Don Quixote Hero or Fool Essay example - 1035 Words

During the Middle Ages, medieval romances were popular among popular among aristocrats from the start of Early Modern Europe. However, in the 1600s, these stories of chivalry and knighthood were no longer popular. In The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha, author Miguel de Cervantes attempts to satirize the medieval romance through his character, Don Quixote. The tale tells the story of a man who loses his sanity out of his desire to become a real-life knight. This story was highly acclaimed for the time; even though it poked fun at the main character and medieval romances in general, it brought back the ideals of this genre. The legacy of Don Quixote continues with Joe Darion’s songs from the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha.†¦show more content†¦The mocking tone continues to tease Quixote when the character decides that he will not only become and knight in reality, but will also change his name to â€Å"Don Quixote†- which means â€Å"Sir Thigh Pieceâ € . The already degrading tone because even more blunt when Quixote decides to use his â€Å"ingenuity† to refurbish an undeveloped helmet: â€Å"†¦he was ingenious enough, however, to overcome this problem, constructing out of cardboard something resembling a visor and face-guard which, once inserted into the steel cap, gave it the appearance of a full helmet†(Cervantes 827). Stating that Quixote’s cleverness only allowed him to construct the helmet with pasteboard is a rather direct insult the character. This again proves how foolhardy, naà ¯ve, and how much of a foil Quixote is to the traditional admired knight in medieval romances. The parody continues in chapter eight, when Quixote and his friend Sancho Panza (who he appoints as his squire) go on an adventure together. Quixote states that he must slay the monstrous giants that stand before them, but there are only windmills in front of him. Panza attempts to convey this obvious fact to him, but t he ignorant Quixote refuses to listen and instead hints that Panza may be acting out of cowardice: â€Å"â€Å"It is perfectly clear,† replied Don Quixote, â€Å"that you are but a raw novice in this matter of adventures. They are giants; and if you are frightened, you can take yourself away and say yourShow MoreRelatedUse Of Don Quixote De La Mancha By Miguel De Cervantes1324 Words   |  6 PagesDaniela Dicheva Professor Salena Fehnel ENG 106 08/19/2014 The Character of Don Quixote De La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes A writer, no matter how great, no matter how brilliant his work, does not exhaust the literary wealth of a nation in a given era, but with all your heritage or just one of his work, he can score the highest peaks of the literature. Based on merit and dignity Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra takes the first place in the literature of the Spanish Renaissance, because most profoundRead More Don Quixote Essay466 Words   |  2 Pages Don Quixote Don Quixote is a fool in many respects. His speech is ridiculous, his ideas are hopelessly out of date, and he has lost touch with reality. Yet readers admire him and know immediately he is the hero of the story. All the things which make him a fool, however unbelievable as it may be, add to his heroic appearance and lets the reader know where Quixote is coming from. Along with this, his foolish nature adds a sense of artlessness and purity, very heroic aspects. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;DonRead MoreSummarys on Don Quixote, Othello, Paradise Lost and Popol Vuh1818 Words   |  8 PagesSummarys on Don Quixote, Othello, Paradise Lost and Popol Vuh Fools and tricksters are very closely related and are used simultaneously in poetry and other literary works. A fool can be described as one who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding and also can be someone who acts unwisely on a given occasion. A trickster is defined as someone that swindles or plays tricks. Often a trickster is a mischievous or roguish figure in myth or folklore.(Websters Online Dictionary) Fools and tricksterRead More##sanity And Reality In Don Quixote By Miguel De Cervantes893 Words   |  4 Pagesdistinction being ideals. A novel that heavily delves into this topic is Don Quixote, written Miguel de Cervantes. First published in 1605, this novel has remained a prevalent novel because of the timeless concepts it presents and the powerful imagery it produces to entrance the readers in following the journey of the title character. In one way or another, this novel can be considered the most truthful tale of an adventure of a hero. In this novel, the author attempts are to make the readers questionRead More Don Quixote de la Mancha Essay5548 Words   |  23 PagesTwo lost tales concerning the valiant knight Don Quixote de la Mancha and other such interesting things Prologue After reading for the first time the true history of The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha, originally scribed by the brilliant Arab historian Cide Hamete Benengeli, I was captivated by it and somehow began to relate it to all that happened to me in my daily life, wondering how our famous hero would interpret these things in my life and what I might learn from his good senseRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream1752 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"Lord, what fools these mortals be!†Ã¢â‚¬Å"The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.† â€Å"A tragedy is a tragedy, and at the bottom, all tragedies are stupid. Give me a choice and I ll take A Midsummer Night s Dream over Hamlet every time. Any fool with steady hands and a working set of lungs can build up a house of cards and then blow it down, but it takes a genius to make people laugh.† The combination of William Shakespeare, Horace Walpole,and Steven King runRead MoreAn Analysis of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a Picaresque Tale2155 Words   |  9 PagesAn Analysis of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a Picaresque Tale A picaresque novel is based on a story that is typically satirical and illustrates with realistic and witty detail the adventures of a roguish hero of lower social standing who lives by their common sense in a corrupt society. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is an eminent example of picaresque literature. There are many aspects of the novel that portray picaresque through the history and personality of the mainRead Morewisdom,humor and faith19596 Words   |  79 Pageslaughter is just as admissible in great literature, posing universal problems, as seriousness. Certain essential aspects of the universe are accessible only to laughter.†10 Bakhtin includes the Frenchman Rabelais, the Spaniard Cervantes (author of Don Quixote), and the Englishman Shakespeare as the three great writers of this early era when humor often reflected wisdom. He also mentions the Dutchman Erasmus’s In Praise of Folly (1509) as â€Å"one of the greatest creations of carnival la ughter in world literature

Capital Punishment- Informative Essay - 1272 Words

An innocent man is wrongly executed whilst a man who raped and murdered a mother and her thirteen year old daughter spends the rest of his life with three meals a day and cable television. Which of these is the bigger injustice? The use of the death penalty to punish serious crimes is a very controversial topic and there is much debate surrounding the issue. This paper will briefly discuss arguments supporting and against the use of the death penalty. The death penalty which is also known as capital punishment is the punishment of a crime by execution. (Washington Post 2008: e.data) Such extreme sentences are awarded for very serious crimes such as premeditated murder, multiple murders, repeated crimes, rape and murder and so on, where†¦show more content†¦(Death Row on Trial 2001: video) Religiously, the death penalty can also be morally justified because the Bible states â€Å"an eye for an eye† (Exodus 21:23-27) which can be interpreted as a life for a life. The death penalty is also widely opposed by people across America because it is argued to be immoral, a form of torture, economically biased, susceptible to error and does not act as a deterrent. In contrast to the opponent’s view, supporters believe that religiously the death penalty is wrong because the Bible says â€Å"Thou shalt not kill†. (sixth commandment) It is also argued that if killing is wrong, then the government should not use it as a form of punishment (Death Row on Trial 2001: video) â€Å"how can we kill people who kill people to show its wrong† (Death Row on Trial 2001: video) Also when a person is sentenced to death, they are told how they will be killed and when, until finally they are taken to be executed, which could be years after receiving the original sentence. (Washington Post 2008: e.data) This period in which the convicted person must wait is considered to be a form of torture, (Washington Post 2008: e.data; Death Row on Trial 2001: vi deo) especially when in some cases the person will often see or even hear being tested the chair in which they will be executed. (Death Row on Trial 2001: video) Another majorShow MoreRelatedKoch Body Paragraphs860 Words   |  3 PagesKoch Body Paragraphs In April 1985, Edward I. Koch published his essay on capital punishment in the liberal magazine New Republic. Koch was a hardworking congressman who eventually became the gutsy mayor of New York between 1978 and 1989. In his essay â€Å"Death and Justice†, he addresses common arguments liberals make against the death penalty. According to Koch, â€Å"Life is indeed precious.... had the death penalty been a real possibility in the minds of these murderers, they might well have stayedRead MoreThe Death Penalty by David Bruck Essay1123 Words   |  5 Pagesagainst capital punishment. His purpose is to persuade readers against the death penalty in order for them to realize that it is inhuman, irrational, and that â€Å"neither justice nor self-preservation demands that we kill men whom we have already imprisoned.† Bruck does not employ an array of devices but he does employ some such as juxtaposition, rhetorical questions, and appeals to strengthen his argument. He establ ishes an informal relationship with his audience of supporters of capital punishment suchRead MoreThe Issue Of The Death Penalty1795 Words   |  8 Pagesbe answered through this informative and perspectivally essay addressing the issue of the Death Penalty, explaining why it should be abolished and wiped off the face of this earth, never to be conceived of again. I believe that it should be exterminated for many reasons, mainly because it violates human rights, it does not deter crime, and it’s running the risk of executing innocent people. This essay entails many topics and subtopics throughout it’s exquisite informative structure. To kick thingsRead MoreGun Control859 Words   |  4 PagesScholarly Essay: Gun Control There has been considerable debate recently in Canada over the issue of gun control. The Canadian parliament enacted the Firearms Act to enforce gun control by requiring gun owners to register their firearms. Just recently, the government of Alberta lead in a charge, including five other provinces and numerous pro-gun groups, complaining that the law is unconst... Gun Control Gun control Gun Control Part I:Introduction The issue of gun control and violenceRead MorePublic Criminology Essay3270 Words   |  14 Pageslevel, as discovered through this essay. It doesn’t just include lab work, research and discoveries, it involves community based teaching in a way that the public can be informed and educated through upfront communication. Throughout this essay, the broad definition of public criminology will be discussed as well as its relevance to society. As with anything, there are challenges and promises that accompany public criminology and those will be stated in this essay. Examples will be given to help youRead More Comparing and Contrasting the Novel and Movie Version of The Scarlet Letter3029 Words   |  13 Pagesa movie script is a juvenile form of writing, a shrub to the oak of a novel. Upon reading both the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and viewing the film produced by Roland Joffe, one notices the tremendous effort put into both. This essay will explore the many differences and similarities between the book and movie. nbsp; The film is freely adapted from the novel. The word free describing the adaptation is well used- there are major differences in terms of time frame, charactersRead MoreHow to Write a Business Report Essay18530 Words   |  75 PagesReports and proposals After reading this chapter you should be able to: †¢ Explain the differences and similarities between formats, types or sub-genres of reports †¢ Explain the differences and similarities between reports and essays †¢ Explain why documents need to contain an appropriate balance of information and persuasion †¢ Demonstrate competence in writing a longer, analytical research report †¢ Explain the differences between reports and submissions, proposals and tenders So you’ve got toRead MoreMr Benett and the Failures of Fatherhood8365 Words   |  34 Pagesattributing no theoretical to her work; she admitted preten having significance sions at all, claiming only accuracy and proportion and wit for her vir tues.1 once Despite again the her well-known of demurrers, subject in Jane I want Austens in this essay to raise canvass problem novels?to to social from a sociological point of view the nature of her response and economic in English society. My reason for sifting over the changes in the evidence is that I think an adjustment already finely groundRead MoreEssay on the Role of Women in Ancient Greece14417 Words   |  58 Pagesneighboring land and people, which fundamentally changed the marginal products of Spartan men’s and Spartan women’s labor. To exploit the potential gains from a reallocation of labor—specifically, to provide the appropriate incentives and the proper human capital formation—men granted women property (and other) rights. Consistent with our explanation for the rise of women’s rights, when Sparta lost the conquered land several centuries later, the rights for women disappeared. Two conclusions emerge that mayRead MoreCalculus Oaper13589 Words   |  55 Pageshttp://www.terry.uga.edu/~dawndba/4500compulsoryhet.htm Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence †¨ Adrienne Rich    Adrienne Rich s essay constitutes a powerful challenge to some of our least examined sexual assumptions. Rich turns all the familiar arguments on their heads: If the first erotic bond is to the mother, she asks, could not the natural sexual orientation of both men and women be toward women? Rich s radical questioning has been a major intellectual force

World Literature Touch in Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro Free Essays

In novels as sensual as Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro, it is not surprising that the authors employ a variety of literary techniques and imagery. Amongst them, not as prominent as the sense of hearing but still salient, is the sense of touch. I will examine how narrators in Dom Casmurro and Pedro Paramo use the sense of touch to reveal their inner motivations and feelings about a situation or character. We will write a custom essay sample on World Literature: Touch in Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro or any similar topic only for you Order Now Touch can symbolize relationships. When two characters touch shoulders in Pedro Paramo, for example, this seems to show siblinghood. Juan and Abundio walk â€Å"side by side, so close [their] shoulders [are] nearly touching† (5). Juan and Abundio turn out to be half brothers. They share a father and are nearly brothers, just as their shoulders nearly touch, but their different mothers create both a genetic and physical gap between them. Later in the story, Donis’s sister â€Å"[goes] to stand beside him, leaning against his shoulder† (53). Their shoulders do not merely touch, which would confirm that they are siblings; she leans against Donis, suggesting their relationship extends beyond a familial one. Although this has already been strongly implied, Donis’s sister leans against Donis before asking Juan whether he truly understands the relationship between her and Donis. Rulfo has already revealed that they are incestuous, but the action coupled with her question shows that neither the reader nor Juan realizes fully the nature of this relationship. Like Rulfo, Machado de Assis uses one way of touching, in his case, men brushing against Capitu’s arms, in different situations. This results in different repercussions. Capitu’s shapely arms draw attention whenever she and Bento attend balls. However, during the first night they are merely admired and when other men touch her it seems incidental, innocuous: â€Å"however much they might touch other frock coats† (183). Bento mentions this touch fleetingly. His focus is on Capitu’s arms, not male attention. On the second night, the men are crasser, going from admiring to staring, â€Å"almost begging for them, and brushed their black sleeves against them† (183). Bento lingers more on the males’ touching and less on Capitu’s arms, like he is more concerned about the attention his wife is garnering than the object of the attention. The details he notes also speak of his uneasiness. Whereas during the first night, the men wear gentlemanly frock coats, the second night they are dressed in black, which can symbolize evilness. As a matter of fact, detail is used in both Dom Casmurro and Pedro Paramo by the narrators to reveal their feelings about other characters. When either narrator describes the touching at length, or notices even the smallest aspects of it, he shows how important this touch is to him. As young Pedro Paramo and Susana San Juan fly kites together, Pedro urges, â€Å"‘Help me, Susana. ’ And soft hands would tighten on [his]† (12). The fact that Pedro notes Susana’s hands are soft suggests that he harbours a liking for her, for to notice her soft hands, he would need to pay more attention to her hands than the string he is letting out or the kite he is flying. This action is also indicative of their relationship. Susana is Pedro’s lifelong love, and though she enjoys his company and likes him, it is only as a friend. Thus, while she is simply happy to fly kites with him and tightens her hands around his only to help him let out more string, Pedro takes note of how she acts around him and treasures her harmless actions. They appear much more meaningful to him than to her. Machado de Assis uses details in very similar circumstances. As Bento combs Capitu’s hair, â€Å"[his] fingers [brush] her neck, or her back with its cotton dress: it [is] a delicious sensation† (64). He does not simply concentrate on the task at hand, he takes pleasure in accidental touches, no matter how minor, just like Pedro. While this can show the reader his sexual inexperience, as he has not seemed to have had a romantic encounter previously and thus enjoys a seemingly chaste activity, it also shows his affection for Capitu. If Bento was combing the hair of another girl, he may not notice such minor details. The contact may also not feel as delicious. He also touches Capitu although it is not necessary to do so. Even if this is accidental, he does not make a move to shy away from it, suggesting that he wants to touch Capitu and likes her in a more-than-platonic fashion. The fact that he brushes her hair is also significant. Hair is considered a symbol of femininity, especially long hair. Combing her hair could put Bento in a position of power. In fact, in the chapter after he combs her hair, Bento â€Å"[utters] these proud words: ‘I am a man! ’† (67). Hair is important when looking at their history, as well. When Bento thinks about his and Capitu’s past, he remembers how she â€Å"ran her hand through [his] hair, saying she thought it was very beautiful† (24). However, he never reciprocated. By touching him so, and through other gestures such as counting his fingers, Capitu demonstrates her affection for him and shows that she is aware of her fondness. Bento remains oblivious, though, as shown by his lack of response. After he realizes that he too feels warmly about Capitu, he asks to brush her hair, proving both to himself and Capitu that he is finally aware of his feelings. In Dom Casmurro, touch can reveal character traits. Ezequiel is shown to be a warm and affectionate boy: â€Å"Ezequiel hugged [Bento’s] knees, stood up on the tips of his toes, as if to climb up and give [Bento] his usual kiss† (229). He is comfortable with touching his father, and does so regularly to illustrate his love. This can be contrasted with Jose Dias who, even when everyone else is hugging and kissing Bento farewell, remains â€Å"composed and grave† (98) and does not touch Bento at all. Jose Dias is not cold, but occasionally his respect and charm seem debatably genuine. Moments such as when he does not hug Bento farewell add on to this idea. In Pedro Paramo, Juan Preciado does not touch the residents of Comala when he arrives. He cannot; they are ghosts while he is still alive. Donis’s sister touching his shoulder is the first time touch occurs in Juan’s Comala. She is also the first living person he encounters. Although there is some disagreement over whether Juan actually died when â€Å"[his] soul turned to ice† (59), the fact that Dorotea is dead and lying in his arms, touching him, suggests that if he can touch the dead, then he is dead also. Moments of change are expressed through touch as well. After Bento sees that Capitu carved ‘Bento and ‘Capitolina’ into the wall, their hands â€Å"[took] hold of each other, clasping each other, melting into one another† (28). Whereas previously mutual touching was done in childish jest, and Bento was oblivious to Capitu’s attraction to him, now they touch each other with the ntention of holding hands like lovers. â€Å"Melting into one another† (28) can also show how they are thinking as one – they both feel the same way toward each other. When Donis leaves, Juan wakes up beside Donis’s sister. The majority of the tactile imagery thus far has been brief and subtle, but here Juan can â⠂¬Å"feel the woman’s naked legs against [his] knee, and her breath upon [his] face† (55). After being unable to touch the ghosts, Juan is all of a sudden pressed against a woman, a gesture that stands out from previous paragraphs due to its straight-forwardness. For Juan, it appears that the physical contact is like having to take care of the woman; neither pleasant nor unpleasant, simply thrust-upon and unexpected. Unlike in Dom Casmurro, even feelings about environment can be revealed through touch in Pedro Paramo. As Juan approaches Comala, he observes that he and Abundio â€Å"[have] left the hot wind behind and [are] sinking into pure, airless heat. The stillness [seems] to be waiting for something† (5). While this airless heat adds on to the atmosphere, it also shows Juan’s state of mind. The surroundings in this scene mirror Juan’s mood, showing that he is waiting for something too. He may not expect to find his father, but he is coming with Comala with expectations, and the closer he gets to the town, the closer he is to finding out the truth. The sense of touch is an important tool in both Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro. It can reveal aspects of character personality, relationships and inner thoughts and motivations. This symbolism, coupled with the other literary techniques Machado de Assis and Rulfo employ, helps create the vivid alternate reality of the novels. Word count: 1470 words How to cite World Literature: Touch in Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro, Essay examples

Concealed Carry Arguement free essay sample

Carry Citizens of Illinois, is it so wrong to carry a concealed weapon for personal protection? There are multiple citizens of the United States believe that it is their constitutional right to carry. Statistics show that the crime rates have dropped in states with concealed carry and the death rates have not really grown. There are multiple figures of authority that are for and then there are those that still believe that concealed carry is unhealthy for a community. I for one am for the concealed carry laws in the state of Illinois. There are many Citizens of the state and other states that agree with me and the numerous law makers that concealed carry in Illinois is a constitutional right passed down from our fore fathers. One Illinois citizen in particular, Mrs. Sue Darnall, teaches a gun safety class in Bloomington, IL. Her students upon passing the course are eligible to apply for a Florida concealed carry permit that is valid in 32 other states, excluding Illinois. We will write a custom essay sample on Concealed Carry Arguement or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mrs. Darnall says You have to answer the question: do I have it in me to take someone elses life? We dont know. We can train for that possibility but we never know until we have the experience. Firearms should always be considered a tool of last resort, she is an advocate for the concealed carry law in Illinois [Brady]. There are multiple lawmakers in the state of Illinois that are for concealed carry and yet there are equally as many that disagree and believe that it is a bad idea. We look kind of silly being the only state not to have it. It works very well, the 49 other states prove it every day, said state Rep. Donald Moffitt, R-Galesburg. Under the legislation, anyone 21 years of age or older who has a Firearm Owners Identification Card would be eligible to apply for a concealed carry permit. Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, the sponsor, estimated the permit would cost around $100. Phelps pointed to Wisconsin, which passed a concealed carry law last summer. They sold 67,000 permits the first week, Phelps said [Ehley]. Phelps also says, â€Å"Right now were at the mercy of criminals [Brady]. Yet there are still law makers such as, Governor Pat Quinn, who says, â€Å"The concept of concealed, loaded handguns in possession of private citizens does not enhance public safety, on the contrary, it increases danger for everyday people [Ehley]. † Each side in the intense debate has its own interpretation of what the framers of the Constitution meant when they penned the Second Amendment. The right of citizens to keep and bear arms is the bedrock upon which concealed carry support has been built across the country. Its a constitutional guarantee. I think people should have the right to protect themselves because law enforcement is not equipped to totally protect them. The only people carrying guns now are cops and crooks, said Madison County Sheriff Robert Hertz, president of Illinois Sheriffs Association that in 2009 dropped its neutral position and approved a resolution endorsing concealed carry [Brady]. The arguments are endless on the topic, whether it is a constitutional right or not. Some people say it is because we should be able to carry when and where we feel that we are in danger and need the extra personal protection. Looking at states such as Missouri where the city of St. Louis was voted the most dangerous city in America, the crimes against individuals has slowed and dropped in numbers since the passing of concealed carry there. Now if a criminal is uncertain that you have a gun or not, it makes him less likely to attack. Not forgetting to mention if criminals are already breaking these laws and carrying, what makes it so difficult to make it legal for others to â€Å"pack heat? † I personally believe that if a law was passed for concealed carry the crime rates would drop in the state of Illinois. The current votes against concealed carry on based on the majority of ruling over Chicago. What about the southern part of the state, we have crime too. 90% of Illinois state laws are passed because of the happenings in Chicago. If a law were to be passed I believe that a registration and screening process would and should be put in place to weed out â€Å"unfit† candidates. The Illinois laws already state that felons cannot posses firearms, cannot purchase ammunition, and aren’t eligible to receive a F. O. I. D card. We could even be like the state of Wisconsin who just passed a carrying law; theirs is not concealed but open carry. Illinois is the only state in the entire union that doesn’t have a legal concealed carry law. There are multiple precautions that could be taken to prevent increased crime. In example, there are states that have local ordinances that make it illegal to carry a concealed weapon around such as Washington D. C. made it illegal to carry a handgun around, the rest of the state has a concealed carry law. I say in conclusion I believe that concealed carry is a smart and safe bet, besides it is a constitutional right to carry. â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Human Relationships Have Always Been Dynamic. Change And Essays

Human relationships have always been dynamic. Change and adaptability have gone hand in hand with the passage of time for human society. Systems have been developed to regulate, direct and control the resources of this society. The systems are referred to as governments and the resources as the populace or inhabitants and forces of production. A government must be dynamic in its nature reflecting the change in society. At times these systems have resisted the necessity to adapt with its components (Society) creating a deficit between the system and those it regulates. As the deficits develop, they cause instability, and could lead to revolution.1 Theories have been developed to explain the systemic phenomenon called revolution. This paper will discuss three modern theories and apply them to the English revolution of 1640. The first theory, developed by Carl Marx (Marxism), will address the economic evolution in English society. This theory will emphasize and explain how the shift from a feudal/mercantile system to capitalism affected English society. The second, called the Resource Mobilization Theory (RMT) developed by Charles Tilly, will explain how the English organizations (the Crown and the Parliament) effectively obtained, amassed and managed resources. Samuel Huntington's, "Institutional Theory", will argue that the existing government at that time was unable to incorporate the demands and personnel that the socio-economic changes created. Marxism was formulated in the 19th century. Carl Marx and his associate Frederick Engels observed the socio-economic changes that were transpiring in Britain. England was the dominant world power and had the largest industrialized economy during the 1800's. The development of the factory and the institution of the assembly line created a large demand for workers. This demand was satiated by migrating peasant from the rural areas in England and Ireland to developing urban centers. As these urban centers or cities evolved using industry as the economic backbone for the population, a large number of factory workers were accumulated to operate the machinery in horrid conditions. These workers, which would be termed as the peasantry under a feudal system, were now the working class or proletariat. They entered cities with hopes of bettering their lives and survival. Though revolution never took place in England during this period, it allowed Marx to study industrialization, urbanization and imperialism. The theory of Marxism has three basic concepts: historic materialism, forces of production and relations of production. Historic materialism is defined as a society's past performance and present capabilities of satisfying the basic means of life. Humankind's basic needs of eating, drinking and shelter need to be met properly. The forces of production (technology, capital, the infrastructure of society, etc.) are important for the simple fact of who ever controls them controls the society. The last aspect of Marxism, the relations of production, deals directly with the relationships between classes of people (the aristocracy, the middle-class and the working class).2 Marxism includes a predictive analysis of socio-economic structures. Using history, logic and the dynamic nature of humankind as guidelines, Carl Marx attempts to map out a sequence of events which will eventually lead to utopia (anarchy). In his work, Das Capital, Marx details the six steps. These steps are primitive socialism, feudalism, capitalism, socialism, communism and then anarchy. The evolution of the English economic system during the 16th and 17th centuries points to a shift from feudalism to capitalism. This shift is exemplified by the enclosures. The landlords began to fence their property in the common land areas. The "commons" were large plots of grazing and farmable lands that were used by both farmers and artisans. When the land-owners and manorial lords began to partition these lands the concept of private ownership of property was introduced to the socio-economic system.3 During the time period of the 16th and 17th centuries the crown's economic base began a gradual decline. This economic shrinkage came to a spearhead during the reign of Charles I. The monarchy favored a monopoly market system over a competitive one. The purpose for this position was for taxation and control of the profits. As the artisan and merchant populations increased, the policy of the crown began conflicting with economic growth. This created instability in three areas. First, the English monarchy needed money to support its army which insures social compliance. The second area of contention was the restraints and interference the Crown initiated on the rising middle-class. Thirdly, the rise of the bourgeoisie created competition for the state sanctioned monopolies, reducing its profit. Howard Erskine-Hill refutes Marxism. He states that neither ... "the 'rise of the gentry' ... ideas concerning resistance to rulers ... nor even the narrowing financial base of the Tudor and Stuart monarchy ... determined the outbreak of the

Free Essays on Tuesdays With Morrie Vs. A Walk To Remember

Tuesdays with Morrie vs. A Walk to Remember It’s about noon. It’s that part of your day where you’re relaxing in your worn-in recliner thinking about what you have to be grateful for today. Or maybe you’re in 5th period English class, the sunlight is tearing into the classroom distracting you and you start thinking about that very same thing. Are you grateful for laughter? Are you grateful for tears? Once you’ve asked yourself enough of these questions you start to see the big picture. The number one answer†¦you realize you grateful for all of it. Okay, okay so maybe the synopsis above doesn’t sound like the typical setting for most of us, but for Morrie Schwartz and Jamie Sullivan it was. Morrie and Jamie were grateful for life in its entirety, even as short as it was going to be for them. In Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, both characters Morrie and Jamie are diagnosed with fatal diseases. The number one standing similarity between these two heart-wrenching stories was that Morrie and Jamie saw every component of the life they had, to be a blessing. â€Å"Morrie had always been a dancer but the music didn’t matter. Rock and roll, big band, the blues. He loved them all.† (page 5) Morrie is an older retired college professor who is just absolutely positively brilliant. Jamie is a high school student who doesn’t really fit in, but that doesn’t matter to her. What matters to Jamie is helping others and being spiritual. Even though both characters are very far apart in age, I see a big similarity between their so- called â€Å"karma’s.† Morrie still has that young kid way about him when you look at him. You can see he still hasn’t entirely let go of his childhood. He still has that twinkle in his eye. That twinkle that you know occasionally still wishes he could dream of going on rocket ships to the moon. As for Jamie she is young, a teenager. But she is a ve... Free Essays on Tuesdays With Morrie Vs. A Walk To Remember Free Essays on Tuesdays With Morrie Vs. A Walk To Remember Tuesdays with Morrie vs. A Walk to Remember It’s about noon. It’s that part of your day where you’re relaxing in your worn-in recliner thinking about what you have to be grateful for today. Or maybe you’re in 5th period English class, the sunlight is tearing into the classroom distracting you and you start thinking about that very same thing. Are you grateful for laughter? Are you grateful for tears? Once you’ve asked yourself enough of these questions you start to see the big picture. The number one answer†¦you realize you grateful for all of it. Okay, okay so maybe the synopsis above doesn’t sound like the typical setting for most of us, but for Morrie Schwartz and Jamie Sullivan it was. Morrie and Jamie were grateful for life in its entirety, even as short as it was going to be for them. In Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, both characters Morrie and Jamie are diagnosed with fatal diseases. The number one standing similarity between these two heart-wrenching stories was that Morrie and Jamie saw every component of the life they had, to be a blessing. â€Å"Morrie had always been a dancer but the music didn’t matter. Rock and roll, big band, the blues. He loved them all.† (page 5) Morrie is an older retired college professor who is just absolutely positively brilliant. Jamie is a high school student who doesn’t really fit in, but that doesn’t matter to her. What matters to Jamie is helping others and being spiritual. Even though both characters are very far apart in age, I see a big similarity between their so- called â€Å"karma’s.† Morrie still has that young kid way about him when you look at him. You can see he still hasn’t entirely let go of his childhood. He still has that twinkle in his eye. That twinkle that you know occasionally still wishes he could dream of going on rocket ships to the moon. As for Jamie she is young, a teenager. But she is a ve...

Intelligence Testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Intelligence Testing - Essay Example Intelligence could be honed through concentration and discipline. Again, the degree of grasping power of an individual may give him supremacy, average or below average ratings as against those of his peers. (Measurement of Intelligence) It is possible to effectively measure intelligence by means of intelligence tests. Intelligence tests are invariably designed to evaluate traits, understanding and the candidate's grasp of any specific issue. Normally these tests are sets of objective questions to evaluate verbal, numerical and spatial abilities. They begin with simple, easy-to-answer type problems followed by more difficult ones progressively. They also vary in range and scope. For instance, there may be one set of fifty questions where the candidate is required to answer all questions within a specific time period. Then, there may be another set of fifty questions where the answers have to be correct but it is not necessary to answer all the questions. Yet another set of fifty questions may attract deduction in scores for every wrong answer. To pass the test the candidate needs to score minimum 80/100. The ultimate purpose of evaluation is served with the use of different sets of problems that help reveal the candidate's traits and capabilities for any specific reason or general assessment. (Human Intelligence) Spearman's two-factor theory of int... They begin with simple, easy-to-answer type problems followed by more difficult ones progressively. They also vary in range and scope. For instance, there may be one set of fifty questions where the candidate is required to answer all questions within a specific time period. Then, there may be another set of fifty questions where the answers have to be correct but it is not necessary to answer all the questions. Yet another set of fifty questions may attract deduction in scores for every wrong answer. To pass the test the candidate needs to score minimum 80/100. The ultimate purpose of evaluation is served with the use of different sets of problems that help reveal the candidate's traits and capabilities for any specific reason or general assessment. (Human Intelligence) 3. What are the similarities and differences between Spearman's two-factor theory of intelligence and the information processing view of intelligence (Carroll's Three-Stratum Theory) 3.1 Similarities: Both Charles Edward Spearman and John B. Carroll dwell on cognitive factors analysis in their observations. Spearman was "pioneer in factor analysis, theories of intelligence, and mental test theory. He established that these three factors were not independent of each other." (Richard H. Williams et al) Carroll's "three-stratum theory of cognitive abilities specifies the kinds of individual differences in cognitive abilities and how these differences are related to each other." (John B. Carroll) 3.2 Differences: Spearman's two-factor theory of intelligence concentrates on the reliability and validity of the intelligence tests. He used mathematical methods and psychological studies to pioneer research efforts. His work paved the way for the application of statistical methods to the study of

Corporate Risk Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Corporate Risk Management - Essay Example In the past years, companies had a risk manager who would oversee the organization’s insurance purchases. In addition, the extent and undertaking of corporate risk management has drastically changed and expanded beyond insurance to comprise all types of corporate in use and tactical perils. Risk describes both the probability and severity of a loss event. Probability delineates the likelihood of the occurrence of the loss while severity denotes the magnitude of the loss in a given period. All organizations face risk and the resultant potential losses on a daily basis (Lim, 2010, p. 234). They willingly accept risks with hopes of gaining financial return. Intercontinental hotel is an example of a venture that is taking risks. An organization may be exposed to loss exposures that offer an opportunity to gain or not to gain. Pure loss exposures are exposures that offer Intercontinental Hotel potential for losses and no opportunity to gain. These pure loss exposures include  "asset exposures, personnel exposures, liability exposures and consequential loss exposures† (Merna & Al-thani, 2011, p. 167-169). Loss exposure has three primary elements. It describes the item subject to loss, the peril and cause of the loss and the financial effect of the loss. In loss exposure, the organization must have a loss of anything that could be assets, personnel or liabilities (Merna & Al-thani, 2011, p. 170). Personnel Loss exposures People are the principal inputs in an organization in generation of income. People could either be employees of a firm or belonging to a certain household. The loss of humans is indispensable as human capital cannot be replaced and that no value can be placed on human life. Personnel loss exposure refers to the probability that an organization will suffer a financial loss because of disability, retirement, death or resignation of primary employees (Siljander, 2008, p. 190). Intercontinental Hotel faces personnel loss exposures which, according to Lim (2010, p. 239), includes the â€Å"disability insurance, workers compensation insurance, long term care insurance, medical insurance and Medicare supplemental insurance†. Nonetheless, Intercontinental Hotel generates for the organization through effective risk management. In order to effectively manage the loss of personnel in the organization, it is essential to understand the value that each personnel contributes to the organization, and identify and evaluate the risks and dangers that affect the value of generation and operation of the company (Lim, 2010, p. 237). Intercontinental Hotel apprehends the value that each of its employees creates and then analyzes the dangers that affect the significance of its generation. In addition, the organization assesses the magnitude of the loss suffered after the occurrence of personnel peril. A loss of personnel in Intercontinental Hotel raises two further risk management concerns as to the employer’s liabilit y in administering and funding the employee benefit plans and the uncertainties involved in funding such plans. The personnel in any organization have a financial value to the organization. As according to Carrel (2010, p. 142), they assist in generating income for the organization. Moreover, the services that personnel render to the organization are valuable and cannot be replaced. In this regard, the financial value of an individual in an organization

Cultural struggle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cultural struggle - Essay Example Buy writing Mother Tongue, Amy Tan draws the readers’ attention by giving a reflection of people’s perception that the type and quality of English spoken by an individual represents one’s state of mind. She â€Å"†¦believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect† (Tan). Through her statements, readers get to understand that Tan used to look down on her mother due to the quality of English she was using. Further reading Mother Tongue reveals that Amy’s mom is an uneducated woman from China and does not comprehend Standard English. She used to request Amy to make phone calls on her behalf. Amy says that â€Å"she used to have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she †¦ a call to her brokers in New York. I had to get on the phone and say in an adolescent voice that was not very convincing, ‘This is Mrs. Tan.’. The mother as ked Amy to contact the stockbroker and pretend to be her. She, therefore, went ahead to talk to the stockbrokers by paraphrasing her mother’s jumbled sentences into understandable and meaningful statements, to the stockbrokers.Similar captivating information can be derived from the essay Two Kinds, by Amy Tan. In Two Kinds Amy Tan demonstrates that humans carry traumas of their past into their future by dredging them up either intentionally or unconsciously. She uses a Chinese narrator to bring out constant struggles that people go through while trying to find out better understanding and way of existence.

Role of Media as a Tool of Learning: Agenda Setting Theory

Role of Media as a Tool of Learning: Agenda Setting Theory Chapter 3 Theoretical Framework Theoretical framework of the study is a structure that can hold or support a theory of research work. It presents the theory which explains why the problem under study exists. Thus, the Theoretical Framework is but a theory that serves as a basis for conducting research. Theoretical Framework of this study has been chosen on the basis of the considered judgment of the researcher. This research has analyzed within the framework of Agenda setting theory of communication and social learning theory. Agenda setting theory will help to analyze the role of newspapers in setting the agenda for policy makers and formatting public opinion. Secondly the researcher also selected social learning theory. This theory will also help to analyze the role of media as a tool of learning and as a social institution in improving the status of child rights in Pakistan. Media has the strong power to effect and hold people’s mind due to its diversity. Researcher have suggested and given several communication theories to describe the diversity of media. This chapter is related to the explanation of different function of media, through description of two communication theories, in the connection with this study. Agenda setting theory explains how the media sets its agenda and manipulate the things and phenomenon. Media also give the selection of coverage to the issues to grip people’s mind. Seeing in this context, if media give coverage to the solution of the issue, it can play a constructive role for society, for being the part of process of resolving the conflict. 3.1. Agenda Setting Theory â€Å" The press may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling its reader what to think about† (B.Cohen1963). The concept of agenda setting was found in early 20th century. It was first discussed by Walter Lippmann in his book â€Å"Public Opinion† in 1922. Lippmann emphasized that the picture of reality created by news media were merely reflections of the actual reality and sometimes distorted. He said that the news media projection of world creates a pseudo environment and people react to this pseudo environment. McCombs and Donald Shaw defined agenda setting â€Å"in choosing and displaying news, editors, newsroom staff, and broadcasters play an important part in shaping practical reality. Readers learn not only about a given issue, but how much importance to attach to that issue from the amount of information in a news story and its position† (1972, p.176). Kurt and Gladys Engel Lang (1959) also wrote â€Å"The mass media force attention to certain issues. They build up public images of public figures. They are constantly presenting objects suggesting what individuals in mass media should think about, know about and have feeling about,† There are two assumptions underlie most research on agenda setting: The press and the media do not reflect reality; they filter and shape it. Media concentration on a few issues and subjects leads the public to perceive those issues as more important than other issues. 3.1.1. Functions of Agenda Setting The agenda setting functions has multiple components Media agenda are issues discussed in the media, such as newspaper, television and radio. Public agenda are issues discussed and personally relevant to members of the public. Policy agenda are issues that policy makers consider important, such as legislators. Corporate agenda are issues that big business and corporation consider important, including corporation. These four agendas are interrelated. The two basic assumption underlie most research on agenda setting are the press and the media do not reflect reality, they filter and shape it, and media concentration on a few issues and subjects leads the public to perceive those issues as more important than other issues. 3.1.2. Levels of Agenda Setting Media sets the agenda for the people about any particular issue in following steps or levels: The first level of agenda setting is most traditionally studied by researchers. In this level the media use objects or issues to influence the public. In this level the media suggest what the public should think about amount of coverage. In the second level agenda setting the media focus on characteristics of the objects or issues. In this level the media suggest how the people should think about the issue. 3.1.3. Usage Due to its effectiveness, the agenda setting theory has been used in political advertising, political campaigns and debates, business news and corporate reputation, business influence on federal policy, legal systems, and role of groups, audience control, public opinion, and public relations, the mass media has priming effects, in that the repeated exposure of audiences to ideas and information in the media triggers related ideas and feelings in their minds. The agenda setting theory directly relates to the present research because coverage of Minority issue had been analyzed and that particular coverage was under influence of the agenda setting function of the media. In 1960s Funkhouser Ray.G conducted a research to conduct a research to look at the relationship between media content and reality. To get the measure of public opinion he used Gallup polls and obtained measure of media content by counting the number of articals on each issue in three weekly magazine, Times, Newsweek and US News. Funkhouser (1960) conclded that, â€Å" the news media are believed by many people ( including many policy makers) to be reliable information sources but data presented here indicate that this is not necessary the case. The agenda setting theory is useful in explaining how the Pakistani Urdu and English print media sets its agenda to cover child rights and which issues are being highlighted in which direction with what context, and how they are being represented in Pakistani print media (Daily Dawn, The News, Jang and Nawa-i-waqt). 3.2. Social learning theory The social learning theory proposed byAlbert Bandurahas become perhaps the most influential theory of learning and development. While rooted in many of the basic concepts of traditional learning theory, Bandura believed that direct reinforcement could not account for all types of learning. His theory added a social element, arguing that people can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people. Known as observational learning (or modeling), this type of learning can be used to explain a wide variety of behaviors. 3.2.1. Basic Social Learning Concepts There are three core concepts at the heart of social learning theory. First is the idea that people can learn through observation. Next is the idea that internal mental states are an essential part of this process. Finally, this theory recognizes that just because something has been learned, it does not mean that it will result in a change in behavior. observational learning says people can learn through observation, In his famousBobo doll experiment, Bandura demonstrated that children learn and imitate behaviors they have observed in other people. The children in Bandura’s studies observed an adult acting violently toward a Bobo doll. When the children were later allowed to play in a room with the Bobo doll, they began to imitate the aggressive actions they had previously observed. Bandura identified three basic models of observational learning: A live model, which involves an actual individual demonstrating or acting out a behavior. A verbal instructional model, which involves descriptions and explanations of a behavior. A symbolic model, which involves real or fictional characters displaying behaviors in books, films, television programs, or online media. Intrinsic reinforcement Bandura explained that mental state is important to learn. He noted that external, environmental reinforcement was not the only factor to influence learning and behavior. He described intrinsic reinforcement as a form of internal reward, such as pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. This emphasis on internal thoughts and cognitions helps connect learning theories to cognitive developmental theories. While many textbooks place social learning theory with behavioral theories, Bandura himself describes his approach as a social cognitive theory. Learning does not necessarily lead to a change in behavior while behaviorists believed that learning led to a permanent change in behavior, observational learning demonstrates that people can learn new information without demonstrating new behaviors. 3.2.2. Modeling process Not all observed behaviors are effectively learned. Factors involving both the model and the learner can play a role in whether social learning is successful. Certain requirements and steps must also be followed. The following steps are involved in the observational learning and modeling process: Attention in order to learn, you need to be paying attention. Anything that detracts your attention is going to have a negative effect on observational learning. If the model interesting or there is a novel aspect to the situation, you are far more likely to dedicate your full attention to learning. Retention the ability to store information is also an important part of the learning process. Retention can be affected by a number of factors, but the ability to pull up information later and act on it is vital to observational learning. Reproduction once you have paid attention to the model and retained the information, it is time to actually perform the behavior you observed. Further practice of the learned behavior leads to improvement and skill advancement. Motivation Finally, in order for observational learning to be successful, you have to be motivated to imitate the behavior that has been modeled. Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in motivation. While experiencing these motivators can be highly effective, so can observing other experience some type of reinforcement or punishment. For example, if you see another student rewarded with extra credit for being to class on time, you might start to show up a few minutes early each day. 3.2.3. Social learning theory and Mass communication Symbolic models are another type of model that we can learn from. These are non-live models such as those we see on television or read about in books. Other forms of symbolic models include verbal instruction as when an instructor describes for us the actions for driving a car. In this case the teacher’s verbal descriptions combined with demonstration, usually teaches us most of what we need to know. This is fortunate, for if we had to learn to drive exclusively from consequences of our own actions, few of would survive the driving process (Bandura 1962). As described by Bandura, there are four components of observational learning. To successfully imitate a model we must 1) attend to the model, 2) have some way of retaining what we have seen, 3) have the necessary motor skills to reproduce the behavior. If these conditions are met, we probably know how to imitate the model. Still, one may choose not to. Our actual performances are controlled by, 4) reinforcement contingencies, many of which are vicarious. These four components are not totally separate. Reinforcement processes, in particular, influence what we attend to. As Bandura noted â€Å"we often attend to powerful, competent, prestigious models because we have found that imitating them, rather than inferior models, leads to more positive consequences.† In today’s society mass meda play an important role to influence human behavior through symbolic communication. Social learning theorists have shown that behavior is influenced not only by personal or live models but also by those presented in the mass media. Television and film models, in particular, seem to exert a powerful impact, and one major implication is that television is shaping humans motivation and behavior on a daily basis. Social learning theorists have been especially concerned with televised violence and use of alcohol and its effect on children. Research has shown that, in fact, it can increase children’s aggressiveness and tendency to consume alcohol within their lifetime. Although these findings are complex, it does raise concerns about how much television our youth attends to and what exactly is the content of the programs that they are viewing, including advertisements. An exposure study of Anheuser-Busch’s 1995 frog campaign on children 9 to 11 years of age found that 95% of the children recognized Tony the Tiger while 81% recognized the beer frogs. Overall, 73% of the sample remembered the slogan â€Å"Bud-weis-er† and 81% knew the frogs sold beer. Boys were more likely than girls to remember the product. More children recalled the Budweiser slogan than the slogans for commercials and characters shown during children’s programs (Alcohol Policy Network). What gives significance to vicarious influence is that observers can acquire lasting attitudes, emotional reactions, and behavioral proclivities toward persons, places or things that have been associated with modeled emotional experiences. They learn to fear the things that frightened models, to dislike what repulsed them and to like what gratified them (Bandura, 1986). At times, television often represents social realities in human nature, social relations, and day to day life of human interactions. The potential danger of heavy consumption of television is the exposure to this symbolic world may make the televised images appear to the authentic state of human affairs. This outcome can be detrimental to those individuals that have no other models that they can observe. In the absence of a parent, guardian or peer that is able to explain reality from fiction, the child may be more inclined to attend and reproduce the modeled behavior seen on television. The fashion and taste industries rely heavily on the social prompting power of modeling. Because the potency of vicarious influences can be enhanced by showing modeled acts bringing rewards, vicarious outcomes figure prominently in advertising campaigns. Thus, drinking a certain brand of wine or using a particular shampoo wins the loving admiration of beautiful people, enhances job performance, masculinizes self-conception, and actualizes individualism (Bandura 2002). Bandura and other researchers have concluded that the mass media not only creates personal attributes but also can alter pre-existing ones based on exposure. Exposure plays a large role in the process of social learning theory. Another important aspect of social learning theory in relation to mass media is the flow of information through social networks. As noted before, the exposure that one experiences through Television is often a contributing factor toward behavior, but even humans that do not watch television or listen to radio are affected by the mass media. People are intertwined in networks of relationships that include co-workers, friendships, classmates, teammates, intimate relationships and family members. Because these social networks often overlap, people are often directed by the media to designate what is important to discuss and what the current public agenda may be during a given time period. Therefore, the individual that does not watch television is often involved in social interaction that is based on communication with television viewers and other media consumers. This communication can lead to the same behavior being displayed by the consumer as well as the non-consumer. This abstract modeling that youth can reproduce through observation can provide us valuable information and direction while educating our youth. Bandura’s work should do a good deal to increase our awareness of the importance of models in child-rearing and education. Although most parents and teachers are already somewhat aware of the fact that they teach by example, they probably have also overlooked how important influential modeling can become. A case in point is physical punishment; many parents attempt to prevent their children from fighting by spanking them when they fight. By spanking, the parents are inadvertently providing a good demonstration of how to control others physically. Similarly, social learning theorists have taught us that whenever we find that we are unable to rid a child of some distressing bit of behavior, we might ask whether we have been inadvertently modeling the behavior ourselves (Schunk, 1996). Social learning theory has generated much research. Evidence shows that social learning theory and one’s sense of self efficacy predicts such diverse outcomes as alcohol abuse, smoking cessation, pain tolerance, athletic performance, career choices, assertiveness, coping with feared events, recovery from medical procedures and sales performance. Media is a tool of learning and a social institution. In today’s society media play an important role for opinion formation. In this study researcher will analyze that how symbolic learning influence the behaviors of people towards child rights. Does content published in print media played any important role to improve the status of child in Pakistan? Did Government take serious notice of news based on violations of child rights published in newspaper?.

What is Nuclear Power? Essay -- essays research papers fc

The process used was to gather information from books, the Internet, and interviewing my father who works at a nuclear power plant.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many forms of energy. Coal, gas, oil, and nuclear power are the most common forms of energy used in the United States. Three of these energies are limited: coal, gas, and oil. Nuclear power is unlike the other three because it uses the fission process instead of combustion. This form of power is unlimited. It produces heat energy like the others, but does not produce Carbon Dioxide and other particulate emissions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nuclear Power is made by Nuclear Fission. To create fission you must split a nucleus (usually Uranium) with a neutron. This starts a chain reaction that continues endlessly. In the reaction the splitting creates energy, as the energy bonds that tie the sub-atomic particles (protons, neutrons and electrons) together are broken. Only a small amount of energy is released by each fission, but billions of fissions are occurring, adding up to a lot of heat energy. This is a very powerful energy that makes up 20% of electricity generation in the US. Fission Process   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A byproduct of Nuclear Power is Radiation. There are three types of radiation. One is called Gamma Rays. It is very dangerous to your skin and organs. Gamma Rays can be stopped by several feet of concrete and a few inches of lead. To reduce the harm exposure to Gamma radiation can ...