Thursday, January 30, 2020

Books and e-books Essay Example for Free

Books and e-books Essay Some people believe that printed books are no longer necessary in this digital era, as all writings can be stored electronically. Others think print books till play important role. Discuss both views and give your opinion.  In the past few years, e-books have been sold or downloaded for free in large numbers on the internet. These books and e-readers are challenging convention reading habits making the sales of traditional books decreased. But it still needs much consideration before eliminating altogether the need for printed books. There is no doubt that e-books are able to offer huge amount of information with feather like weight. Readers do not have to face the difficult choice of which book should be taken with on vacation, as one single e-reader like kindle or Nook would hold all the books you might want to read on the trip with no extra space in suitcase being wasted. E-books are also strong contenders when it comes to pricing. Because they are delivered in digital format, a part of the overhead including printing, storing and distribution can be avoided. And many classic books are free online, which is a boon to readers who only need a partly review or reference from those books. However, we cannot ignore a fact that the popularity of digital books can be a bit daunting for many readers who are used to going to the local book store, browsing the aisles and perhaps reading any chapter before purchasing. Or, there still are some senior readers who are reluctant to buy and learn to use an e-reader instead of holding a real book and making note wherever they want. Then when we talk about personal book collections, electronic ones can hardly be involved. Privately owned printed books can typically be displayed neatly as part of the household collection. These books may build up a reader’s spirit world and be good company as having friends being around. The bottom line is that both printed books and e-books have something to offer. We cannot simply eliminate the use of any single format because they are needed in different situation by various kinds of readers. They are all  making life better.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Children and Eating Disorders Essays -- Anorexia Bulimia Weight Essays

Children and Eating Disorders In the past few decades researchers have focused on eating disorders, the causes of these disorders and how they can be treated. However, it has mainly been in the last decade that researchers have started looking at eating disorders in children, the reasons why these disorders are developing at such a young age, and the best recovery program for these young people. To understand this growing problem it is necessary to ask a few important questions: Is there a relationship between family context and parental input and eating disorders? What effect do mothers who suffer or have suffered from an eating disorder have on their children and specifically their daughters’ eating patterns? What is the best way to treat children with eating disorders? TYPES OF CHILDHOOD EATING DISORDERS In an article focusing on an overall description of eating disorders in children, by Bryant-Waugh and Lask (1995), they claim that in childhood there appears to be some variants on the two most common eating disorders found in adults, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. These disorders include selective eating, food avoidance emotional disorder, and pervasive refusal syndrome. Because so many of the children do not fit all of the requirements for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified, they created a general definition which includes all eating disorders, "a disorder of childhood in which there is an excessive preoccupation with weight or shape, and/or food intake, and accompanied by grossly inadequate, irregular or chaotic food intake" (Byant-Waugh and Lask, 1995). Furthermore they created a more practical diagnostic criteria for childhood onset anorexia nervosa as: (a)... ... and Allied Disciplines 36 (3), 191-202. Edmunds H., Hill AJ. (1999). Dieting and the family context of eating in young adolescent children. International Jounal of Eating Disorders 25(4), 435-40. Kreipe RE. (1995). Eating disorders among children and adolescents. Pediatrics in Review, 16(10), 370-9. Lunt P., Carosella N., Yager J. (1989) Daughters whose mothers have anorexia nervosa: a pilot study of three adolescents. Psychiatric Medicine, 7(3), 101-10. Marchi M., Cohen P. (1990). Early childhood eating behaviors and adolescent eating disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(1), 112-7. Smolak L., Levine MP., Schermer R. (1999). Parental input and weight concerns among elementary school children. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 25(3), 263- 71.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Political Influences of Constructivist Theory Essay

There are several political influences that underlie the constructivist curriculum theory. Before the 1900s, the principles of constructivism were not very well regarded because it was generally thought that classroom instruction should be rigid and that teachers should be the sole generator of knowledge and while student’s only task in the classroom is to absorb that knowledge (Kitchener, 1986). During the 1920’s, educators such as Jean Piaget and John Dewey, began calling for educational reforms to adapt more â€Å"democratic† curricula that make use of constructivist ideals (Kitchener, 1986). These people inspired political movements that called for a different approach to learning. These political influences prompted the establishment of organizations that sought to veer away from the traditional learning methods. One such organization which was formed is the National Council of Teachers in Mathematics (NCTM). The NCTM saw how traditional methods called â€Å"drill and kill† numbed student’s minds and made learning inapplicable to practical circumstances and began to launch political and educational movements intended to help teachers facilitate learning more effectively in the classroom (NCTM, 2008). However even at the present, constructivist educational reforms have yet to take root in American legislation. Still, there are instances when political will is raised by the public to find new ways to deliver quality education. One such instance was in the latest release of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) worldwide testing which showed that American students were performing poorly based on the world standards (AGI, 2008). This prompted movements that yet again called for a different approach to education outside of the traditional lecture methods. In 2002, the U. S. House Subcommittee on Education Reform introduced legislation that sought to overhaul the current research methods for deriving effective teaching practices and better explore constructivist approaches (AGI, 2008). This legislation is known as the Education Sciences Reform Act (AGI, 2008). In conclusion, it can be said that the constructivist curriculum is politically tied with the public’s desire to have better working educational models for their children. This want is what has driven movements to exist and call for government to address the problem.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Theme Of Fire In Fahrenheit 451 - 934 Words

Fire, the symbol of warmth, destruction, and renewal, is a dominant image in the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Guy Montag, the protagonist, lives in a grim, futuristic United States where people have given up books and knowledge in general for entertainment and instant gratification. The standard use of fire to warm and heat has been replaced to be used for destruction and entertainment. Montag’s job as a fireman clearly shows this, as he is required to burn books and houses. Montag’s understanding of fire and burning as destruction is completely reversed by the end of the book when he regards it as a symbol of warmth and renewal. Montag’s enjoyment of fire and burning is changed through his interactions with Clarisse and†¦show more content†¦We can tell that he wanted to burn his house because â€Å"He wanted to change everything, the chairs, the tables, and in the dining room the silverware and plastic dishes, everything that showed that he ha d lived here†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Bradbury 116). He wanted to get rid of his old life and all memories of it. Beatty had said â€Å"Burn all, burn everything. Fire is bright and fire is clean† (Bradbury 60). Beatty told Montag that fire can be used for cleasing – just burn anything that is a problem. Ironically, Beatty is Montag’s problem, so he follows his advice and burns him. With the use of fire, Montag successfully gets rid of his previous life and Beatty, the person who controlled him before. He is having a rebirth in life. After Montag barely escapes the city, the true meaning of fire is shown to him. When he first see the group of hobos with Harvard and Cambridge degrees, they were warming themselves next to a fire talking and sharing ideas, making it a symbol of warmth. The Phoenix, a bird of fire, appears in the end as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Granger compares mankind to a phoenix when he said, â€Å"But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we’re doing the same thing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (163). He thinks that humankind has one advantageous trait compared to this bird, and that is learning from its mistakes. Granger wants his group to remember past mistakes to change them. They go on towardsShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Fire In Fahrenheit 4511246 Words   |  5 PagesThe world of Fahrenheit 451 is not a place that one may want to live. It is a dystopian world. With authoritative control and absolutely no individual f reedom, the author Ray Bradbury really set out to emphasize not only the need for literature/knowledge but also the power technology holds in his envisioned future. The novel being titled Fahrenheit 451 one might have thoughts of heat or burning or fire. Whether fire is being used as a weapon of destruction or a way to cleanse the impurity in theRead MoreTheme Of Fire In Fahrenheit 451800 Words   |  4 Pages2017 Fire. The symbol of warmth, destruction, and renewal, is a prominent theme in the novel Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury. Guy Montag, lives in a grim, futuristic United States where people have given up books and knowledge for entertainment and technology. The use of fire in the past is to give warmth and heat and has now been replaced for the use destruction and satisfaction. Montag’s job as a fireman is to burn books and houses that have books stowed away. 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This society believes that being intellectual is bad and that a lot of things that are easily accessible today should be censored. The overall message of the book is that censorship is not beneficial to society, and that it could cause great harm to one’s intelligence and socialRead MoreReview of Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 Essay1496 Words   |  6 PagesReview of Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 In Ray Bradburys novel Fahrenheit 451, the author utilizes the luxuries of life in America today, in addition to various occupations Read MoreFahrenheit 451 And V For Vendetta, By Ray Bradbury1457 Words   |  6 PagesIn the novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury and the film V for Vendetta by James McTeigue, there are a different range of features of their text type which explore the common theme of individuality against oppression. A fascist government occupies London after a world war in V for Vendetta. Where V uses terrorist tactics to fight the dictators, after saving Evey from the secret police, he now discovers an ally in the battle against England’s corrupt government. Fahrenheit 451, set in the futuristicRead MoreFigurative Language In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury702 Words   |  3 Pages â€Å"Don’t face a problem, burn it.† (Bradbury 115). This is a quote from the book, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 follows Montag’s journey after he begins to realize the truth about books. The overall theme is censorship and more importantly the result of it. In the beginning of the novel, Ray Bradbury focuses on figurative language to convey his theme. Throughout the first part, Bradbury uses many forms of figurative language such similes, metaphors, and irony. One example ofRead MoreFahrenheit 451 Essay1581 Words   |  7 PagesViolence Is Frequently Relevant To the Society in Fahrenheit 451 Fahrenheit 451 is a novel written by Ray Bradbury. In Bradbury’s futuristic novel, violence is prevalently revealed in the society. Violence in society is aggression, cruelty, rough or injurious physical actions and treatment towards the citizens and civilization in the society, where everyone has the same theory and beliefs on the way one should act. In Fahrenheit 451, everyone is careless and relatively violent with the exceptionRead MoreFahrenheit 451: the Firemen851 Words   |  4 PagesRay Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 staunchly contrasts these other writings; rather than presenting some omniscient tale admonishing its audience of the dangers of government hierarchy, Bradbury uses satire to criticize primarily emerging trends in society, providing an account that deems them equally as harrowing and dangerous as some authoritarian government, although he does include a limited number of strands involving an anti-government theme. This unique aspect of Fahrenheit 451 h as earned the attentionRead MoreFahrenheit 451 Vs. 1984970 Words   |  4 PagesFahrenheit 451 vs. 1984 Ray Bradbury and George Orwell share a very similar theme in their two novels, Fahrenheit 451 and 1984. Winston Smith and Guy Montag work within an authoritarian organization, in which, they have opposing views of the authority. The novels are placed in a dystopian setting that the authority believes is a utopia. The dystopian fictions both have very similar predictions of the future. The predictions from these novels have not happened. However, it could be a short matter