BUS303 MODULE 2 LP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

BUS303 MODULE 2 LP - Essay Example I actually commend the University for according students with the opportunity to make partial payments through accomplishing a Promissory Note form, which is to be secured from the Dean’s office prior to major examinations. Since my financial sources were not enough, I secured the form and lined up at the Cashier to make a partial payment. After about 30 minutes of queuing, the system experienced technical difficulties and those in line were told to either wait, try to pay through an authorized bank, or return the next day. The follow day, I directly went to the cashier; and true to her word, accepted my partial payment. I proceeded to the registrar to validate the payment and secure my examination permit, only to be told that the Promissory Note (PN) needed to be signed first at the Dean’s office. When I went to the Dean’s office, the line of students securing the signature on their respective PNs was longer than the eyes could see. After a patient wait and when one’s turn was due, the authorized signatory informed me that I needed to pay an additional $xxx amount; otherwise, I would not be given an exam permit despite the amount that I already paid. I had to go back to the Cashier, have the PN signed, return to the registrar and finally secure the exam permit. It would have been so much easier to have communicated all the payment protocols during orientation; or to have a flowchart of procedures posted near the Cashier and Accounting Offices. I hereby enjoin University personnel in charge of creating policies and procedures to publish payment protocols and avoid students queuing and being referred back to departments to secure signatures or make additional payments, which are fairly easy to comply with explicitly disseminated guidelines. This would likewise facilitate payment and collection and avoid unnecessary returns. Hoping for your immediate action in this regard. In writing the persuasive memo, the guidelines in writing persuasive

Cosmetic Surgery Essay Example for Free

Cosmetic Surgery Essay Finally, cosmetic surgery can cause an addiction by society trends and Body Dimorphic Disorder. No one is perfect, and there is no â€Å"perfectism† either. People often complain about something on their body. They may think that their noses are shorter than others. Maybe, they think beautiful women should have big eyes. Sometimes, they may wish their lips to be a little bit thicker. However, the truth is people are a product of the love between their mom and dad. They should accept it as a present that their parents gave them. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), â€Å"The top five surgical cosmetic procedures in 2007 were: liposuction (456,828 procedures); breast augmentation (399,440 procedures); eyelid surgery (240,763 procedures); abdominoplasty (185,335 procedures); and breast reduction (153,087 procedures) (â€Å"Highlights of the ASAPS 2007 Statistics on Cosmetic Surgery†). Based on the fact, most surgeries were done because they felt unsatisfied about their body. They want to change their beauties by using the plastic surgery to be more attractive. Nowadays, our society is developing so fast that it creates a lot of ways to make people look more beautiful or even younger by using make-up products, skin care or doing exercise to maintain a good and healthy body. That is good enough to make them look better based on what they have. More importantly, even if they do a cosmetic surgery, it does still not guarantee the expected results: The potential exists that the surgery will not produce the â€Å"ideal† look the patient was seeking in spite of the surgeon’s best efforts. Cosmetic surgery is not an exact science, so potential patients need to keep in mind that there is no way to know what the final outcome will look like until the procedure has been performed and the recovery period has passed. (â€Å"The Pros And Cons Of Having  Cosmetic  Surgery†) Therefore, nothing is 100% perfect. Being yourself is accepting the truth, and finding other ways to improve what you are not happy about are the best choices a person should follow. Finally, there is still something more important than appearance. What would we think if a Miss Universe wins with a low education and without a good heart? Then, the â€Å"beauty† exists for a long time or stays in a short time and gone? In another case, in the Vietnamese-American community, everyone knows about Mr Don Chu, singer Ha Phuong’s husband. Although he is not good looking, he is an American billionaire who is managing a billion dollar fund at Wall Street. He is still confident about himself, and people still admire him. Cosmetic surgery requires a lot of time for recovery and has a lot of side effects. After surgery, patients cannot do normal activities, such as sports or heavy lifting. The healing time can take several months, even forever. It depends on health condition, age, and gender. Sometimes, scars are left on the body that cannot be treated by any other surgeries. Moreover, smoking and alcohol are banned within healing time. If not, it can extend healing time and make the case more complicated. Like other surgeries, plastic surgery may lead the death if the equipment or chemicals used in the surgery are not suitable to that patient, or by bleeding. Following the death of a former Miss Argentina after complications arising from plastic surgery, questions are being raised about the risks of  cosmetic  surgery. Solange Magnano, 37, died in hospital, after being transferred from a clinic where she underwent an elective surgery on her buttocks last Wednesday†¦ Magnano is reported to have died from a pulmonary embolism, a blockage of the blood supply to lungs. (â€Å"Models death highlights plastic surgery risks†) Besides, as with any kind of surgery, it may have side effects. For example, breast implants makes it hard to read a mammogram which helps the body to prevent breast cell cancer. More important, although liposuction is the most common cosmetic surgery, it is also the most dangerous one. â€Å"A report by Dr. Frederick Grazer of Penn State and Dr. Rudolph de Jong of Thomas Jefferson Medical college says that to date, â€Å"917 plastic surgeons reported 95 deaths in over 496,000 liposuction surgeries. If you do the math, that comes out to 19 deaths per 100,000 or 1 death in 5,224† (â€Å"Liposuction safety report†). One of the most dangerous side effects is fluid imbalance. During the procedure, the surgeon will put a large amount of fluid inside the body, and some is removed from fat tissue, which causes fluid imbalance. It may cause kidney dysfunctions, heart problem, and too much fluid in the lungs. Cosmetic surgery addiction is one of the most modern addictions, along with internet addiction, shopping addiction, and workholism. According to recent studies, 66 percent of all patients who have a single cosmetic surgery will return to have another. They return, not because the first surgery failed, but because it succeeded and now the patient wants more. Often, these plastic surgery addicts have a perfect image in mind that they want to attain, whether it is a celebrity that they are trying to emulate, or their ideal picture of what they should look like. (â€Å"Plastic Surgery Addiction†) Among the reasons that cause cosmetic surgery addiction are society trends and Body Dimorphic Disorder (BDD). Nowadays, with the development of media and advertising, people accept with cosmetic surgery more easily. The result is they accept it as a should-have behavior to be beautiful. For example, in their beauty definition, a beautiful girl should have long legs, big breasts, big eyes, or a high nose. Wanting those characteristics compel them to come to a surgeon. Moreover, people with BDD never feel happy even after thousands of cosmetic surgeries. They always see something wrong with their body that must be fixed. Michael Jackson and Jocelyn Wildestein are good examples of this kind of addiction. Michael Jackson had more than ten nose surgeries, according to People Magazine. He spent over two million dollars for surgery over his career to range from a â€Å"handsome† black singer to an â€Å"alien with a chimpanzee face† who never stopped to surprise people. Jocelyn Wildestein has a similar story to Michael’s. She spent almost four million dollars on cosmetic surgery over the years. With the nickname â€Å"Bride of Wildestein,† nobody can recognize her now compared with that beautiful woman she was in the 1970s. Plastic surgery is not a good solution for anybody. People should face the truth that they are not beautiful instead of hiding themselves by using plastic surgery. Doing surgery only reflects that they love untrue beauty. There are a lot of ways to improve what they have. For example, if they have a problem with belly fat, they can exercise with a strict nutrition system. If they want a higher nose or bigger eyes, they can put on makeup that still makes them look beautiful without asking a surgeon. Moreover, cosmetic surgery requires a very strict aftercare and causes many kinds of side effects. It takes several months for healing time without any smoking and alcohol during this period. Also no normal activities and heavy lifting are limited. Additionally, breast implants may reduce the ability to detect breast cancer, and liposuction can cause buildup of fluid in the lungs. Finally, cosmetic surgery is a new kind of addiction in this century. People can get addicted either by society trends or BDD, which makes them never feel happy with their body and never say â€Å"No† to cosmetic surgery. Works Cited â€Å"Choosing Cosmetic Surgery. † medicinenet. com. MedicineNet, Inc, n. d. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. Rollins, Gray. â€Å"The Pros And Cons Of Having  Cosmetic  Surgery. † articlecity. com. N. p. , 3 Mar 2006. Web. 9 Sept. 2011. â€Å"Quick Facts: Highlights of the ASAPS 2007 Statistics on Cosmetic Surgery. † surgery. org. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, n. d. Web. 19 Sept. 2011 Tutton, Mark. â€Å"Models death highlights plastic surgery risks. † cnn. com. CNN, 02 Dec. 2009. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. Venuto, Tom. â€Å"Liposuction Safety Report Advice From A Respected Fitn ess Coach. † burnthefact. com. Burn The Fat Enterprises, n. d. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. â€Å"Plastic Surgery Addiction: Is it dangerous? † articlesbase. com. ArticlesBase, 31 May 2010. Web. 19 Sept. 2011.

Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun †Mama :: Raisin Sun essays

A Raisin in the Sun – Mama Mama has dreams for her family to rise from poverty and live in a better and bigger place and also for them to continue to grow together as a family. Mama has a plant that she also cares for. She takes care of this plant as if it was one of her own children. Mama's children also have their own dreams and their own plans on how to attain those dreams. The family's competing dreams are emphasized by Hansberry's recurring use of the motif--Mama's plant. In the opening scene of the play Mama goes to her plant and nurtures it. Mama tries to instill the value of family importance to her children as she struggles to keep them together and functioning (Kohorn). The plant symbolizes Mama's dreams of owning her own house. She uses part of the money to put a down payment on a house in a white neighborhood. Beneatha is Mama's youngest child. She aspires to become a doctor. Mama wants Beneatha to become what she wants so she decided to put aside some of the insurance money for Beneatha's schooling. Beneatha struggles as a young independent woman who has yet to find her identity. She finds herself trying new hobbies and dating two very different men. During a conversation with one of those men, Asagai, Beneatha is forced by Asagai to realize that she is not very independent at all. In fact she has been depending on the insurance money to get her through school. After this realization, Beneatha gains thoughts on how to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor (Kohorn). She presents her mother with her decision of getting married and how she "plans to find her roots in Africa" with Asagai (Silver). Walter wants the insurance money so that he can prove that he is capable of making a future for his family. By doing well in business, Walter thinks that he can buy his family happiness. Mama cares for Walter deeply and hates seeing him suffer so she gave into his idea. Mama gives Walter the rest of the money and tells him to put half in a bank for his sister's schooling and he could do whatever he wanted with the other half.

Intolerance: Minority Group and Society Essay

1. What are some of the ways groups of people are identified? There are many ways that a group of people can be identified but the four criteria for classifying minority groups are race, ethnicity, religion, and gender. Race is mainly determined by the color of someone’s skin, hair (in some instances eyes), height, and bone structure of the human body: big head, narrow eyes, tall short. Ethnicity is determined by where you were born and raised and what cultural patterns. Religion and is determined by what your beliefs and religious group you are a part of. Gender is determined easily enough but it does matters if you are male or female for the fact that each is treated differently. Males seem to have it easy most of the time and woman are always treated as though they are weaker. These four criteria’s are the main ones but there are so many more such as age, disability status, physical appearance, and sexual orientation they all are used to group people. There is always another factor that is sometimes over looked and that is our appearance; skinny, fat and even what we wear are we well dressed and clean all of the time or are we in regular day to day clothes or are we dressed in rags torn, ripped and dirty clothing. Also there is the money factor how much does one have or don’t have to many people the money factor matters most people like to know that they know people with money. Are these people wealthy with more money than they will every need or do they just have enough or do they struggle or worse yet do they not have anything leaving them going from home to home or street to street or going to government and privet programs for help. 2. Why do people label and group other people? I have thought about this question and it made me realize that not only do people label and group other people but we also label ourselves putting ourselves in categories that please us. Plus it gives us our sense of belonging to something that most people â€Å"need† to feel. Getting back to the question; I think it is something that we all do whether we realize it or not. Labeling and grouping help people to determine who we should or who we should not interact with. It helps people and sometimes it does just the opposite and destroys people it’s like having a power a power to have some control over other people. I can almost see it in another time a man running through the streets with a label machine placing labels on everyone’s forehead yelling â€Å"You are who I say you are! † Scary thought! We constantly label people in a negative light due to difference of opinion due to religion, political view, sexual preference, parenting method you name it we do it, even children do this and it is not done intentionally they were not taught this, too me it almost seems like it is a defense mechanism keeping themselves even ourselves safe from what we may consider to be harmful. In the end people are just that â€Å"people† we are nothing more and nothing less. People label others either to feel empowered or to praise someone but in the end we are Human Beings and that is it. We may think and act differently but we are what we are and if people could just except that then the future might not ever have to deal with the positive and mainly the negative effects that come with being labeled and tossed into a group that was thought up by others. Resources Schaefer, R. T. (2012). (Ch. 1 & 2) Racial and ethnic groups (13th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Evaluating a Health Promotion Website Essay

Health Information Technology (HIT) has been introduced into the National Health Service (NHS) in order to improve the quality, efficiency, safety and cost effectiveness of the delivery of health care. The application of computerized information technology in health care settings has so far played a vital role in improving the accessibility of information and has replaced more labour intensive and unproductive methods (Shekelle and Goldzweig, 2009). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2009) maintain that that nurses’ skills, knowledge and practice must be guided by the best available evidence. Often this evidence is found on the internet however many sources of information can be inaccurate so a good standard of critical evaluation is required (Kim, Eng, Deering et al 1998). To evaluate the quality and reliability of a chosen website the use of a framework can be helpful such as Roberts (2012) 5 C’s website tool. This framework evaluates five areas: credibility, currency, content, construction and clarity. The website The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RC Psych, 2012 a) was chosen to be evaluated because as a mental health nursing student this will develop an awareness of how information technology is implemented and applied to practice in health care. Additionally, by using Roberts (2012) 5 C’s framework to critically evaluate this website, knowledge and skills of the quality and reliability of HIT will be acquired. Main Body RC Psych is the professional and educational organisation for psychiatrist in the UK as well as being a registered charity (RC Psych, 2012 b). Their website is aimed at improving the lives of individuals affected by mental illness through educating the public. They claim to be at the head of developing and promoting best practice in mental health services through their education, training and research projects. Additionally they are involved in the publishing of the following world-class journals; British Journal of Psychiatry, The Psychiatrist, Advances in Psychiatric Treatment and International Psychiatry (RC Psych, 2012 c). Credibility Having gained a royal charter this shows us that the organisation has been recognised by the Queen and seconded by the government to call itself a registered organisation of the highest regard. As stated by the Privy Council Office (2012) organisations granted a Royal Charter must have a solid record of achievement. 75% of its members should be qualified to at least first degree level and the work completed by the organisation must be in the interest of the public. Professor Peter Tyrer is named as the Editor, of the website, and is said to be responsible for the editorial and production aspects of its publications in addition to the production of their online continuing professional development (CPD) e-learning resources and its sales and marketing (RC Psych, 2012 d). After researching Peter Tyrer it is evident that he is highly qualified within the field of mental health and is a professor of community psychiatry for the Department of Medicine, within the Imperial College London (Imperial College London, 2012). The website offers a vast amount of information around mental health including conditions, diagnoses, treatments and types of therapies. The advice provided is produced in the form of online leaflets for the use of the public as well as professionals. Within the website there is no evidence to show that the same specific authors are used regularly for their published articles however, at the end of each article the producer, editor and sometimes an author are named in addition to any expert that has been involved in the making of it. All these leaflets are produced by the RC Psych Public Education Editorial Board that is responsible for producing 300 educational leaflets. These leaflets have been accredited by the NHS Information Standard and subsequently gained numerous awards (Byrne, 2011). They have achieved Plain English and BMA patient information awards and have received consistently positive feedback for the web versions. The editor of these leaflets is Dr Phillip Timms who is currently employed as a consultant Psychiatrist for the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust as well as a senior lecturer in psychiatry at King’s College, London (BMJ Masterclasses, 2012). This site’s web address shows that it is delivered by a UK based academic body as it has an ac.uk URL. This confirms their credibility and reassures the reader that they are qualified experts able to give advice in this field (Roberts, 2010). Combining all this it is apparent that the producers of the website have appropriate qualifications and expertise to offer advice in regards to mental health and supports the credibility of the organisation and the website. Some of these points also link into the other five C’s for example, the awards that the leaflets have received show that the content and clarity of their work has been assessed and found to be of an acceptable standard. Currency When using a website for personal development reasons or to recommend to a patient the information being accessed should be the most current evidence available that has been proven in practice. In regards to the advice provided on the website RC Psych (2012 e) states that they endeavour to update it every two to three years. This is reflected in the articles by showing the date the information was last updated and the date it will be reviewed in the future. Additionally RC Psych (2012 d) state that their information derives from the best evidence available at the time of writing and is updated regularly to reflect any changes in knowledge. Another way to determine the currency of information is to consider the references used to back it up (Roberts, 2010). If the sources are dated then what you are reading may not come from the most current research so there may be more up to date evidence elsewhere. The dates of the references used throughout the website are quite varied however, they do contain many recently published articles and up to date clinical guidelines so this suggests that they are committed to producing up to date information and evidence. This is seen in a leaflet on depression where RC Psyche (2012 f) cites a recently updated guideline by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2009) which looks at the treatment and management of depression in adults. The currency and credibility of the website can also be reflected in its content and therefore this should also be assessed during the evaluation process. Content As well as being credible and current the content must be assessed for its objectivity, accuracy and completeness (Roberts, 2010). The content of a website can be judged by assessing what the website aims to achieve. This could be selling a product, persuading the audience to believe in something or to provide the reader with unbiased and up to date information on a specific topic (Roberts, 2010). RC Psych (2012 a) profess that they aim to improve the lives of individuals with a mental health illness. They aim to do this by educating people through making information and advice available on their website. This would indicate that it falls under the category of providing unbiased and up to date information to the public. The articles on the website are written in the third person so prevents the author from expressing personal opinion. Furthermore the leaflets produced provide links to various other sources of information on the topic being discussed. This encourages further reading which provides a complete and balanced view preventing bias and, where treatment is recommended, allows the reader to make an informed choice (Roberts, 2010). The references used within the website are taken from well known and respected sources that provide current and acknowledged recommendations such as NICE, the Department of Health (DOH) and various field related journals. This indicates that the website seeks to provide and maintain up to date, accurate and unbiased information that concurs with information available in books and journals on the same subjects. Construction The construction of a website, for example, the layout, colours, fonts, sizes and ease of access can determine whether or not a reader believes the website is of good quality or not (Roberts, 2010). A study by Lindgaard, Fernandes and Dudek et al. (2006) found that the first 50 milliseconds that the reader is exposed to a website can cause the reader to form an opinion as to whether a website is worth using or not. On first impression, the website in question looks colourful and professional. The eye is drawn to the bolder writing that states the websites purpose and there are minimal graphics to distract the reader from this. There is a lot of information on the home page of the website and could be considered cluttered, however it is divided into clear sections and appears well organised, giving clear subheadings which guide the reader to their areas of interest easily. The main colour used for the website is grey and presents a professional look. It is subtle but effective in breaking up different sections of the website without being obtrusive. The font size is varied throughout but mainly of a larger size making the website easy to read. There is no option for the reader to change the font sizing or colour which could cause some difficulty as it is not possible to suit everyone with one font size, style and colour (Roberts, 2010). As this is a registered charitable organisation it would be unfair to expect them not to promote money making offers. There are two links to buy books that are published by the royal college of psychiatrists and an option to support them in future development projects. They have presented these links as the last things you would come across on the website. Because of where they are situated it comes across to the reader that they are more interested in providing free and accessible information to educate the pubic over making money. Clarity Clarity is another important area to consider when evaluating a website. Due to our continually growing multi-cultural society it is important that websites cater for all groups in society and not just the English readers. One part of the website caters for professionals working in psychiatry and another to the public wanting to learn more about mental illness. Both sections are presented and written in a way that is understandable to the general public. In the public section they offer their advice in 21 different languages in addition to visual aids using BSL sign language as well as audio pod casts and printable versions. This shows that they have made an effort to cater for diverse cultures and needs. Unfortunately it appears that they have not taken into account the needs of people with dyslexia. Approximately two million people in the UK population are affected by dyslexia of which around 35 to 40 percent experience visual disturbances when reading (Dyslexia Action, 2012). The British Dyslexia Association, (2012) states that the reading ability of an individual with dyslexia can be negatively affected by bright white backgrounds and the use of too much text. By changing the background to an off white colour and spreading out the information over larger areas this would cater for yet another group in society. Conclusion Having the ability to access health information via the internet has given nurses the capacity to constantly improve their knowledge base and skills knowing that they are delivering the best possible care derived from the best available evidence. The RC Psych website not only offers nurses a place to go and build on their knowledge and skills but it also provides them with a safe, reliable and easily accessible knowledge base that they can confidently refer their patients to. The evaluation of this website has shown that the website contains quality, reliable evidence and could be recommended to anyone interested in the field of mental illness. In addition to this the use of the five C’s evaluation tool has provided a great foundation to the development of evaluating skills. It has given an opportunity to discover that the evidence being accessed is suitable for developing personal practice and to help educate patients and is accepted within the NMC code of conduct (Roberts, 2 010).

Surrealism - The Movement and Artists Who Defied Logic

Surrealism - The Movement and Artists Who Defied Logic Surrealism defies logic. Dreams and the workings of the subconscious mind inspire art filled with strange images and bizarre juxtapositions. Creative thinkers have always toyed with reality, but in the early 20th century Surrealism emerged as a philosophic and cultural movement. Fueled by the teachings of Freud and the rebellious work of Dada artists and poets, surrealists like Salvador Dalà ­, Renà © Magritte, and Max Ernst promoted free association and dream imagery. Visual artists, poets, playwrights, composers, and film-makers looked for ways to liberate the psyche and tap hidden reservoirs of creativity. Features of Surrealistic Art Dream-like scenes and symbolic imagesUnexpected, illogical juxtapositionsBizarre assemblages of ordinary objectsAutomatism and a spirit of spontaneityGames and techniques to create random effectsPersonal iconographyVisual puns  Distorted figures and biomorphic shapesUninhibited sexuality and taboo subjectsPrimitive or child-like designs How Surrealism Became a Cultural Movement Art from the distant past can appear surreal to the modern eye. Dragons and demons populate ancient frescos and medieval triptychs. Italian Renaissance painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo  (1527–1593) used trompe l’oeil effects   to depict human faces made of fruit, flowers, insects, or fish. The Netherlandish artist Hieronymus Bosch  (c. 1450-1516) turned barnyard animals and household objects into terrifying monsters. Did Salvador Dalà ­ model his strange rock after an image by Hieronymus Bosch? Left: Detail from The Garden of Earthly Delights, 1503-1504, by Hieronymus Bosch. Right: Detail from The Great Masturbator, 1929, by Salvador Dalà ­. Credit: Leemage/Corbis and Bertrand Rindoff Petroff via Getty Images Twentieth-century surrealists praised The Garden of Earthly Delights and called Bosch their predecessor. Surrealist artist Salvador Dalà ­ may have imitated Bosch when he painted the odd, face-shaped rock formation in his shockingly erotic masterpiece, The Great Masturbator. However, the creepy images Bosch painted are not surrealist in the modern sense. It’s likely that Bosch aimed to teach Biblical lessons rather than to explore dark corners of his psyche. Similarly, Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s delightfully complex and freakish portraits were visual puzzles designed to amuse rather than to probe the unconscious. Although they look surreal, paintings by early artists reflected deliberate thought and conventions of their time. In contrast, 20th-century surrealists rebelled against convention, moral codes, and the inhibitions of the conscious mind.The movement emerged from Dada, an avant-garde approach to art that mocked the establishment. Marxist ideas sparked a disdain for Capitalist society and a thirst for social rebellion. The writings of Sigmund Freud suggested that higher forms of truth might be found in the subconscious. Moreover, the chaos and tragedy of World War I spurred a desire to break from tradition and explore new forms of expression.   In 1917, French writer and critic Guillaume Apollinaire used the term â€Å"surrà ©alisme† to describe Parade, an avant-garde ballet with music by Erik Satie, costumes and sets by Pablo Picasso, and story and choreography by other leading artists. Rival factions of young Parisians embraced surrà ©alisme and hotly debated the meaning of the term. The movement officially launched in 1924 when poet Andrà © Breton published the First Manifesto of Surrealism. Tools and Techniques of Surrealist Artists Early followers of the Surrealism movement were revolutionaries who sought to unleash human creativity. Breton opened a Bureau for Surrealist Research where members conducted interviews and assembled an archive of sociological studies and dream images. Between 1924 and 1929 they published twelve issues of La Rà ©volutionsur rà ©aliste, a journal of militant treatises, suicide and crime reports, and explorations into the creative process. At first, Surrealism was mostly a literary movement. Louis Aragon (1897–1982), Paul Éluard (1895–1952), and other poets experimented with automatic writing, or automatism, to free their imaginations. Surrealist writers also found inspiration in cut-up, collage, and other types of found poetry. Visual artists in the Surrealism movement relied on drawing games and a variety of experimental techniques to randomize the creative process. For example, in a method known as decalcomania, artists splashed paint on to paper, then rubbed the surface to create patterns. Similarly, bulletism  involved shooting ink onto a surface, and à ©claboussure involved spattering liquid onto a painted surface that was then sponged. Odd and often humorous assemblages of found objects became a popular way to create juxtapositions that challenged preconceptions. A devout Marxist, Andrà © Breton believed that art springs from a collective spirit. Surrealist artists often worked on projects together.The October 1927 issue of La Rà ©volution surrà ©aliste featured works generated from a collaborative activity called Cadavre Exquis, or Exquisite Corpse. Participants took turns writing or drawing on a sheet of paper. Since no one knew what already existed on the page, the final outcome was a surprising and  absurd composite. Surrealist Art Styles Visual artists in the Surrealism movement were a diverse group. Early works by European surrealists often followed the Dada tradition of turning familiar objects into satirical and nonsensical artworks. As the Surrealism movement evolved, artists developed new systems and techniques for exploring the irrational world of the subconscious mind. Two trends emerged:  Biomorphic (or, abstract)  and Figurative. Giorgio de Chirico. From the Metaphysical Town Square Series, ca. 1912. Oil on canvas. Dea / M. Carrieri via Getty Images Figurative surrealists produced recognizable representational art. Many of the figurative surrealists were profoundly influenced by Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978), an Italian painter who founded the  Metafisica, or Metaphysical, movement. They praised the dreamlike quality of de Chiricos deserted town squares with rows of arches, distant trains, and ghostly figures. Like de Chirico, figurative surrealists used techniques of realism to render startling, hallucinatory scenes. Biomorphic (abstract) surrealists wanted to break entirely free from convention. They explored new media and created abstract works composed of undefined, often unrecognizable, shapes and symbols. Surrealism exhibits held in Europe during the 1920s and early 1930s featured both figurative and biomorphic styles, as well as works that might be classified as Dadaist. Great Surrealist Artists in Europe Jean Arp:  Born in Strassburg, Jean Arp (1886-1966) was a Dada pioneer who wrote poetry and experimented with a variety of visual mediums such as torn paper and wooden relief constructions. His interest in organic forms and spontaneous expression aligned with surrealist philosophy. Arp exhibited with Surrealist artists in Paris and became best known for fluid, biomorphic sculptures such as Tà ªte et coquille (Head and Shell). During the 1930s, Arp transitioned to a non-prescriptive style he called Abstraction-Crà ©ation. Salvador Dalà ­:  Spanish Catalan artist Salvador Dalà ­ (1904-1989) was embraced by the Surrealism movement in the late 1920s only to be expelled in 1934. Nevertheless, Dalà ­ acquired international fame as an innovator who embodied the spirit of Surrealism, both in his art and in his flamboyant and irreverent behavior. Dalà ­ conducted widely-publicized dream experiments in which he reclined in bed or in a bathtub while sketching his visions. He claimed that the melting watches in his famous painting, The Persistence of Memory, came from self-induced hallucinations. Paul Delvaux:  Inspired by the works of Giorgio de Chirico, Belgian artist Paul Delvaux (1897-1994) became associated with Surrealism when he painted illusionary scenes of semi-nude women sleep-walking through classical ruins. In L’aurore (The Break of Day), for example, women with tree-like legs stand rooted as mysterious figures move beneath distant arches overgrown with vines. Max Ernst:  A German artist of many genres,  Max Ernst (1891-1976) rose from the Dada movement to become one of the earliest and most ardent surrealists. He experimented with automatic drawing, collages, cut-ups, frottage (pencil rubbings), and other techniques to achieve unexpected juxtapositions and visual puns. His 1921 painting Celebes places a headless woman with a beast that is part machine, part elephant. The title of the painting is from a German nursery rhyme. Alberto Giacometti: Sculptures by the Swiss-born surrealist Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966) look like toys or primitive artifacts, but they make disturbing references to trauma and sexual obsessions. Femme à ©gorgà ©e (Woman with Her Throat Cut) distorts anatomical parts to create a form that is both horrific and playful. Giacometti departed from Surrealism in the late 1930s and became known for figurative representations of elongated human forms. Paul Klee. Music at the fair, 1924-26. De Agostini / G. Dagli Orti via Getty Images Paul Klee: German-Swiss artist Paul Klee (1879-1940) came from a musical family, and he filled his paintings with a personal iconography of musical notes and playful symbols. His work is most closely associated with Expressionism and Bauhaus. However, members of the Surrealism movement admired Klee’s use of automatic drawings to generate uninhibited paintings like Music at the Fair, and Klee was included in surrealist exhibitions.  Ã‚   Renà © Magritte. The Menaced Assassin, 1927. Oil on canvas. 150.4 x 195.2 cm (59.2 Ãâ€" 76.9 in). Colin McPherson via Getty Images Renà ©Ã‚  Magritte: The Surrealism movement was already well-underway when Belgian artist Renà © Magritte (1898-1967) moved to Paris and joined the founders. He became known for realistic renderings of hallucinatory scenes, disturbing juxtapositions, and visual puns. The Menaced Assassin, for example, puts placid men wearing suits and bowler hats in the midst of a gruesome pulp novel crime scene. Andrà © Masson: Injured and traumatized during World War I, Andrà © Masson  (1896-1987) became an early follower of the Surrealism movement and an enthusiastic proponent of  automatic drawing. He experimented with drugs, skipped sleep, and refused food to weaken his conscious control over the motions of his pen. Seeking spontaneity, Masson also threw glue and sand at canvases and painted the shapes that formed. Although Masson eventually returned to more traditional styles, his experiments led to new, expressive approaches to art. Joan Mirà ³. Femme et oiseaux (Woman and Birds), 1940, #8 from Mirà ³Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Constellations series. Oil wash and gouache on paper. 38 x 46 cm (14.9 x 18.1 in). Credit: Tristan Fewings via Getty Images Joan Mirà ³: Painter, print-maker, collage artist, and sculptor Joan Mirà ³ (1893-1983) created brightly colored, biomorphic shapes that seemed to bubble up from the imagination. Mirà ³ used doodling and automatic drawing to spark his creativity, but his works were carefully composed. He exhibited with the surrealist group and many of his works show the influence of the movement. Femme et oiseaux (Woman and Birds) from Mirà ³Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Constellations series suggests a personal iconography that is both recognizable and strange. Meret Oppenheim: Among the many works by Mà ©ret Elisabeth Oppenheim (1913-1985), were assemblages so outrageous, the European surrealists welcomed her into their all-male community. Oppenheim grew up in a family of Swiss psychoanalysts and she followed the teachings of Carl Jung. Her notorious Object in Fur (also known as Luncheon in Fur) merged a beast (the fur) with a symbol of civilization (a tea cup). The unsettling hybrid became known as the epitome of Surrealism.   Pablo Picasso: When the Surrealism movement launched, Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), was already lauded as a forefather of Cubism. Picasso’s Cubist paintings and sculptures were not derived from dreams and he only skirted the edges of the Surrealism movement. Nevertheless, his work  expressed a spontaneity that aligned with surrealist ideology. Picasso exhibited with surrealist artists and had works reproduced in  La Rà ©volution surrà ©aliste. His interest in iconography and primitive forms led to a series of increasingly surrealistic paintings. For example, On the Beach (1937) places distorted human forms in a dream-like setting. Picasso also wrote surrealistic poetry composed of fragmented images separated by dashes. Here’s an excerpt from a poem that Picasso wrote in November 1935: when the bull–opens the gateway of the horse’s belly–with his horn–and sticks his snout out to the edge–listen in the deepest of all deepest holds–and with saint lucy’s eyes–to the sounds of moving vans–tight packed with picadors on ponies–cast off by a black horse Man Ray. Rayograph,1922. Gelatin silver print (photogram). 22.5 x 17.3 cm (8.8 x 6.8 in). Historical Picture Archive via Getty Images Man Ray: Born in the United States, Emmanuel Radnitzky (1890-1976) was the son of a tailor and a seamstress. The family adopted the name â€Å"Ray† to hide their Jewish identity during an era of intense anti-Semitism.  In 1921, â€Å"Man Ray† moved to Paris, where he became important in the Dada and surrealist movements.Working in a variety of media, he explored ambiguous identities and random outcomes. His rayographs were eerie images created by  placing objects directly onto photographic paper. Man Ray. Indestructible Object (or Object to Be Destroyed), Oversized reproduction of 1923 original. Exhibition at Prado Museum, Madrid. Atlantide Phototravel via Getty Images Man Ray was also noted for bizarre three-dimensional assemblages such as Object to Be Destroyed, which juxtaposed a metronome with a photograph of a woman’s eye. Ironically, the original Object to Be Destroyed was lost during an exhibition. Yves Tanguy: Still in his teens when the word surrà ©alisme  emerged, French-born artist Yves Tanguy (1900-1955) taught himself to paint the hallucinatory geological formations that made him an icon of the Surrealism movement. Dreamscapes like Le soleil dans son à ©crin (The Sun in Its Jewel Case) illustrate Tanguy’s fascination for primordial forms. Realistically rendered, many of Tanguy’s paintings were inspired by his travels in Africa and the American Southwest. Surrealists in the Americas Surrealism as an art style far outlived the cultural movement that Andrà © Breton founded. The passionate poet and rebel was quick to expel members from the group if they didn’t share his left-wing views. In 1930, Breton published a Second Manifesto of Surrealism, which riled against the forces of materialism and condemned artists who didn’t embrace collectivism. Surrealists formed new alliances. As World War II loomed, many headed to the United States. The prominent American collector Peggy Guggenheim (1898-1979) exhibited surrealists, including Salvador Dalà ­, Yves Tanguy, and her own husband, Max Ernst. Andrà © Breton continued to write and promote his ideals until his death in 1966, but by then Marxist and Freudian dogma had faded from Surrealistic art. An impulse for self-expression and freedom from the constraints of the rational world led painters like Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) and Arshile Gorky (1904-1948) to Abstract Expressionism. Louise Bourgeois. Maman (Mother), 1999. Stainless steel, bronze, and marble. 9271 x 8915 x 10236 mm (about 33 feet high). On exhibit at the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. Nick Ledger / Getty Images Meanwhile, several leading women artists reinvented Surrealism in the United States. Kay Sage (1898-1963) painted surreal scenes of large architectural structures. Dorothea Tanning (1910-2012) won acclaim for photorealistic paintings of surreal images. French-American sculptor Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) incorporated archetypes and sexual themes into highly personal works and monumental sculptures of spiders. Frida Kahlo. Self-Portrait as a Tehuana (Diego on My Mind), 1943. (Cropped) Oil on Masonite. Gelman Collection, Mexico City. Roberto Serra - Iguana Press / Getty Images In Latin America, Surrealism mingled with cultural symbols, primitivism, and myth. Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) denied that she was a surrealist, telling Time magazine,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.† Nevertheless, Frida Kahlos psychological self-portraits possess the other-worldly characteristics of surrealistic art and Magic Realism. The Brazilian painter Tarsila do Amaral (1886-1973) was midwife to a unique national style composed of biomorphic forms, distorted human bodies, and cultural iconography. Steeped in symbolism, Tarsila do Amaral’s paintings might be loosely described as surrealistic. However the dreams they express are those of an entire nation. Like Kahlo, she developed a singular style apart from the European movement. Although Surrealism no longer exists as a formal movement, contemporary artists continue to explore dream imagery, free-association, and the possibilities of chance. Sources Breton, Andrà ©. First Manifesto of Surrealism, 1924.  A. S. Kline, translator. Poets of Modernity, 2010. http://poetsofmodernity.xyz/POMBR/French/Manifesto.htmCaws, Mary Ann, editor. Surrealist Painters and Poets: An Anthology. The MIT Press; Reprint edition, 9 Sept 2002Greet, Michele. â€Å"Devouring Surrealism: Tarsila do Amaral’s Abaporu.†Papers of Surrealism, Issue 11, Spring 2015. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/63517395/surrealism_issue_11.pdfGolding, John. â€Å"Picasso and Surrealism† in Picasso in Retrospect. Harper Row; Icon ed edition (1980)  https://www.bu.edu/av/ah/spring2010/ah895r1/golding.pdfHopkins, David, ed. A Companion to Dada and Surrealism. John Wiley Sons,  19 Feb 2016Jones, Jonathan.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Its time to give Joan Mirà ³ his due again.†Ã‚  The Guardian.  29 Dec 2010.  Ã‚  https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2010/dec/29/joan-miro-surrealism-tate-modernâ€Å"Paris: The Heart of Surrealism.† Matteson Art.  25 March 2009 mattesonart.com/paris-the-heart-of-surrealism.aspx La Rà ©volution surrà ©aliste [The Surrealist Revolution], 1924-1929. Journal Archive.  Ã‚  Ã‚  https://monoskop.org/La_R%C3%A9volution_surr%C3%A9alisteMann, Jon. â€Å"How the Surrealistic Movement Shaped the Course of Art History.†Ã‚  Artsy.net. 23 Sept  2016  Ã‚  https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-what-is-surrealism MoMA Learning. â€Å"Surrealism.†Ã‚  https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/surrealismâ€Å"Paris: The Heart of Surrealism.† Matteson Art.  25 March 2009 mattesonart.com/paris-the-heart-of-surrealism.aspxâ€Å"Paul Klee and the Surrealists.† Kunstmuseum Bern - Zentrum Paul Klee  https://www.zpk.org/en/exhibitions/review_0/2016/paul-klee-and-the-surrealists-1253.htmlRothenberg, Jerome Rothenberg and Pierre Joris, eds.  A Picasso Sampler: Excerpts from:  The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, Other Poems  (PDF) ubu.com/historical/picasso/picasso_sampler.pdfSooke, Alastair. â€Å"The Ultimate Vision of Hell.â €  The State of the Art, BBC. 19 February 2016  bbc.com/culture/story/20160219-the-ultimate-images-of-hell Surrealism Period. Pablo Picasso.net  pablopicasso.net/surrealism-period/Surrealist Art. Centre Pompidou Educational Dossiers. Aug  2007  http://mediation.centrepompidou.fr/education/ressources/ENS-surrealistart-EN/ENS-surrealistart-EN.htm#origins

Free Essays on UFOs

Argument: UFO’s The phenomenon UFO constitutes one of the topics more disputed of our times. Since in 1947 they were sighted for the first time by the civil pilot Kenneth Arnold near the mount Rainer, there are many persons of the entire world that assure to have seen UFO’s. There are people who declare to have seen them during the day, while others speak about the presence of strange lights in the midnight. Some they assure to have witnessed the landing of extraterrestrial ships and others, declare that they have been interviewed by extraterrestrials or that have been abdicated and carried on board of a ship in which they were submitted to rigorous scientific investigations. The public interest that awoke the UFO phenomenon prompted to the Air Force of the United States to undertake an exhaustive investigation directed by a special committee of the Columbia University. The conclusion to which the investigators arrived was negative, since they attributed the majority of the sightings to mental disorders or to "erroneous interpretations" of easily understandable phenomenon, for example, meteorological globes, meteorites, bands of birds or unusual reflections. But this investigation did not satisfy the public neither the most rigorous investigators. The report of the government affirmed that its main objective was to prevent the panic before the possibility of an extraterrestrial visit. On the other hand, there are documents that show that the Air Force diffused the rumor of the UFO’s to conceal the accidents of their own secret experimental ships. Though it is possible that many sightings are simple frauds, erroneous perceptions of natural phenomenon or screens that intend to hide you determined secret investigations, the certain thing nevertheless, is that numerous intelligent, mentally stable and even expert observers continue seeing them. Sufficient reports around this theme exist as to convince us that the deb... Free Essays on UFOs Free Essays on UFOs Argument: UFO’s The phenomenon UFO constitutes one of the topics more disputed of our times. Since in 1947 they were sighted for the first time by the civil pilot Kenneth Arnold near the mount Rainer, there are many persons of the entire world that assure to have seen UFO’s. There are people who declare to have seen them during the day, while others speak about the presence of strange lights in the midnight. Some they assure to have witnessed the landing of extraterrestrial ships and others, declare that they have been interviewed by extraterrestrials or that have been abdicated and carried on board of a ship in which they were submitted to rigorous scientific investigations. The public interest that awoke the UFO phenomenon prompted to the Air Force of the United States to undertake an exhaustive investigation directed by a special committee of the Columbia University. The conclusion to which the investigators arrived was negative, since they attributed the majority of the sightings to mental disorders or to "erroneous interpretations" of easily understandable phenomenon, for example, meteorological globes, meteorites, bands of birds or unusual reflections. But this investigation did not satisfy the public neither the most rigorous investigators. The report of the government affirmed that its main objective was to prevent the panic before the possibility of an extraterrestrial visit. On the other hand, there are documents that show that the Air Force diffused the rumor of the UFO’s to conceal the accidents of their own secret experimental ships. Though it is possible that many sightings are simple frauds, erroneous perceptions of natural phenomenon or screens that intend to hide you determined secret investigations, the certain thing nevertheless, is that numerous intelligent, mentally stable and even expert observers continue seeing them. Sufficient reports around this theme exist as to convince us that the deb...

Aardvark Fast Facts

Aardvark Fast Facts Aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) are known by several common names including antbears and anteaters; they are native to sub-Saharan Africa. The name aardvark is Afrikaans  (a daughter language of Dutch) for earth pig. Despite these common names, aardvarks are not closely related to bears, pigs, or anteaters. Instead, they occupy their own distinct order: Tubulidentata. Fast Facts: Aardvark Scientific Name: Orycteropus aferCommon Names: Aardvark, antbear, anteater, Cape anteaters, earth pigBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: Up to 6.5 feet long, 2 feet at shoulder heightWeight: 110–175 poundsLifespan: 10 yearsDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat: Sub-saharan AfricaPopulation: Not quantifiedConservation Status: Least Concern Description Aardvarks are medium-sized mammals (weighing 110–175 pounds and up to 6.5 feet long) with a bulky body, arched back, medium-length legs, long ears (resembling those of a donkey), a long snout, and a thick tail. They have a sparse coat of coarse grayish brown fur covering their body. Aardvarks have four toes on their front feet and five toes on their rear feet. Each toe has a flat, sturdy nail that they use for digging burrows and tearing into insect nests in search of food. Aardvarks have very thick skin which provides them protection from insect bites and even the bites of predators. Their teeth lack enamel and, as a result, wear down and must regrow continuously- the teeth are tubular and hexagonal in cross-section. Aardvarks have small eyes and their retina only contains rods (this means they are color-blind). Like many nocturnal animals, aardvarks have a keen sense of smell and very good hearing. Their front claws are especially robust, enabling them to dig burrows and break open termite nests with ease. Their long, serpentine tongue (10–12 inches) is sticky and can gather up ants and termites with great efficiency. The classification of the aardvark was controversial at one time. Aardvarks were formerly classified in the same group as  armadillos, sloths, and anteaters. Today, genetic studies have shown that the aardvark is classified in the order called the Tubulidentata (tube-toothed), and the family Orycteropodidae: They are the only animal in either order or family. Shongololo90/Getty Images   Habitat and Range Aardvarks inhabit a variety of habitats including savannas, shrublands, grasslands, and woodlands. Although they once lived in Europe and Asia, today their range extends throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, every ecosystem except marshes, deserts, and very rock terrains. Bridgena_Barnard/Getty Images   Diet and Behavior Aardvarks forage at night, covering extensive distances (as much as 6 miles per night) in search of food. To find food, they swing their noses from side to side over the ground, trying to detect their prey by scent. They feed almost exclusively on termites and ants and can consume up to 50,000 insects in a single night. They occasionally supplement their diet by feeding on other insects, plant material or the occasional small mammal. Solitary, nocturnal mammals, aardvarks spend the daylight hours safely tucked away inside their borrows and emerge to feed during the late afternoon or early evening. Aardvarks are extraordinarily fast diggers and can excavate a hole 2 feet deep in less than 30 seconds. The main predators of aardvarks include lions, leopards, and pythons. Aardvarks dig three types of burrows in their ranges: relatively shallow foraging burrows, larger temporary shelters to hide from predators and more complex burrows for permanent residence. They share their permanent residences with other creatures but not other aardvarks. Investigation of the residential burrows has shown that compared to the surrounding soil, soil inside the burrow is cooler (between 4 and 18 degrees F cooler depending on the time of day), and moister. The differences remained the same no matter how old the burrow was, leading researchers to name the aardvark an ecological engineer. Reproduction and Offspring Aardvarks reproduce sexually and form pairs only for a short time during the breeding season. Females give birth to one or rarely two cubs after a gestation period of 7–8 months. In northern Africa, Aardvarks give birth from October to November; in the south, from May and July. The young are born with their eyes open. The mother nurses the young until they are 3 months old when they start eating insects. They become independent of their mothers at six months and venture off to find their own territory. Aardvarks become sexually mature at two to three years of age and have lifespans in the wild of about 18 years. Evolutionary History Aardvarks are considered to be living fossils due to their ancient, highly conserved genetic make-up. Scientists believe that todays aardvarks represent one of the most ancient lineages among the placental mammals (Eutheria). Aardvarks are considered to be a primitive form of hoofed mammal, not because of any obvious similarities but instead due to subtle characteristics of their brain, teeth, and musculature. The closest living relatives to the aardvarks include  elephants, hyraxes,  dugongs, manatees, elephant shrews, golden moles, and tenrecs. Together, these mammals form a group known as the Afrotheria. Conservation Status Aardvarks once existed in Europe and Asia but are now only found in sub-Saharan Africa. Their populations are unknown but they are classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and not listed as threatened at all by the ECOS Environmental Conservation Online System. Major identified threats to the aardvark are habitat loss through agriculture, and human and trapping for bush meat. The skin, claws, and teeth are used to make bracelets, charms and curious and some medicinal purposes.  Ã‚   Sources Buss, Peter E., and Leith C. R. Meyer. Chapter 52: Tubulidentata (Aardvark). Fowlers Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Volume 8. Eds. Miller, R. Eric and Murray E. Fowler. St. Louis: W.B. Saunders, 2015. 514–16. Print.Gozdziewska-Harlajczuk, Karolina, Joanna Kleckowska-Nawrot, and Karolina Barszcz. Macroscopic and Microscopic Study of the Tongue of the Aardvark (Orycteropus Afer, Orycteropodidae). Tissue and Cell 54 (2018): 127–38. Print.Haussmann, Natalie S., et al. Ecosystem Engineering through Aardvark (Orycteropus Afer) Burrowing: Mechanisms and Effects. Ecological Engineering 118 (2018): 66–72. Print.Ratzloff, Elizabeth. Orycteropus afer (aardvark). Animal Diversity Web, 2011.  Taylor, W. A., P. A. Lindsey, and J. D. Skinner. The Feeding Ecology of the Aardvark Orycteropus Afer. Journal of Arid Environments 50.1 (2002): 135–52. Print.Taylor, A. and T. Lehmann. Orycteropus afer. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T41504A21286437, 2015.

Migration and Folk Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Migration and Folk Culture - Essay Example An environmental push factor that constitutes a reason to migrate for me would be the creation of a dump site in or around my location of residence. Dump sites are highly toxic and I would have to relocate to an environment that meets my preferences. Contrary to migration push factors are pull factors (Rubenstein 297). Economically, a better job or pay would constitute a significant reason for me to migrate. A social factor in the same regard would be cultural diversity. I would like to move in a culturally rich place where every single culture is appreciated regardless of its origin. An environmental factor in the same line would be a chance to live in a place that highly seeks to address global warming and climate change in general. That is, a place that would go beyond all odds to make a difference in addressing climate changes. A personal habit that I follow that does not necessarily constitute a popular culture is dressing in the view that I dress like an American. Dressing is not necessarily a custom or culture, but it has encompassed my personal habits in more or less the two aspects. The origin of this habit is America. A custom that I follow is associating the old people with wisdom. Old people may not necessarily be wise, although I have become accustomed to that. Various communities in the world can be associated with this custom although it is not popularly practiced. I also follow the culture of rushing against time. Time is a valuable resource especially in the Western countries, a scenario that does not bypass my attention and practice. Europe and America can be regarded as the origin of this rushing and time keeping

Advocacy Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Advocacy Speech - Essay Example This therefore begs the question, what is mental illness? This is a disorder that affects one’s mood, thinking and behaviour. Examples of mental illnesses include depression, schizophrenia, addictive traits and eating disorders. Mental disorder can be observed when someone starts to constantly feel sad or down, sex drive changes, extreme anger, drug and alcohol abuse, withdrawal from daily activities, detachment from reality, change in eating habits, low energy levels, and worst of all suicidal thoughts. Traumatic experiences, medical conditions such as cancer, stressful situations, unhealthy relationships and previous mental illness could be a trigger. One in four adults suffers from mental illness and about half of American adults develop this disorder at some point in their lives. Seventy five percent of the people affected globally come from low-income countries and fourteen percent of the global burden is attributed to mental illness. Is there a cure? Most people might question themselves. Several treatment remedies have been introduced and are rarely referred to as cures. Medications mainly applied by psychiatrists include mood-stabilizing medications, anti-anxiety medications, anti-depressants and anti-psychotic medications. Psychotherapy and brain-stimulation treatments are oftenly applied and residential and hospital programmes are sometimes provided. It is hard to prevent mental illness, though it’s important to take good care of oneself, check out for warning signs, have routine medical care and most importantly get help when necessary. In the most severe cases, mental illness could require guidance of a loved one or a doctor until they are able to participate in decision-making. Depending on the symptoms, there could be personal preferences, and this can be put into consideration by the affected person, working along with his or her health care provider. This said, time has therefore come for mental illness

Drug Behavior and Blood Brain Barrier Permeability Essay

Drug Behavior and Blood Brain Barrier Permeability - Essay Example Adolescent's innovation and curiosity can be transformed in dependence and addiction. Substance abuse is a maladaptive pattern leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. Several illicit substances produce dependence, defined as substance abuse that leads to loss of control, monopolization of time by substance use, and adverse medical, social, or emotional consequences that include tolerance and withdrawal (Gonzalez-Mayo, et al., 2005). There is a continued use in spite of knowing the problems that it causes. The mesolimbic dopamine system, particularly the nucleus accumbens, is a critical reinforcing site for drug addiction; this same pathway is believed to control drug craving and seeking behavior. It was recently proposed that addiction is a disease of learning and memory; classical conditioning describes learning in which a natural response is elicited by a conditioned, or learned, stimulus that previously was presented in conjunction with an unconditioned stimulus. Some evidence suggests that the mechanisms involved in the acute stimulant effects of cocaine and other illicit psychostimulants may be similar to the underlying features that explain chronic effects and addiction. The studies conducted in mice have allowed researchers to disclose important data regarding addiction pathways and neurotransmitter input. In humans, cocaine acute intoxication ca... On the other hand, ethanol intoxication causes disinhibition, emotional lability, slurred speech, ataxia, coma, and blackouts. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances, and causes restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, and arrhythmias. Boudreau & Wolf (2005) define sensitization as "the augmentation of behavioral responses to drugs of abuse that occurs during their repeated administration and persists long after drug exposure is discontinued". The study conducted by Bainton, et al. is based on behavioral sensitization and the similarities between the addiction pathways of mammals and flies. By analyzing genetic features of Drosophila, the authors show that the behavioral defects observed in the mutant strains are not caused by accessibility changes of the administered drugs, but from alterations in the blood brain barrier, by means of changes in nervous system function. The Experimental Fly Since 1900, Drosophila flies have been used for genetic experiments. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is highly accessible to genetic analyses, and has been introduced as a novel model organism to help interpret the complex foundation of drug-induced behaviors (Heberlein, 2008). In this study, flies were maintained on special agars and mutants where screened for drug sensitivity. First, researchers evaluated several fly strains that carried a mutation named EP1529, and found an increased sensitivity to both cocaine and nicotine exposures; excision of the mutation restored drug sensitivity in these flies. Additionally, the altered gene was identified as moody, which encode for a G protein-coupled receptor. In both larvae and adult flies,

Ebusiness Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ebusiness - Research Paper Example II. Competitor assessment The nearest competitor of the business is Dell Computers that also allow customization of personal computers to some extent. Dell Computers however rely too much on its own brand and suppliers that charge premium prices which is its disadvantage. This is where the business will position against Dell Computers to gain market share. The company will customize computers at a much lower cost because the parts that will make up the assembled computers will be coming from different suppliers affording customers greater latitude in terms specification and price. Other popular brands that sells online are also competitors but serves a different niche of customers who are not into customization of budget computers and such, not direct competitors. The traditional brick and mortar computer stores are also competitors only that the company can readily beat them in terms of price due to company’s lower overhead cost. III. Online marketing strategy The best way to gain market share is to differentiate from other competitors and serve a particular niche. In case of the proposed company, the product will cater to two types of customer. First, the technical users who would like to customize the performance of their computers. Second, the budget conscious users or business that are looking for ways on how to save on their computer purchase To be able to reach this target customers, the company must be able attract their attention. This can be done in several ways. First, the company can post ads in technical websites such as PC magazine, or even business websites such as The Economist where a link in such sites can land to the company’s homepage. It can also advertise with Google and even Amazon. Initially, it may suffice that the target customers has been informed of the company’s presence. But succeding marketing efforts should translate these product awareness into sales. Second, the company can sponsor popular blogs for review of certain computer parts that would lead the customers to visit the company’s website in their effort to know more about the product. If they are interested with the particular product, they can order it right there and then increasing the company’s sales. The company can also offer free online publication to those who would visit and register in the website to keep in touch with these potential customers. IV. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Strategy There are several methods to optimize SEO for the site that would increase traffic and eventually to an increased sales. First, key words that is best associated with the company such as customized computers, computers, pc etch that would link popular search engines such as google, yahoo, bing etch to the site due to the usage of spiders that associate certain words to certain website. V. Social media integration Social media integration is now a need for business especially for online businesses where it has to make its presence felt by the customers. It also serves as a free advertisement of the company and can be taken as an extension of its official website where customers can inquire or look for information. Facebook would be an ideal venue because of its universal appeal. Twitter can be used for short

Lowering Drinking Age from 21 to 18 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lowering Drinking Age from 21 to 18 - Essay Example This proposal essay takes a look at the legal age of drinking and why it should be rolled back to 18 years of age. It also pinpoints the essential changes that need to be made within the legislation as well as tackles problems in a head on fashion. There are chances which will crop up every now and then which will make the above-mentioned proposal sound illogical and insane yet the outcome is for the betterment of one and all, and especially the youth of present times. After all, they know what is good for them and how they can amend their lives in essence with the time and spirit of the present epoch. In the times much like today, people look at their lives in the form of an open canvas – waiting to throw paints on their personalities. Same is the case which holds true for drinking where they suggest and indeed I am of the view that it should be allowed at the age of 18 years because at this age, a person gets mature enough to distinguish the good and the bad for his own self . Tamura (1992) asks the question regarding lowering the drinking age since there have been amendments in the legislative processes of different countries from time to time. What this highlights is the fact that legislation under such domains is a significant impediment in the wake of lowering drinking prohibitions. The legal age is just a yardstick of measuring one’s age at the end of the day. It does not give any idea about a teenager’s mental and physical maturity. What it presents to one and all is a mere age dynamic.

Ebusiness Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ebusiness - Research Paper Example II. Competitor assessment The nearest competitor of the business is Dell Computers that also allow customization of personal computers to some extent. Dell Computers however rely too much on its own brand and suppliers that charge premium prices which is its disadvantage. This is where the business will position against Dell Computers to gain market share. The company will customize computers at a much lower cost because the parts that will make up the assembled computers will be coming from different suppliers affording customers greater latitude in terms specification and price. Other popular brands that sells online are also competitors but serves a different niche of customers who are not into customization of budget computers and such, not direct competitors. The traditional brick and mortar computer stores are also competitors only that the company can readily beat them in terms of price due to company’s lower overhead cost. III. Online marketing strategy The best way to gain market share is to differentiate from other competitors and serve a particular niche. In case of the proposed company, the product will cater to two types of customer. First, the technical users who would like to customize the performance of their computers. Second, the budget conscious users or business that are looking for ways on how to save on their computer purchase To be able to reach this target customers, the company must be able attract their attention. This can be done in several ways. First, the company can post ads in technical websites such as PC magazine, or even business websites such as The Economist where a link in such sites can land to the company’s homepage. It can also advertise with Google and even Amazon. Initially, it may suffice that the target customers has been informed of the company’s presence. But succeding marketing efforts should translate these product awareness into sales. Second, the company can sponsor popular blogs for review of certain computer parts that would lead the customers to visit the company’s website in their effort to know more about the product. If they are interested with the particular product, they can order it right there and then increasing the company’s sales. The company can also offer free online publication to those who would visit and register in the website to keep in touch with these potential customers. IV. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Strategy There are several methods to optimize SEO for the site that would increase traffic and eventually to an increased sales. First, key words that is best associated with the company such as customized computers, computers, pc etch that would link popular search engines such as google, yahoo, bing etch to the site due to the usage of spiders that associate certain words to certain website. V. Social media integration Social media integration is now a need for business especially for online businesses where it has to make its presence felt by the customers. It also serves as a free advertisement of the company and can be taken as an extension of its official website where customers can inquire or look for information. Facebook would be an ideal venue because of its universal appeal. Twitter can be used for short

Improving Participation of the Staff Meeting in a University Essay

Improving Participation of the Staff Meeting in a University - Essay Example As I noted in my earlier Action Research Project Plan, which basically became the manual for this research, Hill defines management as â€Å"getting things done through and with other people† (Hill, ibid.). As the time has elapsed between writing that plan and concluding this research, I have become even more convinced that co-operation (the â€Å"through and with other people† of Hill’s notion) is an essential behaviour if the work of our group is to prosper.It will be recalled from that project plan that I have chosen to pursue this work through the qualitative paradigm of Action Research as a practitioner- researcher. I hoped during the research to improving my own skills in facilitating meetings and to improve practice through the implementation of change in the way meetings are run in my workplace. To be a successful practitioner- researcher, I understood that I must achieve what Ritchie and Spencer (1994: 173) have called â€Å"actionable outcomes† i n order to bring about the organisational change that I seek but that I must also maintain the academic rigour of the work. I found guidance for my approach to keeping this balance in the research in the work in Argyris' (1999: 432) who has made the social scientist's dilemma of choosing between rigour and relevance central to the way in which he has adapted Lewin's Action Research heritage. He concludes that: From the action researcher's perspective, the challenge is to define and meet standards of appropriate rigor without sacrificing relevance. (Italics in the original) Thus in mid November 2005 I began, with some confidence, to apply the wide range of data gathering techniques (including, collection of documentary evidence, observation, questionnaire, group discussion and analysis of my own reflective research journal) that I had planned earlier. I expected to do this within a highly practitioner centred approach that ensured academic appropriateness, rigour and relevance within the research as a whole. 2. An account of the situation and action to improve it I began the research by applying the data gathering methods that had been foreseen in the Action Research Project Plan. In this section I will report on the usage of these methods and demonstrate how they helped in the data collection process. Whilst each of these tools was used throughout the work, the emphasis and importance of each changed as the programme evolved and moved through the various cycles of the research from Reconnaissance to Review and Reflection. The programme of Reconnaissance data collection took place between the 1st November 2005 and Christmas of the same year with the data being analysed during the Christmas/New Year break. 2.1 Reflective research diary Firstly, I began to write my reflective research journal. This was quite a difficult task to maintain because although the early enthusiasm ensured that I sat down regularly at my computer I found that it was difficult to make the writing "reflective". I began to ask myself "what is it that makes this document a reflective journal and not just a diary" As a result of this difficulty I adopted an approach whereby I first wrote down a record of events and made notes of things that people had said or done during the period that I was recording. This was the diary phase of journal writing and was quite easy. I then got into the habit of going over the work and using the automatic highlighter, would colour code things that struck me as relevant to the ongoing research. It was through this routine that I developed my reflective skills and, for example, identified for myself the fact that one of my co-researchers had tendency to support

Nature & Nurture Essay Example for Free

Nature Nurture Essay Is a childs development influenced primarily by genetics and biological predisposition? Or, could the majority of influence be found in the childs environment? This nature/nurture question is possibly one of the oldest theories debated in psychology (Bee, 2004). Today, it is commonly accepted that most aspects of a childs development are a product of the interaction of both nurture and nature (Bee). Both sides of the nature/nurture argument present compelling evidence of how each factor impacts development. It is no longer a question of whether it is nature or nurture, which influence development, but more importantly in what ways, and to what extent. The Impact of Nature on Development Nature, which is also known as heredity, is the genetic code you are born with. It is passed on to you from your parents. Some examples of nature or heredity could be your height, behavior, and IQ just to name a few. The issue of nature having a great impact on a childs development can be illustrated in the studies of twins. Flanagan (2002) explored the Minnesota study in which a set of twins was raised separately. In one case, a set of identical twins was raised apart, known as the Jim twins. They did not meet until they were almost forty and had many similarities even though they were raised apart. There was no real explanation for all their similarities except that nature must play a crucial role in development. The Minnesota twin study concluded that on multiple measures of personality and temperament, occupational and leisure-time interests and social attitudes, mono-zygotic twins reared apart are about as similar as are mono-zygotic twins reared together (Flanagan). This is a prime example that nature plays a significant role in our development. Another example of nature is the study of adopted babies. Families with adopted children share the same environment, but not the same genetic code (Flanagan, 2002). The Texas Adoption Project found little similarity between adopted children and their siblings, and greater similarity between adopted children and their biological parents (Flanagan). This example also shows how important the role of nature plays on a childs development. Knowing that nature plays a role in a childs development, educators can use this to determine possible disabilities. For example, if two parents have a reading disability, it is more likely that their child may develop a reading disability as well. It gives teachers a heads up on what to look out for. This can help educators be proactive and intervene at earlier ages. The Impact of Nurture on Development The influence of a persons environment on their behavior is a very commonly accepted factor. The question is how much can the environment affect the behavior and abilities of a person. Some basic factors such as nutrition can be shown to have an important influence on the abilities of a person. It has also been demonstrated that fears, through the experiences of children, can be learned. Most importantly, some behaviors, if not learned from the environment, will never develop. Environment plays a significant role in development as humans. When considering a persons environment in influencing ability, nutrition plays an important example. In one study, a group of children were given vitamin and mineral supplements for eight months. They were given intelligence tests before and after the eight-month treatment. The result was improvements in scores as compared to another group whom we not given vitamin and mineral supplements (Nature vs. Nurture, 2001). The results suggest that environment plays a role in the intellectual ability of people. It is not an illogical leap to understand this will probably extend to physical abilities as well. Another example of environmental influences in the behavior of people comes from a study done to an infant of 11 months. The infant was subjected to a terrible noise whenever he attempted to touch a white rat in the room with him. The child later displayed fear whenever he came in contact with anything white or furry (Nature vs. Nurture, 2001). A last example of environmental influences in behavior comes from France in 1799. A boy of 12 or 13 was found running with wolves. When he was discovered he was brought back into society. He never developed as a normal human and had tremendous difficulties in society (Nature vs. Nurture, 2001). This suggests that much of what we consider human behavior is socially learned. While no one would suggest that nurture is the only factor that needs to be considered in discussing behavior, it is definitely a significant factor in how we behave as humans. By ignoring the environment, we would miss a large part of what shapes and guides us in life. In conclusion, both sides of the nature/nurture debate present evidence which supports its impact on development. Studies have shown that heredity is a major factor in developmental similarities among twins raised separately (Flanagan 2002). Studies have also shown that nutrition plays a significant role in cognitive development (Nature vs. Nurture, 2001). Most experts agree that most aspects of a childs development are a product of the interaction of both nurture and nature (Bee, 2004). Interestingly, in recent years, new technology has enabled scientists to gain a deeper understanding of the genetic component of development, increasing interest on this side of the debate (Bee). Although no longer an all or nothing issue, the extent to which nature and nurture affect development will likely be debated for years to come. References Bee, Helen (2004). Child and adolescent development (Section 1, pp. 3). Retrieved July 28, 2004, from University of Phoenix website: www. myresource. phoenix. edu Flanagan, C. (2002). Nature and nurture: why are siblings so different? Psychology Review, 8(3), 23. Retrieved July 28, 2004, from the InfoTrac Database. Nature vs. Nurture (2001). Planet Papers. Retrieved July 28, 2004, from the World Wide Web: http://www. planetpapers. com/Assets/3492. php.

Soft skills using in public universities in Malaysia

Soft skills using in public universities in Malaysia Malaysians, especially the institutes of higher learning, begin to realize the importance of soft skills after the Higher Education Ministry introduced the Soft Skills Module to all public universities in August 2006. With the emphasis on soft skills, it has then become a necessity to integrate soft skills into the undergraduate programmes. Such remedial action is taken due to the increased of graduates unemployment rate in Malaysia, as well as the rapid expand of job market through the globalization. The graduates in education play a great role in the human capital development one of the utmost crucial aspects in developing our country. The power of our human capital is highly connected with the graduates mentality and intellectual capacity. Producing graduates in education with the essential elements of soft skills would heighten the countrys capability to compete with the rest of the world. This is a must if Malaysia aims to realize the vision of the New Economic Model, the Government Transformation Programme, and the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011 2015). Indeed, institutes of higher learning around the world indisputably are working their best to mould graduates with skills that are highly regarded by employers and able to contribute to the countrys prosperity and social capital. Even more important is, the society would generally expected that besides the solid theoretical knowledge (hard skills), a quality education graduate should acquire additional soft skills. This balance is what gives one graduate competitive edge over another. The term soft skills, which can also be referred as process skills, generic attributes or transferable skills, has no single definition on a particular set of skills. The general common descriptions of these skills include communication skills, life-long learning, team work, leadership, creative and critical thinking skills. All these qualities can be obtained beyond the classroom and of course, the textbooks. Thus, book education alone will no longer suffice in building successful educators. Besides equipping themselves with knowledge, it is also important that the graduates must acquire practical skills and good values. According to Chapman (2006), Blooms Taxonomy of Educational Objectives comes with three learning domains: Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor Domains. The Cognitive Domain involves intellectual capability such as knowledge, whilst the Affective Domain involves feelings, emotions and behaviour just like attitude, and Psychomotor Domain involves manual and physical skills. Hence, the measurement of TESL undergraduates knowledge, skills, and attitude require appropriate tools, which are certainly more than just the traditional pen and paper. In Malaysian context, institutes of higher education are perceived as having a very important role in instilling soft skills to students. No doubt, it would be challenging in the attempts to offer an optimum learning environment. Still, it is crucial to get our students ready to compete with the rest in todays rapidly changing world. Students should be well-rounded academically and personally. In other words, besides knowing-what, students must know-how. Statement of the Problem The system and focus of education in Malaysia has witnessed immense changes over the past two decades. The nature of universities is changing in seeking to meet the new demands and needs of the industry from time to time. Furthermore, through the reinterpretation of the universitys purpose and role in the face of societys changing aspirations, universities have attempted to clarify the nature of the education which they offer to their students. This is crucial in order to extend their graduates potential of contribution to the society (Barnett 1990). The most evident attempt in which universities have sought to articulate their role and purpose is through the description of their graduates qualities, in another word, soft skills. The acquirement of soft skills is pivotal in terms of improving the nations development and curbing the latest issues in society, such as the increased rate of unemployment and complaints about graduates performances which are way below expectations. In 2005, the Malaysian government declared that there were 67,000 unemployed graduates, where most of them had graduated between 2000 and 2004. About 92.6% of these unemployed graduates were from public universities; in contrary, only 5.3% from private institutions. Even before the nation received this alarming news, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER 2004) had announced the results of a survey on the employability and marketability of university graduates, showing that 46.2% of public university graduates were unemployed in 2003. The reasons cited for the low unemployment prospects of public university graduates are that they are inadequately prepared for the job market, lack linguistic (English proficiency, both oral and written) (Lim and Normizan 2004; Chiam 2005; Norizan et al. 2006; EPU 2007; Marina 2007) and technical skills, plus cognitive abilities (analytical thinking, problem-solving, reasoning). Many other countries have also recognized that higher education has not met the expectations of employers (Leckey and McGuigan 1997; Bennett et al. 1999; Kember et al. 2006). The issue of graduate employability seems to be associated with the quality and relevance of programmes offered by public universities (World Bank 2007). Apparently, the formal syllabus structure of public universities has inadequate focus on the integration of soft skills in the curriculum (see also Quek 2005; Quah et al. 2009). Not only that, the teaching approaches has also been mainly didactic, where the students are so used to receive inputs rather than discovering themselves. Studies, researches and employers have suggested it is important for the public universities to incorporate additional soft skills into their curriculum (communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving). By bridging the gaps between universities and the demands of current industry, it creates opportunity for students to be exposed with workplace experience in different sectors (World Bank 2007). Purpose of the Study The main objective of this research is to examine the perspective of TESL undergraduates on the most important soft skills for professional development. Secondly, the study also aimed to investigate the TESL undergraduates perception on the soft skills developed by University of Malaya. The last purpose is to identify if difference exists in the level of importance and competency in soft skills. Significance of the Study It is crucial for the government and public universities to improve the quality and employability of graduates. This study reviews the infusion-acquisition of the soft skills in the curriculum of TESL the undergraduates perspective. Hence, it provides the society a clearer picture on the current achievement of the university in bridging the gaps between soft skills and the formal curriculum. The study would show whether the graduates that the university produced possess a right balance of diverse abilities. Besides that, this study helps to gain wider attention on the importance of soft skills among the undergraduates. They would obtain greater realization that students are now both inputs and outputs (see also Newman et al. 2004), under the broad dimension of quality in higher education. Furthermore, it also increases recognition where student learning must be enhanced beyond the mastery of content. This is important as it ensures the graduates to succeed in the local labour market. Therefore, this paper aims to shed light on the importance of soft skills as perceived by TESL undergraduates on the role and values of these skills in educating the future educators, in an attempt to understand what value they attribute to this set of skills. Research Questions The research questions for this study are as follows: 1. What are the most important soft skills as perceived by TESL undergraduates? 2. How do TESL undergraduates perceive the soft skills development by University of Malaya? 3. What is the relationship between the importance of soft skills and the levels of soft skills developed? Background Literature Review What are soft skills? There are no specific skills that are listed as soft skills; it is being defined differently around the world. In the context of Malaysia, the Malaysian Institute of Higher Learning interprets soft skills as incorporating aspects of generic skills. It includes non-academic skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and lifelong learning. The seven traits of soft skills that are introduced for the institutes of higher learning in Malaysia are communication skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, lifelong learning and information management skills, leadership, entrepreneurship skill, team work, ethnics and morals. First, from the aspect of communication, students are required to achieve fluency while conversing in Bahasa Malaysia and English language. As graduates, they should be able to express their ideas with clarity and confidence both in written and oral forms. Aside from that, they are expected to be active listeners where while providing the necessary response. Graduates should also be capable of using technology during presentations confidently (Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia 2006). The following trait, critical thinking and problem solving skills, allows graduates to reflect in a critical, creative, innovative, and analytical way. Not only that we want the graduates to obtain higher level of knowledge, we also want them to be capable in applying the knowledge. Elements that graduates must possess under this aspect are the ability to identify and analyze complex situation as well as making evaluations that are reasonable. In addition, they should have the ability to expand and improve thinking skills, to provide ideas, and alternative solutions (Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia 2006). Apart from that, the skills of team work are also being integrated to the curriculum. Such skills involve the ability to work and cooperate with people from various social and cultural backgrounds in order to accomplish a shared goal. Forming a good working relationship with the peers is essential. Graduates are inculcated with sense of respect towards others attitude, behaviour, and belief. From time to time, graduates are also expected to undertake the role of a leader and a group member interchangeably (Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia 2006). In addition to that, from the aspect of lifelong learning and information management, graduates are nurtured to acquire skills and knowledge in practicing self-directed learning independently. They should have the skills to look for relevant information from diverse sources and able to organize them efficiently. Moreover, they should be responsive to new ideas and able to develop an inquiry mind (Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia 2006). Entrepreneurship skill, also one the traits of soft skills, involves the ability to venture into business and work-related opportunities while creating risk awareness. This skill includes the ability to identify business opportunities and be able to prepare, build, and explore business plans which eventually leads to self-employment (Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia 2006). Aside from that, ethics and professional moral is significant in moulding quality graduates as well. With the above skill, graduates are able to practice high moral standards in their respective professional fields. Graduates should own the capability to understand the effects of economy, environment, and socio-cultural factors of their professional practice. In relation to ethical issues, graduates should have the capacity to analyze and make decisions in matters concerning ethics. Beyond the working environment, graduates should be able to practice good ethics while being responsible towards the society (Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia 2006). Last but not least, the Malaysian Institute of Higher Learning also seeks to develop leadership skill Leadership skill entails the ability to lead in various activities. Graduates should have the knowledge on basic leadership theories which will enable the graduates to lead a project. It is also essential that graduates are able to understand the role of a leader and a group member and be able to carry out those roles interchangeably (Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia 2006). The Pre-Employment Programme of the University Malaya Soon after the Malaysian Institute of Higher Learning has launched the Soft Skills Module for Malaysian Public Universities, in 2007, University of Malaya has introduced Pre-Employment Programme for graduates who scored below CGPA 3.0. The objective of this programme is to encourage the use of English in and beyond the classrooms setting. It is also strive to develop communication skills in English but also to motivate cooperative learning. The aims of the curriculum and activities designed for this programme are to assist students to write effective letters of application, to conduct themselves favourably at interviews, and to improve their fluency and accuracy in English. Furthermore, it aims to prepare the students to be more confident and train them as active communicators at the workplace. In the pre-employment programme, communication skills are being improved by the reading of advertisements as well as to learn and using social greetings. The graduates would practice telephone conversations, role playing, make speeches, and express their opinions and suggestions. Plus, they would learn the use of discourse markers and persuasive skills in interpersonal communication, grammar and vocabulary as well as writing cover letters and resumes. The graduates would also have to participate in public speaking and stage presentation. Apart from that, this programme promotes cooperative learning among the graduates. They are divided into small groups with different gender, ethnics and backgrounds. Being in smaller groups enables the graduates realize that each group members efforts are required and indispensable for group success; they should know everyone has a unique contribution to make. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are also learnt through the group activities. Friendly competitions are created between groups to identify the group with the best solution. Groups with the best solution and with the most critical ideas would be announced as winners. Such competition between the groups helped to develop not only the communication and negotiation skills in English, but also the inter-personal and small group skills, where social skills such as leadership skills, decision making, trust building, communication, and conflict management skills are learnt and developed as well. Teaching Practicum Teacher training or teaching practicum can assist in bridging the gap that exists between education and employment. It has become a recognized method for developing the carrier potential of students and making education more relevant (Hymon-Parker Smith, 1998). Teaching practicum presents the student with an opportunity to gain invaluable experience. Classroom learning alone is no longer sufficient to adequately prepare students for the demands of our education field. The right training can be the key to a great job success because it gives the student a change to take on real responsibilities while working side-by-side with professionals. According to Dennis (1996, as cited in Verney, Holoviak, Winter, 2009), internships can help expand upon immediate skills that can improve course performance, such as better time management and communication skills, better self-discipline, heightened initiative and an overall better self-concept. These skills cannot be properly developed if it is just from classroom learning. In University of Malaya, TESL undergraduates will have the opportunity to personally experience the real working culture during the final year for 12 weeks. Mihail (2006) asserted that job training can instill the real work values, gain direct access to job sources, impress potential employers and assist in making wise career choices, all of which can help to improve future job opportunities. Hence, in order to compete and survive in the challenging and competitive working environment, students must develop their work skills, both hard and soft through real work experience. This real work experience has been employed by the education system in developing soft skills in students. The real job setting is expected to enhance students soft skills effectively. Research also suggested that the development of any skill is best facilitated by giving students practice and not by simply talking about it or demonstrating how to do it (D.R. Woods, et al., 1997 as cited in Kamsah, 2006). A study by Cook, Parker and Pettijohn (2004) has shown that job training has improved the general ability to get along with people in work situations, increased confidence level and influenced the future career of the graduates. Furthermore, collective feedback obtained from the evaluations can also be used to revise the curriculum in order to improve student performance and meet employers needs and expectations in the future. Issues such as the lack of practical application as commented by the employers can be minimized and the students can develop various applied workplace skills for transition from the classroom to the world of work. Therefore, with the teaching practicum, development of soft skills among TESL graduates is projected to be more effective. Perception of graduates towards soft skills According to the study of Devadason, Subramaniam, and Daniel (2010), the general perspectives of final undergraduates in University of Malaya shows that the skills embedded in both coursework and training has not met the needs of the students, with the exception for a few skills. This implies that these skills are not adequately infused or acquired either by coursework or training. Plus, their perception also shows that there is insufficient of infusion and acquisition on lifelong learning and information management skills. This reveals a lack of dynamism in the existing programmes of public universities. Courses should be structured to cultivate lifelong learning through active reading and research beyond textbook learning. The result also shows that there is insufficient of integration of leadership skills in the formal curriculum. In fact, this skill is perceived as a critical weakness of local graduates (Quah et al. 2009). In total, the perceived low and selective appreciation of skills by students implies that graduates are still ill-equipped with the necessary competencies. It reflects that there is indeed a need to readdress the existing strategies within the teaching-learning process to ensure a better integration of soft skills. The findings of selective acquisition of certain soft skills in Malaysian universities correspond to the study by Aida et al. (2006). The current situation that happens to Malaysia is many students are equipped with the latest technical certifications and solid work experience; yet lacking the non-technical skills (Kamsah, 2006). While graduating, students may enhance their employability by obtaining an extra degree or certificates, they may not realize on the payoff in acquiring soft skills until after graduating (Brown, Hesketh, Williams, 2003). Another research by Kamsah (2007) indicates that the graduates of University Technology Malaysia believe that each of the soft skills is developed moderately. Therefore, more effort should be put in to empower soft skills among the students through co curricular activities or even during the teaching and learning processes. The university graduates happen to realize that critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as the team working skills are essential to survive the working field. Both domains are viewed as equally important for professional development. Aside from that, from a graduate perspective, soft skills are seen as being deficient in graduates relative to hard skills (Arnold Davey, 1994; Mullen, 1997) although Strebler (1997) notes that technical or hard skill are perceived by graduates as being relatively more critical for getting a job. Similarly, soft skills are generally viewed as less important by academics in comparison with workplace professionals (Page, Wilson, Kolb, 1993). Whereas, Arnold and Davey (1994) note that as graduates spend longer in industry, they rate themselves as more competent in their hard skills but not soft skills. Methodology The main objective of this research is to examine the perspective of TESL undergraduates on the most important soft skills for professional development. Secondly, the study also aimed to investigate the TESL undergraduates perception on the soft skills developed by University of Malaya. The last purpose is to identify if difference exists in the level of importance and competency in soft skills. These objectives led to the following research questions: 1. What are the most important soft skills as perceived by TESL undergraduates? 2. How do TESL undergraduates perceive the soft skills development by University of Malaya? 3. What is the relationship between the importance of soft skills and the levels of soft skills developed? Population and Sampling The population for this research is defined as the TESL undergraduates in University of Malaya. The undergraduates participation in the study would be of voluntary. Selecting TESL undergraduates as the participants creates rich authenticity data for this research. The future teachers of English play significant role in nation building; therefore, their perspectives on soft skills are very much appreciated and valuable. The selected site for this research is University of Malaya. Choosing the oldest and one of the most established universities in Malaysia enhances the research data by reflecting the perspectives of the undergraduates from the university. At the same time, the suitable location and comfortable setting of University of Malaya greatly allows the research to progress smoothly.