1

Arguments for Lola’s actions

 Lola cleverly peddles lies while selling shoes to innocent clients. The lies sugar coat reality and assist her close deals. Therefore, she sells more shoes than her colleagues do. Her fabrications make the deals more attractive. In the end, clients believe the lies and exchange cash for shoes (An ethical dilemma). For example, she creates a false urgency, which forces a client to part with money. At the end of it all, she increases her sales.

Arguments against Lola

 Lola sells shoes using unscrupulous means. She mixes lies with facts and confuses a potential buyer’s decision-making process. In the end, the buyer buys the shoes. For example, she misleads a man into buying a pair of shoes and parting with extra cash for his inner soles. First, she hands the man a smaller pair then she brings an extra-large size after realizing that his size was unavailable. Unknown to the client, she inserts inner soles to the large shoes and perfectly fit. The client parts with extra money for inner soles. This is not acceptable, as the client has to approve and get the actual product. In this case, the client does not part with the right size (An ethical dilemma).

2

Common practices in Sales

 Yes, such practices are common among sale persons. More so, business people concentrate more on closing a deal, than how they go about it. On the other side, clients are trusting and let their guard down when they discover the deal is to good, not knowing that sugarcoating and lies conceal the facts. If I was one of Lola’s clients, I would not accept her ways of doing things, I would definitely sue her (An ethical dilemma).

3

Incentive scheme

The scheme motivates employees resulting to more shoe sales. However, in order to create attractive deals, they have to come up with innovative ways of going about it. Some of the methods are not legal. In the end, the scheme contributed to Lola’s traits (An ethical dilemma).

4

Action of the manager

As Lola’s manager, I can advise her always the actual product the client wants. At the end of the transaction, the client should have the actual shoes. In terms of ethic, Lola can create a false urgency, as long the product sold can, is up to standard, Lola should not compromise quality (An ethical dilemma).

Reference

An ethical dilemma.PDF

             Analysis of ‘The Great Gatsby’ by Francis Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald in his book ‘The Great Gatsby’ brings out the issue of corruption in two ways; there is criminal corruption and there is moral corruption. Moral corruption is brought out in the ways that the likes of Daisy were corrupted by their beliefs that money and wealth of material was the most important things in life. She was willing to live a miserable marriage life knowing that her husband was cheating, just so that she could be associated with wealth (Fitzgerald, 2016). Gatsby is the representation of criminal corruption; he acquired his wealth through illegal activities just so that he could try to win his lost loves Daisy (Fitzgerald, 2016). Fitzgerald use of corruption theme within the book is a message to the society that corruption is not a means that can be used to achieve the American dream. The American dream is all about living a fulfilling happy life where one’s life objectives have been achieved. This was not the case in the book; all the characters that were involved in corruption achieved their life objectives but did not really live a fulfilling life.

Naturalism is brought out in the book with reference to the imbalanced societies between the Old wealth in West Egg, the poor in Valley of Ashes as well as the new wealth in the East Egg. If one was born in poverty you remained in poverty all your life even after working hard and acquiring some wealth. A good case character is Gatsby who despite being born poor acquired some wealth but was still not recognized in the wealthy societies where new wealth is not given the same status as the old wealth (Fitzgerald, 2016). The rich dominate the society and they get to treat the poor the way that they want because they are deemed to be above the law.

Benjamin Franklin’s advice for Gatsby is in form of a quote ‘Fools make feats, and wise men eat them’ (Franklin, 2011). This quote would have helped Gatsby to understand that throwing the lavish parties was just a waste of wealth and it did not in way help him gain favour within the community. The party attenders just wanted to associate with him because he was at a good place but once he died no one came to his funeral, not even Daisy his long time love.

References

Franklin, B. (2011). The way to wealth: Advice, hints, and tips on business, money, and

            finance. New York: Skyhorse Pub.

Fitzgerald, F. S. (2016). The Great Gatsby. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Case Study Answers

1. Who are the central characters in the case? Describe them. (4 points)

(i). Ms. Garrison is the acting principal of Tri-County Middle School; she is a hardworking teacher given that she has been a teacher for 12 years. She is very determined to ensure that tests are standardly given without any form of cheating.

(ii). Ms. Haney is a teacher in Tri-County Middle School; she does not understand the concept of standardized tests. She is one of the teachers that are cheating for her students by filling out the answer sheets for them with the assumption that it helps keep correct records.

2. In your opinion, was Ms. Haney cheating when she completed the answer sheets for her students last year? Explain your reasoning. (2 points)

Yes she was, the standard procedures clearly state that the students should fill in their own sheets. When filling out the tests sheets the teacher may make a mistake and fill out something that the student has not written and this would be automatic cheating.

3. Is it fair or unfair to give students with disabilities extra time and assistance on standardized tests? Explain your thinking. (2 points)

It is very fair to give such students extra time. These students may have some difficulty reading and even writing which means that they may be a bit slow as compared to the other students. Giving them some extra time will help them be at the same time range with the rest of the students.

4. Do you think it was a good idea for Mr. Womack to announce who received the highest grad in the AP physics class? Why or why not? (2 points)

Yes, this will help motivate the rest of the students to work hard so that they also be recognized.

5. The improvement of test scores over last year may be a result of “test pollution”. What specific issues raised about how test score pollution may have occurred in this school? Provide 2 other examples of test score pollution that occur within a school. (4 points)

Issues that were raised

• Teachers filling out answer sheets for the students
• Teachers giving the students extra time to complete the tests

Two other examples

• Students discussing the answers during the test
• Teachers showing leniency during the marking of the tests

6. Ms. Garrison has instruction sheets with students’ accommodations to provide teachers. She mentions that staff members involved with each of these children have confirmed the types of accommodations they should be given during testing. Who are these staff members likely to be? Explain your answer. (2 points)

(i) The guidance counselor because he or she gets the time to talk to search students out of the class and understands their capacity

(ii) Psychology teachers because these are professionals in matters of psychology and would then understand the ways to deal with such students.

7. Based on the discussion of at-risk students in the module, what types of students would expect to be given accommodations? What types of accommodations might be included? (4 points)

At-risk students

• The students that have emotional and behavioral issues
• The students that have low academic performance

Accommodations

• Extra time to complete the tests
• Personal monitoring by the teacher during the tests

Introduction

Witch-hunts seem to exist throughout history. Salem witch trials were part of a long series of witch-hunts. In Europe, witch-hunts commenced in the year 1300 all through 1330 and came to a halt in the 18th century. The last execution took place in Switzerland around 1792. However, Salem witch-hunts occurred later in history. The executions date back to 1692 after the Europe’s execution died down (Goss, p 114). Actually, witch-hunts were simply executions of women who practiced witchcraft. There was no confirmation that the suspects were actual witches. The hunts were only hints of suspicion and rumors, which in turn led to accusations and later execution (Goss, p 105). The hunts originated from church politics, family conflicts, and feverish children. This paper will look take a holistic approach and investigate reasons behind the witch-hunts and ripple effects of the executions.

Reasons

When looking at the reasons underlying the hunts, one cannot help but wonder the possibility of a hidden motive. Researchers insist that it was a scheme to instill fear in women who rebelled against the normal ways of life. In other cases, research reveals that it was a ploy to reform rebellious youth who were disobedient to their parents (Goss, p 156). Just like any other witch-hunt, in Salem, the victims were women whose lives did not conform to regular ways of lives in their societies. Hence, the executions were a simple way of getting rid of social misfits within the community.

 Some historian scholars suggested a theory known as cold weather to try to explain the reason behind the trials in Salem. The concept claims that there is a close association between cold weather patterns and the executions that took place in Salem. When looking at Europe in the 13^th and 17^th century, the concepts hold water. During cold weather patterns, persecutions increased. In addition, the theory speculates that witches had the ability to control weather. Extreme cold weather destroyed vegetation. When people got poor yields from their farms, they laid the blame on witches (Rothman, p 1). Consequently, hunting down witches to break the spell of bad weather led to persecutions. Funny enough, the Salem persecutions begun during the cold season.

 The third reason may be mass hysteria, which refers to the widespread of conversion disorder. A condition where one would be hyperactive and exhibit expressive emotions. There was no diagnosis for the hyperactive behavior and people relied on traits exhibited. In other words, distress becomes a physical symptom. Most researchers’ perspective paints the picture and link the mass hysteria to persecution of witches (Rothman, p 1). The stress of living in a time when religion adherence was the order of the day resulted to stress which girls channeled into mass hysteria. Hence, members of the society associated it with witchcraft.

During ancient times, children would only engage in reading the bible and tending to their choirs. The rigid life devoid of leisure and playtime led to boredom. The first trial in Salem, two cousins, Betty and Abigail exhibited unfamiliar behavior. The only explanation for their behavior was bewitching. However, modern day scholars claim that a fortuneteller scared the children. Lack of engaging in play and other forms of leisure gave room to boredom. Absence of enthusiasm made the children find interest in fortunetelling. Later, they would belief everything the fortuneteller told them by acting it out. Researchers claim that participating in fortune telling made the children guilty and fearful coupled with the omen, was responsible for the strange behavior. In short, boredom contributed to the persecutions (Beatrice, p 1).

Ergot poisoning is one of the concepts that some historians use to explain the cause of Salem trials. The symptoms associated with bewitchment are similar to the ones noted after ergot poisoning. Ergot poisoning is a fungus that causes convulsions and hallucinations (Rothman, p 1). Under the right conditions, it grows on vegetation. Girls accused of possessing witchcraft powers had the same symptoms. In fact, the winter of 1691, was suitable for the growth of ergot fungi. Hence, the connection between ergot poisoning and the Salem trials.

Impact of the Salem trials

After the executions of the Salem trial, many people thought it would not affect the future but the effects rippled through time and the impact felt miles and miles away from Salem. One of the lasting impact that resulted from the trials was breaking of families (Goss, p 130). The accused had a hard time reconciling with their families. Once accused of practicing ‘dark magic’ family and friends would isolate them so that they could face the full arm of the law. Separation often denied the victims a chance to get moral and emotional support. Moreover, those that survived the trials would receive compensation from authorities. On the other hand, those that died, their relatives and families would not receive any form of compensation. No aid and no explanation for their loss. In the end, the government introduced a legal way of   trying the accused persons in fair a manner (Rothman, p 1).

Another impact was the constant hunt for witches throughout history. To this day, people hunt down witches. In recent times, American communities accused communists of practicing witchcraft. The beliefs and values of communists tied them to the ancient practice. Russians fell victim to the accusations of witchcraft due to their communism. Not only in America but also in India, accusations of practicing witchcraft are common. Indian women accused of being witches abandon their homes and way of life. They do not receive any aid. Most of the times, the reasons leveled against the accused are baseless and without any fact. In North Africa, men accuse women of practicing witchcraft when they go against men’s wishes (Rothman, p 1).

Communities’ members of Salem formed groups for memorial purposes. For instance, there is a park dedicated to the victims of Salem trials, which helps to keep the memories of   the victims alive. In addition, there is a Museum dedicated to the fallen victims as well to help the act never repeat itself (Billings, and Kimberly, p, 1).

 After the aftermath of the trials, some accusers apologized publicly, while others resumed their lives without taking responsibility. Samuel Parris, a preacher accepted that the trials were a mistake but shifted the blame to others. Parris was a parent to Betty, the first female accused of witchcraft. Samuel failed to provide much needed guidance and information on his daughter, which led to the hunting down of other ‘witches’. Samuel resigned as a minister   to clear the name of the church (Billings, and Kimberly, p, 1).

The governor of Salem at the time of the trials was Phips. Governor Phips believed in the existence of witchcraft. Most people claim that he had enough power and information to know the guilty from the innocent but he remained quiet leading to innocent loss of lives. In fact, he created public court of opinion where any evidence was admissible. Public courts often created unwarranted spectacles stimulating the public while diverting attention from real viable evidence. At the end of the trials, Phips laid blame squarely on his assistant, William. At the end of it all, Governor Phips had to resign to clear his name and take the responsibility of the murders that happened during the trials (Billings, and Kimberly, p, 1).

 William was an assistant and confidant of Phips. William occupied the position of lieutenant governor and chief justice even though he did not have a good background in law. He served in courts and made many questionable decisions that pointed out to his lack of knowledge and inefficient grasp of law. These were some of the reasons that made the trials unfair and cost many innocent people their lives (Billings, and Kimberly, p, 1).

The last women, held captive due to the trials had no accusations levelled against them. It was a new dawn for them as they experienced freedom for the first. The Salem trials imprisoned more than two hundred people within the Salem area. Out of the two hundred, twenty-four lost their lives and an estimated fifty-five admitted to the practicing witchcraft (Billings, and Kimberly, p, 1).

Conclusion

The trials of Salem were unfair persecutions that cost many innocent people their lives. The victims were women. The society thought that hyperactive behavior was a sign of bewitchment and persecuted anyone who exhibited the behavior. Lack of adherence to societal norms led to baseless accusations of witchcraft practice. Just like any other witch trials, it took place during the cold season. After the trials, people formed memorial parks to remember the victims of trial.

Reference

Goss, K D. Daily Life During the Salem Witch Trials. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood, 2012.

Billings, Warren M., and Kimberly Manning. “Salem Witchcraft Trials.” Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2013. EBSCOhost, 165.193.178.96.

Beatrice Rebecca. History of Salem Witch Trials. Retrieved from http://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-salem-witch-trials/

Rothman, Lily. “The Past Comes Back to Haunt Us.” Time, vol. 186, no. 19, Nov. 2015, pp. 58–59. EBSCOhost, 165.193.178.96

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Summary

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks written by Rebecca Skloot provides a discussion of Henrietta Lacks who is a socially and economically deprived Tobacco farmer originating from the Southern side of the United States. Her cancer cells had been collected in the 20th century without her permission or knowledge or any form of monetary compensation and utilized in the development of immortal cells that are still utilized today in medical studies (Wolfe, 2017). The cells, therefore, became a major revolution in the science sector. The family had to struggle with the unexpected death of Henrietta and only discovered about the important discovery through articles authored with regard to Henrietta’s death.

Throughout the period her family felt exploited given that other people were gaining in terms of money and discoveries through their mother’s cells while they were being subjected to intense poverty and were not even able to afford medical care. It is then that Skloot collaborates with Deborah one of Henrietta’s daughter to expose the existence, death as well as the growth of immortal cells (Wolfe, 2017). After traveling to Crownsville they later discover that her sister had alone due to the lack of proper medical care but she is still determined to understand the truth. The author explores unethical conducts that rule the medical and scientific fields that are dominated by racism and mistreatment of the less fortunate. In the End, she is able to provide answers to Lacks family with regard to her contributions to the scientific field and ensures that they get financial contributions as deserved.

Response

Discussion Question: What factors (race, class, gender, ″the times″) do you think were responsible for Henrietta′s cells being taken from her without her permission?

Several aspects were accountable for the cells being taken out of Henrietta’s body without her consent. In that to begin with, she had no knowledge of everything that was taking place when she sought medical treatment for her illness. In this context, she was illiterate and had no understanding of what such procedures meant or the implication of such. The examiners, therefore, took advantage of her social class, gender as well as gender. Being a woman during that period meant that people were inferior and their ability to air their views was very limited in general. She might not have questioned the process because of her gender. On the other hand her being a black woman played a role given that racism was very dominant and they took advantage.

Henrietta's Socio-economic class played the main role in this medical immorality. In that, she had no money and being poor meant submitting to everything that was ordered. She had to be submissive as she was in need of medical care which she would not actually afford. Thus, her inability to afford decent medical attention during the period gave power to the medics as they understood that her abilities were limited. The era is one that medical treatment was not as developed which might have contributed to this unethical practice.

Reference

George C. Wolfe. (2017). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. IMD. Retrieved from: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5686132/

                      Creating an Annotated Bibliography

The link between social class and crime is the selected topic. The association amid felony and individual’s social class has for the most extended period been a source of controversial debates. Individuals within the low-class classification are mostly associated with the highest rate of crimes due to the need to survive (Dubois, Rucker & Galinsky, 2015). This is mainly driven by the existence of poverty and the lack of employment in general. In this context, most of those that are convicted of aggressive crimes that lead to harm. On the other hand, individuals within the high-class classification are mainly involved in white-collar crimes in general.

This is the violations that involve fraud and stealing of millions of those that are required. In this context, it is evident that crimes are directly linked to an individual’s social class. In that, while those within the low-class classification tend to be associated with the highest rates of violation, this does not mean that the wealthy ones are excluded from such cases. Social class is a significant driver of crimes in that it tends to encourage individuals to participate in varying claims based on the needs of individuals. The types of crimes also differ based on the individual’s socio-economic status.

The resources were mainly selected based on the essence in responding to the subject of investigation. In that, the sources contribute to criminal justice by ensuring that the link between crimes prevalence and social class classification is established. The sources were selected based on their relevance to the topic, usefulness and the fact that they are scholarly. This, therefore, makes them accurate, reliable as well credible in general.

Annotated Bibliography

Akers, R. (2017). Social learning and social structure: A general theory of crime and deviance. Routledge.

In the Book Akers (2017) focuses on how social learning and societal structure leads to crime. The author asserts that crime is learned socially from the environment that an individual lives in. the book notes that the lower class individuals are highly involved in violent crimes. On the other hand, the upper class individuals are mainly involved in such crimes based on their positions socio-economically. The crime is facilitated by the availability of employment. This are the individuals that are in the best position of carrying out fraud. The study followed a mixed methodology of qualitative and quantitative methodology. This source will be useful in providing the needed information on how social class relates to delinquency.

Allen, C. (2017). Crime, drugs and social theory: a phenomenological approach. Routledge.

According to the book crime is mainly fueled by sociological aspects. Thus, it is only through social theory that the prevalence of crimes and drugs can be understood. The author asserts that both poor and wealth social setting promotes crimes but on different levels. The study established that, the upper class category is unlikely to engage in violent crimes based on their knowledge and literacy. However, these crimes achieved disparity in sentencing based on the intensity. The research utilized a qualitative research study with the aim of uncovering social contributions on crimes. The author proposes that in achieving equality and deterrence can be possible some more practical measures are required. This source will be useful in justifying the argument that social class is a major player in the fueling of crimes.

Cassidy, T., Inglis, G., Wiysonge, C., & Matzopoulos, R. (2014). A systematic review of the effects of poverty deconcentration and urban upgrading on youth violence. Health & place, 26, 78-87.

The article sought to investigate on the effects of poverty on crime. According to the article’s finding poverty leads to the dominance of violent crimes. This therefore implies that due to the fact that those that are affected needs to survive and that is the reason that they conduct the crimes. The article will be useful in ensuring that information that is necessary in demonstrating how low class leads to crimes is obtained. The study followed a quantitative methodology that sought to establish the statistical details of the issue. In that poor individuals are linked to most of the aggressive and minor crimes in general.

Dubois, D., Rucker, D. D., & Galinsky, A. D. (2015). Social class, power, and selfishness: When and why upper and lower class individuals behave unethically. Journal of personality and social psychology, 108(3), 436.

The article mainly discusses the effects of social class on the prevalence of different crimes. The authors asserts that social class plays a critical role in the dominance of crimes since individuals tend to develop deviance that matches not only their personality but also the environment. In addition the article also addresses on how personality leads to deviance in general. The article followed a qualitative method to uncover social trends that leads to crime. The article will be useful in illustrating how social class and criminal offenses are connected.

Marie, O., Mastrobuoni, G., Cook, P. J., & Machin, S. (2013). Lessons From the Economics of Crime: What Reduces Offending? Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press.

The book holds that economic crimes are mainly conducted by individuals within the upper class individuals. This therefore implies that the fact that these individuals have the power and opportunity fuels their deviance. The study found out that, such crimes can be reduced by implementing stricter measures legally. The study followed a qualitative approach through an exploratory research on case studies. This source will therefore be useful in addressing the association amid association amid crime and socio-economic status.

Conducting an Interview

 Introduction

In fulfilling the objectives of the assignment, I interviewed with a friend. The interview aimed to assess their personal and professional abilities. A cognitive interview technique was applied which sought to acquire reliable and accurate responses from the interviewee. Following the questions below the objective was achieved. It is concluded that the interviewee was able to interpret the questions accurately and efficiently respond even though the responses were not precise which might have been influenced by the informal setting of the interview. To make the questions more active, the improvement that I would make is to provide optional choices to ensure that the interview does not divert from the objective.

Interview questions to a friend

1. Do you value your current job position?
2. Have you ever accomplished a given task under a rather constricted deadline while collaborating with someone who is challenging to understand?
3. How do you handle distress and conflicts in the workplace?
4. What contribution do you make to your organization?
5. What is your motivating factor professionally and personally?
6. What setting do you find ideal for your personal growth and desirable performance?
7. What are the most essential skills and features for the achievement of success? And do you believe that you own them?
8. Do you consider yourself as a successful or able person? And why?
9. How do friends describe you?
10. What type of personalities do you see as a challenge to work for or with?

The interview questions were designed for a friend. The purpose was to establish their strengths and abilities both professionally and personally. The success of any interview is not determined by the general ability to answer professional queries correctly, but the personal ones also matter in telling the kind of personality that one owns. I designed the questions to determine if my friend would answer them correctly as well as gauge their chances of securing a job if the same questions were asked in the hiring interview. Since I lack the needed skills in conducting a successful interview, the questions were developed from thorough research to ensure that they were all relevant and measurable.

The responses that were acquired from the interview were honest and reliable. My friend held that despite the challenges faced on a daily basis at the workplace, they value their jobs very much. The contribution to the organization that was stated is o productivity, quality performance and ensuring that the company strives to the fulfillment of the set objectives. However, working with inpatient and authoritative personalities is one of the challenges that they face. In that such personalities is a source of discouragement that works to ensure that specific objectives are not achieved.

 On the other hand, stress and conflicts are mainly handled by compromising since the workplace environment does not offer a setting that encourages any form of negotiation or discussions. My friend’s motivational force is the ability to be of help to those that are in need and with that one can commit their all to offer support. He also believes that the needed skills of being successful are the ability to overcome challenges, interact well with others and develop consistently without stopping. He thinks that her rating is high although most of his skills are not entirely designed he is trying.

The purpose of asking the questions was to establish the ability of the interviewee to understand and respond to questions correctly. In that, one is only able to acquire a job opportunity in the instance that they respond appropriately as expected without hesitation. Based on the responses it is evident that the interview interpreted and answered the questions as needed. However, the appropriateness might have been driven by the fact that the interview was performed in an informal setting in general. To make the questions more precise and effective the changes that I would make include offering optional choices. The approach helps by providing hints for the participants and enable them to answer the questions as needed (Colwell, Hiscock, & Memon, 2002). Cognitive interview is the interviewing technique that was applied to this interview. Cognitive interview is an approach where the participants are asked about what they know about a certain situation or event. The main objective of the cognitive interview method is to ensure that the interviewees as the victims or those that holds knowledge of a situation are well informed of everything that took place. The approach is most commonly used on witnesses to gain their understanding of an event (Miller, 2014). The approach was effective given that it resulted in obtaining reliable and accurate answers. However, the approach is very strategic since it must be used on a specific event or situation without generalization.

In conclusion, the interview was successful as it generated credible and reliable responses. The interviewee generally understood the questions however some improvement are necessary in making the interview more effective. Providing optional choices would ease the questions and lead to an accurate interpretation while seeking to fulfil the aims of the interview.

References

Colwell, K., Hiscock, C. K., & Memon, A. (2002). Interviewing

Techniques and the assessment of statement credibility. Applied Cognitive

Psychology, 16(3), 287–300.

Miller, K. (2014). Cognitive interviewing methodology. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.

Stathis N. Kalyvas. The Logic of Violence in Civil War. Cambridge University Press, 2007.Pp 485. $

The author ensures his words translate into meaning and converts meaning into thoughts. In turn, the thoughts spin in the head of the reader as he tries to find a footing on the exemplary book. The perspectives of the author come out crispy clear; one can almost hear the author whisper in the ear of the reader as he reveals his perceptions. Stathis does not play around words. Instead, he weaves them around to explain the rationality behind the violence experienced in civil war. Decoupling violence and civil war, he lays bare the factors that fuel the two entities that seem to be Siamese twins. Yet, the entities are contrasting faces of the same coin.

Summary of the book

The book is interesting, gives, and takes a flexible turn as the author discusses and challenges the obvious analysis of violence during civil wars as illogical and without a basis. In all the chapters of the book, Stathis claims that violence in a civil war follows a certain criteria. Chaos does not just occur because of a situation, in this case civil war but specific reasons push the strings. Moreover, the underlying reasons go ahead to solve the controversies that surround civil war. For instance, in a civil war, one village community burns down and the neighboring one survives to see another day with no sign of brutality. In addition, the underlying reasons answer another puzzle. The specifics that make a civil war are more violent and its situation sensitive as compared to an external war. Alternatively, the book reveals the alliances formed during a civil war.

Main argument

According to Stathis, in the event of a civil war, there must be macro   and micro reasons that when identified and untangled can solve the whole situation and bring about peace. The author’s key argument centers on the alliances various factions form during the civil war. The conflicting parties dictate the direction of a civil war. Hence, their values make or break the civil war. This should not conflict or cause a confusion with the genesis of a civil war but the ignition of violence that leaves a trail of dead bodies in its wake after the civil war has already come into place.

A vital idea that the author forwards to the public is the separation and evaluation of civil war with other factors other than the violence that takes all of the attention from the main issues that fuel violence and disunity. By isolating violence, kalyas gets the chance to investigate violent practices keenly such as usage of crude weapons .Obviously, civil wars are bloody events, but the approach of separating violence from other factors gives the chance to distinguish and place other factors into context that go unseen due the blind emphasis placed on violence.

If everything goes unnoticed in the book, one thing stands out. Competitors in a civil war want power and total control of the whole territory regardless of whether the majority want it or not. To win the favor of the majority people, the combatants try to generate benefits for people who are willing to collaborate with them. In fact, they assure retaliation to people who resist or join other camps. Amid all these situations, opportunities and practical chances give a loophole for the struggle of power and control in the territory. The only resolve is fighting among themselves. This explanation falls in line with the stages of civil war. First, general violence erupts and affects everyone. After the negotiations between the conflicting parties, the war chooses a side   and violence comes only to people who did not toe the line.

The book entails traits of violence during a civil war amid the conflicting interests. The writer proposes that interests are responsible for differentiating combatants and noncombatants in the civil war. For instance, an innocent individual who does not support any side can lose their life while the perpetrator spares another’s life due to interest. The combatants want to remain only with people who support their interests. Thus, at later stages of civil war there is no indiscriminate killing of people in order to protect the interest of combatants. Therefore, it is safe to say that lack of a pattern violence is not productive in a civil war.

Stathis takes a unique perspective while discussing the mechanism that propels violence in a civil war setting. The mechanism pushes aside irrational feelings or anger. Ideology is neither a basis for arguing out civil war. Kalyva carries out a groundbreaking examination in the history of civil wars. As explained above, there is a contrast between the mechanism of violence and the results. Other previous studies focus on studying the civil war based on outcomes but not Stathis. The isolation of violence gives chance for the dissection of the topic. In fact, violence depends on many other things and it is a dependent variable. Thus, after everything settles and decided, the outcome is violence. Perpetrators of violence are politicians and civilians with vested interests in a specific location.

After violence and interests, the author crosses over to the nitty gritty details that go into planning a civil war. The planning should be in line with interest of the combatants and protect their interests at the same time. The thought-provoking part comes out in safeguarding interest and win some power that comes with securing the location. It is at this particular juncture that people form organizations filled with informants who will help in identifying areas on the opposing sides    and select a method of eliminating them.

The author uses Greece to illustrate some of his points. He states that although Greece had a civil war, it involved an external interest. He goes further to a make a convincing instance that reveals the patterns of violence and territories affected by the civil war to drive his point home. This is the heart of the book as it analyses the example and links it to his own hypothesis.

In short, Kalyva argues that there is more to civil war than meets the eyes. A Civil war changes the manner of rule of power in a basic way. Interest varies from one region to another between two or more rivals. Borders drawn based on interest of the perpetrators. The author shed light on unique aspects mentioned above and how they culminate to form a civil war. The author does good job of informing through by using rhetoric to challenge, educate, sensitize and correct past mistakes that hid in plain sight.

 Buffalo Creek Disaster

The Buffalo Creek Disaster book was written in 1976, by the Buffalo disaster’s survivors’ lawyer, Gerald M. Stern. In February 1972, Buffalo Creek coal waste dam in Logan County, West Virginia collapsed. At that time, the Company was owned by Pittston. This tragedy left 125 people dead, more than 1,000 injured, and destruction of properties worth $50 million. Federal, State, and Citizens concluded that the Pittston company utilized invalid dam engineering and construction techniques. The flood survivors filed two civil lawsuits against the Pittston Company. The petitioners were paid $13.8 and $4 .8 million respectively. A third lawsuit was filed, which was between West Virginia State and the Pittston Company.  The State demanded $100 from Pittston Company as a compensation for the damages caused. However, three days before leaving office, Governor Arch Moore, who had a close relationship with the coal industries, agreed to take a one million bribe outside the court. This paper analyzes the impressions from the book, my reactions to the outcome of the case, assessment of the ethical conducts of the character in the story. Also, the paper analyses how the Buffalo creek story has influenced my view of the legal system. Finally, my advice to Attorney Stern if a case like this was to happen again.

The Buffalo Creek case has different impressions. First, the coal companies never consulted the government before constructing the three dams. The disaster was avoidable if only the companies consulted professional. The Buffalo Creek dam maintenance had violated the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Laws of 1970. Second, the disaster case was settled outside the court through corruption, which led to injustice. The state wanted $100 million, but Governor Arch Moore solved the case outside the court in favor of the Pittston company. According to Green et al (1990), the ruling stated that Pittston caused mental suffering to the people, and so they had to pay a fine of $13.5 million. Third, the occurrence of the dam disaster led to the strengthening of the federal and state mining regulations about such complex engineering structures (Stern, 1976). The strict rules were meant to prevent more disasters from occurring. Fourth, Pittston’s management did not care about the communities’ well-being and the safety of Buffalo Creek’s residents. The company was only concerned about making more profits from mines. Fifth, the disaster was not an act of God, but as a result of human hands. Pittston claimed that it was an act of god to evade justice. Six, the leniency of the West Virginia inspection and construction regulations together with the weak penalties imposed on construction lawbreakers contributed to the Buffalo disaster. Another impression is the Middle Fork Dam, which was the third, underwent invalid construction methods which resulted in a weak base. Next, the deadly disaster was evitable if Pittston had listened to the people. The company received warning from the local people and coal mines expert about the instability of the dam, but they ignored. Nine, the survivors suffered psychological traumas due to the loss of their loved ones (Grace et al, 1993). The people saw corpses everywhere. Also, guilt consumed those who were unable to rescue their families. Finally, the media played an essential role in ensuring that the powerless received justice.

The buffalo disaster ensured the survivors and those who had lost their loved ones got justice (Stern, 1976). However, the compensation money to the victims was not enough, and there was no report on the distribution of the money. Lack of reports could have created loopholes for some greedy officials to swindle some amount.

Different characters in the book portrayed different ethical conducts. Gerald M Stern is a kind and sympathetic person. His experience with the victims was poignant. He sympathized with the victims and sent medical and psychological experts to attend to them. Secondly, K.K. Hall, the judge, is a good-hearted and just person. He sided with Stern and blocked Pittston's efforts to hide the evidence on the buffalo case (Stern, 1976).  Pittston counsel wanted to limit the amount of time the opposition had through a motion. However, the judge heard the petitioners’ plea and granted them an extension. This allowed them enough time to add more plaintiffs. Third, the Buffalo Creek and Pittston management consisted of careless and inhumane officials who never cared about the well-being of the society. The Company knew that the dam was not big enough to hold 130 million gallons of water, but they continued to add more water. When asked, the Company claimed it was “an act of God”. Fourth, Roland Staten, a man who lost his wife and son, had an undying love for his family and was willing to protect them. Roland was regretful for failing to fulfill his wife’s request of taking care of their son.

The Buffalo case has re-affirmed my views on the legal system.  I believe that the judges and lawyers should fight for the rights of the poor and the helpless in the society. Stern and Hall strongly fought for what was right and managed to win the case against Pittston, which was a powerful company with enough money to bribe their way out (Stern, 1976). 

            If a similar tragedy to that of Buffalo Creek occurred today. I would advise Attorney Stern to maintain professionalism and avoid being so much emotionally attached to his clients. A lawyer should be a good psychologist, but it should not exceed a certain level. Also, the Attorney should maintain his positive ethical conducts.

In conclusion, Buffalo Creek disaster was the most damaging mining related catastrophes in West Virginia. The Buffalo Creek Company was only focused on reaping more profit from coal mining, that they forgot to protect the residents’ welfare. Also, the government failed in its responsibilities to ensure that the dam construction met the standards of the Federal Mining Regulations. The disaster caused many deaths, which were evitable. The governments today should put active measures to ensure every construction meets the requirements through a thorough inspection.

References

Grace, M. C., Green, B. L., Lindy, J. D., & Leonard, A. C. (1993). The Buffalo Creek Disaster.

            In International handbook of traumatic stress syndromes (pp. 441-449). Springer,

            Boston, MA.

Green. B.L, Lindy. J.D, Grace. M.C, Gleser. G.C. (1990). Buffalo Creek Survivors in the Second

            Decade. Stability of Stress Symptom. Boston.

Stern, G. (1976). The Buffalo Creek Disaster. New York: Random House, Inc.

 Introduction

Most people fear speaking in public than death. The thought of speaking to a large crowd of people frightens them. They start worrying about none existent things that may not come to pass.

There exist various ways in the community that can enable one to communicate effectively in public or to a large crowd. Attitude is key  in understanding mood and interest of the audience. Establishing s link with the audience through their mood is very important (Bodie, 2010).

 Question 1

One of the ways is through establishing attitude of the audience toward the topic. Having the knowledge of the reaction or attitude of the audience on the topic can be utilized   to come up with an effective way of speaking to the crowd. Knowing their attitude will enable the speaker come up with accurate ways of reaching the aims of the audience hence easily grabbing their attention. A speaker must be inclined toward the interests of the audience and ensures he meets them half way or all the way. For instance if a speaker wants to convince the public to build a bridge, he must spend most his time talking about reasons why the bridge should come to existence (Bodie, 2010).

       The second way is through knowledge of the main topic .Audience awareness  of the topic may vary from one audience to another hence communicators are left with the task  of researching on what  the audience already know on the topic and what they  do not know on the topic. For instance  if someone dwells into the a discussion about genetic engineering  but the audience are not familiar with  that particular  body of knowledge,  they will be not easily catch up with  what the speaker is saying and may end up losing interest. On the other hand, speaking what the audience already know may not sound good. Therefore one should strike a balance (Bodie, 2010).

 It is quite normal to be frightened before speaking to a crowd especially a large crowd. Fear or anxiety varies from one Peron to another. In some people, the fear or anxiety disappears as soon as they step on the stage to make their speech while on others it persists hence they fumble and mumble a few words on stage. Fear of speaking in public is a legitimate challenge. Fear is brought by lack of   self confidence in one’s own ability to speak in public (Bodie, 2010).

The other reason that causes anxiety is self-consciousness   in front of large audiences. This is one of the most common reason behind fear of most individuals afraid of speaking in public or to an audience of more than fifty people. Most people with self-consciousness problem claim they can speak to small groups but cannot speak to large groups (Bodie, 2010).

            Presenting or appearing as anxious. Some people may fear they may appear fearful to the audience. This worry ends up developing fear and anxiety. Once an audience notice  fear written all over the faces of the speaker they may conclude  he or she is not conversant with the topic they are about to speak about. Some of the audience may end up feeling sorry for a speaker with anxiety in front of a stage (Bodie, 2010).

Some p individuals are afraid of the judgement others may pass upon seeing the .In such s situation one should convince or motivate themselves to ignore the opinion of others and until they finfish their task. Speakers should encourage themselves to think positively at all times (Bodie, 2010).

Question 3

One may end altering the manner in which they think or speak. If one does not adjust themselves to relax they may end up speaking various things that they did not intend to speak about. The tone of their voice and body language can also be affected as they fidget and mumble words (Bodie, 2010).

Conclusion

Reducing stress before speaking through rhythmic breathing or meditation can help release tension just before speaking to a large audience. Being positive casts away negative thoughts and helps in focusing the attention of the speaker to things he or she will say during the speech. Practicing prior to speaking can help one to organize themselves before the actual speech. Composure and body language  enhance art pf public speaking.

References

            Bodie, G. D. (2010). A racing heart, rattling knees, and ruminative thoughts: Defining, explaining, and treating public speaking anxiety. Communication Education, 59(1), 70–105.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Irony, Playfulness, and Black Humor

Postmodern literature refers to the writing styles which emerged after World War II. There are several characteristics of postmodern literature, such as irony, playfulness, black humor, among others. And of Clay Are We Created by Isabelle Allende, Everyday Use by Alice Walker and the Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich are examples of books which implement these characteristics. And of Clay Are We Created is a short story with a journalist, Rolf Carle, as the protagonist. He experiences the death of a young girl, Azucena, who is stuck at a mudslide after the volcanic eruption in Colombia. This encounter reminds him of his traumatizing past and it leads to his resignation and threatens his relationship with his girlfriend, Eva Luna. Everyday use is a story of a black woman Mrs. Johnsons (Mama) who lives in America with her two daughters, Dee and Maggie. The family has a duty to maintain their heritage but this is threatened when Dee goes to school and comes home a different person. The Red Convertible involves two Native American brothers, Henry and Lyman, whose lives are completely different, though they live together and even have a mutual red convertible. Lyman’s life is smooth while Henry encounters hardship and suffering. He is drafted into the Vietnam War which makes him to commit suicide later on.  Irony refers to the act of expressing oneself using a language that signifies the opposite of what one means. It can be humorous or used to emphasis on something. Playfulness entails being fun and light hearted. Black humor on the hand is a characteristic that entails making jokes out of sad or painful situations in order to lighten the moment. Postmodern characteristics help to show the intended lessons, the author’s perspectives and the message brought out in a book. This paper will analyze the different scenarios in which the authors of the books; And of Cray Are We Created by Isabelle Allende, Everyday Use by Alice Walker, and the Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich use irony, playfulness and black humor and their effects  on the people.

There are several instances where irony is used in the book And of Clay are we created. First, bitter irony to show how technology focuses more on irrelevant things than human life. Azucena is trapped in the mudslide after the volcanic eruption. Rolf Carle goes to report on the case, but he ends up joining in the rescuing mission of the young girl. He uses a tire to prevent the girls from sinking because there was no water pump to save. This is ironical considering that the case what being aired on all media houses. The government has invested heavily on communication networks. Secondly, irony is used to show how people value their work more than their loved once, thus killing their relationship slowly. Despite dating Rolf for a long time, Eva Luna does not know her boyfriend well. When he is narrating his story to Azucena, the narrator said that she felt more connected to him on the screen than in real life. Their distance increases even more after Rolf narrates his story about his past, but the narrator stands by him waiting for him to recover. Lastly, it is ironical how people suffer silently until they encounter accidents or life threatening situations forcing them to open up. Rolf Carle tells Azucena about all his youthful sufferings at her verge of death (Allende 3). The encounter with Azucena made him to console himself instead of consoling the victim. This is unexpected because Rulf has his girlfriend Eva whom he is supposed to share his worries with. This show the distance between them in terms of communication.

Irony is also found in the both the Red Convertible and Everyday Use. Erdrich in his book uses irony to show cultural discrimination between the Americans and Native Americans. Lyman represents the Americans wile Henry represents the Native Americans. Lyman and Henry are Native Americans who have to adopt to American culture. Lyman is fully assimilated while Henry holds back to his own culture. Lyman lives a good life without struggles and he even owns a cafe. According to Gay & Beidler (15), Lyman’s desire is to be white. On the other hand, Henry’s life is full of suffering and he has to do unskilled manual jobs to survive. He is forced to join the army in the Vietnam War where he is detained for a long time. He later suffers depression and commits suicide. Also, in Everyday use, education is seen as a destructive force that brings more harm than good. Mama Dee takes Dee to school with the hope that she will be a better person in the future. However, Dee loses her heritage while in school and while trying to recover her ‘ancient’ routes, she rejects her mother and her sister, Maggie, claiming that they have neglected their heritage. She even changes her name to Wangero, an African name. Also, people use Verbal irony to show their disappointment and to justify their actions. When Dee’s mother refuses to give her the blanket that she and Bid Dee made and instead gave it to Maggie, Dee becomes furious and says that Maggie and her mother do not understand their heritage. This is ironical because both Mama and Maggie have never turned away from their heritage

Black humor is used in both Everyday Use and of Clay Are We Created. Walker uses black humor to show that it can be used to prevent tragedies during a conflict. Mama prevents tragedy between her daughters. Mrs. Johnsons is forced to choose who gets the quilts between her two daughters and she chooses Maggie because she believes Maggie has the potential to protect their heritage unlike Dee who only do it for show. Dee becomes furious because she thinks that she is the best person to keep the quilts and this leads to serious quarrelling in the family (Hoel 14). She lightens up the moment by referring to her husband’s curving benches when they could not ‘effort’ a chair. Secondly, black humor is used in Everyday Use to keep the family united. Mrs. Johnson’s use of humor whenever her daughter quarrel releases the tension which could lead to fights between her daughters, thus promoting peace and unity in the family. Similarly, Isabelle uses black humor for comparison. Azecuna’s head is compared to a black squash (Allende 2). This is a black joke considering she is at the verge of death and it could lead to mixed reaction by the people.

The characteristic of playfulness and its effects is evident in the Red Convertible. First, Erdrich uses playfulness to show how it helps to build a good relationship between siblings. Henry shows his playfulness when he encounters Susy on the road, a girl with a long hair when he is on a road trip with his brother Lyman. They asks her when she lives and decides to accompany her there. He jokes while in Alaska and tells Susy to jump on his shoulders. He continues to add he always wondered what it feels like to have long hair (Erdrich 9). The two brothers are always happy together and even uses their savings to buy a red convertible which they use to explore the world. This increases the bond between them. Secondly, Erdrich uses war to show how it negatively affects playfulness. Henry was a jovial person before going to war, but after returning home, he acts secretive and very quiet. Warfare damage people psychologically and the soldiers feel entitled to war. Henry is always cautious and ready to strike. He does not change his army uniform and boots and while watching the TV, he bit his lips till they start bleeding. Thirdly, Erdrich shows that once Playfulness is destroyed, it is hard to recover. When Henry returns home, his brother Lyman is worried about him and he tries all means possible to get henry back. He even goes ahead and destroys their mutual car in the hope that Henry would remember their past moments and change. However, all his efforts are in vain and Henry commits suicide in the process (Gay & Beidler, 15).A picture that was taken by their small sister captures Henry’s sad and dull face which had a shade meaning that Henry was dead from the inside before meeting his actual death.

Black humor is also used in the Red Convertibles. Black humor can help in reconciliation when people disagree. Henry fixes the car after Lyman destroyed it. Lyman is optimistic about this and he think that Henry is making some progress back to normal. He suggests that both of them should take a drive to the river. Henry tells Lyman while at the river that he only fixed the car for him to own it. Lyman disagree and he says that he takes that as Henry’s car. They argue and end up engaging on a bloody fight. Henry starts laughing hysterically and his brother joins him too leading to their reconciliation (Erdrich 12). Secondly, the red car is a symbol of black humor as it not represents happiness experienced by both brothers on their adventures together but also the death of Henry. Lyman throws the car into the water after Henry drowns, because he believes Henry owns it. This shows that tragedy is only a few steps from humor. Thirdly, Erdrich show that black humor is the way Native Americans make their lives enjoyable and worth living. Lyman is saddened by his brother’s death and sees it as a big loss. Later on, he seems to enjoy the fruits of his brother’s death, because the government pays him as a compensation.

Postmodern literature characteristics positively impacts the society. Irony is used to condemn negative acts. Black humor and playfulness plays a big role in promoting peace and harmony as tension is relieved during this moments. Therefore, upcoming Authors should input postmodern literature in their work for the readers to emulate.

             Works Cited

Allende, Isabelle. And of Clay Are We Created. United States: 1989. PRINT.       

Barton Gay & Beidler Peter. A Readers Guide to the Novels of Louise Erdrich. United States:

            University of Missouri Press, 2006. PRINT.

Erdrich Louise. The Red Convertible. United States: HarperCollins Publishers, 2009. PRINT.

Hoel, H. Personal Names and Heritage: Alice Walker’s Everyday Use. Norway: Cathedral

            Press, 1999. PRINT.

On the Rainy River story Analysis

On the rainy river is a story that shares some of Tim’s deepest secrets and one that he had not shared with anyone even with his family members. He shares some of the major events in his life during the summer period of 1968. At this era, Vietnam War was the main topic of discussion in all media outlets. However, his life took a drastic turn when he received a notice that he was expected to participate in the war. All along he had taken a modest stand of not engaging in war. This is because he strongly believed that engaging in war was of no use. He did not like the idea of going to war as he feared that it was against his moral stand. However, he knew that the only way for him to get out of this situation was through exiling himself even if it meant living without his family and friends.

This story meets the expected standard of a true war story as it occupies a space that is structurally and stylistically separate from the genre requirements and audience’s expectations. He narrates the story by sending it to a place that his audience cannot easily recognize. Throughout the book, he uses compelling motifs that make the story to seem true before the eyes of all of his audience.  A true story has more to do with sensuality than with narration. In this case, the story by O’Brien discerns to tell people of his embarrassments (Gale, 2016). He tells of his embarrassments in a truthful manner and thus meeting the expectations of a true war narration standard.

On the rainy river develops the theme of morality throughout the story. It illustrates O’Brien’s moral struggle on whether to go to war or not. However, a true war story is on no account moral. It often does not encourage virtue. It encourages men to do the things that they have always done without any restrictions. This story seems to be moral and thus it does not meet the expectation of a true war story. This is because a true war story has a complete and a rigid adherence to obscenity and evil.

The story, however, lacks the capacity to bring about new ways of reading and writing sensitively about a world that is important to the consciousness of the narrator’s fiction. He describes his hometown as, “a conservative little spot on the prairie” which illustrates a blind, inconsiderate and automatic consent that forms a kind of schizophrenia (Gale, 2016). The narrator is faced with a dilemma of choosing between fighting a war that he is against and facing the public reproach for refusing to participate in the way. This form of insensitivity is however not discussed in depth by the narrator.

This story is still relevant even to date. It encourages people to have their own stands and to be concrete in maintaining these stands. Taking a stand for what we believe is one of the essential things that we can do for other people as well as ourselves. Being in a position to take actions based on what we believe is the greatest gift of personal justice. On the rainy river using its main character is a perfect model of these lessons.  

References

Top of Form

Gale, C. L. (2016). A Study Guide for Tim O'Brien's ""On the Rainy River"". Farmington Hills: Gale, Cengage Learning.

Bottom of Form