The Christian Perspective in An Essay on Man -- Alexander Pope Essay o

The Christian Perspective in An Essay on Man  Ã‚     Ã‚   Some might argue that Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Man" presents the viewpoint of a deist. Others might claim that the poem fails to exhibit Christian concepts of good and evil, especially since the poet concludes his first epistle with the seemingly unchristian claim that "whatever IS, is Right" (I. 1. 294).    Yet Pope's arguments actually reflect a traditional Christian perspective, which can be verified by comparing his poem with New Testament teachings.   In his attempt to vindicate God in the face of suffering, he does not, like the pantheist, rule out the existence of evil. Pope knows that men are capable of vice and that suffering is real. Pope does not argue that evil does not exist; rather he argues that its existence does not preclude the justice of God. Like the writers of the New Testament, particularly the apostle Paul, Pope claims that pride and envy leads man to question the justice of God, and he insists that men submit to God, remaining content with th eir lot in life. Although Pope claims that "[o]ne truth is clear, `Whatever IS, is RIGHT'" (I. 1.294), he recognizes suffering: But errs not nature from this gracious end, From burning suns when livid deaths descend, When earthquakes swallow, or when tempest sweep Towns to one grave, whole nations to the deep?   (I. ll. 140-143) Pope does not only acknowledge the existence of evil. He describes it in vivid detail. In the above passage, he paints a horrid picture of plagues caused by excessive heat, of destructive earthquakes, and of storms that decimate entire towns and nations. He writes too of Ammon, who was turned "loose to scourge mankind" (I. l. 160). He may argue that nature does not err t... ...realizes this himself for a moment at the end of the second epistle. For he does not conclude by attempting to explain the existence of evil. Rather, he says only that "one comfort still must rise, / 'Tis this, Tho' Man's a fool, yet GOD IS WISE" (II. ll. 292-293). In the end, it is better to believe that every man (including Pope) is a fool for failing to explain evil than to believe that God is not wise for allowing it. This couplet is one further proof of the Christian influence in Pope's "An Essay on Man." In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul writes: "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).   Works Cited Pope, Alexander. "An Essay on Man." Ed. Gordon N. Ray. Boston: Houghton Miflin Company, 1969. The New American Bible. Nashville: Catholic Publishers, Inc., 1971. The King James Bible. Cleveland: The World Publishing Company, 1967.   

Diversity in instructional methods toward meaningful learning Essay

Abstract There is diversity in instructional methods that teachers can use to bring about meaningful learning. This paper discusses five of them; namely integrated inquiry approach, 5-model of inquiry, the jig-sawing approach, role playing and WebQuest. These instructional methods are learner centered methods that consider prior knowledge, attitude and skills and promote development of new knowledge and relate them to a variety of contexts. All of them also deal with real-life situations that essentially develop interpersonal relationships, problem-solving skills and content-knowledge among others. The teachers’ tasks are to plan and carry out efficiently the instructional designs to have meaningful learning among diverse learners, instructional methods and learning environments. Diversity in Instructional Methods Toward Meaningful Learning Diversity is an essential ingredient of success of all ventures in life including education. There are different kinds of learners as there are teachers, instructional methods and learning environments; but there is only one goal in education and this is for an effective and meaningful learning. Teachers should set environments for students so they could think critically and independently and relate new knowledge learned with a variety of contexts for meaningful learning. It is the task of the teachers to match the learners, the learning environments, the knowledge to be learned and the instructional methods. Learning meaningfully means that learners relate new knowledge to what they already know. Meaningful learning is non-arbitrary, non-verbatim, substantive deliberate effort to link new knowledge with higher order concepts in cognitive structures. It is a learning related to experiences with events or objects and affective commitment to relate new knowledge with prior learning. The diverse instructional designs towards meaningful learning should identify outcomes, guide the development of instruction content and establish its effectiveness. Efforts to consider meaningful learning in the different stages of instructional design are essential. Gagne et al. (1992) identified the different stages of instructional designs as: defining instructional goals; conducting instructional analysis; identifying entry behaviours and learner characteristics; developing performance objectives; selecting an instructional method; assembling instructional materials and planning formative and summative evaluations. He and his colleagues further cited that current educational theory and researches support the use of instructional methods that make students active learners. Among the diverse instructional methods available to teachers to explore and use, the commonly utilized approach towards construction of new knowledge meaningfully are the problem –based learning and inquiry approach, cooperative learning, and technology strategies. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, but when used effectively can maximize learning. Problem-Based and Inquiry Approach Students in the problem-based and learning inquiry approach engage in meaningful learning through being actively involved in their own learning and reconstructing these based on their experiences. They further participate in active investigation, more of integrating knowledge rather than separating them so that deep understanding develop from acquisition of new facts. In this method, students are given relevant problems by teachers which inquiry must be done. The general steps in this inquiry approach are: identifying the problems, gathering of data, organizing the data in attempt to analyse the problems and analyses of the strategies to use to solve the problems. Integrated Inquiry In the Integrated Inquiry planning process, a model of inquiry approach developed by K. Murdoch, sequences of activities and experiences are developed to build on and challenge student perceptions. These sequences begin with students’ prior knowledge and experiences and move through deliberate processes wherein that knowledge is extended, challenged and refined. Students have their own prior experiences that they bring to their classes and teachers should be aware of how to address this situation. Activities and learning experiences in this model are grouped as: tuning on, finding out, sorting out, going further, making conclusions and taking actions (Murdoch, 1999). Furthermore, planning for assessment is a very important element of planning for Integrated Inquiry. Murdoch (1999) highlights the need for the collection and analysis of information about what and the how students have learned. The assessment in the Integrated Inquiry model is to determine how to improve student learning as these new information help teachers modify their plans of work to suit the needs of the learners. Students’ involvement in planning for assessment as in selecting responses to particular learning experiences and designing demonstrations of understanding are highly encouraged. Therefore, teachers are also tasked to identify and design learning experiences that will provide information for assessment purposes. The strengths of this model are focussed on assessment of learning in context and encouraging a variety of demonstrations of understanding based on the learning experiences that students undertake. Learners that may benefit most from this Integrated Inquiry Approach are those capable of setting goals in their own learning and significantly contribute in determining how assessment could be effectively done. 5-E Model In the book â€Å"Activities for Teaching Science as Inquiry† by Carin, Bass & Contant (2005) many laboratory investigations were cited as inquiry approach to learning. They focused on the 5-E Instructional Model with the five main components identified as Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration and Evaluation. Each of these components is learner-centred. This investigatory method maybe time and resource consuming but it allows the learners to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills experientially. The use of this method is not limited to teaching sciences, which are considered to be not very easy subjects. This experiential learning brings more opportunities for learners to bring forth better understanding and longer retention of knowledge learned. Cooperative Learning Cooperative learning is an instructional method that takes place in a small group of learners of different levels of ability and in environments of responsibility not only for their own understanding of the subject but also for his co-learners. It brings more meaning to learning because it provides shared cognitive sets of information between students, motivating them to learn the materials, ensuring that they construct their own knowledge, providing formative feedback, developing social and group skills necessary for success outside the classroom. Cooperative leaning promotes learning and academic achievement, increases retention and satisfaction with their learning experiences among students, helps develop skills in oral communication, social skills, promotes student self-esteem and fosters mutual responsibility. Although this method helps students learn to be more patient, less critical and more compassionate, some students may find difficulty with this method. Students who work alone find difficulty in sharing answers while aggressive students will tend to take over and brighter students to act superior to the rest. Teachers who will employ cooperative should prepare their students how to work in groups for this method to be successful. Jig Sawing Approach The â€Å"Jig Sawing† Approach is a cooperative learning strategy wherein students becomes an â€Å"expert† in a particular area, then shares his or her learning knowledge with other members of the group that eventually all members of the group learn the concepts. In the Modified Jigsaw, the class is divided into equal expert groups, with each of these groups working on isolated portions of the activity. Once each expert group has completed the tasks, they report their findings as group to the class. Group report allows for greater flexibility in student presentation style and prevents the possibility of unintentionally misrepresentation of information (Beaudrie et al. 1998). This method best suits heterogenous learners across disciplines. It provides opportunities for learners to show various competencies. Moreover, students are more comfortable to exchange ideas with their co-learners because of their dynamic open relationship. Role playing Another instructional method of interest is role playing. It also deals with solving problems but through actions. In role playing, problems are identified, explored through actions and discussed. The students input in their role playing their prior knowledge, values and attitudes. A role-playing strategy seems to work best when there are multiple correct approaches to solving problems. It encourages thinking and creativity to develop and practice new behaviours in non-threatening setting. It provides opportunities for students to explore further their feelings; gain more insights about their attitudes and also enhance their problem solving skills. It also promotes effective interpersonal relations. The learning in these role playing activities are meaningful as they are retained longer and hoped to be of use to the real life of the learners. Terms which are used, often interchangeably with role playing are â€Å"simulation,† â€Å"game,† â€Å"role-play,† â€Å"simulation-game,† â€Å"role-play simulation,† and â€Å"role-playing game†. Role playing dynamically promotes effective interpersonal relationships and social transactions among learners. Technology Supported Approach Technology provides a set of tool for addressing the issues on improving student learning. These issues are of providing more of learners’ time on authentic, challenging tasks with rich contexts with emphasis on multi-disciplinarity; changing of role of teachers to facilitators of knowledge that guide students and learn along with them; students working in an environment of more cooperative relationships that encourages communication and access to real-world examples towards the development of learning communities; and with greater emphasis placed on reflective thinking and productivity with the understanding that students will preform their tasks differently and have different task-relevant skills ( Grabe and Grabe, 2004). WebQuest WebQuest, the model developed by Bernie Dodge, is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. WebQuests is most often a group activity in a library or distance education setting. It may be enhanced by wrapping motivational elements around the basic structure by giving the learners a role to play, simulated personae to interact with via e-mail, and a scenario to work within. They can be designed within a single discipline or they can be interdisciplinary (Dodge, 1997). The WebQuest challenges he learner to be creative in problem-solving. In the world of education, there are so many instructional designs that can be utilized to end up with meaningful learning. No instructional method is better than the other but each one in the hands of a committed and learned teacher can merit students across academic levels and disciplines to bring about meaningful learning. References Beaudrie, B. , Slater,T. F. , Stevenson, S. & Cadit, D. (1998). Teaching astronomy by internet jigsawing. Leading and Learning with Technology Journal, 26. , Retrieved December 13, 2007 from http://www. aem. umn. edu. Carin, A. A, Bass, J. E & Contant T.L. (2005). Activities for Teaching Science As Inquiry. NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Dodge, B. (1997). Some thoughts about WebQuests . Retrieved December 13, 2007 from http://webquest. sdsu. edu/about_webquests. html. Gagne, R. M. , Briggs, L. J. , & Wager, W. W. (1992). Principles of Instructional Design . TX: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers. Grabe, M. & Grabe C. (2004). Integrating Technology for Meaningful Learning. NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Murdoch, K. (1998) Classroom Connections: Strategies for Integrated Learning. Melbourne: Eleanor Curtain Publishing.

The Process Of Learning How I Read And Write - 848 Words

The process of learning how to read and write Speaking and expressing oneselves in verbal communication, is not an activity as simple as we think it might be. In fact speaking takes to the brain a noticeable quantity of effort to be completed every time we feel the necessity or instinct to communicate with worlds with an other human beings. The brain is one of the most powerful Central Processing unit existing in the world. Reading and writing than are activities vay more tiresome and articulated compared to the mere capacity of speaking. Not for a coincidence a person at first learn how to speak, than write, and at the end to read. Generally childrens learn those skills during the first years of elementary school and they keep working and evolving them during the course of their educational life. Although this is a reality that is completely distant to the one associated to the way in which Alexie, Malcom X, and Douglass achieved their competence in literacy. The unconventional method through which they learned the art of readi ng and writing was a way more extreme and complex path from the one that anyone else at their age would have had. The three authors mentioned above, all comes from disadvantaged backgrounds that prevented them to get their instruction and found shelter in books stories when they were alone. They all were all men who truly loved to read. Sherman Alexie and Malcolm X, both started to understand books with pictures in comic books and journals, readingShow MoreRelatedThe Importance of Determining a Students Learning Style Essay635 Words   |  3 PagesWhat does learning style mean in general? Learning style is simply the different ways a person perceives and process information. Knowing your learning style helps you to understand why you look at certain things the way you do. It also helps you to figure out when and how to use your learning style effectively as well as incorporating other learning styles as well. The way people perceive information typically range from a concrete experience to an abstract experience. People who perceive concreteRead MoreUnderstanding The Ways Of Writing Is A Critic al Role On Improved Learning929 Words   |  4 PagesSame is with writing, we read the information and get ourselves inform to give our best. This is where metacognition plays an important role. Metacognition is thinking of thinking. When students are aware of their thinking processes as they learn, they can understand the subject goal. Thinking on a process of any related subject information awakens the reader mind making themselves self-aware what they are reading. Self-awareness plays a critical role in improved learning because it helps studentsRead MoreThe Analysis : Fleming Mills1212 Words   |  5 Pagesdetermine students’ learning preference. The goal of each question is to place a reader in a situation they have experienced before and ask for their preferred action (Fleming Mills, 1992). Based on the answers provided, the VARK identifies a learning preference, which can include one of the four styles: visual, aural, read/write, or kinesthetic (Fleming Mills, 1992). After completing the questionnaire, VARK identified the read/write style as the preferred method of learning for this author. Read MoreThe Importance Of Writing And Writing811 Words   |  4 PagesWhen I was a little kid my parents and family were always trying to teach me how to read and write. Its been something I’ve known how to do without even thinking about it. When I was around 6 or 7 years old we would go to Mexico and visit my grandma, who had lived there at the time, and the neighbor had a granddaughter a little older than me. She would come over and play, one day I had brought my toys and some books and she had asked me what they were and I told her they were books. She went on andRead MoreEssay Embracing Contraries in the Learning Process867 Words   |  4 Pagesa student to know what learning means and to recognize what are the areas in which their response is not according to what is vital for learning. To success as student it is a need to constantly revise how are the attitudes took in the two different characteristics of learning, so that learning may convert in the real acquirement of knowledge or skills complete by experience and by study and being taught. First of all experience is only gained by practice. A kid learns how to walk after falling manyRead MoreHow Do I Learn Write?891 Words   |  4 PagesHow Do I Learn to Write? Reading and writing go hand-in-hand. Those who learn to write, write so someone will eventually read it. Those who learn to read, learn to write through reading other people’s work. But, one must first learn how to do one of the following to succeed in both. So, how does one learn to write? The best, most concise, writers develop from avid readers. Through reading, we are always learning how to write. I believe reading is essentially the foundation of learning to write.Read MoreFrederick Douglass and Malcolm X Comparison Essay640 Words   |  3 Pagesin a penitentiary be compared? In the excerpt of Frederick Douglass (Learning to Read and Write) and in Malcolm X (Learning to Read): both dealt with the oppression that the white race as brought to them. Douglass lists the ways which he learns how to read and write. He discusses how everyone is vulnerable to corruption under slavery. In the excerpt of Malcolm he tells the reader how he first started reading and he describes how the white man has always had the upper-hand when it comes to non-whiteRead MoreReflection Of My Writing Process890 Words   |  4 PagesReflection of my Writing process People have many ways that they write. Some do a process of doing drafts so they can look through, edit and make the paper better. Others will just write a paper and turn it in. My process consist of starting with making a thesis. Then from the thesis I create the topic sentences for the topic at hand. The best way to write the essay in a good format and have good detail in the writing I would write a paragraph a day. By doing that process it allows me to get whatRead MoreHow Do I Learn Write? Essay987 Words   |  4 PagesHow Do I Learn to Write? Reading and writing go hand-in-hand. Those who learn to write, write so someone will eventually read it. Those who learn to read, learn to write through reading other people’s work. But, one must first learn how to do one of the following to succeed in both. So, how does one learn to write? The best, most concise, writers develop from avid readers. Through reading, I am always learning how to write. I believe reading is essentially the foundation of learning to write. WithRead More My Writing Essay909 Words   |  4 Pagesthe past four years, I have written many papers for various classes, enjoying some and others having to choke out words to write down. In this memo I will describe my writing projects and how they made me become a better writer, and how they will continue to help develop me into a becoming a more prosperous writer. What I Really Learned in English 100 Well as a recent pupil of the Great McFadden I want to do all that I can to be on his good side, for he said that if I go one mile to meet

The American Revolution Building a Nation to Benefit...

When the American Revolutionary War ended, it did not mark the end of the American Revolution as a whole. Rather it marked the first step in a long and difficult process of forming a nation with a strong central government. Even before the Revolutionary War began, leaders of the thirteen American colonies recognized the importance and necessity of some form of centralized government. The Second Continental Congress, held in 1775 , was the first serious attempt to bring organization and unity to the thirteen individual and self- interested American colonies. At the Second Continental Congress, a committee was formed to produce the framework of a governmental system. The result, the Articles of Confederation, were weak and ineffective†¦show more content†¦Finally, in November of 1777, Congress accepted a very different version of the Articles of Confederation than Dickinson had originally intended upon. The Articles that were finally agreed upon overly protected the independen ce of states and did not supply Congress with the necessary power to run a unified country. In its existence under the Articles of Confederation, the United States were anything but â€Å"united.† Each state basically acted as an independent country with it’s own government and own set of rules. The Articles were faulty and unclearly thought out in many ways, which left the United States unorganized and on the verge of chaos for several years to come. The most blatant and detrimental of the Articles’ flaws was that they did not grant the Congress the ability to levy taxes. The only way for Congress to raise money was to ask the individual states for donations, and this left Congress extremely low on funds. During the years of the Revolutionary War the United States Congress incurred a very large war debt. The Congress owed $12 million to foreign countries, $27 million to the American people plus $12.5 million in interest. The individual states owed $21 million. The Congress was over $50 million in debt. Without the ability to levy taxes, the Congress was left with virtually no possible way of repaying their huge war debts. The American people began to get angry and uneasy with the unpaid debts.Show MoreRelatedThe Effects Of The War On The PeopleS Property And Their1662 Words   |  7 PagesThe effects of the war on the people s property and their children made people to oppose the revolution. Wealthy parents and the righ t wing politicians saw it as a movement that was out to destroy property and kill their children. Che Guevara describes the morning attack on Moncada garrison as a disaster because many of the rebels were killed on that day and a good number, including their leaders, were detained (Guevara, p.128). In Old Rosa: A Novel in Two Stories, Rosa is dejected that her sonRead MoreThe Socio-Economics of the Industrial Revolution and Its Effects on the American Economy1042 Words   |  5 PagesIn 1750, during the Industrial Revolution, over fourteen percent of the workforce in factories consisted of workers under fourteen years old (History.com Staff 9). With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, the social classes of America shifted tremendously. This shift of classes came from the arrival of machinery and factories from Britain. The new type of workforce that was required from industrialization gradually created a large gap of extremely wealthy people and poorer workers (the majority)R ead MoreMassive Open Online Courses1349 Words   |  6 Pagesseem to be bona fide concepts to export to developing nations, but in reality, online higher education is a part of the veiled forced westernization of the third world. Throughout history in various instances the western world imposed the western educational model on traditional cultures. This education interferes with the native culture and destroys the history of the people. The poster for Carol Black’s film, Schooling the World: The White Man’s Last Burden?, poses a question: â€Å"if you wanted toRead More Digital Revolution Essay1517 Words   |  7 PagesDigital Revolution The world we live in today is a very fascinating and mysterious place. While many people are intrigued that there might be life on another planet, cyberspace is a whole other world on earth. The widespread impact and use of the Internet did not mesmerize the world until the early 1990s. The author, John Schwartz, examines some of the effects the Internet has had on a small town. Another author, Dale Spender, focuses on the effects of the Internet on the world as a whole. InRead MoreRacism- An Aid to American Society2184 Words   |  9 PagesRacism – An Aid to American Society? â€Å"Racism is actions, practices or beliefs, or social or political systems that consider different races to be ranked as inherently superior or inferior to each other, based on presumed shared inheritable traits, abilities, or qualities.† (Newman, 2012) Racism has promulgated after the slavery in America, and these practices are still evident in our generations today. Oftentimes, when the word â€Å"racism† is heard by many, negative characteristics on these actionsRead MoreEssay about Sukmynuts3542 Words   |  15 PagesChapter 9 The Market Revolution 51. Complaint of a Lowell Factory Worker 1. The female factory worker compared her conditions with those of slaves because she felt like they were being treated like slaves by not being allowed to speak for themselves. She felt that they were awed into silence by wealth and power and was under tyranny and cruel oppression 2. She doubt the sincerity of the Christian beliefs of the factory owners because they talk benevolence in the parlor, compel theirRead MoreThe Chicano Movement Of America1832 Words   |  8 Pagesopportunities. However, when they finally make it to this country the â€Å"American Dream† becomes a nightmare, because they suffer discrimination, poverty, and injustice. Tired of the injustice against Mexican immigrants and the discrimination they suffered, the Mexican-American started a movement, the Chicano movement. The Chicano movement occurs after being tired from suffering, for many years, margination, poverty and a broken â€Å"american dream†. The Chicanos besides succeeding in the creation of literaryRead MoreRevolutionary Changes in the Atlantic World, 1750–185010951 Words   |  44 PagesCHAPTER 21 Revolutionary Changes in the Atlantic World, 1750–1850 I. Prelude to Revolution: The Eighteenth-Century Crisis A. Colonial Wars and Fiscal Crises 1. Rivalry among the European powers intensified in the early 1600s as the Dutch Attacked Spanish and Portuguese possessions in the Americas and in Asia. In the 1600s and 1700s the British then checked Dutch commercial and colonial ambitions and went on to defeat France in the Seven Years War (1756–1763)Read MoreEssays for the American Pageant, 14th Ed.11068 Words   |  45 PagesEssays for The American Pageant, 14th ed. Part One 1. From the perspective of Native Americans, the Spanish and English empires in America had more similarities than differences. Assess the validity of this generalization. Response Strategy It is important to develop a clear thesis on the validity of the statement at the outset of the essay. A good essay could be developed on either side of the issue or in support of a middle-of –the-road position. Supporting paragraphs should beRead MoreApush Chp17 Notes2924 Words   |  12 PagesCapital (Americans funding the economic expansion) * Technologies increasing productivity * Friendly gov policies (tariffs, land grants, loans) * Talented entrepreneurs A. The Business of Railroads. ~ The nation’s first big business : railroads, which had greatest impact on Am economic life. - Created a market for goods encouraged mass production, mass consumption, economic specialization. - Resources used promoted growth of industries (coal steel). - The American Railroad

St. Thomas Aquinas the Summa Theologica - 1131 Words

AP European History May 14, 2011 St. Thomas Aquinas: The Summa Theologica St. Thomas Aquinas’s â€Å"The Summa Theologica† is a document meant to summarize the difference between divine laws and human laws. This document explains whether these two types of laws are just or unjust. Aquinas demonstrates how laws are the reason for the common good which is made by those who care for their community, and how all the laws come from divine reasons which according to the document are understood by men. The first part of this document analyzes how laws are just or unjust depending on the impact they have on our conscience. Aquinas seems to represent the idea that just laws are in our minds because they are the laws of God and they are just†¦show more content†¦Aquinas replied to this by saying that there are laws that oppose to God’s commandments and that these commandments are way beyond the extent of men’s power, hence we should not obey human because they oppose God’s. The last objection made by this author was th at human laws make men lose his personality and brings him harm, and that they don’t stay in our minds because we know that is common sense not to do certain things in life that create oppression and violence. For example, we know that one of God’s commandments says that we should not kill and as soon as we gain conscience of life this stays in our minds. Aquinas replied to this objection by saying that is true and that if men disobey unjust laws he can avoid a greater consequence. According to Aquinas changing a law should only be done when the new one benefits towards the common good. However, changing these laws will affect society and the common good because we are already accustomed to these laws whether they are good or bad. When a society sees that laws are being changed they are going to think that things can be easily changed from now and on and that’s not a good thing. When any law is changed the power of that law decreases as well as the custom. As result of this human laws shouldn’t be changed unless it benefits the commonShow MoreRelatedAquinas’ and Dante’s Common Ideals1153 Words   |  5 PagesAquinas’ and Dante’s Common Ideals While St. Thomas Aquinas established himself as the New Aristotle of the 13th century, Dante Alighieri established himself the new Virgil. The two men made an immense impact in their respective fields (poetry and philosophy). Yet surprisingly, the two share common ideals. In each of their respective literary and philosophical views, they establish the importance of the relationship between nature and grace. In Dante’s Inferno the unique relationship ofRead MoreSt. Thomas Aquinas On The Existence Of God1048 Words   |  5 PagesSt. Thomas Aquinas is considered to be one of the greatest minds of the western world as well as one of the greatest theologians. In his work Summa Theologica, which he revised many times over the course of his life, he explored the existence of God, and there are essentially five ways in which St. Thomas Aquinas argues the existence of God. The first way is the argument from change, the second way is the argument from causation, the third argument is the argument from possibility and necessity,Read MoreSt. Thomas Aquinas: Proving Gods Existence Essay1866 Words   |  8 PagesThomas Aquinas inherently affirmed in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Born in Italy in 1225 to a noble family, Thomas was one of at least nine children. He was a highly educated man, beginning his education at the Abbey of Monte Cassino, moving on to the University of Naples. Thomas had a strong belief in God and aspired to prove God’s actuality. During his life, Aquinas produced numerous works on the subject the most notable being the Summa contra Gentiles and the Summa Theologica . Read MoreArguments For The Existence Of God974 Words   |  4 PagesArguments for the existence of God through critical thinking and rationalization are called ontological, cosmological, teleological, or pragmeatic arguments. The most widely known of such arguments is that of St. Anselm from Proslogium of St. Anselm, which states that God is considered a perfect being unlike humans or any other world subject. The fact that he is perfect in a world of imperfection proves his existence. God is also the highest conceivable idea of perfection, and thereforeRead MoreBombardier Aerospace: An Overview1590 Words   |  6 Pagesexistence, a central dispute concerns whether or not to use a rational approach or a more Biblically-grounded approach. This paper examines three theories that are germane to the rational approach the Five Proofs issued by Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica, the central premise of St. Anselms Proslogion, and Augustines premise from his canonical text City of God. After discussing these three arguments, two Christological arguments are discussed, namely Richard Bauckhams thesis from God Crucified:Read MoreSt. Thomas Aquinas And The Theological Principles Of Faith1831 Words   |  8 Pagesthan merely to contemplate† is a famous quote by St. Thomas Aquinas. It mentions how giving others the full truth about what they believe in is the best way for others to be willing members of a particular group. St. Thomas Aquinas always believed that there is nothing more sincere than the truth. It was always important to him to make sure everything he said was honest, especially speaking about the Lord so it wouldn’t be considered heresy. As Aquinas grew older and older, he started to learn moreRead More Truth and Goodness in Immanuel Kant and St. Thomas Aquinas Essays3146 Words   |  13 Pages Immanuel Kant and St. Thomas Aquinas account for the existence of truth in sharply contrasting ways. Kant locates all truth inside the mind, as a pure product of reason, operating by means of rational categories. Although Kant acknowledges that all knowledge originates in the intuition of the senses, the intelligibility of sense experience he attributes to innate forms of apperception and to categories inherent to the mind. The innate categories shape the â€Å"phenomena† of sensible being, andRead MoreAbelard and Aquinas Essay713 Words   |  3 Pages Peter Abelard was a renowned dialectician from 1079 to 1142. He subjected theological doctrines to logi cal analysis. In other words, he used rational argument to discover truth. Saint Thomas Aquinas, was a believer in the power of reason, giving St. Augustines theory an alternate approach. He taught in Paris and Italy during the years 1225 to 1274. Both of these new age thinkers changed the way Catholic followers viewed the natural world. Peter Abelard was one of the new thinkersRead MoreBeowulf : A Pattern And Traditional Form Of Heroism1023 Words   |  5 Pagesfaith in either God or in fate. While men were valued by bravery and even recklessness, women were seen as the voice of wisdom. Beowulf depicts that type of society very well. St. Thomas Aquinas’ philosophy/theories and their impact on philosophy today is most easily depicted from his writings. In the Summa Theologica, Aquinas’s summation of what can be known about god and human beings, the scholastic philosopher presents his arguments in the form of assertions, objects, and replies to those objectionsRead MoreThe s Ontological Proof For The Existence Of God Essay1134 Words   |  5 Pages In his Proslogion, written in 1077-1078, St. Anselm of Canterbury, introduced the first formulation of his ontological proof for the existence of God. In an effort to gain a deeper knowledge and acquaintance with his creator, Anselm set out to logically deduce God’s existence from the very definition of God. In the Proslogion he writes, â€Å"God is that which a greater cannot be thought. Whoever understands this properly, understands that this being exists in such a way that he cannot, even in thought

The Story of an Hour Analysis Free Essays

On â€Å"The Story of an Hour† â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† a short story by Kate Chopin, details the events of the short hour when Mrs. Mallard finds out her husband has died, only to see him walking through the door. Chopin makes it clear through the structure of the story that the irony of these events is no coincidence; there is conflict when people are oppressed and their soul has no joy or freedom. We will write a custom essay sample on The Story of an Hour Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is clear in the exposition that Mrs. Mallard is afflicted with heart trouble, implying she is weak, both physically and emotionally. Her sister Josephine and her husband’s friend, Richard, know how fragile she is so, â€Å"great care was taken† to break the news of Mr. Mallard’s death. Following the news of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard, â€Å"wept at once†¦in her sister’s arms,† showing her dependence on others. As the immediate feeling of grief spent itself, she went up to her room to be alone with her thoughts. Although she is at first weak, someone who is completely emotionally unstable would not be so willing to go be alone in her room to grief. There is obviously some want to be self dependent and free. The story’s rising action builds through a series of scenery descriptions. After Mrs. Mallard has gone up to her room, she faces an open window. The blue sky â€Å"showing here and there† and â€Å"countless sparrows† twittering outside were mentioned, symbolizing happiness and peace. Mrs. Mallard is then described by the narrator as a woman with â€Å"a dull stare in her eyes,† as she fixed her gaze on the blue sky, as if finally realizing that they were there. The details of the rising actions transition into the climax, where Mrs. Mallard feels an emotion â€Å"approaching to possess her. † After the realization that â€Å"there would be no one to live for† for the rest of her life Mrs. Mallard continues to whisper under her breath, â€Å"Free! Body and soul free! † This moment is filled with joy; however a turn of events could be predicted to come soon as she prayed â€Å"that life might be long. † At the falling action of the story, Mrs. Mallard leaves the room with the open window with a â€Å"feverish triumph in her eyes. † She is unquestionably a confident and new woman as she walks down the stairs with her sister. The story concludes with the denouement in which Brently Mallard enters the front door, unharmed. The shock of his homecoming is extremely evident through Josephine’s â€Å"piercing cry† and Richard quickly trying to block him from the view of his wife. Mrs. Mallard apparently has a heart attack and dies â€Å"of the joy that kills. † By the time Mrs. Mallard realizes that because her husband has died she will now be able to experience the joy of freedom, â€Å"the face of this possession† has unexpectedly walked in through the door. Although most would expect the weak Mrs. Mallard to die when hearing the news of her husband’s death, it is seeing him alive and realizing that she will continue to be his possession that causes her heart and her soul to die. How to cite The Story of an Hour Analysis, Papers

KPJ Healthcare Berhad - Internal Analysis free essay sample

1. Shortage of qualified staff Some of the staff is still under training but they provide service such as nurses. This maybe will damage the reputation of the hospital among its competitors. Currently, there are critical needs for experienced nurses in the operating room, critical care, and neonatal care arenas. Also some of their doctors they are fresh graduated and need some professional training. KPJ to ensure all their staff nurse have finished their training first to deliver quality work more efficient. It thus able to attract customers trust for the service they offer. In addition, doctors also need at least have the experience more than five years before deploying as one of the KPJ 2. High cost of operations The running cost of health care industry may be high compare to the income. This has happen in a lot of organization before which has resulted in organization collapse. Managing productivity of their physicians. ensured that nursing and paramedical teams get to play a more active reduce expences. 3.Weak operating cash flows Any business needs good income to continue in their business, KPJ has many branches around Malaysia but some of the branches they have weak income and this maybe will force the company to close these branches. 1. Goods Examining the data from the sales staff on the regular basis 2. Information KPJ must have visibility of their product shipments 3. Fund Doing customer credit check Offering term discount Asking customer to pay by cash or credit card Charging late fees 4. Corporate governance risk KPJ Healthcare Berhad does engage in related-party transaction with companies under the Johor Corp umbrella since they are ultimately owned by the state of Johor. They may have used any advance national agenda to detriment of minority stakeholders. Oversight of risk management is a clear duty of the board Aware of risk management and incentive system 1. Shortage of qualified staff The world has entered a critical period for human resources for health. The scarcity of qualified health personnel, including nurses, is being highlighted as one of the biggest obstacles to achieving health system effectiveness. Nurses are the main professional component of the ‘front line’ staff in most health systems, and their contribution is recognized as essential to meeting development goals and delivering safe and effective care. Shortage of qualified staff nurse will decrease quality of patient care. Staff shortages caused by nursing turnover are associated with significant decreases in the general quality of patient care, increases in the length of patient stays within hospitals. Some of the staff is still under training but they provide service such as nurses. This maybe will damage the reputation of the hospital among its competitors. Also some of their doctors they are fresh graduated and need some professional training. Currently, there are critical needs for experienced nurses in the operating room, critical care, and neonatal care arenas. To overcome these issues, KPJ to ensure all employees have finished their training first to deliver quality work more efficient. It thus able to attract customers trust for the service they offer. Other than that, hospitals are reintroducing intensive training programs for nurses in these specialties. This helps to retain nurses who are looking for a transfer opportunity as well as to recruit new staff. It also builds a career development path for staff. These training programs are not inexpensive and nursing leaders must be prepared to justify the required budget. Given the cost of temporary staff, this should be a logical solution for the organizations leadership to endorse. In addition, doctors also need at least have the experience more than five years before deploying as one of the KPJ. 2. High cost of operations The running cost of health care industry may be high compare to the income. This has happen in a lot of organization before which has resulted in organization collapse. Factor: Increased use of health care, especially expensive new medical technologies, by all age groups. General Price inflation. Inflation in the prices of medical services beyond general price inflation. Aging of the population. The recommendation for these issues is KPJ must manage to keep such costs quite low by managing productivity of their physicians. They have also ensured that nursing and paramedical teams get to play a more active role in care delivery, thus reducing the need for physicians, especially in routine interventions. Some of the hospitals have also managed to reduce expenses on energy through smart design. While repairs and maintenance again, through smart negotiation on warranty period and terms of maintenance with the vendors at the time of equipment procurement. 3. Weak operating cash flows Any business needs good income to continue in their business, KPJ has many branches around Malaysia but some of the branches they have weak income and this maybe will force the company to close these branches. Cash is the fuel that drives business, and many financial analysts consider the condition of a companys cash flow to be one of the most important indicators of that businesss financial health. After all, a well-managed flow of cash like a strong heart is usually indicative of a healthy business, while poorly managed cash flow, or a weak heart, can cause problems that affect the entire business. In 2012, cash reserves at KPJ Healthcare Bhd fell by 50. 53m. However, the company earned 201. 01m from its operations for a Cash Flow Margin of 9. 59%. In addition the company generated 156. 09m cash from financing while 407. 80m was spent on investing. Its important to note that a cash flow crisis is usually a symptom of a broader supply chain sickness. Treating this illness requires the attention of the logistics manager, the purchasing department, operations, the tech guys and even the CEO. And while working with a bank to open a line of credit or amending an existing financial instrument can certainly help, the only real way to address a cash flow problem is to take a holistic, long-term view of the issue. Fixing a cash flow problem requires companies to examine and improve the three key flows of commerce: goods, information and funds. KPJ must follow the goods. The faster a seller moves goods to a buyer, the faster the buyer will pay for those goods, and that impacts cash flow. Therefore, businesses must ask themselves how they can better improve the speed at which their goods exchange hands. And this goes well beyond the actual transportation of the goods. Rather, it requires an examination of the entire processfrom sales all the way through invoicing. Its vitally important for a companys decision to be plugged into the sales process, examining the data from the sales staff on a regular basis. How much was sold yesterday, how much will be sold today, and what about tomorrow? The more accurate this information, the tighter the inventory. And the tighter the inventory, the better the cash flow. After all, every item thats sitting on a warehouse shelf represents inaccessible capital. Turning that inventory into sales begins to unleash that capital. If the inventory isnt moving, they not moving cash. On the flip side,KPJ have to be prepared to quickly replace sold or outdated inventory. For the recommendation for this problem, the next vital key to good cash flow is information, and for that, KPJ must have visibility of their product shipments. Once the goods leave the dock en route to your buyers, how much visibility do you have regarding the progress each shipment is making? Do KPJ have a tracking number for every package? Did KPJ share the tracking number with the others? Are KPJ aware that a package was delayed due to weather? While all these questions primarily reside in the operations side of the house, they can also have a major impact on customer service, which in turn can impact cash flow. After all, a customer who feels well treated is more inclined to pay on time. In addition to tracking the shipments, using the information KPJ have about each shipments status and delivery time enables them to put invoices into the hands of their buyers as soon as possible. Once the goods are delivered, they will receive confirmation that the orders been delivered and upon receiving that confirmation, they automatically trigger an invoice. All this information helps to build solid, long-term relationships with your customers while improving cash flow. Next recommendation is speed the funds. This is the area where business owners usually look for a quick solution. Doing customer credit checks. Perform credit checks on all new and non-cash customers. This process can immediately reduce bad debt, since KPJ will stop offering credit to customers who havent proved they deserve it. Offering term discounts. To encourage customers to pay on time, consider offering term discounts. For example, if the invoice terms are net 30/2/10, customer payment is expected in 30 days; however, KPJ can offer the customer a 2 percent discount if payment is made in 10 days. Asking customers to pay by cash or credit card. Rather than sell on term payments, sell on cash or credit card payments. Once they got the cash in hand, deposit the funds immediately. Charging late fees. Indicate on the invoice when payment is due, and specify the penalty interest for late payment. These solutions have been and will remain key ingredients in helping to cure cash flow ailments. But theyre not the only funds-related prescriptions. Consider these options: C. O. D. (Collect on Delivery). C. O. D. delivers cost savings and processing efficiencies that improve cash flow. Credit insurance. Todays business environment pretty much mandates that small companies go global. But conducting business with trading partners overseas can be risky. Credit insurance can help mitigate the risks by protecting the value of your receivables. By guarding your bottom line against nonpaymentor even slow paymentof invoices, you can breathe easier about your decision to conduct cross-border trade. And credit insurance can be used on a case-by-case basisfor example, with new customers whose payment histories youre unfamiliar with. Once youve established a more solid relationship with them, you can then stop charging them for the credit insurance. To be successful at cash flow management is to make sure all three flows of commerce that is goods, information and funds are working together to accelerate the movement of money through their supply chain.. 4. Corporate governance risk Corporate governance is the system of principles, policies, procedures, and clearly defined responsibilities and accountabilities. The objectives of a corporate governance system are to eliminate or mitigate conflicts of interest among stakeholders, particularly between managers and shareholders, and to ensure that the assets of the company are used efficiently and productively and in the best interests of the investors and other stakeholders. KPJ Healthcare Berhad does engage in related-party transaction with companies under the Johor Corp umbrella since they are ultimately owned by the state of Johor. They may have used any advance national agenda to detriment of minority stakeholders. The risk of weak corporate governance can look at accounting risk that effect the company’s financial statement recognition and related disclosures are incomplete, misleading, or materially misstated. Other than that, it also has liability risk that effect the risk that management will enter into excessive obligations that destroy the value of shareholders’ equity. In strategic policy risk, the risk that managers may enter into transactions or incur other business risks that are self-serving and may not be in the best long-term interest of shareholders. Companies with strong governance had greater investment performance. Companies with strong shareholders’ rights outperformed those with weak protections. The failure of a company to establish an effective system of corporate governance represents a major operational risk to the company and its investors. Companies committed to corporate governance often provide a statement of corporate governance policies. Weak corporate governance systems give rise to risks including accounting risk, asset risk, liability risk, and strategic policy risk. Hence to overcome this weakness, KPJ should oversight of risk management of the board. Internal controls were an important current theme but risk management issues were nevertheless emerging and were partially taken into account. The board should fulfill certain key functions including reviewing and guiding corporate strategy, major plans of action, and risk policy to ensuring the integrity of the corporation’s accounting and reporting systems. That appropriate systems of control are in place, in particular systems of risk management, financial and operational control. A function of the board to be monitoring the effectiveness of the company’s management practices and making changes as needed. Monitoring of governance by the board also includes continuous review of the internal structure of the company to ensure that there are clear lines of accountability for management throughout the organization. It is not just accountability but also the process by which information is passed to the top. The board will also need to ensure that there is appropriate oversight by senior management. The chairman is responsible for leadership of the board, ensuring its effectiveness in all aspects of its role and setting its agenda. The Chairman is also responsible for ensuring that the directors receive accurate, timely and clear information. The Chairman should ensure effective communications with shareholders. The Chairman should also facilitate the effective contribution of non-executive directors in particular and ensure constructive relations between executive and non-executive directors. Board members should act on a fully informed basis, in good faith, with due diligence and care, and in the best interest of the company and the shareholders. Where board decisions may affect different shareholders groups differently, the board should treat all shareholders fairly. Second, KPJ should aware of risk management and incentive systems. An important feature of the crisis has been the realization that in a number of companies there appeared to be disconnect between strategy and risk management on the one hand, and incentives on the other. By incentives is meant not just remuneration but also other aspects such as promotion. Good corporate governance should provide proper incentives for the board and management to pursue objectives that are in the interests of the company and its shareholders and should facilitate effective monitoring. Question 4: The examination of strategic capabilities and strategic decision 1. Strategic Capabilities a) Leadership Commitment to Competence As a service provider, the Group is committed to improve the skills and competencies of its management, medical consultants and employees through various training programmers, seminars, workshops and quality initiatives. The Group has made it mandatory for each staff to undergo at least 30 hours of training per year as part of the indicator in the Key Performance Indicators with the objective of encouraging knowledge management and initiatives. Training on work related areas such as customer services, ? re safety and corporate culture are done either internally or through external moderators. The Group also organizes the KPJ Medical Conference, Medical Workshop and Nursing Convention yearly for the medical consultants, nurses and allied health staff to deliberate and discuss medical and clinical issues related to their practices to promote patient safety, best practices as well as standardization of practices. New and creative ideas are encouraged through suggestion schemes and Innovative Circle Committee competitions, held yearly, whereby the winner of this event will represent KPJ at the higher level of competition at JCorp, the ultimate holding corporation. b) Cultural Support Integrity And Ethical Values The Management is committed to enforce ethical behaviour in employees and medical consultants. At the annual staff assembly or Pedoman (Perhimpunan, Dialog dan Anugerah Tahunan Anggota Pekerja) in the hospitals, new staff takes an oath and sign a Service Pledge declaration form. All employees and medical consultants are reminded during the Pedoman of the five Core Values adopted by the Group, which are Safety, Courtesy, Integrity, Professionalism and Continuous Improvement. Employees are also encouraged to report directly to the Managing Director of any misconduct or unethical behaviour committed by any staff of the Group through the Borang Peradaban declaration. Kpj strives to cultivate safety and quality in work culture The Group has implemented the policy on Code of Ethics and Business Conduct to emphasize the commitment of the Group towards ethical values. All hospitals and companies within the Group have been requested to sign an integrity pledge with their suppliers, contractors and other related third parties. c) Structural Fit Board Responsibility The primary responsibility of the Board is to ensure the adequacy and integrity of the Groups internal controls system which cover ? nancial operational and compliance controls management. The principal objective of the internal controls system is to manage business risks effectively, enhance the value of shareholders investments and safeguards assets of the Group. The role of Managing Director and Management is to assist in the design and implementation of the Boards policies on internal control system. Since internal controls are designed to manage and reduce risks rather than eliminate them, therefore such internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance to Management and the Board of Directors regarding the achievement of company objectives through:- Effectiveness and efficiency of operations Reliability of ? nancial reporting Compliance with applicable laws and regulations The Board still relies on the COSO Internal Control Framework to ensure an appropriate and sound system of internal controls, which encompasses ? ve interrelated components i. e. the Control Environment, Risk Assessment Framework, Control Activities, Information and Communication and Continuous Monitoring process. d) Communication KPJ has successfully implemented the KPJ Clinical Information System (KCIS) in KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital, KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital, Puteri Specialist Hospital, KPJTawakkal Specialist Hospital, KPJAmpangPuteri Specialist Hospital and KPJDamansara Specialist Hospital. New modules introduced include the Medical Care Solution for patient management, Nursing Care Solution catering for nursing care plan and management, Pharmacy with interface to a drug database decision support system and also Picture Archiving and Communications System for the imaging department and medical records. Ultimately all hospitals within the Group would be implementing KPJ Clinical Information System. By implementing and utilizing this system, all patient information can be shared throughout the Group and facilitates patient transfer from one hospital to another.