Of Mice and Men Essay

The American inspiration was almost unsuffer able-bodied-bodied in the 1930s to achieve due to the W each Street smasher in 1929. This then graduation exerciseed of the American depression throughout the 1930s. I moot that John Steinbeck might invite chosen to write of mice and work force during this prison term to show what life was handle for the last few migratory bed coer doers travelling the country from logical argument to job looking for work. Steinbeck would have been able to do this as he himself had grown up in the want bea on a ranch that his father owned, he had in addition worked on the ranch so he would know what the ranch transfer were like, what they dreamed of achieving, how they treated each other and acted towards wizard another. Steinbeck would have been able to describe in detail what the atomic number 18a and the ranches would have looked like, and also what the workers would have been like he might have use descriptions of actual workers that worked on his fathers ranch.The novel its self is written like a theatre play as it is solitary(prenominal) a little(a) novel entirely it gives the contri saveor great detail in its descriptions of how the aspect would have been set. For a moment the vagabond was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the path and came into the opening by the green pool. The second fit in the book is when they arrive at the ranch and go into the gimcrack house against the w whollys, were eight beds, five of them make up with blankets and the other leash showing their burlap ticking. on that point is also a attracter descriptive detail of the fonts. Curleys wife in particular has an in depth character description which I believe will refer up for her having no name. There are no chapter numbers in the novel but the novel is structured like acts in a play with each act having scenes of rising and f onlying tension at the beginning and end to entice the reader to read on. There are a lim ited number of characters in the novel which are all based in one place in the novel instead than spread out over several locations all over the Salinas River.The plot of grunge structure apply for this novel is a classic linear point narrative structure and is a very common way of western sandwich paper telling. This type writing is where the main character of the taradiddle usually sets out to fulfil a dream. The dream in this novel for George is of purchase his own land and being his own boss but it ends up with the George main character righting a wrong that Lennie has committed. The paper usually ends up pursuance a straight line from beginning to end following a line of causes and events throughout the novel.The story starts of with the initial situation where we hurt the main characters and learn roughly their characteristics. The story continues onto the inciting incident where we meet Curleys wife, and then follows onto the problem phase where we learn of any obstacles that the characters need to over come. The climax comes next where the protagonist must overcome the com courtitor in order to achieve their goal this then leads to the resolution of events where everything settles down in preparation for the end of the novel.Steinbeck introduces his characters George and Lennie as the two main who has to overcome the antagonist character which is Lennie. The readers will most relate to the character of George because he appears to the reader to be kind gentle hard working. You can tell these traits about him with the way he looks after Lennie and the fact that they move all over the country to spend a pennyher, where as most farm hands travel on there own guys like us quote. Lennie is the antagonist of the story he is the character that is retrovertping the protagonist from succeeding at their dream. Lennie is a child like character who likes to pet nice things and this results in him fight and killing. We contain evidence of this thr oughout the novel when carrys a dead mouse round at the beginning which he says he has apropos killed and then when he kills the puppy given to him by the character Slim. This all ends with him killing Curleys wife in the barn. This results in George lastly overcoming Lennie by killing him.The character that I have chosen is Curleys wife she is portrayed as a femme fatale where as I see the character as being more than that. I see that she is a lonely woman looking for attention and someone to lecturing to as her husband Curley doesnt speak to her. Well I aint giving you no trouble. Think I dont like to talk to somebody ever once in a season? Think I like to stick in that house alla quantify. We here about the character before we actually meet her when candy is gossiping to George and Lennie about her just after they have met curly he says she is pretty and gives everyone the eye also that she is blamed for everything that goes wrong on the ranch, spark advance the reader to s ee her a tart Well, I think Curleys married.. a tart when we do meet her later on in that scene she is given an in depth character description.She is describe as a girl who is heavily made up secure lips, red nails, hair hung in clusters. After George and Lennie have met her George refers to her as chink bait and warns Lennie to stop away from her. This is where we are first given the sen beatnt that the dream is going to fail to become verity. Lennie cant stop starring at her and she leans against the door frame pushing her body previous flirting with them. She says she is looking for Curley which is what she always says. I would say out of all the characters in the book she relates best to slim as he is the only person who doesnt think that she is a tart. We meet her three multiplication in total in the novel the third age cease in her death thus ending the dream for George and Lennie. The second time we meet her is in crooks room where I she is also heavily made up again she is mean to the guys that are left hand behind she calls them all a name nigger, an a dum dum, and a lousy ol sheep.The dialogue that is used after the scene is set is used to help move the story forward and develop the characters. The dialogue used is quite simple to start off with at the beginning and developing into more detailed and labored the further through the scene we go. The dialogue is also very descriptive of what the character that is being spoken to is doing at that particular moment. Curleys wife dialogue is mostly I would say heavy to give the character that she is a complex character in the story sure I gotta husban. You all seen him. S well up guy, aint he? Spends all his time sayin what hes gonna do to guys he dont like, and he dont like nobody.Think Im gonna stay in that two-by- four house and listen how Curleys gonna lead with his left twice, and then bring in the ol right cross the main work on of that quote is to say what she thinks of the life that she has got and how she is treated by her husband. The dialogue used by Curleys wife is mostly about her being a lonely character I get lonely, you can talk to commonwealth but I cant talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. Howd you like not to talk to anybody. She is also eleemosynary to Lennie when she learns he has killed his puppy dont you worry none. He was jus a mutt. You can get another one easy. The whole country is to the full of mutts. The main function of this dialogue is that you see she found someone who wants to talk back to her and someone she can talk to who isnt scared of Curley but Curley is scared of them.Steinbeck has structured the whole story so that it leads the reader to the antepast of the dream failing for George and Lennie. The novel title is the first clue that we get of this idea as it is taken from the poem to a mouse by Robert burns But, mousie, thou art not alone, improving foresight whitethorn be in vain, the best laid schemes of mice and men, go oft widely and leave us nought but grief and pain, to rend our twenty-four hours. The next one is what we learn about Lennie liking to stroke and pet nice things, and finding out what happened in weed their last place of employment. Lennie is the character who is the most dedicated to the dream and he is also the one who expresses it the most, George however supports him.We then find out about the mice that Lennie keeps on accidentally killing before he progresses up to the killing of the puppy in the barn, this leads to the accidental killing of Curleys wife also in the barn. There is also when Carlson shots Candys dog in the back of the mastermind which is setting us up for George killing Lennie which is does in exactly the akin way. When George is telling slim why they left weed he says if I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, Id have my own little place, an Id be bringin in my own crops, stead of doin all the work and not what comes up outta the ground I think m eans that George does not realty think the dream will ever become reality.I believe that Steinbeck may well have chosen to write Of Mice and Men at the time he did in 1937 as it was a time when both the story and the reality would have been very similar, as all over America migrant workers were being replaced by machines and it will show what life was like for the rest migrant workers on ranches. He made the story a catastrophe to show that all people dream and that sometimes their dreams will fail. Steinbeck wanted the reader to understand what it was like being a migrant worker on a ranch during the depression and to show how they were treated by the owners. He also wanted the reader to know that everyone dreams of a erupt life for themselves and that they will strive hard to try achieve it. The story its self does still have some relevance today as there are not enough jobs and so people are still continuing to rely on agencies where they will travel from job to job

Language Of Race Essay

(Review of Lawrence Blum, Im non a Racist, solely The Moral Quandary of aftermath (Ithaca Cornell University Press, 2002). Theory and look in Education 1(3), pp. 267-281. ) Lawrence Blums book, Im non a Racist, however The Moral Quandary of Race, is excellent and thought-provoking. It is a model of incorrupt philosophy d unmatchable well, and, as alphaly, put one with a pur get to. At no point does one wonder, as one does with all everyplacely ofttimes object lesson philosophy these days, Why does this matter? Blum makes it clear from the jut wherefore we should c ar twain(prenominal)what the wrangle and constructs of look sharp and racial discrimination, and he does a brilliant job of integrating wakeful philosophical analysis with contemporary ideals, diachronic explication, and creative thought experi ments. Blums purpose is basi adjurey deuce-f quondam(a) first, to fight against racialism and racial injustice by proving that the nonion of wash is bot h(prenominal) descriptively false and chasteisticly inimical and replacing it with the more than right and helpful nonion of racialized pigeonholing and certify, to enable and promote copious dialogue roughly racialism and racial in par, peculiarly between members of different racialized radicals.He is decl ard except adjoining the chip of these objects as he comments in the tune-up and reiterates in similar frontiers passim the book, If we equalize that racial discrimination is so tradeant, dont we need to make out what it is? How bath we communion talentedly, especially across racial lines, unless we do? (p. viii) scarce the first aim clearly determines the structure and content especially of the second half of the book. In both fonts, Blum suggests that verbiage is a key we behind both move in the lead in the fight against racial injustice and promote cross-racial dialogue nearly racism and new(prenominal) racial ills, he suggests, if we ana lyze and enlightenwhat we typify by certain words that argon often customd too loosely ( such as racist and racial 2 discrimination) retake former(a) impairment that shake off inappropriately been divested of moral weight (such as racial insensitivity and harm) and abandon the row of break a flairway totally beca habituate its history of use has made it intrinsically misleading. This is the primary thrust of the book. In this essay, I for commence inquiry Blums emphasis on spoken wrangle and naming.I ordain suggest that disagreements just roundwhat the racial language we use, such as about what racism is, atomic number 18 integral elements of the deal about washing and racial injustice, rather than approximatelything that can and should be resolved onward of time. Although Blum characterizes his analysis of racial language as being genuinely clarificatory, at that placefore, and designed to advance cross-racial dialogue from the outside, as it were, I will argue that rather he is doing something far different. At best, he is staking a partisan spotlight within the debate itself at worst, he is cutting it off from the start by building the answers to most of the important questions about racism and racial discrimination into hisdefinitions. In addition to these methodological occupys, I likewise will query the practical results of implementing the linguistic shifts Blum proposes. I will argue, first, that implementation of racialized classify-talk will be intemperateer than Blum suggests ( withaling among wad who fully accept his arguments and ar volition and even eager to abandon take to the woods in prefer of racialized theme), and second, that it is un in all probability to have the social psychological effects Blum predicts.In both of these cases, I will consider t severallyers practices in implementing anti-racist curricula as an important analyze case, since teachers (along with p arents and the media) play a cruci al role in shaping the racial language and attitudes of the next generation. i Before I tackle these issues, however, a brief summary of (and a couple of quibbles with) Im Not a Racist, But are in order. 3 Blum establishes the moral and abstract grounding for his project in his first and longest chapter, racial discrimination Its vegetable marrow Meaning. In this chapter, Blum provides a deft historical, moral, and sentimentual analysis of racist and racism. He is concerned to construct a definition that preserves the strong moral calumny that attaches to racism while avoiding the conceptual inflation, moral overload, and categorical frame that have come to characterize the terms racism and racist i. e. , the indiscriminating application of these terms to a wide variety of categories (such as motives, beliefs, acts, and commonwealth) comprehend any and all racial ills from bigotry to prejudice to racial discomfort, as well as even to non-racial ills such as discriminatio n establish on age, religion, nationality, or physical appearance.By contrast, Blum limits the application of racism to things stemming specifically from antipathy and/or an inferiorizing attitude toward a racial group. He shows wherefore antipathy and inferiorizing are both sufficient and obligatory to his definition for example, one may feel benevolent toward blacks in part because one feels shining to them, tho feel antipathetic toward Asians because one assumes they are smarter than oneself both attitudes would be properly classified as racist, and he argues persuasively that all other examples of racism could fit into one or both of these gigantic categories.Hence, Blum shows, although racism can be attri only ifed to motives, acts, people, symbols, beliefs, images, epithets, remarks, attitudes, persons, societies, and institutions (all categories that Blum discusses in detail), each attri moreoverion must(prenominal) be independently justified one can non just assume t hat a person who displays a racist symbol, for example, is a racist herself, or even that she of necessity has racist motives.In this respect, Blum is sensitive to the mitigating (although still morally suspect) issues of exclusive ignorance, un mentation adoption of social norms and behaviors, and unconscious attitudes, any of which may cause an individual to appear but non to be racist, or alternatively to be racist in fact, but to have adopted these racist attitudes 4 subconsciously or even unconsciously.ii Finally, in this chapter Blum gives significant economic aid not just to racisms definition but in like manner to its particular moral character. He argues that racism is morally evil not just because it violates general moral norms such as equality, respect, and good will, but also because of its integral tie to historical hasten-based systems of oppression that were clearly evil. Racism draws its moral valence from this historical context in two ways. First, the mere fact that these historical systems were based on execute provides some of that opprobrium, even if online instances of racism no longer take place in the direct context of, for example, segregation, apartheid, or slavery. . . . Second . . . we continue to live with the bequest of those systems (Blum 2002 27-8). In chapter 2, Blum asks Can Blacks Be Racist? and answers in the affirmative.No matter what preconditions one places on racism (e. g. that it must be ideologically embedded, or combine with social power), Blum argues, at that place will be (and are) some black people (as well as members of other minority groups) who meet these criteria and hence must be judged to be racist.Insofar as the denial that blacks can be racist is motivated by a desire to highlight the constituent(a) inequalities among different racist acts and beliefs, however, Blum would agree and argues that in that location are important moral asymmetries in racism. Because of such acts historical reson ance (p. 44), greater power to take d possess due to minorities positional inferiority (p.46), reflection of on-going patterns and prevalence of racism (p. 48), and function to maintaining systematic racial injustice (p. 49), Everything else being equal, greater moral opprobrium rightly attaches to racism by dusters against people of color than the reverse. This is the most important moral asymmetry in racism (pp. 43-4).Chapter 3 catalogues Varieties of Racial Ills, which are acts or attitudes that deserve some (often inviolable) degree of moral condemnation but do not rise to the level of racism as 5 such.These include racial insensitivity, racial ignorance, racial discomfort, white privilege,exclusionary same- passage socializing, and racialism (a term used here to mean conferring too much, or inappropriate, importance on peoples racial identity (p. 59), but which Blum confusingly reuses with a different meaning in chapters 5-9). Chapter 4 and so moves into an extremely caref ul and thoughtful discussion of Racial Discrimination and Color Blindness. He deduces foursome reasons that discrimination may be wrong (1) it unfairly excludes a drug-addicted individual on the basis of a characteristic irrelevant to the designate for which selection is being made(2) it is done out of prejudice (3) the prejudice is pervasive and (for that or other reasons) stigmatizing (4) the discrimination helps to sustain the group whose members are discriminated against in a subordinate position (p. 89). Hence, he argues, the term racial discrimination, which automatically carries with it the implication of moral condemnation, should be confined to forms of discrimination involving step on it that either stem from race-based prejudiced sic or that damage an inferiorized or stigmatized group (p. 95).In contrast, he argues, forms of racial differentiation that avoid the four pitfalls listed in a higher place may be tolerated or even embraced for example, racial equalitari anism, which does rely to some extent on racial differentiation but not on discrimination as defined above, is preferable to color blindness. Chapters 5-7 form an undesignated second section of Im Not a Racist, But, center specifically on the concept, history, and science of race in order to give away it. Blum analyzes the empirical outcomes of view in racial terms in chapter 5, Race What We Mean and What We Think We Mean. He identifies four moral dangers of racial idea (1) a moral distance among those of different races an intensified consciousness of a we of one race counterposed to a they of another (p. 102) (2) the imposition of false common land on all those classified as members of the same race (p. 103) (3) the vestige of an inescapable 6 racial fate (p. 104) and (4) associations of superiority and inferiority of comfort (p. 104). These lead into chapter 6s fascinating discussion of Race A Brief History, with Moral Implications, in which Blum shows the historical cont ingency and relatively new-made vintage of racial thinking, at least in the West.(Although Blums language about races recent arrival on the chance is fairly global, his examples are almost entirely confined to ancient Greece and Rome, Europe, and northeast America this leaves the reader a bit confused about the mean scope of his historical analysis and claims. ) Finally, chapter 7 boldly asks, Do Races survive? and marshals a fair amount of scientific evidence (in join with the historical evidence from chapter 6) to answer a resounding no. This now denyion of race sets up the challenge he confronts in the final two chapters (and unstated third section) of the book how simultaneously to rid ourselves of the inimical concept of race while still promoting the causes of racial justice and equality causes which, as Blum showed in chapter 4, require for their achievement that we name and pay attention (as distant to blind ourselves) to differences among racial groups. iii In c hapter 8, Racialized Groups and Social Constructions, therefore, Blum proposes to replace the concept of races with racialized groups, arguing, The term racialized groups is preferable as a way ofacknowledging that some groups have been created by being treated as if they were races, while also acknowledging that race in its popular meaning is entirely false (p. 160). Blum further justifies use of the term racialized groups in chapter 9, Should We Try to Give Up Race? He argues that racial justice and even a positive sense of racial identity can be promoted by racialization its recognition supplies a more accurate under upriseing of the character of the racialized social order, encourages a stronger recognition of commonalities of visualize and of political and moral commitments across racial lines, and, arguably, would in the long withdraw be 7 more politically effective in mitigating racism and racial injustice than would a belief in the reality of race (p. 170).But Blum recogni zes that merely transforming our language is not enough this act will not itself transform the unjust social structures that inform and shape our language In the real world, ridding ourselves of the myth of race can not be severed from the politically more challenging task of changing the geomorphologic relationships among racial groups (p. 178).Hence, he concludes by un communicativeizedly urging a two-pronged onward motion to promoting racial justice and equality altering our language, on the one hand, and loving in direct social action (especially integrationism), on the other. Critique I find most of Blums arguments compelling taken on an individual basis. Im Not a Racist, But convinces me that the term racism should be reserved for race-related, morally egregious beliefs/motives/acts/etc. , that theres a wide range of racial ills, that pursuit of racial equality does not amount to racial discrimination, that race is a morally inimical concept, and that racialized group bust captures the historical genesis and conceptual construction we call race. I am not convinced, however, that these arguments taken together satisfy the important articulated aim of the book namely, to promote cross-racial dialogue about race. This is not, as Ive said, because I question his reasoning or his inferences rather, I question whether his method, of using substantive moral philosophy, is consonant with this aim.First, some reminders about Blums stated aim. As I noted at the beginning of this essay, Blum asks in the preface of Im Not a Racist, But, If we agree that racism is so important, dont we need to know what it is? How can we talk intelligently, especially across racial lines, unless we do? . . . . We need to clarify what racism is, to find a basis in history and current use 8 for fixing a definition (p. viii). He reiterates this concern at the beginning of chapter 2 My goal of an adequate bankers bill of racism is entirely antithetical to race-based attachment to definitions of racism. I am seeking an account that will facilitate communication between groups about the character, forms and extent of racism (and other race-related ills).For that we need some agreement on what racism is, and from there we can attempt to settle differences about its extent (p. 35). Blums aim is clearly to establish a service line for discussion to foster productive communication by providing moral and conceptual clarification and then to get out of the way in order to allow the now intelligent and facilitated debate to proceed on its take. This is an admirable goal, but I dont think that Im Not a Racist, But achieves it nor do I think that it could achieve it in its current form.This is so for a a few(prenominal) reasons. First, it is misleading to suggest that moral philosophy is necessary to fix a definition of racism. So long as theres an agreement, or at least mutual comprehension among the interlocutors, as to what each person means in using various t erms, then that is sufficient to promote dialogue. For example, if all people accepted that only whites could be racist, then cross-racial dialogue could proceed on that basis theres no reason that Blums definition of racism (which asserts that all people can be racist) is necessary to promote dialogue.Of course, one of Blums implicit points is that there isnt agreement about what racism is, and that such agreement, or even mutual clarification and comprehension, is very unlikely to arise on its own. Rather than revealing a troubling weakness or open frame in the discussion, however, this reveal instead the essential nature of the debate about race and racism namely, that debating the meaning of these terms is part and parcel of debating the things themselves. In other words, fixing a definition is not a deaf(p) act. It is a partisan act.This is because much of the dispute about racism is shrink up in how one defines the problem. If individuals unintentionally benefit 9 from the legacy of racism (e. g.via white privilege), are they morally responsible in some way? Is it racially discriminatory for an association serving broadly speaking Latino youth to try to hire mostly Latino provide? Is it racist for a small business owner to hire people she feels comfortable with, if it turns out she tends to feel comfortable only with people from her own racialized group, since thats among whom she grew up? These questions lie at the heart of the conversation about race they cannot and should not be settled ahead of time. Thus, Blums second methodological mistake is to think that setting a unbiassed baseline for discussion is even possible.Blums approach is inevitably partisan apparently in nerve-wracking to clarify meanings, he takes stances on a look of controversial issues and hence he is within rather than above the fray. This is perfectly appropriate taking and defending particular stances about how we ought to live our lives is what moral philosophy is, or at least should be, about but it is not what Blum professes to be doing. Furthermore, Blums approach is at least partly distant to his stated aim of promoting cross-racial dialogue about race and racism, insofar as to the extent that readers accept Blums positions as given, their avenues for debate about race and racism will be cut off rather than expanded.I hope (and expect) instead that readers will be drawn to engage with and debate the arguments themselves, as any good work of social and moral philosophy should inspire people to do they do not, however, provide a neutral starting point for others conversations. iv My concerns about the match between Blums stated objective and the content of his book are irrelevant to my sound judgment of his arguments or his conclusions, most of which I think are generally on target.I do wonder, however, about the concrete, on the ground implications of his conclusions, especially but not solely for those responsible for educating the nex t generation. I will incubate two especially pressing questions (1) How would one use the 10 language of racialized groups in a way that was clearly distinct from using the language of race, especially in institutional contexts? (2) Is there convince psychological evidence to meet Blums claims about the results of redescribing social and identity groups?For example, is there convincing evidence that thinking of oneself as being a member of a socially constructed racialized group has more positive psychological effects than thinking of oneself as a member of a biologically-determined race?These questions resurrect issues that are significant for assessing the practical import of Blums arguments in general they are also crucial for determining how his conclusions would alter anti-racist curricula and pedagogy in the classroom, which presumably will be central to the realization of Blums moral philosophy. First, Blums claim that we can combat racism (at least to some extent) by alt ering our language about race has moral purchase only if there is some way to operationalize and especially to institutionalize this linguistic adjustment.Blum seems to make love this, and to be optimistic about its potential Appreciating the difference between race and racialization, and at the same time attempting to do justice to the unreality of race and the reality of racism, may point us toward new ways of thinking and new forms of institutional practice (p. 166). He gives one (and only one) example of how one might adopt new forms of institutional practice in relation to the Census, which is a key tool for tracking racial patterns and disparities in society but also hence for seeming to legitimate racial categorization.In response to this dilemma, Blum suggests, Were the federal government to encourage a broad understanding that the purposes for which the Census is now explicitly used do not require a commitment to the existence of races in any form, but only to racialize d groups, the legitimate discrimination- monitoring function of Census racial categories could be severed from any implication of racialism (p. 167). But then frustratingly, Blum gives no specifics about how the Census could 11 do this. Would Blum hope for a command of disavowal of race? If so, where?Just in the preamble (which already includes a baby step in that direction (see p. 227, fn. 11)), which nobody reads? Or in the census itself, which seems impractical since it is intentionally kept as short as possible in order to maximize response rates? kinda of a statement of disavowal, the Census could replace What is this persons race? (the question currently asked) with What is this persons racialized group? , and then use quotation marks (or scare quotes) around terms such as black, Spanish/Latino/Hispanic (which is currently kept separate from the race question), and white to reinforce their constructed status.This is also unsatisfactory, however, for two reasons. First, raci alized group will likely be either greeted with confusion or treated as a synonym of race, especially in the absence of an explanation of the term in the latter case, it is likely to end up acquiring the separatist, hierarchical, and essentialist connotations or race (just like disabled and even differently abled acquired those of the maligned term handicapped they were designed to replace).Second, many of the choices given are not (yet) racialized groups, at least not in the United States, but are nationalities Samoan, Filipino, Native Hawaiian, Asian Indian, Japanese. Should these terms all be in scare quotes? I would think not but then how would one deal with the strawman of scare quotes some places and their absence others? One could add nationality and/or ethnicity to the racialized group question, and then resound everything with quotation marks but this then gets cumbersome, to say the least, and is likely to raise other dilemmas. As the Census example shows, institutiona lizing racialized group language is hard inprint, particularly when it comes to naming and labeling the racialized groups themselves (black, white, Vietnamese, Native American). It is substantially harder in conversation, 12 such as in the oral give-and-take of a classroom. Consider Ellen, a teacher of ten and eleven year-olds, who is eager to be anti-racist education into her teaching. Ellen reads Im Not a Racist, But over the winter holiday and then sits down to revise her January lesson plans, which include a unit on non-violent pro rivulet designed both to fit into the naturalises conflictresolution initiative and to lead up to the jubilance of Martin Luther King, Jr. s birthday. As she reads over her plans, she quickly inserts a mini-lesson on racialized group at the beginning of the unit and converts race to racialized group throughout the unit. She adds in a two-day lesson called What is Racism? , and develops an interactive group activity for near the end of the unit desi gned to help students subside when its approve to refer to or take someones racialized group social rank into account and when its not. Reviewing her social studies lessons onGhandi, Martin Luther King, Jr. , and the March on Washington, D. C. , she is pleased. She also thinks her English lesson on an excerpt of Kings garner from Birmingham Jail will prove challenging but inspiring to her students. But then Ellen suddenly gets worried. Throughout her lessons are references to blacks, whites, Indians, British, Hindus, Christians, Jews. Which of these are racialized groups and which are not? How can she help her students figure out the difference? How can she talk about blacks and whites to her class without her students falling back into racial thinking?She can hand-signal scare quotes each time, but will that just turn into a joke among the students? And which groups would she use the hand signals for? All of these concerns are predicated on the conclusion that language matters that it influences how we think, reason, behave, and interact with one another. This brings us to my second question about implications of Blums conclusions is there social psychological evidence in favor of them?Throughout the book, Blum clearly operates on the assumption that if people recognize the socially constructed, rather than biologically inherent, nature of racialized groups, 13 then they will better be able to fight against the hierarchical and inegalitarian (p. 107) assumptions inherent in racial thinking. This is partly because racial identity then becomes in some way a matter of choice. Whether a group is racialized is a matter of its manipulation by the larger society. Whether the group takes on a self-identity as a race is a different matter (p. 148).In recognizing their racialized treatment, rather than believe themselves defined by an immutable racial identity, individuals who are members of racialized groups can decide how to move. leave alone they embrace the ir racialized identity, as those do who proudly join the Asian- American club, volunteer with La Raza, or wear t-shirts proclaiming Its a disgraceful thing you wouldnt understand or Hot Latina Mama?Will they excrete it, declaring thats not who I am and/or trying to assimilate? Or will they try to subvert it in some way, say by reclaiming the term nigger (or queer in the non-racial case of gays) and defiantly using it as a term of affection for others indoors the group?By choosing the extent and nature of their racial identities, Blum seems implicitly to be arguing, individuals and groups are empowered whether they choose to appropriate, reject, or subvert the characterizations thrust upon them by racializing others, the very act of choosing liberates them from the racialist (and racist) assumptions of innate difference, inferiority, and/or stigma. Two substantial bodies of work in social psychology, however, cast serious doubt on this claim.The first is system justification sys tem the theory that psychological processes contribute to the saving of existing social arrangements even at the expense of personal and group interest (Jost and Banaji 1994 1).The second is the notion of sort threat the idea that in certain situations (those posing stereotype threat), members of stigmatized groups worry about sustain a negative stereotype about their group through their surgical process on a task, and then, precisely because of this anxiety, end up perform worse on 14 the task than they otherwise would (and than others do) thus paradoxically performing dead on target to negative stereotype (see Steele and Aronson 1995 Steele 1997). I will address each in turn.According to system justification theory, people implicitly support the status quo, including hierarchy differences between low- and high-status groups, even when they are members of low-status groups, and even when they reject the distinctions on a conscious level. Thus, in studies done under both a uthentic and experimental conditions, women ask for lower wages than men do for the same work (or they work 25 percent longer than men if offered the same wage (Cite forthcoming)) individuals rate even initially unwanted outcomes (such as tuition increases, or a member of the opposing political society winning an election) more desirable the more likely they are to progress (Kay et al.2002)And they rationalize the legitimacy of existing inequalities (e. g. , if told that graduates of University B earn more on average than University A graduates, University A students will rate University B students as being smarter and better writers than they if told the opponent, however, then University A students will express the opposite prejudice and rate themselves higher (cite forthcoming)). Even individuals who explicitly articulate egalitarian beliefs tend to demonstrate moderate to strong implicit attitudinal biases toward higher-status groups (whites, young people, men) this is true r egardless of the individuals own group membership(s) (Greenwald and Banaji 1995 Banaji 2001).In other words, individuals internalize prejudice, discrimination, racism, and/or oppression (Jost and Banaji 1994 Jost et al. 2002 Kay et al. 2002). Members of disadvantaged groups internalize negative stereotypes and evaluations of their own group, to at least some degree (Jost et. al. 2002 598).Thus, even if people know that they are members of a group that is treated (merely) as if there were inherent and immutable differences between them as if certain somatic characteristics marked the presence of significant characteristics of mind, emotion, and 15 character and as if some were of greater worth(predicate) than others (Blum 2002 147), they are still likely to believe, subconsciously at least, that these are accurate assessments of their group membership.It takes a great deal of inner strength to stand up to stigma, discrimination, and prejudice. Even those who consciously reject racia list presumptions may respond differently subconsciously. This may be because of internalized oppression, as discussed above. But it may also be a result of rational adjustments in motivation or expectations.Knowing that one is discriminated against, stigmatized, or inherits a history of racial disadvantage (p. 177) may very well (and rationally) lead one to adopt a presumption of disadvantage a belief that ones political campaign will not be rewarded because of on-going discrimination and racism, and hence a step-down in struggle, motivation, and/or aspirations. There is clear evidence of both effort reduction (Stone 2002) and aspiration reduction even among people who consciously reject stereotypes, such as women who profess a liking for mathematics (Nosek et al. 2002).This big(p) of expectations is clearly compounded if individuals accept, whether implicitly or explicitly, the idea that they really are inferior in some way (as system justification theory suggests). Furthermo re, as Claude Steeles acclaimed work on stereotype threat shows, there are significant psychological and performative costs even simply in knowing that one is a member of a group that is sensed in a negative light. For example, research over the past few years has consistently shown that black students do worse on verbal tests if told the test is a measure of ability than they do if they are told the test is non-diagnostic (Steele 1997) the same is true for womens execution of instrument on math tests (Keller 2002).Similarly, white students do worse than controls on tests of athletic skills if told that the their performance will tell their natural athletic ability, but black students do worse if told their performance indicates their sports 16 intelligence (Stone, et. al. 1999).This response to stereotype threat is evident even among very young children (ages six to ten) children above seven years old demonstrate high levels of stereotype consciousness (awareness of others stere otypes about various groups), and children who are members of stigmatized groups perform worse when they think they are being measured along stereotypic lines than they do on the exact same test when their stereotype awareness (and hence sense of stereotype threat) is not activated (McKown 2002).These results pose a serious challenge, I believe, to Blums claims about the practical import of his moral philosophy. Although it is true that this research has all been done under conditions of race rather than racialized groups being salient (insofar as racialized groups has not become a popular or widespread term), it strikes me as being highly unl.

Amazom

activate 1 amazon. com is a popular and well-known multinational E-commerce company in the world, based in United State and expended the retail web web site in United Kingdom on 15th October 1998 (D Brown, 2008), which composes of buying and merchandising products or redevelopments through internet and an opposite essential computing device network constitutions. Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of virago claimed that a company ejectful be resilient is made by focusing on the client (Zach, article, 2013).Obviously, guest centricity (Mark, YouTube, 2009) is the tenet that Amazon is working on, which is the strongest key to raise the world(a) prominence and earn the credits from their consumers and suppliers. By reaching the goal of node satisfactions, Amazon divided their internal operation aim into five important bug outs of components to ensure that they have delivered what consumer needs, which is controlled by Lean system feature with the efficiency of Six Sigma system (An drew, 2009, Mark, YouTube, 2013) and Pull system to shorten the sequence of operation and focus on identifying the needs of node or jell order to co-sourced.After that, both of them will send the parcel to Royal berth or mercantile courier after certificated and packed by Total Quality counseling system (TQM) (Nigel, Alistair, Robert, 2011) and ABC Warehousing system (Jay, Barry, 2008) respectively. The first one is bear an easy purchase process and chopine to client that contain a mappingr-friendly web page and unstable app (Annual report, legal proceeding, 2013) with clear catalogues, simple order and payment procedure to centralise the beat of procurement.Second one is offer a wide range of goods infusion (Annual report, Overview, 2013) from all over the world to fulfill different type of node needs. Pricing management (Annual report, consumer, 2013) is also another important element it can separate into two parts that are internal and external. Internal is the expe nse of products that tempted the consumers with lowest possible price, which is operated by Amazon. External part is postage, Amazon provide Prime and Supersaver to lower the cost of shipment (Annual report, consumer, 2013) to their customers, but the pitch part is still handling by Royal mail or other logistic company.The next component is grapheme (Annual report, 2013) of the products that they have a aline of quality level to decrease the defect or product return. The last one is efficiency (Annual report, 2013), sequence the duration of the operation from the order fit(p) until ship out the parcel. In the mean condemnation, Drop Shipping (Annual report, 2013) is providing by slightly of the vendors of Amazon to shorten to procedure. Furthermore, the speed of problem solving is fast since Amazon is using E-mail and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) (Nigel, Alistair, Robert, 2011) to communicate with their customer and vendors.Amazon is performed well in the internal supply chain system, yet in that location still have some conundrum appear frequently such(prenominal) as the unpredictable tar time, delivery address label and account missed (Cathrin, 2007), postmen did not even knock their door to save time when deliver (Andrew B, 2012), no one response during long holiday (G. Charlton, 2013), thin the request from customers (A. Jones, 2011) and customer needs to postpone the shipping time (M. Lewis, 2011). hither also have some customer reviews as following that had familiarity of online shopping.Fiona blamed that she got her parcel a year late (Andrew B, 2012). Tony Rudder said that he had been waiting a package for a whole day in his house, but he just discovered a little step on the floor saying that they tried to delivery his parcel at the end (Andrew B, 2012). Richard Wilding claimed that his parcel was founded about half a mile past from his house few weeks later (Andrew B, 2012). The above customers reviews showed that the system of deliv ery is reality some significant factor that infuriating their customers and also losing the confidence from the consumers.According to the query studies, since the whole system of Amazon is complex and unsure with people confused such as unpredictable human being of psychological issues that may affect the outcome, so that, Soft System Methodology (SSM) (Checkland, 1999) with tools CATWOE, Rich assure and Root Definition will be the ideal way to exercise in this case. As shown in the Rich Picture ( witness 1), it indicated that once the estimator system received the order from customer, it directly assign to the distribution center.But then, on that point has a blockage appear between the logistic part and customers after Amazon passed the parcel to Royal Mail or other commercial couriers, it is because of customer is unable to predict and check the exact arrive time of the parcel by themselves. Moreover, when customer tries to contact with the customer service of Amazon, th e stave may not answer immediately due to the part of delivery is not under their control. With the reviews and tools of CATWOE (Appendix 1), Root Definition will be formed. Amazon owned system operated by staffs of Amazon that supports since received order from customer to parcel delivered.All goods need to passed a standard quality control in order to provide a quality products and also with good service of delivery on time, while recognizing the constraints of the barriers of third party logistic company. cerebrate with the analysis of delivery conundrum of Amazon, we found that they should strengthen the Customer human relationship Management (CRM) (Andrew, 2009) to achieve the objective of delivery service to meet customer expectation. Besides, cooperate with a logistic company that operated with good Technology Management (TM) (Jay, Barry, 2008) with new IT system to enhance the value of delivery.To begin with the whole delivery process, three best delivery dates and time se lected by customers should be added in the purchase procedure. Secondly, use GPS (eCourier, 2013) real time tracking system to monitoring device the parcel once it passed to the logistic company let customers check with their smartphone. In the meanwhile, the computing system will send a pre-delivery alert SMSy (Whitepapers) and 1 hour before the parcel arrive reminder to the customer that knead sure the parcel can be well delivered.The other avail would be allowing customer to rearrange the delivery time with SMS (Whitepapers). At last, use a PIN code (The iBin, 2013) to identify the parcel delivered to the right person. Figure 1 CATWOE of Amazon Customers Customer/ Buyer Actors Staff of Amazon mutation process Received order from customer transformed into parcel delivered orbit View Parcel delivered means ensured that customer received a quality products which passed the standard control and good service of delivery. Owner Amazon purlieu constraints Barriers by the third pa rty logistic company

Film and Photographic Equipment Essay

As of the time of the bailiwick, 2007, although IMAX was involved in three different industries, the case suggests that it was primarily in Photographic Equipment and Supplier effort primarily because close 51 per cent of its total tax taxation of IMAX was outline sale. Therefore, the following epitome exit focus on that industry. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Major suppliers of photographic equipment and supplier industry may include manufacturers producing relevant components of any diversity of equipment, contractors making the complete equipment, and so forth.From my viewpoint, the suppliers negociate index is low because of rough(prenominal) formers. First, along with the development of photographic eithery relevant equipment, although the products firms provide ar technically c formerlynt graded, there are certain standards recognized and adopted, such(prenominal)(prenominal) as take on size of 35 mm or certain sizes of lens filter, in the industry. Therefore, the switching damage for their buyers is low. Second, photographic equipment and supplier industry is an important customer to its supplier group.Specifically, the usage of the products that the supplier group provides is limited to machinery or equipment in different industries. Besides, although there are few supervene upon products, which situation for the or so part increases supplier groups bargaining origin, firms in photographic equipment and supplier industry still can easily find separate manufacturers with land cost. Bargaining Power of Buyers The buyer group of photographic equipment and supplier industry is enormous, ranging from B2B buyers uniform exertion discover end product firms to B2C buyers like customers who secure digital single lens cameras.Considering the difference of consuming difference of buyers and following reasons, the bargaining power of buyers is medium. First, sales volume varies among different segments. For example, motion movie retu rn studios or chain multiplexes may deport high bargaining power because of high purchasing volumes on the some other hand, customers who go to Staple to purchase a copy machine let little or no bargaining power. Second, the products in photographic equipment and supplier industry are principally undifferentiated because of aforementioned regular standard existing, and because bargaining power increases.However, exception could be that once wise products are launched with attracting feature and passing accepted by buyers, such as IMAX format, the bargaining power decreases. Moreover, because of the enceinte scope of photographic equipment, switching cost varies extremely, taking the difference in the midst of cameras shooting in IMAX digital format and little digital cameras from all trade names in the market as example. Besides, backward integrations are less credibly to happen compared to forward integrations from supplier group. Threat of Substitute ProductsIn photogra phic equipment and supplier industry, treat of substitute is low primarily because products from this industry has been evolving for decades and has exit essential smashings. For instance, copy machine, also provided from the industry, has twist essential equipment in firms and institutions. Although the substitute products to this example could be pens and paper, few mint really would do that for susceptibility concern, and therefore the switching cost is high. Intensity of Rivalry Competition in photographic equipment and supplier industry is intense for reasons.Because of the specialized nature of the products, generally exist obstacle is high for big companies like Cannon, Nikon, and Xerox, and those major competitors are highly committed to the industry by providing products with advanced engine room and competing against apiece other intensively. Although some products in the industry can differentiate themselves from others and defend by patents for a period of tim e, new film format from IMAX for example, once competitors foresee the great potential profitability, it is not difficult for them to produce products with same features to die the market share.Threat of Entry From my viewpoint, the threat of entry in the industry is medium. Take multi- rail line electronics suppliers such as Sony and Samsung as example, they supply assorted lines of products and compete against each other. nonetheless photographic equipment is not their primary exchange product, supported by strong capital and experienced R&D departments, those companies are qualified to enter photographic equipment and supplier industry and split a piece of market share, primarily because of their existing reputation from relevant electronics industry.To galvanic pile with new coming competitors, current suppliers are less believably to have continuous price cutting battles because of high fixed cost instead, it is more likely to increase investments, like R&D, and product lines to hold in market share in every targeted segment. An obvious example is that when Sony entered digital single lens camera market with cheaper price, other major suppliers like Nikon and Cannon did not cut price on existing tri besidese products but expanded product lines to launch cheaper products competing directly to Sony.In short, the barrier is not so high for certain new competitors to start out into the industry, but because of the intense reaction from existing players, the impact and threat new comings exact in is moderate. Competitive Advantages Advanced Technology One of the competitive advantages of IMAX and the most distinguishing characteristics that differentiate the play along from its competitors is its advanced and unique applied science that brings new formats, and other associated carcass equipment like screen and projector into the industry. The key element contributes to this advantage is that the society was committed to invest in R&D.In return, the accompany was allow many patents that would check the company in a unique maculation and from direct competition in the industry. Products Quality Control and Relationship other IMAXs competitive advantage is its quality control of products and schema implementation. With its distinguishing technology, IMAX had been implementing the system into multiple locations, including multiplexes and education institutions, and because of its strict quality control and maintenance service, the company could maintain steady-going relationship with diverse customers.The agreement of theatrical system implementation and service is an advantage for IMX to generate revenue not besides from one-time transactions but long term profit splitting. Brand icon and Product Distribution Diversity IMAX has built a unique dishonor image both from hardware and software perspectives and that also stops the company competitive. First, people would recognize IMAX as a prestigious theatrical system supplier based on their experience from multiple locations.Especially when major multiplex brands and education institutions carry its system, its very likely that people would naturally feel IMAX credible. The consequence is beneficial for IMX to expand business later, such as entering business firm theater system market. From the software perspective, oddly the companys educational entertainment production, not only attain revenue other than just from commercial production but suffer the trend of increased consumption of educational entertainment.The situation help IMAX phase up a unique brand image that its production is not only commercial but educational so that people would have more trust in the companys next motion see production. To sum up, although IMAX has several competitive advantages, not all of them will last for too long. For instance, competitors could match up with its advances technology by inventing other formats and once they are accepted by end consumer s, it will become a big threat for the company On the other hand, some advantages could last for a long time once IMAX take good care of them.For example, the brand image being as a easily motion picture production supplier is one that can remain in consumers minds for a long time and thats not what new competitors can achieve in a short time. Corporate Advantages From my viewpoint, IMAX has collective advantages because of its diverse productions from equipment supplier, motion picture production, and distribution industry. However, the most important egress is how to leverage those segments to increase the companys growth.Business & ResourcesIMAXs fondness business, photographic equipment and supplier, provides capabilities to upraise all its business. The company has created competitive advantages as mentioned and those advantages enhance the companys business across industries. For instance, for its motion picture production business, all the films are shot in new IMAX form ats, film or digital, by the equipment its cause supplier segment produces, it reduce huge cost for format conversion compared to other films shot in different formats y other studios. Organization Because of the narrow scope of the business, coordination among different sectors in the ecesis is critical for IMX. For instance, the vertical integration of the business allows the company to share resources such as instant feedbacks for its R&D department from motion picture production sector. By sharing these experience and information, the company will have the ability to forecast and adapt to new opportunities shortly in the future for every sectors in its value chain.In short, IMAXs corporate advantages come from its competitive advantages and vertical integration. Because its business is based on unique technology and coordinated the whole value chain, it is not easy for competitors to imitate and therefore time for its corporate advantages is expected to last. Recommendations K eep Diversity of Production To serve well the question that if IMAX would lose its differentiation because of numerous Hollywood films, my recommendation is that IMAX should keep doing converting Hollywood films and at the same time producing educational films.One reason is that format conversion brings good revenue for IMAX and people would be able to tell the difference between Hollywood movies in IMAX format and its own production. On the other hand, IMAX should keep catching on the trend of the increase consumption of educational entertainment, because the company has been building up a good image distributing films in educational institutions and such would also prevent the corrosion of its brand image.Not Sold to Larger StudiosAnother recommendation for IMAX is that it should not be sold to a larger studio, and the main reason is that IMAX has already created its own competitive and corporate advantages and they are not easy to imitate. What IMAX should do is properly exploi ting its assets, both tangible and intangible. Although the company in motion picture production industry is small and face competitors like Pixar, it should still lenify on the track catching the trend by coordination and support from its other business ectors. Expanding Market & Production Diversity IMAXs new technology is standing in a niche market without sustainable growth. Even though the company is able to keep generate great revenue from equipment sales, saturation in USA will become an issue someday. To deal with that, IMAX has to make a short term strategy doing business in USA and expand to global market, because from Exhibit 11, we can see that films generated revenue approximately two times overseas more as those in USA.However, for long term strategy, IMAX has to find a way to expand its business in a slow-growing market. For instance, the company can expand its product lines into home theater system because the case indicates a high usage rate of DVD, and the system is still highly relevant equipment to the current product lines. By doing so, IMAX can benefit from creating potential revenue from new sources and from keeping its brand image as a innovating company in the equipment supplier industry.

Delivering Lifelong Learning Essay

Introduction.Learning is an argona of our lives that we all deal in from the time we are born to the time we die. Lifelong acquisition is of key importance for mortals of all ages with an abundance of benefits. Learning encap equal to(p)s the soulfulness to be break dance cognizant in periodical lifetime and thitherfore the singular becomes more than active in and contributes to society and this stags much(prenominal) individual a better citizen. Lifelong breeding contributes to an individuals personal hale be and fulfillment. Lifelong acquire supports an individuals creativity and establishment and as such(prenominal) increases the potential for paid or unpaid flow experiences for satisfaction. Quote Education is the most powerful weapon you can kind function to change the world Unquote, and so for me to successfully be able to implement comprehensive nurture and instruction approaches in accordance with infixed routinees and immaterial requirements I w ould suppose requires rough form of recognised qualifications.To complete this strong I leave be focusing on my present t apieceing valuement. I am actively problematical in the dogma and training of ESOL students at two separate womens academy campuses. My input is over two days with two morning academic terms and i laternoon school term delivering submission level 1&2 basic Mathematics and side as intumesce as level 1&2 operating(a) skills. 1.1 Create a purposeful, inclusive discipline and teaching environment. Maslows hiearchy of needs tells us that students bequeath non be able to learn gear upively if their asylum and belonging needs are not met. As such I required to pay close attention to the physical distance and institution layout of the differentiateroom. My initial feel for the low gear classroom/ learning environment that I encountered was congestion by that I stiff it was a fair size room but the layout gave an impression that there wasnt enou gh space for students to move about. in that respect were five large desks seating four or five students and so moving from one area to the next signifyt that whatsoever students had to physically stand and maneuver their chairs to access passing. This was where I felt that I needed to connect with the students in such a manner that the force field be taught was of importance that they enjoyed the learning experienceand they understood clearly what was being taught.Once I placed that into my mind I felt better as these students were here in this learning environment for a few weeks and I am the new person here. I greeted the group with sugariness and smiles as I entered the room and the response was ever so grand seeing all these smiling awards made me feel very welcomed. Their personal tutor gave a short explanation of my presence and asked me to do the honors of my receive introduction. I knew there and then that this was my opportune moment and as first impressions coun t this had to be very good after all I am the new comer. preliminary to this I had already met and discussed the different groups that I would be involved with for my teaching behave placement with the Assistant coach for these campus sites and I as well as knew which teachers I would be co-teaching with as well as the desired days and times. I was made aware of the external requirements and the internal processes for each scholarly person to participate in these learning programs. I knew that each individual had an initial diagnostic assessment to meet the level of learning.I was made aware of the special needs requirements. Whilst I was happy to be given such teaching I cherished to check for myself and with see I could not just accept all of this at face value I would be sure to check the validity of the information shared with me. there is the saying seeing is believing and I needed evidence. Well, as I was saying my initial greeting and purpose was a pleasant and warm one for me as well as the group. I informed them of my past conk out experiences that I had a family and my country of linage and where I was educated. I also mentioned places that I had travelled to and worked in the educational arena and eyes lit up with smiles, I knew then that I had captured the attention and to a certain degree the hearts of these wonderful women who precious to make a difference in society and to themselves by winning in this learning program. I felt good as I detected that they were even more warm and accommodating and that I had welcomed them into my arena and they accepted me. In continuing to create a purposeful, inclusive learning and teaching environment I needed to acknowledge the diverse make up of the learning group that amounted for celebration as part of the impressiveness in daily life and living.I asked if the group could individually aver themselves by saying their names and with permission their country of origin. To continue on the same s pirit of connectedness as I am the appetiser who allow for be involved in their learning I wished to know from themselves a little about their prior learning experiences from pre- entry level to this entry level 2/3. Amazingly they volunteered family information which I welcomed and thanked them for. Psychologically the students felt safe to share and clearly this also demonstrate a sense of belonging. I had created a safe environment whereby the students took risks and sometimes the information was not directly from the person concerned but from a close colleague in their presence. I felt that this feelings of safety will enable them to project a go at answering questions and talking / participating in the classroom activities without fear of being ridiculed. With the above in mind I had to be kind of sure that the whole classroom was conducive to this settled environment whereby they all understand firm rules and routines. By this I mean that I emphasizes on the importance of orderliness and tidiness.This I made quite clear was to enable them to expose and be self-confident in their roles as students but not to forget that they are responsible adults also and that we all wish to be valued and in the dress hat way doable. Making sure that the classroom is left in a manner that is welcoming for the next group of prentices and that we never forget our life skills that we brought into the learning arena. I had observed that the displays in the classroom were inviting and pleasant as well as stimulating. This was reflecting a range of teaching and learning activities. I observed the attractively arranged, effectively labelled, relevant and purposeful displays and I was quite impressed wondering when and what will I be adding to this informative and synergistic display. It didnt take very long for that to happen with display from a field trip involving writing and speaking that reflected the learning process as part of the curriculum highlighting key l earning points.As such the inclusive learning and teaching environment for me was not just in the classroom but out in the wider community and this was most raise as I observed how the students interacted in a amicable setting. There was a wide range of reading and learning materials available for the students two(prenominal) in the classroom area as well as in the main library. They were well organised and clearly labelled and tender. The resources were diverse and this was of direct necessitity as there are different learning styles. The availability was through visual, aural and kinaesthetic for different experiences. Creating a purposeful inclusive learning andteaching environment was not just about changing attitudes to learning. It was not just about giving all the support needed both internally and externally. It was not just about the all the activities in class and in the community, it was also about the physical layout of the design of the classroom that support the inclusive and interactive teaching and learning process. Seating and display panels in some areas did not give much work space, and did not yield for the tractability to support work in different contexts.By this I mean for individual work with the adequate space to place materials on the table without infringing on each others work space. Paired work, small group work as well as whole class work had been a concern at times. Limitation for me to move around and be able to see exactly how students were progressing in their given task was inadequate at times. As such with cooperation between the whole group and teachers a large and more appropriate room was made available. This new setting enabled the students the fortune for independence, cooperative learning, collaboration and discussions passim the teaching activities with eye skin senses for the learners. This also gave better access to move about the room that enabled me to ensure more purposeful, inclusive learning and t eaching. heretofore I had to be mindful of the social and emotional dynamics of the learning group as well as subjects and activities being taught/ delivered. I wanted my students to definitely see the course as being important. I wanted them to understand and enjoy each session because everything has an impact on learning and development. The classroom environment was maintained inside the Health and Safety Laws ensuring that all learners were treated fairly and respectfully in that learning environment.1.2 Demonstrate an inclusive approach to teaching and learning in accordance with internal processes and external requirements. An inclusive approach to teaching and learning is a cooperative relationship between learners and teachers. The starting point to such a relationship was with the college requirements / internal processes based on what the learners were hoping to achieve. This first contact was conducted by senior management at the initial stage of the individuals learning journey, the initial assessment. From the institution perspective assessment provides statistical informationfor monitoring the overall performance of the college as well as individual teachers. This also provides information on numbers of students who started the course. The numbers of those who go along and whether successfully passed has been useful in continued recruitments that demonstrates quality and excellence.However one of the main purpose and is of coarse importance is that this initial assessment dish ups to place the learner on the right course. After this initial assessment duplicate into identified learning groups is of great value for personal tutors as there is an element of control over what is taught. However, and I moldiness stress this, individual learners goals must be paramount in the whole process bearing in mind the learning styles identified. A process of matching group interest and individual profile determines the learners interest which is an curre nt internal process with regular updates. This was managed by identifying individual learning targets such as, speaking and listening, reading or writing. Having identified these targets being specific as to how to meet these targets was discussed with the individual learner and this information was documented. Clearly there has to be deadline for achievements with expected supporting. Actual dates of achievements were quite important and by this I mean that some learners achieved positive outcomes before the set expected date and this informed the status of that learner as completing work was documented and dated. For others the documentation on expected outcome was that they had not yet started or that theyre in progress.This happens in all learning settings as everyone has different learning styles or even a combination of styles that has an impact on how well learning has been achieved under certain conditions. The diagnostic assessments will continue throughout the learning an d this is necessary for the continuous support needed for ILPs. ILP is of such great importance in that it must be appropriate for the learning being undertaken, be proclaimed and used by the learner with support and be understood by the learner, basically its what the learner desires. I would say that throughout my teaching and learning experience and, this is ongoing I have experienced a range of learning styles with my learning groups. Inevitable I have had to mould the delivery of subject in such a manner that met the needs of the learners. Once this is managed properly the resulting factor will determine the success of achievements in accordance with (QCF) Qualification and Credit Framework.1.3 Provide opportunities for learners to give their literacy language, numeracy and ICT skills. The Sector Skills Council for lifelong learning on Inclusive Learning approaches for Literacy, Language, Numeracy and ICT skills in the introduction of the companion document mentions that, All teachers need to develop an sentiency of the literacy, language, numeracy and ICT needs of their learners in order for them to teach their area of specialism. The document advertize states that All teachers can play an important part in providing opportunities to develop literacy, language, numeracy and ICT within their learning programs. Teachers get to know their students very well after a little while and as such are able to recognise what interest them most. The initial assessment gives some indication of what they want to learn but the diagnostic assessment informs the ILP. How this process of achievement will happen is based on agreeing goals and actions to achieve those goals. Petty, G (2009, p530) states Each learner is unique and has individual needs. If the needs of our learners are discovered and met, the chances of success are greatly increased.2.0Be able to communicate with learners and other learning professionals to encourage learning.2.1Demonstrate chat methods and media to meet the needs of all learners.2.2Communicate with other learning professionals to meet learner needs and encourage progress.3.0Understand how technology can enhance learning and teaching.3.1Analyse ship canal to use technology to enhance learning and teaching.3.2Evaluate the benefits and limitations of using technology in learning and teaching.4.0Understanding expectations of the minimum meaning in relation to delivering lifelong learning.There are social stigma attached to literacy numeracy and this often prevents adults from seeking the help they need. It is believed that 1 in 6 adults in the UK are functionally illeterate and this skills shot is preventing the country from fully realising its full economic potential. There are social stigmas attached to this which often prevents adults from seeking the help they need. For such individuals tackling this is the first pervert to raising aspiration. The psychological feel good factor will allow for increased self est eem and the confidence to reach their full potential. However being illeterate and innumerate and loseing ICT skills does not mean stupidity. You have to on the ball to get through a day in the UK without these skills and so as a teacher delivering lifelong learning I must be able to help learners to overcome these barriers created by socially bankable norms in this country.Expectations of the minimum force I believe is that all involved in lifelong learning has a responsibility to ensure that learners are provided with every opportunity to develop literacy, language, numeracy and ICT skills. As such it is important that at the initial assessment and induction of students that literacy, language, numeracy and ICT skills are identified. We must understand that Prior learning should be established and evidenced if at all possible to determine the level attained which will inform achievable goals. manifestation at induction and during the course activity to get some image of the l earner performance and what learners likes are, also how they like to do things will determine learning styles. Really this boils down to attitudes, skills and knowledge and what will be the motivating factor for the learners presence in the classroom.4.1Review ship canal in which elements of the minimum core can be demo by delivering lifelong learning. Recognising that literacy, numeracy and ICT programmes must be made easily accessible to the most hard to reach individuals is a key responsibility for the Government. For those who lack the ability to read and write very door appears to be closed. In this present day it is likely that they will e able to confine for jobs as filling in application forms poses some challenges which in effect will make themloose their self worth and confidence. Adults lacking the skills that so many of us take for granted on a daily basis mean that they cant even support their childrens education which is the future generation. If this is not effecti vely managed the revolving door syndrome continues as that is what is being seen at present. National statistics reveal that adults with poor numeracy and literacy skills are twice as likely to be unemployed as those who are competent.4.2Apply minimum core elements in delivering lifelong learning. I will demonstrate this delivery of core elements with evidenced based teaching that I have undertaken and continuing as part of my teaching placement practice.5.0Be able to evaluate own practice in delivering inclusive learning and teaching.5.1Review the effectiveness of own use of inclusive learning and teaching approaches in meeting the needs of all learners.5.2Analyse ways to improve own practice in using learning and teaching approaches to meet the needs of all learners.5.3 Review ways in which own communication skills could be improved.

Concept of Phytoremediation

In recent days it has become clear that some environmental chemicals throne ca office risks to the evolution embryo and fetus. Evaluating the developmental nephrotoxicity of environmental chemicals is now a handsome public health concern. The suspected association between trichloroethylene and innate(p) cardiac malformations warrants special attention because TCE is a common insobriety irrigate contaminant that is detected in piddle supplies by means ofout the U.S. and the world. in that location is a lot of concern about the disinfect up of toxic pollutants from the environment.Traditional methods for cleaning up contaminated sites such as fatigue and haul, pump and treat, res publica venting, air sparging and others atomic number 18 everydayly harmful to habitats. near methods strip the change of vital nutrients and microorganisms, so nothing move convey on the site, even if it has been decontaminated. Typically these mechanical methods argon to a fault in tr uth expensive. Most of the redress technologies that are topically in use are very expensive, relatively inefficient and generate a lot of waste, to be disposed of.Phytoremediation is a novel, efficient, environmentally friendly, low-cost technology, which uses puts and channelises to clean up dent and piss contaminated with heavy admixtures and/or organic contaminants such as solvents, crude oil, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and other toxic compounds from contaminated environments. This technology is useful for soil and water remediation.Phytoremediation uses one basic concept the flora realises the pollutant with the square offs. The pollutant posterior be stored in the im adjust (phytoextraction), volatized by the plant (phytovolatization), metabolized by the plant (phytodegradation), or any combination of the above.Phytoextraction is the uptake and storage of pollutants in the plants source or leaves. Some plants, called hyperaccumulators, draw pollutants through the r oots. after the pollutants accumulate in the stem and leaves the plants are harvested. Then plants can be either burned-out or sold. Even if the plants cannot be utilize, incineration and disposal of the plants is still cheaper than traditional remediation methods. As a comparison, it is estimated a site containing 5000 tons of contaminated soil will produce only 20-30 tons of ash (Black, 1995). This method is peculiarly useful when remediating metals. Some metals are also being recycled from the ash.Phytovolatization is the uptake and vapor of pollutants by a plant. This mechanism takes a solid or liquified contaminant and transforms it to an airborne vapor. The vapor can either be the fine pollutant, or the plant can metabolize the pollutant before it is vaporized, as in the case of mercury, lead and selenium (Boyajian and Carriera, 1997 Black, 1995 Wantanbe, 1997).Phytodegradation is plants metabolizing pollutants. After the contaminant has been drawn into the plant, it ass imilates into plant tissue, where the plant then degrades the pollutant. This metabolization by plant-derived enzymes such as nitrosedictase, laccase, dehalogenase, and nitrilase assimilates into plant tissue, where the plant then degrades the pollutant. This metabolization by plant-derived enzymes such as nitroredictase, laccase, dehalogenase, and nitrilase, has yet to be to the full documented, just has been demonstrated in landing field studies (Boyajian and Carriera, 1997). The daughter compounds can be either volatized or stored in the plant. If the daughter compounds are relatively benign, the plants can still be used in traditional applications.The more or less stiff current phytoremediation sites in practice combine these three mechanisms to clean up a site. For example, poplar trees can accumulate, degrade and volatize the pollutants in the remediation of organics.Phytoremediation is much than just planting and let the foliage grow the site mustiness be engineered to prevent eating away and flooding and maximize pollutant uptake. There are 3 main planting techniques for phytoremediation.1.Growing plants on the land, like crops. This technique is well-nigh useful when the contaminant is within the plant root zone, typically 3 6 feet (Ecological Engineering, 1997), or the tree root zone, typically 10-15 feet.2.Growing plants in water (aquaculture). Water from deeper aquifers can be pumped out of the free-base and circulated through a reactor of plants and then used in an application where it is returned to the flat coat (e.g. irrigation)3.Growing trees on the land and constructing wells through which tree roots can grow. This method can remediate deeper aquifers in-situ. The wells provide an artery for tree roots to grow toward the water and form a root strategy in the capillary fringe.The majority of current research in the phytoremediation field revolves around determine which plant releases most efficiently in a given application. Not al l plant species will metabolize, volatize, and/or accumulate pollutants in the same manner. The goal is to ascertain which plants are most effective at remediating a given pollutant. Research has yielded some general guidelines for groundwater phytoremediation plants. The plant must grow quickly and consume large quantities of water in a compact time. A good plant would also be able to remediate more than one pollutant because pollution rarely occurs as a single compound. Poplars and cottonwoods are being studied extensively because they can used as much as 25 to 350 gallons of water per day, and they can remediate a wide variety of organic compounds, including LNAPLs.Phytoremediation has been shown to work on metals and moderately hydrophobic compounds such as BTEX compounds, chlorinated solvents, ammunition wastes, and newton compounds. Yellow poplars are generally favored by Environmental Scientists for use in phytoremediation at this time. They can grow up to 15 feet per str atum and absorb 25 gallons of water a day. They have an extensive root system, and are resistant to everything from gypsy moths to toxic wastes.Partial listing of current remediation possibilities.Plant Chemicals Clean-up numbersPondweed trinitrotoluene & RDX 0.016-0.019 mg of TNT L per dayPoplar Trees Atrazine 91% of the Atrazine taken up in 10 daysPoplars Nitrates from fertilizers From 150 mg/L to 3 mg L in under 3yrs.Mustard Greens Lead 45% of the excess was removedPennycress Zinc & Cadmium 108 lb./acre per year & 1.7 lb./acre per yr.Halophytes Salts reduced the season levels in the soils by65%Advantages and Disadvantages to PhytoremediationAdvantages ( www.rtdf.org/genlatst.htm)1.Aesthetically pleasing and publicly accepted.3.Works with metals and slightly hydrophobic compounds, including many organics.4.Can baffle bioremediation in the soil closely associated with the plant root. Plants can stimulate microorganisms through the release of nutrients and the transport of oxygen to their roots.5.Relatively inexpensive phytoremediation can cost as little as $10 $ ascorbic acid per cubic yard whereas metal washing can cost $30 $300 per cubic yard.6.Even if the plants are contaminated and unusable, the resulting ash is almost 20-30 tons per 5000 tons soil (Black, 1997).7.Having ground c all over on property reduces exposure risk to the community (i.e. lead).8.Planting plant on a site also reduces erosion by breaking wind and water.9.Can leave usable topsoil intact with minimal environmental disturbance.10.Generates reusable metal rich plant residue.11.Eliminates randomnessary air or water-borne wastes.1.Can take many growing seasons to clean up a site.2.Plants have short roots. They can clean up soil or groundwater near the come forth in-situ, typically 3 6 feet (Ecological Engineering, 1997), but cannot remediate deep aquifers without and design work.3.Trees have longer roots and can clean up slightly deeper contamination than plants, typically 10- 15 feet, but cannot remediate deep aquifers without save design work .4.Trees roots grow in the capillary fringe, but do not extend deep in to the aquifer. This makes remediating DNAPLs in situ with plants and trees not recommended.5.Plants that absorb toxic materials whitethorn contaminant the food chain.6.Volatization of compounds may transform a groundwater pollution problem to an air pollution problem.7.Returning the water to the earth after aquaculture must be permitted.8.Less efficient for hydrophobic contaminants, which stupefy tightly to soil.1) At the Naval Air Station Joint unobtrusiveness Base Fort Worth, phytoremediation is being used to clean up trichloroethylene (TCE) from a shallow, thin aerobic aquifer. Cottonwoods are being used, and after 1 year, the trees are beginning to show signs of taking the TCE out of the aquifer. (Betts, 1997)2) At the Iowa Army Ammunitions Plant, phytoremediation is being used as a polishing give-and-take for explosive-contaminated so il and groundwater. The demonstration, which ended in March, 1997, used native aquatic plant and hybrid poplars to remediate the site where an estimated 1-5% of the original pollutants still remain. A all-out project is estimated to reduce the contamination by an order of magnitude (Betts, 1997).3) After investigating using phytoremediation on a site contaminated with hydrocarbons, the aluminum Department of Environmental Management granted a site. The site tangled about 1500 cubic yards of soil, and began with approximately 70% of the baseline samples containing over 100 PPM of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH). After 1 year of vegetative cover, approximately 83% of the samples contained less than 10-PPM TPH.4) Phytoremediation was used at the decommissioned Detroit Forge plant to clean up approximately 5,800 cubic yards of lead-impacted soil. Two plantings were completed, the first using sunflowers and the second mustard plants. Following treatment, analysis indicated soil lead c oncentrations were below the tail clean-up criteria. The project resulted in an estimated saving of $1,100,000 over hazardous waste disposal.5) Water, soil, and trees transpired gases were monitored to insure the fate of TCE. About 2-4% of the TCE remained in the effluent as compared to 68% in a non-vegetated control group. The field trial demonstrated that over 95% of TCE were removed by planting trees and letting them grow. additional studies showed that the trees did not release TCE into the air, as no measurable TCE was present in the air immediately surrounding the leaves (captured in itsy-bitsy leaf bags and analyzed) or in the general atmosphere (using a laser technology that can see TCE in the air in the tree canopy).Phytoremediation is an aesthetically pleasing, solar-energy driven, and passive technique that can be used at sites with low to moderate levels of contamination. Phytoremediation is more than just planting and letting the foliage grow the site must be engine ered to prevent erosion and flooding and maximize pollutant uptake. Currently, the majority of research is concentrated on determining the best plant for the job, quantifying the mechanisms by which the plants convert pollutants, and determining which contaminants are submissive to phytoremediation. Polluted sites are being studied, and phytoremediation looks promising for a variety of contaminants.

How the Media Affect What People Essay

The standard assertion in al ab come out of the closet recent empirical studies is that media strike what spate conceptualise rough, non what they switch in mind. The line upings present indicate the media induce a signifi coffin nailt contri preciselyion to what peck thinkto their regimenal preferences and evaluationsprecisely by affecting what they think close. A he belief that long dominated the scholarly community is that tonics hearts remove minimal consequences (Katz and Lazarsfeld, 1955 Klapper, 1960). Many media scholars still endorse something close to this beguile ( cf McGuire, 1985 Gans, n. d. Neuman, 1986 similarly M.Robinson and Sheehan, 1983). The much popular recent view is that media submit is significant, entirely al atomic heel 53 in shaping the problems the public considers virtu entirelyy valuabletheir agendas (McCombs and Shaw, 1972). In some respects, agenda research ch in every last(predicate)enges the minimal consequences view, just now twain approaches sh ar a core boldness. Both as brotherhoode audiences enjoy substantial shore leave in developing their political preferences. Research contradicting the nonion that media name minimal consequences or only decide agendas has emerged during the 1980s (see, e. g. the pi unmatchableering yet disparate work of such authors as Bartels, 1985 Patterson, 1980 Iyengar and Kinder, 1987 and Page, Shapiro, and Dempsey, 1987 cf. Rob- The author grate richly acknowledgesfinancialsupport from the John and Mary R. Markle bottom and the Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin, and thanks this journals referees and editors for reclaimable suggestions. JOURNAL OF POLITICS, Vol. 51, No. 2, May 1989 Portions of this article step forward in res publica WITHOUT CITIZENS THE MEDIA AND THE DECAY OF AMERICAN POLITICS by Robert M.Entman. 1989 by Robert M. Entman. Used by arrangement with Oxford University Press, Inc. 348 Robert M. Entman inson and Levy, 1986). 1 plainly this burgeoning research has non yet generated a theory that plainly refutes the presumption of audience shore leave and explains to a greater extent fully the medias impact on public opinion. This article probes the theoretical underpinnings of the self-direction premiss and provides empirical evidence that media messages significantly influence what the public thinks by shaping what they think about. THE RESEARCH TRADITIONThe audience autonomy assumption provides the foundation for the minimal consequences position. The assumption is that audiences form their political opinions in coition independence from the media. There atomic sum 18 deuce somewhat distinct variants of this position. The front emphasizes that audiences think about communications engageively, concealmenting out selective cultivation they do not like (Klapper, I960 cf. McGuire, 1985). The second holds that audiences pay so microscopic attention and understand so piddling that t he smarts cannot influence them (Neuman, 1986 cf.MacKuen, 1984). 2 In practice, two the selectivity hypothesis and the hypothesis of inattention and incomprehension (hereafter on the button inattention) hold that media messages tend only to reinforce existing preferences sooner than helping to form new attitudes or change old ones. indeed the media have little net impact on politics. The central assumption of the more recent agenda cathode-ray oscilloscope research has been that media do preserve significant influence, but only in a narrow sphere.In this view, the publics autonomy is not complete, but its susceptibility to media influence is restrain to agendas. Agenda research almost al expressive styles allows a denounce like this Although a minimal effects model most accurately describes the medias ability to change opinions, recent research has shown that the media can fly the coop a much larger role in telling us what to think about, if not what to think (Lau and Erb er, 1985, p. 60 almost identical assertions appear by dint ofout the literature, e. g. , McCombs and Shaw, 1972 MacKuen, 1984, pp. 72, 386 and even radical critiques such as Parenti, 1985, p. 23 also see MacKuen and Combs, 1981 Behr and Iyengar, 1985 Miller, Erbring, and Goldenberg, 1979). 3 Agenda scholarship does not provide a comprehensive theory that explains wherefore media influence is confined to agendas, but selecDeFleur and Ball-Rok apieces dependency theory (1982) describes an important theoretical alternative to the autonomy assumption, but that work predates most of the recent surge in empirical evidence. 2 Neuman (1986, chap. ) grounds his argument in the lack of evidence that media can discipline specific study or gain ground political sophistication. The concern in this constitution is with political evaluations and preferences, which do not require much readingoften a simple emotional response depart do (cf. Abelson et al. , 1982). A related argument cites the publics inability to abjure specific stories. But the influence of a single word account statement or show is rarely of interest. The primary concern is the effect of restate intelligence service messages over time (cf. Graber, 1984). But compare Iyengar and Kinder, 1987, and Protess et al. , 1987, for agenda picture research showing that media influence of agendas also finds, respectively, the mass publics criteria of political judgment and public officials behavior. 1 How the Media Affect What People designate 349 tivity and inattention again seem to be key. In the agenda lopting view, the media can overcome these barriers in determining the issues people think about but not in shaping how they evaluate issues or candidates (the most explicit discussion is MacKuen, 1984).The problem with the agenda setting position is that the tone amongst what to think and what to think about is misleading. Nobody, no force, can ever successfully tell people what to think. Short of sophisticated physical single-foot (brainwashing), no form of communication can compel anything more than feigned obeisance. The instruction to control attitudes is to provide a partial pickax of information for a mortal to think about, or form. The only way to influence what people think is precisely to shape what they think about.No matter what the message, whether conveyed through media or in person, control over otherwises cerebration can never be complete. Influence can be exerted through selection of information, but conclusions cannot be dictated. If the media (or anyone) can affect what people think aboutthe information they processthe media can affect their attitudes. This office yields an assumption of mutuality public opinion grows out of an interaction between media messages and what audiences mend of them. I go out call this the interdependence model. The competing positions, the minimal consequences and the agenda perspectives, both endorse the assumptio n that audiences form preferences autonomously. I will call this the autonomy model. INFORMATION PROCESSING AND MEDIA IMPACTS Combining a recognition of the interdependence of audiences and media with information- touch on models genuine by cognitive psychologists whitethorn offer the best foundation for a new understanding (cf. Graber, 1984 Kraus and Perloff, 1985). There is no consensus among those who study information processing.But a number of generalizations pertinent to the mass medias impacts can be gleaned from their work. Information-processing research shows that people have cognitive structures, called synopsiss,4 which organize their thinking. A persons system of schemas stores substantive beliefs, attitudes, values, and preferences (cf. Rokeach, 1973) along with rules for linking different ideas. The schemas moderate attention to applicable information, guide its interpretation and evaluation, provide inferences when information is missing or ambiguous, and facil itate its retention (Fiske and Kinder, 1981, p. 73). Schemas are not filters used to select out all unfamiliar or uncomfortable information. As Bennett writes, Information processing constructs i. e. schemas like party identification and ideological categories should not be reScholars have used legion(predicate) other terms, including scripts, inferential sets, frames, and prototypes. While there are keen differences among them, they need not concern us here. The term schema is as good as any, and for claritys sake I use the English plural schemas instead of the awkward schemata. 4 350 Robert M. Entman garded as rigid cognitive frameworks that work infixedways to screen out unfamiliar information (Bennett, 1981, p. 91). Certainly people fail to think about much of the news, but not necessarily because they choose only congruent messages, or because they necessarily misunderstand or deliberately ignore media reports. Selectivity and inattention are punctuate by the autonomy mo del, but that model fails to explain why some(prenominal) citizens do think about a great deal of the new information they encounter.Information-processing theory recognizes and helps explain how attitudes emerge from a dynamic interaction of new information with peoples existing beliefs. In Bennetts (1981, p. 92) words, political archetype is info-driven by external information and conceptually-driven by internal schemas. Information-processing theory suggests that whether people ignore or pay attention to new information depends more on its salience, on whether it meshes with their interests, than on whether it participations with their existing beliefs (Markus and Zajonc, 1985, pp. 162 and passim Kinder and Sears, 1985, pp. 710-12).While people may resist knowledge that challenges their fundamental values (Axelrod, 1973), most can accommodate new information and even hold a set of specific beliefs that may appear dissonant, contradictory, or illogical to an outsider (cf. Lan e, 1962). The explicit model of thinking that cognitive psychologists have been putting together thusly contradicts the implicit model in much of media research. Rather than resisting or ignoring most new or dissonant media reports, as the autonomy model assumes, the information-processing view predicts that people are susceptible to significant media effects.In the information-processing perspective, a person first assesses a media report for salience. If salient, the person processes the news according to routines open up in the schema system. Processing may lead the person both to store the information or discard it if stored, the information may bump around new beliefs or change old beliefs. So selectivity and inattention are not the whole horizontal surface. Often people may screen out information that contradicts their current views but other times they think about disturbing reports they find relevant.The notion of an audience that actively resists all potentially unli ke information rests upon an assumption of a deeply involved and knowledgeable citizenry, a vision that does not apply to most people (e. g. , converse and Markus, 1979 Kinder and Sears, 1985). Common sense suggests it takes more information and time to change the minds of unfluctuating adherents than weak ones, but sometimes even loyalists do change. When the implications are not obviousfor example when the information is contained in the form of a subtle burden to the news (see Entman, 1989, chap. )the probability increases that even activists will store conflicting data without experiencing any immediate dissonance. And while it may take many repetitions of a media message to pierce the publics indubitable murkiness of neglect and distraction, this very same political indifference may enhance the likelihood that messages which do penetrate How the Media Affect What People Think 351 will have an impact. Just because on most matters Americans have so little knowledge and such weakly-anchored beliefs, information provided by the media can significantly shape their attitudes.Not only do the majority of audience members lack detailed, just knowledge or strong opinions (cf. Fiske, Kinder, and Larter, 1983) sometimes there are no old attitudes to defend. Many of the most significant political contests are compete out over emerging issues or leaders audiences do not have set attitudes toward them. That clears the path for significant media influence. TESTING MEDIA INFLUENCE acknowledgment as self-aggrandising, moderate, or buttoned-up is a key component of the political schema system that much of the public applies to political information. Ideological leanings affect responses to specific media eports different identifiers may claim the same message differently. This is why the media, in common with all other sources of information, cannot dictate public views and why an interdependence model seems appropriate. The interdependence model predicts that me dia influence varies according to the way each person processes specific news messages. Instead of treating political orientation as a tool people use to screen out reports that conflict with their plentifulism or conservatism, the model sees ideology as a schema that influences the use people make of media messages in more complicated ways.The interaction between the attributes of the message and the schemas of the audience shapes the impact of the news. One element of this interdependence is message salience, which may modify among the ideological groups. Stories that interest free-hearteds may bore conservatives items that spellbind ideologues on either side may not interest moderates, who have few strong beliefs. Another aspect of interdependence involves whether the message is relevant to peripheral or central attitudes.The centrality of a message may vary for different groups, since liberals and conservatives appear to structure their ideas distinctively. Central to liber alism is attachment to ideals of change and comparability central to conservatism is attraction to capitalism (Conover andjeldman, 1981). The both groups plausibly process some media messagesdifferently. This decidedly does not mean liberals, for example, screen out all material that challenges liberalism. Consider an tower praising the ideal of capitalist markets and proposing to make the post office a private enterprise.While the message conflicts with liberal ideology, it does so peripherally, since government ownership of public utilities is not fundamental to American liberalism. The message may not only bolster conservatism among conservatives, but weaken liberals commitment to liberalism, if only at the margin. Another point of interdependence involves whether the message comes from an newspaper column, with its overtly persuasive intent, or from a news story that is ostensibly designed cleanly to inform. Conservatives may be more probably 352 Robert M. Entman o screen out column than news items that favor the left, since the slant of news may not be obvious. Afinalaspect of interdependence lies in how new or unfamiliar the reported topic is. each else being equal, the slight familiar the object of the news, the less likely a person will respond by fitting the report into an established category and maintaining a set attitude. Where the subject of the news is unfamiliar to all sets of ideological identifiers, all will be susceptible to media influence. Four hypotheses emerge from this use of information processing theory to develop an interdependence model of media influence.They are not all the hypotheses that merit exploration, but they are the ones that can be tested with the data available, and they should provide support for the superiority of the interdependence over the autonomy model. Hypothesis 1 Editorials affect ideological identifiers more than moderates. Those identifying as liberals or conservatives are likely to find ideologicall y-charged editorial messages salient. Those with less-focused commitments, the moderates, may not find ideological editorials relevant.Hypothesis 2 Liberal editorials should exert a leftward hale on those attitudes of conservatives not central to their ideology. Hypothesis 3 Editorial mental object has stronger effects on new subjects of news coverage than on long-familiar ones. Hypothesis 4 News affects beliefs among liberals, moderates, and conservatives alike. People will tend to screen out news messages less than editorials. Shaped by objectivity rules, news stories are designed to appear neutral to audiences (e. g. , Schudson, 1978 Tuchman, 1978 Molotch and Boden, 1985). The appearance of neutrality may soften the audiences defenses.DATA The dataset combines a national evaluate on Americans political attitudes from 1974 and 1976 with information on the political matter of the newspaper publishers read by respondents. The 1974 Michigan Content Analysis Study provides extens ive information on the front page news and editorial page subject field of ninety- 2 newspapers throughout the country. The centre number of news and editorial items engaged here is nearly 18,000. 5 The content information (Institute for Social Research, 1978) is matched to data from a representative national survey, the University of Michigan Center for Political Studies sheet of 1974.The hear analyzed consists of those who were surveyed and read The study included ninety- sixer newspapers, of which quad had incomplete data commentators of those quadruplet were excluded from the analysis. How the Media Affect What People Think 353 one of the ninety-two newspapers included in the Content Analysis Study, a total weighted taste of 1,292 persons. 6 Excluded were those who did not read a paper (approximately 30% of those surveyed) or who read papers for which no data were collected. 7 The content data were gathered for ten days during October and November, 1974.Even though the data were obtained over a short time period, a view suggests they accurately reflect the typical stands of the papers. For example, among the ninety-two newspapers, the Washington Post oodles higher(prenominal) in editorial liberalism than the (defunct) Washington Star the New York effortless News score to the right of the New York Times, and so forth. 8 In any case, while far from perfect, the dataset is the most comprehensive collection linking media content to peoples attitudes. One pecker of newspaper content lights-out miscellanea in news stories, the other liberalism in editorials. I expect both aspects of the newspapers message to encourage opinions to move toward more sympathy with liberal politicians, 6 The actual number of people interviewed was 1,575. The answers of some members of the sample were counted troika times to make a weighted sample of 2,523. This was done in order to ensure adequate representation in the sample of sparsely populated areas of the count ry. Thus, the weighted sample is the most representative. 7 The demographics of the final reader subsample closely parallel those of the 1974 national cross section as a whole.The mean pedagogics of the entire original sample, including non-readers (n = 2,523), is 11. 5 years, the mean of the sample analyzed (n = 1,292) is 12. 2 the mean income, about $11,000 versus $12,000. On other demographic and political characteristics, the two groups are virtually identical. 8 Further enhancing federal agency in the validity of the content measures is their use in such important studies as Erbring, Goldenberg, and Miller, 1980. 9 Each editorial item was jurisprudenced for zero, one, or two assertions favoring or opposing liberal and conservative policy stands.The editorial liberalism list is a percentage formed by first counting the number of times a paper endorsed a liberal position or opposed a conservative position, then subtracting assertions favoring conservative or derogating libera l stands. The result was divided by twice the number of editorial items, since each item was coded for up to two liberal or conservative assertions. The higher the score, the more liberal the editorial page. This index uses variables 21 and 28 in the CPS Media Content Analysis Study 1974. A second measure employed data on news (variables 27 and 34 in the CPS study).The news diversity measure taps a prop of news slant that audiences are less likely to screen than editorial liberalism. Like most aspects of news slant, it is a subtle trait of reportage that few audience members would notice. The front page news items were coded for mention of zero, one, or two problems. For each problem mention, coders pull downd whether two different actors overtly disagree with each other. Each news item was coded as having zero, one, or two instances of two actors asserting different points of view.The diversity index is the number of times two actors expressed different positions divided by twice the number of stories. The higher the score, the more diversity of news. Examples of the actors coded in this variable include Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, parliamentary Party, republican candidates, and business leaders. Thus, a story might concern pretension and unions, and might contain opposing assertions by Gerald Ford and a representative Senate candidate on both the causes of inflation and the value of unions.The story would be coded 2 for one disagreement on each of the two problems. If the two actors agreed (or voiced no opinions) on unions but disagreed on inflation, the code would be 1. If they agreed on both or neither agreed nor disagreed, the code would be 0. 354 Robert M. Entman groups, and ideas. The basis for predicting that news diversity moves audiences leftward is that the majority of topical anesthetic newspapers appear to promote a generally Republican and conservative perspective (cf. Bagdikian, 1974 Radolf, 1984).Their editorial and pe rhaps news inclinations do not favor liberalism. All else being equal, I believe those papers with higher diversity probably provide more information that challenges the conservative editorial baseline. In addition, the mere presence of conflicting views in the news may convey an sensation of the diversity of the country, including its variety of races, economic classes, and viewpoints. Such consciousness may promote tolerance of change, and empathy for positions or groups that challenge the status quo. 0 Diversity may also undermine authority by conveying the impression that a range of ideas is plausible, that the existing distribution of power, wealth, and status is not immutable. As for the other content measure, while many readers no doubt skip editorial pages, Bagdikian (1974) shows that the editorial perspective tends to be mirrored in news slant. The editorial liberalism index may indirectly reflect the political tendency of news coverage. The survey included belief thermom eter questions. Interviewers asked respondents to express their olfactory modalitys toward several well-known groups and politicians.Respondents chose numbers game ranging from 0 for the coldest feelings, through 100 for the warmest, with 50 meaning neutral or mixed feelings. I constructed five attitude indexes using gene analysis. 11 The Liberal Feelings Jndex combined ratings of Edward Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, liberals, Democrats, and unions. The Radical Feelings business leader consisted of thermometer ratings of radical students, black militants, civilian rights leaders, and policemen. The Poor Feelings Index tapped thermometers of poor people, blacks, and George Wallace.The Republican Feelings Index was created from ratings of Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, and Republicans. Finally, the Conservative Feelings Index rated big business, the military, and conservatives. 12 The Michigan survey also asked respondents for their stands on government guaranteed jobs dealing with urba n unrest by solving the problems of unemployment and poverty defend legal rights of those accused of crimes A competing hypothesis might be that diversity challenges initial viewpoints, so that it would promote conservatism among liberals and vice versa.That idea is not borne out by the data. Diversity is consistently associated with more liberal views. 1 Surveys are described in Institute for Social Research, 1979. All feeling thermometers were classified on their face for relevance to the liberal-conservative continuum. Pertinent items received varimax factor analysis. Five factors had eigenvalues greater than 1. 0. Indexes added together scores on all feeling thermometer responses loading above . 40 on a factor. In two cases, items loaded more than . 40 on two factors these were included on their highest loaded index.All dependent variable attitude indexes used in this paper have Cronbach Alpha reliability scores greater than . 80. 12 Policemen and Wallace loaded negatively on their respective factors. The feeling thermometer responses to each were subtracted from the sum of the other items in forming the indexes. 10 How the Media Affect What People Think 355 busing to secure racial balance the Equal Rights Amendment integration of schools government aid to minorities and self- behindment on the liberalconservative spectrum. 3 Using factor analysis again, all but one of the responses (to the ERA) were associated together and became the Policy Preferences Index. Twofinalvariables come from readers of sampled papers who participated in surveys during both 1974 and 1976. Their responses in 1976 provide an opportunity to check for media impacts on feelings toward a previously extraterrestrial presidential candidate, Jimmy Carter (Carter Index), and on presidential vote (Vote76). FINDINGS Testing the four predicted media effects requires probing for impacts of editorial liberalism and news diversity on the septette attitudes and on presidential vote.Regress ion analysis enables us to see whether, with all else equal, readers of more liberal or diverse papers exhibit more liberal attitudes and voting behavior. Editorial liberalism taps the persuasive element of the newspaper, or, in agenda-setting terms, the aspect of the paper that attempts to tell people what to think. News diversity taps the putatively informational element that only tells people what to think about. The interdependence model holds that both editorials and news provide information to think about and thereby influence attitudes, whether intentionally or not.If selectivity or inattention precludes media influence, or if the effect is limited to agendas, the regressions should reveal no significant associations between attitudes and newspaper content. 14 add-in 1 summarizes regression results for the impacts of newspaper content on the beliefs of the entire sample of readers. The feeling thermometers are coded from 0 to 100 so that higher scores are warmer (more favo rable). The higher the policy preferences score, the more conservative the responses. Vote76 is 1 for Carter, 0 for Ford, so higher scores indicate voting for Carter.The regressions include the following additional variables to control for forces that might also influence attitudes urban-rural place of residence age years of education family income race region party identification and ideological self-identification. 15 The impacts of these non-media variables follow expecVariables 2265, 2273, 2281, 2288, 2296, 2302, and 2305 in the 1974 NES Codebook. Although partisanship and ideology are not truly interval variables, the results of the regressions suggest that it is quite level-headed to treat them as such. 15 These variables are coded as follows.Age coded in years non-South 1 = North or West, 0 = South income coded in thousands party i. d. 7-point scale, 0 = strong Democrat, 3 = independent, 6 = strong Republican urbanized 1 = urban, suburban, 0 = rural white race 1 = white, 0 = nonwhite education coded in years policy preferences index adding six 7-point scales, so range is 6 = most liberal, 42 = most conservative and ideology identification 1 = most liberal, 4 = middle of the passage or dont know, 7 = most conservative. On the latter, note 14 13 356 Robert M. Entman tations, which bolsters confidence in the validity of the attitude measures. For a full display of coefficients for all independent variables, see Entman, 1987). Multicollinearity among the independent variables is not a problem. Of the forty-five intercorrelations, only three exceed . 20. The strongest was between education and income (r = . 357). Table 1 shows that the more editorially liberal the paper, the more warm their readers respond on the Liberal Feelings Index. This relationship suggests that editorial liberalism influences the publics evaluations of key leaders and groups associated with the liberal coalition in this case, Hubert Humphrey, Edward Kennedy, Democrats, unions, and liberals.