Example from your personal experience in applying critical thinking to Assignment

Example from your personal experience in applying critical thinking to a work-related decision - Assignment Example The ability to think critically fairly depends on one’s experiences in various environmental situations in life (Inch, 2001). It is therefore not possible to define it in measurable terms due to the fact that every person has a certain level of knowledge and experiences that enable them to think critically and as such it may be true to say that acquiring the skills is a lifelong activity. Due to its importance, most colleges and universities are taking the responsibility of empowering their students with the professional skills of thinking critically (Browne, 2000). As such students are given tasks related to a certain activity based on someone else’s judgment or thinking so that they can evaluate the facts and sense of such decisions and come up with a viable conclusion on the same. The students are expected to think from their own perspectives as well as that of the initiator of the argument, with the help of information they have on similar decisions probably by quot ing from past events that are related to the issues at hand. A good critical thinker is required to have among other characteristics, the ability to challenge decisions by raising vital questions, which are well formulated and precise (Browne, 2000). By doing so, arguments are raised and if the person proposing a decision fails to answer the questions as expected, then he would be required to accept that his is not the best. However, when formulating those questions, it is vital to base them on facts that can be proved and he should also have an alternative plan in mind in order for him to be able to convince the other parties involved. If the questions are answered properly, and the initiator of the discussion manages to defend his plans, then the result would be that his would be the best alternative to adopt. This implies that a critical thinker should be a person who faces challenges with an open mind and therefore should not approach them with

'Britain's 6 million carers are on the verge of winning unprecedented Coursework

'Britain's 6 million carers are on the verge of winning unprecedented rights following a European court opinion that would p - Coursework Example Nevertheless, in examining the law regarding employment, carers and flexible working schedules, it becomes clear that UK does value carers, therefore a law forbidding just this kind of discrimination and harassment is probably just around the corner. This paper will explain the different areas of the law that are relevant to the issue of harassment and discrimination regarding carers, including broad employment law principles, carer law and flexible working law. Relevant portions of employment law Miss C. has an argument that she was harassed out of a job because she took time off to care for her severely disabled son. Harassment is unwanted conduct that â€Å"has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person†1However, the Employment Equality Acts makes a distinction – harassment is unwanted conduct related to any of the discriminatory grounds. ... Fair reasons for dismissal, according to the Employment Rights Act 1996 are dismissals that â€Å"a) relates to the capability or qualifications of the employee for performing work of the kind which he was employed by the employer to do; b) relates to the conduct of the employee; ba) is retirement of the employee; c) is that the employee was redundant, or d) is that the employee could not continue to work in the position which he held without contravention (either on his part or on that of his employer) of a duty or restriction imposed by or made under an enactment.†4 In reviewing these reasons for a fair dismissal, the process of taking time off to care for a disabled dependent, such as a child or a parent, does not fit well into any of the categories. Taking time off does not have any bearing on the capabilities or qualifications of the employee performing the work that the employee does, does not relate to the employee’s conduct, nor does it mean that the employee co uld not continue to work in the position held without contravention or a duty or a restriction. Therefore, under the Employment Rights Act 1996  § 98(2), firing an individual for caring for a dependent would not be considered one of the categories for fair dismissal. If Miss C is considered to be unfairly dismissed, she may bring suit under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, which states that if there is an unfair dismissal, â€Å"the employee shall be entitled to redress consisting of whichever of the following the rights commissioner, the Tribunal or the Circuit Court, as the case may be, considers appropriate having regard to all the circumstances.†5 The Act then goes on to say that the employee is entitled to re-instatement or

Cyber City Reaction Essay Example for Free

Cyber City Reaction Essay The entire concept of â€Å"Cyber City,† an idealized high-concept mecca of lifelong integrated learning, is an interesting idea†¦on paper. Dennis Gooler and Charles Stegman, the authors of the paper conceptualizing the technology-driven education-centric civilization known as â€Å"Cyber City,† raise some very interesting and pertinent points. The idea of integrating technology into all facets of learning makes absolute sense, and it completely inarguable, especially in today’s day and age when technology is progressing so quickly and as a result the entire construction of the social strata is changing constantly with it. The only way for a person to continue learning (and even begin to remotely keep with up with the constantly progressing technology-driven cultural atmosphere) id by implementing technology into his/her everyday learning techniques. It is also perfectly reasonable that the process of learning be made ongoing throughout a person’s life, and in every facet of their social and working environments. (TECHNICALLY, this is already the case regardless—it is human nature to constantly be learning, mentally absorbing the things around them and internalizing everything in order to better inform future activities and decisions—ask any sociologist, and all would agree that the learning process never stops, it just looks different and comes from different sources. However, to assume that a school-like atmosphere is the only one in which a person can receive a valuable education is more than just naive; it is insulting. And no person could possibly deny without bias another human being’s right to learn, and have equal access to learning materials as all other people, giving everyone the same advantages and leveling the playing field. These are all excellent ideas. Not unlike the idea that all people should have equal shares in personal property and should be economically equal with no division in social status and thus no gaping discrepancy between the rich and poor. That idea is called socialism, communism in its more violent form, and though it sounds good on paper in practice they just can’t seem to get it to work right. What Gooler and Stegman have introduced here is the idea of Utopia; might as well call it Heaven. Though it may be fun to extrapolate endlessly on the â€Å"wouldn’t-it-be-great-if†s, this kind of (albeit altruistic) daydreaming does not in itself beget a plan of action. What the authors have effectively proven throughout this, their endless fantasizing of a perfect world, is that they have no real plan of action (the repeated refusal to outline a strategy as to how to raise the money for such a project and keep it afloat after the fact is a glaringly obvious testament as to just how unworkable this plan is). Their model seems to be based on the idea that if everyone got along and everyone pitched in and helped out and they all agreed to do this together then it would be great. But there is so much emphasis on learning, and every area within this Cyber City is in some way sanctioned for additional learning, that authors/imaginers of this plan fail to account for the need this city will have to continue brining in revenue, and a great deal of it (which won’t happen if the workplace is forced to open its doors and arms to being a place of learning for all who desire to do so), not to mention even approaching the question of who is going to foot the bill for all these high-tech gadgets to increase learning abilities which would be made accessible to one and all! Bottom line is: this is capitalism, not socialism, and it sounds like a great idea, really it does, but don’t come out with such a lengthy imagining of a perfect world without having some sort of workable plan of action to see it to fruition. And sorry, but you do need to address the money issue. You just can’t circle-speak your way around it. So thank you for the lovely imaginings of a world so much better than our own, a world in which money doesn’t matter and people aren’t expected to do anything all day every day except learn, and in a completely non-structured learning environment at that, but please try to bring a little more substance into it next time. Thanks for playing.

A Life Lived in Scouting Essays -- Personal Narrative Boy Scouts Paper

A Life Lived in Scouting 1986: Introduction to the Mystery After the skits, songs, and cheers, the Camp Director (bearing a white sash embroidered with a red arrow and two bars at each end) came forward. The crowd instantly grew quiet and somber. The wind rustled; the branches swayed and cracked; the lake gently lapped the shore. Sitting with my father, I watched bats flutter above two great fires. In a clear yet reverent tone, the weathered old man invoked the beauty of nature, the mystery of life, and the Great Spirit. In solemn words, he added, â€Å"Each has his own path, let the Scout Oath and Law light that path.† A quiet tenor, the Camp Director began to sing. With intimate familiarity, uniformed men, women, and boys rose adding their voices to his. â€Å"My paddle's keen and bright Flashing with silver Swift as the wild goose flight Dip, dip and swing Dip, dip and swing her back Flashing with silver Follow the wild goose flight Dip, dip and swing† Faces stern, backs straight, heads held high, each waited; and, silence fell. Still seated by my father, I watched the fire of fellowship, bright against the water, cast long shadows across the faces of the crowd— the other stood unlit, no flame lived within it or brought warmth to the people. From the distant shore, a canoe entered the water and silently approached— the paddlers in smooth perfect unison. Mateo, messenger of the Leni-Lenape, stood erect and proud in the stern of the canoe. From a pot of flame, Mateo reached and drew a single arrow. Putting notch to string, Mateo released the arrow and smote the lifeless fire. Flame rose from its depths and the voice of Chief Allowat Sakima boomed across the water, across the fire circle, and echoed forth. â€Å"I am ... ... the last song of the final campfire and invokes the memory of all that have come before in Scouting. It is, to Scouts, a sacred song. The light dimmed still further and as we reached the top of the stairs. We stood together, finished humming, and walked down to the car. We shared our final night of Summer Camp together— two weeks later I went off to Basic and my father died in August of 2000. July 2004 will be my first Summer Camp in six years. â€Å"Scouting may be indefinable but it is palpable; and, it moves men and boys to become better human beings through their journey together.† First Verse of Scout Vespers Softly falls the light of day, While our campfire fades away. Silently each Scout should ask Have I done my daily task? Have I kept my honor bright? Can I guiltless sleep tonight? Have I done and have I dared Everything to be prepared?

Does Advertising Affect Effect Our Food Choices

With 11 herbs and spices, it’s finger licking good. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. â€Å"There is no love sincerer than the love for food. † Said Sir George Bernard Shaw. Advertisers buy our love of food with big, flashy, bright adverts. For years, advertising has influenced us. We see them everywhere, on TV, the newspaper, billboards and on the web. Many scientific studies have shown that advertising influences the food we choose.Did you know that the average American child watches 20 000 food adverts a year, 9 out of ten are for fatty high sugar containing foods. The obesity epidemic is related to the rise in advertising. We are digging our graves with our very own forks and knives. Billions of dollars are spent each year on advertising, so that business can get their food onto your plate. This is very profitable. McDonalds spends about 2 billion dollars each year, advertising. Therefore, they control 64% of the United States hamburger market. % of the worldâ€⠄¢s population eats McDonalds every day. Mmm and they are loving it. Like most parents you’re sitting there, feeling completely helpless, knowing how much your precious darlings love the advertised fast foods. You rationalize that this is fresh food, prepared under 5 minutes and miraculously served at room temperature, how convenient is that? You silently wish that you did not know that it is made up of ingredients with more preservatives than an Egyptian mummy.This is the moment of truth. Researchers have shown that if nutritious foods are advertised, people are more likely to choose healthy foods. You have the power to demand responsible advertising. Like Barack Obama once said: It is time to change the way we do business. This will demand new thinking, and a new sense of responsibility. You can protect our future generations. So if music be the food of love , play on!!!

Classical Vs. Classical Conditioning - 1295 Words

Classical Conditioning Behaviorism Classical conditioning is a type of learning through which an organism learns to associate one stimulus with another. It can also be known as respondent conditioning. The stimulus is any event or object in the environment to which an organism responds. The components of classical conditioning are as follows: Unconditioned response (UR) which is a response that is elicited by an unconditioned stimulus without prior learning. Unconditioned Stimulus (US) which elicits a specific unconditioned response without prior learning. Conditioned Stimulus (CS) which is a neutral stimulus that after repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus becomes associated with it and elicits a conditioned†¦show more content†¦He also noticed in following through with more research that a neutral stimulus could become conditioned. This was something that he spent the rest of his life studying. This type of learning became known as classical conditioning. Next we will look at Watson. Watson coined the term behaviorism. This means it is referring to the school of thought that proposed limiting psychology to the study to overtly operable behavior. He and his assistant conducted a study that proved fear could be classically conditioned. He used a toddler to perform these experiments. In doing so, his testing has causes the American Psychological Association to have new standards in place to watch the safety of humans and animals alike when participating in experiments. Watson’s studies and research are utilized today in some therapies that help unlearn phobias. He also concluded that over a person’s lifetime, their fears will persist and modify. Edward Thorndike is another contributor to the world of psychology. He had formulated several laws of earning. Thorndike believed and after experimenting stated that most learning occurs thru trial and error. The law of effect is the most important that he states. This is saying that when one knows the consequence or what the effect will be of a certain response, then the reaction would be either strengthened or weakened. So if the outcome is known, the actions prior will be more thought out. This law, and itsShow MoreRelatedClassical Vs. Classical Conditioning1095 Words   |  5 PagesClassical Conditioning In this paper, Classical Conditioning is explored by first giving a general definition along with the general phases of basic classical conditioning. Then, more insight is given about the developers of this learning process and their experiments: Ivan Pavlov and his dog experiment and John B. Watson and Little Albert experiment. Finally, real-world applications of this learning process are introduced such as how to treat phobias, addictions and achieve good classroom behaviorRead MoreClassical Vs. Classical Conditioning890 Words   |  4 PagesClassical Conditioning Experiment Classical conditioning is an unconditioned stimulus which results to an unconditioned response, although bringing a neutral stimulus in the picture does not affect the unconditioned response. The only way you can turn a neutral stimulus into a conditioned stimulus is if you train an individual or animal with a frequent but similar technique. The results will be the similarity of the unconditioned response and the conditioned response. We as humans may not noticeRead MoreClassical Vs. Classical Conditioning Essay1488 Words   |  6 PagesClassical conditioning is a learning process that develops when two stimuli are paired together repeatedly. The first stimulus is an unconditional stimulus, which automatically evokes an unconditioned response, a natural response. The second stimulus is a neutral stimulus, a stimulus that does not elicit a response. Many people associate it with habituation and sensitization, because both of these involve a decrease or an increase to a repeated stim ulus, and are classified as simple learning mechanismsRead MoreOperant Vs. Classical Conditioning1211 Words   |  5 PagesOperant and Classical Conditioning Tiara Gordon PS 210 Professor Rivera Introduction Operant and Classical conditioning reminds me of the famous controversy, nature vs nurture. It’s like having a pessimistic or optimistic view on learning techniques and how much of the environment or genes influence the two. These learned behaviors have been scrutinized by people alike, some have debated that everything we do from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep is operant conditioning whichRead MoreClassical Conditioning Vs. Operant Conditioning Essay1088 Words   |  5 Pages 1. a) Define Classical Conditioning and Behaviorism. b) Identify the two major characteristics that distinguish classical conditioning from operant conditioning. Classical Conditioning is a type of learning process of an individual when they come in contact with certain stimuli. According to Pavlov, a Russian psychologist, he developed several experiments on learning and he discovered that classical condition is the basic form of learning for an individual. However, according to Pavlov, behaviorismRead MoreClassical Vs. Operant Conditioning1582 Words   |  7 PagesClassical and Operant Conditioning Ivan Pavlov once said, Don t become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin.† Often times in the fast pace world that college students live today many get so caught up in sheer memorization of everything that comes their way just to pass with that sought-after A. What is often looked past is the true meaning of concepts and ideas to retain the information needed for success. It was this very mindset instilled with in greatRead MorePavlov s Classical Conditioning Vs. Operant Conditioning1172 Words   |  5 PagesPavlov’s Classical Conditioning vs. B.F. Skinner’s Operant Conditioning Bhavika D. Patel Atlantic Community College Abstract Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner both studied learning, in which they both did different experiments on different animals and with different conditioning. Classical conditioning is the process in which two stimuli become linked; once this association has been recognized, an originally neutral stimulus is conditioned to provoke an involuntary response. The dogs in Pavlov’s studiesRead MoreClassical Vs. Operant Conditioning1072 Words   |  5 Pages PsychSim 5: OPERANT CONDITIONING Name: Melissa Mallay Section: 130-01 Date: February 25, 2015 Classical Versus Operant Conditioning †¢ What is the distinction between classical and operant conditioning? In Operant conditioning, subjects learn from experiences and create a relationship between behavior and consequences. As a result, when actions are provided with a favorable result, they are reproduced. Likewise, unfavorable actions are not reproduced because the subject operates inRead MoreNature Vs Nurture Debate Essay965 Words   |  4 PagesThe oldest arguments in the history of psychology is the Nature vs Nurture discussion. Both are legitimate and it is very hard to decide whether a person’s development is prone to his DNA or influenced by his life experience and environment. Presently, nature and nurture both play important role in human development. However what remains unknown is if human is developed solely because of nature or nurture. . As of now, we know that both nature and nurture play important roles in human developmentRead MoreThere Are Many Types Of Conditioning That People Used To1427 Words   |  6 PagesThere are many types of conditioning that people used to learn things. The first type of condition that we talk about in this paper is classical condition. The second type of conditioning is called operant conditioning. And the last type of conditioning is vicarious conditioning / Observational Learning. These are the 3 main types of conditioning that we use in are daily life. Classical Conditioning Classical conditioning is one of the most basic forms of learning that we use today. You can see it

Enron from the Beginning to the End - 2542 Words

Introduction When many people hear the word Enron, they immediately associate it with the most important accounting scandal of our lifetimes. Enron was an American gas company that began as the Northern Natural Gas Company in 1931. Internorth, a holding company in headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, purchased the Northern Natural Gas Company and reorganized it is 1979. Enron arose from the 1985 merger of Houston Natural Gas and Internorth. After building a large, new corporate headquarters in Omaha, the new Enron named former Houston Natural Gas CEO Kenneth Lay as CEO of the newly merged company, and soon moved Enron s headquarters to Houston, Texas. After becoming the newly created top executive, Lay later became chairman of the board†¦show more content†¦These were named â€Å"Special Purpose Entities† (SPE). These SPEs were of doubtful legality and served a number of purposes. (Walsh, 2002) At first Enron apparently set up these SPEs correctly with the help of its independen t auditors, Arthur Anderson. When Enron ran into some difficulties finding replacement for these SPEs, it started using key management personnel for this purpose. What Enron was in fact doing, was using these Special Purpose Entities to move debt off the balance sheet and using the company stock as collateral. (Reinstein, et all, 2002) Enron’s Downfall Concerns about Enron’s financial stability were mounting. On August 14, 2001, Jeffrey Skilling, the chief executive of Enron, a former energy consultant at McKinsey Company who joined Enron in 1990, announced he was resigning from his position. Skilling cited that his reasons for leaving were personal. The months leading up to his resignation, Skilling had sold at minimum 450,000 shares of Enron at a value of around $33 million. After Skilling’s departure Lay reassured the concerned public that Enron was not facing any problems and was in a healthy state. Lay reassumed the position of Chief Executive after Skilling left but a lot of attention was now being focused on the company. Meanwhile, Kenneth Lay had cashed in hundreds of millions of dollars of his own shares but failed to warn others of the tidal wave that was heading their way, particularly those employees that had their entireShow MoreRelatedExecutive Office Of Houston Natural Gas1689 Words   |  7 Pag es Enron was created in 1985 when Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth merged together. Houston Natural Gas was a utility company based in Houston, Texas before being taken over by InterNorth. InterNorth was a very large energy company based out of Omaha, Nebraska. They specialized in natural gas pipelines, but also were successful in the plastic industry, coal and petroleum exploration and production. In the beginning Kenneth Lay, who was the Chief Executive Office of Houston Natural Gas, becameRead MoreRelationship Between Ethics And Business Performance1181 Words   |  5 PagesAlthough the relationship between ethics and business performance is still the subject of controversy, the Enron case is a demonstration that the lack of ethical behavior is inseparable from the competitive disadvantage. The question is not so much whether the disaster could be avoided if the company had adopted from the beginning, transparency criteria. The main thing to know as citizens, so far repute d and honest, have managed to create an environment to bring their managers to take ethically reprehensibleRead MoreRelationship Between Ethics And Business Performance1278 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough the relationship between ethics and business performance is still the subject of controversy, the Enron case is a demonstration that the lack of ethical behavior is inseparable from the competitive disadvantage. The question is not so much whether the disaster could be avoided if the company had adopted from the beginning, transparency criteria. The main thing to know as citizens, so far reputed and honest, have managed to create an environment to bring their managers to take ethically reprehensibleRead MoreThe rise of Enron took ten years, and the fall only took twenty days. Enron’s fall cost its1600 Words   |  7 PagesThe rise of Enron took ten years, and the fall only took twenty days. Enron’s fall cost its investors $35,948,344,993.501, and forced the government to intervene by passing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) 2 in 2002. SOX was put in place as a safeguard against fraud by making executives personally responsible for any fraudulent activity, as well as making audits and financial checks more frequent and rigorous. As a result, SOX allows investors to feel more at ease, knowing that it is highly unlikelyRead MoreSkilling Watkins Served As The Whistle Blower Essay876 Words   |  4 Pages Sherron Watkins served as the â€Å"whistle-blower† who played a major part in bringing down the Enron Corporation. Watkins had joined Enron in 1993, after leaving Arthur Anderson. (Enron Whistle) She managed Enron’s massive portfolio of investments used in its multiple vehicles (Welcome). In her letter to then-CEO Kenneth Lay, Watkins questioned whether Enron could withstand the scrutiny of an SEC investigation. Not only would Jeffrey Skilling’s abrupt departure trigger such an investigation, butRead MoreEnrons Accounting Frau d1304 Words   |  6 PagesNorthern Natural Gas Company (the ancestor of ENRON) was established in 1930. In 1979, Inter North Inc. bought Northern Natural Gas Company and placed it  under a new management. In the 1980s, the  United States Congress passed legislation deregulating the sale of  natural gas.  At the beginning of the 1990s, Congress passed a similar legislation targeted at the sales of electricity. These steps launched a new era in the energy market, allowing companies like ENRON to prosper. In 1985, Kenneth Lay, CEO of  HoustonRead MoreEnron And The Collapse Of Enron1303 Words   |  6 PagesEnron, a company which originated in Huston, Texas, was one of the largest American energy trading corporations in the nation. Although it was one of the most well known companies, it was also one that crashed and burned the fastest, shocking many people when it did. Not only did it end fast, the company caused quite a scandal which is still being discussed and reviewed in today’s world. Enron’s bankruptcy scandal was so widely known because of the many people who associated themselves with the companyRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Enron Scandal861 Words   |  4 Pagesmodern American history filed for bankruptcy. Enron, a seemingly invulnerable company would eventually provoke sweeping changes in regulation that controls the management and accounting of public companies even to this day. The Enron scandal has come to be known as one of the prime audit failures of all time and serves as a classic example of corporate greed and corruption. However, for the generation that watched in horror as corporations such as Enron fell along with the stock market, this scandalRead MoreCase Analysis : Enron Corporation891 Words   |  4 Pagesanything wrong or knowing how this money came from. This is how the employees in Enron Corporation felt at the time when the company was the biggest energy company in the nation, and was having the best stock in the market. â€Å"You could feel the excitement at 6 a.m. You walked in the door and got energized, all those creative juices flowing. You worked with the best, the most brilliant. It was a great, great company, says one of the employees in Enron for New York Times (Turnage and Keyton). ThereforeRead MoreEnron Case Study Essay951 Words   |  4 PagesGibney’s film version of the rise and fall of Enron, do you accept Joel Bakan’s argument that the corporation shows â€Å"psychopathic† traits? I agree with Joel Bakan, however, just partially about the corporation Enron showing ‘psychopathic’ traits. Yes there are traits that they were doing unethical actions that completely ruin many people life-long works and their lives; nonetheless, in my opinion, those actions were intentional. The executives at Enron were gambling intelligently, according to the