Ragnar Lodbrok

Many people have heard of Ragnar Lodbrok, or Lothbrok, thanks to the History Channel drama series Vikings. However, the character of Ragnar isnt new—hes existed in Norse mythology for a long time. Lets take a look at who the real Ragnar Lodbrok was—or wasnt. Ragnar Lodbrok Fast Facts Historians arent sure if Ragnar Lodbrok really existed; it is most likely that he is a composite of multiple historical figures.The sons of Ragnar Lodbrok feature prominently in Norse mythology and history.According to legend, Lodbrok was a great warrior king who invaded England and West Frankia. Ragnar Loà °brà ³k, whose surname means Hairy Breeches, was a legendary Viking warrior who is described in the Norse sagas, as well as numerous medieval Latin sources written by Christian chroniclers, but scholars arent sure if he existed at all. Norse vs. Frankish Accounts In the Norse legends, Sigurà °r hringr, or Sigurd Ring, was the king of Sweden, and battled against the Danish leader Harald Wartooth; Sigurd defeated Harald and became king of both Denmark and Sweden. After his death, his son Ragnar Lodbrok succeeded him and took the throne. According to the sagas, Lodbrok and his sons killed Haralds son Eysteinn, and then led an invasion into England. According to the Icelandic saga Ragnarssona à ¾Ãƒ ¡ttr, The Tale of Ragnars Sons, during this invasion, Lodbrok was captured and executed by the Nortumbrian king Ælla, and so his sons sought vengeance and attacked Ællas stronghold. The legend holds that the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok then executed the Northumbrian king in retaliation, although English sources claim he died in battle at York. Despite the accounts in the Norse sagas, its possible that Ragnar Lodbrok was someone else entirely. In 845 c.e., Paris was under siege by an invading force of Northmen—led by a man who is identified in Frankish sources as a Viking chieftain named Ragnar. Historians dispute whether or not this is the same Ragnar named in the sagas; the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle indicates that the Ragnar who invaded and conquered Paris is unlikely to be the one referred to in the Norse legends. What is more likely, according to academics, is that the character we know today as Ragnar Lodbrok is an amalgamation of the Norse chieftain who took over Paris and the legendary warrior king who was killed when King Ælla threw him into a pit of serpents. In other words, Lodbrok is a literary composite of at least two different figures, as well as several Norse chieftains. However, several of his sons are documented as historical figures; Ivar the Boneless, Bjà ¶rn Ironside, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye are all considered part of Viking history. The Sons of Ragnar Lodbrok According to the Norse legends, Lodbrok had several sons by different women. In the Gesta Danorum, a book of Danish history written in the twelfth century by a Christian chronicler, he was first married to the shield maiden Lagertha, with whom he had at least one son and a daughter; Lagertha is largely believed to be representative of Thorgerd, a warrior goddess, and may be a mythical figure. Lorado / Getty Images Lodbrok divorced Lagertha and then married Thora, the daughter of an earl of Gotaland, with whom he had Eirà ­kr and Agnar; they were eventually killed in battle. Once Thora died, Lodbrok then married Aslaug, whose father was the legendary Sigurd the Dragon Slayer; Sigurds tale is told in the poetic edda, the  Nibelungenlied, and the saga of the Và ¶lsunga. Aslaugs mother was the Valkyrie shield maiden Brynhildr. Together, Lodbrok and Aslaug had at least four sons. Ivar the Boneless, also called Ivar Ragnarsson, earned his nickname because according to Norse legend, his legs were deformed, although some sources say that boneless referred to impotence and an inability to have children. Ivar was instrumental in the conquest of Northumbria and the death of King Ælla. Bjà ¶rn Ironside formed a large naval fleet and sailed around West Frankia and into the Mediterranean. He later split up Scandinavia with his brothers, and took over rule of Sweden and Uppsala. Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye got his name from a mysterious serpent-shaped mark in one of his eyes. Sigurd married King Ællas daughter Blaeja, and when he and his brothers divided Scandinavia, became king of Zealand, Halland, and the Danish islands. Lodbroks son Hvitserk may have been conflated with Halfdan Ragnarsson in the sagas; there are no sources that mention them separately. Hvitserk means white shirt, and could have been a nickname used to distinguish Halfdan from other men of the same name, which was a fairly common one at the time. A fifth son, Ubba, appears in medieval manuscripts as one of the warriors of the Great Heathen Army that conquered England in the ninth century, but is not referenced in any of the earlier Norse source material. Sources Magnà ºsson Eirà ­kr, and William Morris. The Volsunga Saga. NorrÅ“na Society, 1907.Mark, Joshua J. â€Å"Twelve Great Viking Leaders.†Ã‚  Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 9 July 2019, www.ancient.eu/article/1296/twelve-great-viking-leaders/.â€Å"The Sons of Ragnar Lodbrok (Translation).†Ã‚  Fornaldarsà ¶gur Norà °urlanda, www.germanicmythology.com/FORNALDARSAGAS/ThattrRagnarsSonar.html.â€Å"Vikings: Women in Norse Society.†Ã‚  Daily Kos, www.dailykos.com/stories/2013/10/27/1250982/-Vikings-Women-in-Norse-Society.

Home Based Interventions For Post Partum Depression

Assignment 3: Home based interventions for post partum depression Our citation for the systematic review is APA . The researchers in this review are looking at home based interventions for post partum depression because of the numerous in home programs that are now established for mothers for prenatal care or before they give birth (Leis, Mendelson, Tandon, Perry, 2009). Post partum depression is a form of depression new mothers can be affected by after giving birth; this makes them less likely to demonstrate active care and affection for newborns. Most women do spontaneously recover from this kind of depression. Many people will not seek out treatment for depression or mental disorders which is a reason for in home programs. Detection and treatment for depression to new mothers is a problem area still. Families that are low income are often high risk and cannot afford outside treatment due to many barriers such as affordability and transportation. This review focused on psychological treatments because there was proof that many mothers did not want to use pharmacology or medication to treat their depression. All the studies in this review were randomized controlled trials for home based psychological interventions. Random control trials are considered the gold standard for determining the efficacy of a treatment (Mohanty, Garg, Kumar 2013). Psychological interventions refer to an array of structured approaches that include psychological methods such asShow MoreRelatedThe Effect Of A Home Based Exercise Intervention On Postnatal Depression And Fatigue1650 Words   |  7 PagesThe purpose of this paper is present a synopsis of the article titled, The Effect of a Home-Based Exercise Intervention on Postnatal Depression and Fatigue: A Randomized Control Trial. 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Comparison Between the Aeneid and the Iliad free essay sample

How are the passages similar? How are they different? What does this similarity/ difference tell us about a larger similarities/differences in the works of a whole? Example from teacher: Aeneid line 404-424 (Dido is broken hearted) Odyssey: 212-225 (Calypso- Can I be less desirable? ) similarity: both have broken-hearts- the protagonist is leaving them difference: Aneid- Rome calls, going to Italy to build a new home/ Dido refuses to accept his leaving/ Dido is simply a queen and mortal Odyssey: home calls, Ithika (past already his home) Calypso accepts that he must go/ she is a goddess demise The Iliad| The Aenied | Passage: The Aeneids last six book (the outbreak of war) resembles the Iliad. | Partoclus killed by Hector and the wrath of Achilles is ignited by the news of the death of his friend. | Pallas killed by Turnus and the wrath of Aneus is ignited when he also receives the news of her dead friend. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison Between the Aeneid and the Iliad or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page | Similarities/Differences| Similarities: * Both Achilles and Aneas share the same reaction towards the death of their fellow soldiers. Iliad pg 430 ll. 25-38Aenied pg 325 * Both Virgil and Homer display the same theme of revenge. Achilles avenges Hector for killing Patroclus and Aneus kills Pallas in order to serve vengeance for Turnus death. * Both soldiers are absent from battle and the news is brought to them. Differences: * Both men have different drives Achilles is driven by his pride and self-glory while Aneus serves the will of the Gods. * Reason behind the mens absence from the battle field: Achilles: self-loathing and stubbornness for the loss of his war prize therefore refusing to take part in battle. Aneus: carrying out his fate given to him by the Gods; in search of more men for his new army. *different characters| Works as a Whole| Homer The Iliad emphasizes the idea of hamartia and its capability of destruction with a strong presence of war. Virgil The Aenied focuses on glorifying the Roman Gods. Both In both works, the actions of the protagonists and antagonists are influenced by Divine Intervention,

University Art Museum, Organizational Theory and Design free essay sample

While the last two directors from the museums inception have fully supported and enhanced the growth of the museum in catering a niche of art pieces donated by a wealthy investment banker alumnus, the third director in succession was definitely not the right one for the job according to the scholastic art board of directors. Even though the last museum director was that of a desired leadership quality, due to the fact that the design, the organizational purpose that the museum was supposed to serve, the desired directional strategy, and the goals associated with what the museum erectors job description entailed was clearly undefined.And to make matters worse, the museum lacked a mission statement and official goals and standards. There are three main points as listed by the elderly statesmen of the faculty that I agree need to be addressed and clearly defined for the museum: its mission, its direction, and its objectives. We will write a custom essay sample on University Art Museum, Organizational Theory and Design or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These are clearly the main problems in this case. Seeing that the current situation, the cause of these problems was brought on by the search committee and the college senate itself not identifying what he job of museum director really in tells. They loved that museum as much if not more as the MASC.] bulldogs love Davis Wade Stadium. Even though it was not a financial burden on the university, the museum had become apart of the inner workings of the academic community. When the new director took over, he wanted to make the museum more of a community resource in regards to opening it up for more of the public to view outside the university. This caused numerous problems.In coming up with a proactive solution to the problems at hand, the university needs to come up with a mission and a et of clearly defined goals for the museum. Under the direction of the previous alumnus director the pendulum of how the museum was run in the past has swung to becoming open to the public and exhibits that are not actively in the university collections. With a clearly defined direction, the university can be more comfortable having the museum in more of an academic light.Neither the university nor the museum was ready or even wanted the changes that went on. Also the objectives for the museums need to be further defined and worked out so that the art history staff and the assume can profit from the exhibits available. Given that the organization and the culture surrounding the museum was that of a more academic approach, they could clearly revert back to what they were under the direction of Miss Kirkwood. Had the university heeded and followed Miss Kirkwood resignation letter they could have avoided the problems they got themselves into.She wrote, And it (the museum) needs careful thinking regarding its direction, its basis of support, and its future relationship with the university. The feasible answer would be that once the university chooses an identity for the museum rather it be used for strictly academic studies, or a new m ixture of academic studies and some public viewings from an interested public. Personally, I would organize the museum and try to focus on the culture that the museum has. Old try and mend the relations with the art history faculty and bring in exhibits that would peek the knowledge and studies of the professional staff and outsiders alike. For example, if a professor is doing some research on a specific time in history like the Romans or the Cars of Russia, I would try to bring in an exhibit that would id in his studies and allow that professor to be able to be the spokesperson for that exhibit to the students as well as any publics that might be interested in showing interest in it.Groups and school children visiting can be limited and the activities of the children could be monitored to bring about more of a professional attitude. Children can be taught how to respect belongings and their surroundings. In implementing this solution, the faculty senate once they have defined the mission, official goals, objectives and future direction that they want the muse um to go in. They could start implementing these changes by first clearly defining the museum directors job tasks. The objectives for the director should be clearly defined to making sure that he or she is cataloging the exhibits properly and that the artifacts in the museum are being kept up and not being distorted. The faculty senate needs to select a team of faculty members to be the basic management team for the museum or a board of directors can be chosen to serve the museum in this capacity. This board could work with the director of the museum who would have an active sit on this board.

Lacking in Existing Communication System of Grameen Phone free essay sample

Lacking in the existing communication policy There is now organization without any kind of lacking in their communication policy. There must be certain issues which create problem among the departments and teams. As we have already mentioned and described the existing communication policy, so we also need to share the lacking in these communication policies. Grameen Phone is always working hard to overcome this communication gap, but new and new technologies and its features again start to create gap between the departments and even in the single team management. Moreover, there is now organization without any kind of lacking in their communication policy. There must be certain issues which create problem among the departments and teams. So following issues we found creating problem and might create problem in the near future. Communication Gap between departments This is the common problem Grameen Phone started to face when it was getting bigger since 2004. We will write a custom essay sample on Lacking in Existing Communication System of Grameen Phone or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Like any other organizations when it is getting bigger, distance between the employees of different department increased. As a example, three departments used to sit together in the same floor space of office. So they have a very good communication between them not only in the professional ways but also in a friendly way. People used to know which department is facing what kind of problem and also the source of the problem. So if the reason is legitimate, other departments come and help them to out of this problem. In the early 2004, when the company was getting bigger in business by gaining more customer day by day, management faced the need to increase the man power of the departments for the smooth communication. So that time it was not actually possible to accommodate 2-3 departments in a single floor. So the distance started to getting bigger. And also the interpersonal support they were getting from others was not available any more. Even after this situation the communication was still strong and bonded as they used to work in the same premises. But the condition curve started going down when some of the departments sent to a different location. It became tough for the employees to communicate with them frequently, just only for the official purposes. So the binding they used to have was no more. This started to put effect also in the official communication among them. In many times people don’t know the objective of the departments and they started to misunderstand the motive of different departments. One of the big examples can be the relationship among the marketing, customer service sales department. Whenever marketing department coming with some new promotional activities it creates confusion in customer service and also in the sales. They think marketing has introduced this promotional offer without thinking about the impact and the consequences of this in other departments. In many time these departments need to face a tough time to handle this promotional offer. But in most of the time this was not the mistake of the marketing department. After the market and competitor analysis they come up with the new promotional offers, but the mistake was they don’t involve any of the people from the other employees from other department. Even if they involve any of the employee from another department, but that concern person don’t communicate the information properly in their department. In the sales end people failed to communicate the complicated offer properly to the customer, so at the end of the day customers phoned again in the hotline and the hotline congestion increased and the service quality decreased. And as the quality decreased, they have to face the questions from the management and it become tough to explain the problem to management. And if the management is not satisfied with the explanation from the department, their KPI become more complicated and tough. So the communication gaps become bigger. In some of the departments employees start to have grievance about the other departments. Same thing also happens in the other departments. In the case of termination of employment, employees don’t get the actual option to know the actual reason of the termination as the Human Resource Department wants to make it secret. But in many case this information should be communicated properly to the employees. It effects not only in the employee who is leaving but also in the job performance of the existing employees. A huge amount of de-motivation work among them. At the end of the day organization face the effect of this thing. Protecting Internal Secrecy In many departments, head of department keep the information from management in secret. Without disclosing the reason and the motive, they set a new KPI or increase the existing KPI. An increased KPI and work pressure without knowing the main objective makes them de-motivated for the specific work. Only a few supervisors are co-operative and they describe the actual situation with his subordinates and make them realize the importance of the increase KPI and motivate them according that. But this amount is very low. It becomes a tendency of the supervisor keeping the information secret. Sometimes this situation even forces the employee to quit their job. Not having any combined portal for share information Grameen Phone has different software and portals for the employees as all of the employees are not working in the same premises and they also believe in the paper less work. Some department has multiple portals for their work process. Even there is another portal which is for all of the departments, where the company discloses the recently happened incident and the employees get the opportunity to share their view and comment regarding this. But this is only for sharing the common organization based information. There is no portal for the entire department where they can get the information of another department and why any kind of change is being taken. As they are different department with different job description, but as they are under the same roof of the organization there will be some impact of the decision in other departments also. So even if there is any feedback of any employee, they can put it in the comment box. Their valuable comment might be helpful to make the decision of that department more perfect. Other than this benefit people will get to know about the reason and the fact about the recent taken decision by the different departments. Frequent Change in the Organizational Policy It is another big problem of Grameen Phone. They frequently change the policy and the work process of the organization. After the telecommunication boom in late 2002, this policy change trend becomes frequent in the organization. At first employees are good with it, but the situation got worse with the more frequent policy change. Employees become fad-up with the situation. So there mind set start to build that we don’t need to follow the policy as it will be going to change very soon. So when management observed that the tendency of the employee is not satisfactory, they set some anti steps to stop this. This anti steps turn into a de-motivating factor for the employees. Not only in the policy, Grameen Phoen frequently change the name of the department and the designation of the employees along with bringing change in the whole organogram. In same cases employees are not properly aware about the change within the organization. Sometimes even the employees become confused with the name of the department. Some of the departmental even termed as 3 different names in 2 years. So it easily it creates dissatisfaction not only for the employees of the other department but also for the employee of that certain department. Wrong Strategy Developments This situation happens in many Multinational companies. They just think to earn money in any available way. Most of the cases they forget about the source of the money, which is the customer base. In many case the strategy they build without considering the benefit of the customer and forget about the consequences of it. As the consequence root level employees of the organization have to face the problem. In the ling run company realizes its problem but most of the time it was so late to overcome the whole situation, even if it is possible it take much time, effort and money. So if the strategy is not appropriate they will not get the perfect feedback. And their long term goal is not fulfilled.

Kicl students’ perceptions on the consumption of McDonalds, KFC and Burger Kings The WritePass Journal

Kicl students’ perceptions on the consumption of McDonalds, KFC and Burger Kings Introduction: Kicl students’ perceptions on the consumption of McDonalds, KFC and Burger Kings Introduction:Literature Review:Bibliography:Related Introduction: Fast food, also known as Quick Service Restaurant within the industry, and ‘Junk food’ informally, is becoming more and more popular form of food choice especially in young people (Schlosser, 2001), including students. As it is cheap and quick option the global market is growing dramatically in recent years. Saying this, studies like Robin (2011), have been done which show fast food as â€Å"unhealthy† and it adversely affects health in long term. This research focuses on KICL students in general who will be as the target subjects to understand their views on fast food. The thesis will try to investigate how students at KICL’s view the intake of fast food by studying their eating habits, food choices they make, with key understanding the reasons for the same, how far they are aware of its speculated results, and their reactions, if any, to ‘solve the problems’. It will also try to see that as a student in London (as they have migrated for studies) does it affect the pattern? If yes, to what extent and their reasons. The views of students will also be noticed in context with their definition of a healthy diet, hence this data can be linked and worked upon with fast food dominance. The study will be conducted at the college of students of random nationalities, thus making the research more general. Talking about research methods briefly, handing out questionnaires to atleast 30 students around the college with mixed nationalities at random. It will be used in simple format; the questions in the questionnaire will be around 15 in quantity, clear and non-analytical. I will be also providing some general data and discussion in brief before presenting questionnaire, which helps for better outcome from participants. Here are some of the sample questions which shall be asked to the participants during the research: -On average, How often do you choose to go to a fast food restaurant in a week?___ Are you eating fast food as often as you were when you were in your country? Yes___ No ___Not Sure___ -Tick as appropriate, why you choose fast food rather than ‘traditional’ meal?: a.) Saves time. b.) Reasonable price. c.) Taste appealing. d.) Take-away facility. e.) Fast-food surroundings are less formal, hence preferred. f.) No need to cook. g.) Other Reason(s) (Please Specify)___________________________ -How far do you agree/disagree that such food adversely effects an individual’s health? a.) Strongly agree b.) Fairly agree c.) Moderate d.) Fairly disagree e.) Strongly disagree If you think that fast food is not an ideal choice, please answer: Why do you think so? Tick as many appropriate a.)  Ã‚   For claimed negative effects b.) Alleged animal cruelty c.) Cases of worker exploitation d.) Claim of cultural degradation due to shift in eating patterns e.) Any other (Please Specify) ______________________ -Write in your own views, if you believe fast food as questionable choice (not more than 50 words) what could be the ‘solution’ to the concerns of fast food? and What according to you is a ‘healthy diet’? Literature Review: Assessing many previous researches, one common result for fast food found is ‘it makes people obese, and though it claims to satisfy hunger and taste buds, people are left with malnutrition’ (John, 1999). As Mark (2010) goes, â€Å"While companies like McDonald’s and Burger King, Domino’s Pizza ‘glitter’ in market for their promise of ‘unbeatable taste’ and ‘free-quick home delivery’, t he true cost of unhealthy food isnt just the price tagin fact, the real costs are hidden.†Ã‚   He claims, â€Å"Obese people account for a disproportionate share of health-related absences from work, as obese people visit their physicians 40 percent more than normal weight people†. This element can also be replaced in students as they have absences from classes. In recent times, fast food has replaced traditional form of meal. This can be because of multiple reasons including cheaper price, time saving, taste preference, as Pollan (2009) defends. However it seems these are true observations in some ways, but it is at the stake of health of people. To refute these arguments perhaps Mark (2010) comes again. He states, â€Å"When you eat unhealthy foods like these, the costs of medical visits, co-pays, prescription medications, and other health services skyrocket.† Government policies are either so flexible or supportive that there is difficulty to break these vicious chains, he adds. According to Currie et. al. (2009) Women are more likely to take their children below age 12 to a fast food chain during lunch than any other meal time. This can mean that eventually more and more children are on verge of obesity and health issues. More specifically for this research project, as per an article, the implied effects of fast-food on caloric in take are at least one order of magnitude larger for students than for mothers, consistent with smaller travel cost for adults (Currie et. al, 2009). Some of the concerns have led to the rise of the  Slow Food, or  local food  movements seeking to preserve local cuisines and ingredients, and directly oppose laws and habits that favour fast food choices. Slow food activists educate customers about what its members considers the richer, more varied and more nourishing tastes of fresh, local ingredients that have been recently harvested. This is very supportive to attack on cultural degradation due to change food patterns (Schlosser, 2001). He further touches other angle explaining how the meatpacking factories concentrate livestock into large feedlots and herd them through processing assembly lines operated by poorly trained employees increase the risk of large-scale food poisoning. Another semi-formal research was carried out by Morgan Spurlock in Super Size Me a 2004 American  documentary film, wherein   He is seen by three doctors (a  cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, and a  GP), as well as a  nutritionist  an d a  personal trainer. He follows a 30-day period during which he eats only  McDonalds  food; fully eat three McDonalds meals per day:  breakfast,  lunch, and  dinner, during these days, he experienced steadily increasing stomach discomfort, nausea and  vomits, on 21st day, heart  palpitations started. Thus, the results were worse than expected, he got 11Kgs surplus. a  cholesterol  level of 230, and experienced  mood swings,  sexual dysfunction, and fat accumulation in his liver. He used ‘detox’ diet to make his body system back to normal. Webber (2009) argues that it is not only McDonald’s but all other major ‘junk factories’ oddly contribute in this manner. The World Health Organisation launched an awareness programme in 2004 which aimed at adopting global health and diet recommendations: reduce sugars, processed foods, soft drinks and junk food advertising. An online article, The Hamburger (2002) showed future threats of fast food with and coined as ‘mishap in society’. While it seems that almost no research shows the beneficial health effects and overall positive outlook of this modern concern of fast food, perhaps this research can enable to help, support, and make aware about the reality of fast food. Additionally, this research may make even participants think critically and the data collected will help provide some in-depth relations to other research works and views and can have scope for further development as well. Bibliography: Currie. J, et. al, (2009), The Effect of Fast Food Restaurants on Obesity and Weightgain, NBER Working Paper No. 14721, National Bureau of Economic Research. Hyman, Mark, (2010), Why Quick, Cheap Food Is Actually More Expensive?, Retrived from huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/why-quick-cheap-food-is-a_b_681539.html? [Accessed 10th April 2011] Jakle, John , (1999).  Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age. Johns Hopkins University Press.  ISBN 0-8018-6920-X. Kroc, Ray, et.al., (1992), Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonalds. St. Martins Press. Online Article (2002), The Hamburger, National Public Radio. Available at npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/hamburger/ [Accessed 11th March 2011] Pollan, M. (2009). In Defense of Food: an Eaters Manifesto, Penguin, New York City. Schlosser, Eric (2001).  Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Houghton Mifflin Books.  ISBN  0395977894. Unkown Author, (2008),  The Obesity Crisis: Whats it all about?, The Endocrine Society, The Hormone Foundation. Webber, Karl, (2009), Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It, First Edition, PublicAffairs. World Health Organization, (2004), Internet News Article for Awareness, Available at naturalnews.com/001084.html [Accessed 13th June 2011]

Discussion Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 11

Discussion Questions - Essay Example A good practice in team settings is giving different members a chance to be team leaders. Attitudes influence the behavior of people when they work together. I once worked in a company that had morale issues. Everyone was down because the company was having financial troubles that were affecting the entire staff. The employees were getting paid a week or two late every payroll. The attitude of the employees was horrendous. People would come to work late and leave early. Nobody respected the managerial staff because they were doing nothing to ensure they employees got paid. It was one excuse after the other. The lack of commitment by managers led to an organizational chaos. There are generational differences that affect the way an organization operates. The younger employees are not as committed to a company as the older employees because younger employees have more options. They expect a company to help them in their professional development. If a company does not provide its younger employees opportunity for growth the most likely scenario is that they won’t be able to retain the employee. Older employees value job security and a stable working environment. A way to get the younger employees and older workers to participate with each other is to formulate work teams made up of both young and experienced workers. Managers are not the only workers that can lead a company. There are many informal leaders in organizations. These people are able to motivate the rest of their colleagues to perform work at a higher level. Sometimes these leaders are silent leaders that influence the behavior of others through example. For instance a person at a manufacturing line can motivate others to improve their performance by producing more units per day than anybody else. When another worker sees that it is possible to produce more the worker starts believing that greater production is possible. I understand what you are going through working in that inefficient

The employment effects of the minimum wage Term Paper

The employment effects of the minimum wage - Term Paper Example Beneath the antagonistic claims on both sides bordering on sound political and philosophical principles are assumptions loosely hinged on individual interpretations of the time series of increasing inequalities. Indeed, there are no doubts that the magnitude of the inequality gap widened further over the past decade alone. Nonetheless, questions abound as to whether the statutory minimum wage settings do have any profound effect on the same. This short paper endeavors to highlight the controversy of the current debate and subsequently ascertain with facts the effects of the Minimum Wage on employment. Supportive Evidence: Decent Pay and the Job Loses The employment effect of the minimum wage is by far one of the topics in economics mostly researched and deliberated upon with an effectual outcome of scholarly arguments and counterarguments that boarder more on the authenticity of data used. A statutory minimum wage, by definition, refers to a legal binding remuneration threshold at wh ich employers may buy labor services from prospective workers or workers may sell their labor services to prospective employers (O'Sullivan and Sheffin 130). Although such laws are effective in many jurisdictions, scholars offer varied opinions on the theoretical models that have stood the tests of time, though challenged by a myriad of data collections that continues to this day. Legally sanctioned statutory minimum wage at predetermined levels bears a strong social appeal in manipulating market labor prices to ameliorate the social income iniquity for the vulnerable members of the workforce, particularly the unskilled workers. For many, a fair distribution of the national cake can only be achieved by some political manipulation of the wage structure; a policy argument judged against the sticky poverty statistics (Eatwell, Milgate and Newman 476). Indeed, given that proliferation of industrial working environments where employers pay little attention to workers’ wellbeing, t he establishment of minimum wage legislation is well in order. Entrepreneurial ventures such as the multinational corporations operating in the developing countries have long been blamed for unfair bargaining power over their workers. Clearly, the institutionalization of minimum wage laws in such countries goes a long way in ensuring that workers get at least some decent pay commensurate to the labor services they offer. Even though the above objective is widely popular with the public as a morally justifiable political course, for economists, statutory minimum wage legislations represent a challenge of price distortion within the labor markets, yet with questionable attainment of the intent stated above. From inception, minimum wage laws have received less support from economists than from the enthusiastic public poor/lower cadre workers/unskilled workers who gullibly feel they stand to benefit over their employers. Despite decades of economic research augmented by scientific princ iples, the employment effect of minimum wage legislation remains a contentious policy. A classic exposition of the minimum wage's inability to substantially reduce the income inequality gap by

Humanities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Humanities - Essay Example He tried to change the culture of Egypt by making the sun god, Aten, the most important of all. This also was a political move that gave him more power and pushed aside the priests of other gods. He was bold in his change of religious policies, and also broke tradition by moving the Egyptian capital to a new city. However, he was not popular enough to leave a legacy, and his changes did not last. Unlike Gilgamesh and Alexander, Akhenaten was not very representative of his people or time. Gilgamesh was a great king of the Mesopotamian kingdom of Uruk, who may have existed in reality as well as in legend. He was said to be part god and part man, and of course became a very popular figure among Mesopotamians, which lead to the survival of his story. Gilgamesh was unique for his position in myth and legend, and his character seems to be one that is less concerned with his society than with his own destiny. He goes of in search of adventure and finally in search of immortality. He did not make himself known for what he did in his kingdom like Alexander and Akhenaten, but instead was very individual. Like Alexander, however, he was seen as something of a godly figure. Finally, Alexander the Great was a prince of Macedonian descent who was full of ambition and military genius. He is different from the others in that he was a successful agent of change. He was significant for being regarded as a hero and a divine king like Gilgamesh, and in changing society, religions, governments, and cities like Akhenaten. Unlike Akhenaten, his changes had a lasting effect and the world was never able to change back, and overall Alexander was responsible for bringing about a new age in his unique role as a conquerer and reformer. These people were all strong cultural influences, in positive and negative ways. . As rulers, Alexander and Akhenaton both wielded much more political and military might. They were both similar in that they

Procedural Fairness in Unfair Dismissal

Procedural Fairness in Unfair Dismissal Repeal of the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004: A report - In October 2004 the government introduced a statutory minimum disciplinary and grievance procedure dealing with disputes in the workplace. These procedures and related rules are set out in the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004 and state that employers must follow a minimum dismissal and disciplinary procedure in the workplace or otherwise dismissal will be automatically unfair. When bringing a claim at the Employment Tribunal for unfair dismissal, employees are also entitled to additional compensation if these disciplinary and dismissal procedures are not adhered to. Although the aim of the Regulations was to encourage informal resolution of disputes, many employers felt that they were too complicated and did not achieve the desired aim. Gibbons (2007 pg.24)[1] sums up this view, ‘The procedures are seen as a prelude to employment tribunals, rather than a way of resolving problems in the workplace’ The Employment Bill 2007 therefore recommends a repeal of the Regulations for what is hoped will be a more straightforward regime likely to come into force in April 2009. The Regulations A standard dismissal procedure as per the Regulations involves the following three steps. The first is a letter which must be sent to the employee setting out the reason for dismissal and inviting them to a meeting at a convenient time and place. The employee must be given time in which to consider the letter and then has a duty having done so to take all reasonable steps to attend the meeting. The second step involves the actual meeting which has to be conducted in a manner which enables both employer and the employee to explain their case. After the meeting the employee must be notified of the decision and provided a right of appeal. The third step would be the appeal process and if the employee wishes to appeal, they must inform the employer who will then invite them to an appeal meeting. The onus is on the employee to take all reasonable steps to attend this appeal meeting and as far as is practicable a more senior manager from the organisation should attend the appeal meeting. The appeal meeting must be conducted in the manner in which enables both the employer and the employee to explain their case. After the meeting the employee must be notified of the final decision. During every meeting in the process, the employee has a right to be accompanied by a work colleague or a trade union official. This companion may address the hearing, confer with the employee during the hearing and may also sum up the employees case but must not answer questions on behalf of the employee. In the case of a grievance against an employer the same steps must be followed with the letter sent from employee to employer stating the nature of the grievance and asking for a meeting to be held. Where the employee has already left employment the Regulations provide for a modified procedure that does not require the Step 2 meeting. The problems created by the Regulations When the Regulations came into force on the 1st October 2004 the government resolved to revisit them after two years. The Department of Trade and Industry confirmed this in its Success at Work Report (2007 pg. 8)[2] ‘This is a key part of DTI’s work to simplify regulation, by removing compliance costs and complexity, and addressing irritants for business and others affected by employment law, while ensuring that employee rights are protected.’ The government then commissioned an independent report on the 12th December 2006 written by Michael Gibbons who was asked to assess all employment dispute resolution procedures including suggestions for adapting the Regulations if he found them not to be fit for purpose. He interviewed over 60 employers, employees and intermediaries involved in dispute resolution. Gibbons in his report entitled Better Dispute Resolution (2007 pg.5) states[3], ‘In conducting the Review I was struck by the overwhelming consensus that the intentions of the 2004 Regulations were sound and that there had been a genuine attempt to keep them simple, and yet †¦as formal legislation they have failed to produce the desired policy outcome. This is perhaps a classic case of good policy, but inappropriately inflexible and prescriptive regulation.’ It became apparent that the regulations did not state clearly what a written grievance was or what it was to contain. With no specific guidance on this, parties called for procedural hearings at the ET to establish whether the claimant actually put their grievance in writing and whether all of the claims that were found in their Claim Form had previously been evidenced in the grievance letter. The respondents were claiming that this was not the case and therefore there was no case to answer. Therefore although the procedures were clear as to the steps to follow in bringing a dispute insufficient guidance was given about each stage leaving Tribunals with an increase in the number and length of proceedings. Gibbons explains the difficulty with identifying what constitutes a grievance letter (2007 pg.8), ‘†¦comments in resignation letters and in 360-degree feedback forms have been held to meet the requirements, so some employers feel it is necessary to check closely and investigate any written communication that might be construed as a grievance’ Although the intention of the regulations was for early informal resolution of disputes, the drafting of the Step 1 letter and consequent meetings in practice escalate many issues taking up management time and proving stressful for employees. Also the three step process as outlined above was not always adequate in all circumstances. Small businesses in particular have complained about the formal, ‘one size fits all’ approach of the regulations. Gibbons explains (2007 pg. 8), ‘†¦the appeal stage is an unnecessary burden, especially for small businesses. The appeal will often be to the same person who made the original decision. It can also be difficult in cases where employees have left the workplace. One business felt it necessary to follow the three-step procedures for each of their Christmas temporary staff before they left – a process which added no value.’ The main thrust of the opposition to the current regime is that it has created an unhealthy overlap between the resolution of disputes and the litigation procedure which should as far as possible be kept separate. For example the regulations stipulate that before a claim is lodged at the Employment Tribunal (ET) a grievance letter must be sent to the employer within three months of the alleged dismissal or conduct. Any breach of the procedure would allow the Tribunal to grant up to 50% increase if the fault was that of the employer or 50% reduction in the award depending on whether the fault was that of the employee. Of course apart from the fact that it is not always easy to ascertain whose fault led to a breach of procedure such stipulations and penalties mean that litigation has to be considered at an early stage when resolution of the dispute should be paramount. Gibbon states (2007 pg.25), ‘Both large and small businesses have reported that the number of formal disputes has risen. The Review has heard that 30 to 40% increases have been typical in the retail sector.’ Further complications arise where there are multiple claims for example in an equal pay case and the three step process has to be repeated many times creating an unnecessary administrative burden. The same burden is also felt where and employer seeks to follow the disciplinary steps and at the same time the employee also seeks to pursue a grievance. ‘It is not always clear how the two strands of the Regulations should operate in such circumstances, and employers can feel compelled to hold excessive numbers of meetings and write excessive numbers of formal letters to be sure of fulfilling the procedural requirements’[4] The proposed reforms As a result of the Gibbons Review, the Government held a consultation and the responses received formed the basis of the present reform proposals published in the Employment Bill 2007 which has received royal assent and is now the Employment Act 2008. The first major reform is for the Regulations to be repealed in their entirety in April 2009 and replaced with a revised ACAS Code of Practice (the Code) which has been agreed in draft form. There will also be non statutory guidance also provided by ACAS. ACAS stands for the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service and currently offers employees an arbitration service as an alternative to resorting to proceedings. Also it has always provided a Code for resolving disputes but it is only now being adapted and incorporated into statute. In actual fact the revised ACAS code provides for the same three step procedure but does not incorporate the same penalties and conditions as the Regulations. There have also been some additional requirements which seem to lean towards ensuring that employees behave ‘reasonably’. The draft Code is designed to provide basic practical guidance for disciplinary and grievance procedures but is limited as it will not apply to dismissals as a result of redundancy[5] or expiration of a fixed term contract.The Code describes the remit it covers[6], ‘Disciplinary situations include misconduct and/or poor performanceGrievances are concerns, problems or complaints that employees raise with their Employers’ It suggests in the Foreword of the Code[7] that employers and employees should try to resolve disputes between them. However if they cannot, they should seek the help of an independent third party inside or outside the organisation. The Code provides that where the Employment Tribunal must ascertain compliance with the Code it will do this on a case by case basis taking into account the size and resources of the employer. Therefore unlike the Regulations there is no expectation that all business will comply with every provision in the Code providing greater flexibility for employers. In relation to disciplinary procedures the first step is to establish the facts of each case by collating evidence and holding an investigatory meeting if necessary. The Code then states[8], ‘If it is decided that there is a disciplinary case to answer, the employee should be notified of this in writing. This notification should contain sufficient information about the alleged misconduct or poor performance and its possible consequences to enable the employee to prepare to answer the case at a disciplinary meeting’ New provisions provide for evidence collated including witness statements to be provided by the employer with the letter requesting a disciplinary meeting. Also an employee may call their own witnesses. The statutory right to be accompanied to this meeting still stands however the Code’s emphasis on ‘reasonableness’ is evidenced where it states[9], ‘However, it would not normally be reasonable for workers to insist on being accompanied by a companion whose presence would not prejudice the hearing nor would it be reasonable for a worker to ask to be accompanied by a companion from a remote geographical location if someone suitable and willing was available on site.’ The dispute Regulations had provided that on appeal the employer only had to make one attempt to reconvene the meeting however under the Code the employer has to show that the employee has persistently been unable or unwilling to attend before a decision can be made in their absence.[10] If the employee decides to appeal, grounds of appeal in writing must be submitted to the employer.[11] This requirement was not found in the Regulations and the idea behind it is to ensure that further time is not spent discussing issues that have already been covered in the first meeting. In a case of a grievance for example instead of the emphasis on a Step 1 grievance letter, the revised Code states[12], ‘If it is not possible to resolve a grievance informally employees should raise the matter formally and without unreasonable delay’ The employee should inform the employer of the grievance preferably in writing and the letter should be addressed to the line manager. Unlike the Regulations, a claim would not be barred in absence of a grievance letter although a failure to send this letter would be a breach of the Code and may lead to a reduction in the award. The Code states that a meeting must be heard pursuant to the letter and that the employee must have the right to be accompanied by a colleague or trade union official. As with the disciplinary procedure, the requirement here is that the right to be accompanied is reasonable. During the meeting the employer can ask for an adjournment in order to carry out an investigation. There is also a right of appeal and subsequently the employee can decide to take the matter further and pursue the case in the Employment Tribunal. The new regime will not hold a dismissal to be automatically unfair if there has been a breach in procedure. Employment Tribunals will have to decide cases on what is fair and reasonable and will have discretionary powers to adjust awards of up to 25% if either employer or employee has not followed the ACAS code. In relation to this provision the government report Resolving Disputes in the Workplace Consultation (May 2008 pg.16) it states, ‘This will be a power rather than a duty in order to allow the employment tribunals discretion to apply it in the interests of justice and equity’ It is hoped that these reforms will give a higher level of flexibility in resolving work place disputes and various businesses can tailor the new regime to their specific needs. The Government has also agreed as part of the reform to invest  £37M into the ACAS helpline system in order to provide early mediation for workplace disputes that would otherwise result in tribunal claims. Resolving Disputes in the Workplace Consultation (May 2008 pg.16)[13] states, ‘The government considers the way forward should be a short non prescriptive Statutory Code setting out the principles of what and employer and employee must do supported by fuller statutory guidance’ The idea is that the new statutory code will provide guidance for employment tribunals and the non statutory guidance will be used by employers and employees. Where a grievance arises during a disciplinary process, the disciplinary may be suspended or both can be dealt with concurrently if related. The Code does not cover collective grievances which must be dealt with under the agreed collective grievances procedures agreed with trade unions. The likely effect of these reforms on employers and employees It is unlikely that the Code will have a major change on the dispute resolution process in the work place. The code incorporates the same three steps that were found in the Regulations. There is still a penalty of an increase or decrease in the award up to 25% depending on whether the employer or employee is at fault. Because the employee is likely to suffer a reduction in compensation of up to 25 % the pressure to ensure a grievance letter is sent still remains. Although unlike the Regulations, the claim is not barred due to failure to lodge a grievance, the number of grievances brought by employees is not likely to be reduced for so long as there remains a penalty, albeit the employee at the grievance stage may not have considered litigation. So arguably there may not necessarily be reduction of time spent on hearing and processing grievances in the workplace. Also with the repeal of the Regulations there is no automatically unfair dismissal because of non compliance. Many have argued that this places fewer restrictions on unscrupulous employers therefore increasing the likelihood of litigation. There would need to be clear communication by the government and business to their employees as to how the new regime will work and arrangements need to be put in place for the transition between the old and new procedures. As far as practical points flowing from the provisions of the ACAS Code, the following would ensure that employers are taking the right steps to ensure compliance although there still remains areas of uncertainty that will only be made clear once the Code is put into practice. Mediation training should be provided for Human Resources staff to act as internal mediators and consider compiling a list of good mediators outside the organisation. In the Introduction of the Code, it states that employees should be involved where appropriate in the development of rules and procedures so to this end it would be prudent if employers hold consultation meetings with employees and their Trade Union Representatives during the transition period between the Regulations and the Code. Guidelines should be provided as to how to provide a ‘reasonable opportunity’ to call witnesses (Clause 12) and establish in policy that that the right to be accompanied is subject to considerations as to reasonableness (Clause 15). These issues are clearly subjective and would vary on a case by case basis and are therefore likely to prove controversial or even problematic Guidelines should be drafted as to when and under what circumstances the employee has shown inability or unwillingness to attend a disciplinary meeting without good cause. Different people should oversee the investigatory and later the disciplinary process. In order to facilitate early resolution of disputes as well as implementing the Code the government also intends for ACAS to provide a helpline where simple disputes can be dealt with over the phone or by internet. This extends the existing right to mitigation that parties must be notified of in any dispute. However the issue is ensuring that ACS has the necessary funds and staff to successfully fulfil this role. Staff must be well trained in providing employment advice and negotiating settlement between parties. Another proposal is that the Employment Tribunal Application process should happen via the helpline giving claimants access to advice on their claim and alternatives to litigation. Not all involved in the dispute resolution process favour these reforms. In the government report Resolving Disputes in the Workplace Consultation[14] it states ‘Opponents of repeal included a number of Trade Unions, representatives of vulnerable workers and individuals. Many cited the benefits of having a standard required procedure in all workplaces which operated to the benefit of workers in all types of organisations and encouraged good practice.’ From the point of view of an employee, the fear is that the new regime and its emphasis on ‘reasonableness’ leaves too much to the discretion of the employer. This coupled with the removal of the automatically unfair provision has left the issue of unfairness to the Employment Tribunal who will access the situation based on many factors other than breaches in the code including the size and resources of the employer. There is therefore an element of uncertainty in the new provisions certainly for the employee but for the employer as well. In the Legal Action Group’s response to the government consultation (June 2007) it states,[15] ‘Repeal of the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004 (the ‘regulations’), will not improve the poor position of the many, low paid, non-unionised, workers in the labour market. The government should act to protect the most vulnerable by encouraging trade union organisation and by other legislative measures.’ The concern of the Group is that the government’s emphasis on mediation could lead to vulnerable employees losing their right to a formal hearing to resolve disputes. In order for alternatives to litigation to be properly considered good quality advice needs to be available to all however only a third of the working population are trade union members. A lack of access to legal aid will mean that non members will not have proper recourse to legal advice. It seems unlikely that the ACAS helpline proposal will cater for all workplace disputes. The Code has also been seen as unfair towards employees as it does not take into account that in reality there is rarely a balance of power between employer and employee. Employers have more resources and employees tend to already feel intimidated when bringing a grievance. A simple dispute could still have as its underlying cause a long term abusive policy against workers which of course cannot be resolved through a telephone conversation with an ACAS mediator. Indeed there are many categories of workers including the elderly and disabled or those with language difficulties who would need face to face advice. The LAG report states,[16] ‘We have to question whether the DTI is taking an even-handed approach to the resolution of work-related disputes or whether it has bowed to pressure from the powerful employers lobby.’ The overall view therefore of those acting for employees is that although the Regulations were unnecessarily complex they could have been simplified without being repealed as they provided minimum protection for all workers, whether or not they were trade union members. The principal reason for issuing the Regulations was because it was found that many employers did not have any procedures in place for resolving dispute and a repeal of the regulations could mean a return to this situation. There are also potential problems with the right of employees to bring claims being infringed where it is proposed that the Tribunal application system should also be processed through the ACAS helpline. LAG notes[17], ‘It would be inappropriate for a service point that had an aim of providing advice and guidance to also act in a ‘gatekeeping’ role for potential ET claims. Combined with the suggestion that the new advice service should be able to over-ride or contradict the advice given by a representative11, this would damage any integrity generated for such a service.’ Conclusion Clearly the repeal of the Dispute Resolution Regulations 2004 and the implementation of the ACAS Code due to take effect in April 2009 is not without its difficulties. The Government’s aim is to reduce the amount of claims being taken to the Tribunal although it recognises that dispute resolution is in itself only one strand. The other is revising the law in relation to unfair dismissal and making the Tribunal processes itself more efficient. The Code is similar to the Regulations in that it mirrors a three step process. However the onus is often put on the employer to determine what is reasonable which has the effect of the Tribunal later claiming breach of the regulations or the employee claiming that their rights have been infringed. The employer therefore has a burden to act reasonably and the vagueness of this term although creates more flexibility to employers will produce greater uncertainty. Only time will tell whether the Code will in fact encourage a ‘conflict resolution culture’ and reduce the administrative burden on employers as its drafters intended. BIBLIOGRAPHY ACAS: Draft for Consultation: Draft Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance (Nov 2008) http://www.acas.org.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=961p=0 BERR -Resolving Disputes in the Workplace Consultation Government Response (May 2008) DTI-Better Dispute Resolution: A Review of Employment Dispute Resolution in Great Britain- Michael Gibbons (March 2007)-http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file38516.pdf DTI-Success at work resolving disputes in the workplace: A consultation- (March 2007) DTI-Success at work resolving disputes in the workplace: A consultation- Response of the Legal Action Group (2007) Is it the end of the road for Statutory Minimum Dispute resolution Procedures Nick Hine May 2008)http://www.tcii.co.uk/images/upload/guest_article_pdfs/11ganick_hine2ddpdf_2173.pdf United Kingdom: New Acas Code Of Practice on Disciplinary And Grievances Article by Val Dougan Dundas and Wilson Solicitors 28 November 2008 www.personneltoday.com 1 [1] DTI-Better Dispute Resolution: A Review of Employment Dispute Resolution in Great Britain- Michael Gibbons (March 2007)-http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file38516.pdf [2] DTI-Success at work resolving disputes in the workplace: A consultation- March 2007 [3] DTI-Better Dispute Resolution: A Review of Employment Dispute Resolution in Great Britain- Michael Gibbons )March 2007)http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file38516.pdf [4] Gibbons Review pg. 27 [5] Employers must consult the ACAS book on redundancy handling [6] ACAS: Draft for Consultation: Draft Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance http://www.acas.org.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=961p=0 [7] The Foreword of the Code is not legally binding but constitutes best practice [8] Clause 9, ACAS: Draft Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance 2008 [9]Clause 15, ACAS: Draft Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance 2008 [10] Clause 24 ACAS: Draft Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance 2008 [11] Clause 25 ACAS: Draft Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance 2008 [12] Clause 32 ACAS: Draft Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance 2008 [13] BERR -Resolving Disputes in the Workplace Consultation Government Response (May 2008) [14] BERR Resolving Disputes in the Workplace Consultation Government Response May 2008 [15] DTI-Success at work resolving disputes in the workplace: A consultation- Response of the Legal Action Group [16] LAG Report Pg.2 [17] LAG Report pg.5

The Split Cherry Tree Essay -- essays research papers

The Split Cherry tree by: Jesse Stuart   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The setting takes place when people own a large amount of land. It is when the average family consisted of many children, and the children helped the family out. The boys usually tended the land with their father, and the girls were taught to wash clothes and to clean and cook. The setting consists of the same things as did the families of the frontier times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The plot tells a story of a boy named Dave who was on a mission to recover four-legged scaly specimens of the kingdom of Nimalia. In order to complete such a task the boy was required to climb a cherry tree. He and his chums went over to a cherry tree that was in the property of a man who lived near the school. When they arrived at the spot where he was to begin his task, they observed a lizard who was patiently absorbing the warmth of the sun in order to be able to enjoy the night. As soon as the boys had spotted the lizard, they gave chase. The lizard noticing them instantaneously high tailed it to the nearest tree which happened to be a cherry tree. David and his friends followed the lizard up the tree. When the boy was near the top of the tree, the weight of him and his friends caused the tree to wilt until it came to a breaking point where it could no longer stand the stress that was being applied to it so it snapped. The man who owned the land, and the tree that was on it, took the ...

Japan In The Wake Of World War Ii History Essay

Embracing Defeat represents the really best of historical scholarship of Japan ‘s experience of licking and business at the terminal of the Second World War. Written by MIT Professor John W. Dower, this book shows the loanblend and contested character of the Occupation of Japan by the United States of America. More than merely sing the Occupation through the lens of the vanquisher ‘s strength, the greatest part of Embracing Defeat lies in the alternate position it offers of a complex post-war Nipponese society and the Nipponese people. As Dower competently puts, the period â€Å" through the eyes of the defeatedaˆÂ ¦ wretchedness, freak out cynicism and bitterness ‘ but besides ‘hope resiliency, vision and dreams ‘ ( pp. 24-25 ) in the embracing of licking. He delves into a scope of subjects from General Douglas MacArthur ‘s disposal, the Tokyo ‘s War Trial, Emperor Hirohito controversial function to the common people on the land such a s cocottes, rise of Mafias running black markets, workers, administrative officials, political party members, detailing the mind from the most powerful elite to the common man at grassroots. Underliing these subjects, the book is written in a proseful postmodern narrative albeit critical structural analysis. The book can be divided into three chief parts. The first trades with the popular and subculture of the Japanese. Second portion trades with the political alteration enacted by the occupational elites, in controversy with the grassroots. Last the book trades with the Reconstruction of Japan ‘s economic system. Dower thoughtful and thorough inside informations of each portion means that each portion can be read on its ain. However, the weaving of the intercultural interactions between the vanquisher and conquered across the three parts makes the book Embracing Defeat greater the amount of its parts. The book starts against the background of societal and economic desperation. Embedded in the heads of many Nipponese is the ‘subcultures of licking ‘ . During the war, ordinary Nipponese people were prepared to give their lives for the emperor and for their fatherland. With the earth-shattering dropping of the atomic bomb, Nipponese society had been shaken to its foundations, and people had to reinvent their lives to believe of acquiring adequate nutrient to remain alive. This psychic prostration formed the societal cloth. Then, assorted subcultures sprang up from illegal trades of the cocottes and black sellers ‘ detonations of entrepreneurial energy and condemnable packs. Likewise, disillusioned authors and intellectuals embraced a civilization of hedonism. Together, they posed forceful challenges to the traditional societal and sexual order against the cavities of desperation and detecting new aspirations with unsure future individuality in front. However, a sens e of hope and release was what made it possible for most ordinary Nipponese to 'embrace licking ‘ . The 2nd portion of the book brings us to the more familiar terrains of business policies enacted by GHQ ( General Headquarters ) command held under SCAP ( Supreme Commander of Allied Powers ) General MacArthur and the receptiveness of the Nipponese people. Here, Dower presents a critical position of MacArthur and the American swayers ‘ cultural haughtiness against the locals. Much to the reverse of making a more classless society, the Americans ruled as masters and the relationship between them and the Japanese was one of hierarchal. They themselves constructed an ‘inviolate privileged caste ‘ ( p. 211 ) and MacArthur business projected a white supremacist ‘imbued with a sense of manifest fate ‘ ( pp. 211-212 ) with MacArthur governing with absolute authorization of a military absolutism and the Nipponese people its ‘subjects ‘ . While loaded with the liquors of democratisation and demilitarization, the Americans made contradictory picks from start, lending to the intrenchment of conservative powers such as the imperial establishment, one of the many paradoxes which run throughout the book. ‘The Occupation governments chose non to simply detach the emperor from this holy war, but to resituate him as the Centre of their new democracy ‘ ( p. 278 ) . MacArthur sees the Showa Emperor as a ‘force for good ‘ in continuing stableness and easing the undertaking of the occupying forces. Hirohito was protected from any unfavorable judgment and was absolved of any duty for the war in order to make a new ‘imperial democracy ‘ in Japan. However as Dower reveals, there was being of popular and even official sentiment in favour of force outing Hirohito, trialing him as a war felon and in some instances, of get rid ofing the monarchy. He was after all the manifestation of continuity of the war that the soldiers take orders from. It was the SCAP who stepped in to stamp down this climb force per unit area. In add-on, Dower points out that the war offenses tribunal was a travesty. The suspects were coached to remain off from any mention to the Emperor even though he held the de facto capacity of influence during the war and he was the chief adult male whom the suspects took orders from. Dower believes that this hindered the possibility of Japan ‘s future democratic development and this symbol continues to be a stumbling block in Japan ‘s dealingss with the remainder of Asia more than half a century after the terminal of the war. In screening the monarchy from prosecution and shriving Hirohito of duty for aggression, whilst keeping the bastion of peace and Jesus of the state, the US played a polar function in enshrining imperial democracy. Japan ‘s democratic fundamental law was crafted in secret within a hebdomad without audience with Nipponese governments. The footing as underlined by Dower was that MacArthur held the emperor as the caput of the province while war as a crowned head right was abolished and the feudal system will discontinue. Together with the no-war clause under Article 9, the US created the universe ‘s lone univocal peace fundamental law. Against the background of the Cold War events such as the triumph of the Chinese Communist Party in China and the eruption of the Korean War, the Nipponese people however in response to their ain agony during the Pacific war by and big embraced the dovish rules enshrined in the fundamental laws, contending the determination of the US to do Japa n as a subsidiary spouse when the former decided to rearm and reindustrialize Japan. On the other manus, there were right-wingers elements assailing on Article 9. Here, Dower adds rich inside informations to that reading about the diverseness of positions among the Japanese, an issue still in argument boulder clay today. For all the purposes and intents of the broad fundamental law with its enlargement of single freedoms, Dower agues â€Å" the vanquishers worked difficult to engineer consensus, and on many critical issues, they made it clear that the better portion of political wisdom was silence and conformity ‘ ( p. 440 ) . The bureaucratic-authoritarian nature of the authorities maintained rigorous censoring. Subjects refering the business itself could non be criticized. Nor could the atomic bombardment and even unfavorable judgment of the Soviet Union was banned. Labour work stoppages as mobilized by the Communist Party foremost gained strengths and shortly afterwards were banned by MacArthur in the name of economic recovery. Soon, the SCAP compiled a list of suspected Communists and began to collar the development, paralleling MacCarthyism ‘Red Scare ‘ dorsum in USA. However, the pretense continues between the workers and the bureaucratism. Dower therefore highlights the amen tia of democracy when freedom of look, a construct so cardinal to a working democracy is being curtailed. A minor to observe of the book ‘s failing is the deficiency of reference of the land reform plan even though it helped to make the political base for the Liberal Democratic Party for the coming 50 old ages. Land reform relied on the support and cooperation of 1000s of Nipponese and would suit into Dower larger strategy of things of 'embracing licking ‘ . This farther points to the book focuses mostly on urban metropoliss with small reference of the countryside Nipponese people. Still, it is apprehensible given the SCAP radiates its policies from Tokyo GHQ. In footings of methodological attack, Dower uses an array of English and Nipponese beginnings which includes kids ‘s games, sketchs, movies, constabulary records, letters, newspapers, popular vocals. His research into them is thorough and punctilious. In peculiar, he has made important usage of single testimony such as interviews at multiple societal and political degrees to convey out the pluralistic facet of history. Adding to his heartfelt composing manner, the ten-year-in-making has reached audience outside academic domain, winning the 1999 National Book Award, and the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction. Dower wise and examining summing up of certification and archival beginnings in Japan and the USA with his graphical authorship in highly traveling manner describes in elaborate history what it was like for an ordinary individual populating in Japan between 1945 and 1952. The book includes many redolent exposure and the screen of the first edition shows a group of Nipponese listening to their ‘divine sovereign ‘ for the first clip over the wireless on the resignation conveying forth the thought of desperation on the land. Dower aims to show the citizens ‘ mundane life and he has done so successfully. At the same clip, he does non pretermit to depict the institutionalization procedure led by the SCAP and bureaucratic elites in the Nipponese authorities. This well balanced building of history at higher and lower degrees of the society encapsulates the complex relationship between masters and vanquished, filled with contradictions, ambiguities and incompatibilities.

How to Write an A+ Argumentative Essay

How to Write an A+ Argumentative Essay SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You'll no doubt have to write a number of argumentative essays in both high school and college, but what, exactly, is an argumentative essay and how do you write the best one possible? Let's take a look. A great argumentative essay always combines the same basic elements: approaching an argument from a rational perspective, researching sources, supporting your claims using facts rather than opinion, and articulating your reasoning into the most cogent and reasoned points. Argumentative essays are great building blocks for all sorts of research and rhetoric, so your teachers will expect you to master the technique before long. But if this sounds daunting, never fear! We’ll show how an argumentative essay differs from other kinds of papers, how to research and write them, how to pick an argumentative essay topic, and where to find example essays. So let's get started. What Is an Argumentative Essay? How Is it Different from Other Kinds of Essays? There are two basic requirements for any and all essays: to state a claim (a thesis statement) and to support that claim with evidence. Though every essay is founded on these two ideas, there are several different types of essays, differentiated by the style of the writing, how the writer presents the thesis, and the types of evidence used to support the thesis statement. Essays can be roughly divided into four different types: #1: Argumentative#2: Persuasive#3: Expository#4: Analytical So let’s look at each type and what the differences are between them before we focus the rest of our time to argumentative essays. Argumentative Essay Argumentative essays are what this article is all about, so let's talk about them first. An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance. An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument- the writer's argument- is the factually and logically correct one. This means that an argumentative essay must use only evidence-based support to back up a claim, rather than emotional or philosophical reasoning (which is often allowed in other types of essays). Thus, an argumentative essay has a burden of substantiated proof and sources, whereas some other types of essays (namely persuasive essays) do not. You can write an argumentative essay on any topic, so long as there's room for argument. Generally, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one, so long as you support the argumentative essay with hard evidence. Example topics of an argumentative essay: â€Å"Should farmers be allowed to shoot wolves if those wolves injure or kill farm animals?† â€Å"Should the drinking age be lowered in the United States?† â€Å"Are alternatives to democracy effective and/or feasible to implement?† The next three types of essays are not argumentative essays, but you may have written them in school. We're going to cover them so you know what not to do for your argumentative essay. Persuasive Essay Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, so it can be easy to get them confused. But knowing what makes an argumentative essay different than a persuasive essay can often mean the difference between an excellent grade and an average one. Persuasive essays seek to persuade a reader to agree with the point of view of the writer, whether that point of view is based on factual evidence or not. The writer has much more flexibility in the evidence they can use, with the ability to use moral, cultural, or opinion-based reasoning as well as factual reasoning to persuade the reader to agree the writer’s side of a given issue. Instead of being forced to use â€Å"pure† reason as one would in an argumentative essay, the writer of a persuasive essay can manipulate or appeal to the reader’s emotions. So long as the writer attempts to steer the readers into agreeing with the thesis statement, the writer doesn’t necessarily need hard evidence in favor of the argument. Often, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one- the difference is all in the approach and the evidence you present. Example topics of a persuasive essay: â€Å"Should children be responsible for their parents’ debts?† â€Å"Should cheating on a test be automatic grounds for expulsion?† â€Å"How much should sports leagues be held accountable for player injuries and the long-term consequences of those injuries?† Expository Essay An expository essay is typically a short essay in which the writer explains an idea, issue, or theme, or discusses the history of a person, place, or idea. This is typically a fact-forward essay with little argument or opinion one way or the other. Example topics of an expository essay: â€Å"The History of the Philadelphia Liberty Bell† â€Å"The Reasons I Always Wanted to be a Doctor† â€Å"The Meaning Behind the Colloquialism ‘People in Glass Houses Shouldn’t Throw Stones’† Analytical Essay An analytical essay seeks to delve into the deeper meaning of a text or work of art, or unpack a complicated idea. These kinds of essays closely interpret a source and look into its meaning by analyzing it at both a macro and micro level. This type of analysis can be augmented by historical context or other expert or widely-regarded opinions on the subject, but is mainly supported directly through the original source (the piece or art or text being analyzed). Example topics of an analytical essay: â€Å"Victory Gin in Place of Water: The Symbolism Behind Gin as the Only Potable Substance in George Orwell's 1984† â€Å"Amarna Period Art: The Meaning Behind the Shift from Rigid to Fluid Poses† â€Å"Adultery During WWII, as Told Through a Series of Letters to and from Soldiers† There are many different types of essay and, over time, you'll be able to master them all. A Typical Argumentative Essay Assignment The average argumentative essay is between three to five pages, and will require at least three or four separate sources with which to back your claims. As for the essay topic, you'll most often be asked to write an argumentative essay in an English class on a â€Å"general† topic of your choice, ranging the gamut from science, to history, to literature. But while the topics of an argumentative essay can span several different fields, the structure of an argumentative essay is always the same: you must support a claim- a claim that can reasonably have multiple sides- using multiple sources and using a standard essay format (which we'll talk about later on). This is why many argumentative essay topics begin with the word â€Å"should,† as in: â€Å"Should all students be required to learn chemistry in high school?† â€Å"Should children be required to learn a second language?† â€Å"Should schools or governments be allowed to ban books?† These topics all have at least two sides of the argument: Yes or no. And you must support the side you choose with evidence as to why your side is the correct one. But there are also plenty of other ways to frame an argumentative essay as well: â€Å"Does using social media do more to benefit or harm people?† â€Å"Does the legal status of artwork or its creators- graffiti and vandalism, pirated media, a creator who’s in jail- have an impact on the art itself?† â€Å"Is or should anyone ever be ‘above the law?’† Though these are worded differently than the first three, you're still essentially forced to pick between two sides of an issue: yes or no, for or against, benefit or detriment. Though your argument might not fall entirely into one side of the divide or another- for instance, you could claim that social media has positively impacted some aspects of modern life while being a detriment to others- your essay should still support one side of the argument above all. Your final stance would be that overall, social media is beneficial or overall, social media is harmful. If your argument is one that is mostly text-based or backed by a single source (e.g., â€Å"How does Salinger show that Holden Caulfield is an unreliable narrator?† or â€Å"Does Gatsby personify the American Dream?†), then it’s an analytical essay, rather than an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay will always be focused on more general topics so that you can use multiple sources to back up your claims. Good Argumentative Essay Topics So you know the basic idea behind an argumentative essay, but what topic should you write about? Again, almost always, you'll be asked to write an argumentative essay on a free topic of your choice, or you'll be asked to select between a few given topics. If you're given complete free reign of topics, then it'll be up to you to find an essay topic that no only appeals to you, but that you can turn into an A+ argumentative essay. What makes a â€Å"good† argumentative essay topic depends on both the subject matter and your personal interest- it can be hard to give your best effort on something that bores you to tears! But it can also be near impossible to write an argumentative essay on a topic that has no room for debate. As we said earlier, a good argumentative essay topic will be one that has the potential to reasonably go in at least two directions- for or against, yes or no, and why. For example, it’s pretty hard to write an argumentative essay on whether or not people should be allowed to murder one another- not a whole lot of debate there for most people!- but writing an essay for or against the death penalty has a lot more wiggle room for evidence and argument. A good topic is also one that can be substantiated through hard evidence and relevant sources. So be sure to pick a topic that other people have studied (or at least studied elements of) so that you can use their data in your argument. For example, if you’re arguing that it should be mandatory for all middle school children to play a sport, you might have to apply smaller scientific data points to the larger picture you're trying to justify. There are probably several studies you could cite on the benefits of physical activity and the positive effect structure and teamwork has on young minds, but there's probably no study you could use where a group of scientists put all middle-schoolers in one jurisdiction into a mandatory sports program (since that’s probably never happened). So long as your evidence is relevant to your point and you can extrapolate from it to form a larger whole, you can use it as a part of your resource material. And if you need ideas on where to get started, or just want to see sample argumentative essay topics, then check out these links for hundreds of potential argumentative essay topics. 101 Persuasive (or Argumentative) Essay and Speech Topics 301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing Top 50 Ideas for Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Writing [Note: some of these say "persuasive essay topics," but just remember that the same topic can often be used for both a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay; the difference is in your writing style and the evidence you use to support your claims.] KO! Find that one argumentative essay topic you can absolutely conquer. Argumentative Essay Format Argumentative Essays are composed of four main elements: A position (your argument) Your reasons Supporting evidence for those reasons (from reliable sources) Counterargument(s) (possible opposing arguments and reasons why those arguments are incorrect) If you’re familiar with essay writing in general, then you’re also probably familiar with the five paragraph essay structure. This structure is a simple tool to show how one outlines an essay and breaks it down into its component parts, although it can be expanded into as many paragraphs as you want beyond the core five. The standard argumentative essay is often 3-5 pages, which will usually mean a lot more than five paragraphs, but your overall structure will look the same as a much shorter essay. An argumentative essay at its simplest structure will look like: Paragraph 1: Intro Set up the story/problem/issue Thesis/claim Paragraph 2: Support Reason #1 claim is correct Supporting evidence with sources Paragraph 3: Support Reason #2 claim is correct Supporting evidence with sources Paragraph 4: Counterargument Explanation of argument for the other side Refutation of opposing argument with supporting evidence Paragraph 5: Conclusion Re-state claim Sum up reasons and support of claim from the essay to prove claim is correct Now let’s unpack each of these paragraph types to see how they work (with examples!), what goes into them, and why. Paragraph 1- Set Up and Claim Your first task is to introduce the reader to the topic at hand so they’ll be prepared for your claim. Give a little background information, set the scene, and give the reader some stakes so that they care about the issue you're going to discuss. Next, you absolutely must have a position on an argument and make that position clear to the readers. It’s not an argumentative essay unless you’re arguing for a specific claim, and this claim will be your thesis statement. Your thesis CANNOT be a mere statement of fact (e.g., â€Å"Washington DC is the capital of the United States†). Your thesis must instead be an opinion which can be backed up with evidence and has the potential to be argued against (e.g., â€Å"New York should be the capital of the United States†). Paragraphs 2 and 3- Your Evidence These are your body paragraphs in which you give the reasons why your argument is the best one and back up this reasoning with concrete evidence. The argument supporting the thesis of an argumentative essay should be one that can be supported by facts and evidence, rather than personal opinion or cultural or religious mores. For example, if you’re arguing that New York should be the new capital of the US, you would have to back up that fact by discussing the factual contrasts between New York and DC in terms of location, population, revenue, and laws. You would then have to talk about the precedents for what makes for a good capital city and why New York fits the bill more than DC does. Your argument can’t simply be that a lot of people think New York is the best city ever and that you agree. In addition to using concrete evidence, you always want to keep the tone of your essay passionate, but impersonal. Even though you’re writing your argument from a single opinion, don’t use first person language- â€Å"I think,† â€Å"I feel,† â€Å"I believe,†- to present your claims. Doing so is repetitive, since by writing the essay you’re already telling the audience what you feel, and using first person language weakens your writing voice. For example, â€Å"I think that Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States.† Versus, â€Å"Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States.† The second statement sounds far stronger and more analytical. Paragraph 4- Argument for the Other Side and Refutation Even without a counter argument, you can make a pretty persuasive claim, but a counterargument will round out your essay into one that is much more persuasive and substantial. By anticipating an argument against your claim and taking the initiative to counter it, you’re allowing yourself to get ahead of the game. This way, you show that you’ve given great thought to all sides of the issue before choosing your position, and you demonstrate in multiple ways how yours is the more reasoned and supported side. Paragraph 5- Conclusion This paragraph is where you re-state your argument and summarize why it’s the best claim. Briefly touch on your supporting evidence and voila! A finished argumentative essay. Your essay should have just as awesome a skeleton as this plesiosaur does. (In other words: a ridiculously awesome skeleton) Argumentative Essay Example: 5-Paragraph Style It always helps to have an example to learn from. I've written a full 5-paragraph argumentative essay here. Look at how I state my thesis in paragraph 1, give supporting evidence in paragraphs 2 and 3, address a counterargument in paragraph 4, and conclude in paragraph 5. Topic: Is it possible to maintain conflicting loyalties? Paragraph 1 It is almost impossible to go through life without encountering a situation where your loyalties to different people or causes come into conflict with each other. Maybe you have a loving relationship with your sister, but she disagrees with your decision to join the army, or you find yourself torn between your cultural beliefs and your scientific ones. These conflicting loyalties can often be maintained for a time, but as examples from both history and psychological theory illustrate, sooner or later, people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever. The first two sentences set the scene and give some hypothetical examples and stakes for the reader to care about. The third sentence finishes off the intro with the thesis statement, making very clear how the author stands on the issue ("people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever.") Paragraphs 2 and 3 Psychological theory states that human beings are not equipped to maintain conflicting loyalties indefinitely and that attempting to do so leads to a state called â€Å"cognitive dissonance.† Cognitive dissonance theory is the psychological idea that people undergo tremendous mental stress or anxiety when holding contradictory beliefs, values, or loyalties (Festinger, 1957). Even if human beings initially hold a conflicting loyalty, they will do their best to find a mental equilibrium by making a choice between those loyalties- stay stalwart to a belief system or change their beliefs. One of the earliest formal examples of cognitive dissonance theory comes from Leon Festinger’s When Prophesy Fails. Members of an apocalyptic cult are told that the end of the world will occur on a specific date and that they alone will be spared the Earth’s destruction. When that day comes and goes with no apocalypse, the cult members face a cognitive dissonance between what they s ee and what they’ve been led to believe (Festinger, 1956). Some choose to believe that the cult's beliefs are still correct, but that the Earth was simply spared from destruction by mercy, while others choose to believe that they were lied to and that the cult was fraudulent all along. Both beliefs cannot be correct at the same time, and so the cult members are forced to make their choice. But even when conflicting loyalties can lead to potentially physical, rather than just mental, consequences, people will always make a choice to fall on one side or other of a dividing line. Take, for instance, Nicolaus Copernicus, a man born and raised in Catholic Poland (and educated in Catholic Italy). Though the Catholic church dictated specific scientific teachings, Copernicus' loyalty to his own observations and scientific evidence won out over his loyalty to his country’s government and belief system. When he published his heliocentric model of the solar systemin opposition to the geocentric model that had been widely accepted for hundreds of years (Hannam, 2011) Copernicus was making a choice between his loyalties. In an attempt to maintain his fealty both to the established system and to what he believed, he sat on his findings for a number of years (Fantoli, 1994). But, ultimately, Copernicus made the choice to side with his beliefs and observations above all and pub lished his work for the world to see (even though, in doing so, he risked both his reputation and personal freedoms). These two paragraphs provide the reasons why the author supports the main argument and uses substantiated sources to back those reasons. The paragraph on cognitive dissonance theory gives both broad supporting evidence and more narrow, detailed supporting evidence to show why the thesis statement is correct not just anecdotally but also scientifically and psychologically. First, we see why people in general have a difficult time accepting conflicting loyalties and desires and then how this applies to individuals through the example of the cult members from the Dr. Festinger's research. The next paragraph continues to use more detailed examples from history to provide further evidence of why the thesis that people cannot indefinitely maintain conflicting loyalties is true. Paragraph 4 Some will claim that it is possible to maintain conflicting beliefs or loyalties permanently, but this is often more a matter of people deluding themselves and still making a choice for one side or the other, rather than truly maintaining loyalty to both sides equally. For example, Lancelot du Lac typifies a person who claims to maintain a balanced loyalty between to two parties, but his attempt to do so fails (as all attempts to permanently maintain conflicting loyalties must). Lancelot tells himself and others that he is equally devoted to both King Arthur and his court and to being Queen Guinevere’s knight (Malory, 2008). But he can neither be in two places at once to protect both the king and queen, nor can he help but let his romantic feelings for the queen to interfere with his duties to the king and the kingdom. Ultimately, he and Queen Guinevere give into their feelings for one another and Lancelot- though he denies it- chooses his loyalty to her over his loyalty to Ar thur. This decision plunges the kingdom into a civil war, ages Lancelot prematurely, and ultimately leads to Camelot’s ruin (Raabe, 1987). Though Lancelot claimed to have been loyal to both the king and the queen, this loyalty was ultimately in conflict, and he could not maintain it. Here we have the acknowledgement of a potential counter-argument and the evidence as to why it isn't true. The argument is that some people (or literary characters) have asserted that they give equal weight to their conflicting loyalties. The refutation is that, though some may claim to be able to maintain conflicting loyalties, they're either lying to others or deceiving themselves. The paragraph shows why this is true by providing an example of this in action. Paragraph 5 Whether it be through literature or history, time and time again, people demonstrate the challenges of trying to manage conflicting loyalties and the inevitable consequences of doing so. Though belief systems are malleable and will often change over time, it is not possible to maintain two mutually exclusive loyalties or beliefs at once. In the end, people always make a choice, and loyalty for one party or one side of an issue will always trump loyalty to the other. The concluding paragraph summarizes the essay, touches on the evidence presented, and re-states the thesis statement. How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 8 Steps Writing the best argumentative essay is all about the preparation, so let's talk steps: #1: Preliminary Research If you have the option to pick your own argumentative essay topic (which you most likely will), then choose one or two topics you find the most intriguing or that you have a vested interest in and do some preliminary research on both sides of the debate. Do an open internet search just to see what the general chatter is on the topic and what the research trends are. Did your preliminary reading influence you to pick a side or change your side? Without diving into all the scholarly articles at length, do you believe there’s enough evidence to support your claim? Have there been scientific studies? Experiments? Does a noted scholar in the field agree with you? If not, you may need to pick another topic or side of the argument to support. #2: Pick Your Side and Form Your Thesis Now's the time to pick the side of the argument you feel you can support the best and summarize your main point into your thesis statement. Your thesis will be the basis of your entire essay, so make sure you know which side you’re on, that you’ve stated it clearly, and that you stick by your argument throughout the entire essay. #3: Heavy-Duty Research Time You’ve taken a gander at what the internet at large has to say on your argument, but now’s the time to actually read those sources and take notes. Check scholarly journals online at Google Scholar, the Directory of Open Access Journals, or JStor. You can also search individual university or school libraries and websites to see what kinds of academic articles you can access for free. Keep track of your important quotes and page numbers and put them somewhere that’s easy to find later. And don’t forget to check your school or local libraries as well! #4: Outline Follow the five-paragraph outline structure from the previous section. Fill in your topic, your reasons, and your supporting evidence into each of the categories. Before you begin to flesh out the essay, take a look at what you’ve got. Is your thesis statement in the first paragraph? Is it clear? Is your argument logical? Does your supporting evidence support your reasoning? By outlining your essay, you streamline your process and take care of any logic gaps before you dive headfirst into the writing. This will save you a lot of grief later on if you need to change your sources or your structure, so don’t get too trigger-happy and skip this step. #5: Draft Now that you’ve laid out exactly what you’ll need for your essay and where, it’s time to fill in all the gaps by writing it out. Take it one step at a time and expand your ideas into complete sentences and substantiated claims. It may feel daunting to turn an outline into a complete draft, but just remember that you’ve already laid out all the groundwork; now you’re just filling in the gaps. #6: Edit If you have the time before deadline, give yourself a day or two (or even just an hour!) away from your essay. Looking it over with fresh eyes will allow you to see errors, both minor and major, that you likely would have missed had you tried to edit when it was still raw. Take a first pass over the entire essay and try your best to ignore any minor spelling or grammar mistakes- you’re just looking at the big picture right now. Does it make sense as a whole? Did the essay succeed in making an argument and backing that argument up logically? (Do you feel persuaded?) If not, go back and make notes so that you can fix it for your final draft. Once you’ve made your revisions to the overall structure, mark all your small errors and grammar problems so you can fix them in the next draft. #7: Final Draft Use the notes you made on the rough draft and go in and hack and smooth away until you’re satisfied with the final result. A checklist for your final draft: Formatting is correct according to your teacher’s standards No errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation Essay is the right length and size for the assignment The argument is present, consistent, and concise Each reason is supported by relevant evidence The essay makes sense overall #8: Celebrate! Once you’ve brought that final draft to a perfect polish and turned in your assignment, you’re done! Go you! Be prepared and â™ ª you'll never go hungry again â™ ª, *cough*, or struggle with your argumentative essay-writing again. (Walt Disney Studios) Good Examples of Argumentative Essays Online Theory is all well and good, but examples are key. Just to get you started on what a fully-fleshed out argumentative essay looks like, let's see some examples in action. Check out these two argumentative essay examples on the use of landmines and freons (and note the excellent use of concrete sources to back up their arguments!). The Use of Landmines A Shattered Sky The Take-Aways: Keys to Writing an Argumentative Essay At first, writing an argumentative essay may seem like a monstrous hurdle to overcome, but with the proper preparation and understanding, you'll be able to knock yours out of the park. Remember the differences between a persuasive essay and an argumentative one, make sure your thesis is clear, and double-check that your supporting evidence is both relevant to your point and well-sourced. Pick your topic, do your research, make your outline, and fill in the gaps. Before you know it, you'll have yourself an A+ argumentative essay there, my friend.