The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It)

The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It) The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It) Even the phrase â€Å"word limit† can cause panic among students. For some it’s the challenge of writing enough, while others find it hard to stick within the limit given. In either case, it can lead to spending more time worrying about the length of your paper than the content! And length isnt everything, right? Ahem. But why do college papers come with set word limits? And what should you do to ensure you dont write too much or too little? Why Have a Word Limit? There are two main reasons that academic papers usually come with a word limit: Fairness It’s impossible to grade two papers of vastly different lengths (e.g., 20,000 compared to 2,000 words) on the same scale. The word limit makes sure that everyone taking the same class knows what is expected of them. Communication Skills As well as testing your knowledge, college papers are about communicating clearly and concisely. Setting a word limit forces you to consider what you’re saying more carefully, helping you to develop your writing skills. Sticking to the word limit is, therefore, part of being a good academic, since being a long way over or under could suggest youve misjudged the scope of the essay topic or that you’re having trouble communicating your ideas. How to Stick to the Word Limit Although many colleges give you roughly 10% leeway on the word limit, you should aim for your finished paper to be as close to the suggested word count as possible. If you find yourself writing too much, you can reduce the word count by: Editing out repetition, redundant words and padding phrases Cutting down long or unnecessary quotations Reducing the number of examples or case studies used (if you’ve included several) Using the active voice instead of the passive voice More generally, you should re-read your work and eliminate anything that isn’t directly related to the question you’re answering. As well as helping you stick to the word limit, this will make your work more focused, which could boost your grades. How to Increase Your Word Count If you’re struggling to write enough, the temptation might be to add padding phrases like â€Å"in my opinion† or long block quotations until you hit the minimum word count. But this will simply detract from the clarity of your writing. Instead, the answer is usually to go back over your work and look for things that could be improved with a little additional attention. This might involve: Addressing anything from your essay question that you’ve overlooked Adding illustrative examples to support a point Considering different sources and views on the same issue Using short quotations as evidence for your arguments Moreover, whether you’ve written too much or too little, getting someone else to read your work and offer feedback is a fantastic idea (especially if you ask a professional for help). This will help you to identify areas that could be expanded or cut in the next draft, so eventually you should be able to get your essay to the required length.

About Presidential Pardons

About Presidential Pardons Not even President Gerald Fords pardon of Richard Nixon caused as much political and legal flak as former President Bill Clintons pardon of Marc Rich, indicted in 1983 on charges of racketeering and mail and wire fraud, arising out of his oil business. And then, before the Rich stew had reached a rolling boil, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) disclosed that her lawyer brother Hugh Rodham had accepted some $400,000 in fees to help two other felons get pardons from President Clinton. The two pardoned were Glen Braswell, who had served three years for a 1983 mail fraud conviction, and Carlos Vignali, who had served six years of a 15 year sentence for cocaine trafficking in Los Angeles. Sen. Clinton said she was very disappointed and saddened, and told her brother to give the money back and he did, but the damage had been done. Except to Braswell and Vignalie, who ended up drawing Get Out of Jail Free cards, after all. Now, President Bush has stated, Should I decide to grant pardons, I will do so in a fair way. I will have the highest of high standards. [From: Press Conference - Feb. 22, 2001] What are those high standards? Are they written down, and what gives the President of the United States the power to pardon anybody? Constitutional Authority for Presidential Pardons The power to grant pardons is given to the President of the United States by  Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which states in part:   The President ... shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. No standards, and only one limitation no pardons for the impeached. Can Presidents Pardon Their Relatives The Constitution places few restrictions on who presidents can pardon, including their relatives or spouses. Historically, the courts have interpreted the Constitution as giving the president virtually unlimited power to issue pardons to individuals or groups. However, presidents can only grant pardons for violations of federal laws. In addition, a presidential pardon only provides immunity from federal prosecution. It does provide protection from civil lawsuits. What the Founding Fathers Said The whole subject of presidential pardons stirred little debate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. No less estimable Founding Father than Alexander Hamilton, writing in Federalist No. 74, suggests that, ... in seasons of insurrection or rebellion, there are often critical moments, when a well-timed offer of pardon to the insurgents or rebels may restore the tranquility of the commonwealth. While a few Founders suggested involving Congress in the pardons business, Hamilton remained certain the power should rest solely with the president. It is not to be doubted, that a single man of prudence and good sense is better fitted, in delicate conjunctures, to balance the motives which may plead for and against the remission of the punishment, than any numerous body [Congress] whatever, he wrote  in Federalist 74.. So, except for impeachment, the Constitution places no restrictions whatsoever on the president in granting pardons. But what about those standards President Bush has promised to apply to any pardons he may grant? Where and what are they? Loose Legal Standards for Presidential Pardons While the Constitution places no significant limitations on them in granting pardons, we have certainly now witnessed the grief that can come to presidents or former presidents who appear to grant them haphazardly, or show favoritism in the act. Surely, presidents have some legal resources to draw upon when saying, I granted the pardon because... Operating under the guidelines of Title 28 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 1.1 - 1.10, the U.S. Pardon Attorney, of the Justice Departments Office of Pardon Attorney assists the president by reviewing and investigating all requests for pardons. For each request considered, the Pardon Attorney prepares the Justice Departments recommendation to the president for the final granting or denial of the pardon. Besides pardons, the president may also grant commutations (reductions) of sentences, remissions of fines, and reprieves. For the exact wording of the guidelines used by the Pardon Attorney in reviewing requests for pardons, see: Presidential Pardons: Legal Guidelines. Keep in mind that the recommendations of the Pardon Attorney to the president are just that recommendations and nothing more. The president, bound by no higher authority than Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, is in no way required to follow them and retains the ultimate power to grant or deny clemency. Should This Presidential Power be Limited? At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates easily defeated proposals to make presidential pardons subject to the approval of the Senate, and to limit pardons to persons actually convicted of crimes. Proposals for constitutional amendments limiting the presidents pardoning power have been offered in Congress. A 1993 resolution in the House suggested that, The President shall only have the power to grant a reprieve or a pardon for an offense against the United States to an individual who has been convicted of such an offense. Basically, the same idea proposed in 1787, the resolution was never acted on by the House Judiciary Committee, where it slowly died. As recently as 2000, a Senate joint resolution proposed an amendment to the Constitution that would have allowed crime victims the right to reasonable notice of and an opportunity to submit a statement concerning any proposed pardon or commutation of a sentence. After officers of the Justice Department testified against the amendment, it was withdrawn from consideration in April of 2000. Finally, keep in mind that any limitation or change to the presidents power to grant pardons will require an amendment to the Constitution. And those, are hard to come by.

James Thurber and Humor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

James Thurber and Humor - Essay Example Quality of humor is necessary for the best efficacy of comforting interactions, as humor allows for reframing of the problem in ways in which distressed individuals are unable to perceive thus aiming to make humor not only a comfort provider but also a healing promoter as well. Thurber has been a predominant literary figure in the genre of humor, satire and wit (Gottlieb, Robert). His letters have the remarkable natural style of easy flowing conversation, "They're the overflow of a professional writer" (Gottlieb). Thurber's professional background in journalism gave him the requisite training to turn out copious amounts of work for "The New Yorker", where he made his initial mark. His works besides talk pieces included several pieces of humor, however what came to dominate his works was a wistful look at his past, writing about whom were closer to him and memories associated with them. One of his noted achievements were his cartoons and drawings, and not to forget "Walter Mitty" - Walter Mitty is as well known as any other literary creation, so much so according to Gootlieb, Walter Mitty's character gives a name to an important human trait which we all posess. Thurber's letters cover the range of human emotions, he is outspoken as well as gentle - the letters give an unabashed look at Thurber's self. Thurber's letters, unfortunately are repetitive at times and at times lack the emphasis on important aspects of Thurber's life(Gottlieb). Although Thurber has been compared to Mark Twain (Pritchard, William H. October 2003), his published letters for want of editing fail to sparkle appropriately. He was driven by the "satirist's itch", (Pritchard) which made his writing from exhibiting dry humor to being biting and bitter as he come party to host of health issues, including a brain tumor. Laura Carroll has interpreted James Thurber's "My Life in Hard Times" using the vehicles of Freudian theory (Carroll, Laura, 101-103). Laura has presented the usage of humor to be analogous to Freud theory of ego and psychic other self, the instances of offering humorous offerings to the reader are taken apart and dissected whereas other instances of gaiety are treated as looking on one part of the self to the other. The treatment critiques the structure of James Thurber's work and gives insight for researcher or critical reader. Thurber successfully employs nostalgic reflection on his younger self, being bemused as if another entity is being watched, acting out the duo relationship between the Freudian ego and superego (Laura). Another aspect of humor is presented as a contrast to Thurber's by Rebecca Mead (Mead, Rebecca, Jan 2005). She traces the development of an online magazine "collegehumor.com" exploring the lives of four friends who moved to New York City and started this venture. This magazine was started in 1999 and it focused on being a repository of jokes, emails and photographs that college graduates liked to share. This magazine became the focal point of college life, added on with and bits and pieces of multimedia dormitory content, rowdy images (like girls kissing or without their tops) and basically anything of what college kids think would Thurber 3 be funny. Student's attraction to "loud" humor has been prevalent since middle ages and this was exploited in this site famously. Rebecca compares Thurber's era of twenties and that contribution

Multicultural Education Improvement Research Paper

Multicultural Education Improvement - Research Paper Example Banks (1994) identifies five dimensions of multicultural education.   The first of these dimensions are â€Å"content integration† which is a technique by which educators ensure that teaching reflects cultural diversity (Banks 1994, p. 4). An example is to emphasize contributions in the field of study by diverse cultural heroes. Secondly, educators utilize â€Å"knowledge construction† which informs students how perspectives are influenced by â€Å"conclusions reached within that discipline† (Banks 1994, p. 5).   The third dimension of multicultural education is referred to by Banks (1994) as â€Å"prejudice reduction† which helps students to form objective views of diverse groups (p. 5). The fourth dimension is â€Å"equitable pedagogy† which attempts to alter classroom instructions that all students among different cultural groups perform academically.   The final dimension is â€Å"empowering school culture and social structure† whic h focuses on the environment within the school and ensuring that it supports diversity among the student body. Multicultural education can be defined as education strategies designed to accommodate teaching and learning for diverse cultures.   The idea is to provide for fostering pluralism among races, cultures and classes.   Theoretically at least, if students are subjected to multicultural education that is properly integrated into teaching and learning processes, attachment and engagement should improve.   ... 5). The third dimension of multicultural education is referred to by Banks (1994) as â€Å"prejudice reduction† which helps students to form objective views of diverse groups (p. 5). The fourth dimension is â€Å"equitable pedagogy† which attempts to alter classroom instructions that all students among different cultural groups perform academically (Banks 1994, p. 5). The final dimension is â€Å"empowering school culture and social structure† which focuses on the environment within the school and ensuring that it supports diversity among the student body (Banks 1994, p. 5). Multicultural education can be defined as education strategies designed to accommodate teaching and learning for diverse cultures. The idea is to provide for fostering pluralism among races, cultures and classes. Theoretically at least, if students are subjected to multicultural education that is properly integrated into teaching and learning processes, attachment and engagement should improv e. Ukpokodu (2009) informs that if multicultural education focuses on transformative learning, students of all races, cultures and classes transform their way of thinking and their perspectives and attitudes to more democratic and objective ways of thinking (2). Arguably, students become more responsible citizens and want to be productive citizens. As Banks (2008) argues, responsible citizenship can be hampered and can be lost on minorities when they are forced to detach themselves from their own cultures and languages (p. 130). Therefore by virtue of transformative learning under the auspices of effective multicultural education, students can be expected to become more engaged and attached to school, as they are not forced to become detached from their own cultures, races and classes. To

Should School Students Do Part Time Jobs Essay Example for Free

Should School Students Do Part Time Jobs Essay Low Yee Ching 5S1 In my opinion, I agree that school children should be allowed to work after school. Let me explain to you why I think so. Firstly, school children nowadays are very free after school. Therefore, they should be allowed to work after school so that they will not have the chance to get involved in any crime. Besides, they can learn to be independent while working. This is because they always expect everything to be prepared for them. So, it is a good chance for them to learn how to carry out their daily lives without any help. It is very useful to them when they step out into the complicated working society. Furthermore, there are many school children who come from poor families. In the family, their fathers are the only breadwinners. Their pocket money is not enough for them to carry out their daily activities. When their parents experience financial constraints, their pocket money is reduced. Therefore, they take on part-time jobs to earn more pocket money and also to reduce the burden of the family. Moreover, school children can also learn how to manage their time well between studying and working. They should plan a timetable for their studies and do their revision by following the schedule. This is to ensure that they pass their examinations with good results. They are trained to use their time wisely because time is priceless. In addition, school children can obtain more invaluable working experiences while having a part-time job. They meet many new friends and help one another whenever somebody needs a helping hand. Besides this, they also learn how to communicate with the customers. They have the chance to communicate with different personalities and as a result, get to improve their communicative skills. Apart from that, school children can also learn to be more responsible while working. They should finish their work on time and try their best to make it perfect. This can help them to take on their responsibilities more seriously. Moreover, they are given the opportunity to polish their leadership skills. They have to lead the groups to complete their work and also to perform well. In conclusion, I feel that school children should be allowed to work after school as they can learn many things while undertaking a part-time job. We should give them a chance to try because they are the backbones of our country in the future.

Mercury :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As you may already know Mercury is the first planet . Which makes it the closest to the sun. It is 57,900,000km ( 36,000,000mi.) Because Mercury is so close to the sun it has extreme temperature differences. Mercury’s surface temperatures range from -180*C to 450*C (-290*F to 840*F). Temperatures that hot can melt iron, and other metals. The dramatic temperature difference on Mercury are not only because it is so close to the sun but, also by Mercury’s surface features. The places that are the coldest on Mercury and at the bottom of the craters and basins. The hottest are the places closest to the sun. The temperature of the side that is farthest away from the sun is allot warmer than scientists thought it would be. Not a whole side but parts of Mercury have never been in sunlight before. This is why scientists thought it would be colder than it really was.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mercury’s surface is much like the moon, they are very colse to being the same size. It has many craters, high multiple ring basins, and many lava flows. They have their similarities and differences. Mercury’s diameter is 4,900 miles wide. Mercury’s largest feature is the Caloris Basin. The Caloris basin is 1,300 Km (800 MI). in diameter. The Caloris Basins floor is full of cliffs and ridges. As you progress to the bottom the cliffs and ledges increase in size. The Caloris Basin was created when it was bombarded with meteorites. The Caloris basin was created by a meteorite that could of been up to 100 km. When the large meteorite hit Mercury it sent shocks through it which produced jumbled hills on the opposite side of Mercury. This process as known as The Caloris Impact. The lava flowed into craters and basins which filled holes and cracks that smoothed out their floors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Like Earth, Mercury has 3 main layers. The Earth’s being the crust, mantle, and core. Earth’s core is made up of molten rock AKA lava. Liquid cores create a magnetic field. Mercury’s three layers are a rocky silicate crust, solid rocky silicate mantle, and a hot liquid iorn-nickle core. The core makes up 75% of its diameter. Scientists did not think that is was possible for the core to be liquid because over the years mercury’s rotation has slowed down dramatically. They thought that it would of been hardened by now. Planets that have a magnetic field that are generated by the rotation of a conductive molten core such as that of Earth and mercury are known as â€Å"The Dynamo Effect†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mercury’s rotation period is 59 earth days long. Mercury :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As you may already know Mercury is the first planet . Which makes it the closest to the sun. It is 57,900,000km ( 36,000,000mi.) Because Mercury is so close to the sun it has extreme temperature differences. Mercury’s surface temperatures range from -180*C to 450*C (-290*F to 840*F). Temperatures that hot can melt iron, and other metals. The dramatic temperature difference on Mercury are not only because it is so close to the sun but, also by Mercury’s surface features. The places that are the coldest on Mercury and at the bottom of the craters and basins. The hottest are the places closest to the sun. The temperature of the side that is farthest away from the sun is allot warmer than scientists thought it would be. Not a whole side but parts of Mercury have never been in sunlight before. This is why scientists thought it would be colder than it really was.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mercury’s surface is much like the moon, they are very colse to being the same size. It has many craters, high multiple ring basins, and many lava flows. They have their similarities and differences. Mercury’s diameter is 4,900 miles wide. Mercury’s largest feature is the Caloris Basin. The Caloris basin is 1,300 Km (800 MI). in diameter. The Caloris Basins floor is full of cliffs and ridges. As you progress to the bottom the cliffs and ledges increase in size. The Caloris Basin was created when it was bombarded with meteorites. The Caloris basin was created by a meteorite that could of been up to 100 km. When the large meteorite hit Mercury it sent shocks through it which produced jumbled hills on the opposite side of Mercury. This process as known as The Caloris Impact. The lava flowed into craters and basins which filled holes and cracks that smoothed out their floors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Like Earth, Mercury has 3 main layers. The Earth’s being the crust, mantle, and core. Earth’s core is made up of molten rock AKA lava. Liquid cores create a magnetic field. Mercury’s three layers are a rocky silicate crust, solid rocky silicate mantle, and a hot liquid iorn-nickle core. The core makes up 75% of its diameter. Scientists did not think that is was possible for the core to be liquid because over the years mercury’s rotation has slowed down dramatically. They thought that it would of been hardened by now. Planets that have a magnetic field that are generated by the rotation of a conductive molten core such as that of Earth and mercury are known as â€Å"The Dynamo Effect†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mercury’s rotation period is 59 earth days long.

Things Fall Apart Uchendu’s Speech

Uchendu’s Speech: Saving Ourselves My friends and fellow Ibo, I come to tell you the evils of the abomination called Christianity. To see what I have seen in my homeland Mbanta, I cannot look upon these people with respect and camaraderie. They have stolen our brothers and sisters, angered our gods, and assaulted our age old culture. As a member of this tribe, I cannot stand by and watch the destruction of our people’s traditions. My son-in-law, Okonkwo, was known throughout his fatherland and all neighboring villages as one of the greatest men of his time.His achievements were famous, and he had always hoped his son would carry on his legacy. His oldest son, Nwoye, had betrayed Okonkwo by converting to the new religion. You may ask how one can ignore the lessons of his father and the examples of hard work, dedication, and loyalty to our customs. But the even the protective mother lion can lose her young cub who runs after a little bug. Nwoye was intrigued by the new pe ople, and unfortunately he had been tainted; he did not want to return to us.I understand the Christians say they teach our people civil behavior, but to take a young boy away from his own father is just inhumane. We must raise our children right and protect our sons and daughters from being taken by the Christians. They tear families apart. They have soiled our tribe, our traditions, and our hopes. If this continues, Mbanta, Umuofia, and Mbaino will be no more unless we stick to our customs. If our sons and daughters convert to the new religion, any hopes of preserving our history will be ruined.

As sociology coursework – effects of a fatherless childhood

I chose this area of study because I noticed that compared with personal knowledge, the New Right Ideology appears to exaggerate how fatherless upbringings affect children. Amongst my peers there are people raised in lone parent and nuclear families, and members of both groups experience similar amounts of problems and share similar social values, unlike Rebecca O'Neill's conclusion that children from lone parent families are more likely to have underage sex due to a lack of parental control. (100 words) Contexts and Concepts In 1993, Olson and Haynes conducted a study of American lone parent families. The results led to them identifying seven strengths of these families, six were relevant to my research. The first was that lone parents accepted the responsibilities of their roles and problems were always solved. The second was prioritisation of the parental role, meaning parents did not have to split attention. The third strength was discipline, proving children did not go without discipline and they knew how to behave in society. The fourth was open communication, meaning children would feel able to talk to parents, preventing long term emotional problems. Parental self nurturance was the fifth strength. The final relevant strength was the rituals and traditions which meant the children's lives had structure and they did not miss out on things that nuclear families are thought to have more of, such as family holidays. Olson and Hayes proved the lone parent family to be beneficial to both parents and children, showing no deprivation of a second role model in the home to instil things such as social values and discipline. This is very relevant to what I aim to prove. In September 2002, Rebecca O'Neill conducted the study, â€Å"Experiments in Living: The Fatherless Family†, concerning lone-mother parenting, as a result of birth outside marriage, divorce or changes in marriage or cohabitation. She researched the effects of a fatherless upbringing on the children of fatherless families and adults who had been raised in fatherless families. When studying the effects on children, O'Neill found they were likely to suffer emotional problems. She found that young teenagers were likely to take illegal substances, commit crimes and have sex before marriage, activities linked to socialisation and discipline in the home. O'Neill's study of adults raised by lone mothers showed them to be less likely to gain qualifications and become employed, meaning they were more likely to be unemployed and depend on the state for benefits, therefore continuing the dependency culture and socialising children to think it is okay to depend on the state. O'Neill's resu lts also showed adults from lone-parent families were less likely to marry and more likely to commit crimes. The conclusions of this study are very supportive of the New Right ideology, in that the best environment for a child to be raised in is the traditional nuclear family including mother and father, I seek to prove this wrong. (400 words) Main Research Method My interviews will be unstructured, as it would be the most relevant way of gaining qualitative results, which are useful for finding out the opinions and emotions of interviewees, leading to a conclusion about personal social values. Using unstructured interviews would be significant because each person would have individual values, ones which they may not be able to fully express with structured interviews. Unstructured interviews would also mean the interviewees could talk about things that are relevant which I had not thought about prior to the interviews. The interviews will still have slight structure, in that I will be taking an active approach in engaging the interviewees in conversation about points I would like to cover for my research. I feel that an active approach would be useful as an interviewee engaged in conversation would probably be more likely to talk about their opinions and create a sense of friendship and trust. These may be needed to allow the interviewee to feel comfortable about topics such as sex, intoxicant use and criminal activity, things which they may otherwise consider as taboo. These topics are relevant to the social values outlined by O'Neill, but if they are not probed about, they could easily go unmentioned. I will operationalise concepts by explaining their definitions, which will avoid responses being affected by lack of understanding. My sample will be of 140 students at my school, 20 from each year group, half of whom will be from lone parent families and half of whom will be from nuclear families. Doing a split sample will allow me to show the similarities between the groups in terms of social values, emotional stability and educational attainment. The sample will be of pupils at my school, as finding interviewees will be easier and it would be cost efficient, with less travelling needed, also leading to a saving of time. My sample will be voluntary, perhaps through advertisement. I would ask for voluntary interviewees who would openly talk about family matters. This sampling method would be suitable for my research because the interviews will be about some family matters, illegal activities and emotional subjects. These things can be hard for some people to talk about, so asking people to volunteer would be better than producing a random sample of which some people would feel uneasy talking about the covered issues. (391 words) Potential Problems As with any study, potential problems can be found in using unstructured interviews. Ethical issues can cause problems such as privacy being invaded. Some interviewees may reveal information they did not intend to reveal at first, due to the informal nature of the interviews. Another problem is the moral dilemma I will be faced with if an interviewee reveals information that indicates they are at risk of harm or that they are committing serious crimes. Would it be right for me to breach confidentiality and get local authorities involved? I will also need to find ways of ensuring my interviewees come to no emotional harm as a result of the interviews. Validity may be difficult to ensure. Due to my method's informal nature, I may find myself making comments or asking questions that are biased, influencing interviewee responses. Also affecting validity is the interviewee. Some may have bad memories, and report things differently to what they are, others may conform to social desirability and make statements which are untrue, just to have themselves perceived in a certain way. This may also affect how reliable responses are when coming to a conclusion. The research method will be free in terms of money, but not time. Realistically, for me to get the maximum information out of interviewees, I would need to spend at least an hour with each. But, that would take at least a month if all were to be done in school hours. Therefore, I will only probably get half an hour with each interviewee. My method also has the disadvantage that general conversing in unstructured interviews could lead to the discussion of irrelevant topics. My sample could cause a problem of the small group I use not being representative of youths of other ages or social backgrounds.

Aboriginal Conditions in Canada

Aboriginal Conditions in Canada Free Online Research Papers Since European settlers arrived in North America hundreds of years ago, the original inhabitants of this continent endured devastating consequences imposed upon them by their colonizers. In modern times, Aboriginal people continue to struggle against the Canadian state in their search for rights, land, sovereignty and the improvement of social conditions. This essay will examine current living conditions of Aboriginal people in Canada and determine how these conditions can be improved or solved. The issues that are going to be apparent in this essay are the following: The on-going dispute over land claims involving Aboriginal citizens/groups and the Canadian government; the socioeconomic disadvantages prevalent in many Aboriginal communities and the desire for some form of Aboriginal self-government. Again, the above issues will be examined followed by their potential solutions. One problem contributing to a larger net of social problems is the general lack of knowledge about Aboriginal people amongst Canadians. It is not complicated to understand that with significant knowledge of a certain subject, one can pose better questions and can draw better conclusions about that subject. In this case, knowledge of the histories, cultures, languages and systems of governance of Aboriginal people would lead to a greater understanding of these peoples in modern-day Canada. This knowledge provides a more educated and accurate picture of Aboriginal life that can be studied amongst scholars, citizens and policy makers alike. Unfortunately, Aboriginal people are continuously victimized by racism in society. The media influences common clichà ©s and stereotypes but a misinformed and uneducated populace continue to discriminate against something they do not even begin to understand. Our elected leaders, although not experts on the subject, would presumably have knowl edge and be aware of the situation of Aboriginal people in Canada given the serious nature of its’ history. In reality, this is not always true because policy decisions are often misguided, influenced or misinformed. For example, in the 1950’s, the federal government forced Inuit families of Northern Quebec to be removed from their communities and placed in Canada’s High Arctic in order to establish Canada’s ownership of this territory. â€Å"Testimony to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in 1993 referred to the ‘cruel and inhumane’ policy of forced relocations and charged that Inuit were used as ‘human flag-poles’ to ensure Canada’s sovereignty on the High Arctic† (McMillan and Yellowhorn, 2004). Policy decisions like this is a reflection of Canada’s negligence to act upon an important issue. It also suggests that our decision makers are not up to speed regarding knowledge of Aboriginal people in Canada. This ignorance leads to poor policy decisions that affect many Aboriginal communities. There exist over one hundred cultures or groups of Aboriginal people in Canada. They live in the northern areas of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to the islands of Victoria on the west coast and Prince Edward Island on the east. There exist eleven main language groups that account for over fifty total languages. Therefore an enormous range of culture exists throughout Canada’s indigenous population. It is difficult to classify these peoples by region or ethnicity individually, as over time culture has changed, languages have gone extinct and different races interbreed. In fact, the generic term â€Å"Aboriginal People† is confusing in itself. Although it is widely used to classify all the different cultures in Canada, by definition, it implies ‘people from the beginning’, derived from the Latin phrase ab origine. This label implies a degree of sameness among many people when there is none. Terms such as â€Å"Native† or â€Å"Indigeno us People† cause similar problems and are used for convenience purposes. Perhaps the most important classification of Aboriginal people in Canada is the legal title given by the federal government in the Constitution Act, 1982 which enshrines the rights of Indian, Metis and Inuit people in Canada. Although â€Å"Indian† is the most politically and historically wrong, it is the term the federal government uses in order to determine whether a person can qualify for clauses in the Indian Act, 1876. One such clause states that Status Indians living on reserve are exempt from federal taxes (another common misconception is that all Aboriginal people are entitled to this right). Although there are generic terms to define Aboriginal people in Canada, it is relevant to know that there exists a huge range of cultures, all with distinct histories. The social and economic condition of Aboriginal people in Canada is alarming. Suicide rates for youth are eight times the national average for females and five times the national average for males (Health Canada, 1997). Rates of incarceration for First Nations persons are over five times higher than the national average (Solicitor General of Canada, 1997). Aboriginal life is disenfranchised in urban and rural areas all over Canada with high levels of alcohol and substance abuse and child mortality. Some 39% of adults report family violence, 25% report child abuse and 15% report rape problems in their communities (Statistics Canada, 1991). Parallel with the social inequalities that Aboriginal people endure is the economic struggles. The 1986 and 1991 Censuses of Canada identified a wage gap between Aboriginal Canadians and the general population (Census of Canada, 1986, 1991). This economic disadvantage goes hand in hand with the social problems associated in the daily lives of Aboriginals. While Aboriginals, including registered Indians on and off reserve as well as Mà ©tis and Inuit reported annual incomes between $14 000 and $19 000, average Canadian incomes around the same period were close to $27 000 annually. A family of four cannot be expected to live sufficiently with an annual income of $14 000. The Canadian government needs to address this wage gap with improved social programs that not only give financial aid to those who need it, but that also uncover the underlying causes of why poverty rates are so high. Equally important, Aboriginal leaders need to be at the discussion table when developing and implementing these programs. There have been successes in addressing social and economic problems. In 1993, an Umbrella Final Agreement was signed between the Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon and the Council for Yukon Indians (McMillan and Yellowhorn, 2004). The agreement gave title to over 40, 000 square kilometres of land to Yukon First Nations (see land claims, p. 6), financial compensation well over $240 million, and rights regarding the interests of wildlife management, resource development and heritage preservation (Ibid.) Restoring control over the resources of their land is an extremely good way of improving social conditions of First Nations people because it creates many new areas of income (hunting/fishing, tourism), as well, it gives back a great deal of autonomy to Aboriginals; something they have been searching for a long time. The Indian Act of 1876 also accounts for many of the problems endured by First Nations people in Canada. This legislation effectively made all Aboriginals wards of the state. It also created a legacy of dependency as many Aboriginals relied on the state for income. The Indian Act states that title to the land is held by the Crown, which makes the reserves pockets of federal jurisdiction within the provinces. Reserves are specific areas set aside for bands of Aboriginals and they have not had a positive effect since their introduction by the federal government. Many reserves in Canada are without running water, or without proper drinking water, and it is common to find a family of seven or eight living in a small, dilapidated home. A revision to the Indian Act in 1885 forced all Indians to obtain permission if they wished to leave their reserve. Impeding out-migration from reserves and implementing poor policies and initiatives that tended to generate poverty became the legacy of the Indian Act. For example, Indian Affairs policy in the farming sector placed restrictive regulations on Aboriginals; while non-Native farmers used mechanized and industrial farming equipment, Aboriginals were expected to continue to use horse power and hand tools (McMillan and Yellowhorn, 2004). Simply put, the colonial agenda of our ancestors and the reluctance to change these systems by current governments have had devastating effects on Aboriginals in the country. In order to effectively change and improve the conditions, the Indian Act must be radically modified or removed. There are currently over 800 unsettled land claims in Canada. Land claims are the resolution to Indian treaties in Canada that are constitutionally recognized agreements between the Crown and Aboriginal peoples. The earliest treaties signed were between the British and Aboriginal peoples in the late seventeenth to late eighteenth century as â€Å"peace and friendship treaties†. The British sought these agreements to forge a political alliance with Native groups and gain their assistance in wars with the French (McMillan and Yellowhorn, 2004). After Confederation, the â€Å"numbered treaties† were signed, affecting the Ojibwa and Cree of southern Manitoba (Treaty 1) and continued until most of western Canada was covered through treaty signings. There was not much difference in each federal treaty. Aboriginals agreed to release and surrender their rights in exchange for reserves and small cash payments. Members of treaty bands still receive an annual payment, amoun ting to only $5 per person under most treaties (McMillan and Yellowhorn, 2004). The Canadian government must negotiate with Aboriginal groups in order close the outstanding land claims in Canada. Although this is an extremely complicated task, especially with claims that have large urban centres within them, the onus is still on the government to settle the claims – stipulated in the Constitution. There have been many Aboriginal groups who have settled their claims with the federal government. The Gwich’in and Sahtu Dene and Mà ©tis of the Northwest Territories settled land claims in 1992 and 1993 respectively (McMillan and Yellowhorn, 2004). Furthermore, the Nunavut Final Agreement of 1993 brought the territory of Nunavut to Canada in 1999. The process for dealing with land claims was established in 1974 as the Office of Native Claims, a branch within the Indian and Northern Affairs Commission (INAC) (McMillan and Yellowhorn, 2004). In order to qualify for a hearing, Aboriginal groups had to prove that they were part of an organized society that had occupied the land before the English arrived and established in the area. A revolutionary case involving an Aboriginal man from the Northwest Territories changed a section in the Indian Act and guaranteed more rights for all First Nations people. In 1967, Joseph Drybones was charged with under section 94(b) of the Indian Act for being an Indian intoxicated off a reserve. In reality, he was prosecuted for being Indian. The case would be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada and in a six to three decision, the court struck down section 94(b). The decision was monumental for Aboriginal people because it allowed them to enjoy the rights that other Canadians enjoyed, including the rights of mobility and the freedom to make their own choices. After the decision, Aboriginals, accustomed to taking orders now suddenly had the option to decide for themselves where to live and many decided to leave their reserves. The Supreme Court decision also brought to light the other discriminatory clauses in the Indian Act. The recognition of the rights of A boriginals in the Constitution Act, 1982 made certain clauses in the Indian Act incompatible with those in the Constitution. As a result, the courts following 1982 struck down more clauses in the Indian Act such as the clause that said an Indian woman lost her status by marrying a non-Aboriginal man. Another significant issue pressing Aboriginals in Canada is the cry for a form of self-government. Many First Nations people agree that the only way to begin to address the many problems of their people is to create an independent Aboriginal government. With a complicated political structure, many other competing interests and a reluctance to act on Aboriginal issues, this task is not easy. Anna Hunter (2006) has developed a range of options that work in and around the Canadian state. Her continuum comprises of five different styles of government. Aboriginal self-regulation is a municipal-style system, which relies on federal and provincial/territorial governments for funding and authority (Ibid). Constitutional self-government includes the capacity to assume jurisdiction over the education, health and welfare of community members within their traditional territory. It also includes the authority to make economic and social policy, administer taxes, pass laws, manage land and natural resources, and negotiate with other governments (Ibid). Aboriginal self-determination encompasses the internationally recognized right to a broad range of cultural, economic, legal, political, and jurisdictional content (Green, 2003). It should be noted that Aboriginal self-determination does not imply the right to secede. The preceding three ideas are the most important on Hunter’s continuum. They present interesting and plausible options for Aboriginal leaders and elected officials. Of course, flaws exist in all three systems. Also, each option is not necessarily universal for all Aboriginal people in Canada. Different communities have unique needs and therefore progress can only be made with partnerships between Aboriginals and government representatives to adopt the system that suits a particular community best. Although it has taken decades for Aboriginal people to bring the topic of self-government to mainstream discussions, significant gains have been made by some groups of First Nations in Canada. For example, the Sechelt Indian Self-Government Act (1986) allowed the Sechelt people title to their reserve lands, the right to draft their own constitution and laws, and are no longer bound by the Indian Act (McMillan and Yellowhorn, 2004). This was a tremendously successful experiment with self-government that allowed the Sechelt to prosper both economically and culturally. The living condition of Aboriginal people in Canada is far from perfect. Improvements need to be made on many fronts. Specifically, social conditions of Aboriginal people need to be reviewed and improved through social programs, a more active Aboriginal voice in politics and other innovative approaches. Also, existing land claims in Canada need to be resolved. Although many of these land claims are very complicated and require extensive care, agreements need to be made one way or the other in order to fulfill the commands of the Constitution, restore faith for Aboriginal people in the Canadian government and finish this outdated dispute. Finally, along with their right to land, Aboriginals deserve to govern themselves appropriately within the Canadian state. There exist many forms of Aboriginal self-government and it is up to Aboriginal leaders and non-Aboriginal leaders alike to delegate together the possible outcomes. Addressing the above issues will not be easy for Canadian governments. Reluctance to act as well as many other issues pressing Canadians stands in the way of improving the conditions of Aboriginal people. Morally and legally the Canadian state must improve their policies in order to restore a legacy of mistakes from past generations. Bibliography Green, Joyce. Self-Determination, Citizenship, and Federalism: Indigenous and Canadian Palimpsest. Regina: Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy, 2003. Health Canada. 1997. Basic Departmental Data. Ottawa: Medical Services Branch, Heath Canada Hunter, Ann. Canadian Politics: Democracy and Dissent (eds). Joan Grace and Byron Sheldrick. Pearson Education Canada Inc., 2006. McMillan, Alan and Eldon Yellowhorn. First Peoples in Canada. Douglas McIntyre, Vancouver, British Columbia, 2004. Solicitor General of Canada. 1997. Basic Departmental Data. Ottawa: Solicitor of Canada. Statistics Canada. 1991. Aboriginal Peoples Survey. Report. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada. Research Papers on Aboriginal Conditions in CanadaQuebec and CanadaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Effects of Illegal Immigration19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeStandardized TestingInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesBringing Democracy to AfricaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaWhere Wild and West Meet

Major Accomplishments of Cartimandua, Brigantine Queen

Major Accomplishments of Cartimandua, Brigantine Queen In the mid-first century, the Romans were in the process of conquering Britain. In the north, extending into what is now Scotland, the Romans faced the Brigantes. Tacitus wrote of a queen leading one of the tribes within the larger group of tribes called the Brigantes. He described her as flourishing in all the splendor of wealth and power.  This was Cartimandua (about 47–69 CE), whose name includes the word for pony or small horse. In the face of the Roman conquests progress, Cartimandua decided to make peace with the Romans instead of confronting them.  She was thus allowed to continue to rule, now as a client-queen.   Some in a neighboring tribe within Cartimanduas territory in 48 C.E. attacked the Roman armies as they moved forward to conquer what is now Wales.  The Romans successfully resisted the attack, and the rebels, headed by Caractacus, asked for aid from Cartimandua.  Instead, she turned Caractacus over to the Romans. Caractactus was taken to Rome where Claudius spared his life. Cartimandua was married to Venutius but wielded power as a leader in her own right. A struggle for power among the Brigantes and even between Cartimandua and her husband broke out. Cartimandua asked for help from the Romans in regaining peace, and with the Roman legion behind her, she and her husband made peace. The Brigantes did not join the rebellion of  Boudicca  in 61 C.E., probably because of Cartimanduas leadership in maintaining good relations with the Romans. In 69 C.E., Cartimandua divorced her husband Venutius and married his charioteer or arms bearer.  The new husband then would have become king. But Venutius raised support and attacked, and, even with Roman assistance, Cartimandua couldnt put down the revolt. Venutius became king of the Brigantes and ruled it briefly as an independent kingdom. The Romans took Cartimandua and her new husband under their protection and removed them from her old kingdom.  Queen Cartimandua disappears from history. Soon the Romans moved in, defeated Venutius, and ruled the Brigantes directly. Importance of Cartimandua The importance of Cartimanduas story as part of Roman Britains history is that her position makes clear that in Celtic culture at the time, women were at least occasionally accepted as leaders and rulers. The story is also important as a contrast to Boudiccas.  In Cartimanduas case, she was able to negotiate a peace with the Romans and stay in power.  Boudicca failed  to continue her rule  and was defeated in battle because she rebelled and refused to submit to Roman authority. Archaeology In 1951–1952, Sir Mortimer Wheeler headed an excavation at Stanwick, North Yorks, in northern England.  The earthwork complex there has been studied again and dated to the late Iron Age in Britain, and new excavations and research were carried out 1981–2009, as reported by Colin Haselgrove for the Council of British Archaeology in 2015. Analysis continues and may reshape the understanding of the period.  Originally, Wheeler believed that the complex was the site of Venutius and that Cartimanduas center was to the south.  Today, more are concluding the site is that of Cartimanduas rule. Recommended Resource Nicki Howarth Pollard.  Cartimandua: Queen of the Brigantes. 2008.

Marketing Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 70

Marketing Strategies - Essay Example Next success opportunity is the legality of meat importation to the U.S. Apparently, Ruth Chris restaurant model only uses USDA Prime beef and export them to target markets in different countries. The marketing group is currently finding favor in Australia market. Customers from Australia market share a high standard of the US thus becoming a potential market for Ruth’s restaurant. The highly populated urban area serves a better place for business prosperity. High population creates a pool of potential buyers of beef. Disposable income of an extremely populated area facilitates growth and expansion of the market. The marketing team has to ascertain the rate of responsiveness of people towards beef eating. Other criteria Ruth should have considered in conquering new markets include pricing strategies. Affordable and attractive prices may help in hedging out competitors. Embracing product differentiation by improving features, implementing innovations during the manufacturing process will assist in penetrating new markets. The riskiest option is Diversification model. Diversification model involves new kind of restaurants in new markets (Kupetz & Apont, 2006). A new market has various challenges as the products may fail to diffuse. Customers who express utmost loyalty to specific brands may not quickly adapt to new products introduced in new markets. There are series of a cost associated with the development of new products such as promotion and other overhead fees. Initiating a new product in the green market is likely to fail because of competition and more costs. The most risk-averse is penetration model where existing products sell in the same market. Products have loyal buyers thus a reduction of costs such as promotional fees and other marketing related costs.  Ã‚