Definition and Examples of Backing in the Toulmin Model

Definition and Examples of Backing in the Toulmin Model In the Toulmin model of argument, backing is the support or explanation provided for the warrant. The backing is often characterized by the word because. Examples and Observations [Stephen] Toulmins The Uses of Argument, which appeared in 1958, is mainly known for the model of argumentation presented in this book. This model represents the procedural form of argumentation: the various steps that can be distinguished in the defense of a standpoint. According to Toulmin, the soundness of argumentation is primarily determined by the degree in which the warrant, which connects the data adduced in the argumentation with the claim that is defended, is made acceptable by a backing. . . .What kind of backing is required, however, is dependent on the field to which the question at issue belongs. An ethical justification, for instance, requires a different kind of backing from a legal justification. Toulmin concludes from this that the evaluation criteria for determining the soundness of argumentation are field dependent.(Frans H. Van Eemeren, Argumentation Theory: An Overview of Approaches and Research Themes, in Rhetorical Argumentation in Biblical Texts, edited by An ders Eriksson, et al. Continuum, 2002) Different Kinds of BackingToulmin . . . emphasizes the difference between backing and warrant: backings can be categorical statements of fact just like data, while warrants always are general bridge-like statements . . .. A central point in Toulmins book [The Uses of Argument] is that different kinds of backings occur in different fields of argument. Among Toulmins examples of backings are statutes and acts of Parliament, statistical reports, appeals to the results of experiments and references to taxonomical systems. All can provide the backing that warrant the arguments as they are acceptable in particular fields.(Bart Verheij, Evaluating Arguments Based on Toulmins Scheme. Arguing on the Toulmin Model: New Essays in Argument Analysis and Evaluation, edited by David Hitchcock and Bart Verheij. Springer, 2006)Backing as EvidenceInitial Statement: It should be investigated whether Peter murdered George.Claim: Peter shot George.Backing: Witness W states that Peter shot George.[Here] . . . the backing statement is the kind of evidence you need to collect in a murder investigation. Of course, the witness may be lying, or what he says may not be true. But if he says that Peter shot George, that statement needs to be investigated in any proper investigation. It is relevant in that context.(Douglas N. Walton, Witness Testimony Evidence: Argumentation, Artificial Intelligence, and Law. Cambridge University Press, 2008)

The Complete College Application Process Expert Guide

The Complete College Application Process Expert Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you want to successfully complete the college application process and make yourself as competitive for college admission as possible, you’ll be directly or indirectly working on your college applications well before the deadlines approach. In fact, if you have any intention of applying to selective colleges, this process can really begin as early as your freshman year. In this article, I’ll describe all of the tasks you should complete to maximize your chances of getting into the best possible college. Furthermore, I’ll let you know when you should be completing these tasks so that you’re able to stay on top of the process. Feature image source: Scott Savage/Flickr Overview of the College Application Process The major components of your application that will be evaluated are your transcript, your standardized test scores, your recommendations, your personal essay, and your extracurricular activities. I'll walk you through all the steps you need to take to strengthen each component of your application. If you follow my advice and timeline, you'll make yourself an extremely strong candidate for any college. Read on to learn the specific things you should be doing and when to do them. Take the Right Classes When to start: Before freshman year Colleges will evaluate you based on the classes you’ve taken. The most selective schools want to admit students who have challenged themselves and are willing to push themselves academically. You don’t have to take every single honors and AP course that’s offered at your school, but if you want to get into a top college, you should be able to demonstrate that you can excel in some of the hardest courses that are available to you. Also, it's best to take the most difficult classes in the subjects related to your academic strengths or your intended major. You should begin thinking about whichclasses totake before your freshman year of high school. In many schools, the math or foreign language class you take during your freshman year will determine what level you’re able to reach when you’re a senior in high school. Spend ample time considering which classes to takeand whether those classes will allow you to pursue your academic interests and reach your college goals. Specifically, consider whichscience, math, history, foreign language, English, elective, and AP classes you should take. Challenging yourself makes you stronger. Get Good Grades When to start: Freshman year I think this is pretty obvious, but your grades matter to colleges. The majority of colleges will focus on your sophomore and junior year grades, but schoolswill also look at your freshman and senior year grades. Also, your high school GPA is typically calculated from your grades from all four years of high school. You should try to maintain the mentality that every semester counts, and do as well as you can each year of high school. For inspiration and useful information, check out our article on how to get a 4.0 GPA and better grades. Excel in Extracurriculars When to start: Freshman year Other than your grades and test scores, your extracurricular activities probably have the biggest influence on the quality of your college application. Colleges, especially the most selective ones, want their students to have exceptional achievements outside of the classroom, and they’re looking for individuals who use their leisure time to pursue their passions. You should participate in extracurricular activities throughout high school. Colleges prefer to see a sustained commitment to your activities; it’s more impressive to do one activity for four years and continue to show growth in that activity than it is to do four activities for one year each. Some students believe they need to be well-rounded and do a ton of extracurriculars; however, for college admissions, it may be more advantageous for you to develop a â€Å"spike† and exhibit excellence in a particular activity or field. Instead of playing every sport, writing for the school newspaper, participating in speech and debate, and joining student government, you may be better served to focus your extracurricularefforts on becoming a superstar field hockey player. Or, if you're passionate about science, you may want to spend your free time creating an award-winning project for science fair or competing in Science Olympiad. If you have multiple interests, it's perfectly acceptable to explore all of them; just keep in mind that you don't have to do every possible extracurricular to get into a great college, and, generally, reaching the highest level in a given activity requires such an incredible time commitment that you won't have time to participate in many other activities outside of school. Learn what to do if you’re struggling to find extracurriculars. Also, when you’re filling out your college applications, know how to write about your extracurriculars. Maybe the marching band is a good extracurricular for you. Image source:Utah Department of Transportation/Flickr Rock Your Standardized Tests When to start: Sophomore year Even though some colleges have minimized the importance of standardized tests in admissions, your standardized test scores are still a crucial component of your application to most colleges. I advise starting your studying for the SAT/ACT during your sophomore year. Also, you may want to take the PSAT or PreACT during your sophomore year to familiarize yourself with standardized tests. To give yourself the best chance of reaching your target score and to decrease your stress level, we recommend first taking your SAT/ACT in the fall of your junior year. If you don’t reach your target score on your first attempt, you can do more studying and retake the test in the spring of your junior year. If you achieve the score you’re hoping for by the end of your junior year, you’ll have more time duringyour senior year to focus on your schoolwork, extracurriculars, and college applications. If you’re still unsatisfied with your score at the end of your junior year, you have more time to study over the summer and retake the test in the fall. Make sure you know when is the last time you can take the SAT/ACT. Your deadline for taking the SAT/ACT is dependent upon the specific schools you apply to and whether or not you apply early. For most schools, for early decision, you have to take the SAT/ACT by October or November of your senior year, and for regular decision, you have to take the SAT/ACT by December of your senior year. However, there are a few colleges that will accept the January SAT or the February ACT. If you’re considering applying to a school that requires SAT Subject Tests, I also recommend taking those by the end of your junior year. Research Colleges When to start: Junior year Before you apply to college, you need to know which colleges to apply to. You can start learning about colleges as early as your freshman year, especially if you want to get an idea of what you need to do to be a competitive applicant, but you should actively research colleges starting in your junior year at the latest. Use college search websites, finders, guidebooks, and ranking lists to help find colleges that would be a good fit for you. You can also use college fairs and tours to gain more exposure to different colleges and get a better idea of what you’re looking for in a school. By the start of your senior year of high school, you should have a list of colleges to apply to. I recommend applying to reach schools, target schools, and at least a couple of safety schools. College Fair fun. Image source:Patrick Giblin/Flickr Get Superb Recommendations When to start: Spring of junior year Recommendations are also an important part of your college applications. Colleges want assessments from others on your abilities as a student and your character. Be aware of what constitutes a good recommendation and how to ask for a letter of recommendation. It’s best to initially ask teachers to write your recommendations in the spring of your junior year. By asking early, you’ll be able to get your teachers to agree before they become inundated with requests during your senior year, and they’ll have more time to think about what they’re going to write. Make sure you know whom to ask to write your letters. At the beginning of your senior year, you can submit formal requests for your recommendation letters. Also, for your reference, check out these recommendation letters that got a student admitted to Harvard and other Ivy League schools. Write Outstanding College Essays When to start: Summer before senior year Writing your college essays is the most challenging and time-consuming part of the actual application process. Learn everything you need to know about the college essay and how to come up with great college essay ideas.I recommend starting to work on your college essays during the summer before your senior year. The absolute latest you'd want to wait isthe beginning of your senior year, as soon as you’ve finalized thelist of colleges you’re applying to. Even though college essays aren’t particularly long, in my experience, they do take much longer than you’d anticipate, and you’re less likely to be able to write good essays if you wait until the last minute to start. Give yourself enough time to have a trusted teacher or counselor proofread your essays. And you’ll also need time to revise them. Obviously, the essays have to be completed before you submit your applications. If you’re applying early, most deadlines are in mid-November. If you’re applying regular decision, most deadlines are around January 1st. Make sure you keep track of deadlines forthe schools you’re applying to because deadlines will vary. For example, the application deadline for University of California schools is November 30th. Final Thoughts and Additional Steps For most students, the steps listed above are the major components of the college application process. However, some of you may have to do extra work depending on your situation and the colleges you apply to. For example, if you're an aspiring college athlete, you may participate in the athletic recruiting process. If you're applying to an art school or program, you may have to make an art portfolio. Also, some colleges recommend or require interviews. If you interview, know what questions to ask and prepare for. For those of you seeking financial aid, you’ll have to go through the financial aid process, and you may want to apply for scholarships. You should find out the status of earlyapplications in mid-December and regular applications by late March. Then, you may find yourself with multiple options and have to face the task ofchoosing a college. While the application process can feel overwhelming and incredibly stressful, you can minimize your stress by having a plan and avoiding procrastination. Don’t worry too much. Regardless of what you do, there’s no absolute guarantee that you’ll get into the most selective colleges, but if you try hard and follow our advice, you’ll get into a good college and develop the attributes that will enable your future success. What's Next? If you're looking for an example of what you need to do to get into the best colleges, check out this successful Harvard application. Perhaps you've heard people reference Ivy League schools, but you're not exactly sure what they are. Learn about Ivy League colleges and read our article ranking the Ivy League schools. Finally, figure out where in the country you should go to college. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

International Financial Reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

International Financial Reporting - Essay Example Moreover, in order to explain the concept, certain examples have been discussed for a hypothetical organisation - Noka. IAS 16 deals with recognition of property, plant and equipment; and their depreciation charge calculation. It also provides guidance on how to determine the carrying value of these assets and the treatment during disposal of these fixed assets. In order to facilitate the users in reading financial statements, IAS 16 standardises the recognition, measurement, revaluation, depreciation and de-recognition of property, plant and equipment; and provides guidance on accounting treatments. The standard provides flexibility to organisations in terms of subsequent measurement of value of the fixed asset. So, it can either be stated at original cost (less impairment and depreciation), or can be revalued to state its fair value (the current market value). The organisation must state the method used to measure the asset in the disclosure section of the financial statements. This would assist users in determining whether the original cost is used to value the asset or if the market value is used to provide a fair value closer to the current market value. ... The organisation must state the method used to measure the asset in the disclosure section of the financial statements. This would assist users in determining whether the original cost is used to value the asset or if the market value is used to provide a fair value closer to the current market value. But, in order to assure the users that revaluation was done properly, addition disclosures are required including date of revaluation, method used to revalue, if independent valuer was involved, etc. The implication of carrying value is significant. This is because in most circumstances, organisations would opt to incur additional expenses of revaluing the asset only if they are confident that revaluation will assist in increasing the carrying value of the asset. This directly impacts the balance sheet. Depreciation The depreciation is the charge on usage of the asset; and is treated as a non-cash expense. At the end of the year, depreciation is charged to the income statement of the organization. IAS 16 requires that organisations use a depreciation method consistent to the useful life of the asset (the period in which economic benefits can be obtained from the asset). The method used to calculate depreciation may vary. In addition, organisations are allowed to change the depreciation method but it has to be documented under disclosure section along with reasons for the change. The implications may be significant. If reducing balance method of depreciation is used, the company will be able to depreciate the asset faster in the beginning as opposed to straight line depreciation that requires same depreciation charge for the entire useful life of the asset. De-recognition or

Accounting Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Accounting Law - Assignment Example The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994 – Schedule 1 provides for the conditions of release of the superannuation funds under Part I, sections 101 to 114 thereof, namely: retirement; death; terminal medical condition; permanent incapacity; former temporary resident under certain conditions; payment to the Commissioner of Taxation under the Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Act 1999; termination of employment on or after July 1, 1997 where the member’s fund does not amount to more than $200; severe financial hardship; attainment of age 65; compassionate grounds; termination of employment with an employer who contributed to the funds for the member; temporary incapacity; attainment of preservation age; a found lost member with fund balance amounting to less than $200; certain conditions under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997; under s 292-B of the Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997, and; so provided as release conditions unde r  §62(1) (b) (v) of the 1994 Act. In the problem at hand, Jonathan’s primary condition for release of his superannuation fund balance is retirement, which is further defined as a state when the person under gainful employment of another is set to terminate that employment and will never again seek employment either on a full or part time basis. 1 In addition, that employee contemplating retirement must have reached the age of 60 or if below 60, must have reached his or her preservation age, according to s. 7 of the same Act. The problem does not state, however, if Jonathan has reached his preservation age, a condition assumed if a person is born under the following dates: before 1 July 1960 to 30 June 1961, if 55 years of age; between 1 July 1960 to 30 June 1961, if 56 years of age; between 1 July 1960 to 30 June 1962, if 57 years of age; between 1 July 1962 to 30 June 1963, if 58 years of age; between 1 July 1963 to 30 June 1964, if 59 years of age, or; after 30 June 1964 , if 60 years of age.2 Fig. 1 Superannuation Interest Tax3 Thus, for Jonathan to be able to able to access his superannuation fund balance, he must have been born between 1 July 1960 to 30 June 1962, since he is now 57 years of age, otherwise he will not be able to access the same on the ground of retirement. Assuming he was born between that period, Jonathan can lawfully access his fund and the tax due on the benefit from the superannuation fund depends on the following factors: age; whether as lump sum or income stream, and; the taxed or untaxed elements present in the fund.4 Figure 1 above illustrates how taxes of superannuation benefits are determined. A superannuation benefit, according to the diagram, may have components, which according to s. 307.120 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 97 hereafter), may be a taxable or tax-free component. Superannuation income streams paid on or after 1 July 2007 have tax free components that are usually the â€Å"crystallised segme nt and the contributions† while the taxable component is the amount of the income stream benefit minus its tax free component. A superannuation income stream as a â€Å"regular series of payments: made directly from accumulated superannuation contributions or purchased with a lump sum† (Guide to Social Security Law 2011) while the ITAA Regulations define it as: â€Å"an annuity for the purposes of the SIS Act in accordance with the subregulation 1.05 (1) of the SIS Regulations; or a pension for the purposes of the SIS Act in accordance with subregulation 1.06 (1) of the SIS Regulations; or a pension for the purposes of the RSA Act in accordance with regulation 1.07 of the RSA Regulations.† In addition, it is also â€Å"an annuity or pension within the meaning of the SIS Act; and commenced after 1 September

The New Calendar Essay Example for Free

The New Calendar Essay As time changes, so does the calendar. In 1793, the Gregorian calendar was replaced by a new one. Dates were moved, months renamed and the number of days in a week increased. The reason for a new calendar in France was to change and fix what was wrong in the original calendar. People who were with the new calendar approved it, for it provided more work and and a better resting day. For those who were against the new calendar, claimed that it made working life more difficult and that it was against nature. The adoption of a new calendar was a major change during the French Revolution. The calendar was created by skilled astronomers and was believed to be correct. The new calendar was created to correct all the problems that were passed down to them for many generations. Many believed that the Gregorian calendar was corrupt and the vices should be corrected (Doc 9). The new calendar showed the character of the revolution. Exactness, simplicity, reason and philosophy was used to create the new calendar. They believed that the new calendar will soon increase commerce and trade through uniformity of weights and measures. The arts and history will need new measurements of time. All errors of routine, which have been passed down, will now be erased (Doc 5). They also believed that it would make farming much easier if the year was split up by seasons (Doc 4). This is bias because the people who created the new calendar probably were high class citizens and don’t know how hard labor was for the farmers and the affects of more work days. Many people were in favor of this new calendar and were strong supporters. Many believed that the church calendar was brought upon ignorant people and that its main purposed was to mark the progress of fanaticism, debasement of nations, persecution and disgust. Also that as time creates new history it needs to be written in a different way (Doc 2). Many supported the Tenth Day of the week. People enjoyed reciting deeds, reading republican accomplishments, and honoring the memory of generals who became martyrs. They claimed they gained virtue on their day of rest (Doc 6). Some where thankful for extra days of labor and less day of rest for the active people (Doc 9). This is bias because if you have an easy job you would want to go to work but if you were raised and worked as a farmer who has do endure ifficult days of hard labor, you would be against the new calendar. Most of the people were not in favor of this new change. Many believed that the new calendar makes it much harder to connect with neighboring countries and with the centuries before them. It creates an obstacle too difficult to overcome (Doc 3). This is bias because even though the countries may have some similarities, their traditions and customs will always be different. Farmers complained about having more days of labor and less days of rest. In the ten day weeks, nine days are work days and one day is a rest day. They said that it was unbearable work and that they need more rest days from the harsh labor (Doc 7). Some say that the new calendar was forced upon the people as an act of despotism and that the holidays and festivals were based on it and were detestable (Doc 8). They also complained that there weren’t enough days of worship and that the extra days of worship should be reduced so Sunday is more holy and that the prayers are accepted by God. This is bias because even if they turn that calendar back to the original, there is only one day of worship, the same as the new calendar. When the National Convention adopted the revolutionary calendar, there were many different reactions to this change. The reason for the new calendar was to create a change and fix all the errors with the Gregorian calendar. Many people thought the new calendar provided more work and production of goods and a better rest day. Those who were not in favor of this new calendar were against it because it created harder labor and less time for rest and worship. This ne calendar lasted through the republican era but was erased by Napoleon I in 1806.

Analysis of Descartes’ Mind/Body Distinction Essay -- Descartes Medit

In his Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes states â€Å"I have a clear and distinct idea of myself, in as far as I am only a thinking and unextended thing, and as, on the other hand, I possess a distinct idea of body, in as far as it is only an extended and unthinking thing†. [1] The concept that the mind is an intangible, thinking entity while the body is a tangible entity not capable of thought is known as Cartesian Dualism. The purpose of this essay is to examine how Descartes tries to prove that the mind or soul is, in its essential nature, entirely distinct from the body and whether or not he is successful. While I agree with his theory that the mind and body are distinct, I do not believe the mind is non-extended and I do not agree with Descartes’ assertion that the mind is capable of existence beyond the body. One of the ways in which Descartes attempts to prove that the mind is distinct from the body is through his claim that the mind occupies no physical space and is an entity with which people think, while the body is a physical entity and cannot serve as a mechanism for thought. [1] I believe most of this portion of his position to be true. The body quite certainly has a physical presence and is not capable of controlling or thinking for itself. I begin to disagree with Descartes’ theory at the point where he states that the mind is non-extended. The mind is assuredly capable of thought, as Descartes states, and has intangible elements in the form of memories and personality characteristics; however, I believe that the mind is an extended entity because physical matter is required for these elements to exist. In my opinion, this means that the only logical conclusion is that the brain is the physical extensi... ... ceases to function. Descartes makes very interesting points on the differentiation of the mind and body in Meditation on First Philosophy. His position on the body being a strictly physical entity while the mind is not is a superb point of reasoning that can be applied on many different levels with many different results. Overall, I believe that there are some areas of Descartes’ position that could be modified or expanded upon given what has been learned about the brain through modern science. Nonetheless, given the knowledge available during his lifetime, I believe that Descartes is generally successful in proving his viewpoint to be the correct one. Works Cited [1] Descartes, Rene. Meditations on First Philosophy. 1641 [Translated by John Veitch (1901)] Meditation 6, http://www.classicallibrary.org/descartes/meditations/9.htm

Mormonism – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

I. IntroductionMormons is the common name of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Christian body to United States origin. The name is from the prophet Mormon, whose writings, members believe, form the sacred Book of Mormon.The present-day church is descended from the persecuted sect that established a self-sufficient colony in the barren dessert of Utah in 1847. The Mormons still have their major strength in Utah, but have expanded into other sections of the country and have made converts in many foreign countries. Headquarters are in Salt Lake City, Utah (Davies, 2003).The purpose of this study is to: (1) know the history of Mormonism; (2) analyze the beliefs, practices, and organization of the movement from a biblical (Christian) perspective and; (3) explain the movement’s response to Biblical claims of Jesus Christ as well as why or why not I believe this group deserves the label of Contemporary Religious Movement (Cult).II. BackgroundA. HistoryMorm onism was founded by Joseph Smith (1805-1844), who lived as a youth near Palmyra, western New York. At 14 he began to have visions. In 1827, he announced that after revelation in 1823 he found golden plates with hieroglyphics, which he translated with divine aid and published as the Book of Mormon (1830). The golden plates were not made public, but 11 men testified that they had seen them. Smith founded the church in 1830 with sex members. The sect grew rapidly in numbers (â€Å"Interview of Martin Harris†).In 1831 the Mormons established their first temple in Kirtland, Ohio, near Cleveland, but the group suffered severe financial problems and lost many of its members.  Other Mormons settled in Independence, Missouri. Soon forced to move because of the hostility of their neighbors, they next founded the town of their neighbors, they next founded the town of Far West in Caldwell County. In 1838-39 they were driven out of Missouri because of religious prejudice and fear of Mo rmon political power.The refugees next settled in Commerce, Illinois, and renamed the town Nauvoo. Here on swampy land along the Mississippi the Mormons built an impressive city of about 20,000, then the largest city in Illinois. Again there was religious persecution and bitter strife over the growing political power of the Mormons. A new source of conflict was the doctrine of polygamy introduced by Joseph Smith. In 1844, Smith was murdered by a mob. Because of continued harassment by their neighbors, the Mormons abandoned Nauvoo in 1846 (â€Å"Mormonism’s History,† 2006).III. DiscussionThe Mormons believe their church is the true modern successor of the early church of Jesus Christ. The church’s aim â€Å"is to prepare the world, by the preaching of the restored gospel and the founding of the Latter-day Zion, for the Messiah’s second coming and the advent of the millennium.A. BeliefsThe Mormons accept the Bible as sacred and look upon the Book of Mormon as equal to it in authority. But I strongly believe that there is no book in the world that would equal to the Bible, not even the Book of Mormons because this Scripture (Bible) is God-breathed as stated in second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 â€Å"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.† This would mean that the writers of the Bible are inspired and anointed by the Spirit of God (Barlow, 1997).The Book of Mormons tells the history of an ancient band of Jewish exiles believed by Mormons to be the ancestors of the American Indians but the Bible is silent about it. Other books of scripture are the Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of revelations given through the founder, Joseph Smith; and the Pearl of Great Price, containing the writings-not found in the Bible-which Mormons believe are revelation of Abraham and Moses. Moreover, I contest that the church should not be under the beliefs of its founder but s hould be followed by the teachings of Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church.The Mormons believe in continuous revelation by God. Yes, I agree to it but the revelation must always be in the context of the Scripture; thus, anything that is not in the word of God is not of God. In addition, the Mormons believe that God the Father and his son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. Individual members may receive revelations from God for the guidance of their own lives. But only one man at a time may receive revelations from God for the whole church, and he is the president of the whole church. Mormons emphasize faith in Jesus Christ and repentance for sins (Barlow, 1997).I disagree to what the Mormons believe because no one ever sees God. Even Moses and Abraham and other great men of God did not see him face to face because no one can stand in his presence for he is a Holy God. When God appeared to Moses, God showed himself in a form of burning bush and Moses trembled because of Go d’s presence. Moreover, God can do anything he wants to do because he is an omnipotent God. He can speak to different people at the same time. He doesn’t only reveal himself and speak to the leader of the church but also reveal himself and speak to us individually through the Holy Spirit and his words because God has no favoritism.B. PracticesThe Mormons baptize by immersion for the remission of sins and practice laying of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Holy Communion is celebrated with bread and water. In the Bible, the remission of sin is through the blood of Jesus Christ. Water baptism is mentioned in the Bible but it simply signifies that you buried your old life and new life has waited for you.The Mormons have two practices exclusive with them: baptism for the dead and celestial marriage. Baptism for the dead is chiefly for ancestors not baptized as Mormons; a living person is baptized in proxy for the dead. A celestial marriage is one in which a couple is married under the authority of the priesthood in a Mormon temple and is â€Å"sealed for eternity† so that in the celestial kingdom the family the family relationship will be resumed. Marriages outside a temple are for life on earth only (Givens, 1997). From the 1840’s until 1890, Mormon doctrine permitted â€Å"plural marriage,† or polygamy. I would say that these teachings are not found and written in the Bible. Our marriage to our partner here on earth is only temporary.Mormon temples are used only for secret rites, primarily those of celestial marriage and baptism of the dead. They are open only to Mormons of good standing. Sunday services are held in local churches called ward halls, and non-Mormons are welcomed. Visitors may also enter the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, which is used for conferences and concerts (Davies, 2003).Mormonism looks upon health as a spiritual value and bans the use of liquor, tobacco, coffee, and tea. Recreation is encouraged. Th ere is emphasis on education and on work and thrift. The church operates a vast welfare program for its members who are in need, and it disapproves of public aid. Members support the church by tithing (giving one-tenth of their gross income).   On the other hand in the Bible, we are taught that our body is the temple of the Living God as stated in first Corinthians chapter 6 verses 19-20 that is why we should take care of our bodies because we need to glorify God—body, soul and Spirit.IV. ConclusionIn conclusion, I will base my belief according to the word of God which is the  Bible so I would say that Mormonism or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a cult because it does not follow fully to the word of God. They have practices and beliefs which cannot be found in the Scripture. As I said earlier, anything that is not from the word of God is not of God. Though they may claim that they believe on Jesus Christ yet their practices are not in line the teaching s of Jesus.Reference:1. â€Å"Mormonism’s History†. CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS AND RESEARCH   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   MINISTRY.      http://www.carm.org/lds/beginning.htm   2006.2. â€Å"Interview of Martin Harris.† https://user.xmission.com/~research/about/docum4.htm3. Barlow, Philip L. (1997). Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-Day Saints in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   American Religion. Oxford University Press. New York.4. Davies, Douglas J. (2003). An Introduction to Mormonism. Cambridge University Press.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cambridge, England.5. Givens, Terryl L. (1997). The Viper on the Hearth: Mormons, Myths, and the Construction of Heresy. Oxford University Press. New York

The Life You Save May Be Your Own

Christina Sabillon Dr. Speller ENGL 2325 August 6, 2012 The Life You Save May Be Your Own The protagonist in â€Å"The Life You Save May Be Your Own† is Mr. Shiftlet. This man encounters an older woman and her daughter; both named Lucynell Crater. Their first conversation is very awkward, but the reader can interpret the characters. Mr. Shiftlet is a one armed man who left home at a young age. Lucynell (mother) is an older widowed woman who is independent and protective of her daughter. The younger Lucynell (daughter) is a deaf girl with a mental handicap. She is intrigued by a man working around the house and follows him around all day.He seems to be a respectful man to these ladies, but he is in need of validation that there is some good in this world. Mr. Shiftlet could have used Mrs. Crater’s hospitality and marriage proposal as a chance for him to change his outlook on the world, but he has alternative motives. He develops this strong misanthropic view of the world after he leaves his mother as a child, and he now has the chance to find grace and a new life with Mrs. Lucynell Crater's offer. Mr. Shiftlet appears to be a good man at first glance. He looks to be an honest noble nomad who does not have any money, but does not seem to be the least afflicted by it.He is disenchanted by society and even says â€Å"’ [n]othing is like it used to be, lady’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢the world is almost rotten’† (O’Connor, pg 53). He makes the audience believe that he is a decent man trying to find some good in this world. So, why would a man who is disgusted by the way people act, contribute to his theory instead of trying to make the world a better place? He makes mention that the problem with the world is that no one takes the time to be patient and nobody cares about the issues, but thankfully he is not one of those people and he took the time to teach Miss Crater the word bird. He is a dishonest man.In reality, he is not the man that he is pretending to be. He is a deceitful individual who is taking advantage of their hospitality and kindness in order to milk anything he can out of both Lucynells. Mr. Shiflet was tempted by the Ford vehicle in order to deceive the mother and daughter. There are a couple of signs that Mrs. Crater should have seen in order to discover the foreshadowing of her daughter’s abandonment. He was much more interested and curious by the car that before he introduced himself properly to the ladies he asked a question about the Ford. Whenever he finally does introduce himself he does it like this†¦ â€Å"‘Name Tom T.Shiftlet,’ he murmured, looking at the tires† (O’Connor, pg 53). A real respectful person would have given them direct eye contact and shook their hand. He would not have murmured, but would have said it straight, with a strong voice, and seem interested. The one armed man works hard to gain Mrs. Crater’s trust. She allows him to fix a couple of things around the property in order for him to sleep in the Ford outside. The nights he spent sleeping in the car gave him time to plan how he was going to get a way out of the life that he had been living, and how he was going to get away with the Ford.The work days would pass and she is more and more impressed by the way he is able to work with only one arm, and the attention that he gives to her sweet daughter. Mrs. Lucynell is blinded by all of this because she also had alternative motives for allowing Mr. Shiftlet to stay with them. She wanted to believe that he was a good man worthy enough to marry her daughter. She was more than willing to allow him to work on things around the house in order for her to observe the relationship between her daughter and him. After she agrees to pay for the parts needed to fix the car, Mrs. Crater is certain that they should be married.She is completely unconcerned with the fact that he is most occupied with the car than anything else. Mr. Shiftlet was becoming suspicious of her intentions and found a way to manipulate the entire situation is his head for his selfish benefit. Mr. Shiftlet has earned the older woman’s trust so well that she will offer him whatever in order for him to marry her daughter. He tells her that he cannot accept that offer because Miss Lucynell is undeserving of the poor man that he is. He tells Mrs. Crater that he was not raised to believe that a man could support a family without any money.And that made him seem like an even nobler man to the older woman. She has to convince him that she does not know any better about these nice things that she deserves, and to top it all off she offers to pay for the wedding, honeymoon, and to pay for the truck to be painted. Upon hearing all of this the text reads†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"In the darkness, Mr. Shiftlet’s smile stretched like a weary snake waking up by a fire† (O’Connor, pg. 61). That is a clear physical ind ication that the evil is coming out of the man. The grin on his face should have been a huge sign to the older woman, but she was extremely overjoyed about the deal she had just made.Mr. Shiftlet had the biggest opportunity to be saved by grace. He had a great chance in front of him to be a hardworking man and a great husband for Lucynell. The reason he had not been married before was because of his argument that he had not found an innocent woman. Who is more innocent than the sweet daughter of Mrs. Crater? She knows about no evil in the world. She can clean, cook, be a good wife for Mr. Shiftlet, and she will inherit the house and the land when her mother passes. He had the perfect situation laid out in front of him so that he could live a better life than he one he knew before.He is given the prospect to believe that the world is not rotten and he could be the start of change that he wants to see on this earth. His moral compass should direct him to be a better person. He should not want to take advantage of a woman and her daughter after the hospitality and kindness they have shown him. But Mr. Shiftlet is too terrible a man that he will not let anyone get in the way of his true intentions and he does not care who he affects in the process. To leave your newlywed bride asleep in a strange town one hundred miles away from the only home she has ever known is heartless for even the worst of misfits to do.There is an indication of remorse of what he has done. The text states â€Å"[h]e is more depressed than ever as he drove on by himself† (O’Connor, pg. 64). But no, he is more depressed because he is alone once again. And because he is selfish and no longer wants to be alone, he picks up a hitch-hiker. The hitch-hiker is a young boy who did not even have his thumb up for a ride, but Mr. Shiftlet picks him up anyways. The young boy is silent in the car and does not make eye contact with the man. He can see through Mr. Shiftlet and knows that he i s a bad man.The boy does not care to hear about the man’s mother and how she was the best mother anyone could ever have. He was so fed up with the man’s conversation that he yells at Mr. Shiflet â€Å"†¦go to the devil! †(O’Connor, pg. 66). Then he jumps out of the moving vehicle into a ditch. The man should have stopped to help the boy or at least been concerned with his safety. But no, Mr. Shiftlet is too evil of a man to be busy with no one but himself. Mr. Shiftlet is such a terrible person, he was too rotten to be saved by the grace of the Craters. He was given an opportunity to â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢wash the slime from this earth’† (O’Connor, pg 66).The very thing he prays for at the end of this short story. Yet, no, he is unaffected by the damage he has just done, and continues on his nomadic life on to the next city. In the car he had to lie, cheat, and steal to get. It is not that God is not answering Mr. Shiftlet’ s prayers for this world to be a better place, but it is Mr. Shiftlet who has been ignoring God and answering his chances to be saved by Him. Work Cited Document O'Connor, Flannery. â€Å"The Life You Save May Be Your Own. † A Good Man Is Hard to Find. Orlando: n. p. , 1955. 51-66. Print.

We All Fall Down Essays

We All Fall Down Essays We All Fall Down Paper We All Fall Down Paper After the trashing of the Jerome household and the attack of their daughter Karen, the Jerome family knew their lives were never going to be the same. The purpose of composing a novel is to engage and entertain the responder through the use of a wide variety of forms, conventions and techniques allowing them to be drawn into completely different worlds. The novel We all fall down written by Robert Cormier and the song lyrics Cats in the cradle by Harry Chapin both present themes of redemption and fatherhood. Both composers use techniques such as effective punctuation, effective language and narrative perspectives to engage the reader. Throughout the novel We all fall down the theme of redemption is displayed through the narration of Buddy’s character. His continuous search for redemption becomes one of major concern. As one of the perpetrators in the trashing, he is always carrying a guilty conscience and the guilt of the trashing also undermines his relationship with Jane. Cormier constantly emphasises the trashing when Buddy and Jane are together causing Buddy to become evasive. â€Å"The first time Jane mentioned the word trashing, Buddy flinched; then turned away in self defence, his thoughts racing wildly as he anticipated what her next words would be. Buddy is continuously searching for redemption and asking for forgiveness, especially after Jane finds out about the invasion of her home. The use of similes and hyperbole reinforce the effect on Buddy when Jane told him she knew what he had done. â€Å"The impact of her knowledge struck him, like a giant mallet hitting a gong inside him, the vibration s echoing throughout his body. † This clearly and effectively illustrates the force of the consequences of his irresponsible act of violence in the beginning of the novel and the deception he has practised to cover up his guilt. Cormier has displayed a wide variety of conventions and features. Similarly, in Cats in the cradle, Chapin portrays the theme of redemption through the use of irony. At the beginning of the song, the son sees his dad as a role model and something he wants to become in the future. â€Å"I’m gonna be just like you dad† and by the end of the song, the father realises his son became just like him but unfortunately it’s not something to be proud of. â€Å"I said I’d like to see you if you don’t mind. He said I’d love to dad, if I can find the time. This is suggesting that the father is trying to make up for lost time but it’s too late as the tables have turned and that the son likely won’t have time for him. The novel presents a very dim view of fathers. Mr. Jerome fails to be a source of strength to his family after the trashing occurred. The invasion of his home defeats him and the result of that leaves him turning his anger in hi s daughter Jane. Mr. Jerome accused his daughter Jane of being the cause off the trashing as Harry Flowers stated that Jane gave him the key to the house. â€Å"For the first time since he arrived home, Jane’s father looked at her. Looked directly into her eyes, his own eyes flashing with-what? -anger? More than anger. She groped for the word and, to her horror, found it. Accusation. That’s what she saw in his eyes. † Cormier uses effective punctuation to show that Jane is looking for an answer. The use of one word sentences lets the reader know that she has found the answer. She feels shattered, anxious and the responder can empathise with Jane. Another example of an unsupportive father is Harry Flowers’ father. Harry doesn’t take responsibility for his own actions and relies on his father to pay his way out of his problems. His parents paid off the damages off the trashing and while doing so also paid off his son’s way out of responsibility. â€Å"When my father agreed to restitution, everybody went along, the judge and the cops The judge placed me on probation and my father paid up † Similarly, in Cats in the cradle, time changes and reverses the situation. Time has changed the attitude of the father towards his son. The first sentence of every verse shows that more time has passed therefore showing that the father isn’t on the receiving end of his son’s affection. My child arrived just the other day†, â€Å"My son turned ten just the other day†, â€Å"He came home from college just the other day†, â€Å"I’ve long since retired my son moved away†. This informs the responder that the father wasn’t there for his son overtime and when he was growing up. The emphasis on the line â€Å"When you comin home dad? † conveys the dangers of no communication and putting too much emphasis on work and money and not on spending quality time with the family. The structure of We all fall down is different from many novels. It doesn’t use chapters, but instead uses narrative perspectives and effective language to get across the themes and characters. This technique arouses curiosity and maintains the readers’ attention as it keeps them engaged and focused on what they are reading. There is a part 1 and part 2 which is a separation of some events that had happened. Part 2 is making right of what happened in part 1. The novel is told through the viewpoint of the three main characters Jane, Buddy and The Avenger. Each of them have a different perspective of the trashing and eventually these all come together. Throughout the novel Buddy’s language is colloquial slang and changes dramatically when talking about the effect alcohol has on him. His language becomes more educated and sophisticated. â€Å"Buddy discovered the marvellous methods of booze, the way it soothed and stroked, made hazy the harshness of things, made him – almost – happy. Languid, and feeling what the hell. † The use of commas engages the responder as it is a list telling the readers how happy alcohol makes him and they way it makes him feel. Cormier has used a broad range of different techniques and a unique structure to portray his themes and characters. Similarly, in Cats in the cradle, Chapin uses double narrative perspectives to present different points of view. It presents the words of the father and the words of the son who becomes just like the father, maybe worse as shown in the line â€Å"if I can find the time. † Through the texts We all fall down and Cats in the cradle both Cormier and Chapin use a wide variety of forms, conventions and ideas to draw the responder into the world of the texts. Through the use of techniques it is more evident how the themes of redemption and fatherhood apply in the texts and enables the responder to be drawn into distinctive worlds.

Learn the Pros and Cons of Ethanol and Its Production

Learn the Pros and Cons of Ethanol and Its Production Ethanol is simply another name for alcoholthe liquid made from the fermentation of sugars by yeasts. Ethanol  is also called  ethyl alcohol  or  grain  alcohol  and is abbreviated as EtOH. In the context of alternative fuels, the term refers to an alcohol-based fuel that is blended with gasoline to produce a fuel with a higher octane rating and fewer harmful emissions than unblended gasoline.  The chemical formula for ethanol is CH3CH2OH. Essentially, ethanol is ethane with a hydrogen molecule replaced by a  hydroxyl radical,OHwhich is bonded to a  carbon atom. Ethanol Is Made from Grains or Other Plants No matter what it is used for, ethanol is produced by processing  grains such as corn, barley, and wheat. The grain is first milled, then fermented with yeast in order to transform the grains starches into alcohol. A distillation process then increases the ethanol concentrations, such as when a liquor distiller refines whiskey or gin through a distilling process. In the process, waste grain is produced, which is usually sold as livestock feed. Another by-product, the carbon dioxide produced,   can be used in other industrial applications.  Another form of ethanol, sometimes called bioethanol, can be made from many types of trees and grasses, although the fermentation and distilling process is more difficult. The United States produces close to 15 billion gallons of ethanol a year, mostly in states close to large-scale corn growing centers. The top producing states are, in order,   Iowa, Nebraska,   Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, South Dakota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Ohio and North Dakota. Iowa is by far the largest producer of ethanol, producing more than 4 billion gallons a year.   Experiments are underway on the possibility of using sweet sourgum as a source of fuel ethanol, which can be grown with only about 22% of the irrigation water required for corn. This may make sourgum a viable choice for regions with water shortages.   Blending Ethanol with Gasoline Blends of at least 85 percent ethanol are considered alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, is used in flexible fuel vehicles  (FlexFuel), which are now offered by most major auto manufacturers. Flexible fuel vehicles can run on gasoline, E85, or any combination of the two. Blends with more ethanol, such as E95, are also premium alternative fuels. Blends with lower concentrations of ethanol, such as E10 (10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline), are sometimes used to increase octane and improve emissions quality but are not considered alternative fuels. A good percentage of all gasoline sold now is E10, containing 10 percent ethanol.   Environmental Effects A blended fuel like E85 produces less carbon dioxide, the single most important greenhouse gas responsible for climate change. In addition, fewer volatile organic compounds are emitted by E85.   Ethanol  is not without its environmental risks, however, because when burned in internal combustion engines, it produces significantly more formaldehyde and other compounds that can increase ground levels of ozone.   Economic Benefits and Drawbacks Ethanol production supports farmers by offering subsidies to grow corn for ethanol, thereby creating domestic jobs. And because ethanol is produced domestically, from locally grown crops,   it reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil and increases the nation’s energy independence On the flip side, growing corn and other plants for ethanol production requires a lot of farmland, monopolizing fertile soil which instead could be used to grow food that might feed the worlds hungry. Corn production is especially needy in terms of  synthetic fertilizer and  herbicide,  and it frequently leads to  nutrient  and  sediment pollution. According to some experts, the production of corn-based ethanol as an alternative fuel  may end up requiring  more energy than the fuel can generate, especially when counting the high energy costs of synthetic fertilizer production.   The corn industry is a powerful lobby in the U.S., and critics argue that corn-growing subsidies are no longer aiding smaller family farms, but are now mostly of benefit to the corporate farming industry. They argue that these subsidies have outlived their usefulness and perhaps should be spent on efforts that more directly affect the public welfare.   But in a world of dwindling fossil fuel supplies, ethanol is an important renewable alternative which most experts agree has virtues that outweigh its drawbacks.

The Historical, Current and Future Sustainability of Cork in Portugal Essay

The Historical, Current and Future Sustainability of Cork in Portugal - Essay Example It makes great contribution to the economic growth of the country also. Almost 800 companies related to the cork industry. Those companies employ over 20, 0000 workers. About 50% of total cork products are made in Portugal. Portugal is the leading country when it comes to the production of Cork. As on 2012, the average annual output was 157,000 tons. It also holds 60% of the overall worldwide exports. The country has Cork industry produces discs, fishing rods, handles, cigarette tips, discs, different kinds of packing, etc. Cork is also used for mattresses and cushion. Brief Overview of Cork Cork is buoyant, impervious material. It is a subset of the bark tissue yield for commercial use mainly from Quercus suber (the Cork Oak). Cork consists of a hydrophobic material called suberin. Due to the elasticity, buoyancy and impermeability cork is used in variety of products. However, the most common use of cork is for wine stoppers. Cork was first examined by Robert Hooke. This led to its discovery and the naming of the cell (Cork2, 2009, p.1). Uses of Cork The elasticity of cork combined with impermeability makes it a candidate for a material to be used as a bottle stopper; even more especially for wine bottles. As a matter of fact cork stoppers embody 60% of the cork productions. Even in the mid seventeenth century, cork stoppers were not used in the wine bottles. Rather oil soaked rags were staffed into the bottle necks. Things changed once the trading of the cork was initiated. Wine cork stop could be made of a single cork piece or from several composed particles. One prime example of such cork stop is the champagne corks. Natural corks were used for 80% of the 20 billion wine bottles produced round the globe. However, the usage percentage saw a dip due to the increase usage of other cheaper synthetic alternatives. However, still the percentage stand at a healthy 60%. A part from the usage of bottle stoppers, cork is also used in musical instruments to tighten se gments of different instruments. Corks can also be used for outer walls of the houses. Cork is used during the manufacturing of baseball and cricket balls. A part from this corks are used in space craft heat shields, printers and also in construction and automotive industry. Evolution of Usage of Cork in Portugal Cork happens to be one of the premier products of Portugal. It makes great contribution to the economic growth of the country also. About 50% of total cork product is made in Portugal. The Portuguese cork industry is a versatile and developed one. In Portugal, cork is used for various functions like developing buildings, architectures; in automobiles; military and aero-space industry. However it is very much needless to say that the just like any other part of the world corks are mainly used in Portugal as wine stoppers. This makes it evident, how significantly the cork production supplements the wine production in Portugal. Contribution of Cork to Portuguese Economy Portug al is the leading country when it comes to the production of Cork. As on 2012, the average annual output was 157,000 tons. It also holds 60% of the overall worldwide exports. The annual turnover is about â‚ ¬850m. It is quite obvious that the cork stoppers holds biggest share with â‚ ¬590m. This is followed by construction material making a contribution of â‚ ¬