The Importance Of Communication English Language Essay

The Importance Of Communication English Language Essay Within this essay I will explore the methods and importance of communication when working as a childhood practitioner. Communication is commonly defined as the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs This is a process by which meaning is assigned and conveyed in an attempt to create a shared understanding. This process involves a huge repertoire of intrapersonal and interpersonal skills including listening, speaking, questioning, observing, analysing, and evaluating.   The importance of communication within a team is perfectly demonstrated in this analogy by Wideman (2000): Communication is like engine oil: it needs to be applied to the machinery or the machinery will not start or, if it does, it will quickly falter and grind to a halt. And the oil, like communication, needs to be continuously recycled and regularly replaced with new oil as the old becomes no longer usable. But what of the quality of the oil? Too little or too thi n and it is not effective; too thick or too much and everything just gets gummed up. (Wideman, 2000). Effective communication is crucial for a team to be successful. The team needs to communicate regularly with one another because through communication cooperation and collaboration occur. Collaboration with one another is necessary in the workplace because it helps to solve problems, help maintain standards of practice and create a good rapport with all involved. Ebbeck and Waniganayake (2003, p.195) state shared decision making is one secret of successful management. In order for this to be achieved communication is essential and necessary in the workplace. Great communication skills are an absolute must it is A vital part of any centres functioning is the communication that occurs among staff (Ebbeck and Waniganayake,2003: p.197). A lack of teamwork and communication can lead to a stressful working environment and a poor quality service. In a recent presentation of mine I demonstrated through a communication exercise the importance of communication and how communication is not just verbal in nature. The exercise required all team members to communicate clearly in the communication method appropriate. The team had limitations that prevented them from communicating in the easiest form this forced them to develop a way of overcoming these barriers, communicating in a different fashion whilst also working as a team. They had two attempts to complete the task assigned to them. The first attempt went very badly as they found it very difficult to communicate with the barriers in place. However after a small group discussion they were able to devise a way to accomplish the task.   This simple exercise is a useful one to employ during a staff meeting and it teaches the value of communication and the need for effective and clear communication in order to work as a team. Communication can be viewed as an active process that is in turn influenced by the complexities and ambiguities of human behaviour. It is riddled with the potential of breakdown. Clampitt sates that We actively construct meanings within a unique vortex that includes the words used, the context of the utterances, and the people involved (2005, p.8). It is a process where elements such as any non-verbal actions, individuals own interpretation and own ascribed meaning can have an influence. Communications strategies to construct a clear and unambiguous message can encourage effective and direct communication. There are certain barriers both physical and psychological that can hinder communication as Clampitt states and it is important to be aware of these. Anything that prevents a message being understood is seen as a barrier. These are some barriers that can occur when communicating: Culture, background, and bias Our culture, background, and bias can allow us to change the meaning of a message, which can interfere with the communication process. Noise Noise impedes communication as it can both distract the sender and receiver so that concentration is hard and also muffle and distort the message being sent. Perception If we feel the person is hard to understand for instance talking to rapidly, not fluently or is not articulate enough the receiver can dismiss that person. Preconceived attitudes can also affect our ability to listen. Ourselves There is a tendency to focus on ourselves rather the person communicating which can cause conflict and confusion. Some of these factors that affect communication are ego and the feeling of superiority. Message Distractions can happen when someone doesnt look at the idea presented and chooses to focus on facts. Semantic distractions are when a word is used in a different manor than you prefer. Environmental these can include a range of stimulus that can provide potential distraction. Stress People view things differently when under stress. A message can be influenced by psychological frame of mind and our beliefs, knowledge, experience and values. Communication is vital within the childcare profession; in order for good communication it is necessary to understand the different components. Communication consists of the following methods; verbal, non-verbal communication, and written.   Verbal communication is a communication method using word of mouth. For instance   holding a conversation with someone requires the development of skills and social coordination which means having the ability to start and end conversations, the ability to show an interest and being able to interest the person you are having a conversation with. Argyle (1988) devised the Sender and Reciever Model which encodes the oral messages by the sender and decodes the messages then by the reciever. Sender  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚ ®Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Encodes  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚    ®Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Message  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚ ®Ã‚  Decodes  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚ ®Ã‚  Ã‚     Reciever Verbal communication is used to greet people, problem solve and provide support. It can also helps with everyday tasks such as, explaining issues and procedures exchanging ideas or learning ideas. It is necessary for childcare prationers to have highly attuned social skills, as they are dealing with people every day and oral communication is central in being able to bond and to have relationships with people. Thompson 1986 argued that commuinication is imperative for two major reasons these where as follows; one to enable people to share information and two enabling people to have relationships with people. Thompson stated that   relationship is the communcation. There are certain barriers that occur using verbal communication within the Childrens services such as semantic barriers, dialect, and language and tempo message. Other barriers include message complexity and message overload, which is when a person receives too many messages at the same time. Written communication is another useful communication channel and is very important between different professionals. Writting information down makes records more pernament and more accurate. Written informnation is unlike a verbal message which can become distorted when being verbally passed to people There are barriers in written communications such as the illegibility of peoples hand writing or if the written message is misunderstood.. The rules governing writing are also different compared to oral communication as it is necessary in written communication to maintain accuracy and darity. When writing information there is a need to check that all of the information is correct as if the information is recorded wrong it could result in problems. As problems can occur such as; delays in meeting the needs of the children and parents; not being able to make the right decision due to the vagueness of information recorded; being unable to deliver an organised service. An example of written communication documents is staff rotas showing times of work and holiday.   Lastly Non verbal communication is everything other than spoken words, this includes paralanguage this is um or ah sounds, the volume of the talking, the pace and accent. A very big part of non-verbal communication is facial expressions as these are indictors to others about our feelings, attitudes, states of mind and relationships.  Non-verbal communication can also include eye contact, proximity, posture and gestures. All three ways of communication have problems but are an effective way to communicate with others when used in the right way. Communication is about active listening as well as communicating with the necessary sincerity and compassion. Listening is a key skill and should not be underestimated.   One of the purposes of listening is to convey interest and respect for the other person and this is crucial to solve problems that arise and to also meet another persons needs as well as our own. Studies have revealed that listening is the on the whole the most frequent aspect of workplace communication (Adler and Elmhorst, 1999). Other studies have also found that Managers spend on average 65-90% of their working day listening to someone, with the percentage of time increasing with level of managerial responsibility (Kotter, 1982, Nichols Stevens, 1990). However research highlights that people generally people achieve no more than 25-50% accuracy in interpreting the meaning of each others remarks (Spitzberg, 1994). This means misunderstanding is very common. Furthermore tuning listening skills and becoming compe tent at listening would improve workplace communication significantly. There are barriers that hinder the ability to listen. For one People are very quick to jump to conclusions and form a judgement before the speaker has finished, this in turn can mean that the message intended is misinterpreted. People also have a tendency to hear what they want to hear and be inattentive while cultural issues or the interruption of the speaker can also prevent people from listening. Developing active listening skills such as listening to non-verbal as well as verbal language, paraphrasing, using feedback, and asking appropriate questions can help to identify possible misinterpretations of the message, as well as check for unintended messages. Good communication is absolutely essential and key when working with children, young people, families and carers. It is central in building trust amongst the users and staff within this context. In order to maintain relationships it needs to be an active process that involves listening, understanding and responding accordingly. Communication is both necessary on the one-on-one basis and also when working in a group and it is important to realise when to focus on the individual and when to focus on groups. Another thing to be aware of is  that communication is a two way process that is necessary to make sure the person feels valued and respected. Communication should also be matched appropriately to the stage of development, personal circumstances, and needs of the person being addressed. The culture and context when communicating needs to be thought about for instance, the professional should hold awareness and communicate appropriately if English is an additional language, the chi ld is disabled or at risk of under-achievement or other poor outcomes.   Effective communication is also about utilising the best communication method appropriately and being aware of any barriers that could occur these could include poverty, disability, anxiety, cultural differences and religious requirements. It is the managers duty to make sure communication within the team is effective. There are many ways a manager can help and improve a teams communication. The first is to keep all the communication channels open. Management should be always there to listen and actively participate with the team. A strong relationship with  management is important for communication and in turn the productivity of the team. The second is to offer some form of staff training in clear communication. Miscommunication is all too common in the working world and training in correct communication can easily help avoid miscommunication. Teaching employees to communicate in a clear and precise manor and listen carefully to the speaker can rectify this. Classes in other forms of communication can also be of help. Lastly it is good to invite feedback from staff and hold regular meetings both of which can provide a solid avenue for communication. All people are different and are better at different methods of co mmunication so providing as many avenues as possible is a good way to ensure communication is easy for others. Team meetings are a fantastic way to give everyone a chance to participate and have their say. It allows people to facilitate and contribute to decisions involving the workplace making them feel respected and that their feedback counts.   Communication is a highly complex process and to improve interpersonal communication, a fuller knowledge and understanding of communication skills are essential. Communication is not just about speaking it is about active listening, written and non-verbal ways of communication. Any team who wants to be successful needs to communicate in a direct and clear manor. Management should ensure that communication skills are practiced and that it is an ongoing process. Communication allows a team to work together effectively. Communication is an important skill especially when working as a childcare practitioner as without communication a childs needs cannot be met. COMMUNICATION EXERCISE   Have two people lead the group  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Leaders need to try and physically arrange all of the players in sequential age order (youngest to oldest)  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Each leader has specific limitations restricting the ease in which they can do this. Leader One cannot see and has the following limitations:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   can only ask yes or no questions  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   cannot touch anyone Leader Two can see and can touch people but has the following limitations:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   cannot speak All other players in the group can only answer yes or no to any questions and cannot move unless moved by Leader Two.   Communication Rationale The rationale for this particular communication exercise was to teach each person the importance of clear and direct communication and its importance when working as a team. Effective communication includes a range of skills which include things like body language, clear speech, eye contact and active listening. Communication activities like the one I used for my presentation allow participants to focus on these skills and understand their impact on the effectiveness of communication. The task also illustrated the importance of working as a team to overcome limitations and complete the task set. The team players had to try and understand one another using different communication strategies in order to complete the exercise successfully and within the time cap. Furthermore this task forced players to perform with limitations such as not being able to speak or not being able to use hands etc. During this game, the demand for   effective communication from each player was essential. Similarly the understanding of each teammates role on the team, as well as their own, was vital to the teams success. Players needed to understand their roles and accomplish their tasks in their roles, without trying to do everything. This communication exercise was designed to help the participants become more aware of the importance of communication in all forms whether verbal or non-verbal. They also had to uses direct and precise communication so not to confuse other team members. They also had to have an awareness and acceptance of the varied roles within a team. Awareness comes with visual and verbal communication by the individual participant and their teammates. Research Types of Communication Based on Communication Channels The process of communication can be broadly classified as verbal communication and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication includes written and oral communication whereas the non-verbal communication includes body language, facial expressions and visuals diagrams or pictures used for communication.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Verbal Communication Verbal communication is further divided into written and oral communication. The oral communication refers to the spoken words in the communication process. Oral communication can either be face-to-face communication or a conversation over the phone or on the voice chat over the Internet. Spoken conversations or dialogs are influenced by voice modulation, pitch, volume and even the speed and clarity of speaking. The other type of verbal communication is written communication. Written communication can be either via snail mail, or email. The effectiveness of written communication depends on the style of writing, vocabulary used, grammar, clarity and precision of language.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nonverbal Communication Non-verbal communication includes the overall body language of the person who is speaking, which will include the body posture, the hand gestures, and overall body movements. The facial expressions also play a major role while communication since the expressions on a persons face say a lot about his/her mood. On the other hand gestures like a handshake, a smile or a hug can independently convey emotions. Non verbal communication can also be in the form of pictorial representations, signboards, or even photographs, sketches and paintings. phrase from some British propaganda during WWII neatly sums up the dangers of ineffective communications: Careless talk costs lives. That may be over-dramatic in most cases where communications between seafarers or between ship and shore go awry but it does illustrate the importance of effective communications and the real dangers if they go badly wrong. Evaluation This task has allowed me to understand the importance of communication within a workforce and how a team relies on communication to function. The presentation went well, I was able to get across the necessity of teamwork and the different methods of communication. The team all had limitations which meant not only did everyone have to communicate but they had to find different ways of communicating successfully. The problem was with the presentation is it lacked time; ten minutes seemed far too short. I had to limit the presentation to literally just the task and a few words prior to explain the task and why communication was important. If I had more time I would have conducted a slightly different task. The team also wasnt able to complete the task first time so I had to allow them to try again a second which was time consuming and meant I had to cut short the presentation and not summarise it as well as I would of liked to .   The negatives to the task I did conduct were that a few people did not understand the instructions I gave them at first so I had to also explain the task again fully. If I was to re do the presentation I would simplify the task. I think all in all the presentation showed the class the value of communication whether verbal or non-verbal and how teamwork is essential in any difficult situation. It was essential for them to utilise all avenues of communication to pass the task.

Psychoanalysis Essay -- Essays Papers

Psychoanalysis When people think of psychoanalysis, usually one name comes to mind. This would be Sigmund Freud. Freud, along with Carl G. Jung and Alfred Adler, has impacted the history of psychoanalysis. Further, he has influenced the lives of the men and women during the early 1900s. In today's society, the history of psychoanalysis is continually being discussed among many scholars. Paul Roazen, author of Encountering Freud: The Politics and Histories of Psychoanalysis, has dedicated his professional career to researching the "impact of Freud and his followers not only on politics but on the cultural and intellectual life of this century" (Chodoff 132). One main theme that Roazen emphasizes is the relationship between history and psychoanalysis. In the United States, the term psychohistory has become increasingly popular since about 1945. Psychohistory is the blending of history with the psychoanalytical theories (Gilderhus 129). This idea has raised many questions among scholars and is still a controversial discussion piece at this time. Sigmund Freud: One may question Freud's ideas and wonder what made him so popular during the early 1900s. Many attribute this to the idea that Freud, along with Charles Darwin, is viewed as a critical contributor to our concepts of present day man. Freud saw man as am incomplete product of nature. Further, he proposed that "man at his best and man at his worst is subject to a common set of explanations: that good and evil grow from a common process" (Roazen 24). Many scholars feel that Western society was ready for something to fill the gap that had been formed between religion and the sciences at that time. During the late 1800s, there was extreme controversy o... ...world. Lastly, by 1926, there were psychoanalytic societies in Vienna, Berlin, Budapest, London, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Moscow, Calcutta, and two in the United States. At the same time, three journals had been formed that focused on psychoanalysis. Works Cited - Brill, A.A., ed. The Basic Writings of Sigmund Freud. New York: Random House, 1938. - Chodoff, Paul. "Psychoanalysis: Encountering Freud: The Politics and Histories of Psychoanalysis by Paul Roazen." American Journal of Psychiatry 149.1 (1992): 132- 133. - Gilderhus, Mark T. History and Historians: A Historiographical Introduction. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1996. - Lauzun, Gerard. Sigmund Freud: The Man and His Theories. Trans. Patrick Evans. New York: Fawcett, 1962. - Roazen, Paul, ed. Sigmund Freud. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1973.

Loans with Interest in Early Christianity and Islam Essay

When an individual thinks of religion, the first thing that comes to a believer’s mind is the nonnegotiable worship of a supreme being(s) as a source of tranquility whenever he/she is in distress. On the other hand, to a pro-secularization individual, religion only causes pricey conflicts between different cultures and is considered an outdated practice which should not have a place in today’s society. What people in general tend to forget about religion is that it their respective figures like Prophet Muhammad and Jesus wanted to promote a way of life that would aim to achieve a standard of living that would see all members of the community equal. And a big part of any way of life is fair trade and decreasing the gap between the rich and the poor. This essay will compare and contrast the early Christian and the current Muslim prohibitions against lending money at interest in the context of today’s constant recession-threatening environment. In order to be able to relate both the Muslim and Christian stance on the topic of lending money at issue it is integral to highlight the why countries tend to fall into a recession. In 2008, the US recession related to Americans buying houses they could not afford. In North America, investing in real estate is seen as a bullet-proof way of making money; making a low down payment expecting the value of their house to increase but it didn’t which leads foreclosure and eventually huge losses for banks. Today, movements such as Occupy Toronto protest the lack of social responsibility of bankers who give out mortgages knowing the client would not be able to pay it off – it’s an economical concern of using money people simply don’t physically have. In Islam, the term for interest is Riba which literally means a gain in the Arabic language. â€Å"The Prophet said, ‘The selling of wheat for wheat is Riba (usury) except if it is handed from hand to hand and equal in amount. Similarly the selling of barley for barley is Riba except if it is from hand to hand and equal in amount, and dates for dates is usury except if it is from hand to hand and equal in amount. † (Umar). From an economical perspective, what the Prophet of Islam is referring to here is the idea that only the actual value of dates should exist in any trade transaction. For example, a bank giving out a loan for 100,000 dollars with an interest of 10% means that the 10,000 interest to be paid does not actually exist in the economy and hence to the prophet this is considered riba because the bank is gaining money out of nowhere. In the Sharia, the modern day solution to this banking issue is Islamic banking which offers; â€Å".. more just and equitable distribution of resources; more responsible and profitable lending due to the necessarily closer bank-client relationship; less volatile business cycles; and more stable banking systems. † (Evans, 1987) Similarly, early Christianity has the same general view of usury, â€Å"In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. † (Exekiel 22:12). However, Islam tends to be stricter about preserving authenticity of teachings of Allah or Prophet Muhammad because the teachings were meant to be implemented in the governing of the Islamic state; shariah. Ambiguity, over time, has led to an equivocal view of usury in the Christian faith, â€Å".. to the extent that Christian doctrine rested on an Aristotelian foundation it was vulnerable to the charge of being, at heart, anti-trade and commerce. Aristotle adopted the view, later followed by the Physiocrats, that the natural way to get wealth is by skillful management of house and land. Usury was diabolical and clearly the worst way of making money. But there was also something degraded about trading and exchanging things rather than actually making them,as summed up in the medieval saying,‘Homo mercator vix aut numquam Deo placerepotest’– the merchant can scarcely or never be pleasing to God. By contrast, the Holy Qur’an endorsed trade, so long as it was not usurious. † (Lewis, 2007) On the contrary, with the when Islam and Muhammad did rise to power in the Arabian region, trade was something the Arabs were known for and was also religiously encouraged; there were virtually no disputes or new philosophies. A lack of a solid implementation of the no usury rule (which only strictly existed in Early Christianity) lead to more lenient rule as times changed and the numerous Scriptures were considered more and more ambiguous. As the ages progressed since early Christianity, it went from no exceptions to usury to exceptions made such as allowed usury as long as the interest rate for the loan was fair and reasonable. In one of Ruston’s books he mentioned; â€Å"usury passed from being an offence against public morality which a Christian government was expected to suppress to being a matter of private conscience [and] a new generation of Christian moralists redefined usury as excessive interest† (R, 1993) Hence, since Islam and Christianity are both Abrahamic religions, the view on the concept of usury is fairly similar in essence however politics has always had an influence on trade since the beginning of time. In today’s world, with Muslim nations trading with Christian and secular nations and likewise with banking, it has become increasingly difficult to impose shariah or the teachings of Jesus in our interdependent global economy. Globally, the concern of usury has transformed to become more of a concern of social responsibility and social justice. While Islamic and Christian share similarities and some slight political differences with regards to interest, it remains an important moral reminder of preserving financial stability even if it might sound a little too unrealistic and utopian in our world today.

Free Essays on France

France Introduction France, which is the largest nation in Western Europe, is a presidential republic. France is a very important nation in Europe and it continues to be involved in contemporary policy issues. Helping the world as one of the great trading nations, France is a very important trading partner with the United States. Not only is France important to the United States, they are also important to countries all over the world. Their abundance of both mineral and agricultural resources make them a very important supplier of products all over the world. I chose to report on France because it is an interesting county and I wanted to learn more about it. Geography France is located in Western Europe and has an area of approximately 211,000 square miles. Along with being the capital, Paris is also the largest city in France. Spain borders France in the south, Italy and Switzerland in the east, and Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium in the northeast. The French Alps are located in the east where snow capped peaks, such as Mont. Blanc reach heights of 15,781 feet. About one-half of France’s total border is formed by coastline, with the Mediterranean Sea on the Southeast and the Atlantic and the English Channel on the west and northwest. Many rivers and canals run through France forming a vast network, tying different regions and cities together. The Seine is the country’s largest navigable river. It flows northwest from eastern France through the city of Paris, and empties into the channel at Le Harre. The Rhone River is the largest in the country in terms of volume of discharge. Along with its tributaries, it drains the Fre nch Alpine region. Although France has many rivers, it only has a few lakes. One of the lakes in France is Lake Geneva (also known as Lake Leman), but in lies mainly in Switzerland. France is richly endowed with an excellent balance of both mineral and agricultural resources. Th... Free Essays on France Free Essays on France France Introduction France, which is the largest nation in Western Europe, is a presidential republic. France is a very important nation in Europe and it continues to be involved in contemporary policy issues. Helping the world as one of the great trading nations, France is a very important trading partner with the United States. Not only is France important to the United States, they are also important to countries all over the world. Their abundance of both mineral and agricultural resources make them a very important supplier of products all over the world. I chose to report on France because it is an interesting county and I wanted to learn more about it. Geography France is located in Western Europe and has an area of approximately 211,000 square miles. Along with being the capital, Paris is also the largest city in France. Spain borders France in the south, Italy and Switzerland in the east, and Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium in the northeast. The French Alps are located in the east where snow capped peaks, such as Mont. Blanc reach heights of 15,781 feet. About one-half of France’s total border is formed by coastline, with the Mediterranean Sea on the Southeast and the Atlantic and the English Channel on the west and northwest. Many rivers and canals run through France forming a vast network, tying different regions and cities together. The Seine is the country’s largest navigable river. It flows northwest from eastern France through the city of Paris, and empties into the channel at Le Harre. The Rhone River is the largest in the country in terms of volume of discharge. Along with its tributaries, it drains the Fre nch Alpine region. Although France has many rivers, it only has a few lakes. One of the lakes in France is Lake Geneva (also known as Lake Leman), but in lies mainly in Switzerland. France is richly endowed with an excellent balance of both mineral and agricultural resources. Th...

Natural Disaster Hazard Assessment Essays

Natural Disaster Hazard Assessment Essays Natural Disaster Hazard Assessment Essay Natural Disaster Hazard Assessment Essay Hazard Assessment for Memphis, Tennessee Environmental Geology Hazard Assessment for Memphis, Tennessee A natural disaster is defined as any event or force of nature that has catastrophic consequences (â€Å"natural disaster†). The only reason that these events are considered to have catastrophic consequences is because people are negatively affected by these natural events. If people were not present during these events, they would not be considered catastrophic. The more people affected means the event would be considered more catastrophic. Tennessee is the 17th most populated state, with approximately 6. million residents (Infoplease. com). Within the state, Shelby county covers the most area, (755 square miles), and is also the most populated county, with approximately 927,644 people residing there (Infoplease. com). Shelby county includes the city of Memphis. Memphis is the most populated city within Tennessee with at least 645,000 residents (Infop lease. com). I have attached several maps in order to see different parts of the land. Map I shows where the county lines are located within Tennessee. You can also see where Memphis is located within the county. Map II shows the elevation levels of the state. As you can see in that map, Memphis is located within the lowest elevation levels of the state. Map III shows the rivers that run throughout the state. The main river that runs between the Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri borders is the Mississippi River. There are several natural disasters that I would consider to be threats to the Memphis area. One natural disaster that I would consider to be a concern to Memphis would be an earthquake. According to the United States Geological Survey, (USGS), there is an approximately six percent chance that there will be a major earthquake within 50 kilometers of Memphis in the next 50 years (Homefacts. com). The last earthquakes that had magnitudes of five were in 1976 and 1991 (Homefacts. com). The earthquake recorded in 1976 was approximately 40 miles away from Memphis. Looking at the sources found, I see that Tennessee has had its fair share of earthquakes, so I would say that another earthquake occurring in the area should be a concern of the citizens and government officials. â€Å"There is a broad agreement in the scientific community that a continuing concern exists for a major destructive earthquake in the New Madrid seismic zone. Many structures in Memphis, Tenn. and other communities in the central Mississippi River Valley region are vulnerable and at risk for severe ground shaking. † (USGS. gov). The New Madrid Earthquake of 1812 was one of the most significant events in U. S. history. Topographic changes were noted over an area of 75,000 to 130,000 square kilometers, with the total area shaken being at least five million s quare kilometers (USGS. gov). Back then, the damage was minimal because of sparse population. Nowadays, an earthquake that severe could result in â€Å"great loss of life and property damage in the billions of dollars† (Cusec. rg). The fact that Memphis is the most populated city in the state, a small earthquake could cause a significant amount of damage. â€Å"By learning about the potential earthquake hazards in your area and by taking certain preparedness measures now, you can increase your chances of surviving an earthquake and minimize its dangerous and damaging impacts† (Cusec. org). There are many organizations that Memphis has in order to help citizens learn how to prepare for these catastrophic events, and what to do in order to survive. One organization is the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (R. A. C. E. S. ), which is a volunteer communications group that assists the Shelby county area. R. A. C. E. S. provides emergency personnel that can help with communications during local, regional, or national emergency/disaster events (Cityofmemphis. org). Another organization that provides help during emergency situations is the Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Management Agency (EMA). The EMA helps local, state, and federal agencies with response to disasters that requires a multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional response. The EMA has satellite links with the National Weather Service that activates sirens in order to warn the residents of multiple cities, including Memphis (Cityofmemphis. org). There are also things that the citizens and homeowners could do in order to minimize the damage during earthquake. Earthquake drills are a great way to help enforce the importance of preparedness, and to prevent panic and injury during an earthquake. Families should have emergency plans that lay out where everyone is going to be and where to reunite with one another. Keep a flashlight and a batterypowered radio in the home. Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves, and fasten the shelves to walls. And lastly, have a seven to ten day supply of food and water (Cusec. org). You can never be too prepared for any natural disaster, so being safe is better than being sorry. Not all natural disasters are threats to Memphis. Volcanoes are an example of a natural disaster that is not a threat to the Memphis area. There are no known volcanoes in the area that would cause any kind of harm to the residents of Memphis. Historically, there have not been any known volcanoes in the area either. Memphis is not located on any fault boundaries, so I would think that there would no volcanoes forming in the area any time in the near future. Hurricanes are a little more of a concern for Memphis. The western area of the state has the possibility of being affected by the end of certain storms. Hurricane Katrina is an example of this situation in which Memphis can be affected by storms not necessarily in the direct area. When Hurricane Katrina hit the U. S. in 2005, multiple counties in Tennessee were evacuated; Shelby County was one of those counties (Fema. gov). I would consider Memphis to be slightly concern about hurricanes occurring in the area, especially since the city is located at a low elevation. The lower elevation would be more susceptible to flooding. The government should have adequate warning of the hurricane, since it would most likely be coming from the Gulf of Mexico. I would also expect that the citizens would be prepared for hurricanes, since they are used to flooding situations. Tornadoes, I feel, are more of a concern than hurricanes. There are many more tornadoes in the middle of the state then there are on the outskirts. Tornadoes are more likely to strike open plains rather than in an urban area, like Memphis. â€Å"The reality is, very few tornadoes ever touch down in the city of Memphis†¦.. Nevertheless, tornadoes can and have struck within the city† (About. com). There have been numerous tornadoes that have affected Shelby county, but not nearly as many as the middle of the state. The last one that affected Shelby County, and had a high death count was in 1987, with at least 120 deaths (NWS Memphis Forecast Area Tornado Database). There have since been tornadoes that have caused deaths, hich is not surprising considering the amount of people that live in the city. With all the tornadoes that have gone through the county, there has always been a significant amount of damage. That also is understandable since there are a lot of buildings in the city. There have also been plenty of tornado warnings for the state, but not all of them affecting Shelby County. The last tornado warning that included Shelby County was on May 9, 2011. In order to be prepared for a tornado, there are several things we could do. First of all, avoid windows and seek shelter in the center-most room on the lowest floor possible. Use your hands and arms to protect yourself from falling debris. Also, keep some sort of identification on you at all times in case you are hurt or disoriented (About. com). Keeping identification on you is a good idea for every natural disaster. It will help emergency personnel identify who you are and hopefully get you back with your family. Tsunamis are another type of natural disaster that is not a concern for Memphis. There have been no known tsunamis recorded for Memphis. I do not think that there will be any future tsunamis in Memphis because there is no ocean or large body of water located near Memphis. The Mississippi River is near Memphis, but the river does not create waves that would be large enough to create a seismic wave. Even though tsunamis are not a threat to the city, flooding is a huge concern for the city. The Mississippi River is right near the city, so that would be a reason as to why the area floods frequently. The city is also at a low elevation, which is another reason as to why the area floods frequently. There is currently an active flood warning in effective right now (Fema. gov). Last year, there was flood that occurred in the beginning of May. The Mississippi River was supposed to rise to a record level of 48 feet, with 48. 7 being the record crest in 1937. More than 1,300 homes were ordered to evacuate and nearly 400 people were living in shelters. According to an article on abcnews. com, the most extensive damage occurred in Memphis, where â€Å"entire neighborhoods have been swallowed by the water and vehicles completely submerged† (Tanglao, â€Å"Memphis Flooding†). Since this obviously happens frequently, the citizens and government have ideas of what the levees can hold, and what the river’s maximum water level is. To prepare for flooding situations, there are certain things the government should tell their residents in order to make sure they are safe. They must send out warnings letting people know when and if the water level is high enough to go over the lands limits. In Memphis, the government should be able to accurately know when and if the Mississippi River has reached its maximum, and if people should evacuate their homes. As a resident, you should also be aware of what is going on in your community and know about the town’s emergency plans. You should also have sump pumps with back-up power in order to prevent contamination of the flooded water. Turn off all utilities at the main power switch in order to prevent electrocution. Fill bathtubs, sinks, and soda bottles with clean water, so you have water to drink that is not contaminated. You should also have water bottles and a food supply that will last a couple of days (Bt. cdc. gov). On the opposite end of the spectrum, wildfires are another example of a non-threat to Memphis. There are no forests in Memphis because it is a highly urban area with lots of people and buildings. The last wildfire reported in Memphis was in 1952, when there was a serious drought (Tnema. org). Even though there was that wildfire many years ago, I do not think that there is a serious threat to Memphis for another wildfire. Lastly, I also think that there is not a threat for extreme winter conditions to occur in Memphis. The last warning for some sort of winter conditions for Shelby County was in February 1992 (Fema. gov). Even though that was not too long ago, I still feel like there is not a huge concern for extreme winter conditions to occur any time soon again. Since Memphis is further south, they do not really get harsh winters like we do here in Pennsylvania. Memphis Tennessee has its fair share of natural disasters. They have to be concerned about earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes the most, while extreme winter conditions, volcanoes, and tsunamis the least concerned about. Every place on the Earth has to be concerned with natural disasters. Humans make the disasters a lot worse than they actually are, but there is nobody else to blame but ourselves. We get in the way of nature, and have to pay the consequences some way or another. Map I Map II Map III Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Natural Disasters Severe Weather. Web. 12 April 2012. Central United States Earthquake Consortium. Earthquake Safety. Web. 12 April 2012. City of Memphis. Emergency Management Agency. 2003-2011. Web. 12 April 2012. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Tennessee Disaster History. 26 March 2012. Web. 12 April 2012. â€Å"Memphis Earthquake Information. † Homefacts. com. 2012. Web. 12 April 2012. â€Å"Natural Disaster. † Dictionary. com. Web. NWS Memphis Forecast Area Tornado Database. Web. 12 April 2012. Tanglao, Leezel. Memphis Flooding: Mississippi River Nears Record Highs. † AbcNews. com. 9 May 2011. Web. 12 April 2012. â€Å"Tennessee. † Information Please Database. Pearson Education, 2011. Web. 12 April 2012. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Wildfire. Web. 12 April 2012. â€Å"Tornadoes in Memphis: What to expect and how to stay safe. † About. com. The New York Times Company, 4 Ap ril 2011. Web. 12 April 2012. United States Geological Survey. Earthquake Hazard in the New Madrid Seismic Zone Remains a Concern. 3 August 2009. Web. 12 April 2012. United States Geological Survey. Tennessee: Earthquake History. 21 October 2009. Web. 12 April 2012.

Henry Thoreaus View on the Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Henry Thoreaus View on the Economy - Essay Example Theodore had been a mathematician and an economist whose philosophy had been based on finding the alternative to harsh lifestyle. His writing on Walden discovered that with the natural lifestyle preserved, the advantage is presented on the need to offer solutions to uphold humanity through the changing environment. The longest of his chapters on his writings had been based on the measures needed to preserve the economy. The economy had been driven by the struggle by individuals to present the efforts needed to achieve a higher lifestyle and struggling with fluctuation in market prices. The solution in simple living and application of cheap alternative measures that utilize minimal raw materials from the environment had been the proven solution. Thoreau led a comfortable lifestyle with the advantage offered in applying readily available materials. He had calculated the expenses to be used and sought to utilize the alternative cheap measures that would limit the exploitation of the nat ural reserve. ... His philosophy presented that the natural compositions to be left untouched and away from the development in the society. He explained that though people saw him to be alone, he did not feel abandoned and gained satisfaction from the space created (Thoreau and Blake 40). The chapter discloses his venture to lead a differentiated lifestyle from those who work hard to achieve the luxury of the society as compared to his ideology that meant preservation of the wild and lead a basic lifestyle. Theodore had been a mathematician and an economist whose philosophy had been based on finding the alternative to harsh lifestyle. His writing on Walden discovered that with the natural lifestyle preserved, the advantage is presented on the need to offer solutions to uphold humanity through the changing environment. The longest of his chapters on his writings had been based on the measures needed to preserve the economy. The economy had been driven by the struggle by individuals to present the effor ts needed to achieve a higher lifestyle and struggling with fluctuation in market prices. The solution in simple living and application of cheap alternative measures that utilize minimal raw materials from the environment had been the proven solution. Thoreau led a comfortable lifestyle with the advantage offered in applying readily available materials. He had calculated the expenses to be used and sought to utilizing the alternative cheap measures that would limit the exploitation of the natural reserve. Thoreau explained that humanity had been accorded the challenge of relating to the lifestyle that had been admired by the society, and the authority presented in the

Define qualitative research, and consider its appropriateness to your Essay

Define qualitative research, and consider its appropriateness to your own educational research - Essay Example Qualitative research focuses on the collection of non-numerical data such as narratives and unstructured interviews. The qualitative approach is often associated with post-positivist, hermeneutic or constructive schools of thought (Evers and Walker, 2005: 42). Each of these approaches provides researchers with different paradigms or conceptions and views of research problems and methods. As a result, the conclusions generated from each of these methodologies are different. Accordingly, methodology deals with the methods and principles used in an activity, the researcher explain how he did the research, the methods of data collection, materials used, subjects interviewed, or places he visited. Give a detailed account of how and when he carried out his research. Explain why he used the particular methods, which he did use, rather than other methods. Once a person has decided upon a research topic, the next important step is to choose an appropriate method. He may decide on a qualitative study, collecting data by interview, or you may choose a quantitative method, carrying out a survey by means of a self-completion questionnaire. In order to have a good piece of research, a researcher must have a detailed plan of how the research will be conducted. A good research design not only will anticipate and specify the seemingly countless decisions connected with planning and carrying out data collection, processing, and analysis, but also will present a logical basis for these decisions. As a researcher, several different questions surface concerning which design to choose. The distinction between design and method must be made clear. The design is your plan, whereas the method is the means by which you investigate your research interest (Bassey, M. 1999, 24-26). One of the key decisions a researcher must make is how to operationalize their research study. Often, a researcher decision to choose