The Great Gatsby Socratic Seminar Questions free essay sample

A tragic hero contains a fatal flaw, and is responsible for their own downfall. Jay Gatsby reflects a tragic hero as in loving Daisy he causes his own downfall. Gatsby continually loves Daisy for five years. Gatsby and Daisy fell in love before he left for the war, and vowed to wait for each other. Circumstances arise and Jay is unable to return from the war as soon as he had hoped. During this time Daisy meets Tom Buchanan, and marries him; however, Gatsby does not give up on loving Daisy. Everything Jay does upon his return revolves around Daisy.He says that every decision he ever makes is with her in mind- everything is for her. Gatsby needs Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him, and he believes she is going to. Gatsby confronts Tom and tells how Daisy has never loved him, Tom is in disbelief, as is Daisy: â€Å"She hesitated†¦ as though she had realized at last what she was doing- and as though she had never, all along, intended doing anything at all. We will write a custom essay sample on The Great Gatsby Socratic Seminar Questions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † (Fitzgerald 132). Gatsby lays everything out on the line for Daisy, he puts so much continual effort into loving Daisy, and she never has true intentions of doing anything.Even after the encounter, where Daisy is supposed to confess to never loving Tom, fails, Jay is still unable to recognize that the hope of ending up with Daisy is perishing forever. Knowing that Daisy is staying with Tom, and that Tom blamed the death of Myrtle on Gatsby, Nick tries to convince Jay to leave, but â€Å"He wouldn’t consider it. He couldn’t possibly leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do. He was clutching at some last hope and I couldn’t bear to shake him free† (Fitzgerald 148). One of Gatsby’s fatal flaws is that he did not leave town.With the death of Myrtle pinned against him, Wilson, Myrtle’s husband, kills him. Gatsby puts so much into loving Daisy and builds an empire with her at heart, though it is not enough. Jay believes that we are able to repeat the past however; in trying to repeat the past, he is killed on wrongful premises. Thus another fatal flaw reflecting Gatsby’s character as a tragic hero. 2. Fitzgerald once wanted to title the novel Under the Red, White, and Blue; however, The Great Gatsby better reflects Fitzgerald’s overall purpose- money does not buy happiness, or personal connections.The title Under the Red, White, and Blue holds connotations with capitalism, and success; however, would give the novel more of an impression focused around America itself. Whereas the title The Great Gatsby sets up the reader’s perception of Jay Gatsby and foreshadows his death- historically people are referred to as â€Å"The Great† after their death. Readers are able to see that although Jay is â€Å"Great†, all his money and fame are unable to buy him happiness, and the connection he longs for with Daisy.As Jay awaits a phone call from Daisy, saying that she is going to follow through with leaving Tom, Nick has â€Å"an idea that he [Gatsby] no longer cared. If that was true he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream† (Fitzgerald 161). Nick believes that Gatsby does come to the realization that despite all his wealth, he has nothing without Daisy, and that his money was unable to make her understand. Although many perceive Jay as â€Å"Great†, he feels he never had anything without Daisy.The title The Great Gatsby, achieves the authors overall purpose as it better indicates the outcomes of the novel. 3. Looking through a psychological lens, we can see that both Jay and Daisy are struggling. Gatsby wants Daisy, and Daisy wants him too, though they cannot be together because of the psychological issues they separately possess. As far Gatsby, he never loved anyone else. He did not even want to think of his parents as his real parents, from the time he was a little boy he set high ambitions. Once he met, and fell in love with, Daisy, Gatsby could not imagine his life with out her.He did not want to loose the feeling of love she brought him. Jay had a vision of what his life would be like, and Daisy’s part in it all, it could not be any other way. After Daisy comes to a party at his house, Gatsby shares with Nick that Daisy did not like it. Jay wants nothing less of Daisy than that she tell Tom she never loved him, he tells Nick, â€Å"It’s so hard to make her understand†¦ She used to be able to understand. We’d sit for hours† (Fitzgerald 109). Gatsby realizes that Daisy does not see things the same way she did five years earlier.For some reason, he cannot let go of what he used to have with Daisy, and all Jay wants is to go back and start where they left off. Gatsby is plagued with trying to repeat the past, and it motivates many of his actions. On the other hand, there is Daisy. She tries to convince herself that she never loved Tom, but she cannot admit it to Tom because it would be a lie. During Tom and Gatsby’s confrontation, Daisy forces herself to tell Tom that she â€Å"never loved him†, although he makes her question herself further when reminding her of â€Å"that day I [Tom] carried you down from the Punch Bowl to keep your shoes dry?† (Fitzgerald 132). This reinforces Daisy’s feelings and she finally tells Gatsby, â€Å"Oh you want too much! I love you know- isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past† (Fitzgerald 132). Psychologically, Daisy feels as though she has wasted time with Tom. She wants to be with Jay but is unable to give him what he wants. Because Daisy loves Gatsby it motivates many of her actions. Even though she attains the notion of never loving Tom, it is not true. 4. Looking through a feminist lens we see Myrtle and Daisy trapped in patriarchal roles. Myrtle’s role as Tom’s mistress keeps her in just that position- Tom’s mistress.Although Tom loves Myrtle very much, and is devastated when she is killed, Daisy is still his wife. When Tom takes Myrtle to their flat in New York she complains, â€Å"Daisy! Daisy! Daisy! † and then with â€Å"a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand† (Fitzgerald 37). Myrtle is stuck in her role as mistress. She tries to make Tom leave Daisy, and he quickly puts her in place. Instead of staying with Tom, as his mistress, Myrtle needs to give him an ultimatum- her or Daisy; however, Tom keeps her in a patriarchal role through intimidation.On the contrary, Daisy feels trapped with Tom, and wishes that she could have been with Gatsby all along. Daisy tries to tell Tom that she is leaving him for Gatsby, and then things escalate. Tom pushes Gatsby to the breaking point and he â€Å"explodes† on Tom. This frightens Daisy much, and Jay tries to talk to Daisy, though â€Å"With every word she was drawing further and further into herself†¦ Her frightened eyes told that whatever intentions, whatever courage she had had, were definitely gone† (Fitzgerald 134-135). Daisy, just like Myrtle is held in a patriarchal role through intimidation.She sees how angry Gatsby gets because of the accusations Tom makes about him, and she retreats to Tom. It is somewhat evident that Tom intimidates Daisy, although the burst of anger from Jay is what ultimately puts her back into her male-controlled role under Tom. Although they are different, Myrtle and Daisy are similar in their patriarchal roles. 5. Looking through a Marxist lens we see the dangers of capitalism- carelessness. Daisy and Tom prove that wealth can make people careless, and self centered. Daisy proves to be self centered, as she seems to care littleabout her child. When Gatsby and Nick come for lunch the maid brings the child into the room, which makes Daisy happy for a while, and then she, â€Å"sat back down on the couch. The nurse took a step forward and held out her hand†¦ the well-disciplined child held out her hand and was pulled out the door† (Fitzgerald 117). Because Daisy has money she can afford a maid to take care of her daughter all the time. She hardly at mentions the child at all throughout the novel, and certainly does not make choices with her daughter in mind.The readers sense a very little relationship between Daisy and her child. Because of Daisy’s wealth she seems to have very little time for anyone but herself, thus proving her negligence. A maid raises her child, brings her around every once in a while, and when Daisy has had her fill, she merely sits back down. Together, Tom and Daisy take two lives. Daisy kills Myrtle while driving Gatsby’s car, and Tom wrongfully pins the murder of Myrtle on Gatsby, urging Wilson to kill Gatsby.Daisy does nothing about Myrtle, and Tom knows he is somewhat responsible for Gatsby’s death, â€Å"So what if I told him [Wilson]† (Fizgerald 178). When Nick runs into Tom in New York, Tom remarks about Gatsby, â€Å"That fellow had it coming to him (Fitzgerald 178). On the day of Gatsby’s funeral, Nick recollects, â€Å"that Daisy hadn’t sent a message or a flower† (Fitzgerald 174). After all she goes through with Gatsby, and all she puts him through, Daisy does not have the decency to make even the smallest gesture.Nick is able to finally reach to a conclusion about Daisy and Tom, â€Å"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever is was that kept them together, and let other people clean up th e mess that they has made† (Fitzgerald 179). Through a Marxist lens readers are able to see the dangers of capitalism. Excessive wealth, a higher class, is capable of turning people careless and self centered, as Tom and Daisy Buchanan undoubtedly expose.

Mercy Killing Essays

Mercy Killing Essays Mercy Killing Essay Mercy Killing Essay James Palmer Jason Witt Writing 2 November 11, 2010 Mercy killing is it justifiable? There are many perspectives on the issue of mercy killing and if it’s justifiable. Mercy killing is the killing of another human being. As this issue is closely monitored we see that, euthanasia involves the ethics of doctor’s practices, and many other problems that may come up in this controversial issue. Three main perspectives are mercy killing is not justifiable for any reason, mercy killing is justifiable, and mercy killing is justifiable to a certain degree. The mercy killing issue has been brought up in many articles. Some articles are pertaining to military personnel. Other articles are according to health circumstances. Also some information can be gathered throughout several cases in federal and lower courts. These articles seem to come more frequently though when wars appear. When the most recent wars, the Iraq and Afghanistan war came about there were several articles published about this very issue of mercy killing. First of all, we see the different sides of the issue, as is related to mercy killing, euthanasia is one such word strongly used. Euthanasia is used to describe mercy killing it is interpreted by the following: â€Å"Euthanasia is the act of killing someone painlessly (someone suffering from incurable disease)† (Word net web Princeton). Involuntary euthanasia is â€Å"euthanasia conducted without the explicit consent of the individual concerned† (Word net web Princeton). The medical dictionary term for euthanasia is â€Å"the act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment†(Medical-Dictionary). Mercy killing is a decision many people face today. Throughout the years there have been cases within the military with this very issue, and cases involving other people. Some of these cases that come up a lot involve military personnel in other countries. One instant would be a military person shooting a kid due to them being impacted by an IED bomb. The military person kills the boy to put the boy out of his misery because the kid is slowly dying. When the military person returns back to the United States he gets court marshaled. A story in 2005 that was in the newspaper was about a sergeant in the armed forces that killed a Iraqi teen due to the teen being burned alive in a bus, he was beyond the stage of help and was screaming the sergeant felt sorry and put the teen out of his misery. There are many stories like the above that have been published throughout the years, but they all seem to come to the same conclusion â€Å"unethical† and jail. Is what the military person did okay? What would you do if you were in the military personnel’s position? We may ask ourselves what do we as humans believe is justifiable? What do we believe is ethical? Do we believe we can play God, who should live and who should die? As we look into this issue we see more cases not just in America but in many other countries. Americans see this as unethical especially if this is done to a civilian even under the circumstances. According to the military there are rules of conduct one must abide to while on foreign soil. Abiding by rules of conduct means military soldiers are liable in which they are court marshaled when returning to the United States. These cases have been going on a lot especially through the Iraq and Afghanistan war. The first perspective on mercy killing is that mercy killing is not justifiable for any reason. If we look at this perspective, we see that all life is precious and we do not have the right as humans to choose who lives and who dies. When someone is dealing with situations according to death, people think our love ones have no right to make life ending decisions for the individual. What happens if the individual that is suffering is rich and the loved one wants the individual’s life to end in order to accumulate the wealth? We see that this could influence the decision to kill the individual, which is an unethical reason. We also see under military circumstances that killing a civilian under the circumstances mentioned above is unethical because citizens from that country might take it as Americans want to kill people. We also see that it is unjustifiable because of doctor’s ethical values. Doctors are held to high standards and in their professions there suppose to save life at all cost and to do everything in their ability to keep their patients alive. So even if there is a possibility that the patient won’t last, they are supposed to do everything they can to keep the patient alive as long as possible. If a doctor lets a patient die, than that act will be questioning their medical practices. So we see that this perspective to mercy killing is unjustifiable. We see this as a very good point, no one a can play God according to who should live and who should die. We also see that doctors can’t possibly allow the individual to die because they would be questioning their practices. The second perspective we see is that Mercy killing is justifiable. We see that mercy killing is necessary in some cases. Such cases are life threatening diseases which cause the individual to endure horrific pains. This is when mercy killing should be legalized for legitimate circumstances. When someone is in so much pain and knows they’re going to die they should have the right to choose to die if they want to pass away early to stop the pain they should have that right. Many people have been diagnosed with Stage four cancers and have been in hospitals for months waiting for a miracle a sign of hope in their dark hours. Many people have had tumors, blood diseases, and many other forms of incurable body diseases. People take life for granted today we don’t realize how lucky we are to live each day. Others are unfortunate and die younger but this is life, when one life ends another begins the saying goes. We need to think what is best for the patient suffering what he/ or she wants. How long must a loved one wait lying in a bed helpless in excruciating pain? This perspective believes it is when the person feels like he/she can’t tolerate the pain. No one likes pain or wants to endure pain at any level. We need to think about that and consider what if we were in pain what would we want done? What would be the right thing to do? The third perspective is, mercy killing is justifiable to a certain degree. As we look at this we see that some believe that mercy killing may prove useful in certain situation. Although how can we determine what the situations would be? How much pain do they actually have to suffer from in order to be killed in humane way? Should we entrust another human with another human’s life? This side of the issue believes in mercy killing but at same time dislikes the idea. They are caught between the ethics of the situation. So as we look at the word ethical we see it means the right thing to do, how do we determine what is the right thing to do? Everybody has a different perspective and opinion on things how can one possibly agree? We have to really examine all possibilities in order to decide what our choice will be. We have to examine what degree is justifiable. This perspective is hanging on both the other perspectives it is touching the issue but using the other two perspectives to justify their perspective. When we look at how the United States, they kill people on death row by lethal injection. So why can’t we do the same to others? The United States and other countries have over the years done many things to kill people on death row from hanging, shooting, torturing, drowning, and many other things to kill these violent people. Although over the years the United States have narrowed their mindset to lethal injection. This theory is due to the public believing that lethal injection is more ethical instead of the other above listed ways. So as we look more into this area, can we use lethal injection for mercy killing to those whose lives are at stake? Why would it be okay to have mercy killing justifiable to people on death row but not to the people that really need it under their circumstances? We see that mercy killing is allowed in death row and that is justifiable to a certain degree according to the people of the United States. So the United states could try to use the above as a option to the families who’s loved ones are suffering and in the greater circumstances it would be justifiable to enact mercy killing. In Conclusion, we see that there are many perspectives to if mercy killing is justifiable? We see that mercy killing is not justifiable for any reason, mercy killing is justifiable, and Mercy killing is justifiable to a certain degree. Mercy killing is a very strong and controversial issue in our time. As we think about it our society and government has changed a lot today from years ago we frown upon ideas such as gay marriages, legalization of marijuana ect. We have to realize that we can’t just push these issues under the rug because they will keep on coming back. We have to look at these issues and be proactive and do something about them. At least come to an understanding among the different points of view of the issue in order to come to a valid conclusion together. With ought coming to an understanding all sides will be unheard and the issue to will prolong. I agree with all sides no one is completely wrong and no one is completely right. Every perspective has their strong points and every perspective has some bad points. The real Strength about the perspective will come when they choose what they will actually do about the problem pertaining to the valid issue. Euthanasia is something we the people of the United States have been left with for a long time. We need to come to a resolution since there are so many perspectives as you can already see. No decision will satisfy everyone but a decision must be made. We know America is not alone many other countries face the same issue. The only difference we can make is what we will do as the body of the United States to come to an understanding about the issue. Work Cited Albertson, Tory. Counterpoint: Euthanasia: Mercy Killing or Murder?. Vanguard University of South Alabama (2010): 1. Web. 15 Nov 2010. . Newspapers:Mercy Killing. Times 16 August 1966: 1-4. Web. 15 Nov 2010.

A Killer At Thurston High

It is not a far reach to speculate that he may have felt that, ultimately, his parents were to blame for his problems.   Had it not been for them, he would never have been born. This theory is supported by his written confession, which he left at the scene of his parents’ murder, in which he stated â€Å"I wish I had been aborted.†Ã‚   In this same letter, he states that he loved his mom and dad â€Å"so much† (Frontline).   This further lends credibility to the idea that while he felt love for his parents outwardly, he subconsciously harbored blame towards them because they were, essentially, the source of his suffering because they were the responsible for his existence.   Unfortunately, his inner turmoil manifested itself in a violent explosion of emotions, and he committed murders for reasons that even he could not explain. Another common theory that one could consider is that to some extent, Kinkel’s behavior can be attributed to peer influence, which would fall under the category of behavior modeling.   According to the chronological time table provided on the PBS Frontline website, Kinkel had no obvious behavioral problems during his elementary school years. Although he struggled greatly in school, several sources stated that he worked very hard to attempt to keep up with his classmates.   It would seem that once he entered middle school, he began to associate with young people who were less than upstanding citizens.   It is possible that by acting out, he was gaining acceptance from his peers, as opposed to feeling inferior because of his learning disability.   It is important to note that many of his offenses, particularly during his middle school years, involved friends.   Judging from his behavior, one can easily infer that Kinkel is not a leader, but a follower. It is likely that, at least in the beginning, he very seldom initiated criminal behavior, but rather blindly followed his friends down whatever path they chose. This may have likely set the stage for further misbehavior.   While his friends were not found to have any involvement in the murder of Kinkel’s parents or classmates, they did attribute to his delinquent attitude and fostered his fascination with guns and other deadly weapons.   So, in his attempt to conform to his friends’ ideas and behavior, he himself adopted their ways. His delinquent behavior evolved from so called â€Å"victimless† crimes, for instance, the ordering of mail order bomb books, shoplifting, etc, to increasingly violent acts.   As the chronological timeline found on the Frontline website clearly illustrates, it was not until after the relatively minor incidents occurred that his crimes became violent.   Throwing rocks off of the highway overpass, though it could have potentially caused great injury, was not a blatantly violent crime.   However, approximately three months later he was suspended from school for violent assaults against his classmates. One of the biggest controversies surrounding cases of teenage violence in America is deciding to whom the blame belongs.   Some may posit that the child’s parents are to blame; after all, they are the ones ultimately responsible for their children.   Others may blame the advent of violent video games, citing that young minds do not possess the discernment to know the difference between reality and fantasy. Still others will claim that the media is responsible; given that most young adults have unlimited access to television, explicit CD’s and internet websites, they are likely over stimulated with inappropriate material.   From a psychological viewpoint, we would define the aforementioned opinions as a tendency toward cognitive heuristics, more specifically, the principle of availability.   That is to say, Kinkel may have drawn on scenarios that he had either witnessed or heard about in order to rationalize his behavior. It is also possible that the idea to open fire on his classmates was in some way influenced by the influx of school shootings around the nation.   In theory, the fact that his solution to his problem was to go on a murderous rampage so shortly after other school shootings, lends credence to the idea that he was influenced by coverage of other shootings. Judging from Kinkel’s actions, writings, and confessional utterances, he suffered from a very low self-esteem.   Although some people naturally have a healthier self-image than others, a humanistic view of psychology dictates that negative experiences can contribute to a person’s low self-worth.   As described on the Frontline website, Kinkel struggled with school from the very beginning.   Because he started school in Spain, and spoke only English, he was at a great disadvantage. Not only did he miss out on an academic level, but also on a social level.   Even after returning to the United States, he continued to struggle in many areas of schooling.   Having to repeat the first grade likely affected his self-esteem.   Also, by all accounts, he continued to struggle with language problems.   In an interview, his sister admits to teasing him about his deficiency. It is likely that his classmates may have done the same.   Once he was diagnosed with a learning disability, and given the appropriate help, he apparently began to improve academically.   However, one can conclude that his feelings of low self-worth did not completely dissipate.   This may explain why he chose the friends that he did, which ultimately lead to participating in criminal activities. It has become a commonly accepted notion in the United States that puberty is the cause of many abnormal behaviors in young people.   To some extent, it is a reasonable claim; as a child matures into a teenager, they will likely push for more independence and individuality.   Changing hormones can attribute to some peculiar behavior, but in itself is not an excuse for even minor criminal behavior, let alone murdering ones parents and classmates.   However, as Frontline reports, Dr. Orin Bolstad, a psychologist who specializes in juvenile killers, stated that Kinkel’s behavior is consistent with an early onset of schizophrenia. This form of schizophrenia manifested itself through several delusional beliefs, as well as the apparent voices that told Kinkel to commit the murders.   It is also important to note that the theory that his violent behavior was caused by a biological factor, in this case a chemical imbalance, is substantiated by the fact that the use of Prozac seemed to calm some of his erratic behavior.   One can even tie the biological aspect of his illness to the humanistic aspect by recognizing that the voices that Kinkel claimed to hear, voices that may have been his subconscious thoughts manifested, were dangerous to his self-image.   According to Kinkel, the voices told him he was worthless, which would be consistent with his low self-esteem. Of all the psychological aspects that can be used to analyze Kinkel’s behavior, perhaps the hardest to address is society’s role.   Are young people being desensitized to gun use through culturally accepted displays of violence?   Are guns too readily available to young people?   In Kinkel’s situation, the answer is obviously that yes, guns were made way too available.   Although his father apparently took great care in trying to teach him that guns are a responsibility, he did allow the teenager to purchase a firearm. This likely sent a message to the young man that it is ok to own a gun.   In fact, it was after his father allowed him to purchase a firearm that he continued to buy more from friends.   Once he was caught with possession of a firearm on school property, he claims he did not want his parents to have to be ashamed.   So, in an attempt to solve this problem, he decided to kill his parents.   His solution to the problem is not unlike the plots of many action-adventure movies, thus lending credibility to the culturally inspired aspect of his crime. In conclusion, it is impossible to know exactly what caused Kip Kinkel to murder his parents in cold blood.   Nor is there any real explanation as to why he would then drive to school and open fire on an entire cafeteria of students.   Although modern psychology can, to some extent, offer a glimpse into the diseased mind, it can not afford us a clear and scientific answer as to why people do the things they do.   One thing is certain in Kinkel’s case: he is a deeply disturbed individual. When the judge handed down the one- hundred-eleven year sentence, he confirmed what many psychologists already knew: there is no hope of rehabilitation for a young man who committed such heinous crimes.   Even if medication and therapy could alleviate the symptoms of his disease, the knowledge of the pain that he caused will be with him until the day he dies.   Such is the tragic ending of a very tragic situation. Works Cited â€Å"The Killer At Thurston High.† PBS: Frontline. (January 2000). 20 November 2006.    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/kinkel/ A Killer At Thurston High It is not a far reach to speculate that he may have felt that, ultimately, his parents were to blame for his problems.   Had it not been for them, he would never have been born. This theory is supported by his written confession, which he left at the scene of his parents’ murder, in which he stated â€Å"I wish I had been aborted.†Ã‚   In this same letter, he states that he loved his mom and dad â€Å"so much† (Frontline).   This further lends credibility to the idea that while he felt love for his parents outwardly, he subconsciously harbored blame towards them because they were, essentially, the source of his suffering because they were the responsible for his existence.   Unfortunately, his inner turmoil manifested itself in a violent explosion of emotions, and he committed murders for reasons that even he could not explain. Another common theory that one could consider is that to some extent, Kinkel’s behavior can be attributed to peer influence, which would fall under the category of behavior modeling.   According to the chronological time table provided on the PBS Frontline website, Kinkel had no obvious behavioral problems during his elementary school years. Although he struggled greatly in school, several sources stated that he worked very hard to attempt to keep up with his classmates.   It would seem that once he entered middle school, he began to associate with young people who were less than upstanding citizens.   It is possible that by acting out, he was gaining acceptance from his peers, as opposed to feeling inferior because of his learning disability.   It is important to note that many of his offenses, particularly during his middle school years, involved friends.   Judging from his behavior, one can easily infer that Kinkel is not a leader, but a follower. It is likely that, at least in the beginning, he very seldom initiated criminal behavior, but rather blindly followed his friends down whatever path they chose. This may have likely set the stage for further misbehavior.   While his friends were not found to have any involvement in the murder of Kinkel’s parents or classmates, they did attribute to his delinquent attitude and fostered his fascination with guns and other deadly weapons.   So, in his attempt to conform to his friends’ ideas and behavior, he himself adopted their ways. His delinquent behavior evolved from so called â€Å"victimless† crimes, for instance, the ordering of mail order bomb books, shoplifting, etc, to increasingly violent acts.   As the chronological timeline found on the Frontline website clearly illustrates, it was not until after the relatively minor incidents occurred that his crimes became violent.   Throwing rocks off of the highway overpass, though it could have potentially caused great injury, was not a blatantly violent crime.   However, approximately three months later he was suspended from school for violent assaults against his classmates. One of the biggest controversies surrounding cases of teenage violence in America is deciding to whom the blame belongs.   Some may posit that the child’s parents are to blame; after all, they are the ones ultimately responsible for their children.   Others may blame the advent of violent video games, citing that young minds do not possess the discernment to know the difference between reality and fantasy. Still others will claim that the media is responsible; given that most young adults have unlimited access to television, explicit CD’s and internet websites, they are likely over stimulated with inappropriate material.   From a psychological viewpoint, we would define the aforementioned opinions as a tendency toward cognitive heuristics, more specifically, the principle of availability.   That is to say, Kinkel may have drawn on scenarios that he had either witnessed or heard about in order to rationalize his behavior. It is also possible that the idea to open fire on his classmates was in some way influenced by the influx of school shootings around the nation.   In theory, the fact that his solution to his problem was to go on a murderous rampage so shortly after other school shootings, lends credence to the idea that he was influenced by coverage of other shootings. Judging from Kinkel’s actions, writings, and confessional utterances, he suffered from a very low self-esteem.   Although some people naturally have a healthier self-image than others, a humanistic view of psychology dictates that negative experiences can contribute to a person’s low self-worth.   As described on the Frontline website, Kinkel struggled with school from the very beginning.   Because he started school in Spain, and spoke only English, he was at a great disadvantage. Not only did he miss out on an academic level, but also on a social level.   Even after returning to the United States, he continued to struggle in many areas of schooling.   Having to repeat the first grade likely affected his self-esteem.   Also, by all accounts, he continued to struggle with language problems.   In an interview, his sister admits to teasing him about his deficiency. It is likely that his classmates may have done the same.   Once he was diagnosed with a learning disability, and given the appropriate help, he apparently began to improve academically.   However, one can conclude that his feelings of low self-worth did not completely dissipate.   This may explain why he chose the friends that he did, which ultimately lead to participating in criminal activities. It has become a commonly accepted notion in the United States that puberty is the cause of many abnormal behaviors in young people.   To some extent, it is a reasonable claim; as a child matures into a teenager, they will likely push for more independence and individuality.   Changing hormones can attribute to some peculiar behavior, but in itself is not an excuse for even minor criminal behavior, let alone murdering ones parents and classmates.   However, as Frontline reports, Dr. Orin Bolstad, a psychologist who specializes in juvenile killers, stated that Kinkel’s behavior is consistent with an early onset of schizophrenia. This form of schizophrenia manifested itself through several delusional beliefs, as well as the apparent voices that told Kinkel to commit the murders.   It is also important to note that the theory that his violent behavior was caused by a biological factor, in this case a chemical imbalance, is substantiated by the fact that the use of Prozac seemed to calm some of his erratic behavior.   One can even tie the biological aspect of his illness to the humanistic aspect by recognizing that the voices that Kinkel claimed to hear, voices that may have been his subconscious thoughts manifested, were dangerous to his self-image.   According to Kinkel, the voices told him he was worthless, which would be consistent with his low self-esteem. Of all the psychological aspects that can be used to analyze Kinkel’s behavior, perhaps the hardest to address is society’s role.   Are young people being desensitized to gun use through culturally accepted displays of violence?   Are guns too readily available to young people?   In Kinkel’s situation, the answer is obviously that yes, guns were made way too available.   Although his father apparently took great care in trying to teach him that guns are a responsibility, he did allow the teenager to purchase a firearm. This likely sent a message to the young man that it is ok to own a gun.   In fact, it was after his father allowed him to purchase a firearm that he continued to buy more from friends.   Once he was caught with possession of a firearm on school property, he claims he did not want his parents to have to be ashamed.   So, in an attempt to solve this problem, he decided to kill his parents.   His solution to the problem is not unlike the plots of many action-adventure movies, thus lending credibility to the culturally inspired aspect of his crime. In conclusion, it is impossible to know exactly what caused Kip Kinkel to murder his parents in cold blood.   Nor is there any real explanation as to why he would then drive to school and open fire on an entire cafeteria of students.   Although modern psychology can, to some extent, offer a glimpse into the diseased mind, it can not afford us a clear and scientific answer as to why people do the things they do.   One thing is certain in Kinkel’s case: he is a deeply disturbed individual. When the judge handed down the one- hundred-eleven year sentence, he confirmed what many psychologists already knew: there is no hope of rehabilitation for a young man who committed such heinous crimes.   Even if medication and therapy could alleviate the symptoms of his disease, the knowledge of the pain that he caused will be with him until the day he dies.   Such is the tragic ending of a very tragic situation. Works Cited â€Å"The Killer At Thurston High.† PBS: Frontline. (January 2000). 20 November 2006.    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/kinkel/

Paediatric Radiography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paediatric Radiography - Essay Example From the diagram, it will be noted that at different ages, there are different anatomical proportions that people possess. This means that the body proportion of an adult is different from a child. In paediatric radiography, this understanding is very important in ensuring that the wrong body parts will not be captured while engaging in radiographic procedures. The differences in anatomical proportion are also necessary when giving protection to various parts of the body. For example, the size of a blockade to be used on the chest of the child cannot be the same for an adult. This is because the differences in proportion imply that it will not be possible to cover out relatively the same areas when using the same dimensions for both. There are a lot of radiographic exposure parameters that must be considered in paediatric radiography. One of these is focal spot size. For paediatric radiography, the advice is that â€Å"the ability of the focal spot to provide the most appropriate exposure time and radiographic voltage selection at a stated focus-to-film distance† should be preferred (Hardy and Boynes, 2003, p. 25). There is also the issue of tube filtration, where the use of high kV techniques is recommended in order to get the shortest exposure times possible. Rooks, Sisler and Burton (1998) also mentioned voltage as another exposure factor, indicating that high voltage can enhance short exposure times, which are needed for paediatric radiographic examinations. Currently, such short exposure times are achieved with the use of high frequency generators (Hardy and Boynes, 2005). It is common knowledge that paediatric radiography requires more radiation protection, even though all forms of radiation protection are necessary in adult radiography. In paediatric protection, the tenderness of body tissues and possibility of cells not being mature enough is the major

Japan's Education System Before And After World War Two Essay

Japan's Education System Before And After World War Two - Essay Example The teaching culture in Japan differs greatly from that of schools in the west. Teachers are particularly concerned about developing the holistic child and regard it as their task to focus on matters such as personal hygiene, nutrition, sleep that are not ordinarily thought of as part of the teacher's duties in the west. Students are also taught proper manners, how to speak politely and how to address adults as well as how to relate to their peers in the appropriate manner. They also learn public speaking skills through the routine class meetings as well as many school events during the school year (Education in Japan). Japanese educational system is trying to develop the complete personality of a child. Unlike the western educational system, the teachers in Japan undertake more responsibilities in the making of a Japanese child into a socially acceptable and professionally skilled future citizen. Elementary educational system is completely different in Japan when we compare it with that of other countries. The supervision of teachers in elementary classes is negligible. The children are free to make noises and have the freedom to engage in whatever the activities they like. At the same time, teachers may not give the burden of home works or assignments during this period. In short, Japanese children were able to enjoy the elementary education as much as possible. Such a curriculum approach is undertaken in Japan in order to prevent children from hating education. Even though elementary education is enjoyable to the children, the education following elementary education may not be so. The sense of competitiveness is created during the high school... This essay stresses that Japan is not adamant in sticking with any particular system of education always. They update their educational system and curriculum time to time to meet the changing needs of the students. They are not reluctant in introducing or incorporating new technologies with the educational system in Japan. Computer assisted education is prominent in Japan at present. In fact the ability to adapt with new situations and challenges is the major reason why Japan is still able to maintain highest quality in educational sector. The influence of American culture was earlier visible in Japanese educational system after WW2. However, Japan has realized that the American model may not be suitable to their educational requirements and currently they are trying to move in the opposite direction. As a result of that, currently, â€Å"Education reformers in Japan are seeking some decentralization of control, greater diversification of institutions, less uniformity and standardiz ation of curriculum, more flexibility in teaching, and more individualization of instruction† This report makes a conclusion that Japan was able to maintain one of the highest standards of education in the world because of the creative educational reforms implemented in educational sector after WW2. Before WW2, japan was trying to imitate German and French education system and after WW2, they tried to imitate American educational system. However, they realized later that Japan needs an indigenous educational system and the above realization helped them to provide high quality education to its children.

Tourism Issue Research Exercise and Essay Essay Example for Free

Tourism Issue Research Exercise and Essay Essay 1.0Introduction 1.1 Introduction to essay Tourism has increasingly grown as the economy develops well and the level of living style of human being improves, especially in China. (Jordon Ken, 2001)The dramatically growth of tourism has brought several benefits such as enhancing local economic development and the reduction of unemployment rate. (Philip D. Brian R., 1995) However, it is still questionable that whether it is absolutely profitable if the number of tourists continue to rise. The objectives of this essay are to emphasize the negative impacts of tourism to a Chinese destination. This essay is going to cover how the boosting tourism is affecting the quality of water and air in China. 1.2 Introduction to articlelu This article is discussing about the sudden influx of tourists throughout China during China’s National Day golden week and the negative environmental impacts that it caused. 2.0 Main arguments discussion 2.1 The general fact of tourism Over time, there is a significant growth in tourism all over the world. With reference to appendix A, it is significantly shown that the number of international tourist arrivals doubled from 435 millions to 940 millions from 1990 to 2010. Distinctively in the South Asia region, the numbers rose from 3.2 millions to 11.1 millions in the span of ten years, this relatively attracts a higher number of tourists among the strongest growing areas in 2010. As reported in UNWTO Tourism Highlight (2011), the position of china in tourism indicators moves up in both arrivals and receipts, reaching to the third position and the forth place out of the top ten, respectively. 2.2 The factors involving an increase in tourism It is evident that nowadays, more and more people prefer to choose China as their holiday destination, showing an obvious demand for tourism. It is  notable that there was a 20.8% growth of foreign tourists’ (about 85.4 million tourists) arrivals after the Beijing Olympics and Shanghai Expo. (China Daily, 2009) However, there are several crucial reasons that push people to go out to an unfamiliar place and pull them to China, listed below are the push and pull factors respectively. 2.2.1 Push factors There are several factors involved in influencing the increment of tourism, such as economic expansion, social changes, demographic aspects and technological developments. (Weaver, D. B., Oppermann, M. 2000) Being rich and affluent allows most people to be able to achieve a better sense of purchase power. The availability of greater discretionary household income gains various choices rather than just spending on basic living requirement;( Agarwal and Yochum,1999) Moreover, nowadays people tend to travel overseas during their vacation, in order to escape their busy work schedules. Households have also become smaller, so family members can spend less in bringing up children, thus having more money for leisure activities. In addition, the advancement in technology makes it easier for travelers to reach their destination. To sum up, all these factors boost the demand of tourism. (Weaver, D. B., Oppermann, M. 2000) 2.2.2 Pull factors Referring to Appendix B, Asian tourists make up the majority of China’s tourism market due to their geographical advantage. For example, Japan is the biggest tourist-source market for China as both countries are situated near from each other. It is also cheaper for the Japanese to travel to China as it is relatively cheaper than to other countries. Besides, the 5000-year history of China is always attracting tourists all over the world. In addition, the complement of airline systems and expansion of high speed train are more comfortable, continence and efficient. The quality of service has also grown together with the influx of tourists. (Jeffrey, 2008) 3.0 The negative impacts of tourism to environment However, it is questionable whether it is absolutely good if the number of tourist constantly grow yearly. According to this article, it was a common  phenomenon that china was overly congested with people during the Chinese National Day. 20,000 tourists could not find a hotel to settle down in Pu Tuo mountain (a famous mountain in china); During the same period of time, San Ya beach was described to be a dump because 50 tons rubbish was abandoned along the coast, while vehicles were held up on the expressway, which looked like they were parking in car parks. (Lei, 2012) These events are apparently showing a sign that when the sheer number of tourists is overload for a destination, it will lead to a decline in both socio-cultural and natural environment. However, only natural environment will be discussed about thought focusing on two main pollutions that exit during the rapid development of tourism. They are water pollution and air pollution, respectively. 3.1 Water pollution With the boosting tourism, more water resources are developed to attract travelers. Those people who enjoy the natural attractions of beauty and peacefulness like to boat along the waterways and enjoy the scenery.(Jeffrey, 2008) Thus, an increase of water transports like motorboats, will in turn cause oil emissions which would pollute the water ways.( Jeffrey, 2008 ) Moreover, the rubbish dump by travelers is harmful to the quality of water. Furthermore, hotels resorts built along waterways or coastlines will produce a big amount of sewage as well. These series of events would be obviously harmful to local water system during the holiday and would certainly cost a loss in the economy. For example, a number of 360 million yuan(US $43 million) was invested to clean up the Lijiang River by government. (People’s Daily, 2000) 3.2 Air pollution Nowadays, with advanced technology, majority of people prefer to take air transport to their preferred destinations. Refer to Appendix C, half of the total (51%) tourists chose to travel by air in 2010, while the road transport rank at the second popular choice of all mode of transports. All vehicle transport create exhaust fumes. (Simpson et al., 2008) Air pollution caused by tourist transportation has spread to the whole human being living environment, especially from carbon dioxide production because of the usage  of transportation energy. (Majbritt, 2010) In fact, the air in China, especially in the city area, is suffering from heavy pollution. (Gregory C. Chow, 2008) Amongst 20 worst-air-cities around the world, 16 of them belongs to China. (Jeffrey, 2008) 4.0 Conclusion In conclusion, the negative impacts of tourism to Chinese environment such as water pollution and air pollution have been explained above. These are the consequences that booming tourism has to pay. Thus, it is worth noting that the substantial tourism is calling peremptorily. Increasing tourism does bring a lot of profit for economy, but it is a double-edged sword. If left uncontrolled, tourism can cause both social and environmental problems as seen from China’s case. However, although I believe that the Tourism industry in china reaps more positivity on the whole, although there is no concrete panacea to this issue. Methodology This research essay required gathering relevant facts and information from a vast variety of sources, including book literatures, journals, news articles, specified review and online sources, in order to deliver complete understanding of the main topic – Negative impact of tourism to China’s destination. This research paper focused on gathering crucial data from the most valid and credible sources as reliability and credibility were key concerns. The usage of online journals and articles which were accessible on University Of Newcastle Blackboard were definitely useful in gathering information such as essential Annals of Tourism Research and Studies. In addition to this, Google Scholar played an imperative role in providing relevant information on the topics of Tourism in China as well as statistics on relevant areas. Key words like inbound tourism of china, water pollution were used on Google search engine to obtain further detail figures such as the number of tourism to China in 2010. Other than the methods listed above, the Chinese government reports and UNWTO annual reports were also used to describe and further elaborate changing tourism trend and statistics. The main keyword descriptors used to complete the research include: negative impacts of tourism in China, water pollution and air pollution information Reference: Air Pollution in China. (n.d.). FACTS AND DETAILS. Retrieved April 2, 2013, from factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=392catid=10subcatid=66 China Daily. (2009) Tourism in beijing boosts after the olympic games. (2009, 7 29). Cultural China. Retrieved from http://news.cultural-china.com/20090729140321.html Gregory C. Chow (2008): China’s Energy and Environmental Problems and Policies, Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting and Economics Jeffrey, H. (2008). Facts and details. Retrieved from http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=392catid=10subcatid=66 Jeffrey, H. (2008). Water pollution in china. Retrieved from http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=391 Jordon, S., Ken, W. (2001). Causality between trade and tourism: empirical evidence from china. (1st ed., pp. 279-283). Lei, B, (2012). Crowd throughout the great wall during chinas national day. Chong Qin Wan Bao (2012, 10 8). . Retrieved from (http://tour.rednet.cn/c/2012/10/08/2770150.htm) Majbritt, T. (2010). Tourism, transport and environmental pollution. Retrieved from http://www.viewsontourism.info/2010/tourism-transport-and-environmental-pollution/ Philip D. , A., Brian R., P. (1995). An applied general equilibrium analysis of the economic effects of tourism in a quite small, quite open economy. (Vol. 27, pp. 985-994). Simpson, M. C., Gà ¶ssling, S., Scott, D., Hall, C. M. and Gladin, E. 2008. Climate change adaptation and mitigation in the tourism sector: Frameworks, tools and practices, Paris: UNEP, University of Oxford, UNWTO, WMO. Tourism, Transport and Environmental pollution – Views On Tourism. (n.d.).Views On Tourism Knowledge and inspiration to the Bangladeshi tourism sector.. Retrieved February 4, 2013, from http://www.viewsontourism.info/2010/tourism-transport-and-environmental-pollution/ UNWTO. (2011). Travel Biz Monitor: UNWTO Tourism Highlights: 2011 Edition (Part -II). Travel Biz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, tourism. Retrieved February 3, 2013, from http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/unwto-tourism-highlights2011-edition-part-ii-14272 V.B. Agarwal, G.R. Yochum(1999): Tourist spending and race of visitors, Journal of Travel Research, (pp. 173–176) Weaver, D. B., Oppermann, M. (2000). Tourism management. Brisbane: John Wiley Sons Australia.(pp. 5-68) Wheeler, D., Dasgupta, S. and Wang, H. 2003. â€Å"Chapter 12: Can China Grow and Safeguard Its Environment? The Case of Industrial Pollution†. In How Far Across the River? Chinese Policy Reform at the Millennium, Edited by: Hope, N., Yang, D. T. and Li, M. Y. Stanford: Stanford University Press

The Beet Queen :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Louise Erdrich, the author of The Beet Queen, is the oldest of seven children. Erdrich, was born in Little Falls, Minnesota, on June 7, 1954. The daughter of a French Ojibwe mother and German American father, Erdrich is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Erdrich's large extended family lived nearby, affecting her writing life from an early age. Her father introduced Louise to William Shakespeare's plays and encouraged Louise and her sisters to write their own stories. Erdrich attended college at Dartmouth and John Hopkins before marrying author and anthropologist Michael Dorris. When she married Dorris, he had three adopted children and later the couple had three more children of their own. When the two separated in 1995, Erdrich moved six blocks down the street in order to share custody of their children. On March 29, 1997 Dorris committed suicide. Erdrich now lives in Minneapolis, MN with her three children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On a spring morning in 1932, Mary age eleven and Karl Adare age fourteen arrive in Argus, North Dakota. Having parted and going separate ways Mary having gone to live with her aunt, while Karl goes on to explore and live on the wilder side. These children were orphaned in a strange way; their mother took off with an airplane stuntman. Haunted by disturbing images of her mother, Mary seeks refuge and stays with her mother's sister Fritzie, which with her husband Pete, run a butcher shop. This begins the forty-year saga of abandonment and unstinting love.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel, The Beet Queen, deals with the elements involved to create plot movement. First off is exposition, since every chapter in The Beet Queen is narrated by a different character in the book it tells the story of each character in first person and in great detail chapter by chapter. It tells you the story from their point of view. It is very effective it allows you to be in their mind thinking along with them seeing what they are going through and feeling. At the conclusion of each chapter you want to keep reading to see what will happen to a specific character when it is there turn to narrate again. One event in The Beet Queen is when Sita is put into a psycho ward because she pretended to lose her voice, and ever since then her neighbors and everyone she came in contact with would have to read her lips.