Energy and Power Essay -- Natural Resources

Energy and Power Although I am surrounded by energy and power, I never really knew just how much they mean to the world. However, after learning about the fundamentals of energy, I have a much deeper understanding of their magnitude. In this paper, I will reflect back on what I have learned about energy, and how it has affected me personally. For instance, I know now that the power I am using to sit here and type is roughly equivalent to the power used by an incandescent light bulb, but that is only the beginning. Energy is all around us, but to create power, we need to harness it. I never thought about the fact that everything on earth has some type of energy, and until this course I never even knew the six different types. Now, I can make the connection between two types of energy, and know that fire requires a transition between chemical and thermal energy. Now I am able to understand that even natural processes, like photosynthesis, require multiple types of energy, and it has allowed me to think about energy on a much higher level than I used to. For instance, the fact that I know the First Law of Thermodynamics and would be able to hold an intelligent conversation about the subject has given me the type of confidence a Harvard graduate acquires upon being handed their diploma. Now, beginning to learn about coal has awakened a new curiosity in me, as this source of energy is a large part of my family’s history. I am amazed by the things I have learned so f...

Great Expectations Study Guide

Throughout these early scenes it Is clear that there Is a feeling of evil pervading. The evil comes not so much from Magnetic or even the Terrible young man' that PIP so fears as a young lad, but rather the presence of the gibbet and the nearby reference to the ‘hulks that appear â€Å"like a wicked Nosh's Ark. † It is a symbol of evil that is presently at hand as well as foreshadowing future ills. In this chapter we can see that the presence of the soldiers makes Pip ill at ease because of the guilt that he eels at aiding and abetting the escapees.He fears that they will tell of his collusion if they are captured. We know that it is their own quarrel that brings their escape to grief. We are told that they came from different class groups. The fierce young man is supposedly a ‘gentleman. ‘ This brings into doubt the definition of this term. This is important as Dickens Is most concerned in his work with defining the class groups and In fact the true definiti on of a gentleman. The evil of the convicts is contrasted with the sympathy that both Pip and Joe feel for them.Joe Is particularly selfless In is forgiveness towards Magnetic upon his admission of stealing from their household. PIP on the other hand allows this deception to pass as It favors his position. â€Å"l was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong. † His guilt is intense and this isn't lessened by the forces around him that would condemn him and subdue him prejudicially for being young, fatherless and vulnerable. These forces ironically seem to come from his own parish and family.Joe, who is ironically not blood related is the one that he ants to impress the most and tone who he fears alienating by telling the truth. The irony is that Joe has already displayed tangible signs of being able to forgive anybody for anything on humanitarian grounds e. G. Magnetic. Magnetic himself has done a noble act In his confession. This Is In contact to Pip's cowardly secrecy. Chapter 7 Pip lacks education. This is remedied by Pip's being sent to Mr†¦ Whoopee's great aunt. Unfortunately she tends to sleep through these lessons. Fortunately, though, Pip learns to read through the assistance of Biddy, the granddaughter of this lady.Pip, who is apprenticed toes displays a very disturbing quality during this chapter that is to affect his development and the responder's opinion of him, that being snobbery. He ostentatiously offers to tutor Joe who is illiterate, but changes when Joe tells his story of how he met Mrs.. Joe and how he had cared for Pip. Joe goes further to show his magnanimous affection for all humanity as well as Pip: â€Å"l wish there warrant no Tickler for you, old chap; I wish I could take It all on myself,† He also looks at the frost on the marshes and pities all those that might be caught up In It.Pip Is Invited through Uncle Bumblebee's to visit a rich and grim lady who lived in a large and dismal house, MISS Having looms large as life at the end of this chapter. Pip breakfast for his uncle before heading to Stats house. ‘Stats' refers symbolically to the irony of being satisfied. In contrast to the name of this Manor House there is nothing that is satisfied. When Pip arrives he is greeted by a young girl who comes across the courtyard to give Pip entry and usher him through the grim house by candlelight.Her name is Estella and she seems like a shining star to Pip although ironically her spurning of Pip seems to remove much of her luster to the responder. When we are introduced to Miss Having she appears as a weird and shrunken lady who seems surreal and almost lifeless. Her watch and the clock remain at twenty minutes to nine. This is the time that her life stopped and she began to decay metaphorically and literally. She tells Pip that her heart is broken and then orders him to play. Pip is unable to satisfy this request until Estel la is ushered in once more to play cards with him. Miss Having sits acropolises during this before dismissingPip and ordering him to return in six days. He is ushered out and given something to eat before experiencing an hallucination of Miss Having being hung. He walks home with his mind buzzing with the contempt that Estella had for him. Chapter 9 This chapter finds Pip being ‘grilled' by the negative forces at home, Uncle Bumblebee's and Mrs.. Joe. He prefers to lie being embarrassed about his treatment at Stats house. He eventually owns up to his lies to Joe at the forge that night but is haunted by the fact that Estella found him coarse because of his hands and boots. He wishes that he wasn't coarse.Joe tells him that: â€Å"If you can't get to be uncommon through going straight, you'll never get to do it through going crooked. † Pip thinks about Joey's wisdom as he is going to sleep that night, however, he can't help thinking that Estella would consider Joe common and his boots thick and his hands course. It would seem that this first visit to Stats House has infected Pip psychologically and he is experiencing quite a deal of disquiet. Ironically it is his childhood innocence that has been lost. After visiting Stats house and gaining a glimpse of a more privileged lifestyle he will himself never be satisfied again.This creates a prelude to his expectations. Chapter 10 Pip is obsessed now with improving himself, presumed to make himself more acceptable to Estella and Miss Having. He asks Biddy to privately tutor him in addition to the classes that he was getting at Mr†¦ Whoopee's great aunt's school. The disquiet that Pip is increasingly feeling and that was first heralded by his hallucination of Miss Having hanging is now seen further in his dreams. This follows when he sees Mr†¦ Hopple at the public house tailing to a mysterious stranger who is stirring his rum and water with a file. It is Joey's file.Pip is further haunted by nig htmares about the convicts and the file. Most importantly he is concerned that having such secret associations with criminals might be perceived as being ‘common' and therefore unpalatable to Estella. Chapter 1 1 wonders why he doesn't cry when she slaps him. This hardens him against emotion and this suggests also what Miss Hafnium's design was in this relationship. Another foreshadowed event occurs as he enters when he encounters a strange man of dark complexion. Pip returns to Stats house on the appointed day to find that Miss Having is being visited by fawning relatives.It seems as if the responder is strangely and unexpectedly given an emotional empathy for Miss Having. We feel for this character because she is Jilted and because we know that the relatives that are fawning after her have only her inheritance in mind. The relatives are Raymond, the henpecked husband; Camilla the hypocrite; Miss Sarah Pocket the fawning woman and Georgian the quiet but slippery woman. When t hey have gone Pip is asked to play again but refuses and agrees instead to work. He is forced to walk Miss Having around the table where she tells Pip that she will one day be placed when she is dead.The Juxtaposition of this frank request and the fawning relatives brings death to the fore. Miss Having also places expensive Jewelry on Estella breasts and hair to suggest her beauty and suggested inheritance. This is to tease and taunt Pip in a way starting the process of gaining revenge on mankind through her ward Estella. The notion of Juxtaposing two different classes is also part of this process. Pip is taken outside to be greeted by a pale young gentleman who wanted to fight Pip. Pip betters him and is rewarded with a mocking kiss by Estella. Chapter 14 Pip is totally miserable in this chapter.His discontent has reached apparently unbearable levels. This content is highlighted by the Juxtaposition of the good- natured Joe. His only solace is in that he hasn't shown Joe how he fee ls about him. Nonetheless it is a point of further pain as he realizes the extent of his character flaw as it contrasts with Joe: â€Å"l know right well that any good that intermixed itself with my apprenticeship came of plain contented Joe. † This heightens his cognitive dissonance. He feels guilt and shame at being ashamed and dissatisfied with things surrounding such and amiable character as Joe. He fears that Estella and MissHaving may visit and see him in his grimiest state. He is fully aware of the level of shame that he feels about Joe and his apprenticeship as a blacksmith. Pip feels that all hope for him has been lost. It is not incidental that this has come as a direct result of his visit to Stats House. His depression is evident in his thoughts made evident in this chapter: â€Å"l have felt for a time as if a thick curtain had fallen on all its interest and romance, to shut me out from anything save dull endurance†¦ † Chapter 15 The cognitive dissonan ce or guilt that Pip felt last chapter reaches its zenith in this chapter.He is the focal point of a fight between Joe and an itinerant worker (journeyman') named Rollick. Pip decided that he would like to visit Miss Having to thank her for organizing his apprenticeship as it was the anniversary of the establishment of the same. He asked Joe for a half day off so that he could visit Stats this leads to Mrs.. Joe arguing with Rollick and then Joe feeling that he had to defend his wife, the resulting fight leads to Joe defeating Rollick. They later make up over a pint but Pip's guilt about this incident is enduring. He visits Stats House but is greeted by Miss Sarah Pocket instead of Estella.Estella is overseas to become a lady. This leads to further dissatisfaction in Pip. Mr†¦ Hopple meets Pip and leads him to Uncle Puncheons place to see a play by a young George Lillo. The play is about an apprentice who murdered his Uncle. This adds further guilt as Pip feels that this is all aimed at him because he is an apprentice. It is as if the adults surrounding him feel that he will amount to no good. On the way home they walk with Rollick before reaching the village and finding that something is wrong at the Gagger house. Pip runs home to find out that his sister has been struck on the back of the head.Chapter 16 The theme of guilt continues in this chapter as Pip thinks that he may be somehow responsible. He fears one of two sources of this crime both that would somehow be his responsibility. It could have been Rollick, in which his asking for a day off may have indirectly be responsible; or the strange young man with the file in which it would have been his fault because of his association with convicts. Meanwhile Mrs.. Joe lies unconscious and then speech impaired. She continually asks for Rollick and designs a â€Å"T† that seems to point at the assailant.Biddy comes to live with them to help nurse Mrs†¦ Joe in the light of the death of Whoopee's aunt's death. Chapter 17 Pip's life has become routine except for his annual visit to Stats House on his birthday, at which time he is given a Guiana. Each visit makes him further dissatisfied with his lot in life. After one visit he takes Biddy walking on the marshes, where all bad things happen. He is oblivious to the fact that Biddy might love him even though he does see that she is attractive on one level. He thinks that he is better than her and acts in a patronizing manner towards her.He apparently cannot get the specter of Estella out of his mind†¦ If I could only get myself to fall in love with you†¦ † This reveals how self absorbed he is as he cannot appreciate her affection for him or even her feelings. The tragedy of this scene is that his soul-mate is in front of him and he is crippled from recognizing this. On the way home Rollick confronts them but Pip dismisses him. Biddy suggests that she is uncomfortable with Rollicks manner as she fears that he lik es her. Pip wishes to get him dismissed but his new relationship with Mrs†¦ Joe prevents this action.Chapter 18 In the fourth year of his apprenticeship Pip goes with Hopple to the Three Jolly Bargeman where Hopple reads out an account of a local murder. Those around him believe the man to be guilty. A stranger chimes in asserting everyman right to be man that he met on the steps of Stats House all those years ago. Pip learns that he has ‘great expectations' from an unknown benefactor. He is to retain his name as Pip; he is to be educated and he must not seek to know his benefactor. Ironically he is more morose than ever and is sad and lonely. His emotions do not move further away than himself.He cannot fathom what Joe and Biddy might be feeling at his departure. He is to be educated by Mr†¦ Matthew Pocket, Miss Pocket's relation. This to the responder as well as to Pip seems to link this lady to his expectations. It seems unlikely that it could be anyone else respon sible. Whilst Pip counts the days down to his departure, Biddy and Joe feel the opposite about the passing of this time. Chapter 19 Pip feels satisfied and free as Joe and he burn his indenture papers. After church he goes to the marshes again and thinks condescendingly about his village and feels superior to everyone.He thinks that he would do something for the village once he has made his mark. He recalls his first meeting with the convicts on the marshes. Pip's negativity and superiority ironically has him wishing ill to these convicts that had frightened him all those years ago. Pip hopes that the convict is transported or perhaps dead. He presumes that the benefactor is Miss Having and wonders whether part of the plan for himself involves Estella. This misapprehension is encouraged by her when she says: â€Å"Goodbye Pip – you will always keep the name of Pip you know. This of course echoes the instructions given to him by Jaegers from his benefactor. This combined with the fact that Jaegers was associated with Miss Having seems to be too much of a coincidence for him and the responder. Pip snoozes only to wake to find Joe smoking next to him. Again he acts in a superior condescending manner towards him. We notice the sycophants come out of the woodwork at this point of the novel. Mr.. Tract spurns Pip until he learns of his money and expectations. At this point he starts to fawn after him, as does Bumblebee's and even Miss Sarah Pocket.Dickens, it would seem, is determined to satirist the money dominated society in which he lived. He was more concerned with humanism and the real values of human beings Great Expectations – Charles Dickens: Part 2 Chapter 20 In this chapter Pip arrives in London and finds the city dirty and revolting. This seems to represent to the responder that he is disappointed in his expectations. It certainly takes the gloss of his expectations. This can be clearly seen through the repetitious use of the word â€Å"di smal. † â€Å"Mr†¦ Jigger's room was lighted by a skylight only, and was a most dismal place. This also gives an idea about how we are to view Jaegers. He too is a dismal man with very little regard for the societal ‘garbage' that provides him with his living. They provide him with a living but he treats them in a superior way as goes his clerk Hemming: â€Å"l wondered †¦ Whether they all claimed to have the same obtains perjured witnesses for Jaegers. Jaegers tells Pip to go to Barnyard's inn where he is to meet Herbert Pocket. Jaegers ends this chapter telling Pip: â€Å"of course you'll go wrong somehow, but that's no fault of mine. Chapter 21 This chapter mostly contains information about the city and about Barnyard's Inn and its environs. We learn about the seedy nature of London when Hemming advises: Mimi may get cheated, robbed and murdered in London. † Pip begins to despair: â€Å"So imperfect was this realization of the first of my great exp ectations, that I looked in sigma at Mr†¦ Hemming. † We are told that Weenie is to be a major influence on Pip as he controls the money from Jaegers. The end of the chapter has Pip meeting Herbert who recognizes Pip as the â€Å"prowling boy. † Could things possibly get worse!Nonetheless he is to find Herbert' company a bright spot in a â€Å"dismal† London landscape. Chapter 22 Herbert and Pip become friends despite the earlier altercation. They share stories about Estella as it is obvious that Herbert too has had dealings with her. Herbert describes her as a â€Å"Tartar†: miss, Miss Having had sent for me, to see if she could take fancy to me. Despite this obvious parallel to his situation Pip does not waver from his affections for Estella. We find out that Estella is adopted by Miss Having. It would seem to reek revenge on all mankind by her â€Å"haughty and capricious† nature.We find out that Matthew Pocket is Miss Hafnium's cousin and th is coincidence is the driving force behind Pip's supposition that he must be favored by this woman and hence she must, it would seem be his secret benefactor. In this chapter the familiar relationship with Herbert is established and he is given his nickname Handel after the piece of music called the Harmonious Blacksmith. This provides a link to Pip's roots and his true personality that suggests that he is not as haughty as he aspires to be. It also suggests that whilst Herbert is of this world he also has a sense of identification with normal societal dealings.Nonetheless Herbert does try to teach Pip proper etiquette such as how to use his utensils. Chapter 23 This is a chapter where we are introduced to the strange world of the Pockets household. Mrs.. Pocket has aspirations to be royalty and is ‘precious' being removed from the upbringing of her children. We are told they are not brought up but in fact eave â€Å"tumbled up. † When they annoy her she simply has them sent inside to have a nap. We are also introduced to Matthew Pocket, Herbert father. The responder is told that he is well educated at Cambridge. His other tutees are are Drummed and Startup.These characters are also introduced here. The total impression of the scene is painted as mildly amusing and Pip feels comfortable here, probably because despite the dysfunctional nature of the relationships it is more hospitable than his variety was not possible in the country and he appreciates it and finds it interesting and amusing. Chapter 24 Pip's future is discussed whilst it seems it is still very vague and not sent in concrete. He is told that he was: â€Å"not designed for any profession. † His education therefore is to be a generic one. He wants to secure his place at Barnyard's inn and needs to get furniture.Jaegers plays with him about the sum that he will need for this. Again this suggests something about the nature of Jaegers more than anything. This is also suggested whe n talking with Hemming about this man. He tells Pip to note his housekeeper carefully when he is invited to dine with his guardian. † You'll see a wild east tamed. † This provides some foreshadowing for this scene. Hemming also invites him to Walworth to observe â€Å"†¦ Three curiosities as I have got. † Chapter 25 In this chapter we find that Pip visits Whimsies Walworth castle. This provides a contrast to the world of Stats House that is dark an gothic.Whimsies house is warm and inviting. It is personal and quirky and provides and interesting view of the lower echelons of society and how happy they can be. Perhaps this is the vision of society that finally gives Pip something to build upon for his future. Earlier in the novel he experiences such rejection and dislocation from his own sphere of influence including his sister that there is no stability other than Joe, who is himself under siege by Mrs.. Joe. We are also introduced to Startup and to Drummed a nd find out more about these fellow students.Further is said about Jaegers and the dictatorial power and influence he has over the criminal underclass of society p. 206. The aged provides an interesting sideline in the world of Hemming and this shows his concern with family and support of others. It certainly shows how he has developed a dual persona between home and work life. When I come into the office, I leave the Castle behind me, and when I come into the Castle, I leave the office behind me. † Chapter 26 Pip, Startup and Drummed head to Jaegers for dinner and gives an unusual degree of attention to Drummed.It certainly also provides a comparison with Whimsies house for the responder: â€Å"†¦ L had an early opportunity of comparing my safeguard's establishment with that of his achier and clerk. â€Å". Jaegers makes his housekeeper show her wrists to the guests after they themselves had spent a ludicrous amount of time showing off their own muscles in an absurd di splay. We are also told that her ace compared with the faces that Pip had seen around the cauldron in a play of incident : â€Å"the Spider's time with Mr†¦ Pocket was up for good, and, to the great relief of all the house but Mrs†¦Pocket, he went home to the family hole. † This suggests that his societal aspirations and ambitions are closely aligned to Mrs†¦ Pocket. This taints our feelings towards Drummed and suggests that his significance to the story will be greater than this. Chapter 27 In this chapter the country comes to the city. Biddy writes a letter in typically familiar tones as Joe suggests he wants the letter written including slang What larks. The letter discusses that Joe is coming to London and in fact Hopple is coming to London as well to make his mark upon the London stage.Pip's snobbery has developed and he is not too pleased at this news and greets it â€Å"†¦ Not with pleasure, though I was bound to him by so many ties. It seems that he is in fact embarrassed by Joe as was suggested in Pip's discussion with Biddy before he came to London. When they meet there is an awkwardness evident and they in fact have trouble finding conversation. We are even made privy to Pip's thoughts when Joe does visit about his clothes and he way that he eats: â€Å"As to his shirt and collar they were perplexing to reflect on†¦ He sat so far from the table, and dropped so much more than he ate. Joe brings news that Miss Having requires Pip to return to Stats House to visit regarding the return of Estella. Pip is mortified with the poignancy of Joey's parting comment which highlights the societal division between the two that has developed: Pip†¦ Life is made of ever so many partings welded together†¦ One man's a blacksmith, and one's a whitest†¦ You and me are not two figures to get together in London: nor yet anywhere else but what is private and Benson and understood among friends. † Chapter 28 Pip return s home but decides not to stay at Joey's, instead opting for a room a the Blue Boar.He says that he would have liked to take his servant the Avenger, Just to show off particularly to that impudent rascal, Tract's Boy. Coincidence again plays its hand as he happens to be on the same stage as two convicts are traveling. One of them Just happens to be the same convict that gave him the two one pound notes. Pip departs the carriage with haste and makes for the Blue Boar where he discovers local newspaper that tells of Bumblebee's being the founder of Pip's fortune. Pip feels self-righteous indignation about this. Chapter 29 This chapter is a study in self delusion.Despite the fact that Herbert had told him of his experiences at Stats House he feels that his situation is different and that his affection for Estella is real. He thinks about seeing Joe but doesn't, instead walks on the other side of town to avoid running into him. Whilst walking he has a daydream about his relationship wi th her. He sees himself as doing â€Å"†¦ The shining deeds of the he tells us that he â€Å"†¦ Loved her none the less. Interestingly he finds Rollick at the door and there is some banter before he is admitted to Miss Having and Estella. Later he advises Jaegers to advise the dismissal of this unsanitary individual.He also haughtily advises the dismissal of Tract's Boy after Tract's boy mocks him for his airs and graces. When Pip meets with Estella she tells him that she was the ghost that he had seen that night. P. 238. Miss having appeals to Pip to love her charge but Estella herself informs Pip how unprepared she is to love anybody. â€Å"I'll tell you what real love is. It is blind devotion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter submission. Finally we are told that Estella in her turn would come to London and that Pip would host her. This leads to Pip's love expectations and pride: â€Å"†¦ Hat she should be destined for me, once the blacksmith's boy. † Chapter 30 This chapter is the most satirically poignant chapter in the novel. Dickens points the disapproving finger of social condescension and snobbery squarely at Pip but he is too caught up in his new superiority to take it to heart. Perhaps this is because the person who is pointing the finger is the subject of his own need to show off, Tract's boy, therefore it is too easy to shrug all of this off as Jealousy. Nonetheless from the responder's perspective there is no character that is less pretentious than Tract's Boy.Audacious †¦ Yes, irreverent †¦ Yes, but not Jealous. Coincidence is again the device of this chapter. Pip is keen to avoid running into Bumblebee's, probably because of the newspaper article that he read last chapter, so he decides to walk for a bit and meet the carriage to London, that Jaegers is also in, further down the road. This provides the circumstance for Pip to run into Tract's Boy. When Pip sees him walking towards him â€Å"lashing himself with an empty blue bag,† he deems that â€Å"a Rene and unconscious contemplation of him†¦ † Would be the most dignified thing to do.Here is Pip trying to seem dignified to the unseemly, knockabout Tract's Boy. This in itself is pure folly. It was met by Tract's trilogy of mockery for Pip's apparent snobbish and condescending demeanor. He pretends to be afraid; asks for â€Å"mercy in front of many people; then â€Å"crows† him out of town with his cry of â€Å"don't know yah, don't know yah, pony my soul don't know yah,† to mock Pip's haughty dismissal of his town and all of his previous acquaintances that now seem below his recognition. Chapter 31 The comic satire continues in this chapter as Pip visits the theatre to see Whoopee's performance of Hamlet that is poor in the extreme.Nonetheless when he is taken backstage he is complementary telling Mr†¦ Wallpapering (Hopple) that he thought â€Å"massive and concrete. † After this experi ence Pip dreams of performing Hamlet to Miss Hafnium's ghost in front of â€Å"†¦ Twenty thousand people, without knowing twenty words of it. † This again reminds the responder how much of a hold this woman and her actions have a hold over his psyche. His dreams and nightmares and subconscious desires are all caught up with the world of Stats House. Chapter 32 In this chapter Hemming invites Pip to Join him in a visit to Negate prison.The Prison is described vividly. The metaphor of the Jail as â€Å"Whimsies greenhouse† is used. Hemming is described as walking amongst the prisoners: â€Å"†¦ Much the same as a gardener might walk amongst his plants. † In this environment, his work environment, takes upon himself the same superiority as Jaegers. Pip parts from Hemming and thinks about his: â€Å"childhood out on our lonely marshes on a winter evening. † Then regrets coming with Hemming on this particular day when he is supposed to be meeting wit h Estella. He tries to â€Å"beat the prison dust off†¦ † And even to â€Å"exhale its air. Ironically he fears, but doesn't understand, the â€Å"†¦ Nameless shadow which again in that one instant had passed. † Chapter 33 Pip is more confused and dissonant regarding his relationship with Estella than ever. She arrives and tells him that she is bound for Richmond to live and that Pip is to escort her, to this end she gives him her purse to pay for the expenses. There is a strong sense that Estella is a victim of her own fortunes and that she is a cannonball in flight without control over being fired or even what she might destroy when she ands. We have no choice, you and l, but to obey our instructions. We are not fee to follow our own devices, you and l. † Then she â€Å"†¦ Drew her arm through mine, as if it must be done. † Estella recognizes Matthew Pocket's qualities but feels that she has to add â€Å"†¦ For I hate that class of man. † She also murmurs the contemptuous utterance â€Å"Wretches! † as she approaches Negate. The narrator confesses that he would never have told her of his â€Å"†¦ Visit for any consideration. † This again shows how she has been ruined by Miss Hafnium's patronage. Her superior demeanor is objectionable to the responder.Pip gives voice to his affections for her and she is dismissive Mimi silly boy†¦ How can you talk such nonsense. † Nonetheless he steals a kiss with her permission even though he recognizes that he could â€Å"†¦ Build no hope on it. † He in fact recognizes that she will probably have many admirers in his absence in Richmond. Pip thinks about confiding in Matthew Pocket and gain his advice on women, but then sees Mrs†¦ Pocket reading â€Å"a book of dignities† and concludes that perhaps his advice may not be as sound as he'd hoped. Chapter 34 Regret plagues Pip as he starts to realize the social ramificat ions of his expectations.

Essay on A Critique of Bergers Uncertainty Reduction Theory

A Critique of Bergers Uncertainty Reduction Theory How do people get to know each other? Bugs Bunny likes to open up every conversation with the question, Whats up Doc? Why does he do this? Is Bugs Bunny uncertain? Lets explore this idea of uncertainty. Shifting focus now to college students. As many other college students at Ohio University, I am put into situations that make me uncertain of my surroundings almost every time I go to a class for the first time, a group meeting, or social event on the weekend. Bergers Uncertainty Reduction Theory tackles the concept of how people meet other people. In order to explain the relationship between uncertainty and the seven key variables that Berger identifies in this area of†¦show more content†¦Do we shake hands? Should I pay for the meal? Referring to the cognition that takes place, the focus is aimed at figuring out what makes the other person unique. In both areas, an individual tries to go from uncertainty to a more comfortable place. The Prediction One thing that Berger is very clear about in his theory is the matter-of-factness of his theorems. Berger makes no attempt to be humble with his postulations. All the theorems take the form of If..., then... statements. This no holds barred approach to prediction seems to be the weakness of Bergers Uncertainty Reduction Theory. It seems that probability and/or tendency dont come into play, instead Berger tends to deal with absolute certainty. If he were to talk in possibilities, then critics wouldnt question Berger. This idea of preciseness leads Uncertainty Reduction into problems on a few theorems, especially 17 which states, The more you like a person, the less youll seek out information about them (Griffin 160). Since the theorems are based on the seven axioms, then it must mean that there is a problem with those axioms. With respect to prediction Berger seems to expect to be correct, rather than actually being right. Relative Simplicity Berger believes that our main purpose in talking to people is to make sense out of our interpersonal world (Griffin 153). This statement seems to me to be the foundation through which everything Berger bases hisShow MoreRelatedThe Communication Theory Of Uncertainty Reduction Theory3089 Words   |  13 Pagespeople will come with dealing with uncertainty jitters. This research looks at the different critiques by communication scholars on the communication theory of Uncertainty Reduction Theory. Uncertainty Reduction Theory is a communication theory that came about through the research of Charles Berger from the post-positivist tradition. Charles Berger through Uncertainty Reduction Theory proposes that the beginnings of personal relationships are filled with uncertainties. Berger suggests that anticipationRead MoreSummary Communication Theory13076 Words   |  53 PagesIntroduction to Communication Theory: Course Summary Chapter 1: Launching your study What is a theory? What distinguishes a good theory from a bad theory? A theory is a set of systematic informed hunches about the way things work. A good theory goes beyond accepted wisdom and offers explanations and speculations about phenomena. Additionally, a good theory consists of a system of concepts which means that the theorist were able to make connections among his ideas. A theory tends to shape our perceptionRead MoreSummary Communication Theory13084 Words   |  53 PagesIntroduction to Communication Theory: Course Summary Chapter 1: Launching your study What is a theory? What distinguishes a good theory from a bad theory? A theory is a set of systematic informed hunches about the way things work. A good theory goes beyond accepted wisdom and offers explanations and speculations about phenomena. Additionally, a good theory consists of a system of concepts which means that the theorist were able to make connections among his ideas. A theory tends to shape our perceptionRead MoreRelational Dialectics Theory Essay2542 Words   |  11 PagesComparing relationships to unicycles seems strange or unlikely, however the constant strive for balance against opposing forces is a perfect description for relational dialectics theory (Griffin, 2009). Barbara Montgomery, an interpersonal communication scholar, describes riding a unicycle as a task of contradicting forces, constantly pulling against each other in a tug-of-war motion. The best way to control the wheel is by the constant changes in movement, adapting one way or the other, to maintain

Function and Structure of Hemoglobin and Myoglobin Essay

Myoglobin consist of single polypeptide chain that made up of 153 amino acid and ahs a size of 18 kDa. Its three-dimensional structure was first determined by X-ray crystallography by John Kendrew in 1957. Myoglobin is a typical globular protein in that it is a highly folded compact structure with most of the hydrophobic amino acid residues buried in the interior and many of the polar residues on the surface. X-ray crystallography revealed that the single polypeptide chain of myoglobin consist of entirely of eight (labelled A-H) alpha-helical. Within a hydrophobic crevice formed by the folding polypeptide chain is the heme prosthetic group. This nonopolypepetide unit is noncovalently bound to myoglobin and is essential for the biological†¦show more content†¦One of these is to a histidine residue which lies eight residues along helix F of hemoglobin, the proximal hitidine (His F8). The sixth bond is to one of the oxygen atoms in a molecule of oxygen. Near to where the oxygen binds to the heme group is another histidine residue, the distal histidine (His E7). This serves two very important functions. First, preventing neightboring hemoglobin molecules coming into contact with one another and oxidizing to the Fe3+ state, cause no longer bind to oxygen. Sencond, lowering the affinity of the heme for CO by preventing carbon monoxide binding with the most favourable configuration to the Fe2+. This is important because the protein can no longer bind oxygen once CO has bound irreversibly to the heme,. Thus, although the oxygen binding site in hemoglobin and myglobin is only a small part of the whole protein, the polypeptide chain modulates the function of the heme prosthetic group. Hemoglobin can bind four molecules of oxygen due to its four-heme groups, whereas myoglobin can only bind to one oxygen. The kinetics of oxygen binding of hemoglobin and myoglobin are quite different. Myoglogin exhibit a hyperbolic oxygen binding curve and hemoglobin exhibit a sigmoidial oxygen binding curve. The sigmodial curve suggest the the cooperative exist in the hemolglobing oxygen bind mechanism. The initial binding of an oxygen molecule to a hemoglobin subunitShow MoreRelatedBiomolecules934 Words   |  4 PagesChapter 4: Protein Function Chapter 7, Voet, Voet amp; Pratt * Link between protein structure and physiological function * Focus on myoglobin and hemoglobin * Both proteins reversibly bind to O2 * Extremely well-studied examples of structure/function relationships * Behavior is a model for many other proteins, especially metabolic enzymes Learning Objectives * Compare myoglobin and hemoglobin * Structures * Properties * O2 binding characteristics Read MoreThe Effects Of Cardiovascular System On The Body2262 Words   |  10 PagesDetails One cell type that plays a crucial role, not just in Tetralogy of Fallot, but in the entire disorder of Down syndrome itself, is red blood cells, the most bountiful cell type in the blood of the body. Red blood cells are unique because their structure is profoundly different from most other cells in the human body. They have an absence three common cell characteristics; a nucleus, mitochondria, and the endoplasmic reticulum. Despite the lack of these members of the cell, red blood cells areRead MoreNotes On Muscles Growth And Loss Essay1424 Words   |  6 Pagesmaterials in human body, it plays a great role of human body, supporting not only external movement but also internal function, providing the force to help the organ s function, for example, cardiac muscle tissue pumps the blood through the heart, making the circulatory system works fluently in human body. Like the other collagen-based tissues which can evolve different hierarchical structures to meet their different mecha nical needs[1], the development of muscle tissues is analogous to this evolvementRead MoreEssay on Evolution From A Molecular Perspective3053 Words   |  13 Pagespoints. Hemoglobin: Comparisons between species nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Of all the proteins in living things, hemoglobin is quot;the second most interesting substance in the world,quot; as American biochemist L. J. Henderson once stated (Hemoglobin, 4). However bold this statement seems, it must be realized that hemoglobin is, at least in the scientific world, by far the most studied and most discussed substance in the human body, as well as in other living organisms. Hemoglobin is the carrierRead MoreHemoglobin and Bloom S Category Essay12083 Words   |  49 Pagesdiaphragm e. gill arches; a diaphragm Answer: a Textbook Reference: Concept 37.2 Respiratory Systems Have Evolved to Maximize Partial Pressure Gradients Page: 733 Bloom’s Category: 1. Remembering 22. Which of the following statements about the structure of the fish gill is false? a. Afferent vessels bring blood to the gills, whereas efferent vessels take blood away from the gills. b. Exchange of respiratory gases occurs within the lamellae of the gill filaments. c. The efferent and afferent vesselsRead MoreProteins and Their Functions639 Words   |  3 Pagesword protos which denotes the first rank of importance, in all biological systems we find macromolecules called proteins which range from as low as prokaryotes to higher eukaryotes. Naturally proteins are complex in nature performing numerous functions that sustain life. Besides other polymers for instance nucleic acids, polysaccharides, or lipid assembles, proteins account for almost over 50% of the total dry weight of cells, They occupy the largest percentage in living cells both quantity andRead MoreThe Function Of Haemoglobin And Oxygen935 Words   |  4 Pagesred blood cell rich in iron. The major function of haemoglobin is to transport oxygen (O2) from the lungs. The haemoglobin and oxygen combination is called oxyhaemoglobin, Haemoglobin that has released oxygen is called reduced haemoglobin or deoxyhaemoglobin which has a high affinity for co2 (Marieb, 2014).for this reason oxy gen is bind to the oxyhaemoglobin in the lungs and carried through the blood stream to the tissues. Oxygen is then released to myoglobin (a red protein containing haem that carriesRead MoreA Brief Note On Acute Renal Failure Condition Essay979 Words   |  4 Pages The purpose of the change of terminology was to encompass the full spectrum of the clinical manifestations associated with the syndrome. This includes a range from a small decline in kidney function to a severe impairment. Furthermore, the acute condition is characterized by a rapid loss of kidney function. In addition, associated manifestation(s) may be displayed as a rise in serum creatinine or a reduction in urine output. As a result of increase of serum creatinine or decline in urine outputRead MoreHomeostatic Control : A Control System4000 Words   |  16 Pagesit sends information to the control center. The control center works out an appropriate response for the stimulus that has been detected. The control center s job is to send signals to the effector, which includes muscles, organs and other bodily structures that can receive signals from the control center. After they receive a signal from the control center of the body called negative feedback it reduces the activity of an organ or bodily system to its normal or functioning range . Homeostatic controlRead MoreThe Basic Difference Between Anatomy and Physiology6198 Words   |  25 PagesWeek 1 Chapter 1 1. What is the basic difference between anatomy and physiology? (p. 2) ANSWER: Anatomy (a-NAT-Ã… -mÄ“; ana- = up; -tomy = process of cutting) is the science of structure and the relationships among structures. Physiology (fiz†²-Ä“-OL-Ã… -jÄ“; physio- = nature, -logy = study of) is the science of body functions, that is, how the body parts work. 2. Define each of the following terms: atom, molecule, cell, tissue, organ, system, and organism. (p. 6) ANSWER: AtomUnit of matter that makes

Arranged Marriage In Midnights Children Essays - 720 Words

Arranged Marriage In Midnights Children â€Å"Arranged Marriages in Midnight’s Children† An element of Midnight’s Children, by Salman Rushdie that I particularly enjoyed was the recurring theme of loving someone in pieces. There are two instances where this is prevalent, one being the interaction between Aadam Aziz and Naseem Ghani. It is stated that: â€Å"In short: my grandfather had fallen in love, and had come to think of the perforated sheet as something sacred and magical, because through it he had seen the things which had filled up the whole inside him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Through the perforated sheet, Aadam Aziz never saw his bride until he asked for her hand in marriage. Instead, he fell in love with â€Å"the softness of her ticklish skin, or the†¦show more content†¦As a consequence, Naseem employed such tricks as attempting to starve her husband, and Aadam reacted by refusing to eat. Due to the fact that both Naseem and Aadam were quite stubborn, neither one of them refused to concede to one another. It makes one wonder if, for Naseem and Aadam, showing one’s true feelings would be to admit defeat. The marriage between Naseem and Aadam never improved, and at the conclusion of Aadam’s life, as he grew ill, Naseem â€Å"appeared to thrive on his weakness,† which was symbolic of the struggle of their marriage. Another instance of falling in love in fragments, are the interactions between Amina and Ahmed Sinai, as seen in the paragraph below: â€Å"†¦she began to train herself to love him. To do this, she divided him, mentally, into every single one of his component parts, physical as well as behavioral, compartmentalizing him into lips, and verbal tics and prejudices and likes†¦in short she fell under the spell of the perforated sheet of her own parents, because she resolved to fall in love with her husband bit by bit.† In both examples, a husband and wife who shared no love tried to fall in love with each other without truly knowing the other. For Naseem and Aadam, such love never occurred, but for Ahmed and Amina, such love occurred when: â€Å"Ahmed came to himself under Amina’s care, he returned not to the self which had practised curses and wrestled djinns, but to the self he might have been, filled with the contrition andShow MoreRelatedMoso Matrilineal System813 Words   |  3 Pagespoint. One important feature of matrilineal is called â€Å"walking marriage†. There is no traditional marriage in Moso culture, so in a family there are neither husbands nor wives. In walking marriage the partners do not live in the same households, as during midnights the man who has received permission to visit the woman comes to spend the whole night with her and return to his home early in the morning. From certain aspects, walking marriage has positive effects towards Moso’s family str ucture, childRead MoreLegalization of Gay Marriage1319 Words   |  6 PagesSEM I SPEECH PREPARATION OUTLINE PREPARED BY: REGINA KHOR MAY LIN AA09179 Relationship Should we legalize same-sex marriage in our country? To persuade To persuade my audience that we should legalize same-sex marriage in our country. Same-sex marriage should be legalized since it is the natural form of the marriage evolution, part of human rights and able to prevent psychological stress from the LGB community. (LGB- lesbian, gays and bisexuals) Problem and solution Read MoreLife Is A Succession Of Lessons Essay1312 Words   |  6 Pagesonto earn a degree in History at Dhaka University. Khan’s teenage life started in a quite unusual way. At that time Khan was about 21, when the liberation war of his home country broke out. As the war between East and West Pakistan broke out on midnight of March 25, 1971, Khan and his family had to temporary relocate to a safer place till the war was over. (Staff) The war later about nine months, but it left a big impact on his teenage years. Coming from a conservative background, where dating wasRead More Mrs. Hayashis Creative Outlet Essays1277 Words   |  6 PagesMrs. Hayashi’s Creative Outlet Women who assume the traditional role of staying at home to care for their children and their household responsibilities often need a creative outlet to express themselves, their ideas, or just to get away from monotony they experience in the day after day domestic routine. Many women find various forms of art a fulfilling way to satisfy their need for personal expression. Similarly, in the short story â€Å"Seventeen Syllables† by Hisaye Yomamoto, the â€Å"stay-at-home-mom†Read MoreThe Murder Of Nicole Brown1014 Words   |  5 Pagesand admitted it was not the first time she had been abused by her husband (Turque). In March of 1992, Nicole filed for divorced. Although Nicole had signed a prenuptial agreement prior to their marriage, she still revived a lump sum of $433,750 and $10,000 a month in child support for their two children. After their divorce they continued to see each other attending high-profile and fundraising events together. Despite spending time together, the problems still persisted, and Nicole continued toRead MoreThe World s Largest Island2108 Words   |  9 Pagesareas throughout. Additionally, the hours of sunlight vary dramatically from season to season in Greenland. During the summer, Greenland becomes a land of the midnight sun, with weeks of 24-hour daylight. In addition to that, northern Greenland receives three months of continual daylight during this time of the midnight sun. The midnight sun is a time where, in given weather, the sun is visible for a full 24 hours. During the winter, however, Greenland s southern ramparts receive only a sparseRead More The Debate on How Urban Middle-Class Identities Have Changed3936 Words   |  16 Pagesstarted with Nehru’s steel mills. As neatly correlative as this appears, it is clear such an assumption is a fallacy on several counts- there remain certain spheres in which urban middle classes continue to stress the importance of caste, such as marriage and also the unavoidable influence Hindu nationalism has had upon Indian society, in particular its relationship to the middle class, both which will be exam ined in greater detail further on in the discussion. However in order to elucidate certainRead MoreHappily Ever after All Around 1364 Words   |  5 Pageswas a boy from a rich family suffering great loss; their eldest son and his rabbit had gone off their boat and drowned, Luke—the prince to be—had been on the boat but couldn`t save his brother. They danced and the princess realized that this arranged marriage might not be so bad, that is until he got down on one knee. He said they would be wed the next day if she took the ring. Not knowing what to say, because no guide to being queen tells you what to do in a situation like that, she ran. With everyRead MoreAncient Philippine Civilization4801 Words   |  20 Pagesequipped with relevant data about the Philippines will certainly make your stay the most pleasurable one. This site also aims to provide Philippine expats in other countries to trace their heritage and useful links which they can pass on to their children . ------------------------------------------------- Filipino Food However, the taste of Filipino recipes is premised on sourness and a bit more on salt and/or sugar. Sourness is evidenced in â€Å"sinigang† (stew),  adobo, beef steak and â€Å"paksiw† usingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Trickster And Grimm Fairy Tales 1846 Words   |  8 Pagescaused constant trouble for the gods, Loki loved mischief. He also enjoyed disguise and could change his form into any animal. At first the gods found him quite amusing, but eventually got tired of his tricks and began to dislike him. Loki one time arranged the death of Odin’s son Baldur. Odin of which is a god in Norse Mythology. Loki soon discovered that Baldur could be harmed by mistletoe. One day while the gods were throwing things at balder for fun Loki gave a mistletoe to a blind god and told

The Definition of Statehood Free Essays

Before diving into the question of this essay, one that looks simple on the surface but reveals itself to be as complicated as it is deep, I found myself asking how we define â€Å"statehood†. It’s all good and well to say that the state is a contested organisation, but when the idea of what exactly a state is comes into it, that statement becomes all the less clear. By definition a nation state is a state/country that possesses clear borders and land, and contains mostly the same type of people by either race or cultural background. We will write a custom essay sample on The Definition of Statehood or any similar topic only for you Order Now ttp://www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/467746/political-system/36702/National-political-systems? anchor=ref416908 Yet some states have numerous ethnicities, Nigeria for example has been calculated to have over two hundred culturally distinct groups, even Gambia, whose population numbers about half a million people, has eight distinct ethnic groups (Hughes 1981: 122). Then again, these are both countries that are considered as â€Å"failed states†, something I will return to later on. According to Philip Cerny, statehood is the capacity to guard the social, economic and political life of its people and also to protect them from external threats and predators. He then goes on to say that states regularly fail at one of these tasks, often not doing well at both at the same time. Statehood, according to Cerny, is the â€Å"problematique of the modern world system itself†. Why? Why are nation states so bad at doing what they say on the tin? Surely it can’t be that hard to defend one’s people and at the same time give them basic needs such as employment, welfare and education. Of course, the world isn’t a perfect place, and we have yet to reach the utopia dreamt of by our grandparents, but really does everything have to be so terrible? To be fair Cerny does give a good argument against that, and provides much evidence to show that the state is indeed a contested organisation. He argues that â€Å"future structural organisational developments will depend on the kinds of political coalitions that can be built to confront and deal with those challenges†, especially those involving cross-border networks. In that case the result is likely to be a more complex form of world politics that is not only multi-level but also multi-nodal. Cerny makes a clear statement that the ideal states are â€Å"organisationally distinct from families, churches, classes, races, economic institutions† and also non-state political organisations. He then simplifies that claim that the state is a contested organisation by breaking it down into 3 sections: economically, socially and politically. First we will look at each of these individually and examine that statement. Of the three, the most interesting to me was his ascertain that the state is an economically contested organisation. Cerny says that states are organised through relationships of power, but they are also bound to the ideals of fairness and justice. Economic groups such as corporations and markets however, are not. They revolve around a principle of profit and aren’t shackled by the same need to be ‘nice’ that states are. One can go so far as to say that Cerny is nearly directly addressing the issue of globalisation without ever saying the word. Take big companies such as Coca Cola or McDonalds, while they give a consumer-friendly image and do help communities with various projects, at the end of the day they are 100% profit driven and if circumstances dictated that they must drop half their workforce to save costs, you can be sure that they would. Globalisation has meant that corporations no longer operate within borders, and for the most part are free to trade as they please. That some of these firms make more money than the Irish state is a very scary thought indeed. It is an invasive and destabilizing phenomenon that states must contest with. Not only does it signal heightened interconnectedness, but it encroaches into those formal-legal aspects of sovereignty that secure or tie down authority in the first instance, and benefit from it in the second. In other words, â€Å"the transnational connections inherent in globalisation are significant on a qualitative as well as a quantitative level. But what new patterns of authority are emerging here? † (Williams 1996: 118) It is said of sovereignty that there is plenty of it around, but that as a result of globalisation â€Å"the sites for its concentration have changed. According to this argument states are being forced to concede certain of their sovereign powers to regional, transnational or world bodies on one hand, and to local and other sub-national institutions on the other. On a side note while on the point of globalisation, though Cerny doesn’t explore the idea it is also worth mentioning the globalisation of military power as it contests with every stat e organisation. Advanced nuclear weapons systems can now operate worldwide, for they can deliver their payloads to any place at all on the planet, and do so within a very short time. They are thus capable of making the whole earth uninhabitable, and of threatening the very survival of the all states, whether they wish it or not (Poggi 1990: 177). You really can’t get much more global than that. The next area we will examine is Cerny’s claim that the state is a socially contested organisation. According to him states â€Å"are not natural, spontaneous emanations† from a â€Å"taken for granted, pre-existing society, people, or public†, they are made up from real people who base them on a range of often divided groups such as class, ethnicity, religion and ideology to name a few. People who are born in to this nation state may not always agree with or like the way things are and can find themselves caught in conflicts of identity, and the state finds itself constantly at odds with those who feel socially indoctrinated with the rules, power structures and policies of that state. As Cerny says, â€Å"citizens are made, not born†. Another big social contender is the internet, any one person can simply log on to Facebook (or other social networking sites) and instantly connect with people all over the world, again ignoring state boundaries. The final point that is discussed is that the state is a politically contested organisation. This can nearly go without saying, as there isn’t a state in the world that hasn’t been challenged politically at one stage or another. This happens on all ends of the scale, from as Cerny puts it: â€Å"absolutist monarchs and national revolutionaries to various bureaucrats, officials, patrons and clients†. He even goes on to mention religious movements and criminal gangs. It is important to note that the organisational strengths that Cerny mentions, whether they be rooted in widely accepted social identities or bonds, or that they have power internationally, need not only apply to Westphalian states (and indeed many of those ‘official’ states are weak on those levels). Take certain groups such as Hezbollah or the IRA for example, upon looking past the fact that they are viewed by some as terrorist organisations (although most European countries have refused to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation [http://www. digitalnpq. org/archive/2009_summer/03_qassem. tml]), these groups often take on the state roles for the people they claim to serve. Hezbollah is a major provider of social services, operating schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands and playing a significant part in Lebanese politics. [http://www. cfr. org/publication/9155/hezbollah_aka_hizbollah_hizbullah. html? breadcrumb=/]. Likewise the IRA are renow ned for looking after their own, be it ensuring the well being of prisoner families or upholding the law (or at least a version of it), in areas where traditional state politics have failed. Going back now to the other two headings for the contested state, economically and politically, and applying them to the state â€Å"alternatives† I mentioned above, it is hard to understand why Cerny didn’t do the same. One can not simply draw a line in the sand and say that all the ones over here (those of the Westphalia type) are states, and those over there are not. There are many similarities to be found on both sides. These groups also find themselves to be contested organisations. Yes it can be argued that economically, Hezbollah only functions because the nation states of Iran and Syria support them, but the same was also said of the peripheral state of Cuba when it was funded by the USSR (Giddens 1985: 269). In the north the IRA have succeeded in many social areas that the government have not, giving identity, protection and services to a select group of people who otherwise feel abandoned by a system that is supposed to do the same. The downfall of these groups is that their (occasional) focus on fighting and violence only serves to detract from the other areas. Yet returning to Cerny, he raises the point that some find the cost of the US’s war in Iraq (estimated at 2-3 trillion dollars), has prevented it from addressing issues both domestically (health care and employment for example) and abroad (development aid, fighting disease ect). This shows that even the largest of official states can do itself damage by focusing too much on military operations. But what happens when a state can do no more for its people? When it becomes such a contested organisation that it loses physical control of its How to cite The Definition of Statehood, Papers

Importance of Reading Argument Essay free essay sample

In the last 20 years, reading has declined dramatically: in every age group, race, income group, and region. When people consider whether or not reading is important, they only consider childhood reading. While it is very crucial to read with your children, adults have just as much need to continue reading past schooling age. Adults as well as children should read any chance they get because the ability to read well is essential to function in today’s society, it stimulates the human mind, and it develops the imagination and the ability to learn new things. Everything in today’s society requires reading, from reading instructions to becoming employed. Imagine trying to do something as simple as reading the directions on a medicine bottle without good reading skills. Someone could misinterpret a crucial step and become very sick or even die. This could happen very easily today considering 46% of American adults cannot understand the label on their prescription medicine (The Literacy Company). We will write a custom essay sample on Importance of Reading Argument Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Getting or keeping a job would also prove very difficult. How would you look to a possible employer if you said you didn’t have very adequate reading skills? It’s likely the job wouldn’t be yours. Even something as simple as walking or driving through the city could become extremely dangerous without sufficient reading and interpretation skills. Sometimes, the capability of reading words is not enough; you must be able to understand what is written and construe them. Having others help someone who is illiterate is an option, but it is most definitely not a very easy one. They cannot support themselves and must depend on someone else to function. It would be very challenging for them to even get a job because â€Å"Approximately 50 percent of the nations unemployed youth age 16-21 are functional illiterate, with virtually no prospects of obtaining good jobs† (The Literacy Company). Illiterate people won’t be able to help their children read. It may even end up that the child will start to teach their parent! Reading also stimulates the human mind. It gives us something to do besides watch television. Our brain is a muscle, and just like any other muscle in the body, if you do not exercise it, it turns to mush. Reading uses interpretation and comprehension unlike video games or television shows. When you are reading, you often pause to think about what you just read, or if you don’t understand a part, you can go back and read it again. When you watch television or listen to an audio book, even though the option is usually there, typically these are not paused. The average reader even spends about 1/6th of the time they spend reading actually rereading words (The Literacy Company). Stopping and thinking about things gives your mind an engaging activity and this helps improve mental health and stamina of our brains. It is actually said that â€Å"the best reading is often rereading† (Gardner 3). When reading to a child, whats a popular thing to do? Many pause and ask What do you think will happen next? inviting the child to explore their imagination and the story itself. Whether adults realize it or not, we do this ourselves when we read, always questioning what will happen next. Many people try to disagree with the importance and ability of reading on the human mind. Some people say that reading is a waste of time and we can do better things with our time. Reading is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Even if we don’t read books, we still read every day, and reading books only strengthens our reading abilities. Reading is one of the greatest things we can do with our spare time, as Joseph Addison so expertly said. â€Å"Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors. Perhaps one of the most easily defendable arguments is the capability of reading to develop the imagination and the ab ility to learn new things. Reading can help your imagination take you anywhere or let you do anything. The more your imagination grows, the more able you are to go to new places on your own, without the help of a book. You can use a book to find out about a place, and with your newly expanded imagination, you can visualize the place and go there yourself. You can go anywhere, whether there has been an extensive book written about it or not. Who knows, you may end up coming up with your own world and having to write about it. Some also seem to object to reading often because there is always something offending people. Everything in today’s world offends someone, and that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do or use it? A good library has lots of types of books for many different ages, but like Jo Godwi said, A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone. With a book, you can travel anywhere you want, do anything you want, and talk to anyone you want. With good reading and comprehension skills, you can get good jobs, and function great in todays society. A book has the power to cause our minds to long for more information and want to read more. They grab the reader’s attention and use their magical abilities to make the reader believe whatever the words may be saying. Reading is one of the most important aspects of our lives, no matter your age.