Evaluate Motivation Theories Essay Example for Free

Evaluate Motivation Theories Essay Individuals join and work in organizations to fulfill their needs. They are paying attention to organizations that have the means of sustaining their needs. These means are called incentives of rewards; organizations use them to encourage individuals to contribute their efforts toward achieving organizational goals. The continued existence of an organization depends on its ability to interest and encourage individuals to accomplish these organizational and personal goals. Newman (2010), â€Å"Motivation is defined as goal-directed behavior. It concerns the level of effort one exerts in pursuing a goal. Managers are concerned with this concept because it is closely related to employee satisfaction and job performance† (Para. The Concept of Motivation). There are 2 main concepts of theories Maslow’s and Herzberg. Maslow’s need hierarchy theory divides human needs into five levels; self-actualization, esteem, social, safety and physiological needs. Physiological needs are the basic human needs including food, clothing, shelter and other necessities of life. Once these are satisfied they no longer motivate the individual. Safety needs include economic security, protection from physical danger. Social needs are love, affection, emotional needs, warmth and friendship. Esteem can be self-esteem, self-respect, self-confidence and recognition. Herzberg found that the factors causing job satisfaction (and presumably motivation) were different from that causing job dissatisfaction. Herzberg called it hygiene factors, using the term â€Å"hygiene† in the sense that they are considered maintenance factors that are necessary to avoid dissatisfaction but that by themselves do not provide satisfaction. Company policy, supervision, relationship with boss, work conditions, salary and relationship are the leading in dissatisfaction. Achievement, recognition, work itself, responsibility, advancement and growth are the leading to satisfaction. The effectiveness of the application of these theories can be measured with observations of employee job satisfaction. Managers can evaluate satisfaction through employee surveys or by observing workers. References: Newman, M. (2010). Motivation. Retrieved from http://business.ezine9.com/motivation-149b57b275.html

Milo Yiannopoulos and Freedom of Speech

Milo Yiannopoulos and Freedom of Speech On the first of February, Milo Yiannopoulos was supposed to be giving a planned speech at the University of California. This speech was cancelled, due to the protesters setting fires, throwing objects, and becoming violent. Milo is known for his extreme expression of his views, stating that feminism is a cancer, and also uses racially backed up language. Many are debating whether the cancellation was the right thing to do or not, considering our country is protesting freedom of speech right now, and that is exactly what they revoked from Milo. Like I said before, people are really debating whether cancelling his speech was the right thing to do or not. Although he is a very extreme person, he should have gotten the chance to express his opinion at the campus. He has had past offenses, like when he was banned from twitter for harassing Leslie Jones. He doesnt have a good track record, and his voice of opinion can get very hostile at times. Although he hasnt had a good track record for his actions, I dont believe that the actions by the college were ethical. Milo was not trying to make them believe him, or even tell them thats the way it was. Milo was simply just going to talk about his speech and then leave, but the college did not want to accept that, and got violent. I have said this before, but yes, Milos rights to free speech are indeed being violated. He has expressed his voice a little too freely in the past, but at that college all he was going to do was talk. He has been called a racist before, and a lot of people dont accept his views. That being said, he is a citizen just like all of us, and for him to be denied of a speech by a violent and vicious crowd is absurd. He should have been able to present his speech, and if people didnt like it, then they shouldnt have been there to listen to him give it. Trump had sent a tweet about the incident and basically stated that Milos freedom of speech was being violated. No matter what Milo did in the past or has been doing, he still has the right to a freedom of speech and that shouldnt be revoked because of an angry crowd. I do believe a school or business should be allowed to say who can present or give a speech at their business or campus. It was their choice to let Milo present himself there, and the school should take responsibility for what had happened at the protest. It had said that there were rocks being thrown at the police, windows being smashed, and fire being lit; all resulting in damage of $100,000. Milo was welcomed at that campus, and had no control of the type of people or happenings that would begin there. It was the campus responsibility to control the crowd, in which didnt happen; Milos speech just got cancelled which wasnt fair because it wasnt his fault. People didnt like what he had to say, but the protesters there was completely unnecessary, especially to have broken down the police barricades. If people didnt like Milo or what he was going to say; which they actually had no idea what his topic of speech would be about; they didnt have to show themselves at least not in that man ner. In conclusion, I think that Milo Yiannopoulos was extremely revoked of his freedom of speech. He wasnt doing anything wrong in my opinion, and what the college kids at the campus did was wrong in my eyes. It wasnt fair that he didnt even get to present his speech; and even though a lot of people strongly disagree with his viewpoints on touchy subjects, he should have had the chance to at least present his speech. In my opinion, I do not like the type of person that Milo is showing to everyone. He has been very disrespectful and people do have the right to freedom of expression; which is in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, BUT they didnt have to take it as extreme as they did. Doing this report has just made me realize that there are a lot of horrible people in the world, and not everyone can be happy. The people at the campus were mostly protesters, and I agree that they do have the right to be upset at Milo. That being said, everyone has the right to freedom of speech, eve n the worst of people. Milo Yiannopoulos did state that he would be coming back to the campus, but he should have had the right to present his speech at that campus on the day he wanted; in my opinion.

Essay --

According to Partnership for a Healthier American, the United States spends $150 billion dollars annually to treat people with obese related conditions; while childhood healthcare costs are inflating this amount tremendously (Facts About Childhood Obesity). In the past 30 to 40 years, the percentage of obese children and adults has nearly doubled and tripled respectively. If the federal government mandated schools to establish and promote programs centered on healthy living, the overall percentage of obese children and adults would decrease vastly. These programs would have to involve every aspect of a healthy lifestyle to in turn have a decrease in obese children and adults. To achieve this goal, schools would have to implement and require a certain amount of physical activity in and out of school, offer healthier food options along with educating children on how to eat healthier and why it is so important, and would also need to have the children’s parents become active in t he process. If these three key ideas are attained the overall number of obese children and adults would see a large reduction. â€Å"The increase in childhood obesity is partly attributable to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition† (Galson). It has been found that television, computer and video game use replace vigorous physical activity in children. If schools were to intervene by implementing physical activities not just in school, this issue could be resolved. For this to be possible, schools would first need to set up a system where physical activities are present in educational and entertaining activities. One educational activity that could implement physical movement would be the game SPARKLE; if a student incorrectly spells out a word, i... ...h the sole efforts at the school or another organization it requires a multifaceted community – wide effort, but schools are in a unique position to play in promoting healthy lifestyles and helping to prevent obesity† (School-based Approaches for Preventing and Treating Obesity). Providing healthier food options, educating children and parents on how to live a healthier lifestyle, and implementing activities that are more physically rigorous, will provide an effective method to curb childhood and adolescent obesity. If schools implement programs that require students to take part in more physically demanding activities and offer healthier food options, the goal will be achievable and attainable. For a child to lose weight, he or she must eat healthier and do a large quantity of physical activity. And with school intervention, this goal is even more obtainable.

The Lost Tradition Essay -- Essays Papers

The Lost Tradition Every Sunday was understood to be a family day. No one even thought to make plans with friends or to schedule anything on that day. It was our â€Å"family tradition.† I only wish I appreciated that time with my family more as a child. It always started out the same way. My two brothers and I would awaken to the smell of breakfast, being cooked by my father. We would climb out of bed and wearily make our way to the table. After eating more than we knew we should have, the calm that we once were all in disappeared. The hectic â€Å"getting ready† took over. There was fighting over the bathroom and trying to find lost shoes, even the occasional fist fight between my brothers and me. Although I hated getting ready in such disorganized circumstances, I would love to relive it again. My father rushed the three of us out of the door with barely enough time to make the five minute drive to CCD class. Directly after CCD, we would meet my parents in the church for mass. As much as my brothers and I fought, we knew how to behave in church, and usually the hour passed uneventfully. We got the case of the giggles now and then, but a stern look from my father put that to an end very quickly. The next part of the afternoon was the part I dreaded most. We would all be loaded up into our minivan and taken for long boring drives to the places my parents loved to go. I would have no choice but to stare at the miles of trees and to listen to the local country station for hou...

Personal Development Report Essay

This personal development report reflects upon my learning experiences and outcomes during my first year at Nottingham Trent University. It aims to document the ways in which I have developed and areas for further consideration as part of a continual learning process. The report will be structured around 5 main areas as shown below 1. Placing learning on BABM within the wider context of lifelong learning 2. Taking personal responsibility for career planning 3. Taking personal responsibility for the learning process 4. Valuing the importance of developing personal effectiveness 5. Demonstrating an enquiring mind I have also looked at how all this learning at university relates and fits within a wider context of lifelong learning. Conclusions and recommendations for what I am going to do to improve in the months from May 2001 to 2002 are based on the areas I have mentioned in the above. I will do this in the form of a Personal Development Plan using the smart objectives as follows: (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Related to overall life-long goals and set over a Time period). I have made conclusions of the development plans, which have concentrated both on Core Transferable skills and also some softer skills. Introduction 1.My Learning At University Within A Wider Context Of Lifelong Learning 1.1 The concept of lifelong learning The concept of lifelong learning is as relevant now as it has ever been, with the traditional job for life being replaced by shorter periods of work for different firms requiring essentially the same skills and qualities in employees. Therefore the ability for these skills to be transferable is very important. To develop these skills therefore is extremely important with many employers putting greater emphasis upon these core skills and less emphasis upon specific skills. These skills can be used in many different situations and circumstances to allow the employee to perform to the best of their ability. â€Å"The concept of work is continuously changing. An individual not only has several jobs in a lifetime but may also have several careers. Therefore everybody needs continuous updating of skills and competence throughout their working life† ERT report, 1989 The following skills are widely considered to be Core Transferable Skills  · Organisational Skills  ·Ã‚  Interpersonal/ Social Skills  · Analytic and Problem Solving Skills  · Teamwork  · Creativity  · Self Motivation  · Initiative and Leadership 1.2The learning curve It is these skills that have been particularly important to develop whilst at university and it is the experience of university both academically and socially that has provided the ideal environment for these skills to be developed. The combination of leaving home and adapting to a completely different environment both educationally and socially has meant that the learning curve especially in the first semester was very steep. To live away from home for the first time without any contacts in an unknown city is a life changing experience and forces oneself to adapt and mature quickly after leaving the security of the family home. Being entirely responsible for yourself is also a new experience requiring maturity and forward thinking as well as planning to enable yourself to function. The way in which these skills have been developed forms the backbone for lifelong learning, one which employers recognize and actively seek in graduates. 1.3Lifelong learning defined The concept of lifelong learning is complex and is not easily defined resulting in no unilateral definition, however its importance is widely agreed. â€Å"The Development of human potential through a continuously supportive process which stimulates and empowers individuals to acquire all the knowledge, values, skills and understanding they will require throughout their lifetime and to apply them with confidence, creativity and enjoyment in all roles, circumstances and environment† Longworth, 1996 p22 â€Å"The need for a learning society to convert and compete is not just urgent, it is a matter of economic life and death. It is a matter of social success or disaster. It is a matter of survival† Cann in Bradshaw, 1995 The development of these skills both as part of the BA Business Management Degree and the wider University experience is key to becoming an attractive employee This is particularly so as years two and three of the Degree are â€Å"in company† so the development of these skills and the pace at which these must be  developed is crucial. This report will aim to reflect upon my first year experienc e and where appropriate utilize activities, questionnaires and assignments in an attempt to build a personal development review and action plan for the proceeding 12 months in the form of a personal development plan. 2.Taking Personal Responsibility For The Learning Process The biggest contribution to taking responsibility for the learning process was the decision to further my learning at university. This decision has allowed myself the opportunity to further my learning both academically and socially in ways that I would be unable to had I not made the decision to attend university. Also the decision to accept my place on the BABM course was another way in which I have demonstrated my personal responsibility for learning. The course is intense for each of the three years, more so than most undergraduate courses and the decision to accept a place on this course rather than other courses where workload and intensity were less was important. The course aims to enrich individuals with far greater experience both academically and in terms of transferable skills therefore by choosing BABM I feel I have made the best possible choice to continue my learning in the most relevant way providing me with higher levels of transferable skills than other graduates may have. 2.1 Taking responsibility for myself To be able to take responsibility for the learning process I have had to take responsibility for myself and become more accountable to myself in terms of making myself work harder and setting aside time in which to work. .University work is very different to that I have encountered before in terms of deadlines are much longer, scope for research is much larger, less specific titles to assignments etc etc so being accountable for myself is very important. 2.2 Time management Because the work is very different to that experienced before I have had to manage my time in a much more responsible manner to enable me to fulfill my potential, progress, and attain the best possible marks for myself. Examples of where I have managed my time effectively are physically difficult to produce as the BABM timetable is extremely varied from week to week so to produce a timetable where work and free time could  be planned in advance was very difficult to do. Undoubtedly time management and grades are very much linked and my grades for semester 1 and those received thus far for semester 2 have been good and I feel this has been partly due to my good time management skills. My peer assessment feedback included 5 of 6 people stating that I was well organized and three out of 6 stating that I was disciplined. This is included in appendix 1. 2.3Taking responsibility for learning The DLBM debate where our topic was â€Å"interviews are the most unreliable method of selection† required ourselves to complete a large amount of research. Our group split into two and four with the latter researching that I was a part of. The grade we received for this was high 70% and showed the level of research the group had done and is typical of myself being keen to take responsibility for learning. Development of interpersonal skills I am a member of The Herefordshire Golf Club where in 2000 I was captain. In this role I was required to talk to people of different ages and backgrounds and I feel this role has allowed my interpersonal skills to develop and I have learned a lot from this position as it provides a different scenario from academic studies. This role also developed my leadership skills as well as my organizational skills. 3.Value The Importance Of Developing Personal Effectiveness As part of the Developing Learning for Business and Management module the group completed two sessions on personal effectiveness including â€Å"ËÅ"assertiveness’ and â€Å"ËÅ"effective communication/ active listening’ These sessions have allowed my awareness to the importance of assertiveness and communication skills to be greatly improved and have highlighted ways in which I can improve on these skills. My level of skills prior to the sessions was of a good level and I believe I have the basic fundamentals to allow myself to develop communication and assertiveness naturally. However my increased awareness brought about by the sessions has allowed myself to take a more proactive approach to developing personal effectiveness. 3.1Demonstrated active listening/ effective communication An example of where I have demonstrated both active listening/effective communication whilst  being assertive was in a role-play with Vanessa Knowles DLBM lecturer as part of a tutorial session. Vanessa played the part of the under performing employee and I played the part of the employer. Vanessa used several different behaviour characteristics in attempt to alter my opinions and decisions. I feel that I learnt a lot by this, the importance of clear communication and active listening whilst not letting some-ones behaviour alter my decisions. 3.2Development of self confidence The session also increased my confidence especially as the role-play was conducted in front of an audience and made me more willing to be assertive rather than passive which is a tendency I will sometimes withdraw to. In the peer assessment feedback session this was something people felt was maybe a weakness of myself. Ben Gasson for example said â€Å"You should be more confident and forceful, often what you have to say is just as valid if not more so than other people, just say what you think sometimes† This analysis is very true of myself and to be more assertive I must first become more confident within myself. 3.3Development of leadership skills In the Belbin peer assessment it was also said that I was sometimes fearful of conflict. This I agree is true sometimes when maybe I am unsure of all the facts or am not in a position to speak confidently, I sometimes let others dominate me when really their ideas are no better than my own. However I feel that the example as mentioned above (role-play) demonstrated my ability not to be fearful of conflict. I am not a person to cause conflict within a group but at the same time I would not say i am fearful of conflict and can be assertive when necessary. One area for development are my leadership skills. Although I feel that I have become much more confident this year and this has enabled me to take a more active or leadership role in certain situations. However I feel that I still have a long way to go to enable myself to be a natural leader and to do so would be a great achievement. To improve this area of personal effectiveness is a definite priority for the next 12 months. My job at Marks & Spencer’s requires me to work on the customer service desk listening to customer’s complaints and dealing with their problems. This role requires me to have good active listening skills and not be fearful of conflict whilst maintaining good customer service. This shows that my personal effectiveness and assertiveness can when necessary be very prominent. 3.4Ability to effectively communicate My ability to effectively communicate has been demonstrated in many ways this year, presentations, debates, meetings, interviews etc. My peer assessment said that my presentation skills are good and I can speak in confidently at a good pace. This was highlighted in the DLBM debate where it was mentioned in the group mark sheet as well as the business simulation feedback sheets. 4.Work With Others To Achieve Goals The ability to work with others to achieve goals is another very important transferable skill that employers seek. The Belbin team role questionnaire included in appendix __ and states that predominantly I am a team worker co-coordinator. This opinion is held by both myself and my peer group showing that I view myself and my group views me as a team worker. 4.1Working with others in practice My ability to work with others to achieve goals, I believe is one of my biggest strengths. Much of the work on BABM is team orientated as this will be the case when in the workplace in years 2 and 3. Examples of this have included the business simulation module where I feel I made a good contribution to the team. Other examples have included the DLBM debate, the organizational behaviour presentation as well as the smaller group assignments we have be set. 4.2My role within groups The experience I have gained working in groups this year has developed many of my skills far more than a normal undergraduate course may have done. My skill within groups is one of analysis and reflection of what others have said and making rational and coherent arguments from debate. This ability has proved to be very useful this year however I feel than within group work I need to take a more pro active role  stimulating debate and discussion. As was stated in my peer assessment feedback I sometimes need to â€Å"relax, say what I think, and be more confident† and this is an area I need to work on in the next 12 months 4.3Teamwork outside the classroom During 2000 I have played golf for The Herefordshire Golf Club where much of the competition is in team format. Very different to university teamwork where communication is key, playing golf requires analysis of the situation and choosing the best course of action in a short time consulting your partner to achieve the best possible result. Again I feel I have learnt a lot from this sporting experience as often I am under pressure to make team decisions quickly at university and although in an entirely different situation the process is the same. 5.Demonstrate An Enquiring Mind An enquiring mind and to be interested in your work is essential to being successful, without this I feel would result in lack of motivation and a significant reduction in output. My educational background shows how my enquiring mind is diverse and heavily influenced the â€Å"ËÅ"A’ level subjects I chose. I tried to choose subjects I was genuinely interested in and felt that I would be most motivated to work hard on. This at the time didn’t include business studies but my work experience at Marks & Spencer’s has led me to become interested in business. I wanted to know why decisions were taken at head office, what influenced them and how they took those decisions. My father works in business and as I have always been interested in his work and find it interesting. 5.1Examples of enquiring mind At university it is particularly important to have an enquiring mind as many of the subjects are only covered very briefly in the actual lectures therefore requiring me to be interested in them and to have an enquiring mind to allow myself to get a good knowledge of each subject. This is very different to â€Å"ËÅ"A’ levels and I feel that I have improved greatly in this area since attending University. However I also feel that I still have a lot of room for improvement particularly in subjects that I find difficult and those that are maybe less interesting to myself. I should try to complete all the recommended reading rather than completing only that which I find interesting. I found the organizational behaviour module to be particularly interesting and read a lot of the textbook despite the fact that the essay I had to write was only a small proportion of the book. For the DLBM debate I was part of the â€Å"research team† as I enjoy finding information that can be used to form an argument. I enjoy reading national papers and try to do so as often as I can as I am interested in the wider scope of global business. My enquiring mind sometimes get the better of me and I find myself reading about completely irrelevant topics to that I am meant to be studying for and wasting time but I believe this reflects my enquiring mind For the information systems/ information technology module we could either build a website of produce a leaflet. Despite the fact I had never produced a website before I chose to do this as I enjoy using computers and felt that although this would be more difficult it would be more beneficial to myself in the long run. 6.Take a Personal Responsibility For Career Planning Taking responsibility for career planning is very important, and the BABM course demands that students do this much earlier than other students on other undergraduate schemes. Because of this career planning is very important specifically with regards to years two and three of the course to enable me to make the maximum of my interview and company opportunities. The first step in career planning for myself was my work experience at Marks & Spencer’s that motivated me to choose the BABM course. Choosing to be on the BABM course itself also was of great importance to my future career with the uniqueness of the course enabling me to gain more experience earlier. 6.1Interview skills development Whilst on the BABM course I have had to take responsibility for my future career and have demonstrated this in a number of ways. Firstly interview technique was important to develop and the practice interview as part of the DLBM module gave good feedback as to my style and competencies. The feedback I got (see appendix 3) was generally good with areas to improve on including becoming more focused upon the process I went through when giving examples rather than the example itself. Also I tended to undersell myself when given the chance to impress but apart  from this the feedback was generally good 6.2C.V and application form enhancement My C.V and application form was also another area that required me to take personal responsibility. I read articles on the Internet and books from the library on how to write a C.V as well as attending lectures on C.V’s. I got feedback from my dad who takes part in selection processes as part of his job as well as Vanessa Knowles the DLBM lecturer. The feedback I got was very good highlighting areas that needed to be improved 6.3Increasing personal awareness of placements For the pre selection week I researched each company individually, sent off for their annual reports, looked at their web sites and read the national press to gain any knowledge I could before I attended the sessions. This gave me an insight not only into the companies that I was researching but also the industries they operated in. It also allowed me to view the types of placements offered to students such as myself and has increased my knowledge of the type of placement I am looking to secure. 7.Conclusions I feel that in the last 12 months I had developed tremendously as a person and feel that I have become much more confident, outgoing and assertive. My transferable skill base has improved greatly due to my experience on BABM and at university generally. I feel that my value as a person to an organization has increased greatly and I feel confident that the skills I have learnt this year will continue to be used long into the future not only just during the period â€Å"in company†. However I realize that my skills can and will be improved enormously by the experience I will gain whilst in company and that lifelong learning is a valid and very important concept. My personal development plan outlines areas I intend to improve over the next two years and contains ways in which I intend to monitor evaluate and measure myself and my development. I have tried as far as possible to make my targets Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant and Timescaleable to enable myself to develop myself in the most effective manner. The personal development plan will allow myself to continually review my progress and will hopefully prove a useful tool in the next two years whilst on the BABM course

The American Renaissance: An American Style of Writing

The American Renaissance, a period which spanned from the 1830s to the end of the Civil War, is widely acknowledged as the establishment of America’s literary history. Despite their usage of classical styles such as Romanticism and Gothicism, the writers of the aforementioned era (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Herman Melville) succeeded in producing original works that were eventually regarded as the foundations of American literature (Michaels and Pease, 1989, p.127).The writings of these authors were noted mainly for their deviation from the restraints associated with established writing and philosophical disciplines, as well as criticism of prevailing norms and standards. Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter (1850), for instance, spoke out against Puritan hypocrisy (Gedge, 2003, p. 101). Thoreau’s works, which constantly emphasized the virtue of simplicity, challenged the American values of confor mity and success in terms of monetary gain (Kirklighter and Okawa, 2002, p. 60).In the process, the American Renaissance reflected the transition of the United States from being a British colony to a sovereign nation (Michaels and Pease, 1989, p. 10). The independence of their country left the Founding Fathers with the task of creating a political identity that was different from that of Great Britain. The writers of the American Renaissance, meanwhile, felt the need to declare cultural independence from Britain (Madsen, 1998, p. 70). To attain this goal, they came up with an â€Å"American style† of writing. The United States in the Antebellum EraThe 18th century was characterized with immense optimism on the part of the American people. The triumph of the American Revolution instilled in them a buoyant belief in human perfectibility (Cirtautas, 1997, p. 66). They likewise embraced democracy and its lofty ideal of equality regardless of class and education (Dietze, 1995, p. 59). Technological advances such as the telegraph, the railroad, the steamship and the turnpike resulted in immense economic growth by making the exchange of goods and services faster and more efficient (Abrams, 2004, p.17). Innovations like photography and powered presses stimulated the growth of American cultural life through the mass production of inexpensive books, journals and newspapers (Benesch, 2002, p. 56). The above-mentioned achievements, however, failed to address certain needs of American society. Despite its strong emphasis on egalitarianism, democracy failed to improve the lot of many disenfranchised Americans. In addition, several Americans became increasingly disillusioned with their culture’s fixation on material wealth and social respectability.Worse, the institutions that were supposed to guide the American public – religion, government, school and the family – were either too indifferent or perpetuated the materialistic and pretentious natur e of American society. â€Å"Jacksonian Democracy:† Democracy for the White Educated Male Although the Declaration of Independence held that â€Å"all men are created equal,† law and custom reserved this impartiality for the white educated male. Only white men from well-off families were allowed to pursue an education, own property and or vote. Women and African-Americans, in sharp contrast, remained marginalized.White men can batter, rape and or kill slaves with impunity. Furthermore, the lack of incriminating evidence did not spare slaves from punishment for alleged crimes (Stone, Epstein, and Sunstein, 1992, p. 504). Such a flawed model of democracy was later referred to as â€Å"Jacksonian democracy. † President Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) was a leader of contrasting principles – he staunchly advocated popular democracy and individual liberty, as well as slavery and Indian removal (Tyler, 1944, p. 21). Despite his key roles in the War of 1812 and the F irst Seminole War, Jackson’s inaugural speech contained the following words:I believe that man can be elevated†¦and as he does he becomes more God-like in his character and capable of governing himself. Let us go on elevating our people, perfecting our institutions, until democracy shall reach such a point of perfection that we can acclaim with truth that the voice of the people is the voice of God. (p. 22) Jackson’s ascension into high office despite his conflicting values was eventually used as a metaphor to describe the duplicitous form of democracy that prevailed during his time (Haskell and Teichgraeber, 1996, p. 192).In the context of â€Å"Jacksonian democracy,† only the white educated male had the right to life, liberty and happiness. Women, the poor and minorities, on the other hand, had no other choice but to resign themselves to their disenfranchised state. While all human beings are supposedly born free, they are not necessarily equal. Richer an d More Miserable Than Ever Even if the United States managed to obtain political sovereignty from Great Britain, traces of British societal norms are still present in American culture. Foremost among these customs are materialism and the fixation with outside appearances.Many wealthy Americans openly flaunted their wealth by assuming lifestyles that both emulated and rivaled those of the European aristocracy (Craven, 2003, p. 287). In the process, they became the symbol of success, respectability and industry. The poor, on the other hand, were dismissed as lazy and ignorant. Such a way of thinking proved to be very erroneous – most economic opportunities in Antebellum America were available only for white men. This, however, was not an assurance that they would have a decent life. Many entrepreneurs, especially plantation owners in the South, preferred slaves over hired hands.Furthermore, many white laborers were subjected to appalling working conditions. They toiled for near ly 14 hours a day in unsafe workplaces for wages that sometimes come in the form of cheap liquor (Reynolds, 1989, p. 352). Spiritual Emptiness Antebellum America saw the rise of Unitarian Christianity. The latter was a form of Christian humanism – it sought to realize the potential divinity in human nature. Unitarians believed that the highest form of worship was the celebration of human dignity through the discovery and maximization of an individual’s faculties and powers (Howe, 2007, p.614). Thus, many American Protestants during the aforementioned era used the humanistic spirit of Unitarianism to nurture many aspects of their country’s intellectual life and social reform. Schoolteacher Dorothea Dix, for instance, campaigned tirelessly for humane living conditions in insane asylums. Another educator, Horace Mann, instituted several important reforms in the American public school system (Howe, 2007, p. 615). Some thinkers, however, felt disenchanted with the ap parent coldness of Unitarianism.They felt that Unitarianism were so rational that they failed to address the emotional and spiritual needs of their followers. Emerson, for example, called for a creed which was sensuous and integrative but did not rely on tradition. He believed that Unitarianism’s strict emphasis on constitution and institution further divided society by promoting the law of the many. Because Unitarianism neglected the integrated world of the imagination, there was a big possibility that the law of the many would turn into the tyranny of the many (Nigro, 1984, p.45). The American Style of Writing: Breaking Away from the Status Quo The American Renaissance echoed the political, economic and social changes that were taking place in the Antebellum-era United States. Although the writers of the American Renaissance used classical styles such as Romanticism and Gothicism, their works reflected their deviation from the restraints associated with these writing and ph ilosophical disciplines. Their writings likewise criticized prevailing norms and standards in American society.In the process, the authors of the American Renaissance were able to challenge their audiences to confront the changes and responsibilities that are associated with sovereignty. Crossovers Many writers of the American Renaissance combined classical and contemporary styles in their works. As a result, they were able to openly discuss topics that were considered sensitive during their time. The writings of Whitman, for instance, were a blend of â€Å"romanticism (and) the open road of modernist form, vision and experiment† (McQuade, et al. , 1998, p. 1146).Such a bold and contradictory manner of writing complemented his candor about sexuality. Whitman’s poem The Sleepers (1881), for example, candidly discussed the taboo subject of masturbation. Sex manuals in the 19th century warned that masturbation was an indicator of insanity. Clergymen, meanwhile, denounced the act as a sin. Masturbators, therefore, were referred to in the aforementioned poem as â€Å"sick-gray (onanists)† (Killingsworth, 2007, p. 45). The term â€Å"onanist† was an allusion to the biblical figure of Onan, condemned by God for spilling his seed upon the ground (Genesis 38: 8-10).Contrary to popular belief during his time, Whitman regarded masturbation as normal. He hailed the masturbator as the natural man – the â€Å"spontaneous me† who was liberated from the repressiveness of convention. This release (â€Å"The souse upon me of my lover by the sea, as I lie willing and naked†) eventually culminated in the ejaculation of semen (â€Å"It has done its work – I toss it carefully to fall where it may†). Given Whitman’s aforementioned attitude towards masturbation, the poem viewed semen (â€Å"this bunch pluck’d at random from myself†) with nonchalance (Killingsworth, 2007, p. 45). Unmasking the Hypocris ySome writers of the American Renaissance attacked the deceitful norms of their society. The bigoted views of Puritan America on morality are one of the main features in The Scarlet Letter. A young woman named Hester Prynne was made to wear a scarlet â€Å"A† embroidered on her chest as punishment for adultery. Apart from having an illegitimate child as a result of her indiscretion, she also had to endure ostracism from her contemptuous neighbors. Her cruelest tormentors were the community’s Puritan elders, who believed that sin was something that should be punished and suppressed (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 44).Hester’s paramour, Arthur Dimmesdale, made her face guilt and shame alone for fear that his reputation as a righteous minister would be tarnished (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 58). Dimmesdale was Hawthorne’s way of showing audiences that even the most respectable people can be guilty of the worst acts of wrongdoing. Despite his religious background, Dimmesdale ha d an extramarital affair with Hester, who happened to be a married woman. Worse, he refused to take responsibility for his fault. Although their religion espoused forgiveness and compassion towards sinners, the Puritan elders harangued Hester endlessly.Hester and Pearl: Symbols of Change. Ironically, it was Hester and her illegitimate daughter Pearl who served as the symbols of change in The Scarlet Letter. It is revealed in Chapter V that although Hester was free to leave Boston and start a new life elsewhere, she opted not to (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 68). Indeed, leaving Boston for good seemed to be the best option for Hester – she could finally get rid of her scarlet â€Å"A† symbol and live as a respectable woman again. But running away meant acknowledging that the letter was a mark of shame and was therefore something she was trying to escape from.Staying in Boston, on the other hand, meant that she was denouncing society’s power over her by not denying the exi stence of her past sin (Hawthorne, 1994, p. 67). Pearl also served as a reminder of the importance of individuality and honesty to one’s self. In Chapter XVIII, Hester and Dimmesdale finally decided to take Pearl with them and flee to the colony. Before leaving, Hester removed the scarlet letter and tried to throw it into the stream – it landed on the far side instead (Hawthorne, 1994, 172). Pearl however, refused to cross the stream until her mother promised to reattach the scarlet letter (Hawthorne, 1994, p.180). Indeed, dishonesty with one’s self will remove characteristics that a status quo considers to be deviant, but are also integral parts of who an individual is. Conclusion The American Renaissance produced an American style of writing. The works that fell under this style deviated from the restraints associated with established writing and philosophical disciplines, as well as criticism of prevailing norms and standards. In the process, the writers of t he American Renaissance succeeded in challenging their audiences to confront the changes and responsibilities that are associated with sovereignty.As free people, they must create their own national identity instead of depending on British norms and standards. References Abrams, R. E. (2004). Landscape and Ideology in American Renaissance Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Benesch, K. (2002). Romantic Cyborgs: Authorship and Technology in the American Renaissance. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. Cirtautas, A. M. (1997). The Polish Solidarity Movement: Revolution, Democracy and Natural Rights. New York: Routledge. Craven, W. (2003). American Art: History and Culture.New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. Dietze, G. (1995). In Defense of Property. Lanham: University Press of America. Gedge, K. E. (2003). Without Benefit of Clergy: Women and the Pastoral Relationship in Nineteenth-Century American Culture. New York: Oxford University Press US. Haskell, T. L. , & Teichgraeber, R. F. (1996). The Culture of the Market. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Hawthorne, N. (1994). The Scarlet Letter. London: Penguin Books. Howe, D. W. (2007). What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848. New York: Oxford University Press.Killingsworth, M. J. (2007). The Cambridge Introduction to Walt Whitman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Kirklighter, C. , & Okawa, G. Y. (2002). Traversing the Democratic Borders of the Essay. Albany: SUNY Press. Madsen, D. L. (1998). American Exceptionalism. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. McQuade, D. , et al. (1998). The Harper Single Volume American Literature (3rd ed. ). Harlow: Pearson-Longman. Michaels, W. B. , & Pease, D. E. (1989). The American Renaissance Reconsidered. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Nigro, A. J.(1984). The Diagonal Line: Separation and Reparation in American Literature. Bridgewater: Susquehanna University Press. Reynolds, D. S. (1989). Beneath the American Renaissance: The Subversive Imagination in the Age of Emerson and Melville (6th ed. ). Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Stone, G. R. , Epstein, R. A. , & Sunstein, C. R. (1992). The Bill of Rights in the Modern State. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Tyler, A. F. (1944). Freedom’s Ferment: Phases of American Social History to 1860. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Design, make, test and evaluate a strain gauge sensor Essay

These are my preliminary results that helped me to understand the physics and approach needed to make my experiment successful. In exp1, 3 and 4 I used the same wire and exp2 was a fresh wire. Clearly u can see the set of results obtained in exp2 were different to the other sets of data. After a wire stretches the wire Changes State and becomes a harder material, meaning it will stretch less the next time u apply a strain. Therefore in my real experiment I used fresh wire for each experiment. Trend In Graphs: From the graphs u can see a general trend formed in exp2, as weight is applied the voltage across the rest of the circuit decreases, therefore increasing across the wire. In the other three experiments u can see weight has little or no effect on voltage, thus showing the wire has already been stretched. This can be seen in ‘Chart 1’. Results I have used ‘Ohm’s law’ which is a formula, to get a resistance for my results. R= V/I Experiment one Experiment 2 Experiment 3 Length of Constantine wire (cm) Voltage (v) Resistance (ohms) Voltage (v) Resistance (ohms) Voltage (v) Resistance (ohms). Experiment 4 Experiment 5 Length of Constantine wire (cm) Voltage (v) Resistance (ohms) Voltage (v) Resistance (ohms) 1The anomalies are in red. I have also carried out a further experiment to find out how there is a general increase in voltage and resistance across a wire as it becomes longer. These results support the prediction I have made before hand. I predicted that the longer the wire the greater the resistance will be and then more energy will be needed to push the electrons through. Now I can carry out my experiment, knowing current and voltage will increase as strain is applied on the wire. Results: 1st Set†¦ Length Of Wire/(mm) Current/(milliamps) Weight/(grams) Power, voltage/(millivolts) [Start]8off scale 700 254 This is my first set of results, which I believe to be the most accurate. As u can see there is a clear trend in the increase of current and voltage. There are no anomalies in this experiment. 2nd Set†¦ Length Of Wire/(mm) Current/(milliamps) Weight/(grams) Power, voltage/(millivolts) [Start]8Observations: There was only one major observation and that was to see how the wire stretched as more weight was applied. As more weight was applied the wire slowly stretched until its deformation point. The deformation point is where the wire is stretched or re-shaped so much it cannot return to its original state. Accuracy of Results: The accuracy that I achieved was very high even though I had very little time. Also I got lots of results to make a good analysis. The level of accuracy in this investigation was as high as I could get. The only thing I could of improved was to use more weights and measure every 50grams however this may have taken too long to achieve. I got someone else to check the reading on the meters to be sure I was reading them correctly. Before taking each reading I would also check the connections were crisp between the wire and the rest of the circuit. I could change one or two thing during this experiment. A few examples of these could be the thickness of the wire, the type of wire for example copper and gold. We made sure to limit out systematic error by valuing all the results a 0 for 0 weight. This way only my own human judgement can effect the quality of the results. A random error could of included, when I was reading the results someone knocked or a change in the gravitational field, effected the weight. Also a slight wind could of pushed on the weights for that precise second, tiny chance, but possible! Analysis: First Experiment: The first experiment clearly went much better then the second as I have a significant and clear trend between the strain, current and voltage. From ‘Chart 2’ u can clearly see that as u stretch the wire the current and voltage increase. The voltage only grows very slowly until the wire is deformed, then the electrons need much more energy to move across the wire (large increase in resistance). The sharp slope proves this in ‘Chart 2’. Chart 3 and Chart 4 show this in much more detail. In ‘Chart 3’ u can see where the wire snaps because the stain is too much for it to withstand. Therefore from the first experiment we can see that my theory and hypothesis is proven. Chart 8 shows the general pattern between voltage and current and how resistance increases. Between point 6 and 7 on the X-axis the wire has deformed and resistance has greatly increased. The wire has stretched 45mm, which also increase resistance. Second Experiment: There is one major anomaly in experiment 2 and that is when 100grams were placed on. The reading of power/voltage and current are much too high. On Chart 5 and 6 I have draw a pencil line which I believe should have been the results gained. The general trend again shows that as u stretch the wire the resistance across it increases. Chart 7 shows the general pattern between voltage and current and how resistance increases. Evaluation: A strain gauge can predict when a wire or something with applied stress or stain will deform or even break. When the voltage and current increases in a wire it must mean resistance has also increased. Improvements: If I were to do the experiment again, I could make some improvements to make the level of accuracy better. For example, I could make sure that the joints/connections were jointed properly and would have to make sure I use the same equipment every time. I could also get a machine to measure the length of the fine wire. I would also take more than two sets of results, which would eliminate any factors of anomalies and would therefore make the experiment a lot more reliable.