Close Reading of a Poem Essay - 1280 Words

Close Reading of a Poem Maria Clinton ENG 125 May 31, 2011 Tiffany Griffin-Minor Close Reading of a Poem ON THE AMTRAK FROM BOSTON TO NEW YORK CITY: BY SHERMAN ALEXIE On the Amtrak from Boston to New York City is an emotionally provocative poem by the Native American Indian writer, Sherman Alexie. It describes a train journey from Boston to New York City in which an elderly white woman excitedly points out historical sites to her fellow passenger, a younger Native American Indian. The poem demonstrates how narrow minded the American Indian finds the white American culture; for, it does not go beyond any history prior to their coming to America. The white woman is only able to have a limited understanding of her surroundings;†¦show more content†¦These immediate images provoke other images in the Indian’s mind; these images are far more spectacular than those immediate images pointed out by the white woman. The two hundred year old house on the hill is linked in the Indian’s mind to the structures of his tribal ancestors which he describes in stanza three as â€Å"whose architecture is 15,000 years older†. The mention of â€Å"Walden Pond† in stanza three by the white woman is linked in the Indian’s mind to â€Å"there are five Walden Ponds on my little reservation out West and at least a hundred more surrounding Spokane,† in stanza four. These larger images once again demonstrate the incapability of the white Americans to look deeper into other cultures and their sites surrounding them. The only reason the white woman recognizes Walden Pond is because it was made famous by a white American, Henry David Thoreau who wrote a book about his life in a house next to the pond, in which he takes on a simplistic life which mimics the Native American Indian life style. The Indian on the train, is unimpressed by this because he states that â€Å"I know the Indians were living stories around that pond before Waldens grandparents were born and before his grandparents grandparents were born.†These lines display a certain amount of disdain by the Indian for what the whit e Americans believe to be historically important itShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Ozymandias By Percy Bysshe Shelley1165 Words   |  5 PagesPercy Bysshe Shelley in 1817. To read this poem and understand the complexities of it, one must analyze it through the lens of I.A. Richards’ concept of â€Å"new criticism,† which is now understood as close reading. In this essay, we will compare some of the aspects of criticism that Richards finds counterproductive and meaningless, such as irrelevant associations and sentimentality to his profound concept of new criticism and close reading. Through close reading, we as readers are able to find nuancesRead MoreThe Poem By Billy Collins1652 Words   |  7 PagesThe poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† by Billy Collins, is about a teacher explaining to her students how to read and analyze poetry. Collins employs an abundance of figurative language, especially metaphors and images, to express the progressive steps taken to un derstand a poem for all that it encompasses. When beginning to read a poem, first we must look at the bigger picture, like we are working from the outside of the poem to the inside. Once we begin to understand the storyline, we must dive furtherRead MoreClose Reading In Safiya Sinclairs Cannibal900 Words   |  4 Pages In the book, Cannibal by Safiya Sinclair, her poem, Hands requires the use of close reading along with the use of figurative language like, personification, imagery, metaphor, and caesuras to focus on significant details. Close reading gives a deep and precise understanding of the complex meaning of her poem. Sinclair uses vivid and powerful figurative language throughout the poem to envelope readers in an emotional, honest, tragic yet hopeful atmosphere along with the structural element, CaesurasRead MoreDescribe The Learning Objectives Of This Course And The Type Of Best Practice That You Are Sharing999 Words   |  4 PagesDescribe the learning objectives of thi s course and the type of best practice that you are sharing. Literature of the Holocaust (EN113A) is a 100-level, elective English course that emphasizes extending EN 11 12 critical reading and writing skills, as well as mastering close reading of diverse fiction and non-fiction texts in a specific content area. The course is also included in the JUHAN and the Jewish Studies minor. I use as much visual art as I can to capture and enhance my students’ differentRead MoreLiterary Criticism Of Literature And Literature873 Words   |  4 Pagesthe text. New Criticism allows readers to pay close attention to literary devices—metaphor, irony, simile, paradox, and so on. The analysis of the literary devices depicted allow readers to engage with the text—in order to understand the interactions between the text s structure and meaning (â€Å"New Criticism | Glossary Terms | Poetry Foundation,† para.1). This paper will analyze Angelou s poem â€Å"Still I Rise† from a New Criticism perspective. Angelou’s poem uses a simile, hyperbole, and repetition. TheRead MoreAnalysis Of Anne Bradstreet s Writing1105 Words   |  5 Pagesher an advantage and allowed her to write about more advanced topics, however still keeping inside the guidelines of the Bible. Anne Bradstreet’s writing is that of her personal and Puritan life, when reading you are able to easily distinguish the two. In order to understand Anne Bradstreet’s poems, you should know certain things about her background. Bradstreet was born on March 20th, 1612 in Northampton, United Kingdom, and died on September 16, 1672 in Andover, Massachusetts. Her father was theRead MoreWhen Reading â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night† By1142 Words   |  5 PagesWhen reading â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night† by Dylan Thomas, â€Å"Acquainted with the Night† by Robert Frost, and â€Å"Sestina† by Elizabeth Bishops, the authors use unique imagery, symbolism, and metaphors to demonstrate a dark atmosphere during the poems. Each poem deals with dark tones such as depression, sadness, and death. By using imagery, symbolism, and metaphors, the authors are able to intensify the overall mood of the poems. Thomas uses metaphors to show different settings of his poemRead MoreEssay about Wild Geese by Oliver1304 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Wild Geese† is ve ry different from many poems written. Oliver’s personal life, the free form of the poem along with the first line, â€Å"You do not have to be good,† and the imagery of nature contributes to Oliver’s intent to convince the audience that to be part of the world, a person does not need to aspire to civilization’s standards. Oliver would write this poem because she did not conform to societies wishes. According to the Poetry Foundation, Oliver has never actually received a degree despiteRead MoreWild Geese By Mary Oliver1581 Words   |  7 PagesWild Geese† by Mary Oliver, is a poem that speaks deeply to many types of people with different personalities. This poem encourages the reader to let go of their shame of guilt and rather they should follow their heart, find the beauty, and become one with nature. Each and every one of us has a place on this earth, and although we all go through times of despair, the sun keeps shining and the earth keeps turning. When reading â€Å"Wild Geese† by Mary Oliver, I imagine the speaker being someone who hasRead MoreA Close Reading Of Sonnet 181280 Words   |  6 PagesA Close Reading of â€Å"Sonnet 18† â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?† (â€Å"Sonnet 18†) is one of Shakespeare’s most famous poems. It is the model English, or Shakespearean sonnet: it contains three quatrains and a finishing couplet.. The poem follows the traditional English sonnet form by having the octet introduce an idea or set up the poem, and the sestet beginning with a volta, or turn in perspective. In the octet of Sonnet 18, Shakespeare poses the question â€Å"Shall I compare the to a summer’s

Lord of The Flies- Holocaust - 1412 Words

The book,Lord of the Flies parallels exactly to the horrible accounts of the Holocaust. It took place during the same time, and many ideas and events are very similar. The Holocaust was a huge inspiration on Goldings book, and like the Holocaust, Golding creates a setting, thats in a sense, secret. They also both took place during World War II. Just like in the beginning, when the boys first landed on the island, before the Holocaust even began, the boys were unified as one tribe. However,underneath the surface, problems were rising. Piggy was referred to only by his derisive nickname, much in the same way as Jews were stripped of their real names and called Jew bastardor kike. Youre talking too much, said Jack merridew,†¦show more content†¦The two savages looked at each other, raised their spears and spoke in time. The Chief has spoken.(Golding 141).He made them march together, and look very well organized and unified. On October 13,1930, dressed in their brown shirts, the elected Nazi deputies marched in unison into the Reichstag and took their seats. When the roll call was taken, each one shouted, Present! Heil Hitler! . Both of these examples have alot of similarities. Both show the obedience the leaders had over their followers. They were all brainwashed, and this statement goes to both Jacks tribe and the Nazis. This brainwashing even got to a point where killing was okay. They didnt really think twice about it. They all thought what they were doing was right, they didnt realize what they were doing, and didnt look at the big picture. ...Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever...The rock struck Piggy with a glancing blow (Golding 180). This statement describes Rogers feelings about killing, and it obviously doesnt matter that much to him. He wasnt thinking before he acted. When Simon was coming down the mountain to tell everyone that there really wasnt a beast, it was just a dead body from war, they mistook Simon himself for the beast because they were so riled up from the feast and the dance, they actually tricked themselves into thinking Simon was something else. Even after, when they knew what they were doing they keptShow MoreRelatedEssay on Lord of the Flies by William Golding954 Words   |  4 PagesGolding explores the vulnerability of society in a way that can be read on many different levels. A less detailed look at the book, Lord of the Flies, is a simple fable about boys stranded on an island. Another way to comprehend the book is as a statement about mans inner savage and reverting to a primitive state without societies boundaries. By examining the Lord of the Flies further, it is revealed that many themes portray Golding’s views, including a religious persecution theme. Golding includes theRead MoreLord Of The Flies By William Golding1271 Words   |  6 Pageswere capable of doing. Anyone who moved through those years without understanding that man produces evil as a bee produces honey, must have been blind or wrong in the head† (â€Å"William Golding†). Written in the early 1950’s in Salisbury, England, Lord of the Flies depicts an allegory for World War II which allows for social commentary on the events of the war. Many of the people, symbols, and events of the war reflect the characters, symbols, and events in the novel in order to defend the essential valuesRead MoreThe Implications of the Stanford Prison Experiment for Humanity in the Long Run1282 Words   |  6 PagesThe students were divided randomly into prisoners and wardens. The wardens were given complete control of the prisoners and the experiment left to run. The idea of the experiment was to find out the causes of such atrocities as the Holocaust. Dr. Zimbardo, the conductor of the experiment, was intrigued as to why normal Germans, who thought the idea of extermination of all Jews was morally wrong, still allowed it to happen and in extreme cases aided Hitlers cause in the deathRead MoreThe Lord Of The Flies1111 Words   |  5 PagesThe Lord of the Flies Research Project While the World War II was in act, Adolf Hitler once incited â€Å"You only have to kick in the door, and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down†(Adolf Hitler). The structure coming down symbolizes the fact that the boys’ structure of order, and civilization came crashing down as well. This is found throughout the book. Adolf Hitler is known for his dictatorship, his exquisite leadership skills, and violent warfares.. He uncovered that leadership skillsRead MoreReflection Lord Of The Flies862 Words   |  4 Pages William Goldings Lord of the Flies as Reflection of Society â€Å"Man produces evil, as a bee produces honey, even in something as pure as a child.† --William Golding We come across things that change perspective and it really impacts how we live life. William Golding is a famous author for one of his well known books, The Lord of the Flies, where he makes everyday people change into evil human beings. Lord of the Flies by William Golding, was influenced stronglyRead MoreLord Of The Flies And Night Comparison Essay822 Words   |  4 Pagescompulsive urge for wrongdoing. In the novels, Lord of the Flies by William Golding and Night by Elie Wiesel portrays the potential of evil in every person. In Lord of the Flies, a group of schoolboys become stranded on an island and seeks ways to hope for them to survive until they are found and rescued. The lack of resources causes conflicts into who should survive and receive the benefit of these items. The book Night depicts the horrific event of the Holocaust and the story of Elie, a survivor and hisRead MoreThe Immortality Of Man s Heart1579 Words   |  7 Pagesstop themselves from doing evil. In Lord o f the Flies by William Golding a group of young, British schoolboys become deserted on a mysterious island after their plane crashes down at a time of war. As they fight for survival, they are also constantly conflicted by their own inner beings. One of Golding’s most significant themes throughout the book is that man is essentially corrupt and animalistic. In his book, he uses hunting, the beast, and the Lord of the Flies to symbolize the savagery that livesRead MoreLord of the Flies and World War Ii1737 Words   |  7 PagesSteiner Many things such as social and political environments can impact literature. British involvement in WWII directly influenced Goldings novel, Lord of the Flies. As all authors use their life and times as reference points in their works, Golding drew heavily on sociological, cultural, and military events. Lord of the Flies is an allegorical parallel to the world, as Golding perceived it. The island, the boys, and many other objects and events described in his work represent Goldings viewRead More William Goldings Lord Of The Flies Essay978 Words   |  4 Pagesuses the main characters of Ralph, Jack, and Simon in The Lord of the Flies to portray how their desire for leadership, combined with lack of compromise leads to the fall of their society. This desire for leadership and compromise led to the fall of their society just like multiple countries during times of wars. In the Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses characters to convey the main ideaRead MoreLord Of The Flies By William Shakespeare1287 Words   |  6 Pagesbetrayals in history was that of Julius Caesar by his friend Marcus Brutus. Upon realizing his friend’s part in his death, a shocked Caesar asks, â€Å"Et tu, Brute? [You too, Brutus?]† and falls to his death. (Et tu, Brute?) The allegorical story Lord of The Flies consists of many situations where the conflicts and betrayals between Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin are represented through two boys on the island, Jack and Ralph. In the beginning of the story, Jack and Ralph work together and have generally

Long Leaf Pine Essay Research Paper Long free essay sample

Long Leaf Pine Essay, Research Paper Long Leaf Pine Happening The long leaf pine community, besides known as a high pine community, occurs on well-drained dirts and are good adapted to fires. They are found on the high land in Florida where the dirt can non incorporate the H2O and the flaxen dirt remains dry in between the rains. This community requires frequent, low-intensity fires, which occur every one to ten old ages, to open seed cones and let the community to renew. Description The long leaf pine community is characterized by the presence of the long leaf pine trees and perennial grasses as land screen. There are a few oaks nowadays but most are burned out by the frequent fires because they can non accommodate to fire as the pines have. The community besides provides nutrient for wildlife such as proverb palmetto and oaks that provide sufficient nutrient when they are fruiting. This community is wholly dependent on fire and the pines have adapted good to lasting fire. Dirts The dirts found in the high pines are really dry coarse sandy spirals. There is besides flaxen clay that is a dry dirt that is rich in foods. The bulk of dirts are classified as entisols, which are overly drained, extremely permeable, and low and foods. The clay dirt is in a dirt group known as paleudults that have birthrate evaluation from chairing to good. Vegetation There are several fluctuations of this ecosystem. Where fire is excluded and/or the pines have been removed, oaks dominate. Land screen under the overstory of pine trees and bush is scattered and sometimes absent. The floor of the system is littered with dry pine acerate leafs that provide fuel for the low strength fires that the system needs to last. There are besides scattered hardwoods that have managed to last in the system. Fig. 1? Long foliage pine Trees Long leaf pine is the premier species of deal, bluejack oak and turkey oak are the premier species of hardwoods. Other species include southern ruddy oak or Spanish oak, sand station oak, unrecorded oak, Arkansas oak, persimmon, black cherry, Sassafras albidums, black hickory hickory and sand hickory Herbaceous Plants Sparkleberry, papaya, myrtle oak, wire grass, blue stems, piney forests dropseed, bracken fern, goffer apple, aureate aster, low-bush blueberry, blackberry, hairawn muhly Fig. 2? Wire grass Animals Long leaf pine community supports many craniates found in a figure of other home grounds. Few of these animate beings nevertheless, depend on this dry highland home ground for endurance. The best adapted to the environment are the burrowers such as the goffer tortoise. There are besides many types of birds in the community, some of which are endangered and rely on the pines extensively. Wildlife that usage this system include: Mammals Sherman # 8217 ; s flim-flam squirrel, Florida mouse, pocket goffer, Florida jaguar Birds Bobwhite quail, land dove, rufous-sided towhee, ruddy cockaded peckerwood, brown headed nutcracker, yellow breasted confabs, Bachman? s sparrow, pine warbler, eastern bluebird, hairy peckerwood, southeasterly sparrow hawk. Reptiles Gopher Tortoise, eastern anil serpent, blue-tailed mole scincid, short-tailed serpent. Fig. 3? Gopher tortoise tunnel Land Use Interpretations The long foliage pine has a great commercial value and has been logged extensively of all time since colonists foremost arrived to this state. Even today the long foliage pine is the pick for many types of timber including its chief function as the perfect tree for telephone poles. This is due to its tallness, lastingness, and the fact that the tree grows about absolutely consecutive. The pine is besides grows really fast which makes it a perfect tree to works and crop for paper production. Fig 4? Long leaf pine community Problems There was a job for sometime of worlds cutting down the pines for commercial usage and non replacing the supply after logging. At one point European colonists logged about all of the old growing forests go forthing nil buttocks. Solutions These concerns have since been addressed and steps have been taken to protect this valuable resource such as replanting seedlings and utilizing fire to keep the natural balance within the systems. Many of these countries are managed as a husbandman would a field of wheat or maize. This insures that there will be ample sums of pine trees for coevalss to come. Fire Fires play a immense function in the long leaf pine community. The fires are required for a figure of grounds. The low strength fires found in this system are used to open up the seed cones and fertilise the land to ease growing of the new seed. The fires besides guarantee that unwanted species of works life is burned out before it has a opportunity to take topographic point within the pine community. The pine trees have a great version to fire where as other species can non manage it and are later burned out. Fig. 5? Cones waiting fire to open them Sand Pine Happening If one travels West on SR 40 from Daytona Beach, finally the mark s for Ocala National Forest will be noticed. Once come ining the forest, the ecosystem of the sand pine community can be observed. Besides called a chaparral community, no other ecosystem quiet compares to this Florida? s mature wood. Description Dirt Practically all chaparral dirts have small or no development and are derived from vitreous silica sand. Regardless of their geological beginning, soils back uping scrub flora are overly well-drained silicious sand practically devoid of silt clay, and organic affair and therefore low foods. Even though they represent some of the droughtiest, least fertile dirts in the province, chaparral dirts are by no agencies uniform. They range from the pure white, overly leached St. Lucia series to reasonably leached dirts that have xanthous sandy undersoil, such as the Paola and Orsino series, to the unleached brownish, grey, or xanthous dirts of the Astatula and Tavarea series. The colour of a peculiar chaparral dirt reflects the length of clip that the dirt has supported scrub flora, as some dirt features are the consequence of biotic actions on the dirt parent stuffs. Although chaparral dirts are overly good drained, drought emphasis may non be a common happening. Even though the bulk of all right roots of chaparral species are shallow, these species besides have deep? doughnut? roots that tap dirt wet at considerable deepnesss. Vegetation Scrub flora varies from topographic point to topographic point, yet it possesses a uniformity of facets that is common to most. This uniformity is due to the fact that the woody flora is about ever composed of the same six species in about the same order of copiousness regardless of the denseness of the sand pines: myrtle oak or chaparral oak, saw palmetto, sand unrecorded oak, Chapman? s oak, rusty Lyonia, and Florida Rosmarinus officinalis. The land screen, though ever sparse, about constantly includes goffer apple, beak haste, milk peas, plus the lichens British soldier moss. Normally the denseness of the land screen is reciprocally relative to the denseness of the sand pines and bushs. Animals A host of carnal species utilize the chaparral. Vertebrates by and large restricted to scour home grounds are the Florida mouse, the Florida chaparral Jay, the Florida chaparral lizard, the sand scincid, and the blue-tailed mole scincid. The chaparral Jay, sand scincid, mole scincid are federally listed as threatened. The goffer tortoise, normally considered a sand hill species, often burrows in chaparral but provenders in nearby herbaceous flora. A figure of big, wide-ranging, or widely distributed mammals utilize chaparrals, including black bear, white-tailed cervid, bay lynxs, grey fox, spotted rotter, and raccoon. Land Use Interpretations The sand pine has environmental value as a Natural System. The one good that this system is used for is during high Waterss ; the animate beings use this country for protection because of its good drainage. Rangeland There is no possible for rangeland usage. Forest Most of the extended sand pine chaparral in the Ocala National wood is managed for mush. The pines are distinct in blocks runing from 50 to 100 hour angle ; the logging equipment automatically reduces the stature of the bush bed ; and so the sites are reseeded utilizing a? topographic point scarifier. ? Urbanland The dirt of the sand pine community is to dry to be used as urbanland Fire The function of fire in the chaparral is far more complicated than normally portrayed, and the forms created are varied. Scrub, like many of Florida? s ecosystems, is pyrogenous? that is, its vegetations and zoologies have developed versions to fire. High-intensity fires that recur infrequently, possibly one time every 10 or even 100 old ages, depending on fuel accretion and opportunity ignitions maintain chaparral. Fire in chaparral does non originate widespread alterations in species composition but instead make little localised micro-disturbances. Following fire, most of the existing species either resprout or last the immediate postburn period as seed. Comparison While long foliage and flaxen pines are both really flaxen and dry countries, there are some differences. For one thing, the dirt in the long foliage community has much more foods so that of the flaxen pine community. The H2O drains off rather easy in both of these systems, go forthing them really dry. The large difference here nevertheless is that the long leaf pine community is much more susceptible to fire than the sand pine due to a important sum of land screen compared to that of the sand pine. Small fires occur often in the long foliage community runing from every 2 to 10 old ages apart. Fires occur much more infrequently in the sand pine community runing from about 10 to 100 old ages. The chief ground for this is because the floor of the long foliage community is much denser than that of the sand pine. The pine trees of both of these communities are really expert to fires and as such have developed an unsusceptibility to fire. They both use fire to open up their pinecones, enabling them to renew themselves. 3da Ecology, Microsoft? Encarta? 97 Encyclopedia. ? 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. Ecosystems of Florida, Myers and Ewel, University of Central Florida Press, 1990

The Handmaids Tale Literary Analysis of the Book [Essay]

The Handmaid’s Tale Book Analysis: General Information The Handmaid’s Tale is a feminist novel that highlights the perils of women in a society that has not only dehumanized their status but also made it almost criminal to be a woman. The story highlights a cruel world where women do not enjoy the freedom of choice. Women are described as mere objects for male selfish desires and satisfaction. In The Handmaid’s Tale, analysis essay, gender roles and inequality issues will be reviewed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaid’s Tale Literary Analysis of the Book [Essay] specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Using this law, men have withdrawn all the things that would have otherwise made life worth living for women. In the Republic of Gilead, women are not supposed to read, write, or even listen to music. These are luxuries only reserved for men. Women are also denied the natural pleasure s such as love and romance. They have seen as objects of male enjoyment, something that has no human values other than to make men happy. As such, they live in a dystopian world. The story reads like a fictional autobiography. It is told from the first-person point of view. However, this story is not just propaganda to highlight gender issues. This is because of its complex characters, setting, and thematic concerns. The male figure is torn between remaining loyal to the Faith or breaking the law and engaging in the pure pleasure of love and romance. The reader feels that some of the male characters identify with the suffering of the female character but cannot do anything as they are held ransom by the Faith. Critical Interpretation of the Story Setting The novel also seamlessly combines the fundamentals of modern religion with ancient totalitarian regimes of leadership, making it a masterpiece. The complexity of the story and the ideals it propagates makes it more than a work of f iction because it highlights real issues that affect modern-day societies. To a keen reader, the setting of the book is very complicated as it combines ancient, modern, and post-modernistic issues in an almost unnoticeable way. Time-wise, the novel is set not so much into the distant future. Geographically, the story happens in a land where the former United States of America lies after a Christian theocratic regime overthrows it. The Republic of Gilead, the resultant state, thus lies within the boundaries of the current United States of America. When the United States of America’s government is overthrown, and democracy is replaced by ancient Christian theocracy that borrows heavily from the Old Testament, the reader is thrown back in time to when the government hid behind religion to establish oppressive regimes. Still, the novels highlight the use of credit cards, effectively depicting a government desperate to fight pollution and other challenges of the modern world. That a commander rules the country brings the reader into the present-day world of absolute dictatorship (Atwood 81). The handmaids’ predicament who have to bear children for the Commander’s wives may be considered as symbolic of Rachel and Leah, the biblical Old Testament characters.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is the evidence that the social setting is heavily connected not only with fundamental Christian ideals but also with post-modernistic social issues such as population control. The complex nature of the environment, therefore, influences the direction of the story so that it helps the author to sufficiently blend historical and futuristic ideals in a way seen as still relevant to the modern world. The Handmaid’s Tale: Literary Criticism Analysis The reader can understand the story better upon a closer analysis of the characters. The main ch aracter is also the narrator and tells the story from the first-person point of view, making it more of an autobiography. The narrator, Offred, can be seen as both an objective observer and an actor. Telling the story from the first-person point of view means that any misinterpretations are avoided. As such, the reader is able to get information that is as close to the fact a first-person interpretation of those facts. Because the narrator is the emblem of the plight of all women in this society, telling the tale from the first-person point of view makes it easy for the reader to understand what women go through and at the same time, share in their plight. It also helps to make the story real and eliminates the notion that the story is just mere feministic propaganda (Brians para 10). Symbolism in the Book Offred is best understood from the analysis of her name, the symbolic roles she plays in the novel as the symbol of women suffering. Offred, the protagonist, is kidnapped from her husband and thus separated from her family by this oppressive dynasty. She is brought to the Commander’s house to bear children for his barren wife. Offred is her patronymic name that can be broken down into two names: of and Fred. This indicates that she is of Fred, meaning that she belongs to Fred, the Commander. The theme of freedom is clearly evident through the story. Offred is seen to change throughout the story from the wife of a peasant to the emblematic figure of women liberation. Her significance is seen through her symbolic birth name June, which in the context of the Republic of Gilead means Mayday, the day the women, will be salvaged from their torment. Her name June thus becomes symbolic of the rà ©sistance that would soon lead to their freedom (Atwood 220). It is possible to develop an understanding of the character from her description of herself. Despite living in a male-dominated world where the power of women has been dramatically curtailed, Offred still manages to maintain a self-awareness of who she is and confidently identifies herself as a woman without any hint that she belongs to any man. She describes her physical attributes that are distinctively feminine. Furthermore, despite living in a world where a woman is just an object of man’s desire Offred is able to strictly maintain the definition of herself as purely woman, devoid of any material trappings thus: ‘I am thirty-three years old. I have brown hair. I stand five seven without shoes’ (Atwood 143). It is this appreciation of herself as a woman coupled with her symbolic name June, which makes Offred the emblematic figure of the resistance to male domination.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaid’s Tale Literary Analysis of the Book [Essay] specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Theme of Sexual Repression in the Book Offred is also the insignia of how women suffer sexually. It is through her experiences that the reader comes to know her strengths as a woman, repressed thoughts and aspirations that she poses regarding intimacy. It is through Offred that the reader is able to see the way women, in general, are degraded as mere tools for men’s sexual gratification. Offred describes her sexual experiences from the first person’s perspective and sees sex in four ways. For her, the sexual experiences that women in the Republic of Gilead go through cannot be termed as lovemaking. Neither can they be said to be rape as women are not supposed to have the right to sex and thus, by default, should not have the right and the power to refuse. In this case, it is not even within the power of women to refuse sex. Offred says that her sexual encounters with Fred, her master commander, cannot also be termed as copulation either as this means that two people are involved. In a real sense, only the Commander is involved as her senses, mind, and emotion are not. In her words, sex is seen as degrading, humiliating as well as an emotionless experience as it is only physical and given upon demand from men thus: â€Å"My red skirt is hitched up to my waist, though no higher. Below it the Commander is fucking. What he is fucking is the lower part of my body. I do not say making love, because this is not what he’s doing. Copulating too would be inaccurate because it would imply two people and only one is involved. Nor does rape cover it: nothing is going on here that I haven’t signed up for† (Atwood 94). Men’s Roles in The Handmaid’s Tale Society Literary analysis of the The Handmaid’s Tale shows that other than the main character, other characters play significant roles in this story. Even though these characters have individual uniqueness, they have been categorized into two main groups: male and female. The male characters are divided into four: The Commander of the Faithful led by Fred, for whom Offred is a handmaid. He is the symbolic male chauvinistic character in the novel. There are also the Eyes, the men who offer intelligence services to the Republic of Gilead rulership, Angels and Guardians of Faith who are the soldiers who fight to protect the republic as well as the Gender Traitors, the homosexuals seen as traitors of the Faith and sent to die painfully in the colonies. The relationships between the main character Offred and the men are master-servant kind of relationship. Through this relationship, the reader is able to see the weaknesses rather than the strengths of men. Although the novel presents men as superior and faultless, it is their ability not to procreate (to be infertile) that exposes their weak side. This proves that the notion of men being superior with absolute power over women is false.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Women are the stronger characters as they are the ones who are able to procreate. Offred, as well as other handmaids, are taken from their lawful marriages to procreate for infertile kings (It is unheard of and illegal to declare men as sterile). The Commander is seen as sterile by his wife, Serena Joy, who arranges from Offred to sleep with her driver to give birth for the Commander. This experience also presents women as too willing and ready collaborators. Women’s Roles in â€Å"The Handmaid’s Tale† Society Women characters are also divided into two main groups: legitimate and illegitimate. The legitimate women are the wives, maids like Offred, Aunts, Marthas, and Econowives. The Aunts are seen as stumbling blocks to the freedom of the women. They, like the men, have the luxuries of reading and writing (Atwood 139) and are seen as part of the colony. In one of the most visible oppositions to the liberation of the woman, the aunts tell Offred to stop’ J une-ing’ too much: June means mayday liberations (Atwood 220). The handmaids in the house of the Commander also give the story from a biblical perspective in reference to some of the biblical figures who took maids to bear children for them when their wives could not. Literary Devices in the The Handmaid’s Tale The most effective tool for communication is the use of language. The author uses narrative techniques and vocabulary creatively as a tool for communication. The author uses modern language words and syntax construction, making the novel seem so deceptively easy to read. Language is used as a potent tool for communicating women’s aspirations for freedom as well as portray the colonial mentality of their men in these societies effectively. The choice of words in describing Offred sexual experiences with the Commander shows that the women are emotionally removed from the experience. It also portrays the ability of the woman to communicate their notion about sex, which is far from what men see it be. The author chooses words like copulations, rape, fucking, and making love to describe Offred’s perspectives of sex. These words also portray the author as having a modernistic approach to sex not just as an act of procreation but as a way to express love. Through the tone of language, the reader can see that a woman does not see sex as just an act but an expression of love, something devoid in this society (Atwood 94). The author’s choice of words like ‘unbabies’ reflects the fears that do exist amongst the women of this society. The author’s use of dialogue is also as effective as the choice of words. Various conversations have different effects. However, the most common outcome of the use of dialogues portrays women’s emotional connection regardless of their character. Offred’s prayer said in monologue reflects her fears as a woman, her loss self and of life, and her desire to gain it back (Atwood 286). Although the treacherous Ofglen is the opposite of Offred in character, their dialogue portrays them as sharing in the suffering that all women go through (Atwood 285). Furthermore, the telephone conversation that Moira and Offred have prepares the readers for what might occur the woman after the fall of the United States of America. It is also an indication that the woman had a premonition of what was to befall her after the establishment of the Republic of Gilead (Atwood 174). Conclusion Analysis of The Handmaid’s Tale shows that this is a story told about the future and the problems that might occur in the world due to technological advancement. As such, it is not necessarily a piece of science fiction but speculative fiction, a narration of probable things that might happen in the future. It also deviates from the mere   feminist propagandist genres as it has a complicated setting, characters, and themes. The Handmaid’s Tale essay proves that even t hough the novel is an exaggeration, it portrays the fact that women are still oppressed in the modern world. Thus, the tale is not far fetched, since even a male reader is able to identify with the oppressed women in both the novel and real life. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. New York: Anchor Books, 1986. Print. Brians, Paul. â€Å"Study Guide to Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid’s Tale (1986).† 1995.   Web. This essay on The Handmaid’s Tale was written and submitted by user Osvaldo Bullock to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

7 things nurses should never do in front of patients

7 things nurses should never do in front of patients Nursing is a job that does not just require a good deal of medical training- it also calls for a bedside manner that will put patients’ minds at ease in the most harrowing circumstances. Good nurses know what to do and say no matter what the situation. The very best nurses also know  what they should never, ever do under any circumstances. Read on to find out what types of behavior nursing veterans know to avoid. Never lose it.Okay, you’re having a lousy day. We all have them. But you must put your own personal problems aside when dealing with people who have concerns about their health. So you must always maintain self-control and never, ever lose it when interacting with even the most obnoxious patients. Be understanding when your patients get a bit short-tempered. Be patient with them, even when you feel like your patience is at its end. Never forget that it is your job to make people feel better.Never bad mouth staff members to patients.Patients always want to fee l like they are in expert hands. Once you start bad mouthing fellow staff members to patients, those patients will start doubting the expertise of the doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals responsible for taking care of them. It is both worrying to the patient and unprofessional.Never get too personal.Revealing too much about yourself can also undermine your professionalism. That’s why it is best to save personal conversations with your coworkers for break periods. Patients have their own concerns and do not want to hear your life story. You also do not want to get into your personal political or religious beliefs, because if they clash with a patient’s, that patient may become uncomfortable or even resist your care.Never miss a break.Nursing is a stressful job. You need to take a break from it every so often to refresh yourself. Therefore, you should never miss any of the breaks you are allotted during the day. If you work through your breaks, you will tire out faster and not perform your job to the best of your abilities.Never get too specific about when you’ll return.Nurses know that a new task is always waiting for them around every corner- there’s always a patient or colleague who requires their time. However, each patient only cares about the attention you will give to her or him. So, never get too specific about when you will return to provide that care. If you say, â€Å"I’ll be back in five minutes,† your patient will really expect you to be back in five minutes on the dot and not be too understanding if you get pulled away to help someone else.Never give false hope.Saying something like â€Å"You’re going to be just fine† may seem like the right thing to do when a patient is excessively concerned, but it might not be medically accurate. Never give easy answers or false hopes when it comes to someone’s health. Leave the diagnoses to the doctors. The same thing goes for how m uch a procedure will hurt. Everyone has different pain thresholds, and telling a patient that a shot â€Å"won’t hurt a bit† might give a sensitive one false hopes.Never act surprised.No patient wants to hear a nurse say, â€Å"I’ve never seen that before!† Surprised comments like that will make patients feel as though they’re suffering from some sort of rare, incurable condition. Act like you’ve seen it all before. It will help keep a patient’s mind at ease.

Maple Sap Collection and Syrup Production

Maple Sap Collection and Syrup Production Maple syrup is a natural forest food product and, for the most part, only produced in temperate North American woodlands. More specifically, the sugary sap is mostly collected from the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) which grows naturally in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Other maple species that can be tapped are red and Norway maple. Red maple sap tends to yield less sugar and early budding causes off flavors so its seldom used in commercial syrup operations. The basic process of sugar maple syrup production is fairly simple and has not dramatically changed over time. The tree is still tapped by boring using a hand brace and drill bit and plugged with a spout, called a spile. The sap flows into covered, tree-mounted containers or through a system of plastic tubing and is collected for processing. Converting maple sap into syrup requires removing water from the sap which concentrates the sugar into a syrup. The raw sap is boiled in pans or continuous feed evaporators where the liquid is reduced to a finished syrup of 66 to 67 percent sugar. It takes an average of 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of finished syrup. The Maple Sap Flow Process As do most trees in temperate climates, maple trees enter dormancy during winter and store food in the form of starches and sugar. As day temps start to rise in late winter, stored sugars move up the trunk to prepare for feeding the tree growth and budding process. Cold nights and warm days increase the flow of sap and this starts what is called the sap season. During warm periods when temperatures rise above freezing, pressure develops in the tree. This pressure causes the sap to flow out of the tree through a wound or tap hole. During cooler periods when temperatures fall below freezing, suction develops, drawing water into the tree. This replenishes the sap in the tree, allowing it to flow again during the next warm period. Forest Management for Maple Sap Production Unlike managing a forest for timber production, sugarbush (term for a stand of sap trees) management does not depend on maximum annual growth or growing straight defect-free timber at an optimum stocking level of trees per acre. Managing trees for maple sap production is focused on annual syrup yield on a site where optimal sap collection is supported by easy access, adequate numbers of sap-producing trees, and forgiving terrain. A sugarbush should be managed for quality sap producing trees and less attention is paid to tree form. Trees with crooks or moderate forking are of little concern if they produce a quality sap in adequate quantities. Terrain is important and has a major influence on sap flow. Southern facing slopes are warmer which encourages early sap production with longer daily flows. Adequate accessibility to a sugarbush decreases labor and transport costs and will enhance a syrup operation. Many tree owners have opted not to tap their trees in favor of selling sap or leasing their trees to syrup producers. There must be sufficient numbers of sap producing maples available with desirable access to each tree. We recommend you check with a regional sap producers association for buyers or renters and develop an appropriate contract. The Optimal Sugarbush Tree and Stand Size The best spacing for a commercial operation is about one tree in an area measuring 30 feet x 30 feet  or 50 to 60 mature trees per acre. A maple grower can start at a higher tree density but will need to thin the sugarbush to achieve a final density of 50-60 trees per acre. Trees 18 inches in diameter (DBH) or larger should be managed at 20 to 40 trees per acre. It is very important to remember that trees under 10 inches in diameter should not be tapped due to serious and permanent damage. Trees over this size should be tapped according to its diameter: 10 to 18 inches - one tap per tree, 20 to 24 inches - two taps per tree, 26 to 30 inches - three taps per tree. On average, one tap will yield 9 gallons of sap per season. A well-managed acre might have between 70 and 90 taps 600 to 800 gallons of sap 20 gallons of syrup. The Making of a Good Sugar Tree A good maple sugar tree usually has a large crown with significant leaf surface area. The greater the crowns leaf surface of a sugar maple, the greater is the sap flow along with increased sugar content. Trees with ​crowns more than 30 feet wide produce sap in optimum quantities and grow larger faster for increased tapping. A desirable sugar tree has a higher sugar content in the sap than others; they are typically sugar maples or black maples. It is very important to have good sugar producing maples, as an increase of 1 percent in sap sugar reduces processing costs up to 50%. The average New England sap sugar content for commercial operations is 2.5%. For an individual tree, the volume of sap produced during one season varies from 10 to 20 gallons per tap. This amount depends on a specific tree, weather conditions, sap season length, and collection efficiency. A single tree can have one, two, or three taps, depending on size as mentioned above. Tapping Your Maple Trees Tap maple trees in early spring when daytime temperatures go above freezing while nighttime temperatures fall below freezing. The exact date depends on the elevation and location of your trees and your region. This can be from mid to late February in Pennsylvania to mid-March in upper Maine and eastern Canada. Sap usually flows for 4 to 6 weeks or as long as the freezing nights and warm days continue. Taps should be drilled when temperatures are above freezing to reduce the risk of damage to the tree. Drill into the trunk of the tree in an area that contains sound sap wood (you should be seeing fresh yellow shavings). For trees with more than one tap (20 inches DBH plus), distribute the tapholes evenly around the circumference of the tree. Drill 2 to 2 1/2 inches into the tree at a slight upward angle to facilitate flow of sap from the hole. After making sure that the new taphole is free and clear of shavings, gently insert the spile with a light hammer and do not pound the spile in the taphole. The spile should be set properly to support a bucket or plastic container and its contents. Forcefully mounting the spile can split the bark which prevents healing and could cause a substantial wound on the tree. Do not treat the taphole with disinfectants or other materials at the time of tapping. You always remove spiles from the tapholes at the end of the maple season and should not plug the hole. Tapping done properly will allow tapholes to close and heal over naturally which will take about two years. This will ensure that the tree continues to remain healthy and productive for the remainder of its natural life. Plastic tubing can be used in place of buckets but can become a bit more complicated and you should consult a maple equipment a dealer, your local maple producer, or Cooperative Extension Office.

Nazism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nazism - Research Paper Example The acceptance of the German public of Hitler and his government though irrational, was not unexplainable. The horrific actions of the Third Reich are well documented. The end result of the Nazi’s evil ideologies included the occupation of most European nations and the ‘final solution,’ the annihilation of over six million Jews. During this the rise of Nazism, the ethnic and romantic ideals of ‘Blood and Fatherland’ gained impetus. According to this notion, German blood and the German fatherland were holy and those ethnic minorities within the country that did not belong to the German race were seen as contaminating German blood and tarnishing the German fatherland. This stream of thought brought to bear an enormous influence on the Nazi ideology, which viewed â€Å"the spilling of blood as part of a holy crusade† (Baigent, Leigh & Lincoln, 1991: 189). In his rise to power, Hitler garnered support by holding rallies but his oratories were hardl y credible or persuasive on an intellectual level. Usually, his speeches were predictable, repetitious and lacked substantive arguments. The influence of minds was spawned by the delivery of the speeches which possessed energy and a hypnotic, rhythmic pulse to them.

Final Exam essay on Paradise Lost Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Final Exam on Paradise Lost - Essay Example However, this degree of expansion, as one might predict, takes a bit of liberty with the original storyline that is developed within the first few chapters of Genesis. As a means of analyzing this differential, the following analysis will seek to engage the reader with a further explanation and discussion of the ways in which John Milton deviates from an understanding of biblical theology that is represented within Genesis 1. As such, rather than taking the entire point in seeking to categorize and differentiate the ways in which deviation occurs, the following analysis will be concentric upon book 7 lines 387 to 448. In such a way, and analysis and discussion of the fifth day of creation will be leveraged. Firstly, the corresponding Scripture that this particular passage in Milton’s book 7 references is Genesis 1 verses 20 through 22. As might be expected, the level of development and discussion that exists within the few verses is quite sustained and brief. Ultimately, Genes is 1 verses 20-22 merely denote that God created fish, sea life, and all birds, reptiles, and other winged creatures. Yet, with this in mind, an interesting oversight that John Milton evidently made within book 7 is with respect to the assumption that reptiles, at the very least snakes, could somehow be separated from other winged and flying creatures. Although this may seem as an obvious assumption, a further reading and interpretation of the Genesis story, made by many Biblical scholars to include Martin Luther, relates the fact that serpents were originally a creature of intense beauty that were only cursed to crawl on their belly after the deception that Satan perpetrated (Pelham 367). Within such an understanding, John Milton’s book 7 lines 388 through 389 denote something of a different understanding. Says Milton â€Å"reptile with spawn abundant, living soul: and let fowl fly above the earth, with wings† (Milton book VII 388-389). Although he comes short of outr ight saying it, the obvious assertion is that serpents and reptiles were separate from flying creatures and therefore need to be categorized in a different way. Whereas it is obviously true that such a reality existed for Milton within his own lifetime, a full and complete understanding of Genesis reveals a slightly different reality. A further element that is not discussed specifically within the Bible or within Milton’s â€Å"Paradise Lost† is with respect to an understanding and discussion of mutating creation. After the fall of man, within the biblical narrative, God instructed the earth to bring forth vessels and man to struggle with hard labor as a function of the rebellion that he had committed against God. By much the same token, the harmony that the animal kingdom had lived in was changed so that beast preyed upon beast and a type of mutating creation came to be in existence. Once again, Milton’s approach to this was merely to gloss over such a reality and exhibit creation from the perspective of being unchanged since God spake it into existence. Says Milton within lines 408 and 409, â€Å"moist nutriment; or under rocks their food/in jointed armor watch: on smooth the seal† (Milton Book VII 408-409). As such, a clear understanding of the fact that the fifth day of creation saw a time in which God created armor and scales or animals to protect themselves from predators is clearly denoted. However, a further understanding and analysis of the book of

Advertising and communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Advertising and communication - Essay Example According to modern view, marketing consists of sensing, stimulating, servicing and satisfying the needs and wants of present and potential customers in more effective and efficient manner than its competitors. The modern concept of marketing communication holds that the key task of organization is to determine the needs, wants and values of the customers and to adopt the organization to delivering the desired satisfaction more effectively and efficiently than its competitors. There are two key elements in this marketing communication concept.Competitiveness in business the world over is so acute that survival is possible for only those organizations, which are ready to employ every possible means to increase profit by reducing cost in production, while remaining uncompromising in quality and aggressive in marketing. The role of marketing communication in modern business practices has been identified as a key factor in survival in modern day business. As part of the search for busine ss effectiveness the entire process of marketing communication is being approached in a comprehensive and unified manner where by all activities of business communication functions in unison. This approach is called Integrated Marketing Communication. This is a relatively new concept in management. It is engineered to harness all aspects of marketing communication such as advertising, promotion of sales, public relation, and direct marketing in a highly focused manner eschewing the former tendency of these departments to function in isolation. The account of the phenomenon of Marketing Communication by Aaker, Batra and Myers (1992) constitutes a fair working explanation of the phenomenon: . . . advertising and sales promotions operate together in their impact on the consumer. When designed and run in tandem, they yield power synergies that magnify their individual effects. The ambiguity centered on the definition of IMC has created complexity in assessing the operational efficiency of the process. There are many levels of integration, which produces problems collectively as well as individually. The ideal execution of IMC calls for the sharing of the entire organization. Available Mix Of Advertisement And Communication Methods Advertising is a very complex business. To make the advertisement to go on with the changing time new advertising and modern promotional methods needs to be assessed and compared with traditional available methods. New innovative ideas and media methods uses are to be devised all the time, as the advertising industry switches emphasis from media to media, and as new modern lifestyle trends continuously to develop by new technologies. Traditional and modern view of Advertisement In 1980's and 1990's advertising agencies were commonly 'multi-services' agencies, and they divide their area of operations to handle the creative, production and media-buying processes. There was a huge trend towards junk mail or direct mail and many large consumer brands switched significant advertising spending into direct mail. For small local businesses TV was an increasingly attractive tool. Modern lifestyle and technology developments change the marketing communication and advertisement methods of companies. New method of advertising based on exploiting electronic communications and the 'word of mouth' instinct sometimes referred to as 'Viral marketing'. In today's world Internet advertising is more popular than radio advertising -

The Definition Of Methodology

The Definition Of Methodology The purpose of this chapter is to present the research methodology adopted in this study. It first outlines the philosophical assumptions underpinning this research, discussing the researchers constructivist approach. The next section defines the scope and rationale for the research design, and details of data analysis. It also provides an overview of the data collection methods used for this research. The chapter concludes by discussing issues of rigor and trustworthiness and ethical considerations. 3.1.1 Definition of Methodology According to Polit and Beck (2004) methodology refers to ways of obtaining, systematizing and analysing data. Creswell (2003) portrays methodology as a coherent group of methods that harmonize one another and that have the capability to fit to deliver data and findings that will reflect the research question and suits the researchers purpose. Bowling (2002) explains that methodology is the complete structure of the research study; the size and sample methods, the practices and techniques utilized to collect data and the process to analyse data. 3.2 Research Design Burns and Grove (2002) define a research design as a blueprint for conducting a study with maximum control over factors that may interfere with the validity of the findings. The overall purpose of this study is to contribute further to the role-definition process of the ambulance nurse in Malta. In order to reach the overall purpose of this study a qualitative exploratory descriptive design will be used to identify, analyse and describe factors related to the nature of interventions and care nurses deliver in the pre-hospital setting and to explore barriers and facilitating factors perceived by ambulance nurses that hinder or enhance PHC in Malta. 3.2.1 Research Philosophy The context in which research is carried out establishes were the researcher wants to go with the research and what is sought to be achieved. It is therefore imperative that the researcher is clear about the paradigm issues that guide and enlighten the research approach, as they are reflected in the methodology applied in the research and help place the research into a broader context (Thorpe Lowe, 2002). This research study is associated with the constructivism paradigm. Consequently, the researcher will discuss the ontology and epistemology in relation to this research. 3.2.1.1 Constructivism Constructivism seeks to undertake research in its natural setting; therefore, constructivism which is developed from the naturalistic philosophy disputes positivism and post-positivism views of knowledge and science (Appelton King, 2002). Thus, the aim of constructivism is to identify the diverse knowledge that people own, this is done by seeking to attain some consensus of meaning but at the same time remaining open to new explanations (Denzin Lincoln, 2003). Constructivist research, therefore, may identify a spectrum of diverse views and insights that would be overlooked within the narrow confines of conventional positivist inquiry. In view of these issues, constructivism is the most indicative research paradigm to use for this research as this philosophy will aid in exploring through description participants experiences, views and thoughts in a more humane way, by presenting ambulance nurses quotes and developing themes rather than presenting results in statistical form. 3.2.1.2 Ontology When considering a research paradigm, the researchers first requirement is to locate a position on the nature of reality (Appelton King, 2002). In the ontological theory, reality is subjective and multiple as seen by the participants in the study. Hence the researcher will use quotes and themes in words of the ambulance nurses to provide evidence on different perspectives. This is done by articulating, appreciating and making the research participants voices and concerns and practice visible. In the constructivism stance, the researcher is obliged to give a true picture of reality (Schwandt, 2001). Truth is achieved by seeking to comprehend the shared meaning and embedded meaning of both the participants and the researcher. This may be apprehended by building up a researcher-participant interaction in the natural environment rather than in a controlled environment (Denzin Lincoln, 2003). 3.2.1.3 Epistemology Conversely, in the epistemological assumption the aim of the researcher is to try and lessen the distance between what is being researched and oneself (Creswell, 2003). Within constructivism, the ontology and epistemology merge because the knower is inseparable from what may be known within the overall construct of a particular reality (Schwandt, 2001). The constructivist, ontological and epistemological positions have specific implications for me as a researcher wishing to explore these ambulance nursing issues. As a staff nurse working in another ambulance service, I acknowledge that my account of reality of PHC may serve to enhance the description of the phenomena under study. My role as a researcher is to be actively engaged with the research process. Therefore, an emic position is taken which allows me to build data, which is generated rather than collected. Within constructivism, the ontology and the epistemology approaches are interwoven and cannot be detached as with the positivist and post positivist paradigms (Appelton King, 2002). 3.2.1.4 Disadvantages of Constructivism Constructivism, whilst being an ideal paradigm for the inquiry may have its own limitations and it is central that the researcher takes these into consideration. A limitation of constructivism is that by trying to explain the phenomena, the researcher will be stuck in trying to give an infinite number of interpretations which may result in less explanatory power (Appelton King, 2002). Thus, working with the constructivism paradigm, the researcher is obliged to be conscious in seeking equilibrium between the contribution of informants and ones own to ensure an authentic account of the phenomena. Moreover, certain issues and steps in the methodology of this study were taken into consideration in order to avoid any pitfalls. 3.2.2 Qualitative Research Qualitative research refers to inductive, holistic, emic, subjective and process-oriented methods used to comprehend, interpret and describe a phenomena or setting. It is a systemic, subjective approach used to describe meaning (Burns Grove, 2003). Qualitative research is more associated with words, language and experiences rather than measurements, statistics and numerical figures. Researchers using qualitative research take a person centred and holistic perspective to understand the phenomenon, without focusing on specific concepts. The original context of the experience is unique, and rich knowledge and insight can be generated in depth to present a lively picture of participants reality and social context (Holloway, 2005). Regarding generation of knowledge, qualitative research is characterised as developmental and dynamic, and does not use formal structured instruments. In turn it involves the systemic collection and analysis of subjective narrative data in an organised and intuitive fashion to identify the characteristics and significance of human experience (Holloway, 2005). Qualitative researchers are concerned with the emic perspective to explore the ideas and perceptions of the participants. The researcher tries to examine the experience from the participants point of view in order to interpret their words. The researcher therefore becomes involved and immersed in the phenomena to become familiar with it. The immersion of the researcher helps to provide dense description from the narrative data gathered from the participants, to interpret and portray their experiences, and to generate a more comprehensive understanding. However, immersion cannot be obtained without a researcher-participant trusting relationship. The relationship is built through basic interviewing and interpersonal skills. In qualitative research, the researcher is required to be a good listener, non-judgemental, friendly, honest and flexible. Brink and Wood (1998) point out that the qualitative data collection methods are flexible and unstructured, capturing verbatim reports or obser vable characteristics and yield data that usually do not take numerical forms. 3.2.3 Qualitative Description Approach Within a qualitative framework, and an interpretive stance, this research is concerned with identifying and describing factors regarding the pre-hospital nursing care in Malta. For this study a qualitative descriptive research design will be used. Sandelowski (2000) points out that a qualitative descriptive study is seen as less interpretive than interpretive descriptive studies as they do not require researchers to move as far into their data. However, all inquiry entails description, and all description entails interpretation (Sandelowski, 2000). Although no description is free of interpretation, basic or fundamental qualitative description, as opposed to, for example, phenomenology or grounded theory description, it necessitates a kind of interpretation that is low inference, this low inference interpretation in qualitative descriptive studies entails the presentation of facts in an everyday language (Neergaard et al. 2009). 3.2.3.1 Design features of Descriptive Qualitative Research Qualitative descriptive design is a typical eclectic but reasonable design that well considers a combination of sampling, data collection, analysis, and re-presentational techniques (Neergaard et al. 2009). Sandelowski (2000) explains that qualitative description is especially amenable to obtain straight and largely unadorned answers to questions of special relevance to practitioners and policy makers. Neergaard et al. (2009) explicate that the qualitative descriptive design favours to use an interview guide somewhat more structured than other qualitative methods though it is still modified and transformed as themes emerge through analysis. They continue to explain that the strategy of content analysis is the most commonly used method of analysis in qualitative description (Neergaard et al. 2009). A straight descriptive summary is the likely outcome of qualitative descriptive studies, which should be organized in a way that best encloses the data collected (Sandelowski, 2000). 3.2.3.2 Strengths and Weaknesses of Descriptive Qualitative Research All research methods have their limitations, and qualitative description is often criticized for lacking of clearness and the lack of theory based approach (Giorgi. 1992). However, this criticism is only vindicated if qualitative description is used for the wrong principles. Neergaard et al. (2009) emphasize that qualitative description should be the method of choice when a description of a phenomena is wanted. Furthermore, qualitative description has been criticized for its lack of rigor and for being flawed, when it comes to judging its credibility. However, Milne and Oberlee (2005), converse about enhancing rigor in qualitative description by focusing on strategies such as authenticity, credibility, criticality and integrity. Qualitative description may be seen as too subjective because description is always attributed to the researchers perception, inclinations, sensitivities, and sensibilities (Sandelowski, 2000). In order to reduce this, the researcher must put an emphasis in m eeting the criteria of integrity and neutrality (Milne and Oberlee, 2005). Qualitative description may be seen as a functional method when the researcher intends to focus on describing experiences of patients, relatives and health care professionals and when the researcher wants to understand their views on patient-professional interaction and the organization of the health care system (Sandelowski, 2000). Strength of qualitative description is more evident in mixed method approaches and in studies which need to develop their own questionnaire. Neergaard et al. (2009) point out that qualitative description performed prior to the development of a questionnaire or an intervention can give very significant and useful information. Qualitative description has also be an appropriate qualitative method for small interview studies were one needs to gain preliminary insight into a particular topic (Neergaard et al. 2009). Sandelowski (2000) also highlights a great advantage of the method is that it is suitable if time or resources are limited. 3.2.3.1 Rational for choosing descriptive approach According to Burns and Grove (2003) descriptive research is designed to provide a picture of a situation as it naturally happens. It may also be used to justify current practices and identify factors that hinder or enhance practice as one gets a whole picture from the informants (Burns and Grove, 2003). Qualitative descriptive study is the method of choice when straight descriptions of a phenomena are desired, Sandelowski (2000) explains that qualitative description is especially useful for researchers wanting to know who, what and where of events. Qualitative description will be used in this study to describe and document the perceptions and experiences of what different skills are used while delivering PHC and when they are mostly used. The design will also be used to explore what facilitators and barriers are encountered when delivering PHC. 3.3 Population and Sample 3.3.1 Population Parahoo (2006) defines population as the total number of units from which data is collected, such as individuals, artefacts, events or organizations. Burns and Grove (2003) describe population as all the elements that meet the criteria for inclusion in a study. They continue to explain that the researcher must recognize a list of characteristics that requisite to be eligible part of the target population. The criteria for inclusion in this study were staff nurses who work in Accident and Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital, and have at least five years PHC experience. 3.3.2 Sample Polit and Beck (2004) define a sample as a proportion of a population The sample was chosen from the target population as defined in the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A carefully selected sample can offer data representative of the target population from which it is drawn. However, the aim of qualitative research is to raise insight into a phenomenon rather than assume representativeness. To reach the purpose of this study a purposive sampling technique will be used. Bowling (2002) explains that a purposeful sample is a deliberate and non random method, which aims to sample a group of people with a specific characteristic. The main characteristic of the selected participants in this study is being knowledgeable about the topic, because of their involvement and experience in PHC. Sandelowski (2000) explains that purposive sampling is a preferred method when using qualitative description as it is deemed information rich. 3.3.3 Sampling process The sampling process for this study was carried out in two phases, purposeful sampling for the interviews and a random selection from a group of purposeful selected participants. 3.3.3.1 Phase 1 For the first phase of data collection eight nurses were purposely selected for semi-structured interviews. Purposeful sampling methods were used based on the nurses who have special training in pre-hospital and are considered more experts in the field. This non-probability sampling technique was used since the researcher wanted to get a more in depth description of the pre-hospital nursing care offered. The researcher informed the nursing officer to distribute an invitation letter to the selected participants and those that agree to participate in the study were given a consent form. 3.3.3.2 Phase 2 The sample for second phase where the focus group was carried out was selected randomly from purposefully selected nurses who satisfied the selection criteria (5 years experience in the ambulance service), since the aim of the focus group is to identifying specific issues commonly related to nursing care in the pre-hospital setting. Ten to twelve nurses were randomly selected by the nursing officer who presented them an invitation letter with information about the study. Those who accept the invitation were asked to consent their participation in the focus group by filling out a consent form after having had their queries addressed by the researcher. 3.4 Data Collection Qualitative data collection is the precise, systemic gathering of information relevant to the research problem, using methods such as interviews, participant observations, focus group discussions, narratives and case histories (Burns and Grove, 2003). Data collection techniques in qualitative description usually include minimal to moderate structured interviews and focus group interviews (Neergaard et al. 2009). 3.4.1 Methods of Data Collection Data was collected in two phases. Phase one included data collection by means of semi-structured interviews, were the researcher interviewed nurses who are experts in the field and by the way of their clinical experience and having received specialized training in PHC. Phase two included a focus group which had the aim of identifying specific issues, and add quality to the data obtained from the interviews. The data will be presented and discussed in the results and discussion chapters respectively. 3.4.1.1 Semi Structured Interviews According to Kvale (1996), using a qualitative interview offers the researcher an opening to understand the phenomena under study from the perspective of the interviewee. In this study face to face semi-structured interviews were deemed appropriate as this method is particularly efficient in collecting data which involves opinions and perceptions. Polit and Beck (2004) converse that when performing semi structured interviews the researcher has to prepare in advance a written topic guide, which is a list questions to be covered by the respondents (Appendix 2). The interviewers function is to encourage participants to talk freely about all topics on the list, and to provide as much detail as they wish, and offer illustrations and explanations (Polit and Beck, 2004). 3.4.1.2 Advantages of interviews Among the main advantages of semi structured interviews there are the benefits of conversation that is carried out between the researcher and the informant. However, the conversations are purposeful ones that require advance thought and preparation, so the researcher must not enter into them casually. These face to face interviews can probe fully for responses and clarify ambiguities. Bowling (2002) points out advantages of interviews are that one can check misinterpretations and inconsistencies, and that interviews can provide rich quotable material which enlivens research reports. Kvale (1996), also find interviews beneficial to the participants as they can freely communicate their perceptions and experiences to the researcher. 3.4.1.3 Disadvantages of interviews Nevertheless, despite the many advantages of interviews, there are some limitations for this method of data collection, mainly the fact that interviews can be expensive and time consuming, and there is the potential of interview bias. According to Bowling (2002) techniques for reducing interview bias include good interview training and managing to establish rapport with the participants by putting them at ease, and appearing non-judgmental. 3.4.1.4 Focus Group interviews Another method of data collection used in this study is a focus group interview. Neergaard et al. (2009) recommend the use of focus groups when using qualitative description as focus group interviews seem pertinent to get a broad insight into a subject. According to Parahoo (2006), a focus group discussion is an interaction between one or more researchers and more than one participant for the purpose of collecting data. Holloway (2005) states that in focus group discussion researchers interview participants with common characteristics or experiences for the purpose of eliciting ideas, thoughts and perceptions about a specific topic or certain issues linked to the area of interest. Therefore, in this study the researcher will carry out a focus group discussion with the nurses who deliver PHC, based on findings from previous face to face interviews to elicit discussion on the objectives of the study. 3.4.1.5 Advantages of focus group interviews Focus group discussions have several advantages in obtaining qualitative data. Contrary to face to face interviews, focus group meetings are cheaper, and are quicker in obtaining valuable data (Parahoo, 2006). Bowling (2002) points out that one of the main strengths of focus group meetings is that it makes use of group dynamics which stimulates group discussion to gain insight and generate ideas in order to pursue a topic in greater depth. Parahoo (2006) also points out that participants are provided with an opportunity to reflect and react to the opinion of others with which they may disagree or of which they are unaware. Holloway (2005) also finds focus groups advantageous as they give the opportunity to the participants and researcher to ask questions and informants can build answers on others responses. 3.4.1.5 Disadvantages of focus group interviews Nonetheless, Holloway (2005) also highlights limitations of a focus group as the researcher may find difficulties in managing debate and controlling the process. A disadvantage in focus group discussion may also be due to some participants being introvert while others may dominate the discussion and influence the outcome, or perhaps even introduce bias (Holloway, 2005). Therefore, the researcher must create a good climate to stimulate all informants to participate and keep a balance between participants. Another disadvantage when using a focus group to collect data is the fact that recordings can present problems. Parahoo (2006) stress that taking notes during focus group discussions is not feasible since many people may me talking at the same time. They also point out that tape recordings may only record those that are nearer to the recording making transcription a problem. 3.5 Data Analysis Data analysis is a mechanism for reducing and organising data to produce findings that require interpretation by the researcher (Burns and Grove 2003). Field and Morse (1996) points out that data analysis can be a challenging and creative process characterized by an intimate relationship of the researcher with the participants and the data gathered. 3.5.1 The researchers role in data analysis As researcher reflexivity, bracketing and intuiting were used to lay aside preconceptions regarding the phenomenon being studied and also carried out data analysis simultaneously with data collection. The intellectual process identified by Field and Morse (1996) were followed during data analysis. These comprise of comprehension, synthesising, and theorising. The researcher synthesises the data by putting the pieces together which will enable the researcher to comprehend what is actually going on, then the researcher can prepare a detailed description of the phenomenon under study and give explanations and determine correlation with data gathered (Field and Morse 1996). 3.5.2 Content Analysis Qualitative content analysis is the analysis strategy of choice in qualitative descriptive studies (Sandelowski 2000). Qualitative content analysis is a dynamic form of analysis of verbal and visual data that is oriented towards summarizing the informational content of the data (Polit and Beck 2004). Bowling (2002) explains that with content analysis, the key themes and concepts are identified in the transcripts, and are categorised. Sandelowski (2000) explains that qualitative content analysis is a reflective and interactive process, were the researcher continuously modify their treatment of data to accommodate new data and new insights about the data gathered. Content analysis was carried out for the analysis of data from both face to face interviews and focus group discussion. 3.6 Robustness of Study Critiques of qualitative research may argue that it is impossible to ensure a positivist approach of validity and reliability in qualitative work; however, naturalistic researchers have adopted other measures to ensure rigour and trustworthiness of the qualitative study (Shenton, 2004; Silverman, 2001). In order to pursuit a rigours and trustworthy study, the constructs proposed by Lincoln and Guba (1985), will be followed. These four constructs consist of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. 3.6.1 Establishing Rigor and Trustworthiness A research studies is trustworthy when it reflects the reality and ideas of the participants. Lincoln and Guba, (1985) add that trustworthiness of research depends on the extent to which it delves into participants experiences apart from their theoretical knowledge. In this study trustworthiness was guaranteed by the researcher by putting aside preconceived ideas about the phenomenon under study and returned to the informants to ascertain that the description was a true reflection of their opinions and perceptions. According to Polit and Beck (2004) credibility is similar to internal validity in quantitative research. Adopting a well established research method is one measure that can confirm credibility and ensure internal validity of the study. Bowling (2002) recognises the importance of incorporating correct operational measures for the concepts being studied. Therefore, importance was given so that the most adaptable methodology and methods used were suitable for this study. A thick description of the phenomenon under scrutiny was conveyed in detail so the actual situation that was investigated is understood. Lincoln and Guba (1985), stress the close ties between credibility and dependability, arguing that, in practice, a demonstration of the former goes some distance in ensuring the later. Without this detailed description it will be difficult for the reader of the final account to determine the extent of credibility and dependability. Another measure to ensure credibility is that the researcher shows familiarity with the culture of the participating organisation. Since the researcher works in a similar setting and was previously employed in the department which is being studied, gives the researcher a good understanding of the culture of the participants. However, the researcher must give special attention so that professional judgements are not influenced and must acknowledge this in order to reduce researcher bias. According to Shenton (2004), random sampling is also a great way to guarantee credibility and can help to reduce the researchers bias. However, random sampling in qualitative research may not always be possible. In this study a purposive selection technique was used to give the researcher control in choosing participants with different levels of experience. Even though a purposive selection was carried out, participants had the right to withdraw from the study and they were not required to disclose an explanation. Besides being ethically correct this ensured that participants were genially willing to take part in the study and that they were prepared to offer data freely giving more credibility to the study. Lincoln and Guba (1985) consider member checks, peer scrutiny and debriefing sessions important provisions that can be made to bolster a studys credibility and reliability. The researcher checked data during collection and perform dialogues with participants. Informants were also asked to read transcripts in which they have participated for verification. The researcher carried out debriefing sessions with supervisors and was open to peer scrutiny, in order to help identify the development of new ideas and interpretations which may assist the researcher to refine the research methods and strengthen arguments brought up from data collected. These meetings also helped the researcher recognise any biases. Transferability is related to the external validity of the research project. Since qualitative assignments are specific to a small number of particular environments and individuals, it is practically impossible to demonstrate that findings are applicable to other situations (Shenton, 2004). However, in order to offer transferability of findings the researcher ensured that sufficient contextual information about the phenomenon under investigation was provided to allow readers to have a proper understanding of it. 3.7 Ethical Considerations Research has many ethical implications and participants rights, such as the right to refuse to participate to the study, right to refuse to answer certain questions, the right for confidentiality and the right for informed consent, which should at all time take precedence over research objectives (Parahoo, 2006). Therefore, throughout all the stages of research process, it was ensured that ethical principles were maintained so participants were safe guarded against harm. Participants had the right to choose not to participate and similarly the right to withdraw at any point. In this regard, participants were informed of the study in writing and were asked for their consent to participate to both the face to face interviews and the focus group. The consent letters were distributed to the nursing officer who was instructed to pass these on to the selected nurses. In the consent letter, participants were informed about the confidentiality of their responses and also that some of the responses might be quoted to add value to the presentation of results and discussion in the study. However, they were also ensured that measures were taken so that no individual respondent was identified. After completion of the study all data collected and recordings of interviews and the focus groups will be destroyed. Gathering of all relevant permission from the hospital authorities, Data Protection Officer and University Research Ethics Committee of the University of Malta to carry out this research study were sought. (Appendix)

“Social Construction of Reality”

â€Å"Social Construction of Reality† Reality is not an objective thing that is imposed upon us, but is created by us. Reality does not exist externally but internally, as each individual or group interprets it, and is always changing. Due to these concepts sociologists often speak about the â€Å"social construction of reality† which is essential to understand when attempting to explain human social behavior. Since realty is the basis of people’s actions, W. I. Thomas states, â€Å"If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences†.The â€Å"social construction of reality†, human social behavior and W. I. Thomas’s statement are three concepts that fit hand in hand and are important when trying to explain one another. Sociologists speak about the â€Å"social construction of reality† as a way to describe the significance of how society shapes our definition of reality. People coming together to build reality and define something as real because we define it as real. As sociologists explain the social construction of reality they have observed that each society or the social groups that each person belongs to forms ones particular views on life.Our â€Å"social construction of reality† constructs our views of how we see the world around us therefore affecting how we see reality and why we do the things we do. People construct reality using the five senses: sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste. For example, when taking a table into consideration, one does not react to the concrete object but the meaning we give it. If this same table were to fall out of the sky, land in a jungle and tribe people were to stumble across it they most likely would not use it in the same context but maybe as a bed or a sacrificial altar.The â€Å"social construction of reality† not only applies to inanimate objects but to relationships and the basis of how someone treats someone else, such as symbo lic interactionism (Essentials of Sociology, pg. 15). Symbolic interactionism such as we attach meaning to things and this is how everyone understands similar views in the world and how we communicate with one another. This is evident when one dissects the idea of the enslavement of Africans, known as the â€Å"white mans burden†. Whites defined blacks as less than human, savages or creatures that could not survive off of their own minimal cognitive reasoning.This understanding was the basis of slavery. Another example is the idea of marriage and divorce, and how the institution is ever changing. Up until the early 1900’s marriage was viewed as a lifelong commitment, divorce was â€Å"taboo† and shunned as being immoral and the abandonment of adult responsibility. In 1945 sociologists Ernest Burgess and Harvey Locke noted that couples were looking at marriage as less of a lifelong commitment and more of an arrangement that was based on attraction and feelings, i t became a situation that could be broken when feelings changed.Divorce became more common and was defined more positive as freedom and new beginnings (Essentials of Sociology, pg. 16). An example of another â€Å"reality† is how from person to person there is no true definition of success. The letter grade â€Å"B† brings on different emotions depending on the individual. One student would jump for joy to pass with the â€Å"B† while others would be sad, even cry. In actuality â€Å"B† is just a shape, a letter of the English alphabet, given on paper but what the person defines it as gives it meaning to their reality, and then forget about the â€Å"+† or â€Å"-â€Å" given accompanied with the letter grade.Our social construction of reality defines our behavior and how we respond to the meaning that we give these situations or objects. Human social behavior is what is based off of once a reality is socially constructed. This is why it is so im portant to first understand the concept of the â€Å"social construction of reality† before trying to explain why people act the way they do. Because this object with four legs attached to a flat surface is defined as a â€Å"table† one uses it to eat on or sit at and not other things such as sleep on.If an individual were to use it as something else they would be looked at as being weird because they are not doing what is socially accepted or viewed as â€Å"breaking the rules†. The concept of ethnocentrism is where a group of people tries to change another group of people to make them like them so they can â€Å"save† them for their own good. This is done because according to their social construction of reality however the opposing group behaves is â€Å"wrong†. This can be seen throughout history for example the crusades, as stated before the â€Å"white mans burden† in Africa, and the war in Iraq.During the days of slavery, treating a b lack individual maliciously was socially accepted because of the way reality was constructed. The changing attitudes toward marriage and divorce are evident when one looks at the trends. Marriage is not viewed the same as it was 100 years ago; it is not necessary to be married forming a family by age 15. This concept of social construction of reality also explains why patterns form and how people can develop similar behavior without having to know each other.On the streets of New York good sidewalk etiquette is defined as passing another person on the right, walking far enough not to brush the other person ,if one can help it, and ensuring not to look at the person when walking by. However, when any of these rules are broken it makes the other individual uneasy or even angry. But these unwritten rules aren’t necessarily the same in different parts of the world, for example in London it is socially correct that if you are walking towards and passing someone else that you part ways on the left side.Other areas where unwritten rules exist are in elevators, such as where and how to stand, and also seen in face-to-face conversations, such as eye contact and distance something known as â€Å"personal space†. Ones views for what is right from wrong also comes from the foundation on what one defines as real. W. I. Thomas’s quote, â€Å"If men define a situation as real, its real in its consequences† correlates directly to the idea that human social behavior is based off of the â€Å"social construction of reality†.Thomas is analyzing that reality is a social product that is construed by whatever we define as real. Humans do what they do and react solely by the meaning we give things and not the things in and of itself. This is why money, gold and diamonds are â€Å"valuable†. Money is simply made of paper but because it is defined as currency we make it out to be very valuable. To better understand this notion one can take not e of our system of crime and punishment, which is based off of W. I. Thomas’s thoughts.When the jury makes a decision, they are deciding on what they perceive as reality. They do not know exactly what happened but from witnesses and evidence they make this judgment. W. I. Thomas’s idea is significant in the study of human social behavior because it further proves that human actions are based off of the reality that something is true. This is why what is defined as â€Å"normal† varies from culture to culture and the decided meaning to an object or action is arbitrary. The â€Å"social construction of reality†, human social behavior and W.I. Thomas’s quote, â€Å"If men define a situation as real, it is real in its consequences† are concepts that compliment one another. To be able to understand fully, one must be able to comprehend all concepts. When sociologists speak about the â€Å"social construction of reality† through the groups that we belong to we learn ways of looking at whatever happens to us and what we see because through social interaction is how we construct reality and from that point on is how we behave and respond.It’s not a question of which came first the chicken or the egg, because in the eyes of sociologists human social behavior is caused by the â€Å"social construction or reality† and W. I. Thomas’s statement is an abridgment of these concepts explaining men’s definitions of situations given the meaning of what is what or who is who. It doesn’t matter what is real or not, what does exist or not exist, because we give meaning or â€Å"consequences† to this reality that has been portrayed and instilled in our minds. References Henslin, J. M. 2011. Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach-9th edition. Pearson. Social Construction of Reality The â€Å"Social Construction of Reality† is a work of hypothetical reasoning to the redefine the task and to broaden its range to understand the redefining of sociological knowledge. Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann both argue that reality is socially constructed by the knowledge of the people for social reality is produced and communicated amongst others. They emphasize on the fact that human is a part of a product of society and vice versa: society is a product of human. Berger and Luckmann follow the Schutz’s concept of viewing the reality of everyday life as an â€Å"intersubjective world†- a world shared with many others.Berger and Luckmann begin with emphasizing strongly on the multiple interpretations of â€Å"reality† amongst the â€Å"intersubjective world† they share. They argue the meanings that we, as human, interpret from the messages and what we situate ourselves in, is affected by our knowledge, our surroundings and our interactio ns. And what we interpret corresponds with others’ interpretations. It’s a constant, ongoing paralleling conflict/agreement between your individual meaning and others’ meaning of a message. Berger accentuates that we take the â€Å"reality of everyday life for granted as reality. I felt in the way that he was criticizing humans for being ignorant and close minded to what more the world can offer and only focusing on the views of our individual society. Human only seek to understand our individual knowledge of a subject, hence that I mentioned before in my interpretations, that our society is constructed by knowledge. I then concluded that Berger was arguing on the concept that we, as humans, are de-humanizing ourselves through our view of society. He gives off an example, which I completely agree with, to further emphasize on how humans can become oblivious to the world that is outside OUR individual world.He speaks of a case, where an automobile mechanic who k nows of only American cars is put in a situation where a customer brings in a Volkswagen-a foreign-made car. Now this mechanic is required to enter the â€Å"problematic† world of foreign cars with curiosity to lead, or makes the choice to not leave his â€Å"everyday reality. † We, as humans (depending on the individual’s personality) become cautious when the problematic world is presented to us. Whether the society involves humans to be risk taker, no human would leave their world of comfort and sanity to join and explore something completely different from the world they are familiarizing with.After hours of re-reading this excerpt, I finally got an idea or at least a gist of what Bergen and Luckmann argues. I then related their argument to past historical events or events that we deal and struggle with today. I related this excerpt to the struggle that women endured in the mid 1800’s. Many, more in general, men, didn’t recognize women were huma n with rights according to the governmental documentations. Men saw women as property, especially if they were married. Women were stripped off their rights when married and were considered delicate and weak.Women possess the knowledge that they were equal to men; they knew that the society there were stuck in was incorrect. So they, as â€Å"delicate and weak† beings took the chance to explore their own â€Å"problematic† world. And that lead to a movement, a strong revolution consisting of women fighting for their rights. And the ignorance in this situation is presented through the share of the men’s interpretation of what a woman is and the purpose they are to be serving in society. As Berger argues that we take our reality of everyday for granted, I agreed.In today’s society, it becomes clear that certain women belittle themselves for men. In today’s society, women don’t realize how grateful we are to be able to a complete true citizen. From sending nudes and selling their body, it puts a strong movement that was revolutionizing in the19th century to waste. Women become close minded, exactly as Berger and Luckmann argued, and only see for their individual society. That’s why we need to vote; at least to appreciate that the rights we now possessed were fought for, for us to be equal.