Philadelphia The Movie Essays - NYPD Blue, Andy Bernard, Andy Taylor

Philadelphia The Movie Essays - NYPD Blue, Andy Bernard, Andy Taylor Philadelphia The Movie Philadelphia The movie, Philadelphia, was an excellent example of the severe discrimination many people with Aids are exposed to. In this instance the main character, Andy ,was also gay. Unfortunately, in our society, he was faced with a double whammy. The gay iss is controversial enough, but to compound that in the work force with having Aids would be almost unbearable for any person to cope with. Tom Hanks played Andy with a serious need to communicate to the viewers how everyday life, work, emotions and ment well being are affected by this kind of situation. The movie was well cast and thoughtfully portrayed Andy's serious predicament. The theme was very interesting. It made me realize how lucky I am to not have to deal with those kinds of problems. It's really very frightening to realize, as Andy did, that even our legal system can be discriminating. When he started looking for a lawyer, he found many people who did not want to represent him because of his illness. The frustration he felt must have been a real burden. Most people were afraid of him. Even the man who finally represented him was afraid of him. He soon came to understand Andy was no threat to his health or his reputation, but someone he learned from and ended up becoming friends. Andy himself feared his disease even before he was sure he had it. He did not want to go for his blood test. He didn't want to face the reality of having Aids. He really didn't have any choice. After the doctor confirmed his fears and diagnosed him having Aids, Andy began to deal with the news and the way it was changing his life and how people treated him. His employer was trying to shaft him. He fought for his rights, not knowing what the outcome would be, but knowing this was something he felt he must do. The turning point in the movie for Andy was when he was in the library trying to learn more about Aids. He was asked by the librarian to go to a private room. His lawyer was there and saw this happening, although he was hiding behind a pile of books. I guess this is when he realized Andy needed him to help protect his rights. It killed me to think just because someone has an illness people don't understand that they can let their ignorance make them behave in a way they normally wouldn't. To tell you the truth I can't honestly say I would have acted any different then the librarian did !!! The lawyer took the book Andy was holding out of his hand to show the librarian he was not afraid getting the disease by touching something Andy had touched. Andy must have felt one hell of a big relief when that happened !!! He finally had someone on his side. I hated the firm Andy worked for. At first they seemed okay, but after they tried shafting Andy, I was really pissed. He worked for them, produced for them, was an asset to their business and then they just blew him off. The blowing him off part wasn as bad as how they tried to do it. They tried to make him look like a loser. They cut down his work, his character, his abilities as an employee. What gives them the right to try and destroy someone's life Especially someone whose life is being destroyed anyway by the disease he has. The illness didn't affect the way he did his job or how well he did it. They were just a bunch of ignorant morons who didn't care about anything other than how having someone with Aids working for them would make them and their business look..... and in their opinions it could ruin them. So, just fire the guy to cover their own asses. What a bunch of shit !!!! Especially coming from the very institution that was supposed to help protect peoples' rights, law yers! The whole system must have really gotten to Andy. Especially because he was a part of that very same system. I agreed with the verdict of the trial hands down. It really made

River Birch Is a Favored Yard Tree in the Southern U.S.

River Birch Is a Favored Yard Tree in the Southern U.S. River birch has been called the most beautiful of American trees by Prince Maximilian, the emperor of Mexico when he toured North America shortly before his short-lived reign. It is a favorite yard tree in the southern United States and is sometimes messy to maintain if you are not hands-on when dealing with your yard. Betula nigra, also known as red birch, water birch, or black birch, is the only birch with a range that includes the southeastern coastal plain. It is uniquely the only spring-fruiting birch in North America. Although the wood has limited usefulness, the trees beauty makes it an ornamental highlight, especially at the northern and western extremes of its natural range.  Most river birch bark peels in colorful flakes of brown, salmon, peach, orange, and lavender and is a bonus for regions deprived of paper and white birches.  Ã‚   In his book, The Urban Tree Book, journalist, novelist, and publisher Arthur Plotnik entices amateur arborists to go tree peeping in U.S. cities. He gives vivid descriptions of trees he spots along his trek: Only the shaggy brown river birch seems truly adapted to cities, holding its own with urban heat blasts and the deadly borer. River Birch Habit and Range River birch grows naturally from southern New Hampshire south and west to the Texas Gulf Coast.  River birch is well named as it loves riparian (wet) zones, adapts well to wet sites, and reaches its maximum size in rich alluvial soils of the lower Mississippi Valley. Even though it loves wet ecosystems, the tree is heat-tolerant. River birch can survive modest droughts and does not compete with your lawn for water. River birch transplants easily at any age and grows into a medium tree of about 40 feet and rarely to 70 feet. River birch occupies large eastern north-south ranges in North America from Minnesota to Florida. The tree needs direct sunlight and is intolerant to shade.   River Birch Varieties The best river birch cultivars are the Heritage and Dura-Heat varieties. The Heritage or Cully cultivar was selected in 2002 as the tree of the year by the Society of Municipal Arborists. The trees wood has very little commercial value but is extremely popular as an ornamental tree that features salmon-cream to brownish bark that peels to reveal a creamy white inner bark that can be nearly as white as the white-barked birches. It is hardy  in  all U.S. climate zones, it is fast-growing, nicely forked, wind and ice resistant.   According to Michael Dirr,  horticulturist and a professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia, who praise the varietal in his book, Trees: Heritage river birch is an excellent selection with superior vigor, larger leaves, and greater resistance to leaf spot. Dura-Heat is a somewhat smaller cultivar that features creamy white bark color, better tolerance to summer heat, better insect and disease resistance, and superior foliage to the species. It typically grows 30 to 40 feet tall as a single trunk or multi-trunked tree. Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit of a River Birch The tree has male and female catkins, which are slim, cylindrical  flower  clusters that are grouped in 3s. The small cone-like fruit  opens and sheds small  nutlet  seeds in spring. What makes yard work a chore with the river birch are the falling catkins, fruit, and flaking bark that constantly litter the yard. The summer leaves have a leathery texture with a dark green upper side and light green on its  underside. The leaf edges are teethlike, with a double serrated appearance. The leaves are in the shape of ovals. In the autumn, the leaf color is golden-yellow to yellow-brown, and leaves have a tendency to drop quickly. River Birch Hardiness Zone River birch  is hardy through zone 4 on the U.S. Department of Agriculture zone map. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map identifies how well plants will withstand the cold winter temperatures. The map divides North America into 13 zones, of 10 degrees each, ranging from -60 F to 70 F. So, for zone 4, the minimum average temperatures are between -30 F and -20 F, which includes the entire U.S. with the exception of Alaska.

Lack of Parental Involvement at a Local Elementary School Negatively Essay

Lack of Parental Involvement at a Local Elementary School Negatively Affects the Academic Success of the Students - Essay Example This paper also investigates the reasons as to why some parents don’t get fully involved, as it has been observed that not all parents participate actively in the education process of their children. The ways through which schools and teachers can have parents get involved actively in educating their kids at home is also closely examined in this paper. Outline Lack of parental involvement at a local elementary school negatively affects the academic success of the students Chapter I: Introduction Chapter one examines the background of the proposal topic (Lack of Parental Involvement in Education and how it affects children and their academic success) by bringing out the statement of the problem. The purpose of the study and research questions has also been stated. In chapter two the secondary information relating to parental involvement in their children’s academic process has been examined and related to the performance of the child. This has been based on the previous studies carried on the topic. Problem Statement As observed by Bryan (2005) it is very likely for student to perform below their potential if parents are not actively involved in their academic progress. However, despite this problem parents as seen still not to be fully involved in their children school activities. As revealed by Wanat (1992), this problem is mainly as a result of lack of time or expertise in the side of the parent. Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the extent in which the involvement of parents in academic process has been lacking and the impact it has caused in the achievement of the children. Chapter II: Study of the Problem Description of the study area This... This paper stresses that it is evident that parents’ involvement in their children education is very vital for the children academic success. It is therefore true that lack of parental involvement would lead to poor performance of their children in school. The findings of this study are expected to examine how good performance of children in school depends to a large extend on parental involvement in children education. It is expected to suggest ways of enhancing parental participation in educating their kids. Therefore, given that data collection tool is a questionnaire to teachers, the research will seek data from the audience best placed to give the best feedback on children and what is required of their parents to improve academic performance. This report makes a conclusion that suggestions likely to be collected from teachers are: calling for parents meetings in school more often, making parents aware that their children good performance depends on their involvement, encouraging parents to assist and supervise their kids when doing their home work as well as encouraging parents to have in place a good study, play and family time home program for their children when not in school. The author of the paper declares that the decision to use schools from one zone in this study could limit the generalization of the findings to other schools but could be useful for illustrations and basis for more research. This is because the study will be carried out under constrain of time and therefore the data sample may not be distributed to many schools but will only be concentrated in ten schools which are close together.

Advantages of using cement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Advantages of using cement - Essay Example ement, including calcium, iron, silicon, and aluminum (â€Å"How Cement is†) are readily available and the chemical reaction required to make cement is easy to set, cement is found everywhere. The wonderful aspect of these ingredients is that their combination in different percentages and under different conditions leads to the manufacturing of cement with different properties and color. These days, a lot of varieties of cement are produced that vary with respect to color, strength, texture, and setting time. The tendency in cement to be manufactured in different varieties makes it a very useful material in architecture. The different colors of cement are used for aesthetic purposes, whether between bricks, stones, or wall tiles. Certain varieties of cement are so fine and have such beautiful colors that they do not require any additional coatings of paint or varnish over them to look presentable. This saves the cost of the constructors. Cements used in architecture are either hydraulic or non-hydraulic. Both varieties are made by addition of certain admixtures in the ingredients during the process of manufacturing cement. Hydraulic cement is manufactured by replacing part of cement in the concrete with pozzolanas. This activates the setting of cement in wet conditions, and enhances the tendency of the hardened concrete to deter chemical attack. On the other hand, use of non-hydraulic cement in concrete prevents it from setting in the wet conditions. This is a very useful property as it increases the setting time of concrete, as may be required to form architectural elements of certain shapes and styles. Cement finds its biggest use in mortar and concrete. Mortar is used as a binding material in bricks and blocks. Concrete is used to form hard surfaces like floors and roofs. The quality that makes cement particularly suitable for inclusion in the mortar and concrete is its high capability of binding the materials together and achieve strengths that cannot be

Personal Experience Essay Example for Free

Personal Experience Essay Life is full of adventures and experiences. The key to living well is making these experiences as meaningful as possible. I went through a very significant experience, which was actually more of a risk, about two years ago. I was 15 years old and I had to decide whether I would stay in my hometown or move to Monterrey, Mexico. As in every dilemma faced, there are pros and cons that will try to sway you. Time wouldn’t stop and the day of my decision was getting closer and closer; the less time I had to decide, the more confused and undecided I became. All I could do was imagine myself living the future in my hometown or in Monterrey. But, why was I put into this situation? Should I have stayed where I was born and where I’d lived my whole life or would the best thing be to move to an entirely new city? My family once consisted of my mom, my dad, two older brothers, and me. Unfortunately, my dad passed away in December of 2007 when I was twelve years old. Monterrey is a city characterized by having many foreign students because of the highly recognized university, Tec de Monterrey (ITESM). Both of my brothers decided to study there. This left a lonely house with only a widowed mother and a teenage girl. That was the moment I realized we needed to do something, having me make the decision of my life with the pressure of time. I was born and raised in Matamoros, Mexico, which is a border town with Brownsville, Texas. Having my student passport, I studied there my whole life. I had many friends living in both Matamoros and Bro wnsville. This was a major factor on my decision because I didn’t want to leave them and, in Monterrey, I didn’t know anyone. The thing was that in Matamoros, every corner of my house, every street, and every part of the city would only remind me of my dad who was already in Heaven. To me, this was a kind of torture. I had to either leave my friends and start a new life, or stay there with everyone’s support, but constantly having to deal with the suffering of not being able to let go of my dad because of my surroundings. I knew moving to Monterrey was a very good idea, but like everything, it had its negative views as well. It would be a good thing to move because my mom and I would now live with my brothers and we would all be united like we were before. This new beginning would help us overcome the death of my dad. The bad part was that, as I was about to enter high school, moving to Monterrey without knowing anyone would be very difficult. I had always studied in the USA, so attending a school in Mexico would probably lower my grades and make things more complicated. It was all about taking the r isk. Decision time was near. After I analyzed everything, I understood that the best thing I could was to move to Monterrey with my mom. This was a very significant experience because it really impacted me. The first semester was very hard as I felt all alone. As soon as I began making friends, however I realized I couldn’t have made a better decision. People in Monterrey are very humble and caring. They taught me many things, enabling me to become a better person with better feelings. These friends were the ones who pulled me closer to God when I most needed Him. There was no better feeling than getting home and seeing my brothers living with me again. My family was once again united, and I am very grateful for all of this. View as multi-pages

Antigone :: essays research papers

Antigone is a play written by Sophocles that became a classic due to its controversial content. In this play, the Greek dramatist reflected mainly on Civil Disobedience. Antigone believes in the individual rights over the state rights. Creon, however, strongly believes in putting state over religion. The play does not only revolve on the political and religious issue, but also deals with the battle of the sexes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The play is about a strong-willed woman defying the laws of a proud king. Antigone is torn between her devotion to the gods and her loyalty to the king. Creon, ruler of Thebes, issued the order to leave the traitor Polynices’ body â€Å" to be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear, an obscenity for the citizens to behold!† Antigone was not about to simply obey this absurd decree. She felt that her personal responsibility lies to the gods and her family rather than the king. She then asked Ismene, her sister, to assist her with the burial, but was denied of any help. She was disappointed at first, but later on decided that she will do this with or without Ismene’s help. Creon was warned about this and later found the culprit. He issued the death sentence for Antigone’s action. Creon informed his son, Haemon, of his fiancee’s deceit. Haemon, however, defended his beloved. He told his father that the whole city was on her side, but were afraid to say anything. He was instead accused of â€Å"being a woman’s accomplice†, â€Å"fighting on her side, the woman’s side.† Creon continued to threaten him with witnessing the execution of Antione. She was to â€Å"die, now here, in front of his eyes, beside her groom!† Haemon countered him with a threat of his own that he will never set eyes on him again if he continues this violence. Crion was apalled with his son. For that, Antigone was to die a very agonizing death. she was to be taken â€Å"down to some wild desolate path never trod by men, and wall her up alive in a rocky vault, and set out short rations, just the measure piety demands†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The prophet Tiresias warned Crion of the consequences if he does not release Antigone soon. He told him of his dreams that he would lose the people he loves if he continues to be stubborn and stupid. Creon admitted that the prophesies troubled him greatly.

Customized Learning Theory Essay

Educational techniques have been around for many centuries. Through the centuries, teaching techniques have not changed. However, many methods have emerged which has been defined as educational theory. Students have many different learning styles that help them learn. Teachers must learn how to teach to include each of the learning styles so each student learns what they need to know. Teaching students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be very difficult to teach. These students need to be active in what they are doing and what they are learning. Using the kinesthetic learning style will help tremendously when teaching a child with ADHD. Learning disabilities are problems that affect the brain’s ability to receive, process, analyze, or store information. These problems can make it difficult for a student to learn as quickly as someone who is not affected by learning disabilities. Certain kinds of learning disabilities can interfere with a person’s ability to concentrate or focus and can cause someone’s mind to wander too much. Other learning disabilities can make it difficult for a student to read, write, spell, or solve math problems. Research is being conducted daily to be able to determine which learning theories work for which student. Some students learn better by listening, some by doing and some by hearing. Although, teaching can be dated back to the bible, Proverbs 4:2 states â€Å"I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching† (Holy Bible, NIV). Romans 12:7 states that â€Å"if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach† (Holy Bible, NIV). No matter what a teacher teaches, as long as each student gets what they deserve out of the teaching is the only thing that matters. Learning Theory and its Importance Every teacher has his or her own learning theory. Not every theory is the same. One of the best known learning theories in use today is the Piaget’s theory (Slavin, 2012). Piaget believed that there were four factors that lead to a child’s development. Children use aids and begin to understand how things work which helps the child learn how to do things for themselves. Another factor is that children learn from socializing with other children their age. This gives the child an opportunity to view other children’s behaviors and learn from each behavior. The child will then be able to develop their own patterns and personality. From there, the child can make their own decisions and find out what works best for them. Culture plays a big part in ways that affect learning theories. Vygotsky thought of the practice of education as a source rather than a result of the development of cognitive and learning skills. Many people before Vygotsky believed that people possessed the essential learning ability; however, it just needed to be coaxed out. Adolescence is one of the most trying times for a new Christian. According to Hosseini, Elias, Krauss, & Aishah (2010), adolescence is a point in time when an individual makes a choice in their future education, any major life roles, any relationships, and where a child establishes toward long-term goal to work toward to. This proves that it is imperative of having Christian principles of morality integrated into the school systems. Description of an Effective Teacher and Learning Environment Being an effective teacher takes a lot of determination, understanding and commitment and also considered to be an intentional teacher. When a teacher focuses too much of his or her instruction on one area, other instructional areas could drop. Slavin (2012) states that teaching involves planning and preparation, and the components which make a good teacher are decision making, reflection, application of education research and self-knowledge and self-regulation. Teachers need to be highly qualified according to federal law. The problem was that a negative impact of the requirement of having highly qualified teacher on recruitment and retention of personnel in rural areas was feared. Leading educators in education and special education have argued that the requirement may worsen the already significant critical shortages and attrition rate in rural special education. Another problem that was brought up was the cost to have highly qualified teachers and no extra compensation. Administrators fear that they might not be able to recruit special education teachers who meet the highly qualified standard. This legislation has made an impact on the rural areas of public and private schools. If the standards are set high, then individuals who would want to be teachers would see education as â€Å"not as attractive as other career options† (Courtade et. al. , 2010, p. 10). Everybody knows that there are no two children who learn at the same pace but only an effective teacher would understand this. An effective teacher would use different learning styles to help educate each child. Direct instruction and setting objectives are important in the classroom. Being able to translate directive instructions clearly and concisely is imperative. An effective teacher wants to make sure the student can understand what is being taught which makes the difference between good and great learning. Being able to effectively deliver educational material would allow the students to become confident with his or her ability to learn what is being taught. According to Slavin (2012), poor delivery of lesson plans can have a negative impact on a student’s mental set. When a teacher has a good lesson delivery, it allows the students to become more confident; however, it is necessary that the lesson delivery be given using various delivery methods. During classroom instructions, a student does not only need ample time to learn new material, the student needs to review old material that was already taught. Having the time to review and learn new material shows the students how the old and new material goes together and instills the importance of all the material. Homework is a part of a lesson plan that is extremely important. Homework was once thought to be essential to learning and should be mandatory. It was once thought that homework was important and can further a student’s education more than a student who did not complete the homework assignments. This was contradicted when research was conducted when students were allowed to choose whether or not they wanted to do homework. Results showed that the group who did not do the homework outperformed the students who did the mandatory homework (Gutarts & Baines (2010). Technology has become a big part in education. Technology has taken over the ranks for textbooks, emails, information, and paper. Several counties in Virginia have been using iPads and laptops instead of textbooks (Reid, 2011). Digital technology holds enormous potential for transforming instruction (Reid, 2011). The introduction of new technology into the classroom is an important component to help foster a learning environment that will encourage problem-solving and critical thinking (Reid, 2011). However, if a teacher chooses to use any form of technology in the classroom, the teacher needs to be well educated with technology. Some people would think that if a teacher was illiterate when it comes to computers, then why teach with them or use computers in a classroom. A teacher may not need to know the â€Å"ins and outs† of technology but he or she must know what websites are trusted, how to â€Å"surf† the internet, send out emails, set up blackboards, and use whiteboards (which can display what is on the computer onto the wall or blackboard). Technology has been very helpful when it comes to distance learning. Distance learning has helped many adults go back to college to get a degree when his or her life does not allow them to go to an actual classroom. Individuals with reading disabilities tend to become overwhelmed with reading and other activities during school. A child who cannot read well and is in middle school will not be able to take proper notes because he or she does not know how to write well either. In one study, a teacher used an iPad as a tool to help a fifth grade struggling reader with ADHD. The use of the iPad helped the student focus attention, and the iPad also helped the student become more metacognitive in reading. Using the iPad showed an increase of one year’s growth in a six week period using pre- and post-assessments (McClanahan, Williams, Kennedy, & Tate, 2012). The student also gained in confidence and sense of being in control of his learning. While generalizations to other struggling readers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder cannot be made, the success this student experienced suggests that the use of this device is worth serious consideration and research in similar contexts (McClanahan, et. al. , 2012). Learning Characteristics: Modalities and Ability Grouping Learning modalities are important when it comes to learning and teaching. The three different types of modalities include, visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. According to Anderson (n. d. ), learning modalities are the sensory channels or pathways through which individuals give, receive, and store information. Perception, memory, and sensation include the notion of modality. Approximately 25-30% of students are visual learners (Anderson, n. d. ). Visual learners are those who learn by seeing (Anderson, n. d. ). Approximately 25-30% of students are auditory learners (Anderson, n. d. ). Auditory learners are those who must hear what he or she hears to really understand it. Approximately 15% of students are tactile or kinesthetic learners (Anderson, n. . ). Tactile or kinesthetic learners need to feel and touch and get a better understanding if movement is involved. However, students can have mixed modalities which include visual and auditory, visual and kinesthetic, and auditory and kinesthetic. There are about 25-30% of students who have mixed modalities (Anderson, n. d. ). Learning modalities are important but it is not the only thing that helps the students. Teachers need to be prepared in their subject and need to be knowledgeable in the area they are teaching. Just because a teacher is knowledgeable, does not make them an intentional teacher and does not make them knowledgeable in writing lesson plans. If a teacher does not know how to deliver the knowledge to the students, the students are not going to learn as much as they should. When a teacher makes a lesson plan, it helps the teacher to be prepared and helps the teacher know how to convey much needed knowledge to the students. The concept of ability grouping goes along with learning modalities. Ability grouping allows students to group together based on their ability to learn. Ability grouping allows students of higher level to be grouped with high achieving students. Ability grouping also allows students of lower level to be grouped with lower achieving students. This type of grouping makes the assumption that the teacher will be able to teach the students based on the same level. This causes a problem because it can cause the lower level students to fall further being the higher level students because they are not taught the same things and the same ways. Personal Reflection When conducting the Learning Styles Profile on myself, it made me aware of my learning styles which is that I am a more of a visual learner than anything but I feel that I am more of a kinesthetic learner so I would classify myself as having mixed modalities. Just watching something being done would not keep my attention but if I watched something being done while I was doing it, then I would have a better understanding. I would use this as part of my theory because an effective teacher has to have something for everyone. An effective teacher would have instructions for the auditory, visual and kinesthetic students so that each student can learn his or her own way. When conducting the Philosophical Methodology of Learning Profile, it showed that I scored highest and I have strong feeling in progressivist, and traditionalist methodology. My lowest score was actually a negative score and that was in socialist methodology. Inasmuch as I am an extreme progressivist, not all of it is true. I believe that everything has to have a point and to be proven but that does not mean that I deny the existence of God. I really believe that in the progressive mode the teacher becomes the facilitator or the director of learning, while the student becomes the center of focus as an individual. I believe that school revolves around the children. I believe that if a teacher looks at a class as a whole and not individuals, the individuals who need help will not get it. A child with special needs â€Å"slips through the cracks† all the time, and in my opinion, that is not acceptable. The supervisor of learning can direct the learning from different perspectives ultimately considering the needs of the individual. An experience centered approach stems from this philosophical methodology using projects, cooperative group activities, and critical thinking and problem solving, decision-making skills. Getting children to work together as well as separately will help the children get ideas off of other students. This way, the student will know if they need extra help in a certain area and can ask for help when needed. Conclusion Each child learns differently. Each teacher has to have his or her own theory on what would work in his or her classroom. Schools are for learning† and â€Å"teaching promotes learning, but learning also takes place through experience and individual study† (Van Brummelen, 2009, p. 13). A teacher must â€Å"trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding† (Proverbs 3:5). Inasmuch as educational theories have been around for centuries, times change, the way that teachers educate students will change, and the way children learn will change. Teachers must adapt to the â€Å"New Age† which includes many forms of technology and new learning theories.

Orchestra Concert

The music played throughout all of the concerts adhered to be diverse. The instruments, the individuals performing, and the conductor all proved to be outstanding. The concerts proved to be interesting as I witnessed them, first hand. The first concert I attended was performed by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra had performed Shostakovich’s â€Å"Symphony NO. 7, Leningrad† from the Romantic era. The orchestra was a large ensemble (1) containing various instruments that contributed to the overall sound of the piece. Since the orchestra was a large ensemble, just like the instrumentation common in the Romantic era, the orchestra was able to perform in a lively, vigorous manner, probably vivace (2). The orchestra performed tutti (3), in which all of the instruments of the ensemble played together. Every member of the orchestra played with exactness and steady energy, or in other words, con gusto (4). Overall, all the instruments included in the ensemble were needed for the piece to sound fanciful. In addition to the large ensemble, the orchestra played in an allargando (5) manner, in which the orchestra grew louder and then softer, which is also common to the Romantic era. As the orchestra progressed through the piece, the orchestra used various bow styles in order to dramatize the music. The ensemble played the symphony using legato, marcato (5), and spiccato (6), which contributed to the immense sound. The composer’s style of this piece was typical for the Romantic era because the composition was extensive, and included the piano, which is a well-known, as well as, important instrument in the Romantic era. The symphony, although has many characteristics included in the Romantic era, is not completely similar to other pieces that I have performed that are included in the Romantic era. Unlike the Shostakovich’s symphony, â€Å"Largo†, is a slow and steady piece that includes dynamic fluctuations. Similar to the symphony, the piece â€Å"Bacchanale† involves using marcato throughout the piece. While the orchestra was performing, the audience sat silent in order to observe the orchestra. All of the members of the orchestra seemed to be attentive to the conductor, which is important because every member of the orchestra needs to be aware of what is going to happen next in the music. The brass and the string had sections in the music, where they were the most important parts. Overall, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performed well as a whole group. The second concert I attended was performed by the Richardson Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra performed â€Å"Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582† by Bach, which is part of the Baroque era. The string instruments of the orchestra performed with the hair of the bow, in other words, arco (7). By using lots of motion or most commonly known as mosso (8), the orchestra increased the tension of the piece. The orchestra played at a pretty fast tempo (9), probably allegro. The piece had a distinct part where the harp played. The ensemble was large, in order to attain the full sound of the piece. The instruments played in the orchestra did not comply with the typical orchestras of the Baroque era because it did not have a distinct part where were the main instruments were the piano and the bass, or more commonly known as basso continuo (10). Along with the use of basso continuo, the orchestra used ornamentation by adding grace notes (11) throughout the piece. The Baroque era also included the doctrine of affections (12), in which the Richardson Symphony Orchestra demonstrated by playing faster notes to demonstrate happiness. The style of the composer was distinctive of the Baroque era because he use both ornamentation and doctrine of affections. The bow stroke of the piece that was mostly used was legato. Unlike the piece we previously played in orchestra which is also part of the Baroque era (â€Å"Allegro in D for Strings†), the piece the symphony performed did not have the marcato stroke. My favorite part of the whole composition was when the harp was playing distinctly, but overall the orchestra played magnificently. The intonation of the orchestra was precise and all of the members of the orchestra played well as a whole. The orchestra also performed â€Å"Concerto #23 in A major, K. 488† by Mozart, which is part of the Mozart era. The orchestra included many instruments, as well as the piano, which had a very important part in the piece. The piano seemed to have the solo (13) in the piece. The use of the piano is not a standard to the classical era, although it contributed to the overall sound of the piece. The piece that the orchestra performed was extensive, which is a common characteristic of the Classical era. The composition reflected a fanciful style, known as caprice (14). The composer used some of the typical characteristics of the Classical era, by making the piece lengthier than those of the Baroque era, but the composer also added a twist by using the piano. The orchestra used both legato and marcato to reflect a whimsical style. The composition most likely included cue notes (15), in order to guide the players who were not playing while the piano was. Similarly to the piece that the Richardson Symphony Orchestra performed, â€Å"Menuetto† by Mozart also reflects a fanciful style that uses legato. The composition that the orchestra performed made me feel light-hearted. All of the professional musicians that performed had paid attention to the piano solo, in addition to paying attention to the conductor. Most of the string instruments used the middle part of their bow, in order to play quickly which reflected a fast sound. All of the professional concerts that I attended were a great learning experience but were also a blast to watch.

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buy custom The Power of Vision essay Mighty mentoring is a minority men program for community colleges in North Carolina. It has a goal to provide services to minority males in America in general. The minority men include American Alaskan Natives, Blacks, Indians, and Hispanic who comprise individuals from Puerto Rico, Central and Southern American parts, Cuba, but not those of Hispanic origin. Mentoring in this case refers to the facilitation of learning or transfer of knowledge and skills to another person through practice and observation. The mentor, in this case, has more knowledge that he or she passes to others through constant practice and observation. The vision for this program is to maintain the minority men in the education system. It will enhance the lives of the minorities on campuses and encourage them to stay with their university until they graduate. The program intends to improve its services over time to ensure that they offer meet the recommended standards. This is a vision, proposed for the future, a long with a keen enthusiasm that goes with it. If there were a vision, then students would be excited to anticipate the future. Vision can be a tremendous authoritative force in all walks of lives, especially in business. Mentors and mentees can embrace this aspect of teaching and learning in the institution to enable the marginalized students to get the required education standards. This vision aims at removing almost all barriers and challenges, which mentors and mentees face in their quest for a better instructional process. For example, some of these challenges are fear for failing, experience of emotional problems, and true hardships in the learning process. Planning of Implementing Mentorship Planning is quite an important aspect in implementing any radical changes in a system, more so in the education setor. A strategic plan can help in implementing the changes that involve the following scenarios. The learning process of the minority men is facing many problems, which may prompt them to stay away from their learning institutions. It is important to note that there will be a smaller shift in the management procedures in the education process. The learners in this case are facing several problems relating to acquiring learning facilities. The mentoring program in the system will provide the mentees with facilities for proper learning in educational areas. There are two ways of coming up with this plan. This can be either strategic plan or long-range planning. These two types are different in one way or the other. Long-range type of planning came into existence in many companies in early 1960s. It puts the organizers insights into the plan implementation through observing the current and future knowledge. In this way, it will enable the mentors to rely on it over a period. The mentors may have a chance to apply the strategic plan, which is developed in an unpredictable environment. There are other differences. For instance, long-range planning rests on assumption that the current behaviors may continue appearing in the minority men even after implementing the strategic plan. This assumption is based on the fact that resolutions work from the backward relying on the events already occurred. On the other hand, strategic planning does not aim at predictable future, but looks at the expected position of the learners. It analyses the presen t situation of the mentors and mentees and brings up strategies basing on the evidence and planning, as providing continuity in education of the minority men. There are principles that identify strategic planning. They include instant action, simplicity, directive, and continuity together with the restrictive type. Strategic planning iin this case will bring about benefits to both the mentors and the mentees. It has the ability to reduce conflicts, thus increasing the relationship between the learners and their instructors. It gives the mentors the ability to anticipate the problems that will accrue from implementing the program of mentoring the minority men before they appear. This enables them to come up with the preliminary solutions to the problems. For instance, the minority groups may experience problems in materials, less mentors and fear among the mentees to participate in the program. Fear may come in due to the effect of being known to other dominant students that one is among the minority groups leading to racist relationships in the institution. During planning, the mentors are able to identify the weaknesses and strengths of the program. This is a very important aspect since the mentors will weigh the benefits, while at the same time looking at the demerits. Mentees can be aware of the good intentions and participate fully in the program. During this planning, the changes that may take place are put into consideration so that whenever one plan fails, another plan takes over and the mentorship process goes on smoothly. Mentorship program has various merits for mentors, mentees, and the institution. The mentees will be able to stay in their learning institutions until they attain their expected educational levels. Through getting education, they will be able to get employment and pursue their dreams in life. The mentors, on the other hand, will be able to improve their skills in handling issues concerning minority groups. Generally, mentors will be improving their communication skills as they deal with the mentees in their specific categories. The institution will be able to get a better reputation in the society for providing support to minority people in the American nations. Buy custom The Power of Vision essay

Research Paper Proposal

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Do you have what it takes to become an effective manager An in-depth Essay

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