Criteria For Good Academic Report Writing English Language Essay

Criteria For Good Academic Report Writing English Language Essay The following interaction shows a number of key factors to consider when constructing a written piece of work. Following these points will hopefully develop your writing style and help you include every issue in your report. Contents and structure of a report 2.1 Contents and structure of a report http://labspace.open.ac.uk/pix/spacer.gif Photograph showing a close up the contents page in a report. http://labspace.open.ac.uk/pix/spacer.gif 2.1.1 Title page This should include the title, date and author of the report as well as the person for whom it has been produced. It may include additional information such as reference numbers, sub-headings and so on. 2.1.2 Summary (also known as an abstract) This is an overview of the whole report, including the conclusion or recommendations. It would normally be one paragraph long and needs to be very concise. Ask yourself: Why would your employer be interested in this research? What are the most important aspects of the research? What should a reader be sure to know about the research? What information will the reader need to have in order to understand the most important aspects? What are the main points from each section of your report? Summarize each section in one sentence, if possible. 2.1.3 List of contents This is a list of the chapters or sections of the report in the same sequence as they appear. Section numbers and the page on which they start should also be given. You will section a report more than an essay. For example you may begin with: Section title: Report Introduction 1.1 The background information 1.2 The purpose of the study 1.3 The scope of the study 2.1.4 Introduction The Introduction will include the background to the report. 2. Contents and structure of a report 2.2 Body of the report: survey findings and conclusions Headings within a report are not standard and they will be dictated by the nature and content of the report. The headings and content of the report should be in a logical order. This may be chronological order, items in order of importance or even perhaps alphabetical order. It is important to note here that if you asked a lot of questions you may not be able to include all the statistical data that you have produced. In this case place your statistical data in your appendix and use only the graphs and charts that are the most relevant to your findings. 2.2.1 Conclusions This is the critical part of a report where the author looks back over the evidence, reaches a judgment and looks forward to the recommendations. Before writing this section you need to take another look at: Considering your objective, did your survey help you to answer your original question? How did our survey help you? Were you right to think you needed to make changes? 2.2.2 Recommendations Recommendations should be kept separate from your conclusions so that it is clear what is being suggested. Care should be taken not to overlap this section with the conclusions. This can be a bullet point section, although it is advisable to number each recommendation so that each recommendation can be easily identified and recognised in future discussions. Recommendations might include: The new methods you would like to introduce into your salon to improve the way you work. The points that you would present to your employer and other colleagues. 2.2.3 Appendices This is where bulky raw data, diagrams, tables and other technical information should be included. The appendices can also include: A bibliography A copy of the survey (questionnaire) A copy of any interview questions and the answers given 2.2.4 Further Tips Other tips which may help you succeed in writing an effective report are: 1: Think before you write: This may sound strange, but make sure you give yourself a plan of action. What do you need to do, how are you going to achieve it etc. 2: Be clear what your purpose is: Through evaluating what the question wants, you should be clear on what it is asking of you. Identify what information you want to convey. 3: Discard everything irrelevant: Do not include sections of writing which you dont think fit into the issue you are analysing. 4: Arrange the material in a logical sequence: See the stages above. 5: Structure longer reports with sections: If you find that one discussion topic in your report is becoming overly long, then try to think of sub-headings which you would use to split it up and make it more readable. 6: Use a layout which helps the reader: If a tutor is marking your work, then it may be necessary to include a specific font and letter size which makes it easier to read. 7: Choose right words for meaning and reader: Do not fill it with long / difficult words in an attempt to make it look more intellectual. Use formal language. 8: Seek higher standards through self-criticism and practice. And finally 9: READ THROUGH YOUR REPORT AND CORRECT ANY MISTAKES. c Citation and referencing 3.1 Citation and referencing When writing a report you will have to use various academic texts (e.g. business planning, SWOT, PEST, SMART targets, Value Chain Analysis, motivation etc). These will contain theories that will help to explain your work. It is only fair that your use of another persons work or ideas to support your own work is appropriately credited to the original author. The process of referencing enables you to demonstrate to anyone reading your work, the breadth of research you have undertaken before producing your report and your familiarity with the subject without giving long explanations. People who read your work and find it interesting may want to know more about the subject. Your reference list is a good source of information that readers can use to guide their initial search. Citation and referencing 3.2 Plagiarism Plagiarism is the term used to describe the use of another authors work in your own report (either intentionally or unintentionally) without acknowledging that it is not your own, or giving the other author the credit for it. If you are careful and keep a good record of where you found information from there will be no problem in effectively referencing the source of any information or ideas you have found and the possibility of being accused of plagiarism can easily be avoided. Try to note down on paper every single publication and reference that you use when writing a report. It is important to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of a subject by showing that you can work with other peoples ideas whilst developing your own, but you must avoid simply reproducing other peoples work: in effect copying or stealing their ideas. Methods of referencing 4.1 The Harvard System http://labspace.open.ac.uk/pix/spacer.gif Photograph showing a library with shelves of books. http://labspace.open.ac.uk/pix/spacer.gif The main method of citation used for referencing focuses on what we call The Harvard System The Harvard System is the most common method of citation and referencing. However, in some areas, alternative systems can be used so it is a good idea to always check the requirements of your report. 4.1.2 Citing authors in the text Example 1 In this system you write the author/originators name and the year of publication of the document in brackets after each reference in the text. The research shows (Wheeler 1961, p.5) Example 2 If the authors name occurs naturally in the text then only the year of publication is given in brackets. Wheeler (1961, p.7) illustrates in his study Example 3 If two or more documents have the same author in the same year then they should be distinguished by lower case letters after the year of publication. Wheeler (1961a, p.5) describes this process in his study. In a second paper Wheeler (1961b, p.8) goes on further to explain Example 4 If there are 2 or up to 3 authors, the surname of all must be given. Wheeler, Smith and Jones (1993, p.15) have proposed that Example 5 If there are more than three authors the surname of the first author is given followed by et al (Latin term meaning and others) Wheeler et al. (1997, p. 3) believes Example 6 If there is no author then Anon should be used to indicate that the source is unknown. A recent article (Anon. 2001) states that Example 7 If a reference is to a newspaper where no author is given the name of the newspaper can be used. The Independent (1999) states that 4.1.3 Secondary sources If you refer to a source quoted in another source you should cite both in the text. Example 8 A study by Wheeler (1995 cited in Wood 1998, p.42) argues that You should only list Wood in your list of references, as this is the book/article you have actually read. Methods of referencing 4.2 Electronic Resources When citing Electronic Resources in the text please note: The use of the URL within the body of the text is not usually acceptable. It should only be listed in the reference list. As yet there is no universally accepted standard for citing electronic sources. It is advisable to include in your references the date you accessed the information. 4.2.1 E-book Author/s or Editor/s (Surname (comma) followed by initials) (full stop) Year of publication (i.e. year of print version, or year of electronic version if there is one) Title (either in bold, italics or underlined) (full stop) Edition (if not the first) Electronic book supplier [Online] (full stop) Available at: Specify URL (Internet address) Date of access: (brackets) (full stop) Example: E-book Davis, B. (2000) Caring for people in pain. Netlibrary [Online]. Available at: http://www.netlibrary.com/Reader (Accessed: 6 January 2004). 4.2.2 E-journal To reference from an e-journal use the following format: Author/s (Surname (comma) followed by initials) (full stop) Year of publication (in brackets) Title of article (comma) Title of journal (either in bold, italics or underlined) (comma) Volume number Issue number (in brackets) (comma) Page number or online equivalent Name of electronic collection [Online] (full stop) Available at: Specify URL (Internet address) Date of access: (brackets) (full stop) Example: E-journal Orkerson, A. (1991) The electronic journal: what, whence and when? Public Access Computer Systems Review, 2 (1), pp. 23-24 EBSCO [Online]. Available at: http://info.lib.uh.edu/pr/v2/n1/okerson.2nl (Accessed: 6 June 2002). 4.2.3 Website or Internet Database When you need to reference a whole website, use the format: Author, Editor or Publishing Organisation Year (in brackets) Website title (bold, italics or underlined ) (full stop) [Online] (full stop) Available at: Specify URL (Internet address) Date of access: (brackets) (full stop) Example: Website Historic Houses Association. (2005) Historic Houses Association. [Online]. Available at: http://www.hha.org.uk (Accessed: 6 April 2005). When referencing web pages or extracts from a database, use the format: Author/editor or Publishing Organisation Year (in brackets) Title of extract (comma) Title of database (bold, italics or underlined) [Online] (full stop) Available at: Specify URL (Internet address) Date of access: (brackets) (full stop) Example: Web Pages Darnell, M.J. (2002) Opening the file drawer, Bad Human Factors Designs [Online]. Available at: http://www.baddesigns.com/file.html (Accessed: 6 April 2005). Referencing In the Harvard system the corresponding references to citations in the text are arranged at the end of a piece of work in alphabetical order of authors surname, subdivided if necessary by year and letter. 4.3.1 How to reference a book Author/s editor/s (Surname (comma) followed by initials) (full stop) Year of publication (in brackets) Title of book (either bold, italics or underlined) (full stop) Edition (if not the first) Place of publication (colon) Publisher (full stop) [Add series number and volume number if appropriate] One Author Hayes, N. (1998) Psychology: an introduction. 3rd edn. Harlow: Longman. Two Authors Winter, J. Sivan, E. (eds.) (2000) War and remembrance in the Twentieth Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Three Authors Thwaites, A., Davis, L. Mules, W. (1995) Tools for cultural studies: an introduction. South Melbourne: Macmillan Education Australia. Multiple Authors Raven, P.H., Johnson, G.B., Losos, J.B. Singer, S. R. (2005) Biology. 7th edn. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Please note it is common acceptance, especially in scientific papers, to quote all authors in the reference list. However, this is not universal and an alternative, which is sometimes used when there are more than 3 authors, is to list the 1st author followed by et al. Please check your report requirements. 4.3.2 Chapter within a book Author/s of chapter or section (Surname (comma) followed by initials) (full stop) Year of publication (in brackets) Title of chapter/section (comma) Use the word In: Author/Editor of book/collected work (Surname (comma) followed by initials) (full stop) Title of the book/collected work (either bold, italics or underlined). Edition (if not the first) Place of publication (colon) Publisher (comma) Page numbers of chapter (full stop) Example 1 Merridale, C. (2000) War, death and remembrance in Soviet Russia, In: Winter, J. Sivan, E. (eds.) War and remembrance in the Twentieth Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 61-83. 4.3.3 How to reference a journal article Author/s of article (Surname (comma) followed by initials) (full stop) Year of publication (in brackets) Title of article (comma) Title of journal (either bold, italics or underlined) (comma) Volume number Part/issue number (in brackets) (comma) Page number/s (full stop) Example: Journal Article Bourget, D. (2004) Quantum leaps in the philosophy of the mind, Journal of Consciousness Studies, 11(12), pp. 17-42. Example: Journal Article, multiple authors Milner, L.M., Herrmann, M., Girand, K., Baker, M.S. Hiser, R.F. (2003) International sport fishing: the case of the German angler in Alaska, Tourism Analysis, 8(1), pp. 89-94. 4.3.4 Referencing a newspaper article Referencing a newspaper article is similar to referencing a journal except omit volume number and part/issue number and state the day and month of publication. Example: Newspaper Hiscott, G. (2005) Salt level in food overtakes poisoning as main concern of shoppers, The Independent, 17 March, p.8. 4.4.1 Theses or Dissertation When referencing a theses or a dissertation, use the same method as a book reference but include the level of the award (e.g. B.A., BSc., M.A.) and the name of the awarding Institution. Example 1 Gayfer, J. (1993) Controlling wall thickness of extruded polythene pipe. BEng dissertation. University of Derby. 4.4.2 Conferencing When referencing from a conference follow this format: Organising/sponsoring organisation Number (if appropriate) Year (in brackets) Title (in bold, italics or underlined) Location of conference Date of conference Place of publication (colon) Publisher (full stop) Example 1 World Health Organisation (1978) Primary health care: report of the International Conference on Primary Health Care. Alma-Ata USSR, 6-12 September 1978. Geneva: W.H.O. 4.4.3 Audio-visual material Typically, putting the title as the first element of the reference is preferred but if an individual has clear responsibility for the intellectual content then they should be given as the originator. Title (bold, italics, underlined) Year (date of distribution)(brackets) Originator (director preferred) [Videocassette] (full stop) Place of distribution (colon) Organisation (full stop) Example 1 The Prince of tides (1997) Directed by Barbara Streisand [Videocassette]. London: ITV. 4.4.4 Maps When referencing from an ordnance survey map, use the format: Originator state Ordnance Survey Year of publication (in brackets) Title of map (bold, italics or underlined ) (comma) Sheet number (comma) Scale of map (e.g. 1: 50 000) (full stop) Place of publication (colon) Publisher (full stop) Series (in brackets) (full stop)

Taking a Chance in Hurston’s Novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God and Seraph on the Suwanee :: Their Eyes Watching God Seraph Suwanee

Taking a Chance in Hurston’s Novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God and Seraph on the Suwanee â€Å"‘All right then, you name somethin’ and we’ll do it. We kin give it uh poor man’s trial anyhow.’† â€Å"‘Anyhow Ah done got rested up and de bed bugs is done got too bold round heah. Ah didn’t notice when mah rest wuz broke. Ah’m goin’ out and look around and see whut we kin do. Ah’ll give anything uh common trial.’† pp. 168-69; Their Eyes Were Watching God â€Å"Arvay woke up next morning with hope and determination. Nothing beats trial but a failure, Arvay decided. She might not win Jim back, but she meant to give it a poor man’s trial. That is the best that she could do. If she failed, it was not going to be because she never tried.† p. 316; Seraph on the Suwanee The first passage shows no sign of weakness or unsureness; there are only bold declarations of fact. Janie tells Tea Cake to â€Å"name somethin’† and they would be capable of doing it (168). Tea Cake shares the same attitude with Janie, telling her that he is rested and that he is â€Å"goin’ out† too â€Å"look around† for something for them to do (168-9). The indecision lies not with the two of them but instead with the outside world. The use of active, present-tense verbs makes the passage vibrant and lifelike. It is clear to the reader from this passage that the couple is happy and confident in themselves; they will give most anything â€Å"a poor man’s trial† (168). They are not worried about their future, and the impression is that they â€Å"kin do† practically anything and still be happy (169). In the second passage, there is sureness tainted with uncertainty. Arvay has â€Å"hope and determination† to accomplish her goal, but she is unsure about its outcome (316). She thinks that â€Å"she might not† regain her status with her husband (316). She is not positive that Jim will take her back. Because she is willing â€Å"to give it a poor man’s trial,† the extent of her resolve is shown (316). However, her lack of confidence shows in the next sentence, where she admits that there is a possibility for failure. Arvay has resolved not to lose Jim â€Å"because she never tried† (316). While the sentences are active in this passage, the past tense lends them an air of resignedness and doubt.

Class Conflict in Britain :: Politics Political

Class Conflict in Britain "Class conflict has gradually been diluted by growing affluence." "The history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle." This famous opening line from Marx Communist Manifesto refers to the struggle between the labouring, working classes and the bourgeoisie owners of the means of production. The proletariat are exploited by the capitalists for profit and are therefore forced to live in poverty and dire conditions. Marx predicted that eventually the proletariat would overthrow this capitalist system and replace it with a system which is often referred to as Communist - whereby the workers have control. Today, whenever the words 'class' or 'class conflict' are mentioned people usually turn to Marx definition and picture the poor worker fighting for better pay, better living and working conditions. The typical class conflict is typified as workers versus the owners, or bourgeoisie. In Britain this struggle did not develop in the way that Marx predicted - there has never been a genuine proletariat revolutionary threat. In its place has been a tradition of reformist socialism with the Labour Party and the Trades Unions being the main campaigners. In Britain the traditional class conflict is often depicted as Labour Party versus Conservative Party. The Labour Party have fought for workers rights and have been supported at elections by the working class, whereas the Conservatives have drawn most of their support from the middle classes. It is argued that today this traditional class conflict, depicted in no better fashion than the Miners' Strike of 1984, has been diluted by growing affluence. In otherwords the working class have become economically better off. They were given the right to buy council houses, to own shares and have, it is argued, become more middle class. The working class today have a lot more to lose in a fierce class struggle and are therefore happy to uphold the system. The huge decline in the traditional industries, such as coal, has coincided with a rise in the size of the non-manual, service industry - the sphere in which the 'middle classes' tend to be employed. In 1964 50% of the workforce were employed in the manual sector, compared to 36% in 1992. These figures coincide with a 15% rise in the non-manual, 'petty bourgeoisie' jobs. Whilst there may be some truth in this 'embourgeoisement' theory, there is also no doubting the fact that it is an exaggerated view. To say that 'we are all middle class' (Blair 1998) is an absurdity. Class conflict may have been subdued but not only because of growing affluence. The capitalists have managed to silence what was once a

Build Your Future Today

Build Your Future Today Introduction If I were to ask you, â€Å"What is the next major decision you need to make in your life, what would it be? † Perhaps you'll be looking at your next investment proposal. Or perhaps you are thinking about how to celebrate your next wedding anniversary with your spouse. Or perhaps, you're trying to decide whether or not you will Join our Toastmasters club today.Madam Toastmasters, my fellow Toastmasters, dignitaries, and our most honored guests, to help you decide tonight, not only will you get an overview of our Toastmasters program, you will also walk away with some of the tips and techniques I learned from more experienced Toastmasters. Speaking Off the Cuff First of all, take a look again at the agenda. You will notice how there are three parts to every Toastmasters meeting: Table Topics, Prepared Speeches, and then Evaluations. For Table Topics, the purpose is to help you think on your feet by responding too question you didn't prepare for, within 1-2 minutes.Why? Think about Job interviews. By keeping your responses short and concise, I think you're much more likely to establish rapport with your interviewers. I still remember how I recently had 4 Job promotion interviews. One of the questions they all asked was â€Å"tell us about software programs you are familiar with and how you used it for work. † I answered the question! I gave them a list of examples and connected them with work examples. Unfortunately, it came off like a typical laundry list. Boring, forgettable, and â€Å"toss salad†. Not surprisingly, I was O for 4 in getting my rumination.Then, in my 5th promotion interview, when I got the same question, I twisted the question. Instead of making the same mistake again, I actually asked, â€Å"What are the challenges for your unit? † Then, after listening patiently to their challenges, I was able to make everything I said relevant for their unit. For instance, I addressed how I coul d help them produce memos and proofread documents. Also, impromptu speaking can help improve your interpersonal communication skills. Consider your conversations with your friends and family.Are you likely to deliver 5-7 minute speeches? I hope not. As you can see, the ability to think on your feet is extremely valuable for reaching your professional and personal goals. Delivering Winning Presentations In addition to improving your impromptu speaking, you will learn how to deliver winning presentations. By working through the Competent Communication manual, you can improve many different aspects of public speaking, such as speech organization, body language, and vocal variety. Many people have difficulty coming up with material to talk about.Just pick topics you are familiar with. For example, I three chunks, each lasting from 5-7 minutes. Then, when I need to deliver the actual presentation, I feel much more confident. You can do the same. Take material you know you'll be presentin g in the real-world and practice it here at Toastmasters. Evaluations After you're done with presentations, you need feedback to keep improving. This is where evaluations come into play. When I first started out in Toastmasters, the hardest roles were Speech Evaluator and General Evaluator.I remembered how my ere first speech evaluation was for our Distinguished Toastmaster, Ron Dowel. My hands were shaking as I brought my notes and his manual to the podium. My voice was shaking too: â€Å"Great†¦ Gestures, great†¦ Volume, great†¦ Content. † Seriously, I didn't know how to evaluate an experienced speaker. As I gained more experience, this process became easier. Now you may be wondering, â€Å"Why does a giving effective speech evaluation matter to me? † Consider how you need to evaluate other people's ideas every day. Perhaps you need to evaluate ideas from your colleagues.Or perhaps you need to evaluate ideas from your family and friends. How to critiqu e their ideas without offending them? How to make your suggestions more useful and memorable? You can practice to master this invaluable skill here in Toastmasters. Conclusion As you can see, Toastmasters can help you improve your impromptu speaking, presentation skills, and evaluation skills. By investing Just $36 for every 6 months, you can change your life. Make the right decision by Joining Toastmasters today, because your future depends on it.

Mindfulness Worksheet Essay

Please use the information from your â€Å"mindfulness conversation† to complete this worksheet. Submit this worksheet in the Module 1: Assignment 3 Dropbox no later than Day 7 of Module 1. Include vocabulary and concepts from your reading and course site to support and illustrate your own insights. In preparation for the papers you’ll write later in this course, take the time to organize your thoughts for each question and write clearly. Completed worksheet should be not more than three pages. 1. Describe who you had the conversation with and where. Only disclose what you are comfortable with. You can use initials or code names. I had this mindfulness conversation with a friend I’ve had for a long time. I had the conversation at my house on the front porch. 2. How easy/hard did you find it to be mindful? Why? I find it very easy to be mindful this time one reason being that me and him knew each other since we were 12 and we connect like brothers and have a lot in common that’s why I can be so mindful to him. 3. What did you notice during the moments when you were able to be mindful? How were you feeling? I noticed while being mindful that we have so much in common and we shared so many memorys for so many years. I felt very good listening to him because we are so close and it felt good to listen to what he had to say at those moments. 4. How did mindlessness – both yours and the other person’s – show up in the conversation? What affect did it have? Our mindfulness showed mine at first because I was only listening to him then him to me. It affected us by letting us know we can both be mindful and listen and learn from each other. 5. What 2-3 things did you learn about mindfulness? I learned that when you listen to someone they can teach you something everyone has a different perspective and view and deserve to be listened to. Next I learned that when you stop and be mindful to someone they will in return most likely be mindful to you. 6. What would help you be more mindful in your life? Identify 2 actions (i.e. new behaviors you can practice). How will these actions improve your interpersonal effectiveness? One thing that would help me be more mindful would be to learn about that person find out what we got in common and listen to them and then tell them what we have in common and share that with them. If I did this more often then I would definitely improve my interpersonal effectiveness because when you are more mindful then people will do the same to you and when people are mindful to each other then they will get along better and can teach each other more things about each other and about life in general.

Should Obese People Pay Higher Health Insurance Premiums?

Writing Assignment #3: Should obese people pay higher health insurance premiums than people who are not obese? – Rishard Rheyas Obesity has become a serious problem with more than one third of adults being obese in the United States. Obesity is seen as a self-destructive behavior accompanied with smoking and use of other drugs thus, government officials and other business bureaucrats expressed the need to impose higher health insurance premiums on the obese.Obesity is not always due to the personal behavior of people and can be linked with the environment and genetics; I personally feel that obese people should not pay a higher health insurance premium compared to those that aren’t. Government officials and other business bureaucrats expect that raising the health insurance premiums for the obese would help reduce the mortality and overall health of the country however according to a study, individuals with lower BMIs tend to associate themselves with less favorable hea lth conditions and mortality rates as compared to those with high BMIs.The body mass index (BMI) assesses one’s body weight relative to height. The weight in kilograms is divided by height in meters squared (kg/m^2). It correlates highly with body fat in most people hence is a useful, indirect measure of body composition. According to research carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with increasing weight the risk of diseases also increases including cancer, stroke, coronary heart disease etc. A BMI between 25. 0 and 30. 0 is defined to be â€Å"overweight† and a BMI of over 30. is defined to as â€Å"obesity† (30 or more pounds overweight). Overweight and obesity result form an energy imbalance which involves consuming too many calories as compared to the amount of physical activity one does. The question lies on whether this issue is mainly because of psychological factor beyond an individual’s control or personal choices ma de by the obese individual. Genetics and the environment do play a huge role in this however it also deals with the personal choices made by that particular individual.David Zinckenko argues in his article â€Å"don’t blame the eater†, that it is a matter of personal responsibility but can sympathize with the obese individuals as there is a lack of alternatives and information regarding fast food consumption. Society in the United States has raised concern about healthy diets, providing alternatives sources of food but unfortunately at a cost. The increased cost for a healthy diet dissuades teenagers from eating healthier food thus without a change of environment it can result in a lifetime of obesity. David Zinckenko briefly brings in the comparison with the automobile industry.The automobile insurance is significantly high for most high end vehicles and also for the younger generation. This is mainly because the higher end vehicles have a certain type of brand value and reputation as with certain big health insurance companies. The youth are charged higher automobile insurance as they are more prone to accidents as suggested with smokers and obese individuals with diseases. The government and other respective officials imposing this would mean that obesity is termed a disease which would force individuals to try to become thinner.This could lead to dangerous diseases such as anorexia. The difference is mainly because health insurance has a closer link to our economy and human life as compared to automobile insurance. Individuals should be given rights to decide what they would like as with the automobile insurance wherein individuals choose a higher end car thus pay a greater insurance. With regard to obesity, this increase in health insurance would not give individuals a choice but force them into a system of hardship.Judt claims that throughout the middle decades of the Twentieth Century society as a whole guaranteed certain rights for citize ns without questioning the motivations or the morality of citizens. There has been increased support for self responsibility and reduced expectations for â€Å"handouts† from the state since the 1980s. The current proposition to raise the insurance premiums for the obese questions the morality of the government officials involved as it forces individuals to change in order to fit into a certain framework of expectation.This is unfair and it deprives individuals of their freedom and rights to choose their way of life. Concerns regarding the health issue of obesity are justifiable however this type of proposition appears to be harsh and presumptuous. It comes down to the issue of state responsibility versus individual responsibility. The current issue at hand dealing with obesity is part of the state’s responsibility but is more about personal individual responsibility. The state should provide cheaper and healthy alternatives as one of the major reasons for obesity is d aily life.David Leonhardt argues that personal responsibility has become more complicated as our environment has changed. The present environment involves us prioritizing our work more than our health or anything else hence we become more unhealthy and obese. The solution to this is suggested to be beyond the control of an individual, if people want to become successful they need to work hard most of the time and that requires people choosing a certain type of lifestyle.Imposing higher insurance premiums would also be unfair to the obese as most obese individuals tend to earn less than their less obese counterparts. This increase in insurance would mean that individuals would have to lose their freedom and rights whilst suffering even more hardships trying to pay the health insurance. Controlling obesity can be done by implementing more healthy affordable alternatives and controlling the work environment rather than imposing higher insurance premiums and compromise on freedom.

Jonestown Mass Suicide. Jim Jones

Jonestown Mass Suicide: A Look at Jim Jones diagnosis and the People's Temples 918. This is the number of people that died in Jonestown, from apparent cyanide poisoning because of Jim Jones. This mass murder/suicide was one of the largest in modern history that resulted in the largest single loss of American civilian life, without being caused by a natural disaster until the events of September 11,2001. Jim Jones was the leader of the Peoples Temple, a religious organization also seen as a sect. Criminal psychology is the study of the wills, thoughts, intentions and reactions of criminals.This is why, in the following essay, I will discuss, take a look and analyse Jim Jones and his diagnosis. I will also explore many ideas surrounding the Peoples Temple and their members. It is my hope that my research paper will provide an extensive and interesting psychological look at Jim Jones behavior, Jonestown mass suicide and the members of the Peoples Temple. Born on May 13,1931 in a rural a rea of Indiana, James Warren ? Jim? Jones had an uncommon childhood . His dad James was a World War 1 veteran, and his mother Lynetta believed that she had given birth to a messiah.Jim was Irish and Welsh, and was claiming that he was partial Cherokee, but it wasn't true. Hall (1987) basically explain that because of the Great Depression, his family had economic difficulties that necessitated them to move in another town in Indiana in 1934. He grew up there in a shack without any plumbing. According to a childhood friend and Jim Jones himself, his father, James, was associated with the Ku Klux Klan, which is a far-right organizations in the U. S who had advocated extremist reactionary currents such as some white supremacy, nationalism and anti-immigration through terrorism.In one of the interviews that took part in 2006 for the documentary ? Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple? some acquaintances of Jim childhood described him as being a ? really weird kid obsessed with religion and death?. They also reported that Jones was frequently holding funerals for small animals that he killed or that he found dead, and he had once stabbed a cat to death. As a child, Jim was a big reader and he studied Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Karl Marx and Mahatma Gandhi a lot. He was looking to find every strengths and weaknesses of them.Lately, Jones became a member of the Communist Party USA in 1951. In a way, Jones wanted to demonstrate his Marxism, and the only way that he found was to infiltrate the church. In 1952, he become a student pastor in a Methodist church. One theorist suggest that he didn't stay not much longer because they were barred him from integrating black people into his congregation (Wessinger, 2000). Jones started to do faith-healing services, and he observed that it was attracting people and their money. He started to organized religious convention with healing evangelist .He then began his own church, the Peoples Temple. It was initially made as an inter-racial mission. Then, Jones left the Communist Party because they were criticizing some of the policies of Joseph Stalin. During these years, Jones helped to integrate black communities into churches, restaurants, telephone company, police department, a theater, an amusement park and the Methodist Hospital. A lot of people were criticizing his integrationist view. Jim and his wife adopted several children with non-Caucasian ancestry. For him, this was his ? ainbow family? , and he was encouraging the member of his Temple to do the same. In the same year, Jones and his family travel in Brazil to find another location for the Temple. He then came back from Brazil and claimed that there would be a nuclear war, so the temple had to move to California. Like other cult leaders, Jones was easily able to gain public support and contact with important figures, such as politicians from among the United-States and other countries. The Peoples Temple and Jones were getting more and more known by the entire population.He was forging media alliances and was getting a lot of attention by political figures. It is in the summer of 1977 that Jones and several hundred of members moved to Guyana. This Temple was a ? Agricultural Project?. He named it Jonestown. This Temple was created both for a ? socialist paradise? and also a sanctuary to be hide from the media. According to both (Reiterman;Jacobs,1982), Jones didn't permitted members to leave Jonestown. For him, it was the beginning of one of his belief called ? Translation? here he and all of the members would die together to move to live on another planet. When Jones left, a lot of political allies broke ties with him. This is why, on April 11, 1978, a document called ? Accusation of Human Rights Violations to the Peoples Temple? by Jones had been distributed to members of the press and congress. With the testimony of an escaped Temple member, US delegations had enough details about rimes and the living condition s to an investigation on human right abuses. By this time, Jones hired Mark Lane and Donald Freed to repair his reputation.The investigation group, that included news reporter, congressman and cameraman arrived in Jonestown on November 17, 1978. Finally, they had an abrupt end because one of the members tried to kill the congressman with a knife. However, they succeeded to take fifteen members that wanted to leave with them. They were about to leave when a group of Jones Guard arrived in a trailer, armed, and started to shoot the group. The guards killed the congressman, the deputy chief of mission and three other news reporter. It is later on the same day that the mass suicide happened.The reason that gives Jones to convince people to commit suicide was his conspiracy theories of intelligence organizations against the Temple. He was saying that some men would parachute in Jonestown, shoot some innocent babies and torture the children and the seniors. It is in a big storage containe r that they made the mix ? Kool-Aid. For him, it was a worthless suicide  Ã¢â‚¬Å"We didn't commit suicide; we committed an act of revolutionary suicide protesting the conditions of an inhumane world† (Jones,1978). Children's were given the drink first, and families were told to lie down together.Some people escaped, but the majority drink the poison. Jones, for himself, committed suicide with a gun. According to the (DSM-IV-TR), Jim Jones is suffering from several personality disorders. One of it would be Anti Social Personality Disorder Cluster B. ASPD, is define to be ? a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood?. There is several point form that makes you diagnosed as ASPD, and you need to be indicated by three or more.For the case of Jones, there is easily three points that can be indicated. The first one is deception, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of alia ses, or conning others for personal profit of pleasure. One good example of it would be that Jones was doing some faith-healing. By doing this, one time, he engaged a woman to fake that she was handicapped and wasn't able to walk. Then, Jones did his faith-healing, the woman got up of his wheelchair and started to walk. He was getting attention and was making money for personal interest out of it.Also, Jones was lying repeatedly to his members, saying that they had to leave to California because the world would engage in a nuclear war and they had to move for safety. Also, this is only few examples from all of them. The second one is the reckless disregard for safety of self or others. An obvious example of it is that Jones wasn't letting people to leave Jonestown, and he obligated everybody to committed suicide. Also , he ordered his guard to shoot at the group who were coming to investigate the issue.The third one is the lack of  remorse as indicated by being indifferent to or  rationalizing  having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another. Jones had killed 918 peoples, and didn't express any remorse. For him, he was helping them to live on another planet. References Hall, John R. (1987), Gone from the Promised Land, Transaction Publishers. Chidester, D. (2004). Salvation and suicide: Jim jones, the people's temple and jonestown (religion in north america). (2nd ed. ). Indiana University Press. Wessinger, Catherine (2000), How the Millennium comes violently: From Jonestown to Heaven's Gate, Seven Bridges PressReiterman, T. , & Jacobs, J. (1982). Raven: The untold story of Rev. Jim Jones and his people. Dutton. Rosenburg, J. (2005, April 10). About. com. Retrieved from http://history1900s. about. com/od/people/p/jimjones. htm Jones, J. J. (1978, 11 17). [Audio Tape Recording]. Alternative considerations of jonestown and peoples temple. Jonestown project. Transcript of Recovered FBI tape Q 42. , San Diego State University. Antisocial personality disorder - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)  American Psychiatric Association (2000) pp. 645-650