“Language Lies at the Root of That Transformation of the Environment That We Call Civilization.” How Is Language Encouraged in the Montessori Environment Essays

â€Å"Language Lies at the Root of That Transformation of the Environment That We Call Civilization.† How Is Language Encouraged in the Montessori Environment Essays â€Å"Language Lies at the Root of That Transformation of the Environment That We Call Civilization.† How Is Language Encouraged in the Montessori Environment Essay â€Å"Language Lies at the Root of That Transformation of the Environment That We Call Civilization.† How Is Language Encouraged in the Montessori Environment Essay Language is a mean of communication, delivering ideas or feelings by the use of conventionalized sounds and signs, thus, being the spoken and written language. It is part of the human tendencies to want to communicate with others and this could underlie the emergence of language. Montessori said, â€Å"To talk is the nature of man. † Humans needed language in order to communicate, and soon, the powers that come with language revealed. The evolution of the human language began when communication was done through pictograms and drawings. It then developed into ideograms when pictures began to turn into symbols. Later, these symbols became words, words involved letters, vowels emerged, one symbol came to represent one sound, and an alphabet was created, and then came the alphabet we now use today. And just as language evolved hundreds of thousands of years ago, it also changes with each generation. Unneeded words are dropped and new words come into use. Language rose and continues to rise with the collective intelligence. This also marked the civilisation of mankind. Language differentiates a community from one another but at the time it also unites and binds human being of different races together through a common language. Content Language is the ability to understand speech and a desire to convey one’s feelings and thoughts. It is through communication that human beings are able to cooperate with each other to solve common problems. It is through communication based on written and oral language in particular that each generation has passed on its accumulating wisdom to the next. â€Å"Language, we may say, grow with human thought†. Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind, p109) The learning of language is truly the child’s most remarkable intellectual achievement and is amazingly accomplished rapidly in a very short time span. â€Å"By merely living and without any conscious effort the individual absorbs from the environment even a complex cultural like language† (Elizabeth G. Hainstock, The Essential Montessori, pg. 8 1) Based on Montessori’s observation, the various periods of the child’s life show the same stages in the level reached and this applied to all the children throughout the world, this applied to the acquisition of language in the child. She found out that the child is first interested with humans voice, follow by repeating the same syllable, then words are spoken of more than one syllable, then the whole syntax and grammar seem to be grasped, gender and number, case, tense and mood. The child begins this work in the darkness of the subconscious mind, and here it develops and fixes itself permanently. Though it seems as a mystery, the child takes a lot of practices to connect the physical and psychic abilities. Maria Montessori observed that the sensitive period of language is the longest one which is from birth to age 6: 1. Birth age 1: the child is sensitive to sounds; listening and watching and then started with single syllable, imitating sound and pointing to objects in the attempt to communicate. If the child is taught sign language, he may be able to use signs to communicate at the tender age of 10 months, way before he develops speech. 2. Age 1 age 2: the child is sensitive to words; begins using simple words. He responds to simple then complex commands. Understand about 200 words. 3. Age 2 3 and up: the childs vocabulary increases tremendously (from approximately 300 to 1000 words). . Age 4- this is the sensitive time for writing. 5. Age 4 and a half to 5 the child starts to classify words and reading. 6. Age 5 to 6 sensitive to the study of parts of speech and word usage. At the beginning of the child’s sensitive period to language, he explores his surroundings with his tongue and hands, and through these, the child absorbs the qualities of objects in his environment and seeks to act upon it. He wants to know the name of every object that he sees and touches and mimic words said by the adults around him. Montessori concluded that the tongue which man uses for speaking and the hand, which he employs for work, are intimately connected. This sensibility is transitory and once gone it will never return. The language explosive happens and erupts in the child’s powers of expression and it continues well after the age of two. After two and a half years old, which marks the borderline of man’s mental formation, begins a new period in organizing the language and this continues to develop without explosion, learn many new words and perfects his sentence formation. At six years old, a child has learnt to speak correctly according to the rules of his mother tongue. And all these work is done by no one, but the child himself. Research has been made that in comparison with the adults’ ability to learn, the adults need sixty years of hard work to do it where a child does it in three. Therefore, it is particularly important that the adults give assistant where necessary for the development of language in a child, by exposing him to good grammar sentences and wide vocabularies to feed his absorbent mind during this sensitive period. Though a child works effortlessly in the acquisition of language, however, he does need a suitable environment. So, in cases where the child is not spoken to, like the boy of Aveyron, the child does not develop speech. Maria Montessori pointed out that during the Sensitive Period of language, the child must be exposed to language or it will not develop. Montessori â€Å"considered the job of education not to fill the child with the techniques of reading but to free him or self-expression and communication†. Paula Polk Lillard, A Modern Approach, pg. 123) The mind needs language in order to connect thoughts to the environment. Montessori’s methods make full use of the child’s sensitive period of language by creating an environment that aids this development. In the Montessori environment, the child is constantly exposed to information, through formal lessons, conversations and games; preparing him and thus, making it possible for the child to start creative writin g and reading at a young age. The child can freely express himself thus able to grow up happily and confidently. BIBLIOGRAPHY Gettman, David Basic Montessori St Martin’s Press New York, 1987 Paula Polk Lillard Montessori: A Modern Approach Schocken, 1988 Britton, Lesley Montessori Play Learn Vermilion, 1992 Montessori, Maria The Secret Of Childhood Balantine, 1972 Montessori, Maria, The Discovery Of the Child Clio Press Oxford, 200

Writing Critically on the Performing Arts a How-To Guide on Writing a Term Paper on Performing Arts

Writing Critically on the Performing Arts a How-To Guide on Writing a Term Paper on Performing Arts Term papers are academic essays that require critical thinking and writing. Fortunately, it doesnt have to be difficult writing one. Follow these film theatre studies term paper writing tips carefully and you will become quite skilled at writing term papers. Its important to remember the key principle in writing critically research. The more time spent in research, the less time spent in writing a term paper. Also remember to choose a topic that means something to you. Its easier writing on a topic you can connect or relate to. And of course, dont forget to go through the pre-writing tips listed. They make the writing process easier and less laborious. Good luck! What is a Term Paper? A term paper is a research and academic paper written and submitted at the end of a course program. Usually submitted at the end of a semester, a term paper evaluates a students grasp and understanding of a course. A term paper requires good research skills, critical thinking and organised writing skills. The performing arts is a broad discipline of theatre studies with a wide palette of options to choose from. You can write on history of performing arts, drama, spoken word, poetry, musical theatre, opera, circus arts, public speaking, recitation, magic, illusion, puppetry and comedy. The list is almost endless. The golden rule of writing a term paper on the performing arts is to choose a topic that means something to you. Just like creative writing, you have to write from your heart, but also with a lot of detailed research. Choosing a Topic Usually a topic might be suggested by your course teacher. Other times, you may be given the option of choosing a topic to write on. Some students pass up this opportunity and insist on their teachers choosing the topic for them, others follow the crowd and prefer to write on what everyone is writing on. Writing a term paper improves your ability to think and write critically. This skill is useful in making important decisions in life, therefore don’t pass up the opportunity if presented to you. What topic do you wish to write on? Why do you want to write on that topic? How has the topic affected your understanding of the performing arts?   These are a few of the questions to consider before choosing a topic to write on. Find a quiet place to think about the topics that got your attention during your study of the course and list them on a paper; List the reasons for choosing each topic and list the perspectives you would want to cover on each topic; List the likely sources of research for each topic, noting the possibility of gathering sufficient research on each topic; You can also present these topics to your lecturer and ask for guidance in choosing the right topic; Rank these topics in an ascending order, putting the most likely topic you can complete at the top and the least at the bottom; Pick the most favourable topic. Topic Ideas for a Term Paper on Performing Arts A few examples of sample topics to choose from include: The Evolution of Performing Arts in America; The Duel: Rap versus Spoken Word; The Effects of Media on Performing Arts; Martial Arts in the US Military; Great Puppeteers of Our Time; The Life and Times of Pavarotti; Linking Performing Arts with Cognition. These are just a few samples to stir up possible ideas on what to write on. The performing arts has a broad array of topics, trends, discussions and events to write on. Think outside the box and be true to yourself. If you are still unable to come up with a topic, you can ask your teacher to draw up a list of topics you could write on. Then take time to research on these topics and see if there is any one that strikes a chord. If you still dont feel inspired, try reading a couple of previous term papers written by others, academic journals on the various branches of the performing arts, your textbooks or reviewing the notes you took during the lectures. Inspiration may bubble up from any of these sources. Pre-Writing Tips Before you start writing a term paper, there are a couple of factors you need to put into consideration to avoid getting stuck in the middle. A couple of them include: How long is the paper? Is it ten pages long? 5000 words? Thinking about the length will make you evaluate the research methods available and the feasibility of finishing the paper on time. Perhaps you may realise you dont have sufficient material to write on a particular topic you probably love. This realisation will make you evaluate and improve your research or change the topic altogether. How long will the project take? What was the deadline given? What are the chances of completing the paper before the deadline? These questions will help you predict the possibility of finishing a term paper successfully, and also eliminate topics that are likely to take too much time. How much of this topic do you understand? Is the topic generally understood by other students? Is it a controversial one? Is it too technical or ambiguous? Will your term paper make the topic better understood? Can you defend the topic? It is wiser to choose topics you can easily explain and discuss with your teachers or colleagues. However, if you choose a complex topic you are confident in researching and defending, then go for it. You will help others in understanding the topic better. Once you have provided answers to these questions, you are set to write your term paper. Before you do, take note of these pre-writing tips: Sketch an outline to give your work direction. An outline helps save time in researching, writing the first draft and proof reading. An outline also provides a skeleton you can easily fill up with finer details. Remember that your outline is not a rigid structure, but a flexible framework that points you in the right direction when you begin to lose your way. An outline may be given by your teacher, or you may be free to choose an outline. Whatever the case, an outline is generally divided into introduction, discussion paragraphs and a summary. We will talk extensively on outlining in the subsequent sub-headings. Research makes up a large bulk of a term paper. Good and detailed research always pays off in the end. It makes your writing critical, analytical, original and free from fluff. The internet offers ample material on just about any topic on performing arts. Other places to search for information include the library, past journals, previous term papers, research works, textbooks, and of course materials provided by your teacher. Dont hesitate to ask questions for clarification when in doubt. Dont rush through your research. If you take time to do your research, you will spend less time drawing an outline and writing the term paper. Thesis Statement. Your thesis statement is the foundation of your term paper, so you would want to be precise with it. An unconvincing thesis statement makes a wobbly term paper that attracts poor grades. After your research, reflect on your topic and pinpoint the singular idea you want to discuss. Stay on that idea and build on it through out the essay, using logical flowing paragraphs and discussions. In the conclusion, use clear unambiguous statements to summarise the paper. A proposal is given to your teacher for approval. In a proposal you defend your topic and if the teacher is convinced, he approves the topic for your term paper. A good proposal is made of a title, clear objectives of writing on the chosen topic and relevance of writing on such topic. Remember to add recent news, articles, social events and happenings that increases the relevance of your topic. Title Your title is the first impression of your work, so you should be interested in making a good one. There are no hard and fast rules in pitching excellent titles, however, its safer to use titles that are not too long or too short. Your title should be relevant to the body of the essay, and like the thesis statement, should make a good platform for building your ideas. Outline A term paper has: Title; Thesis statement; Introduction; Body of discussion/descriptive/analytical/argumentative paragraphs; Summary/conclusions and questions that encourage further reading and research. Introduction Introduce your topic in the introduction, define the key words of your essay, discuss current events that are related to your topic, discuss significant issues and problems and how you plan on solving them. The introduction is also a good place to summarise the objectives of your essay, the relevance and significance of the topic you are discussing. There are so many ways to start the introduction. You can decide to grab your readers attention with a rhetoric, a quote, an anecdote or an intriguing statistic or fact. You can also start by asking a question and go ahead to answer the question in the preceding paragraphs. Whatever method you choose, be sure to use clear succinct words, present your perspective and stance on the topic, then go ahead to build on it. Body In the body of your essay, aim to convince your reader with series of logical paragraphs that are linked to one another. Explain each point that backs up your stance on the topic, using each point to form a paragraph. You can use any of the styles available: descriptive, analytical, persuasive, argumentative, or a combination of all. Make sure each paragraph supports the objectives of your topic and backs up your thesis statement. Use compact sentences, active verbs and short to moderate paragraphs.   You can decide to use a handful of figures of speech to add a lyrical ring to your essay. Be careful not to pepper your entire work with quotes. You dont want your work to come off as somebody elses. And of course, dont forget to cite and reference other peoples work. Conclusion Conclude by restating your thesis statement and summarising your stance on the topic. Recap on the key points and wrap up with a question that encourages further research, reading and questions. Post-Writing Tips Rewriting and Editing. Rewrite loose hanging paragraphs and make them praise and compact. There are better ways to make a point and the surest way to explore these ways is to rewrite, rewrite and rewrite. Exchange flabby passive verbs for active ones, remove monotonous repetitive words, delete ambiguous sentences. Also check for grammar, spelling, use of verbs and punctuation. have a second pair of eyes assess your work. Give it to someone who isnt studying theatre and film studies, for example your family and friends. They can assess your style of writing and say if your essay is engaging or not. Next, give your essay to a colleague in school, perhaps a course mate, or a lecturer you can trust, let them assess the content of your essay and make input on the sufficiency of information provided. After this, give to a third pair of eyes to proof read for those grammar errors and punctuation mistakes that managed to escape your scrutiny and spell checker. Reference your work properly, using the citation style recommended by your teacher. Common term paper formats include the American Psychological Association (APA) format used for social sciences. The citation style for APA format uses the publication name, date and location. Another term paper format is the Modern Language Association   (MLA) format used for liberal arts and humanities, which also uses the publication name, date and location for citation. These formats have precise notation systems so be sure to look them up for clarification. Also remember to sort out your bibliography early to avoid last minute rushes. Bibliographies are also written using either the APA or MLA format or any other term paper formats preferred by your teacher. Useful Databases to Search for Information: A Few Picks from Our Writers Term papers are meant to be scholarly papers, so you need to provide legitimate scholarly sources. Use the following databases to find articles: RILM; International index to Music Periodicals; Dissertations and theses full text; Arts Humanities Citation Index; Your college library catalog.

Essay Sample on Peace Provisions Against the Vietnam Conflict

Essay Sample on Peace Provisions Against the Vietnam Conflict The Vietnam Conflict is a dark shadow in Americas glorious history. By the end of the conflict 57,605 Americans had been killed, over 300,000 thousand U.S. military officials had been wounded, and America had spent approximately $165 billion (Vietnam War 4). The majority of Americans sought after peace indispensably. Washingtons struggle to bring the fighting to a close inevitably shifted the U.S. role in the conflict from ally and combatant to mediator between Hanoi and Saigon (The Shape of Peace 15). The struggle would payoff on January 27, 1973; various representatives signed the Paris Accords. Americas war in Vietnam was over (Detzer 137). The Paris Accords encompassed Four main points to the pact: withdrawal of all U.S. forces from South Vietnam; release of all prisoners of war; an international 1,160-man peace keeping force; and recognition of the right of the South Vietnamese people to determine their own future (Vietnam War 4). The first provision of the Paris Accord delineated a swift halt to the slaughtering in Vietnam, it read: A cease-fire will take effect in South Vietnam 24 hours after the signing of the agreement, and the U.S. will stop the bombing and mining of the north. U.S. and allied force will withdraw from the south within 60 days. There will be no introduction of foreign troops or arms for eihter side in the south, although each may replace damaged equipment. The U.S. will not intervene in South Vietnams internal affairs ( Peace is at Hand 34). In addition the U.S. was allowed to provide economic help to Saigon and to replenish its military equipment. America had felt the loss of its sons and daughters through the outcry by citizens. The second provision enabled the prisoners of war to return home safely. The second provision stated: All captured military and foreign civilian personnel-including the U.S. POWs-will be released within 60 days. The Viet Cong and Saigon will negotiate the release of South Vietnamese civilians detained in the south, among them thousands of Communist officials (Peace is at Hand 34). The third provision gave power back to the Vietnamese people to decide how and whom they wanted to be ruled by. The provision setup a complex plan to help the Vietnamese people have total freedom to chose their way of life, without foreign pressures. Accordingly, the provision narrates: The Vietnamese people will decide their political future based in free and internationally supervised elections. The U.S. is not committed to any personality or political tendency. The Viet Cong and Saigon will negotiate the nature of the elections and a three-part National Council of National Reconciliation and Concord, operating on the basis of unanimity, will be established to organize them. The Viet Cong and Saigon will also negotiate the future disposition of their military forces and will try to reach agreement on all internal matters within three months (Peace is at Hand 34). A provision would also be needed to settle military disagreements, hence the fourth provision read: Two military commissions will be formed- a four party commission of the U.S., Hanoi, Saigon and the Viet Cong, and a two-party commission of Saigon and the VC- to deal with disagreements over military affairs. An international supervisory commission will also be formed, and an international conference convened within 30 days (Peace is at Hand 34). U.S. wanted a provision, which would keep the conflict from away from Cambodia and Laos. The fourth provision stated that the four parties would respect the neutral state of Cambodia and Laos, and would not use the Cambodia or LaosÐ ¢s land to approach the sovereignty of other countries. All foreign nations would also be forced to retrieve their forces from Cambodia and Laos, leaving them to solve their internal matters on their own (Peace is at Hand 34). The Provisions of the Paris Accord were instilled to bring about peace to a war torn country serenely. The provisions gave all sides an equal meeting ground where they were content with, and where they could voice their concerns peacefully. Vietnam with the help of the peace provisions would be able to rebuild its torn interior and bring Vietnamese people together. At long last the U.S. could really count on the end of the conflict. That prospect makes it appropriate for the U.S. once again to assess the terrible cost of its longest, psychically most debilitating war-the cost not only in lost lives and disabled bodies but in the countrys troubled conscience, its shaken self-image and its uncertainty over its world role (The Shape of Peace 14).

Jimmy Stewart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Jimmy Stewart - Essay Example He won Oscars for his wonderful performance in â€Å"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington† (1939) and â€Å"The Philadelphia Story† in 1940. He served as a combat pilot during World War II and came back with more spirits and enthusiasm to break his own previous records. He starred in â€Å"It’s a wonderful life† in 1946 which became his reason for endless fame (Laufenberg, 2005 p 847). Jimmy Stewart had the personality which inspired me the most. The traits he portrayed in his roles, the passion, enthusiasm, zeal, quest for knowledge, ambitious personality and moral values are some of the factors that involved viewers in his role. He represented the kind of moral character which, if adopted, may change individualistic approach and further improve the society. The thoughts and feelings before taking any step and making any decision that is portrayed by him inspire the perceptions of the viewer. He was not fond of glamour but performed in movies the way he really was. This natural style is also a positive and unique trait in his character. Knowing his unique personality traits, I am much fond of his movies and gathering information about his

Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Operations Management - Essay Example In this regard, process charts can be used at different levels depending on the details required and the stage of analysis. In all the representations of the process charts, there are common symbols that are used. The symbols were first developed and used by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (Institute of Management Services, 2011). The symbols are presented here below with their implications. This symbol represents an ongoing operation. It is the main step implying that a product or material is undergoing some modification This is a symbol for inspection. It signifies a check for quality of services or products in the process (Graham, 2008, p.1). This indicates the movements (transportation) of products or workers in the execution of a process (Graham, 2008, p.1). This represents storage whereby materials are received in the storage sections or issued from the storage houses (Graham, 2008, p.1). This shows a delay or temporary storage in the process. It can also re present equipment that has been put aside up to when it will be needed in the due course Process charts are significant as they indicate the actual situation at work rather than a theoretical perspective of the situation (Graham, 2008, p.4). The above symbols are used to present a process chart of the operations involved in a trip by an airplane from Gen Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport to some destination and back to the airport. The Logan international airport is the only international airport in Massachusetts and is served by over 40 international airlines (Maps of World, 2011). It involves an air trip from Logan International Airport to Amsterdam, Netherlands using KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines. The forth and back journeys take approximately 7 hours 15 minutes each without any stoppages. The activities involved in the entire process and their respective categories are presented in the chart. Time (hours) Chart Symbols Process description - N Booking of flights by the passe ngers .5 Arrival of the passengers at the Logan International Airport 1 ? Verification of the reservation by the travel attendants .5 ? Referring the passengers with incorrect information to the travel agency for verification ? Receiving and checking the baggage of the passengers ? Printing the receipts for the passengers’ baggage 1 ? Printing boarding card for all the passengers with or without a luggage ? Issuing the travel documents to the passengers .15 ? Checking the conditions of the aircraft - N Obtaining information on the weather conditions .5 ? Queuing of the passengers as they are checked-in and ushered into the aircraft in readiness for the departure - ? Departure from Logan International airport - On-board services like sales of snacks and other products or services offered by the travel agency 7.25 Air traffic control - ? Ground handling- Coordination with the attendants at the destination airport on the landing condition - ? Arrival at Amsterdam .5 ? Checking o ut of the passengers from the aircraft by the travel assistants .5 ? Verifications of the conditions of the passengers’ baggage using the baggage receipts 1 ? Verification (checking –in) of the travel documents by the travel agency at Amsterdam airport - Passenger’s departure to their different destination .5 ? Arrival of the passengers in readiness for the return journey 1 ? Verification

Consumer decision making process on muller rice Essay

Consumer decision making process on muller rice - Essay Example The source of the competitive advantage is in the name of the company and the ability to price its products in a competitive manner. The main challenge that it faces is the increased competition from the other producers. Its opportunity is in the increased awareness in people about the food that they take. The marketing objectives of the company are to penetrate the market and attain the most market share possible. The company also aims at cementing its position in the global arena. The growth strategies that the company can use include the introduction of new products such as new flavours. The company may also expand its cream division since this will be able to utilize the excesses in the capacity (Pride and Ferrell, 2008). The understanding of the customer decision making is important for the company since this is the approach that the company will use to come up with new products. The targeting can be made in such a way that it focuses on the individual needs of the different classes of people (Pride and Ferrell,

Applications of Operant Conditioning at School Essay

Applications of Operant Conditioning at School - Essay Example Operant conditioning can be defined as a type of learning in which voluntary (controllable; non-reflexive) behavior is strengthened if it is reinforced and weakened if it is punished (or not reinforced) 1 . It states that environmental contingencies or the environment's 'reaction' to an individual's behaviour controls that individual's behaviour. As an Undergraduate he was an English major, then decided to study Psychology in graduate school. Early in his career he believed much of behavior could be studied in a single, controlled environment (created Skinner box - address later). Instead of observing behavior in the natural world, he attempted to study behavior in a closed, controlled unit. This prevents any factors not under study from interfering with the study - as a result, Skinner could truly study behavior and specific factors that influence behavior. During the "cognitive revolution" that swept Psychology (discussed later), Skinner stuck to the position that behavior was not guided by inner force or cognition. This made him a "radical behaviorist". As his theories of Operant Conditioning developed, Skinner became passionate about social issues, such as free will, how they developed, why they developed, how they were propagated, etc. 1 Skinner state that actions that are followed by reinforcing consequences are more likely to re-occur, and that actions that are followed by unpleasant or punishing consequences are less likely to re-occur. Again this might seem deceptively simple. However, the theory becomes more complicated when one realizes that what constitutes punishment and reinforcement differs depending on the individual. Skinner also noted that the situation within which the learning took place had to be taken into account. In analyzing and trying to account for behaviour, the psychologist, as behavioural detective, needs to take into account the antecedent (what happens immediately before the behaviour), the behaviour, and the consequences of the behaviour. This method is known as the ABC approach (A for antecedent, B for behaviour and C for consequences). There are five basic processes in operant conditioning: positive and negative reinforcement strengthen behavior; punishment, response cost, and extinction weaken behavior 2. Positive Reinforcement The term reinforcement always indicates a process that strengthens a behavior; the word positive has two cues associated with it. First, a positive or pleasant stimulus is used in the process, and second, the reinforcer is added (i.e., "positive" as in + sign for addition). In positive reinforcement, a positive reinforcer is added after a response and increases the frequency of the response. 2 Negative Reinforcement The term reinforcement always indicates a process that strengthens a behavior; the word negative has two cues associated with it. First, a negative or aversive stimulus is used in the process, and second, the reinforcer is subtracted (i.e., "negative" as in a "-" sign for subtraction). In negative reinforcement, after the response the negative reinforcer is removed which increases the fre