World Trade Organization-International Law

Introduction

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is a global institute whose main area of specialization is the international trade with the objective of enhancing a superior trading environment for the establishment of strong economies (Macrory, 2005). The WTO was instituted in the period 1995 to fit the roles that had been earlier upheld by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in a better manner. The organization was founded on revisions concerning the GATT conducted over the periods 1986 to 1994 in the Uruguay Round concession (World Trade Organization, 2011). WTO has at least one hundred and fifty members with sixty seven percent of the nations being considered as developed and least developed nations. Due to this, the interests of developing and least developed nations are accorded special treatment with regard to the various trade requirements accorded in the organization for enhanced trading practices.

Various special treatments that can be noted include the inclusion of additional time required for the execution of trade agreements and the adoption of favorable policies aimed at the enhancement of market rights of entry for increased economic development. Additionally, different safeguards are also used to ensure healthy competition, coupled with aiding policies like the Integrated Framework comprising of the WTO, International Trade Center (ITC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTD) as monetary providers for the developed and least developed nations (World Trade Organization, 2011). WTO has incorporated various agreements and procedures towards this cause as noted in the subsequent discussion.

The World Trade Organization Agriculture Agreement

The accord was conceptualized between the periods 1986 and 1994, being instituted in 1995 upon its completion. The agreement’s focal objective is the provision of enhanced security of the trading practices in the agricultural sector through the adoption of market-centric strategies that will enhance trading patterns across all nations (Ingco & John, 2004). Market accessibility has been improved by the implementation of a tariff-only stratagem as opposed to the initial policies that applied non-tariff techniques as well as trade quotas. The agreement is a discriminative policy that has mandated developed nations into reducing their trade tariffs by 36 percent with a lowest cut for every product being at least 15 percent spread over a period of six years (Macrory, 2005). Developing nations are mandated into 24 and 10 percent cuts respectively regarding tariffs, within an allocated period of ten years (Ingco & John, 2004). Least developing nations were not liable to the implementation of tariffs.

Local maintenance of the industry has been achieved by the introduction of subsidies in a bid to enhance the amount of cultivators’ inflows and ultimately improve the living standards. Additionally, subsidies have also been introduced in the export sector so that farmers are well capable of offering quality products at a lower and affordable price in the global markets. With low-priced products, farmers tend to create a competitive edge over their rivals. Developed nations were officially expected to assume a subsidy of 36 percent from the implementation period up to the year 2000, while developing economies were required a 24 percent subsidy up to the year 2004 (Ingco & John, 2004). Government involvement in agricultural trade in developed economies was reduced by 21% for the creation of equitable competition. Developing nations condensed the same with a rate of 13 percent (Ingco & John, 2004). Least developed economies were also exempted from these requirements.

Anti-Dumping Agreement

Dumping refers to the process in which exporters tend to set their prices below that which operates in their local markets to increase their international sales (Diaz-Bonilla, Soren, & Sherman, 2006). This has been quite a hazard in developing and least developed nations as rejected low products are shifted to the mentioned economies leading to economic problems. The most notable adverse effect of dumping is the depression of local industries in terms of profits and production levels, as the low prices tend to be inequitably competitive to the local ones. To decrease the rate of dumping, the accord has instituted superior protection mechanisms that have overcome the initial technique that allowed limitations in the level of imports to protect local industries. Alternative rules have stipulated that if a nation halts imports form another country, the latter be legally freed into a form of recompense, as both nations deem necessary. Another option would be the introduction of a proportionate introduction of a tariff to the importing nation that would accrue the same amount of money accorded to the trading practices (Macrory, 2005).

This agreement favors developing nations, as they are only liable to such penalties if the export levels constitute to 3 percent or more of the total amount of imports to the other nation. Alternatively, if the importing nation has acquired the products from several developing nations, then the accrued level has to exceed 9 percent for the affected nation to impose the recompense strategies to the developing nation legally. With developed countries, any form of import halting leads mandates a proportionate compensation to the affected nation despite the percentage level of products traded (Macrory, 2005). To overcome the penalties accorded to importation barring, nations affected with product dumping are required to perform a research that certifies the presence of the illegal trade, as well as evaluate the damage caused for the WTO to warrant and direction the penalty to be accorded.

General Agreement on Trade in Services

            It allows specific nations into employing limitation into the amount of goods and services being injected into the country from foreign sources. The agreement is divided into two segments, Article XII and Article XVIII B (Hoekman, Aaditya & Philip, 2002). Both clauses were adopted in a bid to ensure that member nations maintain an equilibrium state in their trading practices. Article XII is applicable to all members and it involves quantity limitations by one country in another in cases where the balance of payments increase in a manner that creates a huge external debt that is unhealthy for the affected nation. This clause was a revision of the former provision that barred an application of the same as economic scholars noted that the higher the external debt, the lower the economic development achieved with the long-run effect of unsustainable economies (Ingco & John, 2004). Therefore, prudence accorded the ability of nations to withdraw imports when faced with same as a constructive move until stability was created in the balance of payments.

Article XVIII B was infused for the developing and underdeveloped nations only up to the level in which such countries are able to attain credible sustenance in their in international monetary positioning for the realization of economic expansion (Hoekman, et al., 2002). The latter clause has to follow the stipulated legal criteria, which begin with a public declaration as to the reason for the adoption of the trade limitation and the various techniques that could be employed as solutions to the balance of payments. This acts as the justification point for the proposed method as an appraisal of the success level. The lower the interruption effect of the technique on trading practices, the higher the preference. The affected nation is also mandated to the provision of a rationalization as to why price mechanisms cannot be used to alleviate the situation. Once these stipulated stages are successfully completed, the nation is only allowed to implement the recommendations to the named products, with each product only liable to one restraining technique.

The XVIII B clause was infused for the developing and least developed nations as the most affected in terms of balance of payment due to their elevated debt levels. Note that, both clauses are also covered in the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMs) for standardized trading observances.

The World Trade Organization Agreement on Customs Valuation

            This agreement was implemented as a way of ensuring that precise valuations are given to imports and reduce exporters’ repression in terms of pricing. Import permits are allowed to take a maximum of thirty days for maturation and all traders are to be accorded the same time schedule. Uniform valuation techniques are accorded by the WTO with the legal right of the importer to challenge the valuation process or figure in cases where the incorrect process has been applied. Export products are mandated to pre-shipment checks, especially in developing nations to enforce the product excellence, confirm product quantity and value of the goods (Bernal, 2001). Pre-shipment procedures are directed by private organizations who tend to be neutral participants for fair assessments. Investors are allowed to import the any amount of products as this stimulates fair trade involvements against the level of import products attributed to foreign investors in a nation.

The time limit accorded for the total implementation was two years for developed economies as they have high capital bases to support the alterations while developing nations were accorded an additional three years, bring the total period to five years (Correa, 2000). All developed nations were mandated to the requirements by the period 1996 while developing nations had up to the year 1999. Least developed nations had a specified seven years pushing its legal deadline to the year 2001 (Bernal, 2001). The implementation of the customs valuation accord was rather rigid for developed economies with only two years for the adoption of the revised standards. However, with developing and least developed nations facing a significant constraint in terms of capital, the policy was flexible enough to offer extensions to nations that were not capable of meeting the set period.

An additional clause that enhances the fair observances in the trading field is the Agreement on Safeguards. This is highly congruent to the customs valuation practice as it accords protection to local manufacturers against imported items that are not considered as threats in terms of pricing. This marks the difference with the dumping clause that aims at ensuring that local manufacturers are not affected by unfair foreign products in the domestic market. Fairly introduced products my accord inequitable competition with regard to the process of advertising as investors tend to have higher capital bases and this would result to lower local sales, which is unmerited to the local producer. This policy is very helpful to developing and least developed nations as it affords an enhanced level of safeguard to the immature organizations and industries in the affected countries (Bernal, 2001).

Information Technology Agreement

With the advent of the internet and the computer era, information technology (IT) has become a significant trading sector in the world economy. To improve on the trading practices of the same, WTO introduced a comprehensive record that contains IT products that are covered by the agreement. Trading barriers instituted towards such products were totally abolished to ensure higher trading practices concerning the identified products. Developed nations were accorded a restrictive period in ensuring that all barriers had been eliminated. Developing and least developed nations were faced with the same stringent measures in certain products, but an extension was offered in other products for balanced and equitable patterns of implementation. An extension of the technology transmission and mobility is covered in The Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) concerning the developed and least developed nations (Hoekman, 2001). The underlying proposal in such nations has argued that in response to the requirement of upholding set intellectual property rules, the WTO has to retaliate with a recompense policy that will allow an enhanced exchange of technology between developing and least developed nations.

High technological shifts between the two players will be beneficial to the producers and end users in terms of monetary and non-monetary aspects. With technological advancements, the productive ability will be expanded in the realization of economies of scale with heightened effectiveness. Labor development is realized through optimal operation of the same in full capacity as new training session are required as an orientation towards the new forms of technology (Hoekman, 2001). As each technology aims at enhancing consumer interactivity, end users also benefit from the setting. State and economic leader in developed nations are mandated under the WTO accord in the adoption of technological incentives to create a healthy environment for technology shifts to least developed nations as a prerequisite for economic development. This proposal was concludes in 2003 and is being implemented in a three phased tiered arrangement until the optimal results have been ascertained.

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement

The accord has two main objectives. The initial one deals with consumer wellbeing as it ensures that imported food items are hygienically handled to enforce safety for the customer as the end users. The second objective deals with producers’ welfare, both local and foreign, to ensure that the accorded rules are consistently upheld for impartial competition between both suppliers (Diaz-Bonilla, et al., 2006). The WTO has offered a document that aligns to international regulations with regard to health and hygiene handling for its member countries. A flexible approach has however been accorded with members being allowed to devise their own regulations provided that they conform to all health requirements as set by the international community. The main demerit attached to own regulation occurs when a conflict occurs as legal actions have to be enforced while in the case of WTO regulations, the products will only be withdrawn wit no further actions being taken towards the case.

The agreement accorded a uniform rate of adoption to all nations, as food products are very sensitive. Hover, the allocated period was mindful of the developing and least developed nations in terms of time and monetary allocations. The WTO bears the knowledge that various nations are challenged by climatic conditions and geographical locations creating a variation in the pests and diseases that may affect the food products. The tropical environment experienced in warm countries harbors different illnesses when compared to the cold nations. Therefore, WTO assesses illnesses according to the nation in which the food supplements are acquired from. This ensures protection to the developing nations in ensuring that minimal cases of food poisoning occur due to improper handling (Diaz-Bonilla, et al., 2006). With uniformed appraisals, the WTO protects developing and least developed nations from an unjust application of all disease rules to situations that are not applicable.

The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement is used to ensure that hygienic and fit products are offered into the market for consumer well being. To ensure that fair competition is enhanced in both foreign and local manufacturers, the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) is used. This accord ensures frequent appraisals to privately made regulations to ensure their credibility and avoid market exclusion through unhealthy competition. Therefore, both policies are applied concurrently to nations that opt for the implementation of own parameters. A notable requirement in both accords is the necessity of scientific techniques of food assessment to ensure precise decisions and appraisals.

The Agreement on Textiles and Clothing

A majority of developing nations are involved with the clothing industry by the fact that a high bulk of the raw materials used in the given sector is sourced from such nations. Export Processing Zones (EPZ) are examples of free trade areas that have been adopted in developing nations to improve the textile industry by allowing foreign investors to aid with the machinery required in clothes manufacture while the materials and labor resources are acquired form the exporting nation. The textile accord was adopted in the period 1995 for a testing period of ten years. The initial part of the accord was dedicated to the categorization of all items and raw materials used in the textile industry like yearns, wool and assorted cloths (Lee & Rorden, 2007). The initial set of implementation covered a period of three years, both for the developed, developing and least developed nations with each nation mandated to a minimal production of 16 percent of the amount of imports. The second phase had four-year duration with the target supply for each country being fixed at a minimum of 17 percent.

The last phase ending at the year 2004 took three years with predetermined target of 18 percent. Broad categorization of the textile products were tops and fibers, cloths, manufactured fabrics and clothing. Each country was given the liberty to choose the best product to be used for any export session if the product was within the specified categories. Trade limitations had been accorded to four nations/trading blocs namely, Norway, European Community, United States of America and Canada (Lee & Rorden, 2007). However, to ensure fair competition to the developing and least developed nations, the ceilings were abolished with the affected nations liable to the stipulated regulations in the various performance phases. To ensure that involved nations were accorded equal protection in the level of exports, percentage figures were used to ensure that uniform increments were realized. In the three identified phases, increases were allotted as 16, 25 and 27 percent as all enabled the nations to meet the minimum level identified target requirements. With this, the developing and developed nations were safeguarded against unrealistic goals against the effluent developed economies.

Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures

It is an extension of the trade agreement offering a classification of the various tariffs available in WTO and the requirements necessary before the adoption of any of the given types. Prohibited subsidies are applied to the export and import sectors. Developed nations are required to abolish such for enhanced economic autonomy but developing and least developed economies that have a per capita income that equals to or is less than one thousand dollars are disallowed from the policy. Developing nations having an average income that is above one thousand dollars are therefore expected to implement the requirement in their trading patterns (World Trade Organization, 2011). Excluded nations are freed to the application of their tariff programs as a means of acquiring foreign inflows that enhance the level of per capita proceeds. The second type of tariffs are referred to as non-actionable tariffs are those accorded to research requirements for developing and least developed economies to enhance the growth and expansion process.

Additionally, the tariff is used for environmental and ecological preservation needs, majorly in the developing and least developed areas. It is a known fact that developing and least developed nations require a lot of research in various areas like economics, social in terms of infrastructures, and communal aspects like projects that enhance the ability to acquire sustainable expansions. With regard to the environment, developed nations have been rated as the highest emitters of industrial pollutions yet the devastating effect of the same have a global impact. Developed nations therefore have to account for the highest share of recompense in the situation as noted by an example of the payments accorded to developing and least developed nations towards the preservation of forests and wetlands that help with the elimination of the industrial wastes.

This is justified by the fact that, as developing and least developed nations are highly agricultural they tend towards high environmental clearances in a bid to acquire more cultivation land and reduce the level of unemployment plaguing such countries (World Trade Organization, 2011). Additionally, note that the lands are also used for settlement purposes due to the heightened population levels experiences in the locations. Therefore, with tariffs being allocated towards these needs, it becomes easier to provide alternative solutions in terms of employment and housing facilities in a manner that is beneficial to the world. All other forms of duty levies are termed as the actionable tariffs, which are also implemented on discriminative terms, with developing and least developed nations included in an adoption of the same yet accorded a higher implementation period than the developed economies.

The Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)

An extension of the information technology concord enforcing protection in other art disciplines like movie productions, publications and the print media, paintings, music, computer packages, amongst others. WTO extends copyright opportunities in which the mentioned art categories are safeguarded to the original author for a duration of not less than fifty years upon the demise of the inventor. Within the same provision are the neighboring rights that are accorded to assistants in a given art work; for instance, in film production, this would be extended to the cast and actors. Copyrights are infused to enhance the creativity of the inventor as well as the monetary gain as a job opportunity (Correa, 2000). Industrial properties are mainly covered by patents and trademarks with the latter being employed towards the safeguard of one’s products from other similar goods in the market as well as the geographical source in which the products have been acquired from.

The former on the other hand is used for discoveries to enforce trade secrets as this enhances a protective edge against industry rivals, for example the coca-cola company. Unlike copyrights, patents tend to be limited in nature with the most notable duration being twenty years (Ingco & John, 2004). This agreement is flexible as it allows various governments in the creation and adoption of their own frameworks with regard to the same with the official year of implementation being 1995 (Correa, 2000). Developed economies taking part in the WTO agreement were accorded a year for the revision of existing decrees to conform to the intellectual property requirements with developing nations being given five years. The difference in time length is attributed to the fact that developing economies face a monetary constraint that makes it harder for the implementation and thereby necessitating a higher timeline before enough capital can be accrued for effectual execution. With least developed nations being worst hit in terms of monetary functions, the same were accorded eleven years for their policy alterations.

Notably, following the economic disparities caused by the depression phases in world economies, least developed nations have incurred setbacks in the realization of the required rights and this has necessitated additional periods with common industrial products granted a seven year extension whereas pharmaceutical products have been accorded an additional ten years. Prior to the realization of own strategies, the WTO framework will be applied as defensive measures for intellectual possessions. The TRIPS framework was completed in the period 2000 enabling the least developed nations to gain more time into the creation of own decrees  that are pragmatic and effectual in nature (Ingco & John, 2004).

Plurilateral Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft

The accord was instituted in the period 1980 with an initial membership of thirty-one states although over the years it has expanded to encompass all WTO member states (World Trade Organization, 2011). The agreement was infused for the aeronautical industry as a means of stimulating air transport in terms of passengers and products in the export and import industry. Developing and least developed nations rely on the agricultural and floricultural sectors as their economic mainstays and therefore rely on aircrafts for international transportation, especially beneficial to perishable products. Air travel is an expensive transportation means and these costs tend to have a ripple effect on the fixed overheads in trading activities, with the producers beating the bulk of the cost. Therefore, reducing such charges enables the products to be fairly priced in the global markets and consequently leads to enhanced sales and proceeds.

The accord therefore abolished tariffs on all aircrafts with an exemption of those used for military purposes for overhead reductions that would enable the aircraft industry into according affordable services to both passengers and products (World Trade Organization, 2011). With air transport, economic players believe that a higher state of liberalization will be achieved as a notable requirement for economic expansion in developing and least developed nations. The agreement has been very beneficial to the agricultural industry as noted in the level of dairy and bovine products that have been shifted to the international markets since the period 1997 World Trade Organization, 2011). The amounts of averted finances have been redirected into the enhancement of healthy handling in terms of cold storages aboard the aircraft in relation to the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement and the World Trade Organization Agriculture Agreement. This has made the industry more competitive in the international front by the high level of branding achieved.

Concerning passenger flights, it is a known fact that employment mobility creates a healthy environment for idea exchange enhancing intercultural associations that tend to enhance ideas generated towards a given problem and consequently the solutions. As the human factor moves between nations, superior management may be acquired to enhance economic growth as geographical boundaries are demolished.

Conclusion

The discussion has clearly outlined the various strategies and agreements applied by the WTO in the realization of better trading pattern across the globe with a notable bias towards the developing and least developed nations. Accords that have applied a discriminative tendency in terms of time allocations required before effectual revisions to existing rules can be achieved in alignment to the WTO stipulations include The World Trade Organization Agriculture Agreement, The World Trade Organization Agreement on Customs Valuation, Information Technology Agreement and The Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). This is in a bid to ensure that the developing and least developed nations are offered a pragmatic timeline especially due to the monetary constraint in the application of the set standards (Keyzer, Max & Geert, 2000). Improved business opportunities through the creation of heightened market rights of entry have been achieved through the General Agreement on Trade in Services and The Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.

Protective instances against inequitable competition and trading activities are noted in the Anti-Dumping Agreement, Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures together with Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement. The Plurilateral Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft is a fine example of an aid policy geared towards the enhancement of income flows through superior cost structures within the developing and developed nations. Although the WTO has been criticized with regard to the low economic development achieved over the periods, the liability cannot be traced to wrong policies but rather ineffectual implementations that have led to limited levels of success.

 

References

Bernal, R. L. (2001). Small Developing Economies in the World Trade Organization. World Bank Conference “Leveraging Trade, Global Market Integration and the New WTO Negotiations for Development”. Retrieved from www.crnm.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task

Correa, C. M. (2000). Intellectual property rights, the WTO, and developing countries: the TRIPS agreement and policy options. London, UK: Zed Books.

Diaz-Bonilla, E., Soren, E. F., & Sherman, R. (2006). WTO negotiations and agricultural trade liberalization: the effect of developed countries’ policies on developing countries. Cambridge, MA: CABI.

Hoekman, B. M., Aaditya, M., & Philip, E. (2002). Development, trade, and the WTO: a handbook, Volume 1. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.

Hoekman, B. M. (2001). Developing countries and the WTO: a pro-active agenda. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell.

Ingco, M. D., & John, D. N. (2004). Agriculture and the WTO: creating a trading system for development. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.

Keyzer, M., Max, M., Geert, O., Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Centre for World Food Studies (Amsterdam, Netherlands). (2000). WTO, agriculture, and developing countries: the case of Ethiopia. Washington, DC: Food & Agriculture Org.

Lee, D., & Rorden, W. (2007). The WTO after Hong Kong: progress in, and prospects for, the Doha Development Agenda. New York, NY: Routledge.

Macrory, P. F. J. (2005). The World Trade Organization: legal, economic and political analysis, Volume 1. New York, NY: Springer.

World Trade Organization. (2011). Understanding the WTO: Who we are. Retrieved from http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/who_we_are_e.htm

 

Criminal Justice System Attributes

 

Abstract

This paper looks at how a county prosecutor uses the attributes of the criminal justice system and how this affects his or her decisions and actions in relation to the police, corrections, the news media, the community, the defense attorney and the trial judge. Attributes of the criminal justice system are discretion, resource dependent, sequential tasks and filtering. These attributes determines the relationship between the various organs of decision making in the criminal justice system. Some of the roles of a county prosecutor are ensuring that suspects and offenders are arrested, apprehended and convicted. A county prosecutor works together with the police and the judge to ensure safe implementation of the law. The decisions that he or she makes affects the community, the mass media, the police and other court officials differently. The county prosecutor can use the attributes of the criminal justice system to his or her advantage. However, he ought to exercise caution when using these attributes since they can also be disadvantageous to him.

Keywords: attributes, news media, criminal justice system, the community

Officials have a right to act according to their own judgment and conscience. A county prosecutor ensures that people who break the law are apprehended, arrested and convicted. A county prosecutor therefore works closely with the police to ensure that law and order are maintained. Prosecutors are often accused of bargaining justice away for failing to investigate or for dismissing criminal cases (Siegel, 2009). The defense attorney and the prosecutor can decide on a plea bargain. Both the defense attorney and the prosecutor have the right to act according to their own judgment and if they feel that the offender has not committed a serious crime, they can decide to settle an argument out of court (Cole & Smith, 2007). Plea bargaining is not always an easy task and many people in the community are opposed to it.

With the help of the police, prosecutors can choose to withhold some of the information regarding a suspect from the news media. Though the media has freedom, some information should be protected since if the media was to get wind of it, it can compromise the case. If the prosecutor decides to release information to the media, the information released should be reliable and credible and it should be in such a way that it will not compromise the facts of the case. The prosecutor can also act together with the news media to assist in solving some cases and alerting the public concerning various issues. For instance, if the prosecutor and the police are dealing with a murderer, they can use the medial to inform the public concerning the suspect. This will enhance the community’s safety.

Many times, the media works for the interest of the public and the community is usually willing to listen to the media. The media also acts as a watchdog by covering the activities carried out by the criminal justice system. The media checks that the activities carried out are legitimate. This keeps the system in check and avoids the abuse of power by the various agencies. Police officers who do not act according to the law and are involved in criminal activities have found themselves in trouble after their cases were reported by the media (jrank).

Judges have several roles in the criminal justice system. They decide whether there is sufficient probable cause to issue a search warrant or an arrest warrant; whether the suspect should be released on bail and the amount of the bail, whether to accept pretrial motions, and whether to accept a plea bargain. During proceedings, judges ensure that the law is followed. The relationship between the prosecutor and the trial judge is very important especially before the trial proceedings. The judge spends much time with the defense attorney and the prosecutor before the case begins. The judge can refuse a plea bargain even when the prosecutor and the defense attorney have already reached an agreement. If the defendant is found guilty, the judge must decide on the length and type of sentence (Gaines & Miller, 2008).

Criminal justice agencies depend on other agencies for their resources. Legislators, mayors and city council members provide the agency with resources. Criminal justice officials should maintain a positive image with the voters so that they can retain the funding. This involves getting positive reviews from the news media. The media is important because it acts as a link between the government and the rest of the people. As a prosecutor, I have the duty to portray the agency in a positive manner. This means that notable achievements are more pronounced while the government failure and mistakes are hidden. The community is heavily influenced by the media because in many cases, the media is the only source of information that the community has.

Decisions in the criminal justice system follow a specific sequence. The police arrest the offenders before the case is passed to the prosecutor. The prosecutor decides on the charges to be brought. The case proceeds to the courts and finally to corrections when the offender is found guilty. The different agencies cannot realize their goals alone and they have to depend on each other. Filtering is a process where criminal justice officials screen out some cases while advancing others to the next level of decision-making. Some offenders are released because the courts find that the evidence presented before them is not enough to warrant a conviction. Not all defenders are punished by being sent to prison. The judge may decide to dismiss the charges, the jury may acquit some defenders and others are usually convicted. The police begin the process of filtering when they decide to let a suspect go free, usually justifying their reason on the evidence they have found. The prosecutor determines the workload in the courts when they decide to go ahead with the charges. Many times the decision makers are careful enough to let the suspect stand trial. The prosecutor is careful to act on the public’s interest. The community can be outraged if the prosecutor decides not to go ahead when the suspect was arrested on charges of serious crimes such as rape and murder.

Police agents keep peace, apprehend offenders, prevent crime and provide social services such as directing traffic (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Corrections include prisons, jails, probation, community supervision and parole. The government also contracts other agencies such as nonprofit private organizations to provide correctional services. The prosecutors’ decision to go ahead with the charges does not mean that the defendant will be prosecuted. The court can decide to assist the offender and offer him or her alternative treatments. For instance, a person who commits various offences under the influence of drugs and other substances will be sent to a rehabilitation center especially if the crimes committed are not serious. Others will be forced to work with different community groups and this will be beneficial to the community. The prosecutor can recommend various programs in the community, which the defendant can do.

 

References

Cole, F. G., & Smith, E. C. (2007). Criminal justice in America. New York, NY: Cengage Learning.

Gaines, K. L., & Miller, L. R. (2008). Criminal justice in action: The core. New York, NY: Cengage Learning.

Jrank. Mass media and crime-journalism. Retrieved from http://law.jrank.org/pages/1578/Mass-Media-Crime-Journalism.html

Siegel, J. L. (2009). Introduction to criminal justice. New York, NY: Cengage Learning.

 

Eutrophication

Eugene and Welch (1992) define eutrophication as “the process by which water bodied become more productive through increased output of inorganic nutrients” (p.158). The phenomenon is highly evidenced in mature freshwater bodies as a result of chemical reactions between temperature and light. Human actions like introduction of sewage and factory effluents into water bodies also enhance eutrophication. Eutrophicated water bodies are easily identified by the water color, which is either greenish-whitish or yellowish with traces of brown and red hues. Various merits and demerits have been identified concerning eutrophication with scholars attributing the destructive nature of the process as outweighing the benefits.

Treated human wastes act as a healthy source of plant nutrients that stimulate the expansion of aquatic undergrowth. Sewage offers a rich supply of nitrates and phosphates that enhance the amount of phytoplankton like algae and water fleas, acting as the primary constituents of aquatic food products. This knowledge has been used for business purposes in fish farming as the natural introduction of the sewage in fish pools accentuates the amount level of natural food supply that is quite economical as compared to synthetic fish feed (Ansari, 2010). Treated sewage can be supplemented by synthetic manures and contemporary detergents for the nutrient supply. Eutrophication mainly supports the blue-green species of algae, which is responsible for the alteration of the water color as well as the formation of additional food chains in aquatic bodies that promote new marine life. The algae population however, tends to have an adverse consequence on aquatic animals as the level increases to the bloom phase.

In the bloom stage, the population of algae is marked as a surplus that consequently blocks the amount of solar energy and oxygen supply present in a water body. Algae as green plants absorb a lot of solar energy and carbon dioxide released from aquatic animals during breathing for photosynthesis throughout the day. The product of photosynthesis is the release of oxygen into the water which is proportionately linked to the amount of algae; the higher the populace of algae, the higher the quantity of oxygen released. However, during the night, the algae tend to absorb oxygen for the respiration causing a shortage that in the extreme level leads to suffocation and demise of aquatic species. Additionally, some algae tend to alter their respiration processes from aerobic to anaerobic, enhancing suitable conditions for bacterial species like Clostridium botulinum that produces toxic resources that are detrimental to the health of water mammals and birds (Eugene, & Welch, 1992).

A number of of the algae tend to be toxic posing a notable hazard to humans. Aquatic animals like oysters and mussels are nourished by dead algae and the toxin is preserved within their systems. As humans feed on the toxic marine food, the poison is transferred to their body systems causing health problems like diarrhea and paralysis (Ansari, 2010). Alternatively, the toxin is transferred from one animal to another, in case of carnivorous feeding, as evidenced by the ciguatera species causing an eventual health problem to humans. The value of water undergoing eutrophication tends to decrease as the process matures. The water in terms of color and contamination caused by algae decomposition cannot be used for basic purposes like drinking and cooking. Water treating companies tend to be limited in water production as eutrophication enhances manufacturing costs which are an increased overhead for such companies.

The tourism industry is adversely affected as the aesthetic component is reduced as decomposing algae tend to be quite putrid, a consequence in the air quality (Ansari, 2010). Another economic downfall is noted in the fishing industry as the water color limits the visibility of aquatic animals which is very important in fishing episodes; the shortage caused by colossal deaths due to oxygen shortage and toxicity increase food pricing for the consumers. Additionally, the blue-green algae support weak food chains that replace superior ones necessitated for advanced aquatic life. The fragile animal species that arise tend to have shortened life spans that are an adverse element within the marine environment.

References

Ansari, A. (2010). Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences and Control. New York, NY: Springer.

Welch, E. B., & Lindell, T. (1992). Ecological effects of wastewater: applied limnology and pollution effects. Florence, KY: Taylor & Francis.
 

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

1. Ethically Addressing Misinformation

Misinformation occurs when inaccurate or false info is distributed unintentionally. Ethically, misinformation is considered wrong unless it is being used to deliver a message or address an issue. When a major form of entertainment is used to misinform the public, there are concerns that are raised. Ethical dilemmas occur when a mental conflict arises between moral imperatives. The conflicts are often in a way where when one obeys one imperative the other one is transgressed. Ethical theories are the ideas on which most guiding principles are based on. The theories attempt to be systematic and coherent in a bid to answer practical ethical questions.

The main theory portrayed in the movie is the theory of ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is the way in which a person looks at the world from the perspective of his or her own ethnic culture. It entails the viewing of one’s own ethnic group or culture as superior and most important than any other. From the movie, the Greek family believes it has aspects that are uniquely valuable. This is seen clearly when the protagonist’s father praises their Greek culture saying that almost all the words are derived from the Greek language (Miller, Vandome & McBrewster, 2010).

The assumption of finality in communication in the movie is another dominant theory. The theory suggests that there is a final word in the statement of a person or one of the parties in a communication process. The party usually believes that by making a particular statement, the topic of discussion should be ended forthwith, or there is finality in his/her words. In the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, Toula’s father believes that once he has made a decision concerning the family, there are no two ways about it and his decision is final. For instance, Toula’s father believes that Toula should marry a Greek man and a Greek man only. When Toula ends up falling for a non-Greek man, her father cannot understand how such a thing can happen.

2. Values Exposed in Entertainment Distortion

Distortion is an art form used in music especially with the musical instrument, guitar. The effect is carried out by distorting the original sound of instruments to create a different desired sound. The most common and subtle types of distortion create a feel of an added thickness to the original tone of music. For instance, the method is used in the electric blues music genre. Distortion was first used as an effect in the sixties. The method then evolved to be used in the eighties by the creation of a pedal, known as a well, that was stepped on to create the effect. The most recent use of the effect involves an instrument known as a fuzz box that is used to create a signal interference that significantly changes the waveform.

The artistic use of distortion in music happens in a specified targeted way. Its application is done selectively in areas where it is required and desired. The effect plays a very huge role in modern music particularly in the rock, jazz, blues and pop music genres. Originally, the distortion used to happen in a way where musicians used to try to coax more diverse sound and volume out of their amplifiers than the machines could handle, or were designed to deliver. The flaw then became an asset since the producers realized that if the distortion was handled well it would give the instruments a harmonic rich and controllable sound that was better than what the normal guitar could play (Montabone, 2010).

3. Entertainment Social Responsibility

The social responsibility in entertainment represents the due care the entertainers take on the people. This care is meant to make the entertainers not publish illicit material, watch the message they deliver to the people and help the young members of the society through their message. The care is important since most people tend to live like their favorite star in the entertainment scene. This includes genres of entertainment like, mostly music, movies and fashion. People often create opinions shaped and based on entertainment. The view of a society can also be based on the opinions created by entertainers. Politicians are nowadays regarded as celebrities and entertainers of sorts and most people tend to emulate them. The message that might be passed on by these entertainers is taken very seriously by their protégés and those who look up to them (Nijholt, Reidsma, & Hondorp, 2009).

This is the reason why entertainers have a social responsibility to take care of what they do, say or how they act since the actions they do might be mimicked by many people who look up to them out there. The entertainers also have a responsibility towards the young population of the world. This responsibility is in terms of inspiring the young to follow positive paths and stay away from crime. From the movie, the ethical social responsibility that should be addressed concerns the ethnic superiority by some ethnic groups. The Greek family from the movie considered themselves superior to an extent of viewing other cultures as obsolete. This was the reason Toula was not allowed to marry from any other ethnic group. However, she went ahead and fell in love with an American man whom she brought home and after a push and shove with her family, they agreed for him to marry their daughter. The ethical social responsibility here is to communicate to the society to waive such customs in their ethnic backgrounds and to allow free socialization.

 

 

 

 

References

Miller, F. P., Vandome, A. F., & McBrewster, J. (2010). My Big Fat Greek Wedding. New York, NY: VDM Publishing House Ltd.

Montabone, S. (2010). Beginning Digital Image Processing: Using Free Tools for Photographers. Cambridge, MA: Apress.

Nijholt, A., Reidsma, D., & Hondorp, H. (2009). Intelligent Technologies for Interactive Entertainment: Third International Conference, INTETAIN 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 22-24, 2009, Proceedings. New York, NY: Springer.

Joyce, D. L. (2006). Misinformation: The Female-perpetuated Myths About Men. New York, NY: Aventine Press.

Instructional Setting:

The pupils will be seated in groups of five. This will be achieved by setting the tables in different places in the class so that the seat in circles. They will then repeat in unison the name and the picture as I say it. I will introduce the sound and the name in the picture as introduced in the reading program (Borowsky, 2007). The students are of the ages between 6 and eight years and there are twenty-five pupils. Most of the students are above average and are excited about learning the new letters and their sounds. The pictures and the group discussions make them very excited too.

STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES

 

Your State Core Curriculum/Student Achievement Standard(s):

 This lesson is to ensure that the pupil is in a position to identify a sound of the first letter with a figure or picture whenever he or she sees it. For example, “A” is for Apple

Lesson Objective(s):

This lesson is to enable the pupil to relate the beginning of each picture with the sound with one hundred percent accuracy. The picture that he should familiarize with is drawn on the chart.           

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

Instructional Materials:

  The materials include flipping for phonics, small group and one copy.

Resources:

Bloom’s taxonomy activity two (Dreher, 2000)

INSTRUCTIONAL PLAN

 

• Identification of Student Prerequisite Skills Needed for Lesson: (10 minutes)

The first thing is to make sure the students can hear what I am saying by telling them for example, the sound for the “A”  is “a” let me hear you say “a”  (McGuinness, 2004).

• Presentation of New Information or Modelling: (5 minutes)

I will let the pupils show me any objects in the classroom represented by the letters. For example, “C” represents “chair” then I will want them to tell me the sound of the first letter.

• Guided Practice: (5 minutes)

The guided practice will include attending to the pupils to see if they understood whatever I was teaching while they were in groups.

• Independent Student Practice: (10 minutes)

By giving each pupil an object that is represented by a letter then letting them tell me whatever letter represent what they are having. For example ball is represented by the sound is “b.”

• Culminating or Closing Procedure/Activity/Event: (10 minutes)

Giving the pupils the task of writing down the letters and what picture they represent. This task will only be completed after I have made sure that each pupil has the right handwriting for the letters.

 

Pedagogical Strategy (or Strategies):

The strategies will include cooperate learning and direct instruction. After directing the whole class, I will allow an individual pupil to point at something then let the others say what it is. Then, the pupils sitting in pairs, one will be point at something and the other will respond to the sound of the letter it represents.

Differentiated Instruction:

The same plan can be applicable to the pupils physically challenged such as the blind and the deaf. For the blind, one can use the sense of touch more. Like one can give the pupil a ball first then tell him the sound of the letter it represents. Then after sometime give the pupil the same ball and ask him what letter represent it. On the other hand, for the deaf you can show them the picture and ask them what letter represents it. However, this can only work if one has the knowledge of the sign language.

 

Student Assessment/Rubrics:

After the whole lesson, I will ask the pupils to tell me the beginning sound of each picture on the chart that I will be pointing and at the same time asking each student one by one. The response that I will require is not the letter name but the sound it that it represents. Nevertheless, I will take notes of the students who will not be able to tell me the correct thing that I need.

PROTOCOL FORM 6

• Observation and Description

The teaching of the pupils was fan and exciting, and most of the pupils were determined to show their fellow students and me that they had really learned how to pronounce the sound of the first letters represented by the pictures. In addition, I found out that others had already composed songs that reminded them of the lesson.

My only recommendation is that we should see to it that when it is a question of grouping the pupils, we should do it in a manner that the week students are intermingled with the fast leaning pupils so that the slow ones can catch up with the others. That is to say that in a group of five, three should be first and the other two should be fast.

• Analysis, Exploration, and Reasoning

For one to be able to achieve the best results during presentation it necessary to come up with a set of rules that are very strict to the pupils. As for my part, the first rule that I must come up with is total participation by each pupil. In this rule, I will put it as 100 percent participation. By letting the whole class participate, one will be able to know the fast pupils and the pupils that may require special attention.

The second rule is 100 percent concentration. The rule must insist that all the pupils should concentrate on the activity that is taking place in the classroom. There should be no noise or other discussion during the lesson.

By setting the rules, the pupils will teach themselves to always concentrate and participate in class. This will also help them in their conduct and behaviour in the future.

 

• Connections to Other Effective Teaching Practices

The groups should be established in a criterion that will not favour the fast learners and do damage to the slow learners. That is to say that when grouping the pupils the groups should be combined with both the fast learners and the slow learners. This will enable the other children to concentrate and they will not feel that they are being neglected because they are stupid or slow in class. When it is a question of grouping, one should ensure that the group is small and manageable this is because if the group is big, there will be some members in the group that will be dormant. Therefore, a small group gives everybody room for participation in the group.

The other teaching practices such as numbers and technical skills such as modelling can be applicable. The teachers will realize that the students are concentrating fully and nobody wants to be seen as the one who does not know. It is necessary to have a small group that can be managed easily.

 

• Evaluation

By having everybody participating in class during presentation, this will make it easy to know the weak students that require special attention. On the other hand, one will be able to understand the strength and the weakness of each pupil.

The most challenging thing was, understanding   pupil. Therefore, I had to take time with them and know the ones that were shy and other needed to be motivated, but overall, knowing the pupils personally really encouraged me. It enabled me learn to be more patient with those that seem to be slow learners. It also made me realise that using more visual objects helps the students understand and remember things (letters) than just saying them.

 

• Recommendations

The approach that I would have taken if I had enough time would have been to sit down with each pupil and teach him or her personally, without the other pupils interfering. I would also recommend that the entire class lesson be based on small grouping since it would be easier for the teachers to evaluate the progress of the pupils.

My recommendation of small grouping is relevant in teaching these pupils. This is to help the weaker pupils feel wanted and make it easier for them to understand the class work at a faster pace. More materials such as pictures, drawings and modelling materials will be included in order to prevent the students from fighting while others miss on the opportunity to use them.

I will also see to it that in each group, each pupil gets a role to play in order to increase the pupils’ concentration and participation. These roles include the leader, spokesperson and the secretary. The remaining pupils in the groups should also have something to do. The pupils grouping can be done according to the age so that the ones who seem older group with the younger ones. This would encourage them to stay harmoniously and encourage one another instead of bullying one another.

 

• Personal Meaning and Professional Growth

As time progresses, one will notice that the weaker students are catching up as these pupils catch up, it would be necessary if one decides to regroup them again. This may be another way of motivating them. Therefore, it is necessary to know and evaluate the pupils’ progress, as this will motivate the pupils hence they will even work harder. On the other hand, the stronger pupils will also want to be a head of the other pupils since they will want competition with the other pupils.

The first thing that I will always consider whenever I am in a professional field is to help the pupils so that they can learn. This can only happen if the pupils are given a better learning environment. That is why I will always ensure that whenever I go to teach in a class, all the necessary learning materials and equipment will be available (DeSena, 2007).

It is always good to always consider yourself as a professional, that is why I always want to have whatever is required so that whenever anything goes wrong, there will be nobody to blame but me. That is the reason why I will always want to see my pupils at the same level.

 References

Borowsky, R. (2007). Neural representations of visual words and objects: a functional MRI study on the modularity of reading and object processing. Brain Topogr 20 (2): 89–96. doi:10.1007/s10548-007-0034-1. PMID 17929158

DeSena, L.  (2007). Preventing Plagiarism: Tips and Techniques. (Chapter 2). Urbana, IL:  NCTE

Dreher, J. (2000). Easy Steps to Writing Fantastic Research Reports (Grades 3-6). New York, NY: Scholastic Professional Books.

McGuinness, D. (2004). Early reading instruction: what science really tells up about how to teach reading. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.

 

Marketing Planning Process

The logical model starts by defining the organization’s mission and goals. Marketing analysis, competitive comparison and internal analysis are then conducted and various assumptions are made. A SWOT analysis is undertaken and this sets in place the objectives. Strategies and tactics come before evaluation, measurement and control. The logical model has some advantages in that many companies spend a lot of time on this process, often making allowances for situations they had not anticipated or considered. The model assumes that rationality is the main thing when choosing strategies. In practice, strategies are however not deliberate or obvious. The model has several disadvantages especially when applied in practical situations since it has many assumptions. Despite setting and following such a rational model, few companies hardly experience any success in marketing planning. Logical strategic planning has many managerial assumptions, which are often not justified in practice. The logical model does not consider the characteristics of planning. Planning is not completed on the first attempt as the model presumes.

The illogical process does not follow the rationality of the logical process. It does not plan strategies based on set principles on what ought to be followed. Instead, the model uses the information and intelligence, experiences, attitudes and culture to understand the market. This eliminates or ignores what is not needed, and creates a biased, imperfect and subjective world, which represents reality. After having a clear understanding of the working environment, the strategies that the management has come up with can then undergo a SWOT analysis and integrated with the company’s mission. The advantages of this model are that starting with strategies and tactics increases commitment since people are willing to complete the tasks. Planning is seen as a continuing process and is therefore part of the business, rather than a phase through which a company has to pass. The possible disadvantages of this model include the fact that it is dependent on the organization’s culture and history, which may not reflect the current market trends, it does not have a strategic imperative and it uses limited information.

In figure2, the arrows represent the various probabilities available in the marketing planning process. As a result, each option leads to different consequences, in addition to what should be done to correct the process to reach the Strategic Marketing Plan. For instance, if the strategy chosen does not make sense or add up, the ‘no’ arrow dictates that one redefine the strategy, while the ‘yes’ arrow directs one to compare the strategy to the SWOT.

An Evaluation of Styles of IT Support for Marketing Planning

Models that are IT enabled are more realistic and they allow the right questions to be asked. Decision support systems can support semi structured or unstructured decisions and the management information systems support structured decisions. Decision support system can be seen as subfield of management information system, in which case they provide managers with access to data, or they can be seen as an extension of management science technique, in which case they provide access to analytical model. Model based systems are robust, complete, adaptive, and easy to understand, control and communicate. Some systems are not easy to understand without specific qualifications. Some people suggest the systems should be tested on their reliability and validity in providing solutions. Decision support systems have increasingly been used for uses other than those, which they had been designed. Decision support systems not only aid in the decision-making process but they are also used for communicating and processing information.

When designing EXMAR, the designers first evaluated the system by showing the managers how to use it. They used the system to develop a marketing plan then made a report on how the system could be improved. The designers chose to use the illogical model since they first understood the market environment and made changes accordingly. Had they followed the logical model, they would not have been able to make improvements within a limited period. The illogical model enabled them to use the system in various sectors and markets. The designers first focused on the relative issue and then shifted their focus on issues that were not immediately related to the design of the system. They used questionnaires to get historical information and they dealt with emerging issues later, after the system was already in place.

Strategic Marketing Planning: A Grounded Investigation

A strategic marketing plan is a document outlining target markets, the development of marketing programmes and the execution of these programs, covering a period of between three and five years. Strategic marketing planning can be viewed in two ways. The first approach considers the application of flow models and stresses issues such as the need for a strategic marketing plan, formal procedures when planning and analytical techniques. The other approach focuses on the context. Corporate strategy optimizes the organization’s performance and it matches the organization’s activities to the environment. Robust strategies are long term and they cover the organization’s potential threats. This is seen as the logical approach because it makes various assumptions concerning the organization. The corporate strategy is more realistic because it deals with current issues. The manager deals with issues as they arise at that particular time and some of the decisions made may not reflect the long-term goal of the organization.

Managers have been given the role of decision making in many organizations. They should therefore develop the necessary analytical skills required when making decisions. In addition to this, their ability to bargain and negotiate, allocate resources and develop informal organizational structures greatly influences their ability to make strategic decisions. Process models are useful when designing strategic management plans. They are grounded on expectancy and role theory, learned behavior, communications theory and supportive relations theory. Planning process research include interpersonal process views such as leadership and the effects of communication processes on performance, individual processes such as cognition and organizational roles, and structural views, which look at the effects of various organizational structures.

Tackling Implementation Impediments to Marketing Planning

Internal organizational forces such as culture, operations, management and communication continue to hinder the implementation of marketing planning strategies and programmes. There is a need to facilitate marketing plans, strategies and programmes. Some of the marketing planning issues that were seen as problems a while back may have ended because of the changes experienced in the marketing structure in many organizations. The marketing department has been accorded full status and is no longer seen as one of the organization’s promotional tools. However, marketing planning continues to struggle with problems such as planning activities, communication and output. Limited senior management support and involvement, inadequate marketing and planning skills and little planning were some of the impediments noted a decade ago. Currently, the management has changed its position and it has now become more involved in the marketing planning process.

Effective marketing is hindered by lack of marketing analysis, little market intelligence, failure of involving non-marketers, little lateral thinking and poor internal communication. Creating effective marketing plans is also hindered by ineffectual marketing intelligence, poor co-ordination, poor managerial skills, petty politics and inadequate planning resources. The logical model would approach marketing from an external point of view, where marketing is aimed at satisfying the external customer and ignoring the internal customer. However, organizations should aim at improving internal marketing in the same manner that they have focused on external marketing. Internal marketing ensures that employees focus on the customers fully and it maintains good relationship within the organization. For internal marketing to be effective, it has to have the following requirements: information sharing, team interactions, formalized internal marketing communications campaigns, employee feedback sessions, orientation sessions, encouraging success stories and empowerment of line managers to solve various problems.

 

History of Nationalism

Nationalism generally means the devotion that people have for cultures of their nations. Every nation has a culture, which connects its members. It also refers to the belief of ones country’s ideas being superior to others. People show nationalism when they emphasize the laws of their land. It can be referred to as patriotism since it is the devotion of people to the values of their nation. Many historians say that French revolutions in Europe were the origin of nationalism (Keitner 12). It began in early nineteenth century. The united France had conquered many European territories. These nations started fighting for their freedom, which saw them start uniting against the French. This was the birth of nationalism, where ethnic communities wanted to rule themselves as a nation

Nationalism was not there until 18^th century, rather, it has evolved with time and has been triggered by events and circumstances. In the days before nationalism, people would be royal to the king or cities that they resided in. They did not see any need to associate themselves with a nation. Nationalism came later due to desired interest of subjected people to be free. Subjected Communities started believing that people of the same culture and language should belong to their own nation that they pay loyalty to. This lead to revolutions in Europe as these subjected communities perused their independence. This was one kind of nationalism in Europe (Keitner 33).

The idea of one nation imposing its ideas on another was the other kind of nationalism portrayed by Germany. Some nations that were already independent and united felt that they should impose their cultures on other communities. One good example of this was Germany in 1870, when she became united and wanted to form alliances. In later 1890s, she became aggressive and wanted to impose her power on other parts of the world. This caused her major problems with other powerful nations in Europe (Duicker 533).

Among the forces that led to nationalism, increased population was one. The monarchical way of rule was faced with a major problem of ruling the increased population. Urban areas grew and other communities that came were not welcomed well. This led to political instability. Another trigger was more ordinary people becoming enlightened meant that they would seek liberation. The evolution of communication was another factor that contributed to sharing of information and ideas among communities (Duicker 520).

Nationalism has many characteristics, which presents in many different ways. One characteristic is the high regard of one’s country. Many people today regard their nations as superior to others. This shows a connection between a person and his country. This suggests that a nationalist will always consider his country first before any other country or individual. People who are nationalists will do anything for their nation without considering personal benefits. This is demonstrated by many freedom fighters who thought of their nations before their own lives. Africa has good examples, such as Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Martin Luther king Junior was a nationalist of liberalism, where he wanted to liberate blacks in America. Nationalists aim at liberating their nation from dynamics that hinder its prosperity and independence.

Another characteristic of nationalism or nationalists is the desire to develop their nation. Many nationalists aspire to see their nations develop economically and socially. An economically powerful nation is considered superior. Take for example the developed nations and those developing; it is obvious that the developed countries of west are regarded as superior to poor nations in Africa. Socially weak nations may not develop if its people who can enhance development are not empowered.

Pledging loyalty and high regard to the country’s laws and guiding principles characterizes nationalism. Laws and guiding principles of a country are its defining objects. This is what makes the nation distinct from another. Nationalists adhere to these rules since they are aware that these rules are for a smooth continuity of their nation. In addition, ensuring that the country’s stream of laws, ideas, harmony, and prosperity are maintained is a characteristic that suggests that nationalists have a duty to not only to love their nation, but also to participate in building it, which is the meaning of nationalism.

As explained above, nationalists would do almost anything to see the flourishing of their nations. This nationalism led to many difficult times to the three empires. Prussian, which is current German, encountered many problems due to nationalism. Prussia was used to the traditional way of leadership. Due to increasing nationalism, Prussia faced problems of economic factors such as population growth, urbanization, and industrialization. The increasing population in Prussia needed more supplies and their trade was going down. Liberalization meant people owning properties and leading their life with democracy. Many ideologies spread across Prussia and posed a great problem. This was caused by the many states that were in Prussia and Germany. Unification of this states proved to be difficult to the nationalistic leaders. Nationalism was important for economic development and unification but also served in pulling states farther away from each other.

Nationalism in Austria developed the same way as the other central European empires. Nationalism caused a major difficulty in this empire because of the many ethnic states that formed it. Each state wanted to have freedom and recognition as independent states. This was a major cause of conflicts and instabilities among the states. The rulers were posed with a great problem from the minority states such as Magyars in the Hungarian part. The Magyars fought for nationalistic recognition and independence from the empire, which was a big problem to the empire in 1848.

Just as the other empires, Russia sought unification as a nation, which caused conflict among nationalities in the empire. Just as the others, each culture wanted to be independent. Despite its power and size, nationalistic issues slowed down economic development. In general, there were many similar difficulties caused by nationalism in these empires. The major problem was the diversity of the ethnic nationalistic states in these empires. However, there were differences since some nations were favored by nationalism while to others; it was a setback to their peace. Germany was more successful than the other two empires.

In the development of nationalism, romanticism and liberalism played a great role to ensure that it developed. Liberalism is described as being free or independent to control one’s life. Before nationalism, authoritative leaders ruled people. When people started feeling that a man should have freedom to own property and do trade as he or she wished, started to create a feeling of nationalism where one community should have its ideologies. This is when people came together to fight against the French rule to be free or liberated. Transformation of communication enabled organization of festivals where nationalistic speeches were held since liberalization had allowed freedom of speech.

Romanticism is the use of arts to connect feelings with work. Romanticism arose from communities who were colonized by the dominant nations such as the French. They reacted to this rule using revolutions and as people became more enlightened, the artists; musicians, poets, and philosophers, started addressing this issue in their work. Poets composed material that contained nationalism messages. The romantic poets and writers played a great role in developing nationalism by helping their people make a distinction of their own culture and ways from other communities. This affiliated people to their own culture, and developed more affection for their culture that improved nationalism. In Germany, Goethe inspired many young people through his novel “the sorrows of young weather” in 1774. During this time, Germany was split in many states. His work was read by many people across the states and had an influence in developing unity between the states, which bore nationalism.

Many people came to believe that people speaking one language with one culture are one, and should be left alone to rule themselves, in their own land. Farther, they came to appreciate that individuals should develop themselves in accordance with the culture of their nation because in turn, they will be developing their own nation. People’s feelings of harmony and togetherness, were increased by Romanticism in music, poems, and literature, which later brought most states together for unification in Germany (Delanty 22).

From history of the three empires, it is evident that nationalism has evolved gradually from events of the time. Revolution can be said to be the major trigger of nationalism. There were several activities and ideologies behind nationalism development such as the liberal ideas and romanticism, events such as struggle for unification and independence of minority nationalities. Nationalism had many effects to the empires economically, politically and socially.

In the modern history, nationalism has been a cause of conflicts among countries since globalization suggests unity among nations, which is not easy to have due to the diversity of nationalities. The conflicts are mostly economic and political. Believing of one’s nation to be superior to another in the modern society could raise many reactions across the world because of intensity of current communication technology. Unnecessary wars can arise from nationalistic ideas, which are a cause for differences. The above history proves that nationalism, in modern society, should be avoided since only Germany, where Prussia was, managed unification through nationalism. The other empires faced more problems than its benefits. Historians have criticized (Delanty 10).

Works Cited

Delanty, Gerard and Krishan Kumar. The SAGE handbook of nations and nationalism. Philadelphia, PA: Sage, 2006. Print.

Duiker, William and Jackson  Spielvogel. World History. Volume 1. Stratford, Canada: Cengage Learning, 2006. Print.

Keitner, Chimène. The paradoxes of nationalism. Albany, NY: Suny Press, 2007. Print

Egyptian Copts

Introduction

The term ritual was originally derived from the Greek culture and is generally used to denote an organized system. The term as applied within a religious context majorly implies a highly organized system in which practices are presented for acceptability and in enforcing order for worship standardization. Consequently, this leads to cultural practices that are used as rules of identity within a given order. For instance, a Muslim follower is easily identified by the outward adornment in terms of clothing and in the order of worship in areas like personal hygiene and prayer modes. A Buddhist monk can also be identified by the manner of clothing, triggering within an individual the ability to relate the monk to the religious practices as noted by the rituals. The Egyptian Copts, being a Christian denomination also bears ritualistic practices that bear spiritual significance as evidenced by prayer patterns and other religious observances (Copt-Net, 2006). The following discussion will focus on the ritualistic practice of fasting, as evidenced by Muslims and Egyptian Copts with the differences and similarities indicative of the political, cultural, social and ideological aspects of the given cultures.

Fasting as Conducted by Egyptian Copts and Sunni Islamism

The Copts are a Christian sect that was instituted by Apostle John in Alexandria (Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Chicago, 2009). The ritual of fasting to the Copts allows an individual in overcoming fleshly desires in form of material items like eating provisions, sex, and entertainment among other practices that hinder optimal association with God. The main objective behind is fostering the initial pure nature in which the first man had experienced before the manifestation of sin. This was marked with a vegetarian diet comprising of fruits, vegetable and herbs and it is only after the introduction of sin that the first family was allowed to include animal products in their meals. Copts observe strict fasting periods on an annual basis amounting to two hundred and ten days out of the designated three hundred and sixty five days. A fasting day begins before the sunrise and extends up to the period in which the sun sets and during this period, all practicing individuals are mandated to refrain from food items and liquids.

Strong individuals are allowed to commence the fasting period at midnight up to the following evening after the sunsets (Ibrahim, 2010). This is reducible for weak individuals whose commencement period remains as midnight up to either midday or three o’clock in the afternoon. The latter breaking period symbolizes the exact period in which Christ was crucified while the latter denotes the actual time, which Christ demised. The food items prepared within this period are strictly vegetables with a refrain from meat any form of animal food items. The preparation of the vegetables depending on an individual’s preference may use oil for frying purposes of water if the food is to be boiled. Expectant mothers and ill individuals are exempted from the fasting periods that are determined by the Coptic Calendar, which is determined by priests in the Alexandrian location. This ensures uniformity with regard to the period and the time schedule in which the fasting should commence and end.

The Sunni Muslims also observe fasting practices within their religion. Strict observances are conducted during this period but the fasting period is not as pronounced within the Copt religion. Similarities do exist in both religions in terms of outward self-restraint instituted for a resultant spiritual uplifting. Fasting in Sunni Islam is a fundamental ritual of the Islamic faith and it is termed as sawm (Teece, 2004). During the fasting period, an individual is expected to observe a strict refrain from the consumption of any type of food or liquid. This observance is set between the periods in which the sun rises to its setting. Sawm is observed in various days and parts of the year as deemed fit by an individual or the Islamic religious leaders. The practice of fasting maybe categorized as wajib according to it a mandatory compliance, mustahab denoting a suggested status, makruh that is indicative of dejection towards fasting and muharam a literal prohibition to an individual against fasting. A Sunni Muslim is free to perform fasting rituals within any time of the year except on Fridays, which is considered as muharam. However, in accordance to Muhammad’s fasting periods, the mustahab days on a monthly period tend to be on the13^th, 14^th and 15^th days. Additionally, Thursdays and Tuesdays are also highly recommended periods.

The Ashura fast is observed on the tenth day of Tishrei in commemoration of Israel’s rescue from captivity and it is conducted for a period of a day. This fasting is not obligatory for a Sunni Muslim. Wajib fasts in Sunni Islam are the Ramadan, which covers an entire month, the kaffarah fast that is practiced as penitence for any contraventions that an individual may have committed during the period of Ramadan and personal periods of sawm in the completion of vowing periods (Katz, 2004). Individual vows in Copts are also allowed to include private fasting that has to follow the pre-instituted observances and conducted within the stipulated fasting days away from the prohibited period. In addition to the eating and drinking observance, sexual relations are prohibited throughout the fasting period as an outward reflection of purity during the prayer period. One is required to avoid places and instances in which sensual indulgences may be prompted as a representation of self-control to Allah. The daily food and drink portions are used to feed the poor and needy individuals among the community. Several groups are exempted from wajib fasts like the mentally unwell, the aged and deformed individuals. The two latter groups are however expected to pay homage to the needy as a recompense for their exclusion.

Women during the period of their menstruation are considered as unclean and exempted from sawm as well as nurturing or expectant mothers. Prayers are accompanied by Qur’an readings that are performed during the night in sessions termed as the Tarawih in which one out of the thirty sections of the Qur’an is read out as a prayer (Teece, 2004). Shoes have to be left outside the Mosque during any form of visit just as the Copts have to observe during temple visitations. Upon the completion of the fast, the whole Qur’an is usually covered. Other than food items, Sunni Muslims may opt to but clothe items for the needy with their daily monetary allocations. Upon sunset, families are allowed to eat the Iftar meal that is marked with other family members and friends. Communal feeding zones termed as Mawaed Rahman are placed in strategic places for the serving of the Iftar to the needy and the poor. The fasting period continues until the last day where normal consumption, sexual and business activities return to normalcy.

Unlike in Sunni Islam, all fasting periods for the Copt believers are mandatory observances especially due to their spiritual symbolism. The initial fasting Copts fasting period known as Winter Lent begins on the seventh day of January, which according to the Coptic Calendar is termed as the 29^th day of Koiak. The Copts observe forty days as an imagery of the period in which Moses had to fast on the Lord’s mountain before the issuance of the Ten Commandments (Saint Mary and Saint Antonios Coptic Orthodox Christian Church, 2011). Winter Lent is observed as a form of allegiance to Christ as the word of God and a living reflection of God’s laws. The second Copt fasting is termed as Fast of Jonah, as a parallel of the three days in which Jonah prayed whilst in the whale. With no form of food, Jonah was indeed in prayer and fasting for a period of three days. Copts observe the same length period as a remembrance of the period that Christ lay in the grave. The third fasting, Great Lent, is observed for forty days as an indication of Christ’s fasting before the triumphal entry in Jerusalem with the waving of palm branches. Due to its level of significance in the Copts faith, an individual is expected to have an additional cleansing period that lasts for seven days, bringing the total period to forty-nine days. Great Lent is marked on the calendar before the Palm Sunday.

The fourth fast is Holy Pascha held seven days prior to Easter is used as a preparation period for the demise and resurrection period of the savior. Upon the celebration of the Pentecost, the fifth fast termed as Fast of the Apostles is initiated on the subsequent day for a varying period determined by the priests. The least days that can be spent in this fast are fifteen days and the highest is forty-nine days. This period is spent on the contemplation of the afflictions that the apostles had to bear for the progression of the Gospel throughout the nations. With Christ having given a promise to the apostles that he would transform them into fishers of men, fish as the only animal item is allowed for inclusion in the food preparation menus. The Fast of Virgin Mary marks the last major period in which individuals are expected to conduct a fifteen-day prayer towards the virgin as a petition for her mediation prayers for earthly Christians (Saint Mary and Saint Antonios Coptic Orthodox Christian Church, 2011). Special days for fasting are Wednesdays and Fridays to mark the period for Iscariot’s treachery scheme against Jesus and Christ’s demise respectively. Note that, these special fasts are observed on a weekly basis excluding the period beginning with Easter and ending with the Pentecost.

The Sunni subdivision of Islam is considered as the largest with the followers bearing the literal meaning of conventional followers of Muhammad’s life and actions as documented in the hadiths (Central Intelligence Agency, 2009). The second largest subdivision is known as Shia Islam modeled after Muhammad’s cousin Ali, and it combines both the hadiths and Ali’s teachings as authoritative in Islamic practices. Muhammad being a political leader mandated the selection of heirs upon his demise and this were chosen according to the Caliph instructions recorded in the Constitution of Medina. With the presence of belief sects, the Caliph was supposed to create political unity rather than religious unity. Sunni Islam contends that political heirs are chosen by the Shura whereas the Shia Islam believes that this role is accorded to the Imam. The ideological differences presented by these divergent schools only have a minimal effect on the fasting ritual and a reflection of the diverse nature of the Islamic culture. The political differences point out the personal influences infused by personal interpretations that are noted even in the current setting.

Sunni Islam acknowledges the initial three political heirs after the demise of Muhammad and rejects the rest as being illegal due to Ali’s influence (Katz, 2007). Shia Islam accords Ashurah as a mandatory observance as opposed to Sunni Islam. Due to this, it is observed in two days rather than the one specified period. Following the political influences on the leadership position, the calendar observances for fasting periods tend to vary with the Ramadan being the only unified form of fasting. This is a clear indication that political differences still exist in the Islamic culture. In the Egyptian Coptic faith, political influences within church activities are absent due to the nature of the observed faith. Islam reveres Muhammad as both a political and spiritual authority marking the last of Allah’s prophets for the handing of the Qur’an. The Christians are considered as followers of Christ who being of Jewish descent is considered as the Messiah (Theodorou, 2011). Upon his birth and development, the Jewish people eagerly awaited his political involvement in leading the Jewish nation into worldly activities but he declined this position claiming that his time for political involvement was not yet dawned.

Christ thereby is majorly regarded as a spiritual head more then a political one until his promised second return. Consequently, church divisions in the Christian faith are a reflection of ideological differences in terms of scripture interpretation as compared to the Sunnis whose ideological differences include the political aspect. Notably, both religions despite the ideological practices view fasting as a mandatory ritual for spiritual nourishment. Although the sacred attachment to fasting is quite prevalent in the practice of fasting for the Copts, prayers offered during the fasting periods are a reflection of the social aspect embedded in the ritual (Theodorou, 2011). Egyptian Copts have to offer an intercession prayer for the whole body of the Coptic brethren spread in the entire globe. With various sects existing under Christianity, Copts also offer a prayer for unity among the various church divisions. Socially, they offer petitions to the nation of Egypt concerning the head of state and other government officials, the military for its protections, the government units and the natives of Egypt.

Prayers for political leaders are a practice that reflects the Coptic belief that all authority on earth is allowed by God and therefore should be respected as Christ obeyed the rulers of his period. This has to be borne until the time that Christ descends again for his reign. A peace prayer is offered on behalf of Egypt and the entire globe as this enhances human existence, and this includes the wellbeing of all humans. With Egypt notably dominated by a desert climate, the Nile acts as its source of agricultural activities and the Copts do not overlook this aspect in their thankfulness to God (Wakin, 2000). Therefore, the Copts pray to the creator for the sustenance of the Nile waters due to its economic significance as well as the welfare of the crops cultivate near the water source. This is in the hopeful deterrence of any water surge that may be caused by floods that would have an adverse effect on the crops and the harvest. On the other hand, social aspects within the Sunni practice of fasting is more practical as evidenced through the feeding initiatives to fellow Muslims whose welfare is limited. A Sunni Muslim is expected to extend a provision hand to the needy a practice that lacks in the Copts observance.

Failure to follow this social aspect in the fast has to be penitenced by the kaffarah. Economic implications in Sunni Islam reflect a normal society in which the rich coexist with the poor depending on one’s monetary ability. Fasting is actually considered as an economic impetus for business owners as a notable increase is noted in purchases for food items and clothing during the fasting period, especially Ramadan. To the fasting Sunni Muslim, fasting tends to have an increased level of monetary spending with the inclusion of the needy but as the Ramadan only covers a month the increased expenses are accrued back during the rest of the year. As for the Copts, fasting does not have any economic aspect as daily provisions are maintained at the bare minimal for every individual without the need to offer to the poor unless on a personal choice.

Conclusion

The Egyptian Copts and the Sunni Islam are both practiced religions in Arabian nations. The similarities in both religions in the discipline of fasting are observed in the sensual restrictions towards the achievement of a higher spiritual level. The strictness accorded to the ritual is indicative of the piety observed by the followers. In addition to this, the religions mainly use the Arabic language for communication and are monotheistic in their faiths. The greatest divisive element is observed in the political aspect of the religions with Sunni Muslims determined to enforce the doctrine of Allah unto all individuals as a mandated requirement from Muhammad’s teachings (CNN Wire Staff, 2011). The Sunni faith regulates the political as well as the spiritual aspects unlike the Copts whose main consideration is the enhancement of the Christian faith through peaceful techniques. With their livelihood in Egypt being a minority group, many Copts have been slain on account of their faith by the Muslims as a way of coercing Muhammad’s teachings and political rule on the group (Wakin, 2000). The Copts have opposed these practices and continue their faith in Egypt by comparing their suffering to their founding Apostle’s teachings with their ardent every day prayers directed towards the permanent institution of peace and harmony through God’s intervention.

References

Central Intelligence Agency. (2009). The CIA World Factbook 2010, Book 2010. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing Inc.

CNN Wire Staff. (2011). Man Sentenced to death for killing Christians. Cable News Network Belief Blog. Retrieved from http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/17/man-sentenced-to-death-for-killing-christians/?iref=allsearch

Copt-Net. (2006). The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church Of Egypt. Retrieved from http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica/

Ibrahim, V. (2010). The Copts of Egypt: The Challenges of Modernisation and Identity. London, UK: I. B. Tauris.

Katz, M. H. (2007). The birth of the prophet Muhammad: devotional piety in Sunni Islam: Culture and civilisation in the Middle East. New York, NY: Routledge.

Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Chicago. (2009). Coptic History: Introduction to the Coptic Orthodox Church. Retrieved from http://www.stmarkchicago.org/Pages/CopticHistory.aspx

Saint Mary and Saint Antonios Coptic Orthodox Christian Church. (2011). The Spirituality of Ritual in the Coptic Church. Retrieved from http://www.copticchurch.org/node/180

Teece, G. (2004). Islam. Greenpoint Avenue, NY: Black Rabbit Books.

Theodorou, C. (2011). The 1,700-year-old Christian monastery hidden deep in Egypt’s desert. Cable News Network. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/01/07/orthodox.christian.monastery.egypt/index.html?iref=allsearch

Wakin, E. (2000). A Lonely Minority: The Modern Story of Egypt’s Copts. Bloomington, IN: IUniverse.com.

 

Music Essay

In our lives, we realize music is part and parcel of life for it may either come as way of entertaining or comfort in challenging situations. Music has commonly earned the ability to influence due to the accompaniment of the sounds. Consequently, it creates a unique reaction to the listeners that may bring either a positive impression or a negative one. Music has a character in which both the listener and the singer benefit. The essential modes of understanding music come about through hearing and listening. Both again are used in and applied in grammar to enhance understanding. Those people who use the mode of hearing they just master the sounds but not the content and in this way, they miss the whole concept about music.

In this way also, hearing the melody does not bring full music satisfaction and this leads to people getting weary of the music quickly. On the other hand, those people who take time to listen to the content of the music get to comprehend the music in a better way. For instance, listening encompasses influential concepts of music such as message, tone of the music, rhyming scheme and the length of the music. Through this analysis, the listener will be able to judge a particular form of music because he has evaluated all the concepts. Therefore, a good listener will be able to acquire maximum music satisfaction.

The enjoyable or distasteful experience of the music is determined by the ability of the listener to detect tone, rhythm, tempo and harmony. These components are comprised in the music. The listeners’ judgment on those items results to him liking the music or disliking it. Arts in particular relate also to music in which satisfaction is achieved through the alteration of the main theme. This concept relates grammatically to functional writing where the theme must be spelled out. The art of music has contributed to the societal identification for it acts as community mirror that reflects their lives. This reflection is generated through the theme and sound impact. Contrary to pictures and carvings, music cannot base themes from pictures for its main role is to pass messages in the right format. The theme of the music is displayed also by its concentration on the focused theme. Additionally, an elaborating heading also brings forth the purposed theme.

Music develops feelings that trigger emotions to the listener and this is as a result of ambience and love for the music. Our consciousness in music is achieved through our ability to have arousal of feelings by the music. This music sensation comes due to the presence of an implicit motivating incentive derived from the music. Love and emotions put pedestal to a higher concentration. Incentives in this way, affect the temperate condition of the listener. This temperate status of the body is essentially brought by the combination of great love and emotions related to a particular kind of music.

The distinctive components of music determine the extent of feelings. Through this way, music is perceived to have the power to change the state of intellectual of an individual. This alteration may come in relation to the type of beat and rhythm applied. In grammar, the arrangement of words may bring certain feeling to the reader hence a core relationship of music and grammar. Musicals that are accompanied by video are known to have a great impact to the audience because it can cause either happiness or displeasure hence facilitating contentment. The use of harsh words in grammar may be connected to rock music. This is because rock uses cunning words that provoke resentment, anxiety and exhaustion. Contrary to this, the use of polite and humble words in music brings cohesion and relaxation feelings to the listener.

 

 

 

The musical component has more than one connection with body feelings. For instance, the music itself has its own influence in the structure of human emotions. The tone of the music is a depiction of controversial life of the audience. In relation to grammar, music stanzas have different subjects as well as in the writing where different paragraphs talk about different subjects. The tonal variation of wording in grammar depicts change in mood and objective of the writer. This also applies with music where tonal change results to change of subject. The music components and feeling components are closely related because of they are intense. Commonly, many listeners may consent to the fact that some music is associated with depressing feelings and happy moods. In other styles, music that involves dancing will only evoke a happy feeling rather than calmness.

Despite the arousal of feelings, sound is another important factor in delivering the music subject. This may have a relation that different colors give different meanings. In writing, symbolism is a trait used to bring certain meanings to the audience. This is achieved through giving objects human characteristics. The characters used show a close relationship with others towards analyzing the common theme. Likewise, there is a connection between all musical applications using the same of tonal variation.

Imagery as displayed in the use of grammar is also related to the way varied musical tones can bring a certain feeling. These emotions create a mental picture varying from one person to another. In the modern world, we have different types of music such as the rock, classical, jazz and worship. Every musical style is distinct from each other according to the different moods and mental pictures they impart in the mind of the listener. Worship songs are meant to exalt God; therefore, words that regard to the action of rising and praising are used in order to bring the concept of worship. These songs bring a worship mood to the listener. With reference to spoken grammar, writing of a praising essay incorporates the use of praising words and hence bringing a close connection between written grammar and music. On the other hand, country music is distinguished from other types according to the way musical instruments are used. These songs bring memorable scenes of history. Therefore, past tense must be used in order to facilitate the theme of history. Through this way, a close relationship is established to enhance the display of the targeted theme.

Punctuations in a song like the use of commas and full stop shows a break or an end to a particular session. Grammatically, professional songs follow the rules of grammar in such a way that the tense is observed and the arrangement of words. This makes it ease for manifesting the subject matter of the music. The rhyming scheme in a song, which might be shown through repeating the line in every stanza, brings coordination in a song. Likewise, in written grammar such as poems, the rhyme scheme helps in memorization. This scheme is also important in the indication of alteration in feelings.

The song type that uses rhyme mostly is the rap music. This music comprise of vocals that are rhythmically accompanied by instrumentals. The instrumentals might be recorded drumbeats with a matching phase. The vocals are key emphasis in the music industry, meaning that the lyrics are considered in bringing forth the theme of the composition. These songs touch in areas such as politics, relationships and violence. Through this way, they give a clear depiction of the environment through which the writer is living in. In addition, the rap music is usually sung by the African people expressing the kind of troubles that they face every day. Through this song, the rhyming scheme shows that grammatically, there is relation between music and the formal writing. The use of a connecting word in the song enhances greater connection in verbal language and the written. The area of focus usually comes in the delivering of the main subject because listening and hearing comprise satisfaction of music desire.

The jazz is another type of music with its own style is designed to influence the audience by delivering the focused theme. The style is improved through the composition of recurring chords in sequence of sonata tread. The artwork in this kind of singing is characterized by the rhyming scheme. This enhances the audience to have a hint regarding to the theme of the song. The entertaining advantage of this kind of art is beneficial to both the composer and the audience at large. The grammar coordination of the song brings literally connects to the audience using words that facilitate enhancement of passion and mood. The instrumentation in this genre of music matched to suite the vocal rhythm of the singer. Through this way, music has facilitate coordination of the spoken word and the also of the written.

Therefore, the reactions brought by listening to the music have lead to the relationship in language. Music has been perceived to trigger emotions that create imagery and by this character, we find a connection. This kind of imagery is also used in the spoken language and thus enhancing communication. Music also is related with arousing feelings and thus according to the listener, satisfaction comes with keen consideration of tone and rhythm. This way music is related to grammar because like in music, grammar also requires listening and hearing for one to understand. Different types of music are said to bring different emotions to the audience. Therefore, songs have been used in different occasion to pass a certain message to the society. Consequently, different song composers have diverse themes that are determined by the environment that they live.

 

The purpose of the Learner’s Log Book (LLB) is to document the achievements of the learner in a central repository that will be considered as evidence on the effectiveness of the learning process. It is a ‘monitoring tool’ that e-tutors use to report on individual learners’ progress and it is a way of ensuring that learners:

• Are engaged in their learning process.
• They are experimenting by doing the tasks subscribed to them by the e-tutor.
• Avoid plagiarism because learners have to be engaged on a continuous basis and the informal assessment can therefore be used to ensure consistency with the main formal assessment.
• Provide e-Tutors with the opportunity to get to know the learners evaluate them and mentor them properly.
• There are templates, which will reflect whether learners read, whether they understand, whether they assimilate the knowledge, whether they develop enquiry ability, whether they have the potential to conduct critical thinking and whether they can reflect on the knowledge accumulated by relating to real situations.

 

The onus is mainly on learners to furnish the required information in the templates after each unit based on the Read and Analyze Activity. After filling the information in the template, they need to e-mail it back to the e-Tutor.

 

e-Tutor will then comments on the work done and the involvement that takes place and give overall impressions on the learners at the end of the module.

 

 

 

 

II. GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Learner Name:

ID Number:

Course Title:

Article Title:

Date of Submission: ———————————————————

Date of Received Feedback: ————————————————

 

III. SUMMARY (100-200 words)

 

Provide a summary in your own words on the article you requested to read and analyze in the following space.

It is said that most of the information is passed on non-verbally. If one does not pay attention to the body language or decipher it, one will end up missing out a lot on the total information conveyed. Body language varies from culture to culture. Certain postures or actions could be deemed normal in some parts of the world, but when the same is done elsewhere, it could be offensive. Non-verbal communication could be either voluntary or involuntary. This means that the conveyor of the message is either aware of the body language he is conveying but sometimes he is not aware of what he is communicating.

Body language is learnt by different professionals to enable them be efficient in their professions. School counselors try to analyze their subject’s body postures and movements in order to come up with conclusive reports on the state of the students. Psychiatrists study the body movements of their subjects and obtain better information on the patient’s character, emotions, and the people around them. Anthropologists have studied the body movements of people and realized that there are differences in the body movements of Englishmen, black Americans and white.

 

IV. KEY LEARNING POINTS

 

Identify the key learning points in the read and analyze assigned activity.

 

Body Language Key Points

• Through sight, one gathers more information from a simple conversation than from hearing.
• Most of what is seen tends to confirm the information being conveyed. Unless there is feigning involved.
• Questions should arise whenever the verbal information and the non-verbal information conveyed does not match. It means the speaker is not being truthful.
• An isolated gesture should not lead to a conclusion on the message conveyed. A cluster of these gestures helps come up with a more solid conclusion.
• A message is substantially reinforced when the non-verbal information conveyed complements it.
• In a normal communication, most of the information is conveyed through non-verbal means.

 

 

 

V. RELEVANT STATEMENTS TO THE SESSION

 

While you reading, identify the relevant statements to the session and insert them in order in the following space.

“In our own time, when most of us are increasingly attuned to the psychological and sociological overtones of human behavior, considerations of non-verbal communication or body language become more significant.” Currently, people have become more aware of the non-verbal body language and are relying on it to make out the information being passed.

“Recent studies on the subject, with which this article is primarily concerned, are important not only because of their inherent interest but also because they provide a practical means as to why people behave as they do.” Studying body language could help a great deal in comprehending the different gestures and postures people put across while passing information across.

“Communication research is the offspring of five different disciplines: psychology, psychiatry, anthropology, sociology, and ethology.” The research of communication cannot be pinned down to a particular profession but cuts across several professions.

“Non-verbal communication is the basic primitive form of conveying information from one person to another. It has been estimated that in a normal communication between two people, only one third of the meaning is communicated in a verbal level and nearly two thirds on a non-verbal level.” Gestures and body postures are the origins of communication. More information is passed through non- verbal beans than through verbal means.

“The body speaks through gestures that can be fitted together so that a complete picture evolves. This picture gives the interviewer keys to the attitudes and feelings of those being observed.” “Gestures are grouped into several clusters that indicate various dispositions and sentiments.” A group of gestures are clustered together to come up with a clearer picture on what is being conveyed.

“Posture is a mode of expression in social exchange. Postural set communicates meaning. It is learnt and significant in social interaction.” In order to decipher the meaning of the postures exhibited, one ought to learn the posture is a mode of expression.

“Many facial expressions are universal because all human beings share the same neural programming that links facial muscles with particular emotions.” Unlike gesture and body postures, facial expressions are constant worldwide and the same message can be conveyed worldwide.

“Under extreme stress, human beings result to non-verbal signals such as screaming or crying with accompanying facial expressions.”

“The distance between an interviewer and a client is decreasing linear function of the degree of liking the interviewer.” Space can be used to show the relationship between the interviewer and the interviewee.

“Body language also involves a science called proxemics, which is space. This describes human being’s personal space and how it is used.” Space could also be used as a non-verbal form of conveying information.

“Although people have personal space, the amount of space or distance is influenced by sex.” Gender plays a role for the space that a person requires.

“Culture is guiding factor to body language.” Different cultures use different forms of body language to convey the same information.

 

 

 

VI. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

 

This is the most important section in your analysis. To complete it sucessfully, the learner is to consider the following guiding steps:

• Present arguments coherently, supported by evidence and facts to substantiate on why you may take a particular stance and/ or position towards a particular approach whether against or in support of it;
• Capable of bridging the gap between the theory and conceptual work with the application under consideration.

The two documents argue that one can be able to decipher the message being conveyed by just observing the information conveyed through non-verbal means. This includes body movements and postures.

The stance of crossing ones arms across the chest is a body language signal that is used commonly throughout the world. The stance can convey different information depending on the prevailing context or the situation. The stance could indicate that there is a personal barrier between them. It could also mean that the person is feeling cold, which the rubbing of hands could complement this notion. It could also mean that the person is in deep thought if it is in context with the surrounding conditions. The same gesture could mean that the person is expressing opposition and hostility. This could be complemented by putting up a stern face.

Eye contact can be used to convey a myriad of information depending on how it is portrayed. Consistent eye contact could mean that the subject is deeply absorbed into the matter at hand or paying attention. It could also imply that one has doubts on what is happening and cannot afford to take their eyes off. Lack of eye contact can indicate lack of interest, the person is in deep thought especially if one is staring up and it can mean negativity. The above implications can be confused for a person with anxiety disorders, as they tend to be shy. Eye contact can be contradictory as cultural meaning vary from culture to culture. In some cultures, it is impolite make eye contact with certain members of the society while in some, it is a sign that one is paying attention.

Touching the ears, gazing in a particular direction or scratching the chin could indicate that one is not content with the facts. This means that one will tend to gaze away and the attention paid is not consistent. It can be seen that because of cultural differences, it is possible for one to end up more confused on the message being conveyed when only relying on the information conveyed through non-verbal means.

 

 

VII. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

 

 How could you apply the subject matter from the article in a real business case?

When making international deals, it is prudent to learn the client’s culture and the meaning of some gestures. This could help a great deal in minimizing misunderstandings and prevent them from feeling insulted when not intended. This is because some postures and body movements are normal in some cultures but are considered an insult in others. A typical example is a western businessperson dealing with an Asian. The western businessperson could not signify that he or she is in agreement with the business deal. This could mean the total opposite to the Asian as this would mean that he or she disagrees with the matter.

A job interview is one of the most important meetings in a person’s career. Although it lasts for less than an hour, huge amounts of information are passed on most of which are non-verbal. With the understanding of body language, one is able to convey all the right information and convince that he or she is the right person for the job. One is aware of all the gestures and postures to avoid, which could make him miss the offer. This could include exhibiting body postures and movements that show one is not relaxed or over relaxed, being fidgety, lack of eye contact and seemingly zoned out. This could cost one the offer.

 

 

VIII. LEARNING REFLECTIONS

 

What have you learnt? Critical thinking is about lessons learnt to be drawn from the analysis.

Through observing the information that is conveyed through no-verbal means, one is able acquire more information than when relying only on what is communicated through speech. The body movements, postures, and gestures ought to complement the information that is being conveyed verbally. Whenever the body movements, postures, and gestures do not complement the information that is being conveyed verbally, one should put up question marks. It mainly shows that the person is not being real but is feigning.

One ought to use a cluster of the gesture in order to construe the message that is being conveyed non-verbally. When one depends on a single gesture, one could end up misunderstanding or getting the wrong information conveyed. When both the message conveyed non-verbally and the one that is verbal end up complementing each other, then the communication is done with more clarity and precision.

 

IX. e-TUTOR COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark: