A Year of Wonders

Year of Wonders is a story of great courage in the face of extreme adversity discuss. ‘A Year of Wonders’, written by Geraldine Brooks is based during an era that represents a challenging time in history where original ideologies of religion is confronted by the effects of a catastrophic disease known as the black plague. Because traditional remedies through religious rituals proved ineffective, core beliefs were questioned and faith waned. How does one respond through such calamities where a cure seemingly ceased to exist?Strength, bravery and tenacity through specific females in the novel demonstrated how individuals can respond in an exceptional manner in horrific situations. As well as highlighting the constructive effects, Geraldine Brooks also points out how a dissimilar outcome can also be created where iniquitous behaviour is resulted instead. Despite this, it is clear that although the author acknowledges the negative results, she tries to emphasise the heroic a bilities instead through her narration of the novel ‘A Year of Wonders’.The heroine of the novel, Anna Frith is a symbol of hope. She represents the underdog, a character for which has no significant importance in society, but as the story unfolds and her town becomes the breeding ground for a deathly infestation, she rises above her original character, an ordinary maid, and is transformed instead into a hero for her community. Her subservience is illustrated through her selfless act in which she helps Merry Wickford, a young orphaned girl who lost her family to the plague.To prevent Merry from living a ‘bleak future in a poorhouse’, Anna embarks on a dangerous mission to attain the required dose of lead in the Wickford mine. Such an act held many potential dangers, although aware, Anna continued with her pursuit. Described as ‘the one good, perhaps, to come out of [that] terrible year’, Anna is a clear example of how arduous times can make â⠂¬Ëœheroes of us’. Independent, unconventional and unique are the words that describe Anys and Mem Gowdie. Their courage is shown through their decision to not conform to their community’s ideas.They represented a different group of women in their society, one who was not ‘a man’s chattel’ and was still able to ‘manage alone as a woman in the world’. Such behaviour was unheard of in their society, their differences were not welcomed in the town in which they resided and many despised them for behaving as they did. As tensions rose due to the death toll from the plague increasing, any ‘strange’ behaviours were questioned. Anys and Mem represented ‘strange’ but despite this, they stayed true to their character from start to finish.Only the brave can stand against the perceived normal, against the ideas of what is ‘right’ in the eyes of the majority and Anys and Mem are two symbolic figures who were b old enough to challenge the norm. Unlike the aforementioned, Aphra is a character who responds to adversity in a manner that can only be described as destructive and damaging. In the circumstance of plague in this time frame where cures were unknown, people become desperate for any remedies that may prove effective.Aphra takes advantage of these insecurities of fear and distress and exploits it for her own selfish gains. Posing as Anys Gowdie’s ghost, she deceives her community by selling fake charms at night which were assumed to provide cure to the disease but instead were merely a way to make profit of the situation. Another example demonstrating Aphra’s detrimental means to survive is through her most climatic experience, the death of her children.This is final event for which her personality is transformed dramatically where her rational is lost completely as a coping mechanism for the loss of her kin. Harbouring ‘a wealth of superstitions in her simple mind ’, the situation in which she is placed only further fuels these thoughts which eventually drives her into a state of insanity and hysteria. Her growing madness leads her to keep her child, Faith’s deadly corpse for torturous superstitious reasons and eventually to the most climatic event in the novel, the bloody murder of Elinor Mompellion and her own gruesome suicide.Through the character Aphra, Geraldine Brooks is able to illustrate how adverse times can also make ‘monsters of us’. ‘A Year of Wonders’ demonstrates ‘how people are changed by catastrophe’. These changes lead to the establishment of one of two persons; a ‘hero’ or a ‘monster’. Geraldine Brooks created characters such as Anna Frith and the Gowdie’s to highlight how individuals can use tragedy as the catalyst for good change such as valor, fortitude and tenacity.Although being largely based on celebrating such personalities, the auth or also takes into account of the opposing reactions. Aphra exemplifies wicked behaviour through her exploitative activities and corruptive mindset. Through this approach of contrasting two opposite reactions of the same environment, the story shows realism as it relates to how people of today’s society can respond to such conflict. By characterising these reactions, Geraldine Brooks is able to effectively mirror the responses of society in her powerfully dramatic tale.

Older and Wiser Essay

Frank Heberer, the Human Resources Manager of Medignostics, finds it difficult to accept the aging employees of his firm as part of an energetic workforce. According to Heberer, the older employees of the company are not as productive as the young. However, Bertha Weber from the marketing department trusts that the older employees of Medignostics are necessary for the firm. She intercedes on behalf of the aging employees of the firm to point out to Heberer that it is only the older employee who truly knows the kind of products to sell other aged people. As an example, Weber mentions the successful arthritis campaign of Medignostics which was spearheaded by an aging employee – somebody who was expected to certainly know more about arthritis than the young employees. Weber also points out to Heberer that he, being only 45 years of age, cannot be expected to successfully market products for the aged people. Rather, it is only the aging employee who understands the aches and pains of old age that can successfully market health products and services for other aging people. In other words, the aging employee of a health products company, or any other organization for that matter, is best qualified to market products for the aged. Not only does the aging marketer know the kinds of products and services needed by the aged, but he also is aware of the kind of marketing communication that is required to reach out to the aged. The aging employee is actually expected to most perfectly understand the marketing mix for products that are especially made for the aged. This employee is in an excellent position to decide on the prices of products to be sold to the aged. Moreover, he knows where to place the products to sell the aged. Yet another advantage of older employees put forth by Weber is that the aging employee knows the company better than anybody else. Having worked for decades with Medignostics, an aging employee understands well the policies of the firm, in addition to its goals and requirements. After all, the aging employee has spent plenty of years trying to improve upon his productivity and efficiency in the company. So, Weber refers to the â€Å"experience† of the older employee being of special significance to the company, seeing that the older employee is in a better position to take the company forward with his experiences of success and failure at Medignostics. To put it another way, the aging employee knows what works and what does not work at his firm. The young employee, on the other hand, would take his time to realize the basics of the company before he can even think of taking the company forward with his youthful energy that Heberer would like to fill the company with in place of the old employees. Weber believes that the older employees still have a lot to offer Medignostics. The 58-year-old Hausmann who has worked for the firm for 20 years has been seen to consistently improve his performance. He moved up in organizational rank from bookkeeping to account management. Weber would like Heberer to keep Hausmann employed, the reason being that Hausmann and other aging employees continue to have a lot to offer Medignostics. If Hausmann is not productive in his present function at the company, perhaps Weber would suggest that the older employee must be given a new job function to perform. After all, older employees may not only be extremely useful in marketing to all ages – seeing as they have lived through them all – but also in the area of organizational counseling. The wisdom of the older employees may benefit young employees tremendously. Older employees may also be given the chance to select their new job functions where they would be most productive, given that the organization trusts them more than it would trust its new employees. Hence, Weber would like Heberer to trust the fact that the older employee is truly wiser.

Abortion: What Is the Reaction of the Society Essay

In today’s society moral standards of society, are becoming more & more justified. Abortions are becoming a controversial issue in the American society. It should be supported because of woman rights, rape & incest and health in women that could be a life and death situation that they may not be able to carry their unborn babies to full term. First, not to mention 1920 changed everything giving woman the right to vote and make their own choices and decisions. Woman now have rights to be able to get pregnant & not have to carry their babies to full term. Women also, are able to make choices about their bodies & reproductive lives without having a law placed on it. (Roe v. Wade 1). Secondly, woman who has been raped should have a choice. The woman is going through enough stress and trauma. So, carrying a baby for nine months is going to put a lot of stress on the mother. It will break her down physically, mentally and emotional. She just went through terrible act of injustices. The woman would be reminded of the committed violence against her that she won’t be in a good state of mind to take care of the child properly. So, that case abortion will be the best option. See more: Homelessness as a social problem Essay In addition, my girlfriend was a victim of rap and she has a daughter who doesn’t live with her, but her grandmother decided to take her in. My girlfriend isn’t able to take care of her daughter as she would like too. The father isn’t in the child’s life since she’s been born. Also, my girlfriend is having a hard time finding a way to tell her daughter who’s her father and why he isn’t in her life. This is a case abortion would be acceptable. Third, some women aren’t always that successful carrying their baby to full term. The health of the woman can cause her to have to terminate her pregnancy. It is very rare when abortion is required to save the mother’s life. When two lives are threatened and only one can be saved, doctors must always save that life. There are many more ways a woman that has health problems that would need to terminate her pregnancy. For example, a woman with HIV, a woman who’s on drugs really heavy, an STD that caused the amino fluid to leak out etc. To conclude, abortion is a controversial manner it has its pro’s and con’s on how a person should go about trying to have an abortion. It’s a widespread topic that can be justified by three main areas, rape, the health of the woman who’s not able to keep their child full term, also women having rights and choices about their own body. Many people today have their own personal beliefs on how abortion should be used in today’s society.

Greek City-States Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Greek City-States - Research Paper Example The size of the city states varied. While some consisted of few square miles, there are some consisting of over 100 square miles. The large city states formed through the consolidation of several cities. For example, the territory of Attica which earlier had 12 city-states became a single city state of Athens. By fifth century BC, it had a population of 250000. But most city states had population of few thousands only. The word politics is derived from the Greek word Polis. For the Greeks, the polis was not only a political institution, but it was a community of persons in which all political, economic, social, cultural and religious activities are focused (Spielvogel). The people in the city state consisted of citizens with political rights, citizens without political rights and non citizens. In the city state, women and children had no political rights. Slaves were not considered as citizens. All citizens of the polis had rights and responsibilities. According to Aristotle, the fat her of Political Science, every citizen must consider himself as belonging to the state. He emphasised on the unity of the people and believed that the state should take the initiative to direct the life of the community. This patriotism however brought distrust among the various city states that ultimate resulted in its ruin. In fact, Greece was not a politically united country. There was no central government in ancient Greece. It mainly denotes the geographical location only (Ancient Greek City-States ). War was an integral part of Greek way of life. According to the great Greek philosopher Plato, war exists by nature between every Greek city state. The tradition of warfare developed by Greeks became part of western civilisation. They possessed excellent weapons and made use of technological advancements. A large number of citizens were solders. They were interested in discipline and receiving training. This gave the Greek army an edge over the opponents’ larger armies. Th ey had a willingness to engage the enemy directly and thus the battle ends quickly with fewer casualties. They also demonstrated the effectiveness of heavy infantry. Colonisation Another major development during 750 BC and 550 BC was the expansion of Greece and growth of trade. Over population, hunger, poverty, growth of trade etc. forced many Greeks to leave their homeland and settle in distant parts. Most of them settled inn fertile agricultural lad taken from native population. Each colony was established as a polis and was independent of the mother polis (metropolis). The Greek settlements in Western part of Mediterranean included cities of Tarentum (Taranto) and Neapolis (Naples). Many Greek communities established in Italy who were later called Magna Graecia by the Romans. Syracuse, another city found by the Corinth was important. Greeks also established in southern France, Northern Africa and Western Egypt. The Greeks also established on the banks of black sea, most important being Byzantium. By establishing a trading post in Egypt, Greeks also got access to the culture and goods from the East. Results of colonisation Greek settlements in different places resulted in spreading Greek culture throughout Mediterranean region. The Romans had first contacts with Greece through settlements in south Italy. It also helped in developing a Greek identity. The Greek communities before the 8 century had isolated life. When they went abroad and confronted people

Issue of Redemption Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Issue of Redemption - Research Paper Example He get to know the truth from Dorotes while they are both in their graves. Death does not stop their sorrow but only an addition of it. From outside the grave they endure to be troubled by the provoking dream of a joy from which they are constantly omitted. Pedro Paroma He is the hero and also the enemy in the novel Pedro Paroma. He is both the protagonist and antagonist because he takes the role of a cross purposes. He has the character of making critical decisions without fear. For instance, he was able to get rid of his debt and acquire more land (Rulfo, Pp 12). The unfortunate thing is that he cannot use his character of making critical decisions for the betterment of the society. Pedro Paroma is presented as a tragic hero since he longs dearly for Susana , but he is unable to overcome her death. The one mistake that is connected to him is the way he cannot forget the death of Susana. This is evident because he is unable to function without the motivations of Susana. Pedro is cha rged with the role of productivity as the main figurehead in his work. This is because a lot is expected from his work. Pedro is extremely immoral because he has impregnated many women in town even though he has the best interest of comal in heart. This is because he is responsibly of the well being of this town. Pedrop has many children â€Å"Padre brings many to his door step† one of them being Miguel although he can also decide to fold his arms and let the town of camola die. This has given him a strong role since he holds the power of life and productiveness in the town. The name Pedro is extremely significant in the novel. This is because the name Pedro means rock of Christ when translated in English while the name paramo means unproductive heat. This is hugely ironic because the works of Pedro collapses like a mountain of rocks after seeing what his land has turned into. Susana San Juan Pedro loves Susana more than he loves his life. The two knew each other from their c hildhood since they grew up together. Susana had a tragic experience since her parents died horrible deaths. Susana mother died friendless, and later her father died in the mines of Andromeda by Sedano so that she could be married by Pedro. Susan was affected tremendously much by the death of her first husband because she loved him extremely (Rulfo, Pp 45). The death of her husband made Susana become delusional because she talks to her self thinking that his husband is alive. Susana seems to have loved his husband for his body but not his character. Even though, Susan did have sex with Pedro, it is because he wanted her desperately. Susana never got married to Pedro because he never had a divorce with Dolores. The death Susana affects Pedro exceeding much that he even refuses to work and even lets the town perish. Susana is characterized as the rain and water because she motivated Pedro to work. The passages when she is found have a background of rain meaning Susana irrigates life. The life of Pedro and Susana has a lot of similarity. For instances, Pedro has father has died, and this is the same case with Susana who lost her father in the mines. Pedro and Susana are strongly affected when their loose the people they love. Susana is strongly affected by the death of her first husband. This makes him to be delusional that she even starts talking to her self thinking that he is alive. The same case happens to Pedro when Susana dies. He becomes

Sustainable Deficit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sustainable Deficit - Essay Example Productivity affects the current account when investment occurs in order to increase future output. According to Economic Review, First Quarter 2001, â€Å"economic theory predicts that if a country experiences an investment boom as a result of increased productivity, while its trading partners do not, its current account deficit should widen.† Catherine Mann suggests that current account deficit can indicate that a nation is â€Å"living beyond its means,† or that a country is attracting global foreign investment due to higher returns and less risk. In the Economic Review article, Jill Holman defines current account as â€Å"the change Over time in the sum of three components: the trade account, the income account, and The transfer account.† Trade account is the difference in value of imports and exports. Income account is the difference in income payments made to foreigners versus payments Received from foreigners. Transfer account is the difference in value of private and government payments to and from other countries. The explanation on page 8 of the Economic Review summarizes a trade deficit that must be financed by borrowing from abroad. How this borrowing affect the U.S. current account deficit is more complicated than the trade deficit. The U.S. trade deficit has been widening since the late 1990s as we demand and consume more foreign goods. As we borrow from abroad, we must also make payments to foreign investors. Overall, deficits in both accounts are the result of U.S. participation in a global marketplace.

Natural Detoxification Using the Niacin Sauna Program Essay

Natural Detoxification Using the Niacin Sauna Program - Essay Example According to Page (1998), "They are gentle, non-invasive, and in almost every case, free of many side effects" (p. 114). Niacin - Sauna Therapy is one such program and it is this program which will be researched and analyzed in this paper. With regard to Niacin-Sauna Therapy, Haas (2004) says "A special detoxification process has been developed to help in the release of chemicals, pesticides, and pharmaceutical drugs" (p. 44). Like any good detoxification program it begins by cleansing noxious elements, rebuilding the loss of nutrients in the process and maintaining a state of good health by fostering good habits pertaining to health and fitness. This program is an intensive program which seeks to flush out the toxins located in fat. It includes a combination of techniques that have detoxifying properties such as a juice diet, exercise, sauna therapy and intake of niacin. "The idea is to cleanse hidden chemicals from fat through juice cleansing, weight loss, niacin therapy, exercise and sweats" (Haas, 2004, p. 44). This is a fledgling program but initial results are encouraging, particularly when followed by individuals who are showing the adverse effects of exposure to pesticides. This process can also be used to wea n addictive individuals from drugs (pharmaceutical as well as recreational types), alcohol and nicotine. It can also be followed in the comfort of home, provided a physician has been consulted and certain precautionary measures are taken. The Rationale and Scientific Evidence behind this Program Niacin is also known as nicotinic acid and vitamin B3. It plays a role in the release of energy from nutrients. It is found in cereals, legumes, liver, poultry, meat, nuts, whole grains, and fish. It can also be taken as a dietary supplement. Research has shown that niacin can effectively reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), a form of cholesterol referred to as "good cholesterol" lowers the risk of arteriosclerosis and cardiac arrest. "The researchers cite niacin as the most effective medication for raising HDL cholesterol" (Payne, 2005, p.5). Thus it helps clean out the circulatory system. Further according to Jensen (2000), niacin may be used "to flush the toxins from the organs and peripheral tissues, speed up the elimination process, and reduce production of cholesterol by the liver" (p.103). Therefore it seems fitting that niacin serves as the major component of a detoxification program. Sauna therapy is based on the principles of overheating therapy or hyperthermia. This form of healing has proved beneficial from time immemorial. According to Page (1998), "Slightly raising body temperature speeds up metabolism, inhibits the growth of harmful viruses or bacteria, and literally burns out invading organisms" (p.3). Today, sauna therapy is popular all over the world as a means of ridding the body of toxins. A sauna activates the sweat glands and induces profuse sweating. As the sweat evaporates through the skin, it takes with it potentially harmful substances, while acting as a natural coolant. Thus it may be said that such sweats are therapeutic and have healing properties. This method in addition to removing toxins via the skin uses

Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 9

Obesity - Essay Example Children and teenagers who are obese face a veer of probable health complications, as they grow older, as well as an amplified menace of diabetes, heart diseases, and some cancers. As if that is not adequate, obesity may negatively affect young people's long-term college and profession prospects, also. In the past few years, an irregular yet emergent body of research has recommended that obesity be coupled with poorer academic performance starting as early as kindergarten. Studies have variously discovered that obese pupils and especially girls tend to have poorer test scores as compared to their slimmer classmates, are more probable to be held back a grade, and are less expected to go on to higher learning levels like college. The most recent such research, put in print recently in the journal of Child Development, followed several kids from kindergarten in the course of fifth grade and discovered that those who were obese all the way through that episode scored poor on math tests t han their non-obese peers.

International Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

International Marketing - Essay Example these methods help to identify the efficiency of marketing strategies developed and implemented by the companies (Cateora, Gilly & Graham, 2009, p.7). On the other side, evaluation of the effectiveness of marketing strategies will be done through cost effectiveness business operation and growth of revenue of the companies. Before starting in-depth analysis of marketing strategies, brief overviews of the two companies need to be discussed. Overview of the two companies Procter and Gamble Procter and Gamble or P&G is one of the leading multinational consumer goods company based in America. The company headquartered in Ohio, USA and listed in New York Stock Exchange. It has successfully developed a diversified portfolio of popular brands of consumer durables. There are numbers of products in each brand and most of the products are very much popular worldwide. According annual financial report of 2011, P&G has reported revenue of $82.6 billion. Based on this performance, the company was ranked fifth position in the list of World’s most admired company by Fortune magazine. It was in sixth place in 2010. Procter and Gamble was established in 1837 by William Procter and James gamble. Throughout this glamorous history of more than 170 years, the company has grown by revenue and market share in consumer durable industry. Unique organizational culture of P&G stands for its purpose, values and principles. P&G people and P&G brands are the key foundation of P&G’s success whereas P&G consumers drive this success. Global brands of the company can be categorising in two parts. One is beauty and grooming and another is households care. In beauty and grooming categories most popular global brands are Camay, Gillette, Olay, Pantene, Old Spice, Secret etc. On the other side, Ariel, Tide, Mr. Clean, Swiffer, Febrize, Duracell, Charmin etc are most popular brands in households care category. P&G ranked 25th position in â€Å"World’s Most Innovative Companiesâ €  by Bloomberg. It is also listed in Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations by Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. Nestle Nestle S. A. is one of the leading multinational consumer durables company in the world. It offers nutritional and health-related consumer goods. The company headquartered in Vevey, in Switzerland. Nestle is the world’s largest food company in terms of revenue and market share. Nestle has wide portfolio of popular food brands. This product portfolio includes baby food, breakfast cereals, bottled water, dairy products, coffee confectionary, ice cream, snacks and pet foods. The company has production unit in most of its foreign markets. It has more than 450 production units in 86 countries. 29 most popular brands of Nestle have contributed annual sales of more than 1.1 billion in 2011. These include Nespresso, Kitkat, Nescafe, Nesquik, Vittel, Smarties, Vittel and magi etc. Nestle is one of the largest shareholder of L’Oreal which is the largest c osmetics company in the World in terms of revenue and market share. Nestle was the merger of Anglo-Swiss Milk company and Farine Lactee

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 15

English - Essay Example Thus he learns that money cannot buy happiness even if it might give all outward appearances of doing so. Having finally discovered the location of his old friends, Candide emancipates them all from their Turkish slave owners only to find that even luxurious togetherness is not sufficient to keep everyone happy. Although they have a beautiful country home, they find themselves only fighting amongst themselves and making each other very unhappy. In the end, the story indicates that despite any optimism felt by the characters, or the attainment of their hopes and dreams, happiness or contentment does not follow. Voltaire’s book illustrates the evils he felt were most prevalent in his society. Produced during the Enlightenment era, the novella illustrates many of the prevailing themes of the times, which often revolved around questions of human values and â€Å"inherited intellectual authority.† â€Å"By the time the Enlightenment reached its maturity †¦ there was a rough consensus among its leading thinkers in regard to certain key themes: rejection of orthodox, scriptural Christianity †¦; conviction of the superiority of modern over ancient thought †¦; extension of this natural-scientific model to a host of new social sciences †¦; and a proto-liberal political program, aimed at protecting what were now seen as the equal natural rights of individuals† (Wright 15). While Candide presents itself as a satire against optimism, it has been argued that this satire is instead a more in-depth look at how that optimism, so often associated with the Enlightenm ent, could be realized – by concentration on freeing oneself from an unhappy past, as the characters do when they wholeheartedly devote themselves to the cultivation of their garden rather than allowing themselves to wallow in their misery or luxury. Thus, when Candide says at the end

Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 12

Report - Essay Example Notably, this case represented a miscarriage of justice. The evidence presented by Krex’s attorney pointed to his innocence. This evidence engrossed two trial expert witnesses who had alluded to Mr. Klex’s innocence and a justification professional witness, a world renowned handwriting expert, who noted that Mr. Klex was innocent (McLaughlin 1). Courts should take measures to maintain both the veracity of convictions and the moral force of their burden of proof. In Mr. Klex’s case, the judge denied a caregiver from speaking on behalf of Mr. Klex’s satisfactory character and his attribute as a loving and a caring husband (McLaughlin 1). This court failed on its part of burden of proof. This is among the many reasons for wrongful convictions for deeds people did not do. Over the past three years, more than eleven convicts have been exonerated on account of actual innocence based on evidence. In order to establish the innocence of an accused, the courts require assistance from an expert in fields such as science. In the case of Mr. Klex, the judge refused to hear out a renowned forensic handwriting expert who acknowledged that Mr. Klex was innocent (McLaughlin 1). If many of the cases in Pennsylvania were to be reviewed, there would be some cases where those convicted are innocent in the sense that they did not partake in the crime. In order to guarantee that such instances do not recur, it is essential for the Pennsylvanian criminal justice system to consider all the recommendations contained in the report of the advisory committee on wrongful convictions. Who would object to efforts of eliminating wrongful convictions? What would be eviler than taking guiltless citizens, tarnishing their lives and punishing them for offenses they did not commit? After having studied why innocent men and women were wrongfully convicted and doomed, the advisory committee established that some of the basis of wrongful convictions

Ethics In Group Counseling Essay Example for Free

Ethics In Group Counseling Essay Abstract This essay provides information about ethics, as defined and regulated in the practice of counseling or therapy sessions. Furthermore, this essay looks closely at the intricacies of ethical issues in counseling and group therapies and how these compare to the ethical issues in individual therapies. It also touches on the importance of co-leadership in group therapies and the dynamics of the relationship between the leader and the co-leader. This essay also covers in great detail, the reasons why therapists prefer to conduct group therapies over individual therapies and vice versa. Ethics in Group Counseling Ethics – Defined Ethics has various meanings. Many counselors see ethics as a code of conduct or a set of moral values. Some counselors emphasize the legal principles and ramifications of certain behavior during counseling sessions, while others put a high priority on the cultural norms or societal standards brought forth within the counseling practice (Hill, 2004).Code of conduct and set of moral values go hand in hand (Hill, 2004). These are guidelines of the â€Å"do’s and don’ts† in counseling. Just as God has given us guidelines for effective and joyful leading through the ten commandments Exodus 20:1-20 (New International Version) and the examples of Christ in the New Testament, along with the epistles and letters of apostles and disciples like Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, so should the majority of the professional groups or sub-groups such as the counseling industry also have moral codes of conducts, procedures and laws. These behavioral conduct principles are geare d towards counselors for high efficiency and success rates in therapy sessions (Hill, 2004). They help maintain the integrity of the counselor which helps maintain the trust between the therapist and the patient. There are inconsistencies and discrepancies with these moral values or code of conducts (Jennings et al., 2005).Many professionals put precedence over  rules and regulations, just as many Christians can be overly zealous with God’s commands that they miss out in creating and maintaining meaningful relationships. Many counselors can also miss out on the strengths of relationships as they focus on just the foundational moral values they bring into their professions (Jennings et al., 2005) In other words, it is not merely enough to go by the â€Å"codes† in one’s profession. These codes can be too broad. One’s beliefs, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, justice and sound mind should also be a direct and large part in the ethical behavior of a counselor. Each profession, including the counseling profession must create a balance or equi librium for such rules. Legal principles, on the other hand, are governing standards that are defined to create safety nets around the counselor and around the client. Legal principles not only define the boundaries between the client and the counselor, they also define the legal consequences if such boundaries are neglected or abused (Hill, 2004). Legal principles for psychological counseling include the stringent process of handling complaints from clients. As in any law-governing body or group, complaints must be handled efficiently and efficiencies depend on the protocols and guidelines constituted by specific bodies such as the American Psychological Association or the APA. Legal principles also include the issuance and the renewal of counseling or social work licenses. Each state has a governing body that overlooks the issuance and the renewals of licenses, as well as the insurance procedures including liability claims for counseling professionals Cultural norms or societal standards are highly regulated principles set forth by a certain group within a profession. For instance, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs regulate the principles and procedures within the counseling profession. The principles set forth are guidance procedures that keep the professionals professional, and the clients protected. Such accrediting bodies or regulatory agencies also set forth educational and professional backgrounds for counselors to adhere to or live by. In other words, counseling groups require their professionals to attain certain amount of education, training and experience to ensure that their professionals are skilled and prepared to counsel clients from various diversities and cultural and emotional backgrounds (Hill, 2004). The counselor’s competence is a priority. The main  issue, when it comes to competence, is the fact that the counselor has built ample set of skills, through education and experience, in order to effectively, successfully and ethically counsel others relationally (Jennings et al., 2005) After all, psychologists are professionals who use most of their time observing human behavior and experiences and interpreting these into progressive theorie s that can benefit others mentally and emotionally in their physical, social and environmental relationships. The professional must know how to deal with people and this includes listening, suggesting, advising and creating plans for individuals. These plans can highly affect the individuals’ self-esteem and progress. Ethical issues in social work group settings are challenging (Gumpert Black, 2006). It’s far more complex than what the general public knows about. One of the ethical standards is that the group leader must have ample amount of experience in different types of group settings; must have a very extensive perspective; and must be equipped to face the obstacles and complexities that rise more commonly in group settings (Gumpert Black, 2006). Therapists must be able to overcome conflicts and tackle crises (Amato, Blase, Paley, 2000). Therefore, the therapist must be skilled in screening potential group members (Amato et al., 2000, p. 12) Conflicts are inevitable in any group setting because individuals are made up of different personalities, educational and socio-economic backgrounds and mental, physical and emotional capabilities. Ethical issues are important because they help the therapists understand their clients and embrace the diversity at hand. Spiritual background should also be considered because ethical issues also take into consideration the spiritual backgrounds, values and beliefs of the individuals. Ethical Issues Unique to Group Settings Some of the ethical issues in professional group counseling include the highly confidential nature of group sessions and the challenges counselors have in refraining members from communicating with each other outside the group settings. As simple as these guidelines sound, it is difficult for the counselor to ensure these principles. After all human beings are relational beings. (Gumpert Black, 2006). We are all inclined to create relationships as we understand ourselves and each other. These relationships have defined boundaries. In group counseling, one of the most important boundaries to  remember is to refrain from sharing private or confidential information gathered in the group outside the group. Additionally, the demand for confidentiality in the counseling profession is one that can be neglected and can inevitably cause detrimental effects not just for the group but for individual as well (Gumpert Black, 2006). With this confidentiality at hand, the trust issues are at stake and one that should be monitored closely and on a regular basis. The consequences of violating the confidentiality clause in any group therapy must be introduced and must constantly be re-visited on a regular basis. It is that important. Communication with other members of the group also propels another problem in ethics amongst counseling professionals. It creates a breach of contract among the group members (Gumpert Black, 2006). Once this breach of contract is violated, the professionalism and the integrity of the counseling group is in a dangerous and delicate stage and one that can keep the group from progressing and the individual members from succeeding in their therapy goals. One of the ethical issues in group counseling is of control, or the lack thereof. According to Haeseler, group therapists have lesser amount of control over what happens in group counseling sessions compared to individual therapy sessions (Amato, Blase, Paley, 2000). Haesler has conducted both group and individual art therapies. She concluded that although group sessions can encourage member interactions, certain members can affect other members in a negative way (Amato et al., 2000). Not only are human beings relational beings, we are also influential beings. We strive to persuade others as much as we strive to encourage one another. In group therapies, this need to influence others can be too strong that it creates a sense of peer pressure. (Amato et al., 2000) Although not all peer pressures are bad (because we can pressure others into doing what is morally correct) it is one that should be highly monitored in the groups. Every member of the group should be comfortable to freely state their feelings, thoughts and ideas and not be pressured or be influenced by other members to do or say what doesn’t come sincerely from our hearts. (Amato et al., 2000) Choosing Group Therapy over Individual Therapy Group therapies are as important as individual therapies. Many therapists  choose to conduct group therapies because in groups, members tend to feel a sense of equality (Banks, 2005) with other members, as opposed to having one authority (the counselor) and one individual (client or subject). Additionally, some people actually thrive better in groups because they like to share with others and may not feel very comfortable with having to talk to just one person. Group therapies can be the better therapy for people who dislike being by themselves. Group therapies also encourage respect for others (Banks, 2005). Since members are required to actively participate in the group, they are also required to respect other members with their opinions; multi-cultural diversities and various personalities. They are required to allow others to share their experiences with the other members. Members who have learned to adapt to listening to others and learning from them can get better results in their emotional and social levels. Group therapies are also preferred by leaders because of the exhilarating aspect of being more vigilant with members (Banks, 2005) when it comes to conflicts or negative outlooks of certain members. Therefore, group leaders have a stronger sense of keeping things more imaginative and livelier. There is nothing complacent and dull with a group because there are always different dynamics that the leader can face from one moment to the next. Group therapies can keep counselors on their toes, watching out for that dominant talker, or the negative influence in the group. They also try to find more ways for the groups to be more exciting and challenging through different exercises. Interpersonal learning also has a natural way of allowing members to reflect on a topic of issue, based on experiences of other members. Reflections can create thought-provoking questions that invite members to work even harder in probing how they feel or how they see things from another member’s background and experience. Group therapies can create the perfect environment for observation on how we can each impact the lives of others. The members of the group can witness right away the effects of good communication and right attitudes and perceptions in real time within real relationships (Vandenberghe, 2009). There are no hypothetical discussions in group therapies. There are always experiential discussions and narratives in groups. This dynamic is ideal for learning by observation. The more opportunities are given to members for observation and feedback; for sharing and relating, the more progress the group can have as a whole. As the group  progresses as a whole, each individual member can also progress in his or her own level and within his or her own sets of goals. Choosing Individual Therapy Over Group Therapy It is important to look at both sides of therapy. Many therapists prefer group therapies over individual therapies, and vice versa. Therapists who embrace individual therapies believe that group therapies reduce the sense of individualism for the patients (Piper, 2007). In other words, the patient is more likely to be influenced by other members of the group, regarding feedback and participation, rather than be encouraged to be themselves. Sharing is an essential part of therapy and some members are just not adapted to sharing how they feel with others. Therefore, the trust level also diminishes. With one on one therapy, the trust level can be gained in each session, and sometimes almost instantaneously. Many therapists also claim that group therapies are more likely to expose the therapists to personal attacks or criticisms (Piper, 2007). In other words, the observations of other members on how the therapist reacts to another member can create different perceptions of favoritism, in clusion or lack thereof, and can lead other members compelled to attack or even rebuke the therapist. This of course, can take the group therapy to another level which can keep other members from progressing. For many therapists, group therapies are more difficult to plan for or to organize (Piper, 2007). There are more challenges to face. These include the logistics of the group sessions: assembling members as well as generating referrals to keep up or maintain the groups (Piper, 2007). The therapist must be diligent in screening his or potential group members; must take into consideration the different personalities of the members and must highly prioritize the goals set forth in each session. These goals must be aligned to the goals that the members have in joining a group. A mismatch in the goals can create a disaster for all members involved, not to mention misunderstandings and conflicts. Conducting group therapies also requires more training and experience that only a few therapists are equipped with. The therapist must possess leadership and group communications skills and ex perience. Supplemental skills of forming, maintaining and ending a group must also be present, as well as working stage skills such as keeping the focus, creating dyads, and  handling negative members should also be taken into consideration (Jacobs, Masson, Harvill, 2009). This is where co-leadership can come into play. Before conducting groups, counselors must be experienced in co-leadership. The experience can give them better ways of handling conflicts and prepare them in communicating with the members as a whole. Finally, it is always difficult to avoid the subject of â€Å"budget† even in counseling therapies. Many therapists prefer individual therapies because group therapies are still not considered as a common treatment (Piper, 2007) and therefore, many healthcare management systems do not consider them as an essential in the overall well-being of the patient. With the reduction of health care benefits by the health care management companies, the acceptance of group therapy as part of a rigorous treatment plan is still in its minimal level and many group therapy claims are continuously being denied (Piper, 2007). Conclusion Being able to counsel others as a group is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. A good group counselor must be experienced in both group and individual counseling therapies, and must know his or her strengths as well as his or her weaknesses. Most importantly, a good group therapy leader must be well-informed about the ethical practices, issues and limitations of his or her profession. Having an extensive education, well-balanced experience and background, self-awareness and broad knowledge of the ethical issues of group counseling, along with passion to make a difference and good and sound wisdom can help a group therapist succeed and therefore make a tremendous difference in people’s lives. References Amato, L., Blase, C., Paley, S. (2000). Ethics. American Journal of Art Therapy, 39, 12. Banks, R. (2005). Solution-Focused Group Therapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 16, 17-21. Freeman, S. J., Engels, D. W., Altekruse, M. (2004). Foundations for Ethical Standards and Codes: The Role of Moral Philosophy and Theory in Ethics. Counseling Values, 48, 163-173. Gumpert, J., Black, P. N. (2006). Ethical Issues in Group Work: What are They? How Are They Managed?. Social Work with Groups, 29, 61-74. Hill, A. L. (2004). Ethical Analysis in Counseling: A Case for Narrative Ethics, Moral Visions and Virtue Ethics. Counseling Values, 48, 131-148. Jacobs, E. E., Masson, R. L., Harvill, R. L. (2009). Group Counseling Strategies and Skills (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Jennings, L., Sovereign, A., Bottorff, N., Mussell, N., Pederson, M., Vye, C. (2005). Nine Ethical Values of Master Therapists. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 27, 32-47. Luke, M., Hackney, H. (2007). Group Coleadership: A Critical Review. Counselor Education Supervision, 46, 280-293. Piper, W. E. (2007). Underutilization of Short-term Group Therapy: Enigmatic or Understandable?. Psychotherapy Research, 18, 127-138. Urofsky, R. I., Engels, D. W. (2003). Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, and Counseling Ethics: Not an Abstraction. Counseling Values, 47, 118. Vandenberghe, L. (2009). A Functional Analytic approach to Group Psychotherapy. Behavioral Analyst Today, 10, 71-82.

Overview Of Data Structures And Algorithms Computer Science Essay

Overview Of Data Structures And Algorithms Computer Science Essay As Robert Lafore has stated, data structures are a collection of structures that are used to store data in a memory location. A Data structure is designed to organize data to fulfill ones purpose of accessing and using them. Arrays, linked lists, stacks, binary trees, and hash tables etcThese are included as data structures. But there are data structures that can be thought of as Abstract data types as well, the given examples above can be considered as ADTs except arrays. All most all data structures have both advantages and disadvantages. Nell B.Dale et al (1996) has stated that an abstract data type is one whose set of operations that are defined in a certain level without getting any restrictions from operational details. According to Robert Lafore (2008) An Abstract data type is a way of looking at a data structure simply focusing on what it does instead of focusing on how it does it. Both of these definitions give a similar meaning. If taken from Nell Dales point of view its a set of operations in a certain level that has no restrictions by operational details on it. When compared this definition with Robert Lafores definition, An Abstract data type is a way of looking at the operations of the data structure and as Nell Dale stated in the end without getting any restrictions by operational details. By operational details Nell Dale has meant it does not focus on how on the details of those operations. In conclusion to both these definitions, an abstract data type is a logical operation on certain level of data structures focusing on its process and not its method. Stacks and queues are examples of ADTs. .Classification of data structures Arrays Robert lafore has explained Arrays to be known as the most commonly used data structure in programming. An array is a series of elements that is of the same type and same name. It is possible to create an array of any data type. In order to access an array the array has to have an index. An index is an integer that allows access to each of the elements of an array. Using an array we can name a group of elements instead of naming each of them individually. A simple array will look like this see FIGURE 1.2.1 Data Index FIGURE 1.2.1 a simple array The data within the array are the data entered to an array. And the numbers below outside the array are indexes used to access the particular data packet. Advantages Quick insertion Very fast access if index is known Disadvantages Slow search Slow deletion Fixed size Stacks A stack is special a kind of a list in which both insertion and deletion takes place from the top of the stack. To add new elements to a stack a word called push is used instead of insert and for removal or deleting of an element the word pop is used. Robert lafore(2008) has stated that a stack allows access to only one data item at a time. This is because a stack provides a LIFO or Last in first out method. This means the last data item that is pushed into a stack is the first item that will be popped. Then it provides access to the next data item and so on. By the name of this data structure itself it gives a picture of how the data structure would be. Given an example, a stack of data blocks, the last data block to be entered gets removed first. See FIGURE 1.2.2 Insertion of new data item takes place on top Deletion of item takes place on top Stack of data blocks 30 30 1 1 1 24 24 24 5 5 5 14 14 14 16 16 16 FIGURE 1.2.2 a stack of data blocks Advantages Provides last in first out access Disadvantages Slow access to other items Queues This is a data structure of ordered elements in which insertion takes place at the end and deletion takes place at the front. A queue is a known as a FIFO or first in first out. Unlike stacks in queues the first data item to be entered is removed from the queue first. The process of a queue is easy to understand when modeled to the real world. For example think of the line ups in your local grocery stores. Each of the customers waits in line and one at the front of the line get to go first. Each of the new customers joins the line in the rear. See figure 1.2.3 New customers join at the end of the queue First customer joins the queue, first to go FIGURE 1.2.3 A queue of customers Similar to the figure 1.3 above in computer science the elements which are inserted first in a queue are removed first from the queue. Advantages Provides first in first out access Disadvantages Slow access to other items Linked lists Linked list has a similarity with arrays. D.Samanta (2004) has defined that linked lists as a ordered collection of finite, adjacent data elements called as nodes where linear order is maintained by links or pointers. Links or pointers are used to address to the other node. Simplify by pointing to the next location in the sequence. The pointers are maintained depending on the requirements. FIGURE 1.2.4 shows a simple example of a linked list. Link Link to the next node node Data FIGURE 1.2.4 a simple linked list Advantages Quick insertion Quick deletion Disadvantage Slow search 1.3. Importance of data structures in software industries Importance of data structures To understand the importance of data structures first we have to know what data structures are. It is already explained in the previous sections. What is the importance of it? The importance is that a data structure can give an overview of the types of operations that can be performed and its processes. In a software industry Software industries keep changing and growing continuously, which requires a great deal of innovative ways to solve the problems they face. Use of data structures can bring down the stress level down to a point. Because uses of data structures are most effective if the programmers know what he wants to do with the data, whether he wants random access or the ability to move back and forth through the data. Use of data structures helps the programmer to determine which data structure has to be used in which situations. It is very important that the data are stored in a way that it can be retrieved and accessed easily in the future. Data structures fulfill this importance. According to Robert Lafore (2008) data structure is nominated among three categories where it is useful. Real- world data storage Programmers tools Real-world Modeling These three categories help understand the usefulness of data structures. By real-world data storage it means data is described based on physical entities like personnel records that describe a human, here the data is personnel records and entity is human. Programmers tools are meant to be accessed only by the program itself. Because this is entirely based on the data storage structures that are not meant to be accessed by the user. Stacks, queues, and priority queues are tools that a programmer uses in such a way to facilitate some other operations. Last but not the least its real-world modeling. It is basically structures that model real world situations. The most important data structure of this type is graph. Graphs can be used to represent airlines routes between cities etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Based on these three categories alone, we can point out that data structures provide a vast area in which data structures can be helpful for development of software industries. 1.4. Complexity in relevant to data structures When using data structures there is an important aspect related to them called as algorithms. Robert Lafore (2008) has defined that algorithms are used to manipulate the data within the data structures. Algorithms can be used in various ways, for searching particular data items and sorting the data. Shi kuo chang has stated that the concept of an algorithm is one of the most important elements of computer science. Because its useful to frame a problem and get solutions without any errors. When it comes to algorithms there are two complexities that arise from it, Time complexity and space complexity. Time complexity As Alfred V Aho et al (2009) has explained the time needed by an algorithm given as a function of the problems size is called as the time complexity. There are three cases in time complexity best case, average case and worst case this can be explained separately in relevance to data structures. Best case: This is when an algorithm takes minimum amount of time to search a desired set of inputs. For an example you can take a stack when searching for an element in a stack with a Linear search if u come across the element you are looking for at the top of the stack then it can be called as best time complexity. Average case: Average time complexity is the mean number of operations assuming the probability of the input. The binary search method in algorithm can be identified as an average case time complexity method. Worst case: If an algorithm takes maximum amount of time to find the desired set of inputs then its called a worst case time complexity. For an example you can take a stack again when searching for a desired element using a linear search if it is at the bottom of the stack then it is a worst case time complexity. Space complexity According to Alfred V Aho et al (2009) space complexity determines the size of the problems that can be solved by an algorithm. This simply means this is a function that describes the amount of memory space taken by the algorithm. 1.5 Influence of object oriented programming concepts on data structures According to Matt A.Weisfeld,(2004) Object oriented programming has been around in software development from 1960s. The fact that Object oriented programming helps encapsulate the data and the operations that manipulate them in the object is considered as an advantage that arises from object oriented programming. Tim Patrick et al has explained that when it comes to object oriented programming, there are four main concepts we need to be aware of, as follows. Abstraction Encapsulation Inheritance Polymorphism . Abstraction:- This is a view of an entity that includes only those aspects that are relevant to a situation. Encapsulation:- This is the process of converting abstraction into a usable software component. A simple explanation is restricting access to the attributes and methods of an object directly. Encapsulation helps encapsulate a process of a data structure. Example can be an array because of the encapsulation an output of an array would be the elements within the array it wont show how it was processed. Inheritance:- This makes it possible for OOP code to build classes that extend or restrict features in other existing classes. Without the need to fully re write the code. Simply speaking, inheritance can receive attributes and methods from super classes. When you take data structures there are special kinds of data structures identified as abstract data types. The inheritance concept can create new abstract data types from old. An example can be a stack. Use of inheritance allows a user to create a new stack from an old one. Polymorphism:- A simple explanation of polymorphism is that a recognised action can be performed differently in different situations by an object. The influence of polymorphism concept in data structures is that it creates operations that can be applicable for data structures which store more than one type of data. An example for this can be linked lists. A linked list can be implemented with operations of stacks and queues using polymorphism concept. These four concepts are included among the other principles of object oriented programming. The last three concepts from the four alone give an idea, how oriented programming object can influence data structures. Task 2 K 2.2 A stack and its procedure for various operations. According to V.rajaraman et al (0000) a stack is a memory location where the data are stored and retrieved in a location called top of the stack. When the data is entered the firstly entered data are pushed there for the first data to be entered will be retrieved last. Unlike a RAM where each of the data can be addressed separately in a stack the only data that can be addressed is the top of the stack. There are two main Operations associated with a stack, PUSH and POP.

Contributions Of Martin Luther King

Contributions Of Martin Luther King Martin Luther was a controversial Christian theologian who made a significant contribution towards both the development and expression of Christianity. Luther questioned the widespread corruption of the Catholic Church, exceptionally prevalent during his lifetime. He preached that faith alone justifies salvation, as opposed to good works, an emphasis being promulgated by the clergy. Additionally, Luther highlighted the importance of Scripture as he believed that the message of Jesus had become misplaced amongst an overemphasis on ritual and symbolism. He quoted Romans (1:16-17) For I am not ashamed of the Good News; it is the power of God saving all who have faithà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Accordingly, Luther believed that Jesus Christ was the ultimate model for human behaviour. These three key understandings were to ultimately shape the far-reaching contribution Martin Luther would provide to Christianity. Evaluate the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Christianity (6 marks) Martin Luther was a controversial Christian theologian who made a significant and far reaching contribution towards both the development and expression of Christianity. Born in 1483, Luther lived during a time of widespread corruption within the Catholic Church. Especially of concern to Luther was the sale of indulgences, simony and nepotism amongst church leadership. The impact of the Black Death had left a largely uneducated clergy in Europe. These leaders utilised many forms of corruption to ensure wealth for the Catholic Church, and promised purchasers of indulgences and relics a ticket to heaven. In response to these problems in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenburg Church. Luther wished to reform the Catholic Church and to reassure Christian adherents that salvation was attainable through their faith, not through good works. Additionally, Luther highlighted the importance of Scripture as he believed that the message of Jesus had become misplaced amongst an overemphasis on tradition, ritual and symbolism. He quoted Romans (1:16-17) For I am not ashamed of the Good News; it is the power of God saving all who have faithà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Accordingly, Luther believed that Jesus Christ was the ultimate model for human behaviour. Luthers actions and consequent excommunication (1521) from the Catholic Church were to ultimately shape his contribution to Christianity. Although the 95 these would be addressed at the Council of Trent (1545-63), the Council essentially dismissed Luthers calls for reform. However, his impact remained. Luther inspired other reformers and ultimately a new Protestant variant of Christianity (and within it Luthers own denomination the Lutheran church) resulted. Assess the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Christianity (20 marks) Martin Luther was a controversial Christian theologian who made a significant contribution towards both the development and expression of Christianity. Luther was concerned with the widespread corruption prevalent within the Catholic Church during his lifetime, and the subsequent failure of the Catholic Church to address these issues. Three key understandings would lead Martin Luther to devote his life to transforming Catholicism. Firstly, Luther reassured Christian adherents that salvation was attainable through their faith, not through good works. Secondly, he highlighted the importance of Scripture, as he believed that the message of Jesus had become misplaced amongst an overemphasis on tradition, ritual and symbolism. He quoted Romans (1:16-17) For I am not ashamed of the Good News; it is the power of God saving all who have faithà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This lead to Luthers third key understanding, that Jesus Christ was the ultimate model for human behaviour. Christianity before Luther: Simony Nepotism Indulgences (Salvation) Priesthood Corruption Sacraments Papal Authority Black Death Transubstantiation (Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ) Wealth of Catholic Church inequalities and spiritual shallowness (Luther) Unethical behaviour Expression/practices over ritualised Luthers Actions: 1517 95 theses on church door Defied the Catholic Church Excommunication (1521) Ultimately, the formation of new VARIANT of Christianity (but remember this was never Luthers INTENTION he wanted to REFORM the Catholic Church). Lutheran Church based on Luthers views of what individuals need to attain Salvation Sacraments (2) Baptism and Eucharist Consubstantiation (Eucharist representative of body and blood of Christ) Salvation attainable by the individual, based on ones faith Publication of Bible in local vernacular German Scripture focus of religion Authority Jesus/God Married clergy Liturgy less formal and less ritualised Christianity after Luther: Widespread questioning of Catholic Church Birth of new Christian variant Protestantism Development of Protestant denomination: Lutheran, Calvinist Baptists, Church of England etc Whilst Luthers protests started à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦as an effort to purify the life and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, it eventually produced separate churches that grew into a third major strand of Christianity to stand alongside Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. (Living Religion text p98) Counter Reformation (the catholic Churchs response to the Protestant Reformation) Council of Trent from 1545-1563 upheld papal primacy by proclaiming that Scripture and tradition are equally important and complementary sources of Gods revelation, and by clarifying the Roman Catholic belief in the seven sacraments. The Evangelical Awakening a dramatic spiritual renewal in Western Christianity Vatican II the twenty-first ecumenical council in the history of the Catholic Church (1962-1965). Three major aims spiritual renewal in the light of the gospel, updating church teaching, discipline and organization, and the promotion of unity for all Christians (ecumenism) Describe the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Islam (3 marks) Imam Al Shafi is a significant and influential person within Islamic history. Undertaking a systematic revision and organisation of the existing Muslim law, Al Shafi established a system of interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence which he termed Usul al-Fiqh. This method incorporated the already existing sources of jurisprudence, the Quran and the Sunnah, however, it dictated additional authority to both the Ijma and the Qiyas. Shafi was inspired by the teachings of Muhammad, who believed in the importance of the scholar since à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the cure of ignorance is to ask and learn. Evaluate the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Islam (6 marks) Imam Al Shafi (767-820CE) is a significant individual within Islam. Shafi was born during a time when confusion and disorder over the Islamic law was creating social instability and corruption within society. Al-Shafi wished to resolve the differences between the two existing schools of thought in order to create a uniform response to situations which arose throughout the many new Islamised states, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦his historic achievement was to forestall the development of independent regional systems based on Medina or Kufaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Ruthven) Shafi dedicated himself to this task in his firm belief that the purity of the faith had to be maintained. Al Shafis creation of a unified system of jurisprudence subsequently allowed greater cooperation within the Islamic world. In the Kitab al-Risala, Shafi outlined Usul al-Fiqh which emphasised the importance of the Quran, Sunnah, Ijma and the Qiyas. Of these he believed that the Quran as the divine word of Allah held the most significance. Additionally, Shafis commitment to determining the isnad, or chain of transmission of the hadith, earned him enormous respect amongst scholarly circles. Shafis interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence eventually led to the creation of the third major Sunni school of thought. This interpretation of Sharia law continues to be followed by millions of Muslims in contemporary society. Assess the contribution of ONE significant person or school of thought in Islam (20 marks) INTROUCTORY REMARKS: Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi (767-820) significantly influenced the development of the Islamic faith. Responsible for establishing the four foundations of fiqh (usul al Fiqh), Al-Shafi is considered the founder of a unified interpretation of Islamic law or jurisprudence. Furthermore, through the consequent evolution of his own school of Islamic thought, Al-Shafi continues to make a significant contribution to the development of both the belief and practices of Islam in the contemporary world. BASIC OUTLINE BEFORE Al-Shafi: Social and economic tensions problems raised by ruling and administering a diverse and rapidly growing empire Often geographic and cultural influences determined the response of the interpretation of the law Al-Shafi believed that laws which were valid in one place were not necessarily so in another and therefore required systemisation to ensure the purity of the Islamic faith. Legal decisions had come to be based on tradition of the people not Muhammad this was because Difficulty interpreting Islamic law following death of Muhammad TWO schools of law already established Imam Malik (700-767) and Imam Hanifa (716-795) Rationalists based their beliefs on the teachings of the Quran. However, Quran had little legislative material (Hanifa) Traditionalists based their beliefs on the teachings of the Sunnah. However, the model of living (Sunnah) encountered new challenges which needed to be addressed (Malik) THEREFORE: A revision and systemisation of Islamic law needed. Shariah is not a clearly articulated set of rules available for immediate reference. Instead, it includes interpretations of revealed sources the Quran and the Sunnah. Shafi insisted on an established set response to these situations which could be applied across the newly Islamised states Shafi joined the Hadith scholars to determine the chain of transmission (isnad) and therefore the authenticity of the hadith Shafi studied under Malik and combined his own interpretation, along with that of Malik and Hanafi to create a synthesised response. According to Ruthven: Despite the differences between the three principal schoolsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ they were generally agreed in accepting the system of roots developed by Shafi. For that reason his role as the greatest systematiser of early Islamic law makes him more than just the founder of one of the four madhhabs. Viewed retrospectively, his historic achievement was to forestall the development of independent regional legal systems based on Medina or Kufaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ this supreme intellectual achievement makes Shafi one of the great unifiers of Islam. RESPONSE: Shafis book Kitab al-Risala Usul al-Fiqh (or al-Risala) cited FOUR sources of Fiqh (practical application of the Sharia): Quran words of Allah Sunnah actions of Muhammad Al-Shafi puritanical view Muhammad words, not those of his companions. Isnads to be authentic (in accordance with the chain of transmission) Ijma (consensus) of the Muslim community. Previously the ijma of the scholars (ijtihad) had been consulted the Quran and the Sunnah. Shafi insisted on the ijma of the people. Qiyas (analogy) strict systematic reasoning Al-Shafi believed that because Allah had provided, in Sharia, a guide for all human life, it must be possible to extend, by use of analogy, the application of legal material in the Quran and the Sunnah so that they apply to other cases. An example of his contribution to the expression of Islam can be found in his interpretation of Sura 4:43 which claims that men are unclean for prayer if they have touched women. This was taken by Shafi to mean any physical touching including accidentally bumping into a woman. It was therefore further extended to apply to the practice of washing before prayer (ghusl). This was Al-Shafis system of determining Islamic jurisprudence. There are many different interpretations based upon the five different schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, Hanbali (Sunni) and Jaffari (Shia). The School of Islamic Fiqh, established by Imam Al-Shafis students, provides interpretations of law which are used by all four Sunni schools of law. Islamic legal tradition practices pluralism that allows it to maintain that these schools may differ in their legal opinions, but remain equally valid (they have consulted the same sources to reach a legal decision). Describe one significant practice within Christianity (3 marks) The sacrament of Baptism is a rite of passage undertaken by adherents symbolising their initiation into the Christian tradition. Although not all Christians identify with the physical nature of the rite, such as the age of the initiate and the rituals utilised, all Christians are marked with the sign of the cross. Similarly, all Christians are baptised with the recitation of the words, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The belief in the Trinity, the rejection of Satan and the forgiveness of sins are common elements in the baptism ceremony across the Christian variants. Demonstrate how one significant practice within Christianity expresses the central beliefs of this religious tradition (6 marks) Baptism begins the spiritual journey for the adherent within their faith community emphasising the importance of being in touch with, and striving to understand, the transcendent. Baptism symbolises the divine nature of the Christian tradition and makes present the central beliefs through the repetition of sacred stories and ritualistic actions. The belief in the Trinity, the rejection of Satan and the forgiveness of sins are common elements in the baptism ceremony across the Christian variants. In each of the Christian variants, baptism is the Churchs way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God and the promise of salvation. Peter replied, repent and be baptisedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Acts 2:38-39). At the time of Christ it signified that the person being baptised became a follower of Christ and acquired a relationship with him. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I (Paul) also baptised the house of Stephanasà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (1 Corinthians 1:16) Early baptisteries (the part of the church where baptism happened) showed that a person was led down steps to be immersed in water before emerging on the other side. There was, and remains, an identification with Jesus dying and rising. The Catholic Catechism recognises that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦From the beginning, the revealed truth of the Holy Spirit has been at the very root of the Churchs living faith, principally by means of baptism. Within Orthodox Christianity the rite of baptism has four roles. Firstly, to remove original sin, to remove all other sins committed before the time of baptism if the person is beyond the age of infancy, to unite the person to the community of believers and to open the door of salvation and eternal life to him or her. Analyse one practice within Christianity explaining its significance to both the individual and the faith community (20 marks) The sacrament of Baptism is a rite of passage undertaken by believers in celebrating, symbolising and making present the central beliefs of the religious tradition of Christianity. It is an experiential religious act involving the transformation of the individual. Baptism as a rite of initiation welcomes the individual into the Christian tradition and links the individual, community and divine. However, not all Christians identify with the physical nature of the rite. Quakers believe that the whole of life is sacramental. To be a member of Christs body involves no outward rite, it requires instead an inward transformation of ones whole life. While other denominations have differences involving the rituals used and the age of the initiate. Baptism celebrates a familys and a communitys love for the initiate who is welcomed into the community of believers. The candidate (infant or adult) is provided with a god-parent/ sponsor to help them with their initiation as a Christian. Baptise first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise their parents or other relatives speak for them. (Hippolytus in the Apostolic Tradition c.215) For Catholics, the sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. It is followed by years of catechesis before being completed late by Confirmation and the Eucharist, the summit of Christian initiation. Baptism is the Churchs way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God and the promise of salvation. Peter replied, Repent and be baptised (Acts 2: 38-39) Baptism happens not only to the individual, but also the wider Church. At the time of Christ it signified that the person being baptised became a follower of Christ and acquired a relationship with him. I (Paul) also baptised the household of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 1:16) The rite is celebrated with the community present and actively participating. It is the community, who will journey with them throughout their life. Infant Baptism is the preferred form of the rite for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians. However, adult Baptism may also occur. The Christian initiation of adults for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians begins with their entry into the catechumenate and reaches its culmination usually at Easter in a single celebration of the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Baptism symbolises the divine nature of the Christian tradition. It emphasises the importance of being in touch with, and striving to understand, the transcendent. This includes comprehending the purpose of life and the nature of life after death. Early baptisteries (the part of the church where baptism happened) showed that a person was led down steps to be immersed in water before emerging on the other side. There was identification with Jesus dying and rising. On behalf of the child (infant baptism) or as an adult the ceremony of initiation occurs. This includes the symbolism of water and oil and the declaration of faith. The water represents life and recalls the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. The Baptisimal candle symbolises Christian status as an Easter people, and signifies the passing on of faith to those being baptised. The white garment represents the Churchs belief that Baptism sets them free from Original Sin and lets them put on Christ. Immediately following the baptism of the child in Orthodox Christianity Chrismation occurs. In this practice, the Orthodox Church differs from the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches where the two sacraments are often separated. Orthodox Christians believe baptism is a personal participation in Easter the death and resurrection of Christ, and Chrismation a personal participation in Pentecost- the coming of the Holy Spirit as the children receive the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8). The child then receives new clothes. The Priest together with the Godparent and the child walks around the Font, three times. Each time he chants: As many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia. (Galatians 3:27) The infant is then tonsured, where four pieces of the childs hair are cut in the sign of the cross. As the child is now recognised as a full member of the church he/she receives Holy Communion. Baptism makes present the central beliefs of the Christian tradition through the repetition of sacred stories and ritualistic actions. Baptism begins the spiritual journey for the adherent. The lighting of the Pascal (Liturgical Year) Candle at the Catholic ceremony, links the initiated to a life of union with the Church. This candle is light for the individual at their Baptism and again at their funeral service. The candidate is also marked with the common sign of the initiated the sign of the cross and the recitation of the words, I baptise you in the name of t he Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The belief in the Trinity, the rejection of Satan and the forgiveness of sins are all evidenced in the Baptismal ceremony. The catholic Catechism recognises that From the beginning, the revealed truth of the Holy Spirit has been at the very root of the Churchs living faith, principally by means of Baptism. Within Orthodox Christianity the rite of Baptism has four roles. Firstly, to remove original sin, to remove all other sins committed before the time of Baptism if the person is beyond the age of infancy, to unite the person to the community of believers and to open the door of salvation and eternal life to him or her. The Gospel read at the ceremony reinforces the belief in the presence of God. And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. (Matthew 28 16-20) The Baptist Church takes its name from the conviction that followers of Jesus should be immersed in water as a visible and public display of their faith. Baptists believe There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Baptists emphasise a believers baptism by full immersion, after a public profession of faith in Christ as saviour. Unlike most Christian denominations Baptists do not baptise infants because of their belief that a person must be old enough to make a public profession of faith in order to be baptised. Therefore, the foundational sacrament of Baptism unites the community of believers. It determines the spiritual life journey of the believer and reinforces the central tenets of the faith to those who witness the initiation of the individual. Describe one significant practice within Islam (3 marks) The fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj, is seen as the ultimate expression of Muslim solidarity. Hajj draws together Muslims from all over the world forming one umma in order to worship the One God. The Quran states perform the visit and pilgrimage to Makkah for Allah (Sura 2:196) explaining that Hajj is a re-enactment of the trials and tribulations of the Prophet Abraham, his second wife, Hagar, and his son, Ishmael (linking believers to the central Islamic belief rusula). The Hajj also re-enacts the journey of Mohammad and is hence a metaphor for the journey of life. The ultimate goal of Hajj is to ensure the achievement of God consciousness (tawid).

Analysis of Lee the Last Years, Charles Flood Essay -- Robert E. Lee Es

In his extraordinary book, Lee the Last Years, Charles Flood gives a rare blend of history and emotion. After Lee’s surrender at Appomattox courthouse, he only lived a total of five years before his death. Some people might think that he was just a general, but the best years of his life were after the war because he changed the minds of the south and he changed education. Even though Robert E. Lee is best remembered for his military campaigns, this is a part of history not told in many history books because he did more than any other American to heal the wounds of the south and he served as a president for Washington College, which was later renamed after his death to be Washington and Lee University. The beginning of the book begins with surrender at Appomattax. On April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee signed the letter in which he accepted Grants terms for the surrender of the northern army of virginia. The terms required by Grant were generous compared to the what Lee expected. He feared that his army would face humiliation and prison camps, but the terms only required the release of the prisoners and the surrender of Lee’s army, with the prerequisite of the army laying down there arms. From this moment to the end of his life, Lee never allowed an unkind word about Grant to be spoken in his presence. Throughout the war, Lee had been awed by his soldiers dedication. He issued General Order Number 9, which was his last official communication to his army. The order told the army of his admiration and appreciation for them. The tribute was so eloquent that generations of southern school children would recite it as their counterpart to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. As Lee arrived back to his home in Richmond, his only desir... ...olds the story of a man dignified in history. This book is truly an admirable piece of litature. In conclusion, although some people might think that he was just a general; the best years of his life were after the war for two main reasons. First, he changed education. But most importantly, he changed the minds of the south. Without Lee’s character during his last five years, the south might have been in chaos. Lee shows evidence to the power of healing, and the difference education can make. This man truly represents what a true christian was, and should be studied for ages to come, but as the man he was, as opposed to the general. The last years of this mans life are by far the most amazing, and should get just as much attention as his years in the war. Works Cited Flood, Charles Bracelen. Lee the Last Years. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. Print. Analysis of Lee the Last Years, Charles Flood Essay -- Robert E. Lee Es In his extraordinary book, Lee the Last Years, Charles Flood gives a rare blend of history and emotion. After Lee’s surrender at Appomattox courthouse, he only lived a total of five years before his death. Some people might think that he was just a general, but the best years of his life were after the war because he changed the minds of the south and he changed education. Even though Robert E. Lee is best remembered for his military campaigns, this is a part of history not told in many history books because he did more than any other American to heal the wounds of the south and he served as a president for Washington College, which was later renamed after his death to be Washington and Lee University. The beginning of the book begins with surrender at Appomattax. On April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee signed the letter in which he accepted Grants terms for the surrender of the northern army of virginia. The terms required by Grant were generous compared to the what Lee expected. He feared that his army would face humiliation and prison camps, but the terms only required the release of the prisoners and the surrender of Lee’s army, with the prerequisite of the army laying down there arms. From this moment to the end of his life, Lee never allowed an unkind word about Grant to be spoken in his presence. Throughout the war, Lee had been awed by his soldiers dedication. He issued General Order Number 9, which was his last official communication to his army. The order told the army of his admiration and appreciation for them. The tribute was so eloquent that generations of southern school children would recite it as their counterpart to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. As Lee arrived back to his home in Richmond, his only desir... ...olds the story of a man dignified in history. This book is truly an admirable piece of litature. In conclusion, although some people might think that he was just a general; the best years of his life were after the war for two main reasons. First, he changed education. But most importantly, he changed the minds of the south. Without Lee’s character during his last five years, the south might have been in chaos. Lee shows evidence to the power of healing, and the difference education can make. This man truly represents what a true christian was, and should be studied for ages to come, but as the man he was, as opposed to the general. The last years of this mans life are by far the most amazing, and should get just as much attention as his years in the war. Works Cited Flood, Charles Bracelen. Lee the Last Years. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. Print.

The Canterbury Tales :: Essays Papers

The Canterbury Tales Historical Background The Canterbury Tales were written in 1386 by Geoffrey Chaucer. In "The General Prologue," Chaucer introduces the Monk as a rebellious person who does what he wants and does not follow the rules of the monastery. However, in the Middle Ages, monks could not behave this way. They had to follow the rules of the monastery which were written by St. Benedict. They took vows as proof that they would follow these rules. In the Middle Ages, monks had to follow rules and be divided. The rules for the monasteries were written in 520 by St. Benedict. He was the leader of a monastery and wanted to write a set of rules "that were not so strict that monks would abandon their vocations"(Americana, p. 542). They were simple and allowed monks to exercise their minds and live stress-free lives. The rules said that monks had to pray, perform manual labor, and study. The studying was beneficial to the monks since they were able to become well educated. The knowledge gained from studying led many monks to write books. As part of their manual labor, they hand copied books because xerox machines were not invented yet. According to the Encyclopedia Americana, in the Middle Ages, monks in monasteries were divided into choir monks and lay brothers. This was a way of dividing the work because choir monks had to recite the prayer, the Divine Office, which was a requirement in the rules. The lay brothers did the manual labor. Hand copying books probably took a long time and they had a lot of other work to do, like studying and praying. Monks in the Middle Ages had to follow the rules and be divided. It was advantageous to be a monk because all they did was devote their lives to studying and praying. Since they led stress free lives, they were able to concentrate on their studies. The division of monks into lay brothers and choir monks seemed like an adjustment to the rule because the work was divided whereas before, all the monks had to recite prayers and do manual labor.

Compare Contrast Perfect Compettiton Essay

A market is any place where the sellers of a particular good or service can meet with the buyers of that goods and service where there is a potential for a transaction to take place. The buyers must have something they can offer in exchange for there to be a potential transaction. Market structure: Market structure refers to the factors, such as size of the market, technological, cost and demand conditions and the barriers to entry and exit, that would affect the effectiveness of managerial decisions. We can also consider the market structure as describing the state of the market with respect to competition. Market structures Monopoly Perfect competition Imperfect competition Monopolistic competition c Oligopoly Overview: Perfect competition is a theoretical market structure. It is primarily used as a benchmark against which other market structures are  compared. The industry  that best reflects perfect competition in real life is the agricultural industry. For example , As there are millions of farmers who would produce rice & there are millions of consumers who would consume rice. In this case not a single buyer or seller could influence the price of rice. Perfect competition is a competitive market. Economist uses the term† competitive market â€Å"to describe a market in which there are so many buyers & so many sellers that each has a negligible impact on the market price. Characteristics of perfectly competitive market- 1. Large number of buyers & sellers: In perfect competition, there must be large number of buyers and sellers. Each buyer buys a small quantity of the total amount. Each seller is so large that no single buyer or seller can influence the price and affect the market. According to Scitovsky buyers and sellers are price takers in the purely competitive market. Each seller (or firm) sells its products at the price determined by the market. Similarly, each buyer buys the commodity at the price determined by the market. 2. Homogeneous product: Under perfect competition, the product offered for sale by all sellers must be identical in every respect. The goods offered for sale are perfect substitutes of one another. Buyers have no special preference for the product of a particular seller. No seller can raise the price above the prevailing price or lower the price below the prevailing price. 3. Free entry and exit: Under perfect competition, there will be no restriction on the entry and exit of both buyers and sellers. If the existing sellers start making abnormal profits, new sellers should be able to enter the market freely. This will bring down the abnormal profits to the normal level. Similarly, when losses will occur existing sellers may leave the market. However, such free entry or free exit is possible only in the long run, but not in the short-run. 4. Perfect knowledge: Perfect competition implies perfect knowledge on the part of buyers and sellers regarding the market conditions. As results, no buyer will be prepared to pay a price higher than the prevailing price. Sellers will not charge a price higher or lower than the prevailing price. In this market, advertisement has no scope. 5. Perfect mobility of factors of production: The second perfection mobility of factors of production from one use to another use. This feature ensures that all sellers or firms get equal advantages so far as services of factors of production are concerned. This is essential to enable the firms and industry to achieve equilibrium 6. Absence of transport cost: Under perfect competition transport, cost does not exist. Since commodities have, the same price it logically follows that there will be no transport cost. In the event of the presence of cost of transport, there will be no single price in the market. Transport cost occurs when there is no perfect knowledge of the market conditions on the part of buyers and sellers. . No attachment: There is no attachment between the buyers and sellers under perfect competition. Since products of all sellers are identical and their prices are the same a buyer is free to buy the commodity from any seller he likes. He has no special inclination for the product of any seller as in case of monopolistic competition or oligopoly. Theoretically, perfect competition is irrelevant. In reality, it does not exist. So it is a myth Profit maximization for a competitive firm: The goal of any competitive firm is to make profit. Three general rules for profit maximization under perfect competition are stated as follows: -If the marginal revenue is greater then marginal cost the firm should increase the output -If marginal cost is greater then greater then marginal cost the firm should decrease output -At profit maximizing level of output, marginal revenue & marginal cost are exactly same Example: Profit maximization for a perfectly competitive market.

Economic Growth in Cameroon

Background Information Notwithstanding the secular decline in real GDP experienced during the period 1987-93, the Cameroonian economy remains one of the largest in the CFA franc zone, with a GDP of about $9 billion in 1996. Compared with other sub-sharan African countries, Cameroon has one of the most diversified production and resource bases, as it produces and exports a broad range of commodities.Cameroon is a net oil exporter; oil production, although declinging steadily since 1986, still amounted to 37 million metric tons in 1996 and represented 8% of GDP. Nevertheless, agriculture has remained the mainstay of the economy and employs over 70% of the labor force. The recent history of cameroon’s economic and social development is characterized by two sharply diverging periods in economic performance.Most of the period from independence in 1960 to 1986 was characterized by fiscal balance, a rising investment-GDP ratio, rising human capital stock, and expanding real GDP. In c ontrast, the period 1987-93 was marked by declining terms of trade, deteriorating external competitiveness, a declining investment –GDP ratio, stagnating or declining human capital stock, rising fiscal imbalances, and shrinking output. Problem statementSince independence, private investment is creating employment, improving infrastructure and improving living standards of Cameroonians. Cameroon being a developing country with low income rates, unemployment, poverty, and under exploitation of natural resources, is a clear prove that the government incapable of meeting or giving Cameroon a favorable economic growth. This incapability of the government to give Cameroon a favorable economic growth, makes the government to leave out most of its companies for private investment, such as SONEL.Moreover most of Cameroonian important companies are run and own by private investors such as PILCAM,UNALOR,BOCOM,EURO OIL, and CONGELCAM just to name a few, that has led to the economic growt h of Cameroon. Romer’s (1986) model assumes that technological change is endogenous and that private investment raises the level of technology for the whole economy. In this model increases in private investment raise growth in the steady-state.This study contributes to the empirical growth literature in three ways. First, economic growth is analyzed for an individual country-Cameroon-with data covering form 1960 till date. In addition , an investigation of the growth determinants for Cameroonian economy and focus on the institutional and historical aspects of the country. Secondly, the contributions of private and government investments to the growth of the Cameroonian economy investigated.Thirdly, following the endogenous growth models by Lucas (1988), becker, Murphy and tamura(1990) and romer(1990), the role of human capital is investigated. The robustness of the effect of private investment on growth is examined by including variables related to monetary and fiscal polici es, external competitiveness, the terms of trade, and the influence of the oil sector. Objectives The main objectives of this research is to investigate the role of private investment in the economic development of the Cameroonian economy.The specific objectives of the study are * Identify the problems of economic growth in Cameroon * Assess private investment as an engine to economic growth * Make necessary recommendations Hypothesis Here, we are going to see if private investment actually enhance economic growth in Cameroon, we are going to use 2 types of hypothesis which are the null and the alternative hypothesis * Ho: private investment is an engine to economic growth in Cameroon H1: private investment is not an engine to economic growth in Cameroon. Significance Of The Study. The research carried out on the role of private investment in the economic development of Cameroon has its significance in 5 areas which are; * Africa as a whole; with the slow rate of economic growth is Africa, this research will help African leader to encourage and enable private investment in their economy since as it is the main backbone to economic growth. The Cameroonian society; this project will help many Cameroonians who are naive about the growth of the Cameroonian economy, to know the main reasons for its slow rate and what they need to do to improve on the economy. * The government; this project will help the government to better strategise in encouraging foreign and domestic investors, by reducing tax rates and interest rates, which will enhance economic growth. This project will serve as a resource base to students, who wish to carry out research in this field and better still inspire them to focus on investment given the low rate of employment in Cameroon. Limitations of study This area of is in Cameroon in general and the littoral region (douala) in particular. It does not extend to other areas due to the fact that there is inadequate timing and also, most private in vestments will not like to reveal all of their information to the researcher, thereby making it difficult for the researcher.