Euthanasia Essays (980 words) - Euthanasia, Medical Ethics

Euthanasia Essays (980 words) - Euthanasia, Medical Ethics Euthanasia The term Euthanasia has become well known throughout the country. The word is derived from ancient Greek eu thantos, meaning easy death. Today, euthanasia is referred to as mercy killing. There is much controversy over whether or not the practice is just. Euthanasia raises many religious, medical, and ethical issues. Euthanasia can either be active or passive. Active euthanasia occurs when a physician or other medical personnel induces death. An overdose is administered to the patients in the form of insulin, barbiturates, or morphine, and then followed by an injection of curare. Passive euthanasia, on the other hand, is allowing the patient to die due to lack of treatment. This includes taking the patient off their support system, or respirator. Passive euthanasia also includes stopping the food supply intravenously to comatose patients (Comptons, 1). Debate has flourished against those who accept passive euthanasia, but reject active. Questions are asked why one form is accepted and not the other. The distinction that is made between the two of them is that active is murder, while passive is merciful. Turning off support systems is a positive act of death (Singer, 76). In the Encyclopedia of Bio-ethics, some religious views of euthanasia were given. Hebraic and Jewish denominations strongly oppose the practice. They believe life is a precious and divine gift, and that it must be sustained if possible. Death must never be hastened by intention. Physicians who kill patients in order to spare them pain are considered murderers (554-555). Judaism also rejects euthanasia. They do, however, accept two forms of eu thantos: caring for dying patients, and letting terminally ill persons die. Early Christians opposed self-induced death out of suffering and despair. They also condemn such practices such as infanticide and abortion (556). Roman Catholics permit terminally ill patients to die by forgoing life-sustaining measures. Catholics also allow the refusing forms of treatment that would secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life (557). Personal views regarding euthanasia are often influenced by their religious beliefs. With a controversial topic, such as euthanasia, there are strong opinions accentuated. Euthanasia is strongly affiliated to medical and ethical debate. Opponents and advocates of euthanasia have several significant points regarding their view of the practice. Humans have a natural inclination to continue life (Baird, 98). Opponents believe that euthanasia acts against nature. Like animals, humans fight for survival. It is our goal to protect ourselves from harm and do whatever possible to stay alive. When euthanasia is implicated, it goes against our concept for survival (98-99). Those against the practice also believe that some might abuse euthanasia and use it for self-interest. The cost to keep a person alive through means of modern technology can be very costly. Families might, despite their love for the patient, consider the money being spent for what may be a hopeless cause (Baird, 97). Opponents argue the possibility of s pontaneous remission. In many cases a patient recovers with no explanation. With euthanasia, these miraculous recoveries would not exist because there would be no expectation of them happening. If the patient is put to death then they have lost their right to recovery and life (100). Another argument regarding abuse is the professional aspect of euthanasia. In the medical profession, doctors are committed to saving lives (Baird, 100). With euthanasia, death is no longer natural; it is a result of a medical decision. Several questions are asked regarding when, why, and under what circumstances medical personnel should implement the practice. Each patients case has different factors that make the decision to put him or her to rest difficult (Thomasma, 247-248). Proponents feel that euthanasia is an admirable concept; however, the request for death from a patient should be evaluated seriously before administered. Advocates feel that it is a patients right to choose whether or not to remain living. The concern about following a patients request lies on their psychological state. It must be considered whether the patient is feeling depressed and that is why they want to die, or if it is to relieve the pain. Before euthanasia is implemented the question must be asked if it is in the patients best interest (Battin,120). The use of living wills has become popular in

Transformation Leadership and Team Leadership

Transformation Leadership and Team Leadership Introduction Leadership in an organisation determines the success that the organisation realises in any activity that it undertakes. A leader provides direction to any group in an organisational setting. He or she leads the group towards the achievement of the set organisational goals.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Transformation Leadership and Team Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The frameworks used in leadership are dependent on the organisational environment and the individuals who are in a leadership position. It is important for these individuals to adopt a framework that suits the organisations in which they currently work. Another concept that is demonstrated to have significant results for any organisation is the presence of teams that are focused towards the achievement of the organisational goals. The teams should have an effective leadership. Transformational leadership is one of the maj or frameworks of leadership in organisations. According to Bass (1996, p. 11), transformational leadership is manifested when leaders in various positions use their influence on individuals to move them to a certain goal that is beyond the leader’s self-interest. This report focuses on transformational leadership and team leadership using an appropriate case study. The purpose is to evaluate the use of the two frameworks in organisations and their weaknesses and strengths in practice. Leadership Case Study The leadership challenge that was chosen is a personal experience as a manager in a project undertaken by the current organisation. In this case, the project manager was the leader, with the group being led consisting of over twenty members. The group had different responsibilities in the project. The organisation required an upgrade of the IT systems that were currently in use, including the rebranding of one of the organisation’s products. The requirements included a website that was to be developed by some of the members in the group, development of new marketing tactics, and ways to increase the sales for the company. The group was to hold meetings regularly to discuss the project developments and the necessary changes. The leader chaired these meetings. Members were required to contribute positively by suggesting the appropriate measures to be taken in bringing about change. The team leader was also charged with the responsibility of reporting the development of the project to the organisational managers. The employees had a duty to undertake the key tasks that were required under the project, including the actual upgrade process. Some of the strategies that the leader used to inspire this team included the provision of adequate working conditions where they did not interfere with the activities of the project. The leader also ensured that the team members were role models to the junior employees, including their conduct during the meeting s and other interaction areas. The leader also had the role of emphasising some aspects of the project such as the intended changes and the vision that is to be achieved in the project.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Some of the challenges that occurred in the course of the project in relation to leadership include the disagreement between employees on the best methods of performing certain activities. The employees constantly engaged each other on whose project was better suited to oversee the transformation of the organisation. The other important role of the leader was to solve differences between employees. There were different races in the workforce, with diversity existing in the project. The other challenge is the implementation of some of the agreed terms in the contract, which required that the project areas be completed on time. This requirement nee ded the cooperation between the leader and the other employee since working as a team was the only way to beat the deadlines. The leader ensured that the personal visions were shared among employees while also encouraging them to have these values in their daily operations. The project risks were also important to the leadership, which ensured that these risks were shared with the employees and other collaborating individuals. Despite the leader being open and close to the employees, there was also a display of power to indicate to them that he was in control. Another value practiced by the leadership is inspirational leadership whereby the leader was involved in motivating employees by recognising and rewarding their hard work. Leadership Activities The leader in this context had a number of responsibilities and activities that he was supposed to undertake. One of the major responsibilities was to lead the project and offer direction that the project was to take. The leader was als o the head of every meeting that was carried out. He developed the objectives of the meeting. The other activities that he was to undertake include monitoring the workers and the progress of the project. He was supposed to be a motivator for these individuals by offering guidance on some of the issues that affected them during the project (Grant Berry 2011). The resolution of disputes was also his responsibility as a way of allowing the coexistence of the employees in a mutually fulfilling environment. The team, which consisted of the leader and other employees, would regularly meet to discuss the project progress and any changes that were to be instituted. The team also discussed the areas that each of the individuals was supposed to be operating in and the progress of this section as a component of the total project.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Transformation Leadership and Team Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another activity that the project team was allowed to undertake was to offer recommendations to the leader on the areas that were necessary to change. The different members of the team had different responsibilities in the project. Each of these members was required to have fulfilled the responsibilities required of him or her. The leader had the responsibility of motivating the employees working under him. To achieve this goal, some of the methods that were necessary include employee appraisal and recommendation for rewarding (Grant Berry 2011). The leader was also accountable for the team. He was charged with reporting the project progress to the organisation, requesting for resources, and providing a statement of commitment to the organisation leadership on behalf of the team. The team being analysed had the responsibility of influencing the leader and ensuring that he was directing the activities to be undertaken. The team, which consisted of the leader and t he workers beneath him, was required to deliver an upgraded information technology system to the organisation. Some of the necessary activities in this process included website development and hosting, marketing of the website and the organisational products, and increasing the organisational efficiency. Important activities also included providing feedback on the performance of the new installed systems and the expected changes in terms of consumer preference. Leadership Dimensions Analysis The type of leadership displayed in any organisation can be analysed in a number of ways using the different dimensions of leadership (Ertureten, Cemalcilar Aycan 2013). In the above case study, the two important leadership dimensions that can be applied include transformational leadership and team leadership. Transformational leadership In this leadership dimension, leaders achieve the desired organisational strategies and targets through influencing employees positively (Ertureten, Cemalcilar Aycan 2013). Transformational leadership achieves new changes in an organisation through the available resources in the organisation in terms of human resource. According to Ishikawa (2012), this form of leadership is beneficial to the organisation because it leads to the introduction of better practices and organisational culture. Transformational leadership also influences the output of employees in the organisation by increasingly motivating them in the direction of the organisational objectives.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the organisation covered in this case study, the leader displayed several characteristics of a transformational leader. The five behaviours that a leader should exhibit in transformational leadership may be analysed using Kouzes and Posner’s (2010) model of leadership behaviours. In this model, Kouzes and Posner (2010) listed five groups of behaviours that a leader should express, including modelling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the processes in place, enabling others to act, and encouraging them. These elements comprise some component areas that leaders should satisfy before they can be branded as being transformational. The project leader demonstrated this leadership by being an example for the employees working under him. As Kouzes and Posner (2010) confirm, a leader is only effective at the workplace if he or she can influence employees to work towards the organisational goals. The leader is the main example for the employees in the activities that t hey (employees) are to undertake. In the project that was being undertaken, the initial strategies involved the creation of rules, just like in any other organisation. The team was also expected to adhere to the basic rules in the organisation. The leader was charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the employees kept these rules. A transformative leader ensures that the rules in the organisation are respected, like any other leader in any capacity (Choudhary, Akhtar Zaheer 2013). The initial meetings held by the team also involved making commitments to the project, with the leader making promises to the group. Transformational leadership ensures that the promises and commitments are fulfilled, with the leader being a role model in this area (Ertureten, Cemalcilar Aycan 2013). A major activity in transformational leadership that the project leader engaged in is seeking feedback from key employees and project stakeholders. Feedback allows the management to institute any cha nge that is necessary for the organisation, especially a change that can lead to better project results (Ertureten, Cemalcilar Aycan 2013). A transformational leader is one that builds consensus when it comes to organisational values (Kouzes Posner (2010). In this case, the leader was expected to fulfil the values set for the project by the organisational management. These values were communicated to the group in some of the meetings held with the leader to build consensus around the same. The philosophy of leadership is important to understand in the position of leadership. Leaders should be focused on this philosophy. In the above project, the leader was required to exercise the leadership qualities that are expected of him. Kouzes and Posner (2010) stated that a leader should inspire a vision that is shared with the employees. The IT upgrade project had a focused vision that could be achieved by the time of completion. The leader had the responsibility to inspire this vision as stated by Kouzes and Posner (2010). This deliverable was partly done in the project, with the leadership requiring change to achieve the optimum change results. Some of the characteristics that indicated that the leader was actively inspiring the project vision include the frequent talks on the trend of the project and the future expectations. The leader constantly reminded the employees of the future image of the project while engaging them to share this vision. According to Kouzes and Posner (2010), a transformational leader is one that demonstrates to the other employees and those beneath him in the hierarchy that the vision can be realised. He also paints the bigger picture for the team on the aspirations that it should have (Kouzes Posner 2010).This form of leadership was displayed in the project where the values were emphasised in the meetings held for the project employees. A leader should also challenge the existing processes to ensure that the employees increase their eff iciency (Kouzes Posner 2010). The project leadership in the case study had different ways of challenging the existing processes in the project. One of the utilised ways was the provision of opportunities that are considered challenging to the employees. According to Kouzes and Posner (2010), the establishment of such opportunities makes the employees more skilful at their workplace and in carrying out the designated activities. The leader kept challenging the employees to try new methods of achieving better results in the project. Some of the ways that were suggested to the employees and other project stakeholders were sought from different organisations. According to Kouzes and Posner (2010), this method of changing processes is an effective one, which leads to the development of positive results in any organisation that adopts it. Sarwar (2013) also states that transformational leaders can use processes that are already in use in other organisations to bring about change in their respective organisations. According to Oozes and Posner (2010), another way to bring about change to processes in an organisation is to set goals and strategic plans on how the objectives are to be achieved. This strategy was widely practiced in the leadership manifested in the above case study. A transformational leader should be able to influence employees while posting better results by facilitating the activities of other employees. Oozes and Posner (2010) suggested ways to achieve this goal such as the fostering of cooperation between the leader and employees under him. Listening to the views of each of the employees or supporting their decisions is another important part of transformational leadership (Sarwar 2013). The leader in the case study used these methods to ensure that the employees working under him were working towards the achievement of the goals set in the organisation. Apart from instituting changes in the organisation, a transformational leader also brings abou t change to the employees (Sarwar 2013). One way that the leader can institute this change is by encouraging employees to pursue self-improvement strategies such as engaging in training activities (Sarwar 2013). The leader also needs to encourage employees to accomplish tasks (Sarwar 2013). This plan was applied in the leadership capacity in the above organisation. The leader also celebrated the accomplishments of the employees working in the project by rewarding them for an extra effort that they put towards this project. Team Leadership Team leadership is another key concept that was applied in the project discussed in the case study. The team comprised engineers working on the project, IT specialists, and the supporting staff. The employees were also diverse, with all sexes and most of the races being represented. The other characteristic of this team that was important in its working as a group was the leadership applied in the organisation, specifically in the project. Accordin g to Quigley (2013), the leadership of a team requires a leader to consider the differences in the team and promote the positive coexistence of the members of the team. In the case of the above project, the project leader was also the team leader who was required to have the needs of all members of this team considered and all their needs met. According to Park and Kwon (2013), a team leader should have adequate knowledge on how to direct the staff. He or she should adopt a policy development process that is favourable to the objectives of the organisation. In this case, the leader was required to have the right ideas on the project. He needed to have adequate knowledge of the processes to be undertaken. The leadership in the project was well informed on the project details. The leader made decisions regarding the necessary changes. The team leader should also have strong interpersonal skills to ensure that he gets the most out of the team (Quigley 2013). This strategy involves inte racting openly and widely with each member of the team and knowing the members’ preferences and requirements in the processes. The team leader in the above project knew most of the members. He had interacted with them on a large scale. However, the leader could have done better to ensure that the employees worked as a team. A team leader in any project such as the one above should know the amount of resources needed to achieve the project goals (Quigley 2013). The leader displayed this expertise in the project. The project required the team to carry out activities within strict deadlines that had been agreed between the leader and the team as a whole. This observation was a positive reflection of the team leadership skills of the above leader since Quigley (2013) states that good team leaders have strong organisational skills. A team leader encourages the team to meet deadlines while maintaining the quality of work in the process of meeting these deadlines. Another favourable characteristic of a good team leader is that he or she is able to promote the organisation’s image to the team and stakeholders including clients. Leaders should use all available means to achieve the above results including innovation and new policies. Areas of Improvement Although the leadership skills demonstrated in the above project are adequate, some areas need improvement. The improvement should be tailored to improve the leadership skills in the area of transformational leadership and team leadership. One area that needs improvement is the interaction between employees and the leader together with how the leader engages employees to achieve the goals set in the project. Grant and Berry (2011) confirm that a leader should be able to achieve collaboration with the employees and individuals beneath him in the hierarchy. In the project described above, the leader needs to ensure that he is aware of the challenges affecting the employees and the diversity issues in existe nce. Another area of improvement is the process of providing feedback to the employees in their performance. The employees in the project were not adequately provided with feedback on the activities that they were undertaking in the project. The leader needs to ensure that he uses this feedback to institute the necessary changes to the project processes (Quigley 2013). There is also need to institute changes in the planning ability for this leader. A leader should set goals for the team while ensuring that the goals are realised within a favourable period (Quigley 2013). These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, and time bound (Christ, Emett, Summers Wood 2012). The leader needs to make changes on the way he or she directs employees. There is a need for effective communication between the project leader and the employees working under him (Christ, Emett, Summers Wood 2012). Communication methods constitute the most effective measures to undertake change in any organi sational framework or activity. The other area that the project leader should improve on his team leadership capabilities is motivation for the team members. Motivation has been associated with improved performance of employees at the workplace (Christ, Emett, Summers Wood 2012). Team leaders should adopt it as a means of ensuring increased efficiency and improved performance. In general, the leadership qualities displayed in line with the leadership dimensions were adequate. If the proposed changes are effected, the leader can manage a larger project more efficiently. Summary Some leadership lessons can be obtained from this case based on their applicability in the future leadership positions with reference to the two dimensions of leadership. A transformational leader should target to influence employees to achieve new methods of doing things in the organisation. These methods should lead to the positive performance of the organisation as a whole. Some of the suggested features o f transformational leadership that are applicable in leadership of projects include setting examples in the organisation, providing feedback to the team, fulfilling the promises and commitments, and demonstrating high standards of leadership. A leader should also develop strategies that aid in the achievement of goals. These strategies include development of an organisation’s objectives. Leaders should also create an environment where employees can share their dreams (Christ, Emett, Summers Wood 2012). The leader in a project or any organisation should create opportunities to challenge the employees on special areas so that they can contribute to their own self-improvement. An effective transformational leader also seeks better practices that can be implemented to improve the organisation. Team leaders encourage their team. They ensure that members are working towards achieving the goals of this team. They also provide the necessary resources for the team. Team leaders treat their members with dignity and respect. Besides, they value the contribution of each of the members. The choices that the members make are respected, including encouraging them to improve on the job. Rewarding is a useful way of motivating employees and teams towards achieving positive results. Conclusion Leadership is an important part of organisation. It is different from management in several ways. The two dimensions of leadership that were focused on in this report are the transformational leadership and team leadership. In the case study, the leader directs the functions of a group that is tasked with the upgrade of the information technology system in an organisation. Some of the characteristics of transformational leadership and team leadership that are evident in this leadership have been discussed in the report. The report also offers recommendations on the areas of improvement. References Bass, B 1996, A New Paradigm of Leadership: An Inquiry Into Transformational Leaders hip, Army Research Institute for the Behavioural and Social Sciences, Alexandria, VA. Choudhary, A, Akhtar, S Zaheer, A 2013, Impact of Transformational and Servant Leadership on Organisational Performance: A Comparative Analysis, Journal Of Business Ethics, vol. 116 no. 2, pp. 433-440. Christ, M, Emett, S, Summers, S Wood, D 2012, The Effects of Preventive and Detective Controls on Employee Performance and Motivation, Contemporary Accounting Research, vol. 29 no. 2, pp. 432-452. Ertureten, A, Cemalcilar, Z Aycan, Z 2013, The Relationship of Downward Mobbing with Leadership Style and Organisational Attitudes, Journal Of Business Ethics, vol. 116 no. 1, pp. 205-216. Grant, A Berry, J 2011, The Necessity of Others is the Mother of Invention: Intrinsic and Prosocial Motivations, Perspective Taking, and Creativity, Academy Of Management Journal, vol. 54 no. 1, pp. 73-96. Ishikawa, J 2012, Transformational leadership and gate keeping leadership: The roles of norm for maintaining cons ensus and shared leadership in team performance, Asia Pacific Journal Of Management, vol. 29 no. 2, pp. 265-283. Kouzes, J Pozner, B 2010, The Leadership Challenge, Jossey-Bass Inc., San Francisco, CA. Park, J Kwon, B 2013, Literature Review on Shared Leadership in Teams, Journal Of Leadership, Accountability Ethics, vol. 10 no. 3, pp. 28-36. Quigley, R 2013, A Longitudinal, Multilevel Study of Leadership Efficacy Development in MBA Teams, Academy Of Management Learning Education, vol. 12 no. 4, pp. 579-602. Sarwar, C 2013, Future of Ethically Effective Leadership, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 113 no. 1, pp. 81-89.

Kentucky staate funding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Kentucky staate funding - Essay Example Additionally, funding has also been supported by district leaders who feel there is a need to support low-income students while emphasizing on the need for equity and fairness among all citizens of the state clarifies (Ellis, 2011). Some of the past and the current funding policies for Kentucky include Free or reduced-price school lunch benefits: Having lagged behind in educational initiatives by around 1990, Kentucky State under commonwealth initiative introduced an economic reform system. The system could see funding of students from low-income districts receiving financial support from the government based on fairness and equity throughout the whole state (Ellis, 2011). Allocation of less funding for higher education: In the past, Kentucky instituted a policy that was aimed at allocating minimal funding to higher education. The state decided to reduce spending in higher education between the periods 1992 to 1993 (Ellis, 2011). Despite the fact that the policy was being visualized by some of the state economist as idea to inflict recession at the national level, it became so important in generation of more revenue to the state. Distribution policy: The council of the state government also came up with education distribution act. The distribution act was based on a formula that mainly targeted funding needs of higher education for Governors and General Assembly. The benchmark for the above model constituted a statistical procedure that only contained 20 nationally reported institutions (Ellis, 2011). Currently, it is impressive to note that the government has put in place new policies targeting to enhance performance at Kentucky schools, which have over the years attribute to high performance at both K-12 and high educational programs states (Welner & Chi, 2008). Tuition and Fees Revenue Standard Deduction: The tuition fee revenue policy was set up later by the end of the year 2001 and again reversed in 2008 clarifies (Welner & Chi, 2008). Having

Fluoridation and Toxicity Issues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Fluoridation and Toxicity Issues - Assignment Example Nevertheless, there are three things I have learned from the lecture of Nokes. One of these is that the claims to the negative effects of fluoride on the human body – weakening of bones, Down syndrome, Cancer, birth defects, reproductive effects, renal and gastrointestinal effects, lower IQ, and other bone disorders – basically have no scientific bases (Nokes). Moreover, these claims may have only been due to traditional knowledge about the harmful effects of fluoride as a raw material and in large amounts. I have also learned from this that I should not believe advertisements or negative propaganda or any type right away. Furthermore, I believe that the best thing to do with something confusing is to deal with it in a logical way, specifically by using â€Å"What, Why, When, How, Where, Who† (Nokes). Through this logical investigation on fluoridation as explained by Nokes, one can find out that much of the claims that other people have against fluoride are actua lly unsubstantiated by scientific evidence and logic. The second thing I have learned is that the potential harm from fluoride is least likely to happen because although fluoride can be harmful in large amounts, the government has set a limit to this. This limit is actually a standard value at 0.01 g/mL while the actual amount of fluoride added by the city government to water is 0.001 g/mL. This is just a mere 10% of the actual threshold value, which means that it is impossible that the fluoride will ever cause any harm. However, I would still like to think that the harm that fluoride causes may not exactly depend solely on the amount. Sometimes, I would like to think that fluoride is like acid that no matter what the amount, it will cause some damage to the material. The third thing I have learned from Nokes’ lecture is that just a small amount of fluoride is added to the water and that even this amount relative to water is much smaller in concentration. For example, althoug h fluoride is 134,000 mg in 1 kilogram of the HFA compound, this seemingly large amount of fluoride actually only translates as 7.46 x 10-6 kg/L when mixed with water (Nokes). This means that water is a great neutralizer of chemicals as it is the universal solvent. The fluoride in water therefore, if water fluoridation is to be carried out soon, is definitely much lower than what can possibly cause any harm. However, as what I have explained earlier, sometimes some chemical reactions may kill someone regardless of the amount of the reactants involved. This means that a small amount of fluoride may actually still cause some harm which is just as intense as when it is caused by fluoride above safe levels. Moreover, sometimes I would like to think that some damage caused by fluoride may accumulate in the human body as more and more fluoride is being ingested through fluoridated water. Furthermore, there could also be some complications that will take some time before it can take effect as a disease. In fact, although I am convinced by Nokes’ lecture, he did not shed light on all the aspects of the fluoridation of water. I would therefore like to suggest that there should be a more thorough investigation of the case of the fluoridation of water in Hamilton City. All aspects should be answered especially those involved in the

Arthur Millar Essay Example for Free

Arthur Millar Essay In this essay I am going to analyse the dramatic techniques that Arthur Millar uses in his 20th century drama called, A View From The Bridge. The play is set in Brooklyn in the 1940s when the Italians were immigrating to America to find work as they were poor and they needed to get away from Italy to find work to feed their families in Italy. Many of these immigrants entered America Illegally. The play is about a skilled docks worker in Brooklyn named Eddie Carbone. Eddie lives with his wife Beatrice and their niece, Catherine. Beatrices cousins named Marco and Rodolfo come to America from Italy to find work to feed Marcos family in Italy, as they are very poor. They plan to enter illegally. Eddie has feelings for his niece Catherine that he should not have. Meanwhile Catherine falls in love with Rodolfo and Eddie hates him because he is jealous as he loves her and he cannot stand any other man looking at her and touching her. As a result Eddie decides to let the Immigration Bureau know that there are illegal immigrants in his building. In the play, Arthur Miller uses a number of dramatic devices many of which are seen in the first act but their significance only becomes apparent to the audience in the second act. These dramatic devices are: use of language, dialogue and its sub textual meanings, stage directions, characters actions, props and lighting. The first dramatic technique I am going to analyse is the use of language in Alfieris speech at the start of the play. Miller has put this at the start of the play to prepare the audience for what will happen later on in the play. The speech starts to develop tension because there are a lot of negative and violent words used. For example, Alfieri uses terms such as Machine Gun. The effect of using a term like this is to create tension for the audience, as they now know that something bad is going to happen later on in the play. As the play progresses the audience realise that this is the only time when Alfieri uses negative and violent language. So his words take on a deeper meaning when the audience realises this. I am now going to look at Eddies language in the first act. His speech is simple but at the start of the play his words are more vibrant towards Catherine as he tells he that she is walking wavy. At the same time he also refers to her as a Madonna. This gives the audience the idea that she is pure and she is a virgin and Eddie wants her to stay as she is. Listen, B. , shell be with a lot of plumbers? And sailors up and down the street? This illustrates Eddies feelings for Catherine and it can also mean that he does not want any other men looking at Catherine or marrying her. Eddies dialogue changes when the cousins arrive. He uses working class American colloquial words, such as Yiz have a nice trip? when he asks the cousins Marco and Rodolfo about their journey. Eddie wants to make it clear that he is the man of the house and that he is in charge. These expressions are only used in the first act when he is speaking to Marco and Rodolfo. This builds tension because the audience know that Eddie is going to start trouble with Marco and Rodolfo later on.

Fermat’s Last Theorem Essay -- Pierre Fermat Math Mathematics Papers

Fermat’s Last Theorem The year is 1637. Pierre de Fermat sits in his library, huddled over a copy of Arithmetica written by the Greek mathematician Diaphantus in the third century A. D. Turning the page, Fermat comes across the Pythagorean equation: x 2 + y 2 = z 2. He leans back in his chair to think and wonders if this property is limited to the power of two only. He bends over the book again, scanning ahead through the pages to look for any clues. Suddenly, he begins writing intensely in the margin: â€Å"It is impossible for a cube to be written as a sum of two cubes, or for a fourth power to be written as the sum of two fourth powers or, in general, for any number which is a power greater than the second to be written as a sum of two like powers. I have a truly marvelous demonstration of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain.† These words, written so carelessly, were to survive to bewilder, frustrate and elude mathematicians of all kinds for centuries to come. This is the legend of Fermat’s Last Theorem. Pierre de Fermat was born in the town of Beaumont-de-Lomagne in southwestern France at the beginning of the seventeenth century in the year 1601. Being the son of a wealthy merchant, Fermat was able to gain a privileged education at monasteries and universities. The young man, however, never showed any particular strength in the subject of mathematics, choosing instead to pursue a career in the civil service of France. His elevated status in society allowed him to include the â€Å"de† in his surname. He suffered a serious attack of the plague during his adult life, severe enough to prompt friends to mistakenly pronounce him dead! Fermat never made math his career, but mathematics at th... ... Kolata, Gina. â€Å"How a gap in the Fermat proof was found.† The New York Times, 144 (January 1995): B5. Expanded Academic ASAP. Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT. 15 September 2002. Mackenzie, Dana. â€Å"Fermat’s Last Theorem Extended.† Science 285.5425 (July 1999): 178. Expanded Academic ASAP. Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT. 15 September 2002. Mozzochi, C. J. The Fermat Diary. American Mathematical Society, 2000. Ribenboim, Paulo. Fermat’s Last Theorem for Amateurs. New York: Springer, 1999. Singh, Simon. â€Å"Fermat’s Enigma: the Epic Quest to Solve the World’s Greatest Mathematical Problem.† New York: Walker, 1997. Van der Poorten, Alf. Notes on Fermat’s last theorem. New York: J. Wiley, 1996. Weisstein, Eric W. â€Å"Fermat, Pierre de.† Wolfram Research. http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Fermat.html (14 September 2002.)

Nationwide Public Health Care in US: The Argument

The right to preserve the mental and physical well-being of a person is inherent to his right to live.   All over the world, this right has been protected and established as one of the basic human rights.   However, there is a disparity among nations on how it is enforced, with most of the developed world having a universal health care system provided to everyone regardless of their ability to pay (Healthcare, par. 2).   The United States is one of those countries in the developed world which does not have a national healthcare system, but rather, healthcare is provided by many separate legal entities (Healthcare in the United States, par. 1). Many critics of the system have described it as inefficient and ineffective. According to the Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), the current U.S. healthcare system is â€Å"outrageously expensive, yet inadequate.† (Single-Payer National Health Insurance, par. 2)   The U.S. spends more than twice as much as other developed nations at $7,129 per capita, yet it only ranks 37th out of 191 countries according to its healthcare performance in a World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2000. Where is all the money going to?   The U.S. system is a mixed system where private and public insurers coexist.   Still, according to PNHP, private insurers waste healthcare dollars on things not involving care: â€Å"overhead, underwriting, billing, sales and marketing departments as well as huge profits and exorbitant executive pay.†   Additionally, doctors and hospitals must maintain administrative staff to deal with the bureaucracy.   Combined, this accounts for 31 percent of American's health dollars (Single-Payer National Health Insurance, par. 3) Just by looking at the numbers it seems there should be no debate on establishing a national healthcare system in the U.S., but in fact the argument rages on in the halls of national politics.   There are still several criticisms against a national health care program, mostly stemming from the fact that Americans, by and large, have a tradition of capitalism and for-profit enterprises have most of the time had their way. Cited criticisms include the old adage that introducing the free market into anything, including healthcare, will drive prices and costs down. In fact, the opposite is currently proving true.   The excess payments for care in private for-profit institutions were substantial: 19%. (Himmelstein and Woolhandler, 1814).   The standard â€Å"free market† and does not apply to the healthcare system, where competition is often absent in some areas, and where the average person is very much in the dark on evaluating the â€Å"product† of healthcare.   Add to it the unique inefficiency of the U.S. government insuring 27.3% of the population and so we have them paying these for-profit hospitals a premium on what they could do much more efficiently themselves. Likewise, private insurance have to pay significant overhead, with these costs trickling down to the individual consumer.   Under a single payer system, it is estimated that the overall savings in paperwork would amount to more than $350 billion a year, enough to provide comprehensive coverage to everyone without paying more than we actually do. (Single-Payer National Health Insurance, par. 4) In my case, this mix of private and public insurance makes me and my spouse concerned over our future rates.   Both of us are self-employed, and so have to purchase private health insurance coverage for us and for our two children.   Instead of a nationwide security system that would protect us from the costs of rising rates, I am faced with the fear that, if we make too many claims, our rates could potentially skyrocket that we could no longer afford to carry it. As compared to a country like France, which has the best healthcare in the world according to the WHO (WHO Assesses, par. 1), we are wallowing in a system that is grossly inefficient, especially considering the huge cost we pay for our health compared to these nations.   The existence of organizations like the PNHP shows that there is widespread support among physicians in the country for a universal healthcare system that will protect the right of every American to live his or her life to the fullest.   Implementing a single-payer healthcare system would not only mean better health services for Americans, it will also drive down costs (How Much would a Single-Payer System Cost, par. 1), saving money for the government, and ultimately saving our own money. R E F E R E N C E â€Å"Single-Payer National Health Insurance†. Physicians for a National Health Program. 2006. 12 June 2007. ; http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single_payer_resources.php; Introduction: How Much Would a Single-Payer System Cost?†. Physicians for a National Health Program. 2006. 12 June 2007. < http://www.pnhp.org/single_payer_resources/ introduction_how_much_would_a_singlepayer_system_cost.php> â€Å"Healthcare.† Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. 12 June 2007. â€Å"Healthcare in the United States.† Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 12 June 2007. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_the_United_States> Himmelstein, David and Woolhandler, Steffie. â€Å"The High Costs of For-Profit Care.† Canadian Medical Association Journal. 8 June 2004. 1814-1815.