The defining activities and principles of ethnographic research Essays

The defining activities and principles of ethnographic research Essays The defining activities and principles of ethnographic research Paper The defining activities and principles of ethnographic research Paper Essay Topic: Sociology The term ethnography relates to a specific method upon which a researcher goes through to understand a certain situation. These methods involve the ethnographer becoming interrelated either covertly (whereby the researcher does not let the participants know who they are; either they hide their identity or they observe from a far) or overtly (whereby researchers inform participants of who they are) with the people under investigation and within their daily lives. As Marvin Harris and Orna Johnson (2001) state, ethnography literally means a portrait of people, ethnography is a written description of a particular culture- the customs, beliefs and behaviour- based on information collected through fieldwork. This ethnographic method starts with a selection of the culture upon which they wish to observe and understand. The ethnographer then researchers this specific culture and identifies variables of interest, typically these will be variables perceived as significant by members of the culture. The ethnographer then has to decide how they will gain entrance, this is especially difficult when done within covert ethnography as there is pressure in whatever circumstance it is to not stand out and look like an intruder or ethnographer. It is not unusual for ethnographers to live within their chosen society for months or even years, yet it doesnt take long in most cases for the ethnographer to gain cultural immersion. The middle stages of ethnographic research rely on the ethnographer gaining as much information as possible; this can be done through a range of both qualitative data as well as quantitative. This is their fieldwork and is vital when carrying out such investigations. When they feel as though they have enough data, or that staying within such a society wouldnt benefit their research anymore they leave, they then use their field work for their data analysis and theory development whereby the ethnographer strives to avoid theoretical preconceptions. As the ethnographer often gets very involved in the research, rich qualitative data can be yielded from ethnography, but as this type of research needs to be gained over a long period of time and can often invite an array of different opinions, other research methods may be used within the study, therefore quantitative data can be gained from methods such as questionnaires, interviews, experiments and observations. This specific form of social research can be identified as triangulation as it combines different methods so that the strengths of one complement the weaknesses of the other. There are a range of different types of ethnography not just that of covert and overt methods. Micro and Macro ethnography tends to study the narrowly or broadly defined cultural groupings. Whereas Emic and Etic ethnography is considered a research approach to the way in which members or non-members perceive and interpret behaviours and phenomena associated with a given culture. There are a number of documentaries that have been broadcast across our television screens recently whereby ethnographic research has been the main focus. Journalists have particularly taken to ethnographic research as it gives more depth and intensity to their so called stories and interests the public greatly. Donal MacIntyre for example has managed to make a career out of ethnographic research, as he has covertly managed to fool people in to believing that he is not a journalist and is therefore one of them. His research method has in many circumstances worked very well as he has managed to prove a variety of things that could not have been done overtly. One of Donal MacIntyres most famous and well recognised ethnographic study was in 1999. He wanted to show the public just how dangerous football hooligans are and how much they relish violence. In just eighteen months Donal MacIntyre infiltrated the Chelsea Head-Hunters (the hooligan firm for Chelsea football team) with the help of hidden cameras and recording equipment, the results were just what he wanted. In preparation for this ethnographic study MacIntyre had to watch hours of Chelsea videos and had to leaf through pages of literature to enable him to become culturally immersed within the hooligans. He pretended to be a drug dealer, and a very successful one at that. He moved into the same block of flats as the main ring leader of the Head-hunters and even hired out a i 45,000 Mercedes to look the part. Donal MacIntyre was born in Ireland so for eighteen months he had to loose his accent. To get involved he started to take the Head-hunters to away games, he slowly became one of them and at one point even ended up in a fight at one of the football matches with them, he stated in his documentary that it was real. He got very badly hurt, yet he was getting what he needed from the investigation so decided to carry on. He even went to the extremes of having a Chelsea tattoo on his arm for authenticity, which he is now getting removed. Sitting in Donals i 45,000 Mercedes on more than one occasion was Andrew Frain (nicknamed nightmare) who boast on the documentary about slashing an off duty police officer. He also spent one particular journey to a football match with Leicester on the phone arranging a 150 man riot. Within in all ethnographic research, observation is one of the main methods upon which a sociologist or ethnographer can collect their fieldwork. Yet, they do not just observe people as and when they need to decide when and where to observe people and to actually observe the specific things that relate to the investigation. With such an immense study it is often difficult to keep the fieldwork observations completely related to the specific variables of interest. In Donal MacIntyres case he took the role of becoming a complete participant, whereby he took a very highly active and involved participation within the group being examined, the Head-hunters. (Fulcher Scott,Sociology,2nd edition, p88) Although this may seem easy, it is very difficult to actually gain the information needed as it is difficult to ask questions or raise specific issues that would make it obvious that the researcher is not a participant. Therefore the researcher has to remain within the role and sometimes can get so involved within it that it is difficult for them to then be able to analyse the findings. Also without recording equipment it may be difficult to remember everything before you get the chance to write it down, also with a recording you can replay it as many times as you like and get different opinions upon it yet without this your evidence is subject to watch you saw, which can lead to a bias view. Donal MacIntyre stated that the very difficult eighteen month investigation was traumatic and very scary. Donal spoke of his fear for life on many occasions. As the documentary was aired on the BBC, the police had the evidence to arrest two of the main ring leaders of the Chelsea Head-hunters. One was jailed for seven years and one was jailed for six and they both have been banned from attending football matches for twenty years. Through this specific ethnographic investigation Donal managed to gain evidence and information on an aspect that the Head-hunters would have not been willing to discuss elsewhere. The Head-hunters didnt feel the need to lie as they may have in an interview for example as they assumed that Donal was their friend. As Donal gained an insider status he had access to their so called native language. However, although this type of methodology was considered the most efficient when getting truthful, reliable and valuable information, it has had its consequences upon Donal. Since the investigation Donal has received a number of death threats, his car has been spray painted, he has been mugged and beaten up and he now lives in constant fear within a safe-house. This shows the extremes and amount of work people are prepared to go through to get the result they want. Donal MacIntyre has put his own safety aside as he wanted to prove to the public what hooliganism was really like. Ethnographic research is a method which involves so many different types of research; therefore it is considered that it is a very good way of investigating cases which are not just a yes or no answer. Although some people state that covert ethnography is wrong as you are leading people to believe you are somebody that you are not, many sociologists view is that the only way you are able to get a reliable result is through being covert, because people will always try to make themselves sound or look better if they know they are being investigated, whether they mean to or not.

Weird Words

Weird Words Weird Words Weird Words By Daniel Scocco Browsing on the web today I came across an interested website that lists hundreds of weird words from the English language. Here are some that caught my attention: Alexipharmic Having the quality or nature of an antidote to poison. Astrobleme An eroded meteor impact crater. Bloviate To speak pompously. Bromopnea Bad breath. Ceraunograph A lightning recorder. Contumely Insolent or insulting language or treatment. Droogish Relating to the nature or attitudes of a member of a street gang. Engastrimyth A ventriloquist. Florilegium A collection of writings; a portfolio of flower pictures. Fustilugs A grossly fat or slovenly woman. Ginglyform Hinge-shaped. Lipogrammatist A writer of lipograms. Mongo An object retrieved from rubbish; a scavenger. Pogonotrophy Cultivation of a beard; beard-growing. You might need a good dictionary to find those. My Firefox extension is not recognizing them, for instance. What about you, got any weird words to share? 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Program vs. ProgrammeIs There a Reason â€Å"the Reason Why† Is Considered Wrong?Titled versus Entitled

QUESTIONS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

QUESTIONS - Essay Example Organizational system can be termed as a machine since it entails certain inputs such as capital, raw materials and labor. Accordingly, the inputs undergo processing stage in order to provide the outputs that include products and services (Morgan, 2007). The outputs entail preferred organisational culture and employee behaviour. I believe organizational system is a machine since it relies on strict rules, guidelines and procedures and allows for no flexibility in the changes of the processes (Burke, 2011. I have experienced a system breakdown in the past. The breakdown entailed breakdown in communication in the organisation between the management and employees. The scenario entailed high employee grievances, anxiety and stress due to fear of job losses due to changes in the economic operating environment. The slowdown in economic growth and decline in consumption incomes led to a decline in the product demand in the market thus creating a need for restructuring the jobs in the organi sation. In this case, the management proposed layoffs of some employees thus creating anxiety and aggression among the employees. Organizational system provides certain outcomes and circumstances to both the internal and external environment. ... On the other hand, open systems interact with the external environment and adjusts to changes in the external environment such as economic changes, technological innovations, demographic changes and legal changes. Open systems factor the external environment in the planning, resource allocation and evaluation processes. In this regard, open systems will consider the needs of the customers, creditors, trade unions and government in the business activities (Burke, 2011). Organizational system ignores the needs of an individual and focuses on attainment of group goals. In this case, the employees are expected to work in harmony through following standardized practices in order to attain the group objectives. Accordingly, systems ignore the diversity and personality of individual employees and focus efforts on group goals. Conclusion ‘Machine† can be used to describe organizational system since machines have many interrelated parts that work using certain processes to attain standardized and predetermined outputs. Organizational systems follow strict organizational rules and procedures in order to attain the specified outputs. Open systems interact with external environment and attain certain outcomes that satisfy the external stakeholders such as high product quality, adherence to the regulatory environment, technological innovations and better customer service. On the other hand, closed systems only meet the needs of internal stakeholders such as better salaries for employees and stable management practices. References: Burke, W.W. (2011). Organization change: theory and practice. New York: Sage Publications. Morgan, G. (2007). Images of

The Role and Powers of the Presidency Term Paper

The Role and Powers of the Presidency - Term Paper Example From the discussion it is clear that  the American Revolution war had a major implication on the economics of the USA. As time had gone by, the settlers in the various colonies were looking to be granted freedom, especially economy freedom from the Britain and started demanding that they be given the right to elect their own government which would tax them and run their affairs. Needless to mention, the British government was not comfortable with this suggestions and refused to grant them the freedoms. The settlers retaliated with an all-out war against the British government. In retaliation, the government tried to close up all the harbors around the United States, especially the ones used for trade.According to the research findings  President Andrew Jackson was trying to curb speculation on land and thus issued a circular regarding specie (gold and silver) circulation. His main intension was to reduce the value of bank notes so that to prevent the increased circulation of the bank notes in the economy. His plan was not entirely effective as it failed to entirely affect the value of the dollar and only affected the value of the same only in relation to the value of gold and silver. The effect was increased deflation of the currency. Eventually, these affected many businesses which under deflated currency could not operate normally. President Andrew Jackson learnt his lesson but it was too late for the economy, it had already slipped into a depression.

International Relations Theory Essay Example for Free

International Relations Theory Essay The study of the international relations has traditionally focused on the study of the causes of war and conflict between the states and the condition of peace. However, in the 21st century we are more concerned with the question of how the global relations can be identified, and with who lays the power of world politics. The global politics and international relations concepts have been developed over centuries. The key theories have established the commonly accepted methods of explaining the relationships between the states, and the way in which nations conduct their businesses. We can distinguish between many strands of thought, each extensive and often mutable. Thus, it is hard to define which are the most equitable and had most leverage in the international relations or global politics. However, we can certainly highlight few, which are seen as the most important or even crucial. One of them is Marxism, developed by Karl Marx in the 19th century. Marxism sought to purport the varied terrains in a new and unprecedented way. Some of the key aphorisms include the materialism, class system theory, the dialectical approach to history and of course a critique to liberalism and capitalism. Alas, the Marxism theory was precluded in the 1990s, after the oppression of people, economic instability, poverty and unhappiness under the communistic rule became evident. However, in the latter years of extreme economic and social crisis, many scholars once again engaged in the critical insight of capitalism, just as Marx did centuries ago. Marxism is the only theory available, which seeks to completely undermine capitalism, and expose its fundamental flaws which capitalists try to avoid or divert, but cannot overcome. However, it is not only limited to the economics. It presents extensive explanation of social and political relations and ways in which societies can determine it. It offers a new concept of freedom, far more expansive and empowering than the traditional liberal understanding. In this essay I will critically assess the extent to which Marxism has contributed to an understanding of the global politics. The global politics otensibly consists of many strands of scholar thought , analysis and theories . The acuurate and cognizant way of explaining or arranging the different approaches would be to put them in two categories; mainstreem and the rest. The parenial mainstreem theories of international relations are realism, liberalism, neo-realism and neo-liberalism. Other vail approaches share much with mainstreetm but have been seen rather as develpoments or critiques or of it, often providing a very distinct analysys . One of such is Marxism. Karl Marx developed new depiction with some linkages to the previous theories. He offers a distinct approach and analysis of political, social and economic life. Marx’s aim was to expose the hidden truth about the world of politics, and to higlight to people that history, politics and our social life is not something that only happens to us (independently from our actions), but rather something wich happens with our presence and input, and therefore can also be transformed by us. We can choose weather or not we want to live in a political-social system which we inherited, or to alter it if we are dissatissfied with it. In this sense politics appears as a struggle over processess of social-self production. The ability to steer various processess in one direction or another, thus shape the world in whcih we live in, produce a social change. Marxs expalins this as a dialectical or process orientated approach to understanding our history and politics. The historical tensions and cirumstances opneded up various possibilities for actors (agents embodied in institutions), to produce a change. As humans we have a freedom or in other words a collective ability to shape ourselfs and our world. This concept of freedom is broader and more empowering , than in the traditional liberal thinging (freedom of choice, our wants and needs in the market). Another important aphorism of Karl Marx was historical materialism. According to Marx all life is constantly evolving . The evolution results from the clash of two opposing forces. The same must happen with peolpe. For centuries humanity experienced struggles and clashes mainly between 2 groups of people. In the acient world it was the slaves and the lords, in the middle the peasants (surfs)and the lad owners, and in capitalism the capitalists (burgouise) and the working class (proletariat). Each historic era is different , has its own dynamic an dlogic, based on a dominant mode of production: primitive, feudalism and finally capitalism. For Marx each stage had its beginbing, middle but also an end. Marx also belived that history is shaped by the material basis of society. He recognised base and superstructure division of society. He included education, politics, religion, culture, media to the superstructure. Underneeth the superstructure there lies base consisted of relations of production (burguoise), and means of production everything which is owned by burguise needed for procution such as technology for instance). The base in Marx view , creates a particular type of political authority which is mostly concerned with protecting and promoting the interests of the dominant class. The base can change the history and the society. The key implication here is that the people who conctrol the material base (the means and forces of production), ulitmately control the society, politics and the world we live in. He recognised tha states as the puppet of a dominant class. Marx also offered an extensive and profound crtique to caqpitalism, imperialism and globaloization. He did not undermined it. It is fair to say that Marx understood capitalims as the most productive theorey that every existed but nevertheless, he recognised that it was living on a borrowed time. For Marx the capitalism had fundamental flaws as it was exploitative and oppressive system. He examined the features of capitalism, praised it for the competetive nature whihc would recsult and many spohisticated advancemnts, presented its flaws and atributes. Karl Marx acknowledge that constant urge for profit wouldstimulate the innovation process in various fields such as technology, media, medicine. Nevertheless, the necessity to generate higher and higher profit is the main downfall of the globalization and capitalism concept. As a result capitalism will move from crisis to criris, and the society will become increasingly unequal. Marx specified that capitalists will attempt to reslove one crisis, but as one problem would be resolved, another would be created in its place. We can clearly see how this process works taking for instance the sub-prime lending case. As people did not have enough money , the demand failed. The profits of various cooperations also failed (as demand stimalates the supply and the prices). The banks offered creditd cards and loans. In turn people bought more goods, and contributed to the economy. Everyone was happy in the process, the baks, the producers and of course the working class who would now finally buy the goods and services they wanted. One problem was solved. However, after a while people did not meet their repayments. The banks had to confiscate their houses, cars, and other possesions as a result. Now banks were left with empty houses, and a huge deficit of money. The enterpreneours who invested and supplied banks with the money lost a vast ammount of money, many bankrupted. The taxes rates for the lower and the middle were risen, and the wages cut so the capitalists could once again make profit. Alas, less wages and bigger taxes meant less dissposable income to pay for the new good and services. The capitalists once again have to battle low profits, and find new ways to stay in business, The whole process reapeats itself, and no concrete and reliable solution is found. Marx also crtiticises the globalization process. The global capitalism means alliances of globalised capitalists, in order to do the business together and gain more control. This aspect of globalization within the context of capitalism will also prove fatal, as the interconcetivity between various world economies could potentiall bring doom to all if one falls ( we can see it happening with the hyousing bubble burst in the USA, resulting from the sub-prime lending . This crisis not only affected the USA economy, but spreaded to the rest of the world resulting in the global economical crises and recession). Marxs posited that economic relations between people was core to absolutely everything. The human needs for housing, security, food, drive human interactions. Furthermore he stasted that private property divided the world. The human persistency to barter and to create profit was a recepie for distater. Capitalism develpse productive powers of human societies, but it does in rather undemocratic manner, through exploating and subduing the working class. As a result it distors the real historiacal possibilities for social self-determination. Socially empowered people under the capitalistic system, are prevented from realising their full productive powers and enjoying their fuller forms of freedom. Under tha capitalism ideaology supports the historiucally specific forms of social activity and organization, which appears to be necessarry and natural universal conditions. It takes on the apperance of unchangable, and hard-wired withing the society. This is of course mistification. Within the context of capitalism , we are isolated individuals, therefore we confornt our social envirometn not as collective product. We views it in terms of constraint on our individual chocies. This way of understanding social relations as parennial, universal and natural prevents us from looking for possibilities of transformation, or imagining the alternative possible worlds. Marxism inspired future analysis in the international relations arena . One of the most significant was the crtitical theory. The critical theory was develpoed in 1930s by the frankfurt school of thoutgt. The term frnakfurt school refers to theorists originally assosiated with the Institute for Social Research at Frankfurt University . The early frnakfurt shcool tehorist Horkheimer and Adorno, began too lose faith in the revolutionary potential of the proletaria. The also saw how in the west Marxism was marxism was being transformed into a doctrisn of economic determinism. In the face of these developments, they wanted to retain a critical modern critical and potentially progressive role for social theory, but were wary of the orthodox Marxisms’ preocupation with production and the coresponding emphasis on the historical role of the proletariat† The core concepts of the Crtical theory are that critical social theory should be directed at the totality of society in its historical specificity , and also that critical theory should improve understanding of society by integrating all the major social sciences, including geography, economics, sociology, history, political science, anthropology, and psychology. Critical theoriests developed a key concept that the objectively valid forms of knowledge could not be established independently of the social context and social norms. The theories which claimthat they provide objective truth are profoundly misleading. In their view idealogy (or theories assosiated with it), are just a belief that oue perspective is the truth. The way in which things appera from the economic standpoint of our consciousness. They asked a question: can idealogy be proven, is it just a mode of belief. After all idealogy is without conciousness. Is it fair to say that things actually are the way they appear to me? The frankfurt scholars went on explaining that in each historic period the dominant class sets the idealogy. In the late capitalism it is ultimately a burgouise idealogy. So the ideas whic are the base of every aspect of our society , (for instance our current work ethic or current standards of moral behaviour) do not have to be universal, just and correct. The frankfurt scholars have undermined the positivist forms of scienfitic knowledge. They claim that positivism and instrumental reason discourse denys the alternative values and future possible worlds. Gramsci went a bit further and develpoed a theory of hegemony as a form of political power whcih relied upon the consent than coercion. â€Å" In a hegemonic social situation, dominant groups (classes, class fractions and their verious alliers) articulate a social vision which claims to serve the intersts of all, and they use selective incentives to recruit junior partners into their coalition and to didivde the disable oposition† He belived that in modern and advances capitalistsic societies, hegemonic power might be promoted via media, education, art, literature as well as political parties. Under these conditions various groups might be led to consent to the powerof dominant groups. This action would make the use of obviously opressive and coercive power unnecessary.. He also argued that hegemony should be continously chalenged by the civil society. In this way he hoped that capitaslist culture would be challenged by a counter-hegemonic political culture. In short, he speculated that peolpe might start to think of their economic lives as having a significant political importance . Gramsci hoped that they might finally question the universal capitalism’s structured separation of the ploitical fromt he economic aspects of life. Another important approach to global politics, which derives from Marxism is the World systems theory , which was fathered by Immanueakl Wallestein in the 1970s. He traced the rise of the world system to the 16th century Western Europe, whihc then spraded to the rest of the world. The E3urope feudal economy suffered crisi and was transformed into capitalism. The west quikly utilisised their advantages and gained control and power, over the most of the world economy (using colonialism, slavery, imperialism and globalisation together with the unfair trade). This actions resulted in an unequal develpoment, which instead of diminishing grows even further. Wallestein also supported Marx’s previous view that the suposely tree distnict areas of politics, socio9logya nd economics are in fact combined. In his writing Wollestein provided a structural explenation of the global inequallity between states. He viewd it as a pyramis. At the top of the pyramid lye the core states. Whuhc dominate the system. They all are in favour of capitalistic global economy for their own elevation. Examples in todays world inlude USA, Japan or Western Europe. Beneeth the core states lys the semi-periphery states, which are seeking to elevate themselfs to claim their place among the core . Examples include the BRIC countries: Brasil. Rusia, India or China. At the very bottom of the pyramid lies the peripher, the weakest of the states (third wolrd countires ). They are usually rulled by the puppet goverments , subservient to the global capitalists. Ruled by the core states. They will never be given the standars of life they deserve through their inustry. They usually provide most of the natural resources and products which are greedly devour by the core, only to recive poor technoplogy and ocasional aid in return. People in the third world countries (peripherians) are the main victims of this opression, as they benefit less from the spohisticated technology and innovation that capitalism (through drive for profit) brings about. This generates a fundamental innequality between the nations. Conclusion The forms of Marxian critical theory (further develpoed by the Frankfurt school and by Gramsci), lead us to a conlusion that the claims of scientific objectivity assosiated with positivistiv theories of International relations are in fact profoundly misleading . This approach differs a lot from the mainstreem realistic and liberalistsi approaches of the international relations. More recently there has been a sort of renaissance of Marxian international theory. It began during the 1990s and gained its momentum with the US war on terror after the 9/11/. The American war on terror is seen by many as the twnety-first-centuray imperialism . Many scholars return to Marxism wirtings and its later developments, to find it very accurate in the sphere of the global politics today. Undoubtedly, Marxism contributed in large means to our understanding of the global politics. It is the only reliable source of the critique of the capitalistis system we currently live in. Furthermore it explains and provides an analis of it. It stresses the interdependence of social-political- and economical aspects of life , not only within the domestic arena but also on the global scale. Marxisms highlights the global innequalities that the capitalism creates, demonstrates and unmasks the constant exploitation and mannipulation of the working class. It stresses the importance of all idvividuals, and their ability to transform and alter the world around us which includes our political system, current moral and ethical forms of behaviour, the ecoonomic system and every other aspect of our live. Marx and the later scholars influenced by his writing, do not propose a new clear system to replace capitalism. The presumptions are left to us . Within the concept of marism the idealogy can always be altered, it shall not be seen as something parenially just and fair. It is also seen as the tool of the higher class, who usess it to explain the world to the lower class and further to control it. Therefore Marx saw idealogy only a way of explainign and understanding the world rather than verity. This approach had big significance in the global politics theory. It inspired new starnds of thought in international relations and of course met with a fierce critique of positivistic scholars and thinkers.

Comparing the Past in The Ice Palace and The Great Gatsby :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Nature of the Past in The Ice Palace and The Great Gatsby      Ã‚  Ã‚   In "The Ice Palace" and The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the nature of the past. He shows us that we can neither return to nor escape from the past. In "The Ice Palace" he writes about the pasts of two different societies, the North and the South. In The Great Gatsby he writes about Daisy's relationships with two men, Tom and Gatsby. â€Å"In both of these stories some characters want to escape from the past and others want to return to the past†(Pendelton, 37). These characters find that neither of these is possible, that the past and the present have become intertwined.    The first society Fitzgerald deals with in "The Ice Palace" is the North. Here people try to ignore the past. We see this when Harry Bellamy tells us that "Everybody has a father, and about half of us have grandfathers. Back of that we don't go"(Fitzgerald, "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" and Other Stories, 72). They have no interest in what has gone before. Even their buildings are new. An example of this is the library of the Bellamy house. Many of the books haven't been read and the items in it "all looked about fifteen years old"(71). The epitome of Northern buildings is the ice palace, which stands for a winter and then melts away. It is an attempt at a building without a past, built fresh each time. In the Southern graveyard, when Sally Carrol is talking about Margery Lee, Harry Bellamy looks at the grave and says "There's nothing here"(68). To him headstones have no reality beyond the immediate physical one. In the North the snow hides the gravestones, making each "a light sh adow against light shadows"(80). The hiding of the headstones demonstrates the entire Northern attitude toward the past. They feel that it isn't important and should be ignored.    Despite all of these efforts the North is unable to escape the past. The gravestones may be covered with snow, but they are still there. Eventually the snow will melt and everyone will be able to see them. Even the ice palace, the attempt at a building with no past, falls victim to it. The last time an ice palace was built was in 1885, but it is still "peopled by those shades of the eighties"(80).

Literature Review on Internal Audit

Survey finds internal audit risk assessments inconsistent Year: August, 2007 The report suggests that internal auditing needs to identify areas of high and moderate risk that are part of the internal audit plan but have been deferred or cancelled because of the organization's focus on Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404. It recommends that chief audit executives (CAEs) revisit the budgets, skills, and capabilities needed to achieve a comprehensive, balanced, and risk-based approach to auditing, as well as develop a process to advise the audit committee and senior management about emerging risks. In other findings, internal audit leaders say their greatest challenge is finding enough qualified talent to address the growing and increasingly complex needs of their stakeholders. To help address this problem, rotational staffing has become a key source of talent for more than 80 percent of respondents from Fortune 500 companies. Additionally, the report notes that audit departments are using report ratings, such as satisfaction or number scales, with mixed results. Although many CAEs say ratings allow them to communicate the potential level of exposure and risk associated with audit findings, 56 percent say ratings often create friction at their organizations and slow down the audit process. Finally, 43 percent of respondents use some form of continuous auditing or monitoring in their audit operations. The PwC report is available from the company's Web site, www. pwc. com/internalaudit. Reference: http://findarticles. om/p/articles/mi_m4153/is_4_64/ai_n27348378/ PwC Study: Internal Audits Lack Strategy for Risk Assessment Year: May 21, 2007 There continues to be a lack of consistency around the assessment of risk by internal auditors, according to the third annual study of current issues for the internal audit profession conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers. A number of divergent and conflicting trends related to risk assessment are a concern among internal audit executives. Although there is growing interest in enterprise risk management (more than 80 percent of respondents reported they conduct an annual enterprise-wide risk assessment), only a handful of those surveyed said they update the internal audit risk assessment continuously, while 64 percent may be doing little or nothing between annual assessments. At one-third of the companies surveyed, multiple enterprise-wide risk assessments are being conducted across the organization. Of this group, only 20 percent consider these assessments â€Å"well† aligned, while 50 percent said they are â€Å"somewhat† aligned and 30 percent said they are â€Å"not well† aligned, with little or no coordination among the parties making the assessments. PwC said six imperatives should be considered when strengthening the internal audit risk assessment process, as suggested by the study: Adopt a process approach to risk assessment and planning. Supplement annual risk assessments with quarterly or more frequent updates. Leverage your prior assessment results. Align and leverage risk assessments. Seek out the specialized talent you need. Coordinate effectively with other risk management groups. â€Å"Today, there is a growing awareness among chief audit executives of the importance of linking risk assessments and effective audit coverage,† said Richard Chambers, managing director with internal audit services at PwC. To help strengthen risk management within their companies, audit groups must focus on assessing risk on an ongoing basis and continue to monitor and update their enterprise-wide risk assessments. † In the areas of finance, compliance, and operations — sectors that might be characterized as traditional areas of focus for internal audit — respondents expressed fairly high degrees of confidence (64, 49, and 43 percent respectively) in their audit coverage of these types of risks. However, they were significantly less confident with their audit coverage when dealing with risks in the areas of technology, fraud, and strategic or business risks. The 2007 study also found that internal audit groups reporting to the CFO organization devote more time to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance than groups that report directly to the audit committee or the CEO. According to the study, only 31 percent of internal audit functions reporting directly to the audit committee or the CEO devote more than 50 percent of their time to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. By contrast, 46 percent of those who report directly to the CFO indicated that they dedicated more than 50 percent of their time to the Act during 2006. The study found that when internal audit reports to a level below the CFO in the finance organization, such as to the controller or treasurer, the time commitment to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance increases dramatically, with 69 percent of these internal audit functions reporting spending more than 50 percent of their time addressing compliance with the Act. Given the disparity of time dedicated to compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley depending on reporting relationships, these survey results naturally beg the question as to who is actually directing the focus and deployment of corporate audit resources,† added Anderson. Reference: http://www. accountingnet. com/x57724. xml Study: Impact of Economy on Internal Audit Profession *By: (SmartPros*) Year: June 15, 2009 The results of a new IIA survey have revealed perspectives on the cause and effects of the financial meltdown, as well as the views of internal auditors regarding how they are responding to the new economic and business environment. Speaking to a gathering of more than 2,000 internal auditors from around the world at The Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA’s) international conference held in mid-May in Johannesburg, South Africa, IIA President Richard Chambers, CIA, shared key results from the survey which reflected responses from 1,665 internal auditors in 57 countries. â€Å"This survey data gives us a global snapshot of how internal auditors view what has happened and how they are dealing with it,† said Chambers. â€Å"It also tells The IIA what we should look at closer for more in-depth analysis and development of new guidance. Three major areas of realization emerged from the survey results. Internal auditors’ views are split on whether risk management could have played a mitigating role in the financial crisis, and a majority felt there were more things internal audit activities could have done soften its impact. Organizations are redirecting their internal audit resources to cover recession-related risks. And within organizations receiving stimulus or rescue funds, more than a third of internal audit activities have not addressed risks related to the funding. The recession has had a trickle-down effect that has impacted the resources of internal audit functions. The European literature review on internal auditing: *How the internal audit function is changing in response to the shifts in global business practices*? Year: 2006 Purpose – By conducting the 2006 global Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK) study, The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) attempts to better understand the expanding scope of internal auditing practice throughout the world. The purpose of this review of recent internal auditing literature in Europe is to document how the internal audit function is changing in response to the shifts in global business practices. Design/methodology/approach – The literature in Europe is reviewed with a focus on developments that have implications for the expanded scope of internal auditing and the changing skill sets of internal auditors and their role in enhancing good corporate governance. This focus has implications for CBOK 2006. Findings – The literature indicates changes in the activities performed by internal auditors. The increasing complexity of business transactions, a more dynamic regulatory environment in Europe, and significant advances in information technology have resulted in opportunities and challenges for internal auditors. Although in 2004, The IIA responded to the changing organizational environment by updating the professional practices framework, more work needs to be done to prepare internal auditors for the expanded set of skills and knowledge required to perform audits of the future. Originality/value – By presenting an overview of past literature in Europe and discussing the shifting demands on internal audit services, the researchers hope to motivate further research in the field. PricewaterhouseCoopers' 2010 Global Internal Audit Study: Internal Auditors Should Serve as Strategic Advisors on Risk Assessment and Management *Year: April 1 ,*2010 NEW YORK, April 1 /PRNewswire/ — PricewaterhouseCoopers' sixth annual Global State of the Internal Audit Profession survey found that with global ndustries, economies and regulatory environments forever altered by the recent financial crisis, strategic risk management has become a key issue for business leaders. According to the 2010 survey of more than 2,000 executives from more than 50 territories, internal audit professionals have the companywide visibility and mandate to lead their organizations in enhancing this capability. This year's survey also demonstrated that, to remain relevant and meet stakehol der demands, internal audit must evolve to an enhanced â€Å"Internal Audit 2. 0†³ state that provides business leaders with actionable business risk intelligence. The financial crisis caused a heightened scrutiny of companies' risk management practices, as many have blamed the crisis on poor risk management,† said Brian Brown, principal and Internal Audit Advisory Services leader at PwC. Brown added that, â€Å"CEOs across all industries are looking to upgrade their enterprise-wide risk management capability to better prepare for success in what is expected to continue to be a very challenging business environment. Needs and expectations for internal audit have never been higher, so the key question is whether internal audit is delivering. There is also a challenge in building consensus for an expanded and more strategic role for internal audit,† said Brown. The 2010 State of the Internal Audit Profession study identifies three critical focus areas for internal audit departments: †¢ Critical risks and issues; †¢ Aligning internal audit's value position with its stakeholder's expectations; and †¢ Matching the staffing model with that value proposition However, these are also the three areas where internal audit leaders believe they have the most room to improve. What senior executives should take away from this survey is that, for an internal audit team to assume the role of strategic partner, members must employ highly experienced and skilled professionals who can pinpoint trouble spots, synthesize a lot of data, better utilize technology and help the organization be more successful in a very challenging business environment,† Brown said. With these new challenges in mind, PwC believes intern al audit must take a more radical approach to change than it has in the past, and rethink and redefine the way it works. The survey outlines several important steps that should be taken: †¢ Start with a plan Rethink risk assessment practices †¢ Fill the skills and capabilities gap †¢ Align with other assurance functions †¢ Focus on obtaining ROI from technology â€Å"In this year's survey, we introduced the concept of ‘Internal Audit 2. 0' to start organizations thinking about dramatic change,† said Brown. â€Å"As internal audit confronts new and continually changing needs and expectations, it must take the initiative to redefine its role. That means expanding its skill sets and preparing to take a leadership role as a more powerful resource for senior leadership, directors and boards in aligning strategy and risk identification, control and mitigation. â€Å"

Music Lyrics Do Not Promote Violence

Music Lyrics being NON-VIOLENT Rap music can be considered a style of art, and a way for the artists to express feelings through their words on paper. However, there are quite a few rap artists that get criticized for their lyrics. In my essay, I want to discuss why rappers use certain lyrics in their music and why people shouldn’t believe that it causes violence among the younger generations. People shouldn’t censor the music just because of violent, vulgar and abusive messages it promotes to the world. I believe in my own mind, that there is a reason for these types of lyrics that rap artists use and I will simply explain those reasons in this essay. Rap has been called one of the most important music forces to emerge in two decades. It’s pounding beats and staccato rhymes exploded on the streets of the urban America in the early 1980s and since have become the theme music and lyrical heart of the vibrant youth culture called hip-hop ( SIRS 1993). There are many different types of rap artist. There are some that talk about money, some talk about righteousness, and the list goes on and on. Every rap artist had their own way of expressing themselves. There are those that talk about sex, drugs, and violence who receive the negative attention( SIRS 1993). People, think this so- called gangster rap is a bad influence on children in the world and that it promotes violence and that it also is abusive to women. Delores Tucker, head of national congress of black women has been among those pressuring different record companies to stop distributing gangster rap music. There were other significant names that participated in this action. Names like Senate Majority leader Bob dole, and former education Secretary William J. Bennett(Surveys, pg. 1). There are some rap artists that have been openly criticized for their lyrics. Rappers like Lil Kim, Too Short, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and a member from â€Å"Too Live Crew,† named Luke Skywalker. These rap artists in the past have been appointed for the things they say in their music. Lil Kim talks about sex in her music, Too Short talks about drugs, sex, and how much of a pimp he is, and Luke Skywalker talks about girls and sex. The lyrics that these rap artist use in their music might not be suitable for everybody to listen to but I don’t think their music should be banned or criticized because you don’t have to listen to it if you don’t choose to. Rap music, how much influence does it really have on it’s youthful listeners? Many, from record company executives to high school students agree that it plays a critical role in the lives of many tans, affecting the way they dance, dress and speak(SIRS 1993). Personally, I feel that rap music is a form of art. I think it takes a great deal of talent to write lyrics that rap artists write, because you have to use metaphors and similes, and at the same time get your point across so the listeners can understand. I give rappers a great deal of credit because I know it took them a long time to get where their at today, and I know it takes a tremendous amount of time to write a song. It’s also true and I strongly agree with that rap artists use lyrics that reflect on their childhood and the way they grew up. That could be the reason why gangster rappers and rappers talk about sex, drugs, and violence in their music because that was what they were exposed to through out their life. Rap artists generally write about what they know because it is easier to write about things and situations that you know, and if sex, drugs and violence is what you know about, then you are going to write about situations that involve those subjects. Not just write about them in hopes to cause more violence in our world. Young rap fans caution it is wrong and simplistic to believe music can dictate their actions. Upbringing and circumstance steer a child’s behavior, they say, not a record on a turntable or a performer posturing on stage(Newsweek, 1998). There are other reasons why gangster rappers should not be criticized for their lyrics. One reason is that I would rather hear gangster rappers talk about violence on the streets than them actually going out on the streets and participate in the violence. Another reason why rappers shouldn’t be criticized is because the world was violent long before rap was invented, and it is not rap music that is making the world more violent then it is already. I strongly believe that people have the freedom of choice to listen to rap music and if you don’t like what rap artists talk about, then you do not have to listen to the music. If people didn’t have a choice that would be one thing, but as long as people have a choice to do or not to do something then they shouldn’t try to criticize it. To me, rap music is more than a strain. It is the reflection of horrible suffering, struggle and pain of the ghetto life. I feel that art reflects life, so I ask myself why aren’t the National Black leaders like Delores Tucker, more concerned about where the source of rap music exists than the work denuding these types of harsh conditions(SIRS 1993). â€Å" I think that kids know the difference between right and wrong, music and reality. They know it’s not right to go kill somebody and if there driven to that, that’s not the fault of the music,† says Jon Shecter, editor of The Source, a rap magazine(SIRS 1993). If the people throughout the world that criticize gangster rap music would begin to really care then they would try to find and fix the conditions that this art of music comes from and stop criticizing the artist. In other words, the abusive language and rise of violence found in most gangster rap songs are the reality of our present day society. Americans should be mature enough to realize that not talking about something won’t cause it to go away. People talk about the violence of gangster rap music, but look at the violence we see on television everyday, on almost every channel you turn to. Violence is everywhere, you might see or hear something violent every day of your life, whether it is on television, radio or in real life. Violence has been existing for hundreds and hundreds of years, gangster rap music hasn’t remotely made violence more intense or worse than it already is( Surveys, pg. 1). So is it then fair to pin point rap music and blame it’s lyrics on the violence happening around the world? Teen-agers, both black and Latino, say it is the driving beat that attracts them and many other young people to rap. That, and the music’s honesty(SIRS 1993). It’s not the guns and drugs that make them like the music. The rappers aren’t saying to solve a problem you must kill, they are just stating what they know. In which, ever since they were young, that violence around them always ends in a shooting or stabbing, so is it right to blame them for singing about it when really they learned it from television? Sex in rap music shouldn’t be criticized either because look at all the pornography that is in the world today. There are magazines that are being sold nearly everywhere. They have triple X rated movies that could be purchase and you could rent these kind of movies at your nearest video store(Showbiz, pg. 1). So, lyrics that talk about sex can’t hardly be no worse than the movies and magazines being sold all over the world today. When rappers talk about drugs in their songs, they could be talking about how drugs were used in their neighborhoods growing up, and maybe they had to sell drugs for a while to put food on their table( Newsweek 1998). I feel, people get confused about what the rap artist is trying to say to people. They are missing the whole point. Just because rap artists talk about drugs in their songs doesn’t mean they are actually selling the drugs or using the drugs. These rap artists are making thousands of dollars just by making records, why would they go out and sell drugs? That doesn’t make any sense. There are plenty of artists that are positive, and speak positive aspects in their music about life, like A Tribe Called Quest, the Roots, De La Soul, and many others. So for those that think that rap music has a negative effect on children, and people in the world, there are a lot of rappers that speak unity, and things that are positive about life(Showbiz, pg2). If a person could listen to some of these positive rap artists, they could learn about life. There have been plenty of times where I was in a terrible mood or I was upset about something, and I popped in a CD of a rapper, and after I was finished listening to the CD I felt much better. The words and phrases used, are words of actual life events and the positive things or outcomes of them. In conclusion, I speak in favor of gangster rap, and I don’t think people should criticize these rap artists because they are speaking the truth. Situations they’ve been in are shown through their lyrics and we need to try to find the source of the problem instead of criticizing the person speaking about the problem. Drugs, Sex, and Violence are what gangster rappers are considered to be glorifying, but drugs, sex, and violence was in effect long before rap music was even thought of and so we shouldn’t use the type of music against the type of behavior caused by teens around the world. Word Count: 1667

EMC 100 Essay

EMC 100 Essay EMC 100 Essay Introduction to Emergency Medical Services -Network of resources that provides emergency care and transport to victims of sudden illness and injury ROLES -Safety (safely gain access to the patient) -Gaining access to the patient -Assessment and initial care (until relieved by someone with equal or greater credentials) -Continuation of care -Record keeping -Liaison (between your department and people that work in more advanced EMS) RESPONSIBILITIES -Personal health and safety -Caring attitude -Maintain composure -Neat, clean, professional appearance -Up to date knowledge and skills -Put patient's needs as a priority Care given at scene -Arrival of additional EMS means you are the liaison and give them a basic report of your findings. -Care during transport -Transfer to hospital emergency department In-Hospital Care System EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SPECIALTY FACILITIES -Trauma centers -burn centers pediatric centers HOSPITAL PERSONNEL -Physicians -Nurses -Allied personnel MEDICAL OVERSIGHT Indirect Medical Oversight -System Design -Protocols - SCOPE OF CARE -Legal duties to the patient, medical director, and the Public (duty to act). National standard curriculum -State law -Protocols -Standing orders -Ethical Responsibilities Meet the patient needs -mastery of skills -performance reviews -Honesty in reporting -continuing education -refresher programs STANDARD OF CARE -Defined by laws, administrative orders, and guidelines -Maintain consistency in training -Provide a scope of practice and guidelines for care Provide care based on yout training experience to avoid negligence COMPETENCE The ability to understand the questions of the First Responder and the implications of decisions made -In order to receive consent or refusal of care, the First Responder should determine competence May not be possible in certain circumstances -Intoxication -Drug Ingestion -Serious Injury -Mental Incompetence Consent -A competent patient has the right to make decisions regarding care. Can refuse treatment for any reason. -Patient must consent to emergency medical care. Implied Consent -Based on the assumption that the unresponsive patient or a minor's parents would consent to life saving interventions DNR -Patient has the right to refuse resuscitative efforts -Requires written order from physician -When in doubt or when written orders are not present, the first responder should begin resuscitative

[WATCH] What does it really mean to be wealthy

[WATCH] What does it really mean to be wealthy Lifestyle entrepreneur Erin Gavle seemingly had it all; excellent degree from a very well respected university and a high paying advertising job in Manhattan.   But she soon realized what she didn’t have was what mattered most – fulfillment. So she left it all behind, packed her belongings in a van, and lived out of it for six months in southern California, thinking about what she wanted to do with the balance of her life.She eventually decided to return to her Midwestern hometown and open a general store called El Dorado.  Erin sat down with Daily Fuel to talk about what her version of wealth truly is, and her insights are invaluable for anyone contemplating their next professionally satisfying move.Source: [DailyFuel]

The My Lai Massacre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The My Lai Massacre - Essay Example In the end people, departments and institutions flew blame from right, left and center with just a handful of people bearing the burden of prosecution despite it being quite clear that many more had been involved. The power structure at the time actually did well to evade harm from the incident not considering that it was the source of the main problem that not only architected the massacre but also tried to sugar coat it in the name of a bigger and justified war in Vietnam that was supposedly being pursued to protect American interests abroad. According to Olson and Roberts, a few days before the My Lai massacre, there were increasing number of heavy losses and casualties on the side of American soldiers (13). These were caused by snipers, booby traps and mines. SGT George Cox is one of the notable soldiers who died from a booby trap while on patrol just two days before the massacre. Those who died or suffered injuries were mostly on patrol and most of these happened near My Lai ham let. These incidents had slowly undermined American forces’ strength and ability to neutralize the Vietcong operating mainly from My Lai hamlet. These Vietcong units had managed to remain intact owing to their continuous execution of small-scale operations (14). The massacre itself took four hours where more than 400 civilians were killed by American forces from 0730hrs. The operation in My Lai hamlet started by aimless shooting around the selected soldiers landing spot and it went on for about three minutes. This was done not to kill anyone in particular but to disburse any enemy within that proximity so as to ease the access towards the hamlet. This however resulted to widespread panic from those inhabiting the hamlet that morning. Soldiers for the next 30 minutes edged towards the hamlet loaded mainly with pistols and M-16s on full automatic. The soldiers split up at around 0800hrs and begun a thorough search for Vietcong and their weaponry. In this instance lack of coordi nation started and resulted in haphazard turn of events. Frustration creped in and soldiers started shooting at anything that moved. â€Å"Soldiers shot old men sitting outside their homes, women carrying water, children searching for places to hide. †¦women were raped at gunpoint†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (22). 1LT Calley is a notable figure and was to blame for a great deal that happened that morning. However, Charlie Company herded Vietnamese in order to guard them and not to kill. Calley testified to have plainly ordered his soldiers to kill the Vietnamese whether armed or otherwise where the latter turned to be the absolute scenario. This resulted in many unarmed civilians grouped up and shot in cold blood while Calley himself was involved in most incidents. At this point an army photographer, Ronald Haeberle was taking all the action as it happened. It is important to note that only a few soldiers in the Charlie Company engaged their arms in the morning slaughter. Another was Hugh T homson Jr. who was a pilot at the time and who tried to intervene and stop a group of soldiers from killing a group of Vietnamese. What had happened all morning was nothing short of a massacre against the people of My Lai. The whole operation resulted to recovery of only three weapons. Reported official figure at that time was the killing of 128 enemies. This immediately followed efforts of cover up starting with Captain Medina. The military was made deeply aware of the incident on 29 March 1969 through a letter by Ronald Ridenhour. This led to deeper investigations which revealed a