Definition and Discussion of Reader-Based Prose

Definition and Discussion of Reader-Based Prose Definition Reader-based prose is a kind of public writing: a text that is composed (or revised) with an audience in mind. Contrast with writer-based prose. The concept of reader-based prose is part of a controversial social-cognitive theory of writing that was introduced by professor of rhetoric Linda Flower in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In Writer-Based Prose: A Cognitive Basis for Problems in Writing (1979), Flower defined reader-based prose as a deliberate attempt to communicate something to a reader. To do that it creates a shared language and shared context between writer and reader. See the observations below. Also see: AdaptationAudience AnalysisAudience Analysis Checklist Your Writing: Private and Public Observations The concept of egocentrism was much discussed in composition studies in the late 1970s. . . . By Flowers terminology, reader-based prose is more mature writing that meets the needs of the reader, and with the help of the instructor, students can turn their egocentric, writer-based prose into prose that is effective and reader-based.(Edith H. Babin and Kimberly Harrison, Contemporary Composition Studies: A Guide to Theorists and Terms. Greenwood, 1999)In reader-based prose, meaning is clearly specified: concepts are well articulated, referents are unambiguous, and relations among concepts are presented with some logical organization. The result is an autonomous text (Olson, 1977) that adequately imparts its meaning to the reader without relying on unstated knowledge or external context.(C.A. Perfetti and D. McCutchen, Schooled Language Competence. Advances in Applied Linguistics: Reading, Writing, and Language Learning, ed. by Sheldon Rosenberg. Cambridge University Press, 1987)Since the 1980s, [Linda] Flower and [John R.] Hayess cognitive-process research has influenced professional-communication textbooks, in which narrative is viewed as distinct from more complex types of thinking and writingsuch as arguing or analyzingand narrative continues to be situated as the developmental starting point.(Jane Perkins and Nancy Roundy Blyler, Introduction: Taking a Narrative Turn in Professional Communication. Narrative and Professional Communication. Greenwood, 1999) Linda Flower has argued that the difficulty inexperienced writers have with writing can be understood as a difficulty in negotiating the transition between writer-based and reader-based prose. Expert writers, in other words, can better imagine how a reader will respond to a text and can transform or restructure what they have to say around a goal shared with a reader. Teaching students to revise for readers, then, will better prepare them to write initially with a reader in mind. The success of this pedagogy depends upon the degree to which a writer can imagine and conform to a readers goals. The difficulty of this act of imagination, and the burden of such conformity, are so much at the heart of the problem that a teacher must pause and take stock before offering revision as a solution.(David Bartholomae, Inventing the University. Perspectives on Literacy, ed. by Eugene R. Kintgen, Barry M. Kroll, and Mike Rose. Southern Illinois University Press, 1988)

A Group of Baboons Is Not a Congress

A Group of Baboons Is Not a Congress A popular meme contains a picture with several baboons playing in the snow captioned: Did you know that a large group of baboons is called a Congress? As the meme goes on to explain: We are all familiar with a herd of cows, a flock of chickens, a school of fish and a gaggle of geese. However, less widely known is a pride of lions, a murder of crows (as well as their cousins the rooks and ravens), an exaltation of doves and, presumably because they look so wise, a parliament of owls. Now consider a group of baboons. They are the loudest, most dangerous, most obnoxious, most viciously aggressive and least intelligent of all primates. And what is the proper collective noun for a group of baboons? Believe it or not ... a Congress! I guess that pretty much explains the things that come out of Washington! The meme does explain one thing: The person who posted or sent it does not know what a large group of baboons is called. It’s a ‘Troop’ National Geographic says, baboons form large troops, composed of dozens or even hundreds of baboons, governed by a complex hierarchy that fascinates scientists. According to the Oxford Dictionaries list of proper terms for groups of things, organized gatherings of kangaroos, monkeys, and baboons are all called â€Å"troops,† while the only group called a â€Å"congress† is Congress.   An Expert Weighs In In an email to PolitiFact, Shirley Strum, director of the University of Californias Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project in Nairobi, Kenya, agreed that a group of baboons is known as a â€Å"troop.† â€Å"I have never heard the term congress used for a group of baboons! she wrote, adding, I would prefer to be governed by baboons than the current Congress! They are more socially committed, abide by the golden rule and are generally nicer people. Baboons are socially sophisticated and incredibly smart and among primates, no species is as dangerous as humans. Only baboons who have been spoiled by humans feeding them are dangerous and are never as aggressive as humans. The Point The point the meme is trying to make is that the U.S. Congress has pretty much degenerated into a largely ineffectual collection of lifetime professional politicians, typically  trusted by only 10% of the American people, that spends more time arguing, running for re-election and on vacation than it does tending to its real job of carrying out the legislative process in a way that helps Americans happily pursue life and liberty.   In 1970, for example, the troop called Congress passed its very own Legislative Reorganization Act, which among other things â€Å"required† both the House of Representatives and the Senate to take the entire month of August off every year unless a â€Å"state of war† or â€Å"emergency† exists at the time. The last time Congress decided to take a break from its break was in the summer of 2005 when lawmakers returned to Washington just long enough to pass legislation authorizing aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina. But the fact remains that a gathering of baboons is not a congress.

Read 7 articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Read 7 articles - Essay Example After the hurricane had wreaked havoc a great effort went in for rescuing those stuck in it. This effort could have been well spent to provide relief to the affected. Thus we conclude, that key officers, especially those in decision making posts should be trained to handle emergency decision making. Special leadership programs should be initiated where officers and politicians holding key positions are trained to respond to emergency and take effective decisions in the minimum possible time. Alternately, the officers can be taught emergency decision making with the help of Department of Defense, in special camps, where they are acquainted with emergency response methods of the armed force. Decision to evacuate can also be practiced in simulated exercises and circumstances. The second major impairment occurred due to failure of communication channels and absence of command and control system. The authorities in all major cities especially the coastal areas should be networked through satellite wireless communication network. A satellite wireless network has minimum chances of damage in event of a natural calamity. Even in normal times, the wireless network should be put to use to check its efficacy. Alternately, a computer program of wireless network can be maintained at all the state capitals and the Headquarters. Such program can be used to materialize, an emergency network, in a particular area in the shortest possible time. The National Communication System should be strengthened with all the above suggestions. The third factor that affected the rescue work was the civil-military coordination. Though the army provided emergency help its prowess could not be put to full use due to lack of coordination. The civil-military coordination can be increased in by conducting emergency management drills during normal times. The military and civil officials can meet more often, discuss and plan out emergency

Ethics of Merci Killing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics of Merci Killing - Essay Example People argue that if legalized the choice of their life will be given to other people who may use it unethically to kill those whom they have a bias against. Another reason is regarding the religious aspect of life. Some religions see life as a gift from God and do not give a man the authority to take life at his own will.â€Å"The word Euthanasia means a "good death,"  Ã‚  "beneficial death" or a ‘dignified death’."   Euthanasia can be practiced in a number of ways; one can be defined as passive Euthanasia which is carried out to hasten the death of a person. For example by removing a patient from life support or in some cases by stopping food and water or any sort of medicine which is helping to keep the patient alive.The controversy surrounding Euthanasia can be broadly categorized into two arguments, one in favor of Euthanasia and the other against it. We will briefly shed light on both of these arguments.â€Å"Pro-lifers readily agree that anyone should have t he right to refuse medical treatment if he believes the side effects, whether pain or the burden of being tied to some machine or whatever is worse than the disease. This includes two types of people, One: People who, perhaps because of a serious illness or perhaps for reasons unrelated to their illness, are extremely depressed and say they want to die and Two: People who are suffering from illnesses that make them unable to communicate. This includes people who are in a coma, or paralyzed, or simply so sick and weak that they cannot make meaningful sounds or other communication. The pro-euthanasia people say that such patients' ‘quality of life’ is so low that they are better off dead and they should be killed.†People who argue against euthanasia say that if legalized it can become an issue of cost containment and government saving rather than providing long term care to serious patients or those who do not have health insurance.

The sociological theory of social constructionism

The sociological theory of social constructionism Social Constructionism essentially represents a sociological theory of knowledge that studies the development of various sociological phenomena in social contexts. A social construct, the anchor of this theory, refers to a concept that is the artefact of a specific group. Social constructs, to elaborate, dispense with take away from commonly accepted inherent qualities of items, concepts, or issues, and instead focus on their dependence upon, and the contingent and conditional rationale of, our social sense. They describe such issues and things are more easily described as the result of numerous human choices, rather than of natural laws or divine intention. The origins of present day social constructionist theories go back to the writings of Immanuel Kant. Kant argued for the existence of a world that was independent of human minds, thus implying that humans should not assert that they created the world. This world, he said, is without structure and is not divided into things and facts. Structure is imposed on the world by perceiving it and thinking of it in specific ways, as also and by the adoption of particular sets of beliefs, (rather than instead of others) about it. Vivine Burr (2003, p 2) argues that social constructionism enables individuals to adopt critical attitudes towards their conventional and traditional methods of perceiving and understanding the world and their own selves. It provides humans us with fresh ways on perceiving ideas and things that are considered to be commonplace and are unquestioningly accepted. Numerous things like for example money, newspapers or citizenship are socially constructed and. All of these t hings would not obviously have existed in the absence of society. Each of them furthermore could have well been constructed differently. Social constructionism encourages people to question the widely held perception that conventional and accepted knowledge has sprung has come about from objective and impartial examination of the world. It is as such opposed to the positivist epistemology of traditional science and spurs thinking individuals to constantly question their assumptions about the appearance of their environment and its various components. This short study deals with the implications of social constructionism for social workers and how its use can help them social workers to understand human behaviour. Specific emphasis has been given to the use of social constructionism in understanding commonly held perceptions and attitudes towards mental disorders. The Use of Social Constructionism by Social Workers to Understand Human Behaviour Social workers have two fundamental objectives, namely the strengthening of the ability of individuals and groups to cope with and overcome the many difficulties and challenges they confront in life, and the bringing about of improvements in various social and environmental circumstances areas, in order to improve the satisfaction of human needs; especially of people from underprivileged and oppressed social segments. Social workers plan and attempt their various interventions through their understanding of environmental circumstances, the various reasons for such these conditions, and the client system. Such understanding and knowledge and the consequent adoption of theoretic approaches significantly influence the point, the tool, and the nature of social work intervention. It becomes evident that adoption of theoretic preferences, based upon an understanding of the reality of the client environment, is crucial, both to social work theory and its practice. Theories of classical empiricism assert that the truth about the world is established and is independent of the individual. Social constructionism conversely puts forth argues that such truth is certainly not independent of individuals but is actually depends upon their thoughts, perceptions and beliefs. Social workers, by using social constructionism, will be able to understand the various dimensions of reality within such individual thoughts, perceptions and beliefs. Constructionists state that reality cannot be known separately from our elucidation of it. Social constructionism works on the principle that reality is constructed socially and places emphasis on language as a critical route for interpretation of experience. Whilst objectivists state that individuals make discoveries and find out about the reality of the world through the construction and testing of hypotheses via the actions of neutral observers, constructionists debunk such assumptions arguing that the interests and values of observers can never be separated from their observations and are thus bound to influence the final construction of common perceptions about world realities. Gergen (1985, p 270), states that generation of ideas of reality is initiated by social, rather than individual, processes and that the touted objective reality of the positivist approach is actually the result of various social construction processes that are influenced by historical, political, cultural and economic conditions. With such knowledge being essentially constructed, it can change over time and diverge across cultural groups that embrace different perceptions and beliefs about human nature and development. Considering that the norms, beliefs, valu es, traditions, attitudes and practices of different cultural groups vary from each other, the social construction of their knowledge is also likely to differ significantly. An understanding of this fundamental principle can help social workers in their realisation of the different perceptions, attitudes and behaviours of different individuals towards similar social phenomena or stimuli. Social constructionism helps social workers in adopting critical stances towards established assumptions on regarding the social world that reinforce the interests of powerful and dominant social groups and assists them in realising that the world has come about because of historical processes of communication and negotiation between groups and individuals. Gergen (1985, p 266), states that people see the world through the eyes of their particular communities and cultures and respond accordingly. Established assumptions, understandings and behaviours of people are sustained by social, political, economic and moral institutions. Payne (1997), states that reality, according to social constructionism, can be stated to be the guidance of behaviour by individual perceptions of knowledge and reality. Individuals arrive at shared perceptions of reality through the sharing of their knowledge via different social processes that first organise such knowledge and thereafter establish it by making it objective. Social and individual activity thus becomes habitual with individuals sharing their assumptions about their perceptions of reality. People behave in line with social conventions that are based on such shared knowledge. These conventions are furthermore institutionalised because of the agreement of many people on such understandings on different aspects of society. Such realisations and accords become legitimised by processes that integrate these ideas about reality into ordered and believable systems. Social workers need to realise that social understanding is finally the combined result of various human understandings through the operation of circular processes, wherein individuals contribute to the construction of social meaning within social structures of societies through processes of institutionalisation and legitimisation. Societies consequently create conventions through the participation of individuals in their structures, which, in turn influences the behaviours of people. Spirals of constantly moving influences build and rebuild the conventions that people adopt and by which they live. Berger and Luckmann, (1966), state that individuals experience the world to be an objective reality, comprising of persons and events that exist separately of individuals perceptions. Language provides the means through which individuals make sense of their environment, classify persons and events, and interpret new experiences. The shared reality of everyday life by different individuals distinguishes it from individual realities, (like dreams). Language helps individuals in sharing their experiences and making it available to others. Such sharing of reality leads to institutionalisation and thereafter to habitual ways of working. Habitualism makes the behaviour of different individuals predictable, facilitates joint activity and perpetuates social control mechanisms. Knowledge is as such institutionalised within sub-groups, or at social levels, and significantly influences the behaviour of people. Social constructionism allows social workers to question dominant structures of knowledge and understand the impact of culture and history. Social workers by and large understand the requirements of humans through the interplay of different ideological, ethical, political and economic factors. An understanding of social constructionism can help them in understanding the responses behind the actions of both dominant and vulnerable groups of society and decide upon the adoption of the best suited routes for bringing about social change. Social Constructionism and Mental Illness Much of modern day societys perceptions about mental ailments are influenced by the medical and psychological models, which state that medical illnesses are real; they concern disturbances in thoughts, experiences, and emotions and can be serious enough to cause functional impairment in individuals. Such ailments make it difficult for individuals to sustain interpersonal relationships and conduct their jobs. They can also sometimes result in self destructive actions, including suicides. The more serious of such illnesses, like extreme depression and schizophrenia, can often be chronic and lead to serious disability. The social constructionist approach states that such much of modern day perceptions about mental ailments are caused by the specifically constructed vocabularies of medical and psychological models, replete with their elaborate terminologies for mental disorders and focused their focus on deficits. Social constructionism can help social workers in understanding the socially constructive and destructive illusions that have been created put up by existing medical and psychological models and deficit based language. Walker (2006), states that vocabularies of medical and psychological models, including the concept of mental illness itself, are essentially social constructions. They are made up of vocabularies that describe deficits and diseases and perceive human beings as things that can be examined, diagnosed and treated, much in the manner of machines. Such perceptions (a) lead to obsessions with compliance, (b) distinguish between normal and pathological states, and (c) position prac titioners as experts, even as clients are represented built up determined as passive and obedient recipients of treatment. Recommended treatments focus on elimination of symptoms, support established paternalistic roles, and are not focused on actual client needs. Examined from the perspective of linguistics, reified categories like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia appear to be defined by clusters termed as symptoms; schizophrenia for example is concerned with the occurrence of audio hallucinations. Such terms, it is evident exists only because of the creation of consensus among the dominant groups of doctors and psychologists and persist because of convention. Mental illnesses are often described akin to physical ailments like diabetes, where individuals are required to manage their lives with specific medications. Such comparisons are used to explain the working of medications and to make the diagnosis and recommended treatment for mental ailments acceptable to clients. Such analogies however breakdown completely considering if it is realised that discussions about thoughts and feelings of individuals concern their identities and not their bodies. Social workers need to understand that the vocabularies of medical and psychological models essentially position clinicians as the most suitable interpreters of client experiences. Even apparently harmless terms like clinical or treatment plans establish contexts where clients are perceived to be abnormal or having pathologies, even as clinicians are established as authorities with abilities to perform interventions for assisting clients in overcoming their pathologies. With the power of definition lying with clinicians, the labelling of people as mentally ill pushes them to the borders of society and takes away from them their intrinsic rights and privileges. Social constructionism helps social workers in understanding that whilst political and human pressure has helped in eliminating the incarceration of the mentally ill in mental hospitals, the distinction created by vocabulary on mental illness leads to the movement of centres of power to clinicians and undermines efforts for self determination and community integration. Such medical and psychological vocabularies constitute obstacles to more inclusive mental health programmes and undermine social understanding of people with mental disorders.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

A classroom that includes students diagnosed with ADHD needs to include effective intervention strategies. According to the American Psychiatric Association, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is characterized by pervasive and developmentally inappropriate difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and hyper activity. These students frequently have difficulties following classroom rules and can show aggression, they are also more likely to be rejected socially and have more difficulty getting along with other students. School-based services are usually needed as well as placement in a special education class. The implementation of behavioral strategies combined with the use of psychotropic medications can help achieve a favorable outcome and a greater chance of success. Children with ADHD have different behaviors that can prevent them from learning and those behaviors can range from being mildly disruptive to almost making it impossible for academic and social success. A variety of behavioral strategies can be implemented to accommodate each child's needs. These strategies should include some clear, simple expectations or rules that outline expected behaviors for all students. These rules should be posted and reviewed frequently as well as recognized and praised when they are being followed. When all students understand the expectations, they have a goal they can work towards. For some students having additional prompts can help them to maintain self control and achieve these goals. Academic tasks can seem overwhelming for some students and there are some ways to help these students complete their school work. One effective strategy is modifying the size of a task, breaking it into smaller assignments can help them achieve success. Gradually increasing the level of difficulty, and the time spent working on an academic activity might help some students learn self regulation. When they can complete a task they should be praised or rewarded. I currently work in a classroom where there are modifications made for several students depending on the subject being taught. One student becomes overwhelmed by math lessons and feels defeated before he even begins. His behavior reflects this when he becomes disruptive and refuses to even try. Several strategies have been implemented to help him and are currently being used with success. Presenting the work in smaller assignments has helped him feel less overwhelmed. First I make sure he understands the task and what the total assignment is, then it is broken into sections for him to choose from. By choosing the section he feels most comfortable to begin with helps promote a positive attitude toward the overall task. Combining this with positive reinforcement and praise for staying on task and not disrupting others has been successful and this student's average grade has increased by 10% since the beginning of the school year. Reinforcement based strategies like a reward system can be a very helpful tool as a whole class strategy. The desired behavior and expectations need to be outlined as well as what the reward will be. These expectations need to be individual and realistic so that the student can see progress toward the goal. This strategy can be successful when used regularly and followed through. This is a strategy that I currently work with and it brings positive results. I work in a seventh grade ASD classroom where there are clear classroom goals as well as individual goals. The students earn â€Å"checks† for short term rewards like 15 minutes of IPad use or art time as well as a larger goal of â€Å"Friday Fun† which is a free period of social interaction with classmates where they can choose a game or activity to play for an entire period. The goals are individualized and can be increased as the student's ability grows. Having a long term goal also gives a student room to adjust their behavior and make up for times when behavior needed to be corrected. Not every student earns this reward all the time, but the teacher helps the students understand where they need improvement and how together they can work to achieve their goal for the next week. Both articles discuss the importance of the partnership between parents, teachers, and counselors. All parties should have a good understanding of the strategies used at home and in school. These strategies are the most successful when they are followed through by all. Open communication is very important and allows for an easier transition from school to home and home to school. For two students in my classroom we send home a â€Å"Have a Good Day Chart† which gives parents a look at their child's overall behaviors as well as their progress throughout the day. This helps us to see what time of day may be more challenging or if a particular subject causes unwanted behaviors. If the student is on medication it can track the time of day behaviors are occurring and can help when parents speak with their child's doctor. Intervention services are essential to helping a student succeed. These providers evaluate from a different perspective and can offer additional strategies for parents and teachers The way to achieve the best outcome is for all caregivers to develop a plan that includes strategies that are both proactive and reactive. Encouraging the desirable behaviors and addressing undesirable actions help to teach self regulation. Tracking and recording data show growth and improvements. This helps everyone identify the strategies that work and where changes are needed as the child grows. These strategies should be reviewed and discussed by everyone implementing them. This is especially important for children in middle school or high school where there are multiple teachers working with the students each day. Consistent and clear guidelines can help students with ADHD be successful and reach their full potential. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Wolraich and Baumgaertel in â€Å"The Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Based on the New DSM-IV Criteria† (1996) observe that ADHD is â€Å"the most common mental disorder in children† (p. 168). From a parent’s perspective, ADHD is a troubling disorder feared due to its adverse effects on the behavior of children. Wolraich and Baumgaertel (1996) further notes that the symptoms for the disorder â€Å"are usually well developed by school age† children and are also â€Å"most clearly and consistently observed in the school and classroom environment† (p.  170).For the parent, ADHD is a disorder that should be given strict consideration as it may greatly affect their child’s school performance and overall mental development. The article gives a detailed account of the history of ADHD, consistently citing earlier researches conducted in examining the disorder. The article also emphasizes the previous criteria in determining t he disorder. In essence, Wolraich and Baumgaertel (1996) argue that DSM-IV as a new criteria for the prevalence of ADHD.In their research, the authors obtained teachers who will fill-up a behavior rating scale for their students. Children from kindergarten to fifth grade in a middle Tennessee county participated in a second study under the same research. Moreover, the questionnaires used in the research consisted of a modified teacher rating scale in order to fit the DSM-IV. In the studies, a principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation was used. Wolraich and Baumgaertel (1996) found similarities among the studies and that ADHD is indeed a prevalent disorder among school children.With DSM-IV as the new criteria, the researchers confirm that the scope of ADHD is more prevalent than we may already know. From the perspective of the parent, it can hardly be denied that the behaviors of their children may reflect symptoms of ADHD in one way or another. By noting the research findings of Wolraich and Baumgaertel (1996), parents may soon realize that their children may have ADHD or show symptoms of the disorder. It may cause a reason for alarm which can ultimately result to an increase in the efforts of parents to constantly monitor their children’s behavior both at home and in school.I have learned that ADHD is indeed a serious disorder because it is prevalent among children who, in their young age, are still on the verge of learning many things which are basic to one’s life. If that is the case, ADHD poses a threat on the younger generation of learners which should be a sufficient reason for the learning institutions and key officers to assess the school services being provided and to create measures which will address the symptoms of the disorder manifested by young learners with ADHD. Without doubt, my perspective towards ADHD and those who have it has changed.The prevalence of ADHD among children taught me that the disorder is not a si mple problem which has a ready-made solution. Because the disorder is primarily rooted in the human brain, one’s attitude towards children with ADHD should not be in a harsh way. Learning to treat children with the disorder with respect and understanding is a must. If the facts presented by Wolraich and Baumgaertel (1996) are not compelling enough, I cannot think of any other compelling force to make people rethink their attitudes towards people with ADHD.In case one may wonder, the research done by the authors of the article is a credible research primarily because the authors have accurately and objectively presented their findings with no regard to personal bias. More importantly, the authors have the authority and scholastic records to back-up their efforts in the research. For one, Mark Wolraich is the Child Development Center’s director as well as a Professor of Pediatrics in Vanderbilt University Medical Center.On the other hand, Anna Baumgaertel is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the same university. Apart from the thing that the authors have presented, there are still other things I would like to know. For instance, can ADHD last a lifetime? Inasmuch as ADHD can be acquired by children at a young age, does it also indicate that the disorder can be carried over to one’s adulthood or later years on life? Hyperactivity is one of the symptoms in determining if a person has the disorder.But it is certainly not the sole defining symptom in identifying traces of ADHD in a person’s behavior. If that is the case, then it is more than likely that grown-ups and the elderly may also manifest ADHD. Or is it? Another thing that I would like to know is whether ADHD can be directly cured by medicines or medical and surgical operations. Since the disorder has strong relation to a person’s brain, can doctors make use of brain surgery in order to ‘correct’ what seems to be a flaw in one’s brain and eventuall y relieve the person suffering from ADHD?Or can it be the case that continuous medication through pills or perhaps through injection of medicine in the form of fluids can result to an immediate and long-lasting cure for the disorder? Lastly, if ADHD is best manifested through the behavior of children, what can parents do in order to counter or at least lessen the possibility for children with the disorder to suddenly turn towards a hyperactive state?It seems much is yet to be explored about the nature of ADHD and those who suffer from it. For the moment, it is sufficient to know that the disorder is a serious problem and necessitates serious solutions for both parents, teachers and doctors. Reference Wolraich, M. & Baumgaertel, A. (1996). The Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Based on the New DSM-IV Criteria. Peabody Journal of Education, 71 (4), 168-186. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (abbreviated as ADHD) is a term that used to describe a range of behavior related problems leading to lower concentration and poor attention.   It is a problem which affects many people across all ages in the world.ADHD leads to development of many learning difficulties in children since they cannot pay full attention in class.  Ã‚   While some individuals may exhibit one condition alone, other may exhibit a wide range of conditions including impulsiveness, restlessness, hyperactivity, and many others.The severity of the condition depends on the range of symptoms that are exhibited by the child.   Apart from academic problems, children with ADHD also suffer from social problems and most of them have shown inability to socialize with their peers at home or at school. The condition is also known by other words like hyperkinetic due to the common factor of restlessness which is exhibited by children suffering from the condition.The conditio n can be categorized together with other neurobehavioral defects which affects a wide range of population.  Ã‚   However, ADHD is more prevalent in children although statistics shows that the condition affects close to 5% of the people in the world regardless of their age. The symptoms the conditions are more evident in children than in adults and are mainly noted in a close supervision set up like in schools.There is also gender variation in the prevalence of the condition and it has been diagnosed twice in males and females.   In some case, the disease has been shown to be chronic where more than 45% of individuals who are diagnosed with the condition in their early age progress with the symptoms late to their adulthood. As individuals grow, they develop coping mechanisms which decrease the prevalence of the symptoms of the condition in later adulthood.ADHD presents one of the greatest academic challenges that teachers have to deal with.   Unlike normal children who are atte ntive in class, ADHD children exhibit a wide range of attention difficult which affects their academic performance.Therefore it is the duty of the teacher to come up with working strategies to help ADHD children to perform like the rest in class. There are various strategies that have already been proved quite effective in assisting ADHD children to improve their academic performance.  This paper will discuss ADHD in school going children. The paper will first have an overview of ADHD including its definition, pathopysiology, symptoms, and treatment. Then it will review the   social and academic difficulties that ADHD children goes through and finally it will review strategies that can be used by teachers to help students with ADHD to perform well in class.ADHDADHD was first recorded by Scottish physician Alexander Crinchton in 1798. Alexander described a condition resulting to mental restlessness which is very similar to the modern  Ã‚   diagnoses of ADHD.   However, ADHD w as recognized in 1902 by a British pediatrics George Fredrick.   Fredrick also defined a condition which was very similar to ADHD but he recognized it as an abnormal physical condition affecting children which as more evident in their studies (Cleave and Leslie, 2008).Extensive research on ADHD has shown that it can be caused by biological or environment factors and the combination of the two aggravates the symptoms of the condition.  Ã‚   According to Cleave and Leslie (2008), there are three biological factors which can predispose individual to develop the symptoms of the condition including;Child temperament   which   lead to   varied change in attitude and   personality Genetic factors   including inheritance of the condition   from parents   or close relatives Accidents leading to damage of the brain tissues which can be due to pre-birth problems or trauma which leads to hypotoxic damage of the brain Environmental causes have also been linked to development of the condition.   Environmental causes include a wide range of factors that compose the growth environment (Stern and Stern, 2002).There are wide ranges of environment factors which can predispose individuals to the development of the condition including the family stress, the style of parenting earlier difficulties faced in education, growth in  Ã‚   areas prone to negative behaviors like violence, peer influence, and many others. For example, research has shown that children who grow up with violent parents or alcoholic parents are prone to development of symptoms of the condition than others.In the United States ADHD has remained on of the most controversial social and medical issue.   Different stakeholders like medics, social workers, media, and others have all questioned the diagnoses criteria in ADHD with some arguing that the condition is over diagnosed by the present DSM-IV criteria.However this controversy in the diagnoses criteria stems from the systematic developme nt of the diagnoses tool keeping into consideration that ADHD cannot be diagnosed using clinical signs.

Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart - 1448 Words

Based on the precolonial era of Nigeria, Chinua Achebe s fictional story Things Fall Apart, shares the story of the Igbo culture through the lens of Okonkwo, a hard-nosed tribesman living in the fictional village of Umuofia. Okonkwo is a man who epitomizes masculinity and inner strength, the core values of the Ibgo culture, and shows no mercy when faced with struggle. Although Okonkwo is faced with numerous conflicts, such as the killing of the young boy whom he raised as a son (Ikemefuna) and the seven year exile from his â€Å"fatherland† tribe, the intrusion of the British missionaries and colonial administrators who later colonize Africa is the ultimate conflict in this story as it leads to the downfall of Okonkwo, whom resists the idea†¦show more content†¦For example, Okonkwo s father, Unoka, refuses to pay his debt to Okoye by asserting, â€Å"Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them.† (Ach ebe 8). In other words, Unoka tells Okoye that he will pay his larger debts first before his smaller ones. Achebe continues the use of proverbs to describe the wisdom of the Igbo people by mentioning, â€Å"As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings. Okonkwo had clearly washed his hands and so he ate with kings and elders.† (Achebe 8). This proverb embodies one of the core values of the Igbo villagers that through hard work even a person such as Okonkwo can overcome his father s negative past to make himself one of the village s greatest men. Despite his success and valor, some villagers often thought of Okonkwo as a brute, and is described with another proverb: â€Å"Looking at a king s mouth, said an old man, one would think he never sucked at his mother s breast.† (Achebe 26). While the Igbo people had harsh traditions within their culture, such as when they sacrificed Ikemefuna for the killling of a daughter of Umuofia, they remain ed to be harmless unless threatened. Likewise, the British colonials were viewed as harmless at first but quickly displayed their true character by controlling the people of Umuofia