exploiters and self-gainers. The Native Americans like Mexicans contribute around 29 billion dollars on an annual basis to America’s tax resources in return for the services received by them.  The Native Americans are also observed as economic burdens of America. However, this stands falsely for the Mexican population living in America is the best cultivators of fruits and vegetables significant for the American economy.

Social media essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social media - Essay Example This is a key aspect of networking as it allows the sharing of ideas and learnt concepts for the betterment of the society. Social networking has been demonstrated to overlap with academic life in that it creates an opportunity to generate events related to coursework. As such, various stakeholders get to meet and discuss different issues regarding in line with assignments while offering a first-hand interaction with instructors. This serves to revolutionize the learning experience by providing ample support systems in the education sector, which works to improve its quality. Other than keeping in touch with friends, making new ones, and sharing ideas, social networking sites serve as a source of entertainment especially with the integration of online gaming communities. Moreover, social media provides information on the latest occurrences in sports and showbiz through feeds to local news channels. The world’s economy is a significant beneficiary of social media owing to massive marketing strategies employed to capture the attention of users. Social networking in marketing allows organizations to cut back on their costs of advertising and reaching out to potential clients and even reaching new markets. This is because with a tight or non-existent budget whatsoever for marketing, an organization can wage an all-out war on marketing through social networks since it is mostly free. In addition, the rise of social media sites has seen potential employers tear through the sites in search of information on their potential employees. Search engine and social networking sites provide a cheap model for background research where funds can be saved while getting the work done. Social networks also create an efficient platform on which college graduates can market themselves through professional networks. In spite of the positive aspects of social media, lack of moderation often

Culture Wars And Cultural Democracy Essay Example for Free

Culture Wars And Cultural Democracy Essay Given that culture wars is a conflict of different cultures for example the traditional and the progressive, it is therefore safe to say that it has been present for a long time and will continue to be present for a long time to come. This is because there will always be conflicting cultures based on the various aspects of society like age, background and so on. It is important that people learn to deal with the culture wars for them to be able to live together despite their differences. Culture wars are a social problem and cultural democracy is required to deal with them. The major issues causing the culture wars currently will be discussed expansively and the various ways that they can be dealt with. Cultural democracy will also be discussed and how it will assist tin the future in the culture wars. As time progresses, the way in which the society deals with the cultural differences changes and the concern they have in the society changes with each generation. In the past, religion was a major issue alongside class and race. Although these are still issues of concern, there has been a shift towards other areas (Nolan 1996). Currently there are cultural wars based on politics, different denominations when it comes to religion, technology and its impact on the society, politics and how it deals with the social problems, the media and what should be allowed for general viewing and also the moral values of the people to name but a few. Cultural democracy allows people to practice what they believe in whichever society they are in and hence may tend to be seen as the only solution to the wars that are present in all societies of the world. Religion, technology, gender, media and the morality concept are very interesting and will be discussed in this paper and their role in the present day culture wars. Initially, the religion factor was based on whether one was a protestant or a Roman catholic but it has changed to which denomination one belongs to. However despite the denomination one may belong to, the value of religion has diminished over time especially among the developed countries whereby few people belong to any religion. This has led to bans in certain areas on the use of religion in schools and other public institutions (Zimmerman 2002). Religion is also being used to determine who is a terrorist and who is not especially in America since the bombings that occurred. Since the terrorists were Muslims, anyone belonging to the Islamic faith became a suspect since then. It also determines whether one will get into political office as was demonstrated in the campaign for American presidency with President Barrack Obama having his opponents propagate that he was a Muslim so that he may lose some followers. To avoid losing the seat he had to clearly show that he attends a Christian church and is not a Muslim. When it comes to technology, there is a conflict of how much technology is safe to use and how much is not. The major bone of contention is the issue of privacy since people no longer have privacy because all their data is stored somewhere in government files from medical records to the daily activities. While some people are against so much intrusion in their lives, others argue that it assists in keeping the society safe in view of the increased rate of crime. Although crime would reduce if it were possible to keep constant reliable surveillance, not many people would prefer the safety if it costs them their privacy especially in the homes. The media is another aspect of culture that has been a source of much conflict. When it comes to providing information, the media is the major informant of the society. However, some of the media sources will provide false information or speculated information in order for their form of media to make sales. This is therefore misleading the general population on what is happening in order to make profit. They betray the trust of the people and make the lives of others very difficult if the information provided is about an individual especially the prominent figures. The media especially the television is blamed for the many vices currently in the society. A lot of violence is depicted in the television and the children tend to think it is real and may actually go ahead and imitate what they see with the result being tragic outcomes. Constantly viewing the horrific scenes with blood, fatal wounds and constant death tend to diminish the horror of it thus desensitizing people on such issues. It becomes almost normal for someone to shoot another and wound them without being affected in any way. The media is also used in spreading culture and it usually shows western culture as superior to other cultures (Trend 1997). The younger generation is easily influenced to copy what they see as modern and this more often than not brings about a conflict between them and the older generation. One generation tries to conserve the culture as it has always been while another is trying to imitate what they tend to see as progressive. This disregard of culture brings about much conflict between the two generations. Gender is another important aspect of culture wars. The role of a woman in society in particular has led to a lot of conflict with the changing times and the women liberation. Women were initially supposed to be subject to men and their wishes and do everything to make the men happy. They would stay at home to nurture the family while the men provided everything that was needed and therefore the women were at their mercy. Nowadays, women do not stay in the house waiting for the men to provide and instead go out and get employment from which they earn and provide for the family. This change in roles brings about conflict when a man still expects the woman to play the role of a nurturer and cater to all his needs while the woman has been out working just as hard as the man. The woman in such a situation is therefore expected to play the role of a provider and that of a domesticated worker and nurturer. In other situations it is completely forbidden or the woman to try and take over the role of a man and should stay at home and show a good image of a man who is able to provide for his family. This is not acceptable to a woman who has gone through rigorous education and training to get to where she is and this causes conflict in the society. The final aspect of culture wars to be discussed here is the issue of morality and how it’s meaning changes with time. The most interesting issue her is the same sex marriages and relationships. In most traditional cultures and religions, homosexuality is forbidden and to practice it is going against all laws of nature and society. In present times however, some churches are even conducting wedding ceremonies and appointing church leaders who are homosexuals and this has caused a great division especially in the churches. The homosexuals are busy trying to get accepted in a society that is busy condemning them and their way of life. This causes conflict between the two groups of people that at times leads to physical harm individuals from either side. Cultural democracy therefore is seen as the only way to solve these problems. Taking its meaning to be the acceptance of the differences in culture, (Trend 1997), then it becomes obvious that for all people to be able to live with each other comfortably in the future, cultural democracy has to be embraced. It allows all people to practice what they believe in without fear that they will be punished or criticized for doing so. People are also more accepting to others when others are accepting to them without trying to change their way of life. Since it is impossible to get all the people to think alike especially in America where there are many different cultures represented in the society, there has to be a way that all people are able to live together and accept each other. Cultural diversity is to be celebrated and not ridiculed while attempting to change those from other different cultures. The only way this can occur is by embracing cultural democracy which allows all people to live in harmony while giving each other space to practice the culture that they have embraced. With increased technology that makes it possible for culture to travel far and wide, acceptance is the only way for the future (Nolan 1996). Although the position is that cultural democracy is the only way for the future, there are misgivings about it. As explained by Langa (2004), it started a long time ago and is oftentimes used to mask what is really going on. In the case of gender, very few women are given positions of leadership when compared to the men. People will change according to the situation as was seen during the world wars with women taking up the work of men but when the men came from the war everything was expected to go back to what it was before. Egocentrism is assumed to be ingrained in an individual and thus it is hard to assume that people will just ignore what they have been taught. However since these differences cannot be ignored, the only way that the society will be able to resolve these culture wars is by accepting each others presence without trying to change their way of life. The acceptance allows people to recognize the good in other cultures and appreciate the differences without necessarily trying to imitate or change it. Therefore, the only way for the future is to embrace cultural democracy and by so doing reduce the culture wars because there is no competition of cultures. References 1. Langa H. , 2004, Radical Art: Printmaking and the Left in 1930’s New York, University of California Press, California 2. Nolan J Jr. (ed), 1996, The American Culture Wars: Current Contests and Future Prospects, University of Virginia Press, Virginia 3. Trend D. 1997, Cultural Democracy: Politics, Media, New Technology, State University of New York Press, Albany 4. Zimmerman J. 2002, Whose America: Culture Was in Public Schools, Harvard University Press, Cambridge

Role Of Technology In Business

Role Of Technology In Business In todays competitive business environment, speed is the key for all the business processes. A business process would be inefficient and ineffective without the aid of current information technology. Today, information technology provides communication and analytical power that organizations need for global level business. Globalization of world economies has enhanced the values of information to business organisations and has brought success and new opportunities to the business. All types of business have to compete with their competitors for capturing majority of the market and for innovating better products and services. For this reason, they need to adapt to the technology to handle information systems. Because, being the first to introduce a new product in the market leaves a significant mark to the industry and will give a competitive edge. This advantage is not possible without information systems and technology in business. In addition to this, for improved customer service, easy information retrievals, quick preparation of financial transaction, easy building of strategic alliances etc., IT plays a major role in business. Importance of IT in business Almost all kinds of businesses are relying on computers for automating their traditional processes. Businesses use wide variety of databases, management information systems, information sharing platforms, data sharing networks, internet, intranets, machines, and equipments etc which highly rely on computers. Computer technologies are not only used in the field of finance or marketing, but also in the medical industry, human resource departments, inventory control management systems etc. For example, in a manufacturing firm, all transactions done in a warehouse is loaded in a transaction processing system. If the system is not around it will take a lot of time and also manpower to record all the raw materials coming out of the warehouse for use in the production floor which delays production and shipping of parts. The lead time from ordering to producing and shipping the product will be a long which customers will not understand. Speed is very important to be competitive. IT and competitive Advantage The current challenge of implementing IT-dependent strategic initiatives like business process reengineering, customer intimacy, organizational learning, and even organizational transformations makes an IT capability very valuable in meeting business. In addition, the underlying resources, or IT management assets, can be difficult for competitors to imitate. Thus an IT capability has the potential for delivering long-term competitive advantage. The U.S. trucking industry was deregulated in 1980. Schneider National, Inc., is a large truckload carrier. The top management recognized that IT support of operations would be critical for maximizing utilization of its tractors and trailers. Schneider quickly developed freight modelling software and provided a management interface to the data that enabled the firm to offer more reliable customer service with a lower cost base than most competitors. Schneider National is successful because it has developed a capability for applying IT to ever-changing business opportunities. (Ross, Beath et al. 1996) Impact of IT in business Effective implementation of information technology would decrease liability by reducing the cost of expected failures and increase flexibility by reducing the cost of adjustment. Information Technology is having impact on all trade industries and businesses, in service as well as in manufacturing. It is affecting workers at all levels of organizations, from the executives to middle management and clerks. Information technology is increasingly becoming a basic factor of all types of technologies such as craft, engineering, routine, and non-routine. The advances in Information Technology would result in remarkable decline in the costs of synchronization that would lead to new, concentrated business structures. It enables the business to respond to the new and urgent competitive forces by providing effective management of interdependence. Decision Making Enterprises would need effective information systems to support and to deliver information to the different users. Such information systems would include technology that support decision making, provide effective interface between users and computer technology and provide information for the managers on the day-to-day operations of the enterprises. Information is needed for various purposes and serves as an invaluable commodity or product. Information is very important aspect of decision making in all levels of management in enterprises [Hicks, 1993:648], especially in competitive business environment and managers utilize information as a resource to plan, organize, staff administer and control activities in ways that achieve the enterprises objectives. The ability of enterprises to realize their goals depends on how well the organisation acquires, interprets, synthesises, evaluate and understands information and how well its information channels supports organisational processes. Information glut In the near future businesses would be facing a lack and a redundancy of information called information glut. To solve the information-glut companies will need to introduce methods for selective thinning out of information. Improvements in telecommunications will make it easier to control business units dispersed over different parts of the world. Advances in telecommunications, would result in increased distance-communication. Indirect communication would be preferred for well-structured information for routine, pre-programmed and decision processes. (King, 2006) Therefore, information technology plays a major role in the growth of business. Conclusion The effect of information technology on business advantages is likely to be durable since flexible IT build backbone of the firms for communication and exchange of information. Not only IT infrastructure enhances the competitiveness of the firms by increasing the coordination within and across the organizations, but also it can be an integral component of the business strategy (Henderson and Venkatraman, 1993; Laudon and Laudon, 2000). Thus, a flexible IT infrastructure may not only be important for driving business growth but also it could be a catalyst for innovation. Moreover, IT is important to improve operational efficiency and strategic advantages by reducing costs, improving agility, managing change, and maximizing performance (Henderson and Venkatraman, 1993).

King Lear :: Essays Papers

King Lear There are really two plots in King Lear, a main plot and a fully developed subplot. Each has its own set of characters. In the main plot, there is the head of the family, the 80-plus-year-old king of Britain, Lear. He has three daughters, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. The Duke of Albany is married to the oldest, Goneril, and the Duke of Cornwall is married to Regan, the middle daughter. Cordelia has two suitors, the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France. The court jester, the Fool, is by extension a member of the Lear family and part of the main plot, as is the Earl of Kent, Lear's loyal follower. The Earl of Gloucester, also a member of Lear's court, is the head of another family and the focus of the subplot. He has two offspring, an older, legitimate son named Edgar and a younger, illegitimate or bastard son named Edmund. Various minor characters appear from time to time. They are easily identified by their connections with whatever main character they serve or speak of. As the play opens, Lear has decided to retire and divide his kingdom among his three daughters. Cordelia's husband will be chosen for her immediately after Lear executes this "living will." Before he allots the shares, Lear asks each daughter to make a profession of her love for him in order to receive her entitlement. Goneril and Regan waste no time professing love for their father, but Cordelia is speechless. She loves her father as any daughter should, no more and no less. Lear is outraged by what he sees as her lack of devotion. He cuts Cordelia out of her share and banishes her. Her share is divided between Goneril and Regan. Lear gives them everything but keeps a retinue, a following of 100 knights who will accompany him as he alternates monthly visits between his two daughters. Cordelia's suitors are called in. Without a dowry, Burgundy rejects her; but the King of France sees her true worth and leads Cordelia off to marriage and his protection. At Gloucester's castle, Edmund reveals that he will not let his illegitimate birth and older brother prevent him from inheriting his father's estate. He devises a plan to convince Gloucester that Edgar is secretly planning to kill his father to get his hands on the family property and enjoy it while he's still young. Edmund then tells Edgar that their father is after him for some mistaken notion of a reported crime.

Vaccine Testing :: essays research papers

HIV Vaccine Testing in Africa   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United Nations estimates that 5.8 million people per year become infected with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Ninety percent of these infections occur in sub- Saharan Africa, where infected persons do not have access to antiviral therapy. Approximately 2.4 million Africans died of AIDS in 2002, and 3.5 million occurred in the region. Where in the United States $12,000-$15,000 is usually spent on treating an HIV-infected person per year, only $6 is spent annually per person in Uganda.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The only method presently available to prevent the spread of HIV in less-developed countries is counseling against the behaviors that increase the risk of infection. It’s obvious that a vaccine would be more beneficial to these countries. There are several HIV vaccines in various stages of development that need to be tested to see their effectiveness. It seems reasonable to carry out such trials in less-developed countries.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since 1984, when HIV was identified as the cause of AIDS, the development of a HIV vaccine has been a goal for the science world. Researchers have many different strategies that may lead to an effective HIV vaccine. Scientists take small parts of the HIV virus and change them in a laboratory to create synthetic copies. The experimental vaccines do not use whole or live HIV. The vaccines cannot cause HIV or AIDS. The vaccines being tested should produce either antibodies or cytotoxic T cells to fight the infection.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are several types of experimental HIV vaccines. A peptide vaccine is made of tiny pieces of proteins from the HIV virus. The recombinant subunit protein vaccine is made of bigger pieces of proteins from the HIV virus. Examples of a recombinant subunit protein are gp120, gp140, or gp160 produced by genetic engineering. The DNA vaccine uses copies of a small number of HIV genes which are inserted into pieces of DNA called plasmids. The HIV genes will produce proteins very similar to the ones from real HIV. A live vector vaccine is made of HIV genes that have been taken out of the virus and altered. The genes are inserted into another vector, which carries them into the body’s cells. The genes in turn produce proteins that are normally found on the surface of the HIV virus. This type of vaccine most resembles the HIV virus but isn’t harmful. Many vaccines that are used today, like the smallpox vaccine, use this method. A vaccine combination uses a ny two vaccines, one after another, to create a stronger immune response. Vaccine Testing :: essays research papers HIV Vaccine Testing in Africa   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United Nations estimates that 5.8 million people per year become infected with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Ninety percent of these infections occur in sub- Saharan Africa, where infected persons do not have access to antiviral therapy. Approximately 2.4 million Africans died of AIDS in 2002, and 3.5 million occurred in the region. Where in the United States $12,000-$15,000 is usually spent on treating an HIV-infected person per year, only $6 is spent annually per person in Uganda.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The only method presently available to prevent the spread of HIV in less-developed countries is counseling against the behaviors that increase the risk of infection. It’s obvious that a vaccine would be more beneficial to these countries. There are several HIV vaccines in various stages of development that need to be tested to see their effectiveness. It seems reasonable to carry out such trials in less-developed countries.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since 1984, when HIV was identified as the cause of AIDS, the development of a HIV vaccine has been a goal for the science world. Researchers have many different strategies that may lead to an effective HIV vaccine. Scientists take small parts of the HIV virus and change them in a laboratory to create synthetic copies. The experimental vaccines do not use whole or live HIV. The vaccines cannot cause HIV or AIDS. The vaccines being tested should produce either antibodies or cytotoxic T cells to fight the infection.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are several types of experimental HIV vaccines. A peptide vaccine is made of tiny pieces of proteins from the HIV virus. The recombinant subunit protein vaccine is made of bigger pieces of proteins from the HIV virus. Examples of a recombinant subunit protein are gp120, gp140, or gp160 produced by genetic engineering. The DNA vaccine uses copies of a small number of HIV genes which are inserted into pieces of DNA called plasmids. The HIV genes will produce proteins very similar to the ones from real HIV. A live vector vaccine is made of HIV genes that have been taken out of the virus and altered. The genes are inserted into another vector, which carries them into the body’s cells. The genes in turn produce proteins that are normally found on the surface of the HIV virus. This type of vaccine most resembles the HIV virus but isn’t harmful. Many vaccines that are used today, like the smallpox vaccine, use this method. A vaccine combination uses a ny two vaccines, one after another, to create a stronger immune response.

Psychosocial Development Essay

Psychosocial development is a terminology that was used by Erik Erikson in description of psychological development in relation to the human social environment. Generally, the theory is a personality theory that tries to examine the particular traits that are synonymous with the various stages of psychological development of human beings. Erick Erikson identified eight stages of psychosocial development but I will be focusing on the sixth stage which he called the stage of Intimacy vs.  Isolation. He argued that this stage occurs between ages 19 and 40 which fall under the early adulthood of human beings. According to Erikson, this stage is characterized by exploration of personal relationships (Wagner, 2006). This stage involves the individual facing the task of developing emotional and intimate relationship with others around him. However, Erickson maintained that this becomes impossible if the individual has not carved an identity for himself/herself (Carver & Scheir, 2000). At this stage, there is a need to build intimate relationships which will affect the course of the individual’s life. However, Erikson identified that each stage is affected by the previous stage so when individuals fail to build a sense of identity for themselves, they are forced to go into isolation (Stevens, 1983). From my point of view, we have reason to believe some aspects of Erik Eriksson’s view. This is because I fall under this age bracket and I can identify with some of the things that Erikson highlighted in this theory. This stage is the stage when people get married and most people divorce. This is also the time when people decide on who they want to be and what they want to do with their lives. I believe that Erikson’s view on the whole might not be totally true but they surely help us as it identifies some basic things that characterize each stage of development. In conclusion, Erikson’s theory has been criticized by some scholars. One of the things that is leveled against his theory is that it is expensive to conduct such a research (Cole & Cole, 1989).

About Writing Informal Short Reports Essay

Short reports are usually informal reports. Generally, these reports serve current needs and tend to have a limited readership. They tend to be between one and five single-spaced pages (ten double-spaced). They also tend to express a first person point of view. They use a personal style — we and you and a familiar vocabulary that conveys informality. They are often formatted for internal and external use. Memo-Reports Most informal reports follow the memo or letter format and are referred to as memo-reports and letter-reports. Use the memo-report format when writing internal or external communications about routine operations and familiar subject matter. Use it to inform colleagues about recent experiences — field trips, meetings, and seminars, and to report on achievements. Write a memo-report when you want to file a record of a decision, a transaction, a meeting, or a proposal. Any subject that needs documentation can be developed as a memo-report: new procedures and policies, background information for sales staff, new marketing strategies, and so on. See more:  First Poem for You Essay Since the subject matter is either routine or familiar or your readers, the one-line reference in the memo heading serves as the introduction. Arrange points for impact The standard of the memo-report are shown below in a conventional arrangement. †¢ Memo heading: To, From, Date, Subject. †¢ Source of the assignment: identification of the department head or superior who suggested or authorized the report (normally the person to whom you address your memo-report). †¢ Statement of the problem: a discussion of the background or status of the subject, a summary of the consequences of not taking action, and a reference to the scope and purpose of the report. †¢ Main points: introduced by headings. †¢ Summary and conclusions. Letter-Reports Any informal report can be developed in the letter-report format: a report on estimates for repairs or services, proposals for supplying a service or product, and updates on achievements, and so on. Arrange points for impact The standard parts of letter-reports are shown below in a conventional arrangement. †¢ Inside address †¢ Salutation †¢ Source the assignment †¢ Statement of the problem †¢ Main points †¢ Recommendations †¢ Complimentary close

Culture in Sports

Sports have contributed to the building of civilizations and can be seen as one of he pillars upon which the human civilization was built. Those who belittle of the role of sports in people's history and culture are not right. The evidence to the role sports played in human culture is clear-cut in the human history. The Roman empire is one of the greatest empires in which sports flourished and was annually celebrated in the Olympic games that set off BC in Olympia in Greece. The role of the Olympic games as one cultural element can never be denied in gathering people.This was assured once again when the new Olympic games was set off again In the nineteenth entry. Herein, It can be mentioned that stadiums and sports halls became the temples of culture and sportsmen became the bearers of the highest cultural values(Dun]a, et al, 2007). The issue of the relationship between sport and culture Is really awkward because lots believed that sports cannot be part of the culture of any nation. However, this article is specifically focusing on showing that sports are nothing but an original part of the culture of nations.This article has been decided on to shedding light on culture , its definitions, sports as a component of culture, the ultra of sport in Europe, culture of sport in The Middle East and the culture of sport in Africa because I myself have a strong belief that sports contributed and is till contributing to the culture of any country. This is in addition to discovering that there is very little literature focusing on sport as an element of culture and the relation between culture and sport especially in the MEAN (Middle East and North Africa) region In spite of the so many achievement that have been made by sport and sportsmen In this region.Definition of culture: A variety of definitions for culture were provided over years. However, each definition represents the personal point of view of the reviewer that provides the definition . Kookier and Chuckhole su ggested a number of definitions that exceeded 200 definitions for the concept of culture in their book, â€Å"Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions† (Kookier and Chuckhole, 1952). Howard & Sheet (1969), stated that culture refers to the collective mental programming which people in a society have.Their definition supposes that almost all the Individual's activities are directed by his or her own culture and sport Is certainly one of those activities. According to Hawkins et al. 1983) culture was defined as â€Å"That complex whole which Includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, law, morals, customs and any other capableness and habits acquired by man as a member of society. † It is important to show here that regular way so it is one part of the culture.To others culture can be defined as â€Å"A way of life of a group of people–the behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed alo ng by communication and imitation from one generation to the next. † When culture is related to one country, it is to be called national culture. When it is related to one division of a country or community, it can be called sub-culture. When it is concerned with an organization, it is called corporate culture. People are not born with their cultures, but culture is to be acquired and learned.Sports and culture: It is believed that sports have become a part of culture because some cultures always play a type of a sport that they like. They may have invented some kind of sport and always played it. Let us take one popular example which is the cultural sport of one of the most advanced nations all over the world . Let is the USA. The Americans believe hat one very important part of their culture is the sport of baseball. We can ask any American: boy, girl, old man, student, scientist, or whatever comes to our minds. What is your favorite sport? And nine of each ten will certainl y reply Baseball. But, Why?Because it is their cultural sport. They invented it and lived with it. Baseball and all its components have become part of everyday USA inhabitants' life. â€Å"Baseball remains a uniquely American art, a celebration of folk culture†. Sport and culture in Europe: It has always been known that Europe is nothing but a mix of so many cultures. In other words, the European culture can be described as a chain of overlapping cultures. It is a mix of the East and The west, of the many religious attitudes, of the many political movements of the many arts and sports†¦ Etc. The Europeans are by nature traditionalist in a frame of freedom.The European nations are several and almost every country or region has its own culture. Each region in Europe is said to be well-known from the others by its type of music, literature, food, clothes, language and if they speak the same language, they have different dialects and accents. Sport is also another part that distinguishes Europe from any other part of the world. Sport in Europe is as very old as its culture. We can say that sport has been an important fact in each part in the European cultural expression. In their culture children from the age of 10 have to go to any kind of sport academy to learn the basics of sport.So that when they grow up, they don't have the trouble of adapting to it. Many sports were established by the time of Ancient Greece. Sports in Greece which is the main part of the European culture became such a very important part of heir culture They invented the Olympic Games, which is the most important sports event all over the world and where all the different cultural trends meet. Football is another cultural aspect of the European everyday life. It is almost impossible to find a young man or woman in Europe who doesn't know about football and who has a team to support.Football was introduced in its modern issue in Britain, that land of football in the nineteenth cen tury. The Europeans think that Football is not only the most popular sport in many regions of Europe as well as the world but also a social, ancient continent. Football is the most important part of the European sports culture. They follow it eagerly and practice it regularly. European sports and especially football has a huge influence on other parts of the world as well as its influence on the other elements of the European culture. Sports in Europe dominate the economies of the old continent, dominate its music, dance and food.People eat what the football stars eat and wear what they wear. Football decides to a large extent when marriage ceremonies are held †¦ Etc. As a result of their professional sports. Europeans or people who are involved in their sports, view it as a Job. Which means that the players have to play in any kind of circumstance . Famous as it is with all the forms of sports and well known of the Olympic Games as it is European sports are one main component of its culture. The way people view sports and their importance arises several questions in the minds of those who are unaware of the importance of sport.The Europeans always think of sports as the gateway to health and fitness. Sport is an everyday habit that must be practiced by those who are willing to feel healthy. And those represent the huge majority of those who live there. Sports culture in the Middle East: The Middle East is the area that includes both of Western Asia and Northern Africa. It includes all the Arab countries. The culture of this area is so rich and has its roots thousands of years ago in the Islamic civilization and pre-LULAS as well. The culture of the Middle East countries is unique.They have their very traditionalist and restrictive way of living, clothing, music. Sports for people in the Middle East region never was of that importance that I have Just mentioned about it in Europe. It has always been believed that women are not allowed to practice sports b ecause it can be shame that a woman get dressed in short clothes, run, Jump and kick. In the Middle East Area many believes really existed about sport and were inherited to the generations to follow. Some regions considered sports is merely a waste of time.People there never seemed interested to do sports. The tough living conditions in most of the Middle East area was behind there deliberate negligence for sports till very near decades. The only sports that were done there were horse riding, hunting, wining and running. These sports mainly suited the nature of the desert and sea environments that exist in this region. However, Islam urged people to practice sports and to teach them to their children. Horse riding as one of the traditional and cultural sports in the Middle east has a very cultural and traditional root in the area.It is worth mentioning that horse riding developed gradually till it became one of the most popular and well-known sports for its achievements. It is known that people used horses in the early days for transportation of their goods and items. With the appearance of vehicles and the gradual disregard towards horses as transports , people began to focus on using their horses in races, and Jumping barriers. These two cultural and traditional sports have their roots in the Middle East area and refer to the greatness of the area.This was behind the natural lead for the Arabian champions in these ports. The Islamic culture that spread all over the Middle East area encourages people to practice sports at all levels under conditions of following restrictions imposed by the societies on women's practicing of sports and the way in which people of the Middle East live. It can be noticed that in the recent times many societies of the Middle east began to witness a cultural change due to the dealings and the follow up to Western and their cultural practices.Many people changed their culture and began to get new concepts and attitudes towards sport s. These concepts are said to be set in their own minds and habits and are going slowly to be part of their culture. These changes are supposed to focus mainly on the attitudes towards culture. But by the time we witnessed a great change in the Arabian mentality and attitudes in a way that gave the opportunities to those women to racist and participate in sports teams, these women were also allowed to compete internationally and there are champions whose achievements are unique .IANAL Al- Metalwork is the Moroccan runner who might have added to the culture of the sports in The Middle east area when she won an Olympic Medal in the 400 meters running competition in Los Angelo 1984 Olympic games. Football is said to be one of the most favorite sports in the Middle East area. Many national teams in The ME region have made a lot of achievements by participating in the Football World cup. People are crazy about football and follow their teams whenever they go and purport by their hearts.T his proves that people of the Middle East face such as the cultural restrictions or the difficult life conditions in such countries as Egypt, they support and practice sports eagerly. Culture and sport in Africa: It can easily be noticed that the African culture is really exciting. Each African nation includes variable and different mixtures of cultures that belong to each tribe. Each African nation is found to include various tribes whose languages and lifestyle are completely different from even the neighboring tribes. Countries as small as Uganda have more than 30 tribes.The South of Africa has been found to be totally different from The North of Africa in some parts of culture and any other important factor. In the North of Africa, there had been , many civilization. Countries of northern Africa are places where cultures were brought up since the early days of humanity. Egypt is one place where culture is found everywhere in people's clothes, food, music, sports, language and so The culture of sport in North Africa is inherited. People practice sports everyday and without any restrictions. Of course there are some factors that control the society, however sports are allowed everywhere to everyone.In Libya Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia sports have been known before lots of things. Football is the most popular sport there attracts millions of practitioners. Sport as a culture is the most dominant idea in the South of Africa. Sports there is something practiced by nature . Due to the nature of life in South Africa, people have to run, Jump, hit and kick to earn their living. They are practicing sports by nature there. In a country such as South Africa which is an apparent mixture of cultures Sport is a great way to unite South Africans different cultural groups.However, efferent sports enjoy different cultural fan bases (soccer is mostly black-dominated, rugby mostly Afrikaner-dominated and cricket mostly English-dominated). Africans tested and if they are tal ented enough, the clubs or the any kind of sports institute will take them and develop them to be top class players. All in all, African nations have always been known for their poverty. People work from hand to mouth. The opportunities they have to practice sports are rare. And in case they have opportunities to practice any sport, this sport must be inexpensive and costs them nothing at the same time.Culturally, this was behind the nature of sports the African rate used to practice. Due to the tough nature of the continent that is characterized by altitudes , long costs, deserts and the forests, people have those very strong bodies and large lungs that enable them to play athletics especially running races, spear throwing, high Jump, all those sports. The Africans are said to excel in these sports and practice them easily and natural because they do not cost them any money and brings them high profits. These sports are encouraged in the African cultures and have roots in their her itage especially those very poor countries of theSouth such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria†¦. Etc. Conclusion: To conclude, cultures have always been referred to as the way in which people live, their norms, values, habits, food, costumes, languages, music and even their sports. This shows the importance of sport as one of the elements composing culture and one of the elements that contribute to the process of making humanity, civilization and the style of people's life . And since sports are regarded as something that is shared between a lot of cultures, it is important for the survival of these cultures and the individuals that belong to these cultures.The regions that have been discussed in this articles have things in common when we talk sports. They have all witnessed the importance of practicing sports for the good of the people's fitness and well- being. People who belong to these cultures have never gone without sports and admitted that sport is a must and its exis tence in their lives cannot be denied. However, certain differences do exist between these cultures when we stress the element of sport in this culture. Europe seems to be the most moderate place where sports are practiced without restrictions.People of Europe clearly and biblically admit the importance of sports for their own good. We can rarely find any European who does not practice sports in his everyday life routine. Europeans know and appreciate the role of sports and confess it is part or the main part of their culture. It is alleged at the same stage that their work organization in their organizational culture appreciate and encourages the roles of sport in their individuals' lives. On the other hand Africa and the ME areas have certain things in common when we refer to the role of sports in their culture.Both of them have apparent reference to sports in their ancient cultures and heritages. They both have tough living conditions apart from the ICC states. Sports in the Afri can culture depends on the nature of peoples' lives that is tough. Due to the nature of land and swimming, mountains, altitudes and cost, the Africans excelled in running swimming and jumping. People of the Middle East area especially those of the ICC area have long rooted cultural spots . Horse riding is widely and culturally celebrated and practiced. The Islamic teachings direct people there to teach their children such sports.

Essay Sample on Russian Revolution

Essay Sample on Russian Revolution In 1900 Russia was the last remaining absolute autocracy out of the great powers of Europe. Approximately eighty four per cent of Russians were peasants, lead by an over privileged upper class who had enslaved them for centuries. There existed a total lack of understanding or sympathy between the workers/peasants and their ruling class, who cared little about their responsibility and obligation to care for the welfare of their people. By the turn of the century many voices emerged in hope to see reforms of their backward nation. For many years there had been desire for reform, but not until the layer upon layer of revolutionary pressure in the precondition phase did it blatantly warn of change, which Tsar Nicholas 2nd attempted to ignore and oppress. However, his oppression only fueled the fire of revolutionary minds and hearts, who despite superficial concessions by the Tsar in 1905 strived to see a permanent transformation of their great yet backward nation. From the period 1900-19 17 the events such as Bloody Sunday, the great strikes, famines and war would confront and enchant the Russian people and eventually leaders to revolution and an end to a 300 year dynasty. The Tsar Nicholas the 2nd was a man who’s ignorance of his people’s hardships combined with his resistance to any political reform tragically led to his abdication and eventual assassination. He and all those loyal to him believed that he had a divine right from God to be the absolute ruler of Russia, therefore any attempt to undermine his power such as the formation of a constitutional monarchy was believed to be against the will of God. Nicholas 2nd was greatly out of touch with his people, and only received censored reports from the ministers he personally appointed. The many strikes from 1899 to 1903 were crushed with the force of his army, forbidding the population to have any alternate political voice. The peaceful protest of January 1905 lead by father Giorgi Gapon, was responded to with the brutal forces which had oppressed the majority of the Russian people for centuries. Any alternate political voice was outlawed, resulting in the execution, imprisonment or ex ile of identified revolutionaries. Core to the Tsar’s belief was absolute power, or none, and it was this resilience which would lead to his abdication, his inability to accept and compromise power over the Russian people whom he had little in common. The upper class of Russian society had little to complain about in the beginning of the century, the many parties, picnics and concerts gave them little to complain about. Controlling most of the wealth of Russia, the upper-class nobles had no desire for change to their luxurious and decadent lifestyle. They had little will to help the starving and toiling masses, and chose to merely accept that it was God’s intention for those to be poor. The wealthy were so out of touch with the majority of Russian society that they did not at first take seriously the signs of revolution around them; the many emerging political parties, the growing amount of strikes and assassinations, and the increasing incidences of violence in the countryside. This ruling class supported the autocracy and had no intention to change Russia in the preconditions to the revolution. Russia’s middle class had varying views upon the leadership of their country. The rich middle class had a healthy and relatively easy lifestyle and therefore little desire for change. However it was the middle class which fostered the intelligentsia who were the minds that fueled the revolution. As the working and peasant classes were without education, it was the well educated yet not overtly wealthy section of the middle class who developed revolutionary ideas, writings and underground political discussions. The Liberal party was supported by the educated and middle classes, which believed that Russia should become a constitutional monarchy with free democratic elections and that people should be granted civil liberties such as freedom of speech, association and worship. This group of people would in 1905 form the party named the Cadets. In addition the â€Å"father† of the revolution, Lenin, was raised in a middle class family with an excellent education at primary, secondary and tertiary level. The middle class who supported change provided the educated few who would provide leadership to the dissatisfied masses. The Russian Orthodox Church created and supported the core belief that the Tsar was the only fit ruler of Russia. The power of the church, like it had been for centuries in many other countries, taught its followers to accept hardship, and believe that it was always God’s intention. It encouraged the people to believe that the Tsar was chosen by God to rule and protect them, and mislead them to believe that he had their best interests at mind. However, the people eventually realized that their â€Å"little father† had no interest in their welfare, and hence revolutionary groups condemned religion and the Orthodox Church which made people accept their unjustifiable hardships. There also existed supporters outside of Russia who had an opinion of the ruling of Russia, especially during the Second World War. Allies of Russia, France and Britain, believed that any revolution in Russia during the First World War would lead to their retreat from the war and henceforth allow Germany and its allies to concentrate its army on the western front. Without Russia in the war its Allies would be in great vulnerability to the forces of Germany and Austria Hungary, giving them every reason to resist change until revolution inevitably broke out. It was Russia’s enemy Germany who provided a sealed train through the battlefields in 1917, containing approximately 30 revolutionaries. One of these was Lenin. It was in Germany’s best interests that they send people to Russia who would hopefully stir it up, as a revolution at the time would almost grant them victors. The peasantry of Russia from 1860 had seen little real change in their living and working conditions, allowing continuous discontent due to their economic hardships and a harsh unsympathizing leader. Despite freedom from serfdom and the availability of government loans to buy land in 1861, they were in reality still enslaved by the wealthy landowners to whom they were indebted. In addition to this crushing debt, the peasantry would still use backward, inefficient agricultural methods using small strips of land. There was hardly enough land in comparison to the amount of peasants and mouths to feed, resulting in widespread famine. The government charged incredibly heavy taxes on grain and other produce, as well as every day items such as wheat and alcohol. There were poor harvests in 1900 and 1902 creating great famines and mass starvation in the country side. Such poor conditions and a series of harsh seasons led to outbreaks of violence against local landlords, burning their houses and seizing land for themselves. In reality, the uneducated masses of peasants would most probably have support a revolution which would allow them to own their own land without debts and fair taxes. The complaints of the peasants remained unheard by the leaders until certain political parties would rally to them in order to gain mass support for their causes. The assassinations of landlords and taking over of land did little in the long run other than to show signs of discontent; it was not until they could be organized and united by a strong leader would their complaints be listened to. The Stolypin reforms resulted in more discontent as the most efficient peasants, which consisted of only around 15%, were allowed to buy land of those who were less enterprising, however this resulted in many losing their land without anything to feed their families on. Some would go to the cities and join the working class; others would roam the country side for work. Nevertheless, only a small percentage of peasantry would see an improvement in their living conditions upon the outbreak of the First World War, resulting in the increased pressure for revolution. The working class of the relatively new industrial centers went through waves of discontent from 1900 to the offset of the revolution. Terribly poor working, sanitary and living conditions caused the workers to itch for reform, firstly by means of peaceful protest, then repeated strikes and acts of violence. After 1900, workers wages rose little, especially in comparison to inflation. In 1902 an industrial slump caused thousands of workers to lose their jobs. This created conditions for an outbreak of strikes, acts of violence and assassinations. The low wages, increasing food prices and declining working conditions only fuelled the industrial unrest which was crushed by the Tsar’s forces, killing thousands of protesting workers. By 1917 there had been formed many parties which initially developed in the underground. The beliefs of Populism had influenced the socialist revolutionaries whose primary motivation for reform was the program of the â€Å"communization of the land†, where peasant life would be centered on the village, freed from the oppression of rural master, civil and personal liberties would be granted and everybody would have a right to education. Like most other revolutionary parties, they believed in the overthrow of the Tsarist regime and its replacement with a democratic, representative government. The socialist revolutionaries were mostly supported by the peasants, hence the occasional referral to them as the â€Å"Peasant’s Party†. The Social Democratic Workers Party closely followed Marxist principles, believing that the road to a communist revolution was through different phases, including a intermediate capitalist stage. They believed that the working class would eventually rise up against their oppressive capitalist employers (the dictatorship of the proletariat), and create a system where there would be no rankings and all citizens would be treated equally no matter what their occupation would be. At the congress of this party in 1903 there were recognized two different groups which would split the party. The Bolsheviks, or majority, headed by Lenin, believed that the masses should be led by and elite party to which membership should be exclusive. In contrast, the Mensheviks, or minority led by Martov, believed that all people should be able to become members of the party. This main ideological difference separated the party at the only time when Lenin’s fraction would actually be in majority. Even when sent to prison and exiled to Siberia for being a revolutionary, this vivacious leader would still write about the collapse of the regime which killed his older brother and which was still oppressing him. Lenin’s beliefs became too extreme for many, as he specifically believed in the violent and bloody overthrow of the autocracy, and even challenged Marxism by preferring to rush through the supposedly lengthily capitalist phase of a country’s development into a communist state. He stressed the importance of the correct time to ignite revolution, and it was upon his return to Russia in 1917 that he knew the starved, war-torn and disillusioned country would be at boiling point in readiness to change. Until 1917 the Russian armed forces had suffered a series of humiliating military defeats leading to outbreaks of mutiny and abandonment. The Russo-Japanese war saw the sound defeat of Russia’s aspirations to establish a naval base in Korea and Port Arthur. The sailors of the battleship Potemkin mutinied in 1905 and the losses of Russia’s Baltic Fleet and Far Eastern Army were demoralizing and deplorable. In 1914 the initial enthusiasm for Russia’s participation in the First World War quickly waned. The decisive defeats of the poorly organized Russian army against the Germans at Tannenberh and the Masurian lakes killed, wounded or took prisoner 8 million soldiers by 1917. Desertions began to be commonplace, the incompetent and ineffective officers allowed men to perish without ammunition or weapons, in the freezing cold without adequate weather protection. Upon return to their home towns or cities, the key force to change or its resistance was willing to support those revolutionaries who would end the war and slaughter of their comrades. You can order a custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis or dissertation on Russian Revolution topics at our professional custom essay writing service which provides students with custom papers written by highly qualified academic writers. High quality and no plagiarism guarantee! Get professional essay writing help at an affordable cost.

Aleksandr Pushkin essays

Aleksandr Pushkin essays Pushkin was a revolutionary and his liberal vies are depicted in almost all of his poems. The five poems that will be discussed in this research paper clearly present Pushkins views. The prisoner, Just There over the Crowned..., The league of ours is..., Its time my friend..., and Oh Rome- a proud land... These particular five poems by Aleksandr Pushkin, helped me in creating a more clear and perceptive image of the poet, his life, and his ideals. In the first poem the prisoner Pushkin is describing his experience in prison. Pushkin was arrested by Czar Nicholas I, for his liberal views. This poem, can be interpreted as Pushkins experience in prison. However an alternative interpretation of this poem, is that lives of the Russian people were being oppressed and their liberties were confined by their king. Were free proud birds; it is time for the friends to fly. he is inciting his people to get out of this prison Let us fly outside! This poem clearly shows Pushkins liberal and somewhat revolutionary views. His view of the current Russian governmentmonarchy is that of a prison that is denying its citizens the right to be free. In the next poem Just there, over the crowned... pushkin is defining to the monarch his role in society. According to Pushkin, its true that the king has the power to govern his people but this power is not given to him by God, but rather by the law. This law according to Pushkin should be formulated by the people, to represent the people and protect their liberties. Pushkin in this poem, is telling the Russian people that they are above the king. Oh, kings! Your crown and your throne. Not by your birth, by Law are given...where law is steadfastly set with liberty in combination. Its is understandable that Pushkin would h ...

3 Types of Solutions with Semicolons

3 Types of Solutions with Semicolons 3 Types of Solutions with Semicolons 3 Types of Solutions with Semicolons By Mark Nichol In each of the following sentences, a structural flaw is easily repaired by use of one or more semicolons in place of one or more commas. Discussion and revision of each example explains the problem and demonstrates the solution. 1. Smith’s father called an ambulance, however, she was pronounced dead at the scene. However is not parenthetical to the first clause or to the entire sentence. To demonstrate that it applies only to the second clause, a semicolon should precede it: â€Å"Smith’s father called an ambulance; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.† (A simpler alternative with more basic punctuation is â€Å"Smith’s father called an ambulance, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.†) 2. Apps can store shoppers’ receipts, gift cards, and shopping lists; present discounts and coupons; enable comparison shopping; make the checkout process simple and fast, and more. Because â€Å"make the checkout process simple and fast† and â€Å"and more† are equivalent to each other and to the three previous list items, a semicolon, rather than a comma, is required between them: â€Å"Apps can store shoppers’ receipts, gift cards, and shopping lists; present discounts and coupons; enable comparison shopping; make the checkout process simple and fast; and more.† 3. The risks include large-scale terrorist attacks or cyberattacks, failure of national governance, profound social instability, interstate conflict with regional consequences, or state collapse or crisis, food or water crises, extreme weather events, and failure of climate change adaptation, or high structural unemployment or underemployment, asset bubbles in a major economy, or fiscal crises in key economies. This sentence suffers from a lack of differentiation of several lists of categorically similar phenomena within the sentence, which is essentially a list. To improve readability, separate the sublists by inserting semicolons: â€Å"The risks include large-scale terrorist attacks or cyberattacks, failure of national governance, profound social instability, interstate conflict with regional consequences, or state collapse or crisis; food or water crises, extreme weather events, and failure of climate change adaptation; or high structural unemployment or underemployment, asset bubbles in a major economy, or fiscal crises in key economies.† (However, a complex list such as this might be better presented as a vertical bullet list.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Arrive To vs. Arrive AtWhat to Do When Words Appear Twice in a Row10 Humorous, Derisive, or Slang Synonyms for â€Å"Leader† or â€Å"Official†

Basic Info, History, Geography and Climate of Spain

Basic Info, History, Geography and Climate of Spain Spain is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula to the south of France and Andorra and to the east of Portugal. It has coastlines on the Bay of Biscay (a part of the  Atlantic Ocean) and the  Mediterranean Sea. Spains capital and largest city are Madrid and the country is known for its long history, unique culture, a strong economy and very high living standards. Population: 46,754,784 (July 2011 estimate)Capital: MadridBordering Areas: Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Portugal, Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla)Area: 195,124 square miles (505,370 sq km)Coastline: 3,084 miles (4,964 km)Highest Point: Pico de Teide (Canary Islands) at 12,198 feet (3,718 m) History of Spain The area of present-day Spain and the Iberian Peninsula has been inhabited for thousands of years and some of the oldest archeological sites in Europe are located in Spain. In the 9th century B.C.E. the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and Celts all entered the region but by the 2nd century B.C.E., the Romans had settled there. Roman settlement in Spain lasted until the 7th century but many of their settlements were taken over by the Visigoths who arrived in the 5th century. In 711 the North African Moors entered Spain and pushed the Visigoths to the north. The Moors remained in the area until 1492, despite several attempts to push them out. Present-day Spain was then unified by 1512 according to the U.S. Department of State. By the 16th century, Spain was the most powerful country in Europe because of wealth obtained from its exploration of North and South America. By the latter part of the century, however, it had been in several wars and its power declined. In the early 1800s, it was occupied by France and it was involved in several wars, including the Spanish-American War (1898), throughout the 19th century. In addition, many of Spains overseas colonies revolted and gained their independence at this time. These problems led to a period of dictatorial rule in the country from 1923 to 1931. This time ended with the establishment of the Second Republic in 1931. Tensions and instability continued in Spain and in July 1936 the Spanish Civil War began. The civil war ended in 1939 and General Francisco Franco took over Spain. By the beginning of World War II, Spain was officially neutral but it supported Axis power policies; because of this though it was isolated by the Allies following the war. In 1953 Spain signed the Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement with the United States and joined the United Nations in 1955. These international partnerships eventually allowed Spains economy to begin growing because it had been closed off from much of Europe and the world prior to that time. By the 1960s and 1970s, Spain had developed a modern economy and in the late 1970s, it began to transition to a more democratic government. Government of Spain Today Spain is governed as a parliamentary monarchy with an executive branch made up of a chief of state (King Juan Carlos I) and a head of government (the president). Spain also has a bicameral legislative branch made up of the General Courts (made up of the Senate) and the Congress of Deputies. Spains judicial branch is composed of the Supreme Court, also called the Tribunal Supremo. The country is divided into 17 autonomous communities for local administration. Economics and Land Use in Spain Spain has a strong economy that is considered mixed capitalism. It is the 12th largest economy in the world and the country is known for its high standard of living and quality of life. The major industries of Spain are textiles and apparel, food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment. Agriculture is also important in many areas of Spain and the main products produced from that industry are grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus, beef, pork, poultry, dairy products, and fish. Tourism and the related service sector is also a major part of Spains economy. Geography and Climate of Spain Today most of Spains area is located in southwestern Europe on the mainland of the country that is south of France and the Pyrenees Mountains and east of Portugal. However, it also has territory in Morocco, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, islands off the coast of Morocco as well as the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. All of this land area makes Spain the second largest country in Europe behind France. Most of the topography of Spain consists of flat plains that are surrounded by rugged, undeveloped hills. The northern part of the country, however, is dominated by the Pyrenees Mountains. The highest point in Spain is located in the Canary Islands with Pico de Teide at 12,198 feet (3,718 meters). The climate of Spain is temperate with hot summers and cold winters inland and cloudy, cool summers and cool winters along the coast. Madrid, located inland in the center of Spain has an average January low temperature of 37ËšF (3ËšC) and a July average high of 88ËšF (31ËšC). Sources Central Intelligence Agency.  CIA - The World Factbook - Spain. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.htmlInfoplease.com. (n.d.). Spain: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107987.htmlUnited States Department of State. Spain. Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2878.htm