Group work

How Does Group Work Contribute to Teaching and Learning in Primary Schools?Group work, known to others as collaborative or concerted acquisition, is defined as a â€Å"situation in which, two or more people learn or attempt to larn something together† [ Wikipedia Contributors, 2010 ] . This paper focuses on how on the job collaboratively impacts both instruction and acquisition in primary schools. It describes the background to the development of collaborative acquisition and high spots the techniques frequently employed. The rules to effectual group work are explained, with both advantages and disadvantages noted. Collaborative acquisition is a pedagogical scheme which utilizes a assortment of larning activities to heighten a pupil ‘s apprehension of a peculiar subject. This is an betterment to traditional acquisition theoretical accounts besides defined as non-interactive talks, where cognition is gained from direct talks or the reading of books and articles. Traditional larning bids really small interaction or engagement from the pupils, hence a batch or really small may be learnt depending on the person. Collaborative larning accordingly stands as a constructivist attack to acquisition, and is identified as arising from a constructivist epistemology, as pupils are asked to take part and lend to their ain acquisition and development. The thoughts of bookmans such as Burner, Kohlberg, Piaget and Vygotsky are used in the development of collaborative acquisition, which basically implies that both the pupil and the environment are actively dynamic entities in the acquisition procedure as the pupil tries to portray the lessons. This procedure requires that cognition be discovered and translated utilizing linguistic communication and other larning Plutos to which the pupils can actively associate. Lawrence Kohlberg researched the moral determinations made by kids. His probe is such that â€Å"he developed an interview procedure offering a figure of scenarios, each with a moral dilemma† for which he had pre-determined replies. He realized that six phases of moral development existed and that some people are unable to make most advanced degrees of ethical reading. He thereby concluded that ; â€Å"the development of moral concluding happens in a peculiar sequence, and that each measure of the manner is a precursor to the next† [ KidsDevelopment.co.uk, 2010 ] . Jean Piaget ‘s theory of Cognitive Development suggests that persons go through a series of phases on their manner to independent thought. Piaget provinces that â€Å"all cognition refering world consequences from actions or operations upon it, which makes it alter, uncovering its stable and variational properties† ( Piaget, 1980 p222 ) . Lev Vygotsky believed that socialisation increases cognition and frequently clip changes a kid ‘s ideas and behaviors. Vygotsky suggests that larning is achieved in three ways ; imitative, instructed and collaborative. Imitative larning involves the pupil merely copying what was taught and instructed acquisition involves the pupil following waies antecedently given. Vygotsky ‘s work was focussed on two of import thoughts. First being the Zone of Proximal Development ( ZPD ) ; this describes the degree of distinction between a job that a pupil can work out independently and a job in which a pupil will necessitate the aid of others. ZPD is frequently identified as an person ‘s degree of existent competence relation to their degree for possible development. The 2nd thought is known as staging and describes the facet of support given to pupils when it is desired. Group work allows pupils to work together in little squads, uniting people with changing backgrounds, experiences, proficient and rational competences, towards the attainment of a specific aim. Each member of the squad has the duty of larning the stuff for himself, while besides assisting other members to clearly understand the lesson therefore making an â€Å"atmosphere of achievement† ( Palmer, Peters and Streetman. 2008 ) . Students thereby derive both cognition and societal accomplishments. The usage of group treatments helps pupils to explicate constructs and thoughts by supplying immediate feedbacks. Students learn how to trouble-shoot hand in glove in order to happen the best solution to a job. â€Å"When pupils formulate their ain solutions in this mode, they are genuinely believing critically ( Davis, Mahler & A ; Noddings, 1990 ) . Swortzel expresses that there are two major theoretical attacks to group work â€Å"Motivational and Cognitive† ( Swortzel, 1997 ) . Group work is seen as motivational because pupils recognize that their success or failure in the attainment of the specified end is dependent on them being able to work together as a squad. They thereby encourage each other to acquire the assigned undertakings done decently and on clip, in so making â€Å"cooperative acquisition additions pupils ‘ motive to make academic work† ( Johnson, Johnson & A ; Holubec, 1986 ) . The cognitive attack suggests that through group work pupils go more critical with their thought. Students are stimulated to believe ‘outside the box ‘ , therefore geting increased degrees of perceptual experience, consciousness, and concluding and judgment abilities. Group treatments are really synergistic with each person showing their point of view. Within a diverse group, there will be doubtless changing sentiments accordingly foregrounding attacks to the same subject. A collaborative model must foremost be established before the execution of collaborative larning techniques. The instructor should research collaborative acquisition and observer other instructors who have already implement the usage of group work. The instructor should hold on a good apprehension of the advantages and disadvantages to group work and must develop a acute grasp for the technique of scaffolding. The instructor so needs to make up one's mind if collaborative acquisition is ideal for the topic being taught, the type of pupils and take into history schoolroom limitations, if any.Teachers implementing collaborative acquisition are expected to be competent in the undermentioned countries:* Stipulating instructional aims * Determining group size and assign pupils to groups * Determining Group Size and Assign Students to Group * Classroom agreement * Planning instructional stuffs to advance Interdependence * Assigning group functions * Assigning undertakings * Structuring positive mutuality and answerability * Explaining the standards for success * Stipulating desired behaviors Before implementing collaborative larning the instructor should explicate to the pupils their determination for the usage of group work and explicate the advantages and disadvantages. The finding of group sizes may change depending on the nature of the undertaking and the work load. Groups can be homogenous or heterogenous, grouping pupils with similar involvements and strengths or they may be wholly indiscriminately selected. Once groups are established they normally do non alter really frequently, so as to let pupils to develop a constructive working relationship with each other. It is of import that the furniture in the schoolroom be organized in a manner which allows the pupils to work as a unit, sooner confronting each other, whilst leting for their flexible motions. Teachers should take into history the bing resources needed for successful undertaking completion and guarantee that they are readily accessible by the groups. The instructions and stuffs a instructor chooses for a group should guarantee that each member of the group makes a meaningful part and that single assignments within the group will be equally distributed. Teachers should construction positive mutuality and answerability by regularly proving both the groups and the members of the group for apprehension of the capable affair. Members should be encouraged to be able to actively support the stance of the group and their ain. The standards for success of the group should be clearly communicated and measures put into topographic point to measure the group ‘s public presentation as a unit every bit good as the single public presentations of the members. Once the groups have been established, instructors need to supervise the behavior of the pupils and aid with demands while monitoring. In so making, instructors may help with the answering of inquiries and supply and jump point of position or sentiment. Teachers may besides supply feedback on the work completed or the advancement made. Should struggles originate within the groups, instructors should step in to guarantee that such struggles are rapidly resolved and explicate the deductions of unwanted behaviors. It is besides really of import that instructors provide approbation and, or motive where it is deserved. Students play the most of import function in the art of collaborative acquisition. Their functions include and are non limited to, working together, actively listening to each other, maintaining records of work and advancement, oppugning each other, presuming personal duty and finishing the assigned undertaking.An article written by Dillenbourg and Schneider provinces that there are a few mechanisms to collaborative acquisition:* Conflict or Disagreement, proposing that when equal to peer struggles originate, societal factors cause scholars to disregard the dissension and to some extent forces them to happen a executable solution to the job. One facet of this theory states that diverging point of views normally lead to academic additions, while the other provinces that â€Å"when struggles are non verbalized they do non foretell positive outcomes† ( Dillenbourg and Schneider, 1995 ) . This article draws two decisions relative to this mechanism one being that â€Å"slight misi nterpretations can be every bit efficient as a clear struggle between two agents who severally believe P and non P† and the 2nd being that â€Å"verbal interactions generated to work out struggle are related to larning outcomes† ( Dillenbourg and Schneider, 1995 ) . * Alternative Proposal besides referred to as the â€Å"confirmation biases† by Dillenbourg and Schneider ( 1995 ) . In so making pupils actively develop thoughts that support their suggestions and wholly disregard thoughts that do non. They frequently times can non abandon their thought or suggestion because another suggestion may non be forthcoming ; nevertheless other group members make alternate suggestions. * ( Self- ) account ; the Self-Explanation consequence, as it is in known in many cognitive scientific discipline literature, describes that in a state of affairs where one pupil is more cognition that the other, the latter will automatically larn from the signifier, and besides that the former will hold on a better apprehension of the subject being explained as he endeavours to interpret into to footings to with the latter pupil can actively associate. Having successfully explained the more knowing pupil would hold improved upon his accomplishments to interrelate and gained improved assurance. Had there been any uncertainnesss in the account, person even more knowing might be able to clear up. * Internalization ; the article explains this mechanism as one in which pupils explain or justify their suggestions to each other, the verbalisation of such impacts all involved and that the constructs communicated are integrated into the hearers concluding. â€Å"Thinking is viewed a treatment that 1 has with oneself and which develops on the footing of treatments we had with others† ( Dillenbourg and Schneider, 1995 ) . The article besides states that for this mechanism to be effectual a few conditions must be met, â€Å"One status is that topics can merely absorb constructs which are within their ‘zone of proximal development ‘ , i.e. within the vicinity of the current cognitive degree. Another status is that the less able equal is non left as a inactive hearer, but participates into the joint job work outing strategy† ( Dillenbourg and Schneider, 1995 ) * Appropriation, this is explained as one pupil detecting the thoughts or accounts of another and taking those thoughts or accounts and edifice on it to do their ain. Learning is double as the first pupil reinterprets his actions relative to that of the 2nd, and the 2nd pupil got a sound foundation on which to construct. * Shared Cognitive Load, this involves the distribution of undertakings which will come together to accomplish the overall aim of the group. When the work load is even shared between pupils, each pupil can work meticulously on the assigned undertaking, thereby extinguishing redundancies and bettering the efficiency of the group. * Mutual Regulation, by using any of or a combination of the mechanisms antecedently described, pupils frequently have to modulate the actions of each other to guarantee that the stipulated guidelines are adhered to for the attainment of their ends. * Social Grounding, described limpidly by Dillenbourg and Schneider as â€Å"the mechanism by which an person efforts to keep the belief that his spouse has understood what he meant, at least to an extent which is sufficient to transport out the undertaking at hand† ( Dillenbourg and Schneider, 1995 ) . This mechanism requires the talker to look into for apprehension, and where misunderstand is seeable to clear up, thereby constructing a portion apprehension of the job. George W. Gagnon. Jr. , and Michelle Collay developed another design for collaborative acquisition and in this theoretical account teachers develop a series of stairss that their instruction construction follows every bit listed below: * â€Å"They develop a state of affairs for the pupils to explain† ( Gagnon and Collay, 2004 ) * â€Å"They select a procedure for groupings of stuffs and students† ( Gagnon and Collay, 2004 ) * â€Å"They build a span between what pupils already cognize and what the instructors want them to learn† ( Gagnon and Collay,2004 ) * â€Å"They anticipate inquiries to inquire and reply without giving away an explanation† ( Gagnon and Collay, 2004 ) * â€Å"They encourage pupils to exhibit a record of their thought by sharing it with others† ( Gagnon and Collay, 2004 ) , and * â€Å"They solicit pupils ‘ contemplations about their learning† ( Gagnon and Collay, 2004 ) .A comparing of there collaborative techniques, is illustrated in Appendix 1.Johnson, Johnson, and Smith ( 1991 ) high spots three cardinal undertakings instructors should follow for the rating of the efficiency and effectivity after there group work is completed. First, instructors should supply a closing through summarisation. That is, to sum up the lessons of import points or to hold each group explain their work and the points they found of most significance. Second is to measure the pupils larning, by measuring how they have attained or failed to achieve the coveted result and supplying the feedback required, leting pupils to better on their ability to work as a group and therefore personal development. Third, instructors should do note of the techniques that worked and why they worked and if necessary adjust their lessons. A popular definition of constructivism is that â€Å"Constructivism is a theory of cognition which claims that cognition is non passively received but actively constructed by the scholar, and that the map of knowledge is adaptative, functioning to organize experience, instead than detect reality† ( online, 2010 ) Group work has academic, societal and physiological benefits to both pupils and instructors. Academic benefits include: the development of critical thought and the active engagement of pupils in the acquisition procedure. The societal benefits include: the development of societal larning systems for pupils and physiques diverseness apprehension among pupils and instructors. The physiological benefits include: increased self-esteem through peer-to-peer instructions and it reduces the anxiousness of pupils. Although collaborative larning seems to be dependent on the actions and willingness to larn, which should for many be a natural procedure, there are many disadvantages as there are advantages to is execution. A few of the obstructions faced are ; some pupils prefer to work competitively instead that collaboratively, instructors lack the ability to readily measure the work produced, instructors sometimes do non cognize how to mensurate the effectivity of their instructions in a collaborative scene, sometimes the assigned undertakings are non applicable to a pupils ends or abilities, and sometimes the undertakings are non â€Å"difficult plenty to dispute but non so hard as to stonewall a conversation.† Some groups may be comprised of ‘slow scholars ‘ who may be viewed as others as priceless, thereby advancing ‘superior ‘ behavior by the ‘fast scholars ‘ . Table 1, Appendix 2, illustrated assorted group constructions and the advantages and dis advantages to these groups. Nigel Hastings and Karen Chantrey-Wood from Nottingham Trent University explores the many schemes instructors utilize in group work activities, many of which are strongly endorsed by a commission known as the ‘Plowden Committee ‘ . â€Å"By disbursement clip with groups of kids, instructors could set their instruction to the demands of the persons of that group to a greater extent than when working with an full category of pupils as a whole. This besides ensures that all kids have a sensible sum of direct contact with their instructor regardless of the fact that they are working in groups† [ Hastings & A ; Wood, 2002 ] . This suggests that collaborative acquisition enhances the happening of individualised attending given to pupils, by presenting â€Å"one-on-one† interactions between pupils and equals and pupils and instructors. The article besides illustrates that schoolroom agreement is really of import in guaranting that collaborative acquisition is efficient and effectual. It shows that collaborative acquisition in widely accepted and really normally practiced across the Earth ; â€Å"In primary schoolrooms throughout the UK, it is standard pattern for kids to sit around sorted tabular arraies – normally with four to six kids in each group. Such agreements are besides common in primary schools in other English-speaking states, Australia and USA for illustration. Precisely because this constellation is so normal and so good established in our schools, it is unusual to inquire about its principle or to oppugn its appropriateness† [ Hastings & A ; Wood, 2002 ] . An abstract written from an experiment conducted by Gillies and Ashman, â€Å"One hundred and 92 Grade 6 kids participated in a survey which compared the effects on behavioral interactions and accomplishment of ( a ) co-op acquisition in which group members were trained to join forces to ease each other ‘s acquisition, and ( B ) co-op acquisition in which members were non trained but were simply told to assist each other. Graded random assignment of participants occurred so that each gender-balanced group consisted of one high- , two medium- , and one low-ability student†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ( Gillies & A ; Ashman, 1999 ) . The observations showed that the pupils who worked in the ‘Trained ‘ groups where more antiphonal and helpful to each other, giving accounts where necessary to help as they worked together. It showed that pupils in the ‘untrained ‘ groups were a batch less helpful towards or concerted with each other. From the consequences it was besides co ncluded that â€Å"the kids in the ‘trained ‘ groups exercised more autonomy with their acquisition and obtained higher acquisition results than ‘untrained ‘ peers† ( Gillies & A ; Ashman, 1999 ) . This survey is one of the many to certify to the success of group work. Despite some drawbacks Collaborative acquisition has legion benefits, as is explained, runing from academic to physiological and it execution in primary schools is rather a positive move. Students at the primary school degree are rather waxy and there is no better clip for them to develop the really valuable competencies that working in a group has to offer. At the primary school degree they are mature plenty to hold an apprehension of what group work requires. Many of the surveies conducted were centralized around childhood developments. Students who can successfully work in groups from the primary school degree are normally better equipped for when come ining higher degree larning establishments. They would hold learnt to comfortably associate with equals and grownups, such as instructors or other authorization figures, they would hold learnt the value of self-expression and self-explanation, actively listen and esteem the positions of others. These pupils realize that as persons w e have different backgrounds, experiences and traditions and as such may hold diverging attacks to the same job. These pupils will besides be better able to distinguish between the demand to work collaborative and the demand to work competitively and in so making will cognize when best to use the several attacks. This research has revealed that both the instructors and the pupils play a polar function in the success of collaborative acquisition. Teachers are non expected to merely delegate undertakings and sit back while the pupils work on their ain. Teachers must play an active function throughout the procedure. They must be after for the assignment with clearly structured undertakings that will advance collaborative interactions, promote mutuality and excite cognitive thought among pupils. Teacher must supervise the procedure supplying ongoing feedback and be readily able to decide struggles should they originate. Teachers should be able to actively scaffold their pupils, cognizing when their support is needed and that it should bit by bit be withdraw. Students in order to successfully accomplish their aims in groups must appreciate the benefits of group work. They must hold a clear apprehension of the coveted aim and the sub-task demand to successfully accomplish the aim. They must be able to actively and reflectively listen to each other and utilize creativeness and objectiveness to work positively together. In so making they will larn to further positive work attitudes with others, thereby bettering on their interpersonal accomplishments as they prepare for the work universe. Appendix 1 Three Constructivist Design Models [ 1 ] 1. The Learning Cycle 2. The Learning Step developed by George W. Gagnon. Jr. and Michelle Collay 3. The Information Construction ( ICON ) theoretical account created by Robert O. McClintock and John B. Black, and is really similar to Dillenbourg and Schneider.Appendix 2Table 1: Forms of Cooperative Groups [ 2 ]Name OF GROUP WHAT IS THIS? WORKS BEST FOR Benefits Drawback Pair-share 2 pupils with one job portion their thoughts or inquiries. Each individual speaks, listens, & A ; gives feedback. Content that requires treatment, contemplation, or account. Increased engagement clip, Helps those who are diffident Fewer positions and solutions Saber saw Each member of the little group researches one portion of the inquiry /content for a certain sum of clip. The members of the group come back together. Each member teaches his/her portion to the remainder of the group. Content with four or five parts to research. Students gain learning and research accomplishments Some pupils feel pressured by a clip bound Split-class treatment The category is split into half. Each side discusses /debates their cognition /beliefs, etc. Arguments or treatments Students may alter their sentiment or develop a different position Some pupils may talk less with such a big group. Random groups of 3 Class is split into groups of 3. The groups discuss the subject. Predicting what will go on, reacting to a state of affairs. Receive a assortment of feedback, group members are accountable Easy to go forth out or team up against a diffident pupil or one who has a different sentiment Ability/Interest/Friendship Group Students are divided into groups based on some quality that they all have in common. Making plays/skits or an activity in which pupils must work together outside of category. Students can work at a gait that best suits them, pupils are seldom world-weary and frequently motivated It is unrealistic to happen a wholly homogenous group, weaker or unpopular pupils may be excluded. Diverseness Groups Students are formed into groups where they come from a broad assortment of backgrounds, involvements, etc. Researching geographics, history, and diverse life styles. There are many chances to derive different positions Minorities may go anomic Multi-aged groups Students are divided into groups in which there are a mixture of ages Older pupils learning younger pupils ( i.e. scientific discipline experiments ) . Older students- there is less force per unit area to vie with equals, Younger pupils fell of import that an older individual is passing clip with them Older pupils may be a bad influence ; Older pupils may non cognize how to work with a younger kid or an â€Å" at hazard † pupil Peer-led Conferences Students prepare and take a treatment of stuff with parents, teachers, pupils, etc. A major undertaking in which pupils set up Stationss for several intelligences. Students get the chance to genuinely learn, pupils learn self assurance. Students whose parents are inactive in the school may be alienated from those whose parents participate ; some pupils may non be involved in interactions.Notes:These diagrams were obtained from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/implementation_sub1.htmlThis tabular array was obtained from: hypertext transfer protocol: //projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php? title=Cooperative_Learning # Frequently_Asked_Questions_about_Cooperative_LearningMentions* B. , Mahler, C. A. & A ; Noddings, N. ( 1990 ) . Constructivist positions on the instruction and acquisition of mathematics. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education by National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. [ Online ] hypertext transfer protocol: //home.capecod.net/~tpanitz/tedsarticles/coopbenefits.htm. [ Accessed: March 20, 2010. ] * Concepts to Classroom. Three Constructivist Design Models. Disney Learning Partnership. Thirteened Online. 2004. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/implementation_sub1.html. [ Accessed: March 21, 2010 ] * Davis, R. Palmer, G. , Peters, R. , & A ; Streetman, R. ( 2003 ) . Concerted acquisition. In M. Orey ( Ed. ) , Emerging positions on acquisition, instruction, and engineering. hypertext transfer protocol: //projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/ . [ Accessed: March 21, 2010 ] * Harel, I. & A ; Papert, S. ( 1991 ) . Constructionism. Norwood, NY: Ablex Publishing Corporation. * Johnson, D. W. , Johnson, R. T. , & A ; Holubec, E. J. ( 1986 ) . Circles of acquisition: Cooperation in the schoolroom. Edina, MN: Interaction Book Company. * Kafai, Y & A ; Resnick, M. ( Eds. ) ( 1996 ) . Constructionism in pattern. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. * KidsDevelopment.co.uk. Jane Marshall. [ Online ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.kidsdevelopment.co.uk/PiagetsCognitiveDevelopmentTheory [ Accessed: March 20, 2010 ] * KidsDevelopment.co.uk. Jane Marshall. [ Online ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.kidsdevelopment.co.uk/VygotskySocioCulturalTheory [ Accessed: March 20, 2010 ] * KidsDevelopment.co.uk. Jane Marshall. [ Online ] hypertext transfer protocol: //www.kidsdevelopment.co.uk/KohlbergsMoralReasoningStages. [ Accessed: March 20, 2010 ]  · Nigel Hastings & A ; Karen Chantrey Wood. ( 2002 ) . Group Seating in Primary Schools: an untenable strategy1? Nottingham Trent University. Education-Line. Online. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00002181.htm [ Accessed: March 21, 2010 ] * Orey, M. ( Ed. ) . ( 2001 ) . Emerging positions on acquisition, instruction, and engineering. Online. hypertext transfer protocol: //projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/ [ Accessed: March 21, 2010 ] * Retrieved from â€Å" hypertext transfer protocol: //projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php? title=Main_Page † * Panitz, T. ( 1996 ) . A definition of collaborative vs. concerted acquisition * Papert, S. ( 1993 ) . The Children ‘s machine: rethinking school in the age of the computing machine. New York: Basic Books. * Perkins, D. N. ( 1986 ) . Knowledge as design. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. * Pierre Dillenbourg and Daniel Schneider. Collaborative Learning & A ; the Internet. ICCAI 95 article. TECFA ( unit of Educational Technology ) , School of Psychology and Education Sciences. Feb 8, 1995. hypertext transfer protocol: //tecfa.unige.ch/tecfa/research/CMC/colla/iccai95_5.html # HEADING9. [ Accessed: March 20, 2010. ] * Robyn M. Gillies and Adrian F. Ashman ( 1999 ) . Teaching collaborative accomplishments to primary school kids in classroom-based work groups. Graduate School of Education, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Online. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sciencedirect.com/science? _ob=ArticleURL & A ; _udi=B6VFW-3VV41V4-1 & A ; _user=10 & A ; _coverDate=09 % 2F30 % 2F1996 & A ; _rdoc=1 & A ; _fmt=high & A ; _orig=search & A ; _sort=d & A ; _docanchor= & A ; view=c & A ; _searchStrId=1261791467 & A ; _rerunOrigin=google & A ; _acct=C000050221 & A ; _version=1 & A ; _urlVersion=0 & A ; _userid=10 & A ; md5=000d51b3bb0b63ad82d4d7cbe3fcd552 [ Accessed: March 21, 2010.  · Swortzel, K. ( 1997 ) . The effects of concerted larning methods on accomplishment, keeping, and attitudes of place economic sciences pupils in North Carolina. Journal of Vocational and Technical Education, [ online ] . hypertext transfer protocol: //scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JVTE/v13n2/Abu.html [ Accessed: March 20, 2010. ] * Thomas, H. W. , Mergendoller, J. R. and Michaleson, A. ( 1999 ) . Project-based acquisition: a enchiridion for center and high school instructors. Novato, CA: The Buck Institute for Education * hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nrs.dest.gov.au/glossary.htm. Online. [ Accessed: March 21, 2010. ] * The Vygotsky Internet Archive. Online. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.marxists.org/archive/vygotsky/ [ Accessed: March 21, 2010. ] * Vygotsky Resources: Review & A ; Analysis of Vygotsky ‘s Thought & A ; Language. Online. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.kolar.org/vygotsky/ [ Accessed: March 21, 2010. ] Retrieved from â€Å" hypertext transfer protocol: //projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php? title=Cooperative_Learning †

Nokia Analysis

IntroductionNokia is one of the largest telecommunication manufacturer companies in the world. They are recognized globally for their reliable and high quality products. Though they are a pioneer in manufacturing mobile phones and the GSM technology, Nokia’s profitability has been on the decline in recent years. A reduction of market share in North America of thirty-five percent in March of 2008 to eight and one tenths percent in April of 2010 highlight’s Nokia’s decline (Wong, 2011).Synopsis of the situationNokia has been on a steady decline for the last few years due to outdated product design and technology. On February 11, 2011, Nokia’s new CEO Stephen Elop announced a new mobile strategy to adopt Microsoft’s new but unproven windows phone as its primary smartphone operating system (Wong, 2011). Nokia’s flagship phone, the Vertu, has been a staple in the urban luxury market for the last eight years. Will Nokia’s loyal customer acce pt or reject this new move for their beloved devise.Key IssuesNokia was once an industry leader, but as of recently found themselves behind in the times. Nokia has several key issues that need to be addressed. The first is their shrinking market share and brand preference. The next issue is the inability to deliver innovative products in a timely manner.Define the ProblemThe Microsoft operating system is not a winning over the customers that Elop thought that it would. Nokia has one phone that has been their flagship item for the last eight years. It is believed that making the change to the Microsoft operating system on that phone will cause Nokia to lose the customers for that one popular devise.Alternative solutionsOne alternate solution that could be well received would be to scrap the Microsoft idea all together. The system could be replaced with the current Android smartphone operating system. Android has a proven track record and is even more popular and used than iOS6 which is Apples current operating system.Selected Solution of the problemThe solution is to move forward with the production of the phones with the Microsoft operating system. Nokia has always been on the cutting edge of technology. They did not get to the place that they are by following the trends. Nokia is a company that sets the trends. Microsoft’s operating system is a viable option for the Nokia platform andImplementationImplementing new technology in the workplace can be an advantage to current job performance levels. You may experience an increase in production and reduction of working man hours while adding considerably to the bottom line of the company's income statement. This could be the shot in the arm that Nokia needs. Integrating this new technology in your current system without any disruption to the current workflow can prove to be challenging.You may run into problems with compatibility due to existing systems, hard-to-train workers or errors in the technology ins tallation, all of which adds cost and time to the integration process (Simmons, 2011). There are approaches you can take to make the integration of the new technology as seamless and frustration-free as possible. It is just a matter of careful planning and the support of the workers and vendors alike.RecommendationsIt is my recommendation that the Nokia stays the course. The new and improved Vertu will be a greater success that its predecessor. It is time for the company to regain its place on top of the leader board in the industry, and this new decision could take them there. Nokia will never be at the head of the pack by following its competitors.ConclusionIn conclusion, I feel that that the current CEO of Nokia, Stephen Elop, should take the reins of this company and lead it into a new era. Elop has solid ideas and sound vision for the direction of the company. I feel that the customers that have been loyal to Nokia will continue to be loyal to the company. These customers expec t something new and exciting. That excitement is what led them to Nokia in the first place. It is Nokia’s job to fulfill that promise. There was some initial negative reaction to the news of the direction of the company, but you can always expect some adversity with change. We do not change because it is the easy thing to do; we change because it is necessary. It is necessary to evolve to remain in existence.

Business Proposal Outline Essay Example for Free

Business Proposal Outline Essay This is a summary that can answer the question: what kind or type of business am I in? You must be able to answer this with a one sentence answer that summarizes everything you’ll do. You’ll use this as a tag line when meeting business people as you market your business or as an introductorily statement presented to a lender. Structure Define your business as a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, C Corporation, S Corporation or Limited Liability Corporation. To accomplish this will require the skills and expense of a good attorney specializing in small business. You’ll need bios and resumes on your principal team players, including details of their experience, education, noteworthy achievements and why you’ll think they will be an asset. Employees How many and how will you hire them? What qualifications are you looking for? Will you outsource? What about compensations, benefits, workman’s comp insurance or health plans? Finances & Accounting In house or subcontracted? Computerized? What software will you need? You’ll need a proforma profit and loss statement with income and profit projections forecasted out three years. What kind of a balance sheet method will you use? You’ll need three-year projections of assets and cash-flow. Will you outsource for expertise in this area? Who can you hire and who can recommend reliable professionals? How much will a qualified CPA cost you a year? What services will he/she provide? Technology What are your needs? How will you use your equipment and in what aspects of your business? What file databases are you going to maintain? How much power do you need to maintain these? Can you option for online vendors or do you have to install an in-house system,? What about IT? Outsourced or hired? What is you budget for upgrades of equipment and software? Will you be doing graphics and promotional materials design in-house or outsourced? What about spyware, malware and virus protections? More Than An Afterthought Writing a business plan that is comprehensive will require a lot of work and thought. But once it’s done, you’ll have a tool that can breathe and grow as your business grows. A successful business plan template will be divided into sections allowing the reader an easy interpretation of what your goals are and how you plan to achieve them. It should include the following: †¢Cover Sheet. Includes the name of the new business and the principals involved. †¢Table of Contents. Easily divides the plan into different sections and allows for easy navigating. †¢Executive Summary and Mission Statement. Introduces the business idea, summarizes the ideas and goals and what you intend to accomplish. †¢Start-Up Costs and Operations. Lists all the details of the items and costs required to get started as well as the operating costs once the business has opened its doors. This includes all expenses such as rent, supplies, administration, equipment and employees. †¢Marketing Plan. Your strategy for advertising and other methods of gaining clients. †¢Revenue Projection. Your financial forecast over a period of several years. †¢Appendix. Business Proposal Outline. (2016, Dec 09).

Transforming growth factor-beta and ROCK inhibitor in immunostaining Lab Report

Transforming growth factor-beta and ROCK inhibitor in immunostaining and microscopic analysis of adherent cells - Lab Report Example This report examined the transforming growth factor-beta and ROCK inhibitor in immunostaining and microscopic analysis of adherent cells. For a high gene dosage to be achieved, the heterologous cDNAs are normally cloned into replicate plasmids in a fashion that is relaxed and are normally existence at 15-60 copies per cell (Baneyx, 2009). Whenever the additional co-overexpression gene product is needed, ColE1 derivatives are normally put together with plasmids that are compatible and a p15A replication that is maintained at approximately 10 to 12 copies per cell. Under conditions of the laboratory, the multicopy plasmids will be distributed randomly during the division of the cell, and whenever selective pressure are lost at a frequency that is low. This may be due to multimerization (Baneyx, 2009). Whenever there is a high number of copy plasmids, the loss in plasmid can increase tremendously especially when the plasmid bone genes are toxic towards the host or significantly reduce t he rate of growth whenever cells are cultivated at densities that are high or in processes that are continuous. These problems can be addressed by using the encoded plasmid antibiotic markers resistance and the supplement growth medium supplemented to do away with the free cells of the plasmid. One key limitation of this approach involves the loss of selective pressure due to the degradation of antibiotics, leakages, or inactivation of the periplasmic detoxifying enzymes into the medium growth and the product contamination (Baneyx, 2009). This drawback could be unacceptable from a regulatory or medical point of view. In this respect, many alternative methods have been established to make sure that the cells that are free from plasmid will not overtake the culture. This means that cloning vectors will be engineered to carry repressors or genes, which leads to cell death whenever there is a loss of plasmid (Cregg, 2000). Even though, this method is proved to be vital, it could place r estrictions on the medium growth composition whenever there exist any complication and may introduce a burden metabolism on the cell through requiring transcriptions and translation of additional genes of encoded plasmids. For these problems to be circumnavigated, research has established a host strain having a conditionally essential gene in control of the promoter-operator region and a multicopy companion of the plasmid having the lac operator (Baneyx, 2009). Whenever the LacI receptor protein is titrated by encoded plasmid lac operators, it leads to the gene chromosomal expression and plasmid growth that is selective. It may also bear cells in the medium that is supplemented by the antibiotics. Another different solution to the plasmid instability problem could be a direct insertion of the genes that are heterologous within the E coli chromosomes. Even though, there exist a single vehicle delivery like the bacteriophage in this purpose there has been extremely little emphasis pla ced on the perceived notion that the dosage of the gene will always be low. In order to gain more insight on the characteristics of the E coli, this experiment was set to investigate the recombinant protein expression. Methodology. Material. The materials used for this experiment include: EcoRi/HindIII cleaned and cut pUC19 vector (V), EcoRi/HindIII cle

Price different depend on brand Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Price different depend on brand - Research Paper Example A brand refers to a name, sign, symbol, term, or design, or a combination of them, which identifies and differentiates products of one firm from those of others (Breward, 2003). Branding refers to the marketing practice involving creation of names, symbols and designs that identify and differentiate an organization and its products from others. Price differences in the fashion industry depend on the value attached to brands by consumers. This paper aims at studying the impact that brands have on prices in the fashion industry. Prices of various fashion products in the industry often tend to depend on the type of brands themselves. Valuable brand often have the highest prices while less valuable brands often cost cheap. This essay therefore aims at studying the impact of branding in the fashion industry on prices of commodities and services in fashion. Research question how do brands contribute to the differences in prices of products in the fashion industry? Industry overview The fas hion industry is one of the largest industries in the global economy. The industry mostly depends on the availability of disposable incomes among individuals, since most fashion items are considered luxuries. Fashion is part of the popular culture and the latest and best fashion trends are often portrayed in movies and film, music, fashion show and concerts as well as in advertisements in the media. The latest fashion trends and designs are often promoted by respected celebrities and public figures, who often influence peoples buying decisions in the fashion industry. Some of the popular fashion brands in the US and across the world include; Louis Vuitton, H&M, Dolce and Gabana, Kelvin Klein, Christian Dior, Levi Strauss, and Richemont among others. The impact of brands on product prices Branding is very important in the fashion industry since people like to be associated with valuable brands. Fashion brands give consumers certain social classes and they would want to be seen wearin g clothes and other accessories with notable and valuable brands. Prices of brands in the fashion industry will therefore vary according to the value that consumers attach to the particular brand. Most fashion companies therefore endeavor to push their brands to the level that they can attract more consumers who can be loyal to them (Breward, 2003). Demand for most fashion products is different from that of other goods and services because for most fashion products, an increase in price does not lead to a decrease in demand, as it is the case with products in other industries. With a loyal base of consumers, the companies can always manipulate the prices and still manage to attract more consumers(Steele, 2000). ABranding process involving research, defining and establishing brands that consumers can relate, associate and identify with. Brand identity is a very important element of branding and marketing in general. It refers to the ability of target consumers to identify with and re late with a particular brand. Brand identity has to do with the ability of a particular brand to get noticed among the targeted consumers. This therefore includes the packaging process and publicity accorded to the brand through advertising, CSR and sponsorship (Steele, 2000). Fashion brands can increase their brand identity through advertising, engaging with the community through CSR activities, sponsoring various events and having a great presence

Research Methods on Economy Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Methods on Economy - Research Proposal Example As the report declars  the variables selected for analysis are Investments, Assets, Liabilities, Debt, Equity, and Earnings per share, Return on Assets, Return on Investment, Asset Turnover, Current Ratio, Quick ratio. Each country is analyzed for each variable separately using time series analysis. The interpretation for each measure of performance is explained. The limitations of the study are listed.As the discussion stresses economic liberalization and globalization have brought about a new and competitive environment for the common and small investors who are willing to participate in the equity of the corporate sector in our country. Understanding the firm’s investment decisions under imperfect market conditions is one of the central issues of the financial economics. Studying firm’s investment in such environment can provide insight into the dynamics of its growth as a function of internal and external financial sources. In the presence of financing constraints the firm’s investment vary not only with the availability of the profitable investment projects, but also with the internal funds. Consequently, the severity of the financing constraints is proposed to be measured by the magnitude of the cash flow sensitivity of investment. In this paper, the authors propose an alternative perspective to investigate the relationship between financing conditions and the sensitivity measure.   The paper concludes by stating that financing conditions may determine investment and growth of the European Firms.

Clinical immunology lab report (ELISA) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Clinical immunology (ELISA) - Lab Report Example iagnose for certain diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and prostate cancer among many others as well as to measure certain hormones such as the human chorionic gonadotrophins. These tests capitalize on the fact that that many viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic illnesses generate established antibody reactions. Therefore, the recognition of antibodies specific to infectious agents in patients’ samples aids in the identification of infections such as influenza, HIV and hepatitis (Estridge & Reynolds 2011). In some instances such as syphilis, it is impossible to separate actual disease-causing organisms. Therefore, immunological tests find immense relevance in the diagnosis of these infections. Contemporary immunoassays have advanced from the need to identify and measure multifaceted biological molecules in situations where physical and analytical chemical techniques are not feasible (Bonwick & Smith 2004). In the early stages of immunoassays, the workers were restricted to using simple techniques that quantified the precipitation that occurred as a less important event after the binding of a number of antibodies to several antigens. This technique was difficult and had numerous limitations that restricted its use. Advances on improving the method led to the development of enhanced ways of identifying antigen-antibody reactions. The first method was radioimmunoassay by Berson and Yalow, which enabled the identity of the putative molecules by measuring radioactivity (Gan & Patel 2013). However, the problems associated with the disposal of radioactive waste led to the need for safer alternatives. In addition, radioimmunoassay required sophisticated equipment to obtain measur ements. ELISA became the most suitable alternative for detecting and quantifying antigens and antibodies ELISA is among the most common immunological tests in modern use. It entails the addition of an antigen or antibody to a firm surface, which in most instances is usually a polystyrene

Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business Law - Essay Example The problem in this question relates to offer, unilateral offer, invitation to treat, acceptance, rejection of offer and past consideration. These would be discussed in line with the facts and determination of conclusion of the issues would be made in accordance with that. The important aspect in respect of the question is that of the differentiation between an offer and invitation to treat. This has been drawn by the courts. Invitation to treat is an expression of willingness of one party to go into into negotiations with another party anticipating that a contract would be concluded at the end of such negotiations. Items on shop display and their prices are treated as an invitation to treat (Fisher v Bell). Advertisements are generally treated as invitation to treat (Harris v. Nickerson ). There are certain exceptions to this the reasoning based on intention and certainty. (Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co, a case on unilateral offer.)1. An offer on the other hand has been defined a s an unequivocal willingness by a party known as the offeror to enter into a contract on stated terms and provided that such terms would be accepted by the person to whom the offer is made (offeree) a contract would come into existence. Acceptance has been defined as the unconditional acquiesce to the terms that were laid down by the offeror. The important aspects of acceptance are that it should be unconditional and must be communicated to the. ( Holwell Securities v. Hughes2) . A number of exceptions have developed in respect of communication, one of them being the postal rule, whereby acceptance takes place as soon as a letter is posted. As far as instantaneous means of communication is concerned it can be said that the postal rule in Adams v. Lindsell3 of acceptance is not applicable and thus actual communication of acceptance needs to be done (Mondial Shipping and Chartering BV v. Astarte Shipping Ltd4). As far as silence constituting to be acceptance is concerned, the courts h ave been consistent in their approach that silence would not constitute as acceptance and acceptance needs to be communicated or can occur by way of conduct. (Felthouse v. Bendley)5 . The advertisement that was placed cannot be classified as a unilateral offer as the facts do not show the requisite certainty and unconditional offer, thus it is evident that the advertisement is an invitation to treat. The discussion with Rose was merely an invitation to treat as there was hope of a contract being concluded and at no point can it be seen that an offer been made, so there can be no acceptance. In line with the discussion with Mary, the offer of Rose was made and communicated to Mary, however, the problem lies in the fact that even though there Mary responded and accepted the offer, it was never communicated to Rose and so in line with authorities on instantaneous communication it can be concluded that acceptance did not take place and so no action can be brought about by Rose. As far a s Matthew is concerned, the problem lies in the fact that it was conditional on the fact that Matthew would receive payment and therefore a conditional offer, or in other words it was not a conclusive offer which could be accepted. Applying the approach of courts in respect of silence and that it would not constitute to be acceptance; the actions of John cannot in any way create a binding contract. Furthermore, there has been no actions or conduct which show acceptance, on the contrary Mary destroyed the cheque which shows her intention of not being bound. The next issue is in respect of consideration, which is that it must generally be given after promise so as to make it enforceable. Thus a promise made after alleged consideration is complete is unenforceable (Re Mcardle)6. Thus past consideration is generally held not to be good consideration. However, the courts in Pao On v. Lau Yiu Long whereby Lord Scarman laid down the three condition which were to be satisfied if the excepti ons were to be relied upon, the first being that the act which was done

PERSONAL PERSPCETIVE( REFLECT ) OF MANAGING CHANGE Essay

PERSONAL PERSPCETIVE( REFLECT ) OF MANAGING CHANGE - Essay Example Introduction Change occurs from time to time and change is the nature of things. Nothing in this world is constant or unchangeable. Would we like our own house for instance, if for years we had the same furniture, the same upholstery, the same colors? We like to make things different and we also know that any change around the house makes us feel better. The mind wants change but when the mind is not prepared for the change, it resists change. However, if we are informed of the change in advance we become mentally prepared for it and then we are not disturbed. This implies that change causes resistance when change is not accompanied or preceded by effective communication. Change is also a part of the life cycle of any product. When we speak of different stages in the life cycle of an organization or a product or service, change is implied. Abrahamson (2004) believes that without pain no change is possible and justifies that either one must change or perish. Why, then is change in the corporate world a topic for discussions, for theory formation and framework building? Focusing on the personal perception of change management this paper analyzes the factors that influence change as has been seen during the semester projects. The change management process studied during the semester will be reviewed along with the skills necessary for change. Change can occur in an organization for varied reasons ranging from change in the stage of the life cycle, to change during mergers and acquisitions, during downsizing, restructuring and during expansion and growth (Stanleigh, 2008). Change, in fact, is essential for progress as the human mind always seeks something new, something different, something exciting. However, I never realized that change could require so much planning to be effective. Having spent hours on the topic and having read about how changes have been implemented within different organizations, I realize that change has to be effectively managed. When I com pare it with an individual’s life, I find change in our life has to be equally well managed. Change cannot be a hap hazard process. This paper will reflect on the change management process adopted by Apple and McDonald's and what planning went behind the change. Critical Review We were first analyzed the organizational change undertaken by Apple. The drivers of change at Apple were competition, finances and open unidentified markets. These were arrived at through SWOT analysis and Five Forces Model which helped to understand the initiative for change undertaken by Apple. However, it appears that Apple’s focus was on enhancing profits as the employees as well as the customers were confused with so many models available at the same time in the market. They did not have a customer-centric approach which is essential for any new product launch. They did not try to understand customer needs and communication was lacking at Apple. Communication and information must precede c hange. This sounds so simple to implement but what I have learnt through reading and find it extremely interesting, is that communication is not a simple term that encompasses the quality or the ability to talk. It does not merely mean to inform or speak; it also means to listen. Having the strength and courage to listen to subordinates in an organization enhances communications (Pfeffer & Sutton, 1999). Thus, listening is also a part of communication. The

A) To what extent can it be argued that a Seperation of Powers exists Essay

A) To what extent can it be argued that a Seperation of Powers exists within the British Political system B)What are the arguments for and against Britian ado - Essay Example The latter privilege allows it to acquire and dispose of land, etc., the way ordinary individuals can. In contrast to this, the powers of local authorities are very much subject to statutes and regulations. In this sense, the executive powers of the local government is limited and constrained when compared with the powers of the Crown. â€Å"The power to order and reorganize the civil service derives either from the royal prerogative or the normal powers of a body recognized by law to enter into employment relations. It is detailed by Orders in Council, but these leave much leeway to ministers. It is this `flexible friend that has been used to establish Executive Agencies in the civil service and various other innovations over the years. All of this without the need for recourse to Parliament or law.† (Oliver 1994, p.641) The executive powers of the ministers, though loosely regulated, nevertheless provide them with â€Å"powers to make contracts for the supply of goods and services to departments and the public† (Shell 1994, p.301). The last fifty years had seen moves to implement more statutory controls over the executive branch. This is because the older methods of control were inappropriate and irrelevant to the modern times. Some examples include, reduction of powers of local authorities in favor of school governors and teachers; enhancement of responsibilities of hospital managers and general practitioners within the framework of the National Health Service. Both these cases suggest a move toward decentralization of executive powers. (Oliver 1994, p.639) The independence of the judicial power was solidly established in England by the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89. Ever since, one of the implicit conditions of this outcome was that the judges should take care not to encroach on the legitimate spheres of discretion of the sovereign political authorities, Crown and Parliament. The legal control of the government is aided by the Supreme Court Act,

Benefits of Using Ms Office Essay Example for Free

Benefits of Using Ms Office Essay There are several benefits of using MS Office and not using MS Office or using an alternative. MS Office is the number one word processing software; the alternative word processing software’s usually generate their ideals, therefore being a fabrication of MS Office. Kingsoft Writer, an equivalent to Microsoft Word, Kingsoft Presentation, an equivalent to Microsoft PowerPoint, and Kingsoft Spreadsheets, an equivalent to Microsoft Excel, whereas Kingsoft does not offer a database software or any of the other software’s MS Office offers. Some disadvantages of Kingsoft Office are 1. Kingsoft Office 2009 works with Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, and Windows 7 but not Macintosh computers and 2. If you’re a big fan of Microsoft Outlook, you’ll notice that Kingsoft Office includes no email and contact management software. MS office on the other hand provides you with a complete set of productivity and information management tools to accomplish routine tasks quickly, effectively manage customer and contact information in one place, produce professional-quality marketing communications and campaigns in-house, and simplify database creation and reporting. Microsoft Office provides the Live Preview feature of styles and formatting. That is, the content of the document temporarily applies formatting on the focused text or object when any formatting button is moused over. This allows users to view a preview of how the option would affect the appearance of the object, without actually applying it. The final layout effect is displayed by using the Live Preview feature. Hardware equipment requirement are high if using this feature. Currently, Kingsoft Office 2010 does not provide the Live Preview feature. Users need to select the specified style and apply it to view the final layout effects. Microsoft Office Excel is a powerful and widely used tool that helps people analyze information to make more informed decisions. Using Office Excel and Excel Services, you can share and manage your analysis and insight with coworkers, customers, and partners, Kingsoft is a viable alternative but is not as advanced as MS Office.

Psychology and Stress Essay Example for Free

Psychology and Stress Essay In our world today there are factors that make our life a little more difficult. We all go through these frustrations every day and some more than other are affected by them. These factors come in many different forms, yet they all lay under one category, it is called stress. Stress can impact a person physically, emotionally and, may be reasonable for people’s actions out of the norm. Setting up a stress management plan is a good way to find out how to overcome this problem in our everyday lives. Stress can be addressed through finding out what type of stress it is, how it impacts our bodies, and how to deal with stress. First of all stress can be managed just by finding out what type of stress is the cause. Stress causes our bodies to react to event that can be good or bad. According to Melinda Smith, M.A., Robert Segal, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. authors of the article on Understanding Stress, explains the course our bodies take during stress. Our bodies can kick into super hero mode and take us out of danger this is called â€Å"fight or flight†. Our bodies own defenses want to save our lives by confronting the problem or getting away. This can further lead on to cause conflict in our lives. One type of stress that causes this is Acute Stress. This type of stress is cause by a full force event. This can lead to after-effects reoccurring for one month. A study was conducted by the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China, with this study consisted of analyzing acute stress. The researchers took people with acute stress and tested patients on different levels of symptoms. The study came up with a scale; six dimensions and symptoms a person my experience. The results were helpful to better assist the degree of stress a person has. Also they connected how acute stress could lead to Post Traumatic Syndrome. It’s very important to find good consisting research to be able to find the proper treatment for each person. The next step to manage stress is the impact it has on a person. How could this affect a person’s health in a positive or a negative way. An example of acute stress is a person who has experienced an earthquake afterwards has nightmares of being in the situation again. Their body is responding to emotional impact this event had on them. If we were to go back into the moment the event happened, we would be able to see how stress got this person to react and out of the situation to save their life. People go through a moments of being unstoppable like the hulk. The body gives a person strength and increase other senses to escape. That’s a good way our body response in a time of need. After the fact is when problems start, that can change a person’s life. If this problem is not addressed lead to psychological and mental issues. Stress can start with symptoms of cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral (Smith, Segal, Segal). This is why people have different be haviors out of the ordinary. Also how important it is to know how much is too much stress (Smith, Segal, Segal). Letting a person get this far can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, depression and many other issues. Lastly finding steps to manage stress is the key. Finding a good plan that works for each person is a must. For example if a person gets stuck at the end of the line at the store and is late for work can be frustrating. People have to learn see the stressors and talk their way out of it. Tell them self’s its ok, review the situation and come to decision. At the end you’re the one who gets mad and then have to get happy again. So if a person starts from the beginning there’s so much that could be avoided. Another example is the people that were in 911 that had acute stress. This event was affecting many in different forms. Seeking treatment with a psychologist would help with the ordeal. Discussing the feelings behind the event helped many overcome their acute stress. In addition a good way to overcome stress comes from the article of Stress Management Health Center. The article notes how relax a person mind by writing, show a person’s emotions, and getting busy by destructions. This type of mental health treatment focuses on reliving the tension one carries. Taking walks, keeping an exercise plan to help focus the energy in another direction, these goals are good to maintain health balanced. A person may also due mediation to easy be the body and relax the mind. They can slowly start to change their outlook on life in more positive way. This can help with so much stress one deal with on a daily bases. In conclusion stress can be managed by taking control over lives by finding out what type of stress a person has, how it affects a person, and by learning to deal with it. Learning what stress is and its affects a person’s life is very important to improving oneself. It’s also a way to target the factors that are negative and replaces them with positive ones. Working one’s health one step at a time can avoid stress that affects people every day. Also learning to relax and taking the time for one self, makes life easier on the soul. If we let stress take ownership we will never overcome it. References YEBING, Y., JINGJING, T., YUAN, J., XUFENG, L., YUNFENG, S., XIA, Z., DANMIN, M. (2011). DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACUTE STRESS RESPONSE SCALE. Social Behavior Personality: An International Journal, 39(5), 713-720. doi:10.2224/sbp.2011.39.5.713 Smith, Melinda, Robert Segal, and Jeanne Segal. Understanding Stress: Symptoms, Signs, Causes, and Effects. Helpguide.org: Expert, Ad-free Articles Help Empower You with Knowledge, Support Hope. Web. 07 Oct. 2011. http://helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm. Stuff. Techniques, Exercises and Therapies for Relieving Stress. WebMD Better Information. Better Health. Healthwise, 14 Oct. 2009. Web. 07 Oct. 2011. http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-management-relieving-stress.

Effects of Climate Change on the Middle East

Effects of Climate Change on the Middle East The Effects of Climate Change on the Middle East The Middle East is going to experience a very tough patch in the coming years, with Climate Change threatening basic life, political tensions dividing countries and the economy relying on depleting oil reserves. Of course this is not true for the whole region but mealy a vague overview and this is what this essay aims to look at in more depth. Global climate change is predicted to have many effects across the face of the earth, some of which can be seen right now. The Middle East is one of the most water scarce places on Earth. A person living in this region only has access to â€Å"1,200 cubic meters of water per year, compared with the average of about 7,000 cubic meters worldwide†. As temperatures rise due to anthropogenic climate change, evaporation rates will also rise, leading to reduced output from any surface water storages (reservoirs and rivers). The first effect will be water shortages hitting agriculture as there will be lack of water to feed crops, then ordinary lower class civilians with basic jobs will also feel the impact of water shortages. The result would cause crop failure and lead to starvation as basic local food becomes scarce (Saudi Arabia is nearly self sufficient in wheat but without water crops will be lost). Food prices will rocket as they have to import more to meet the demand. This has already been seen as two recent droughts in Iraq 1999/00 and 2000/01 caused non-irrigated wheat production to decrease by 90%. Exports of agricultural products will cease and over sea revenue will dwindle excluding the oil industry. This will lead to increased poverty across the region. Lack of available jobs and poverty mixed together with food and water scarcity may push people to extreme political groups as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, thus making stable regions ticking time bombs. The lack of available drinking water would embark on people finding other sources which could distort their health increasing cholera and other water born diseases, as countries in the Middle East do not have well developed sewerage systems outside of main cities and that people relieve themselves where ever possible⠁ ´. This pressure puts immense strain on services such as the health service, but also on the government as citizens will be demanding action, raising political tensions. The government could respond by importing more water at a financial cost but also an environmental one. By importing water you require transport. Pipe lines are expensive and time consuming to build, so short term solutions will include the transportation of water by either lorry or ship, into the country either from Asia or Europe. This method releases even more COâ‚‚ and acts as a positive feedback towards climate change, so is not a suitable method as it leads to even greater water scarcity. Aquifer sources are already under serious depletion in this region⠁ ¸ and as the demand increases it will require more to be abstracted, which means improvements in technology will be made so that more water can be pumped to the surface at a faster rate. However it will have devastating consequences such as subsidence or saline water intrusion which will be just as serious. Subsidence is already occurring in western Saudi Arabia due to over abstraction of groundwaterand that the majority of the water supplies are retrieved from non-renewable water with only a small percentage coming from internally renewable sources. The West Bank and Gaza are in a much more comfortable situation compared to Saudi as they have much more internally renewable water but that does not exempt them from a water crisis. Of Gazas available sources of water, only 5-10% is potable due to contamination. The diagram above shows that the Middle East (especially Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria) has a very high stress for water availability. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in desalination plants with money from the oil industry but is still struggling to cope with demand. The country is now abstracting from â€Å"underground supplies in its east province reducing the agriculture and water availability of Qatar and Bahrain†Ã¢  ¸ and the annual recharge rate is a mere 0-5mm⠁ µ. This climate in Saudi Arabia is predominantly arid and semi arid but temperature extremes can be found at the Najd high Plateau with very hot summers and bitter cold winters. The coastal region experiences a slightly less harsh climate due to the Red Sea. The mean annual rainfall for this region is very worrying already (see diagram below) without the predicted impacts of climate change. The diagram also highlights that large areas are unable to cultivate crops without heavy irrigation which leads back to the political tensions arising over abstraction of underground water supplies and reduced output of crops. As you can see Turkey and the North West of Iran have much wetter climates but this could all change. Precipitation is expected to shift in the negative direction around the Middle East as shown in diagram from the IPCC Technical Paper leading to a decline in soil moisture content which increases daytime temperatures⠁ ´. Countries on the northern side, for example Turkey, are expected to bit hit hard due to their reliance on rivers and surface water storages. Turkeys average annual rainfall fluctuates depending on the area. Coastal regions experience 668mm per year, but central regions can get as low as 382mm per year. Large drops in annual rainfall could cause serious droughts as rivers and surface storages dry up leading to consequences highlighted earlier in this essay. Precipitation extremes will become more frequent due to climate change in this area, which would vastly increase the chances of flooding around the Jordan River as well as leading to serious soil erosion by rain splash. The sheer volume of precipitation will cause channels Climate Change and Water and gullies to form, washing the soil and sediments into water bodies. In turn it could reduce potable water even more so due to contamination as synthetic fertilisers and nutrients are washed out of soilsas well as having the effect of increasing turbidity. Predicted increases of runoff in the northern region of the Middle East will not help matters. Eutrophication is a major consequence leading to a decline in aquatic life as the excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) enter a water body and cause an algae bloom. This blocks sunlight from reaching bottom dwelling photosynthesising organisms which results in them dying. Zooplankton which feed on algae also live and hide amongst the lower photosynthesising organisms so their population will decline rapidly promoting algae growth to increase further (predator prey relationship). The algae have a high turnover rate (high growth and high death rates) and the dead algae are decomposed by respiring organisms which uses the oxygen up. This has been noted in the Keban Dam in eastern Anatolia. Pollutants like those leaked from the oil industry would have detrimental effects on the surrounding plant and wildlife with increased runoff, ultimately leading to decreasing biodiversity and the loss of environmentally sensitive areas along the Red Sea coast line. Coastal regions are also becoming under immense stress and are extremely vulnerable to increases in sea level. The table taken from The Impact of Sea Level indicates the overall effects of increases in 1m sea level changes across the Middle East and North Africa. A 1m increase would cause 24,000 sq km to be impacted which is a huge amount but the only country to be largely affected by this is Qatar. Around 13% is predicted to be impacted with a 5m increase ²Ã‚ ². This will cause mass displacement of people, forcing migration of people living close to the coast. Their quality of life will be directly affected as would the standard of living unless governments intervened and relocated them in permanent locations. If not, refugee camps will be a large regional problem. A Comparative Analysis 5% of UAEs population will experience the consequences of a 1m rise but 10-15% will be exposed to further increases. Qatars GDP will suffer greatly (10%) leading to further money deficit problems, and unable to counter the consequences of climate change and increased sea level ²Ã‚ ². The country will fall to outside help but whether it receives it is another matter. The population and economy are not the only victims of climate change. Precious wetlands will be lost in the Middle East around coastal countries like Qatar, Kuwait and UAE. With a 1m rise in sea level over 20% of Qatars wetlands will be affected which is alarming as they are essential for bird and invertebrate diversity. Populations are very small and are very vulnerable to slight changes. The red sea is home to a large variety of coral reefs. The increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is not only causing increasing temperatures and sea levels, but also the sea to become more acidic. These three effects are having direct impacts of precious coral reefs around the world. Coral structures are being weakened by carbonic acids reacting with their skeletons due to the acidification of the sea, making them more prone to damage. What is more alarming is corals chose a habitat with a very limited tidal range. With increasing sea levels There will be catastrophic social and economic consequences due to anthropogenic climate change. The social classes are already distorted in the third world oil exporting countries. The poor do not benefit from the oil revenues directly and it often has the effect of bringing about authoritarian and repressive regimes. Saudi Arabia owns 20% of the worlds oil reserves and is also the main producer of crude oil, with an estimated production of 10.72 million barrels a day. This is a huge over sea revenue generator and without it Middle Eastern countries like Saudi, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates would find it very difficult to develop as huge investments in infrastructure are needed. With increasing worry about serious climate change, many things are bound to happen in the near future. The first prediction is that MEDCs stop buying oil completely due to worldwide cooperation against climate change (which is extremely unlikely as no main alternative for the transport sector has been fully developed and applied on a large scale⠁ ´ let alone countries committing to such ‘risky deals). Alternatively large COâ‚‚ cuts may be sanctioned and oil will fall to this. The UK has agreed to 80% emission cuts by 2050. The hypothetical reason behind this is that as climate change becomes more rooted in politics, more action will be taken. Eventually oil will run out anyway and some governments in the coming century may take the first leap for their countries and find ways to live entirely on renewable resources. This would be devastating for Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates as oil exports are their biggest revenue generator. Saudi Arabias eco nomy revolves around oil, â€Å"the petroleum sector accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 6.4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors†, the countries with their biggest reliance on oil in their economy is highlighted in the diagram above, and out of the top five, four of them are situated in the Middle East with nearly 97% related to oil. If countries stop buying this oil, then the demand will dramatically drop leading to a vast decrease in the price of a barrel of oil (simple supply and demand economics), a decrease in $1 per barrel would lose $3.4billion in revenue. This will lead to decreased public spending on projects like motorways, airports and hospitals, but the whole crude oil industry could be vulnerable to total collapse if a worldwide embargo was set to stop the use of crude oil. Saudi citi zens benefit from not paying taxes due to the shear flow of capital from the oil industry but without it, life will become much harder. It would have direct effects on employment; although oil exporting countries are trying to diversify their economy before it is too late, showing that there is a concern over the coming future. As the public spending dwindles, development will start to cease. The infrastructure will not improve as large amounts of revenue needed cannot be found and unemployment rates will sky rocket, even though unemployment rates are the highest in the world already at 13.2%. Standard of life will drop significantly as well as quality of living. This is where the most social consequences will be seen as education will be in jeopardy as will health and well being. If schools cannot be built then children are denied of learning which vastly decreases the chances of a higher skilled job and lowers literacy rates. As road building slows down, trade will be limited as i t requires vast networks which are not fully installed in the more rural areas. In result foreign investors will be put off, and agricultural trade will be limited to local markets⠁ ´. Tourism will be greatly affected by the changing climate, political tensions and rising concerns over food and water security. â€Å"The Middle East totalled 46 million international tourist arrivals and continues to be one of the tourism success stories of the decade so far, despite ongoing tensions and threats† in 2007. This is leading to a vast increase in pressure but is also fuelling the diversification of the economy. Hotels are struggling to cope with numbersand the indication of extreme events does not seem to be slowing the average annual growth of 9.3% ³Ã¢  ´. The tourism industry will be ruined by any such event mentioned previously due to the reputation of the area; but does deeply depend on how the governments handle the situations. If the countries in this region act now by carefully managing scare non-renewable water supplies as well as energy usage and keeping cooperation between countries going they stand a good chance of adapting to the effects of anthropo genic climate change. Investing in the local economy would benefit the region as a whole, by providing more jobs and help areas to develop which would otherwise be left on their own to cope with the changes. In conclusion it is clear that climate change will have enormous effects on this region of the world, ranging from the social distortion from dwindling unemployment rates to the increase in precipitation extremes leading to soil desertification. 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Hamlet and Tragedy Essay -- essays papers

Hamlet and Tragedy Hamlet: A Tragedy When you think of William Shakespeare, Hamlet is the first thing most people think of, as his work. Hamlet is also a classic example of a tragedy. In all tragedies the hero suffers, and usually dies at the end. All good pieces of literature written way back when, are usually tragedies. The most important element is the amount of free will the character has. In every tragedy, the character must display free will. If every action is controlled by a hero's destiny, then the hero's death can't be avoided, and in a tragedy the sad part is that it could. Hamlet's death could have been avoided many times. Hamlet had many opportunities to kill Claudius, but did not take advantage of them. He also had the option of making his claim public, but instead he chose not too. In Hamlet, although Hamlet dies, it is almost for the best. His life was not worth living anymore, with his parents and Ophelia dead. Also, although Hamlet dies, he is able to kill Claudius and get rid of the e...

The Old Man and the Sea :: Free Essay Writer

The Old Man and the Sea I believe that in the past three decades, the way society has treated he elderly has remained primarily the same. Some younger citizens have looked up to the elderly with respect, yet most continue to shun them and consider them useless and hopeless in a society such as ours. I think that the elderly population is continually losing respect from the new generations. Santiago, the elderly man in the novel The Old Man and the Sea, is respected by a young boy, Manolin, yet he is also looked down upon by many of the younger fishermen in the Cuban fishing village where he lives. This book is set in the late 1930's and, I as I see it, shows that societies all around the world have had a decline in respect for the older people in their environment since the beginning of the nineteenth century. An enormous number of issues have changed since Santiago's time, allowing the elderly to have the ability to do more in their old age and live in areas specifically designed for their needs. However, there is still an enormous lack of respect for the older people in society, and it is becoming worse every day. Younger citizens of our country make fun of older people, call them names, and believe that they are incapable of doing most things that the younger ones are capable of doing. When we believe they can no longer support themselves, we place our elderly relatives into retirement homes and "old folks' homes" as many call them. Sometimes they, themselves, do not wish to go to such a place, but we force them to, which many times is the wrong choice. Some younger people help the elderly, though, and try to support them, but few of these people can be found. It is a fact that when people get beyond a certain age, their memories begin depleting and they atrophy physically. However, as Santiago shows in the novel, older people have much knowledge about the world around them and enough strength to make it through hard situations if they are determined and have the will and courage to believe in a better tomorrow. In Santiago's community, it is shown that their is still a natural respect for elders, as is seen in Manolin's support of the old man. He was one of the dying breed that truly looked up to his elders and regarded their feelings and experiences with much respect.

A Cask of Amontillado Essay: Theme of Masonry -- Cask Amontillado Essa

The Theme of Masonry in A Cask of Amontillado  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The fundamental question in Edgar Allan Poe's "A Cask of Amontillado" is the nature of Montresor's motive for the revenge he "vowed" to obtain when Fortunato "ventured upon insult" (209). Montresor believes a wrong is "unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong"(209). While Montresor endeavors to make his vengeance known to Fortunato, the author's references to Masonry in his use of characterization, setting and irony indicate Montresor's motive. Fortunato throws back a bottle of wine in a "gesticulation [Montresor] did not understand," a sign of the Masons, a secret society of which he affirms he is a member (212). This secrecy is emulated in Montresor's slaughter of his foe. Montresor's deadly act, he himself, and ultimately Fortunato are shrouded in secrecy. Montresor's destruction of his foe is carried out at dusk. He leads Fortunato through the darkness "down a long and winding staircase" "into the inmost recesses of the catacombs" "at the most remote end of t...

European Union Relations with the Russian Federations Essay

The EU (European Union) is an economic and political union form by 28 member states and the countries are primarily located in Europe. The union has developed differently and varying relations with its different members. Russia is one of the countries that make the union. Russia-European affairs are the intercontinental relationships between the Russian federation and the European Union, which is the largest bordering state to the east. The EU is the largest trading partner of the Russians. The Russian Federation and the European Union are major partners in a number of key spheres, including economy, energy, internal and external aspects of security. However, the relation between the two parties has been found wanting. The cooperation and Partnership union between Russia and EU has been the framework of the EU-Russia relations since 1997 and regulates the political and economic  relations between the two parties (Ross, 2004). Despite there being a long history of the relationship between the Russian Federation and European Union members, the current state of the relations have raised eyes on the future of the cooperation between the two parties. In the year 201, the then Swedish prime minister invited the Russian president and one of the discussions was the possibilities of the Russia nation joining the EU establishment. However, this looks to be a too far away reality as Russia, is not ready to follow the specific rules that are set by the EU for its members. Russia’s economy is on a rapid growth and they do not want to take on the EU laws’ and set of rules they use. Their social and political status is not exactly favorable either (The U.S. and Europe Diverge on the Crimea Crisis, 2014). In recent times, the relationship between the two parties has been brought into a sour one as the ‘2013 Vilnius Summit’ connecting the European union establishment with the countries to its east neighbors saw what  Ã¢â‚¬ËœThe Economist’   termed as â€Å"raw geopolitical contest† and wasn’t seen in Europe since coming to an conclusion of the Cold War. Russia tried to convince its â€Å"near abroad† nations to unite into its newly established ‘Eurasian Union’  instead of signing any contract with the European countries. The Russian administration under leadership of President Putin achieved a lot in persuading Armenia and Ukraine to stop their discussions with the EU and in its place commences talks with themselves (Ross, 2004).  Nonetheless, the EU pinnacle leadership went forward with Moldova and Georgia discussions and in turn resulted to agreement with the EU community in spite of Russia’s resistance. Conversely, these divisions led to extensive remonstrations of the Ukraine that finally brought down the Ukrainian president this year (Lavrov, 2013). Subsequent to the fall down of the famed pro-Russian regime in Ukraine, ‘Crimea 2014’ the Russian Federation commenced on a military intervention by putting up its military which was in ‘Crimea’, in addition to the ones on the Ukrainian boundaries. This action has greatly been faced with condemnation as EU leaders have viewed it as a raid. The current divisions between the two parties are believed to have a story and commenced sometimes back. The current hype of the crises is believed to have grown over time. The developed has brought along a strained relationship between Russia and EU. After accomplishing a number of victories within the country, such as: pacifying Chechnya, dealing with the oligarchs, and the avoiding of Russian breakdown, President Putin has focused attention during his 2nd term to foreign policy matters. The president engaged in a more and more revisionist strategy, with the main aim of rebuilding the country as well as its immediate nei ghborhood. These developments included standing up to Western dominance and pressure wherever possible (Ross, 2004). Not unexpectedly, the Russian revisionism has led an ever more opposed relationship with Europe and the United States. The EU and United States are believed to develop their own interest and strategies in Russia’s geo-strategically significant neighborhood, ranging from Eastern Europe to the Caucasus and Central Asia. Indeed, from a western point of view, the list of Russian treacheries is now legion: on Kosovo, Russian support for Serbia is seen as a major obstacle to peace in the Balkans; in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Russia has checked Western oil interests and reversed Western attempts to promote political reform; and in Moldova and the Ukraine, Russia has acted as a counter-balance to European influence. Moreover, all of this has been paired with Russia’s tendency to ignore existing treaties, revise its economic contracts and repudiate internationally respected norms (Shevtsova, 2010). There are numerous areas that have resulted to the strained relation between the EU and the Russians. For example, politically, the Russians has repudiated the OSCE and Helsinki Norms, disrespect of Council of Europe commitment and also breaching of Vienna Convention. Economically, the Russians failed to respect contacts, challenge of Energy Charter Treaty and disregard for WTO Norms. This in turn has led to the rise of opposition from the European members and the United States hence straining their relationship. The much published hype of the European frustration with Russian policies has been predominantly noticeable in three areas: (a) the Russian effort to divide the European Union by utilizing divide and rule strategies, (b) Russia’s move in setting itself up as an option to the EU in the familiar neighborhood and, (c) Russia’s own turn away from democracy and domestic reforms (Lavrov, 2013). In its relation with the Europe, the Russians have off late looked to undermine the unity between themselves and the European Union through engaging into bilateral relations which are meant to play to its natural power merit. This means that, the Russians have dismissed the European commission and in turn sidelining it terming it as inflexible and very little importance. Moderately, the Russians have been trying to build relationships with specific European powers such as Germany, France, and Italy. The Russian president has tried and regularly made it in building close and pleasant relations with the leaders of these nations and Russia’s state-controlled energy industry has build up some of its more important partnerships with German, French, Portuguese and Italian businesses (Lavrov, 2013). However, at the same time, Russia has variably overlooked or punished some European nations, mainly amongst the latest member state, that have shown them to be overtly critical of Russian policies (Shevtsova, 2010). Amongst others, Russia has interrupted its oil supplies to Latvia in 2003 and Lithuanian in 2006 for â€Å"technical reasons†; boycotted Polish meat exports; levied export tariffs on the sale of timber to Sweden and Finland; and it has turned a blind-eye to the harassment of Estonian and British diplomats, in 2007 and 2008 respectively, after high-profile disputes with these countries. The history of these developments has in turn resulted to the EU viewing the Russian as a threat to the unity of the EU members. This has in turn acted as catalyst to sour relations that have developed between the two parties. In addition, the current development has been seen as to have gone beyond repair as the two parties have been destined for eternal conflict (Ross, 2004). Internal Divisions Concerted Russian attempts to open up European separation and the lack of European Union unity, have split the EU into two schools of reflection on the correct way to be adopted in reference to how the relationships with Russia should advance. On one side, one school of thought has regarded Russia as a prospective partner. The group known as ‘friend of Russia’ which has countries such as; Germany, France, Italy, Greece. Spain among others has held to a policy that favors a close dialogue connecting the Russians and the EU as well as supporting economic cooperation as they have supported that this will and is the only chance for influencing Russians foreign policy behavior (Lavrov, 2013). On the other side of the Russian-EU relation, there is the â€Å"Russia realist† group. This contains nations such as, UK and numerous of the fresh member states of Eastern and Central Europe. These nations, have argued for a more forceful foreign policy approach, arguing that â€Å"they know Russia better† and that Moscow only understands the language of power and force, and in turn have turned to be the Russian opposes and hence redefining the EU Russia relations. The increasing pressure of this group is reflected in the escalating criticism of Russia from formerly â€Å"pro-Russian† countries such as Germany. Indeed, Germany is currently split between the more overtly â€Å"anti-Russian† Angela Merkel and her more â€Å"pro-Russian† coalition partner. Should Germany shift more pronounced towards the â€Å"Russia realist† camp, this might well tip the balance of power within Europe towards this group (Shevtsova, 2010). The inability of the EU to pursue a unified line towards Russia undermines its ability to develop a pragmatic relationship with this important country and over the last 15 years, the different elements of the EU have acknowledged this problem. The diversity of interests within the EU continues to undermine its ability to formulate coherent and practical solutions. There is a greater urgency for some states (those with common borders or who depend significantly on Russia for energy imports) to develop relations with Russia, while other states simply have different priorities. This makes real progress in EU-Russia relations to a certain extent dependent on which member governments presides over the European Council at a given time (Europe’s Risky Russian Energy Habit, 2014). Moving into new relationship between the Russian and European Union Looking into imminent elimination of the immediate obstacle into the negotiation of a new partnership between the two parties, the road has to better relations has looked once again promising. Officials have vowed for more punitive international actions aimed at Russia economy. United States President at a news meeting in Asian country (South Korea) believed he and other leaders from the European nations would consider sanctions against the Russian country especially at this time the Ukraine crisis are worsening (The U.S. and Europe Diverge on the Crimea Crisis, 2014). One of the measures that have been taken by the EU and the west is the introduction of sanctions, and implementing financial and visa limitations on almost 30 Russians and Ukrainian officials (Europe’s Risky Russian Energy Habit, 2014). Ukraine  amplified its bank rates  in an effort to guard its economy from the chaos generated by aggressive objections and Russia’s forces involvement in Crimea (Shevt sova, 2010). The economic relation connecting the US, European Union, and the Russia is unbalanced the approach from the United States and US towards the Russian county is different. The main reason behind the disparity has been laid to the fact that, the euro-zone has only just come out from its own catastrophe, and observers say it may wary of hastily ending connections with such a influential financially viable associate. Its dependence on gas out of Russia would also feed concern. In contrast, the United States, is weaning itself off Russia’s power supply and its trade connections is much less entangled (Europe’s Risky Russian Energy Habit, 2014). Conclusion In summary, the relationship between the Russian federation and the European Union cannot be said to good or healthy. However, it can’t be said to be have ended despite the growing animosity and unrest between the two parties. With the current state the relationship between the two can be said to be headed to forever conflict. Despite Russia being more into the EU than the Asia, the country has embarked on establishing itself in the economic front as well as in terms of political aspects. EU consent against individuals and Russian officials, introduced in March, may have accelerated this trend or widening the gap between the two parties. But real financial endorsements against Russia the so-called â€Å"phase three† have not been triggered yet meaning there is still a lot that remains when the relation between the comes into the play. References Great Britain., & Great Britain. (2008).  The European Union and Russia: Report with evidence :14th report of session 2007-08. London: The Stationery Office. Ross, C. (2004).  Russian politics under Putin. Manchester [u.a.: Manchester Univ. Press. Shevtsova, L. (2010).  Putin’s Russia. Washington DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Lavrov, S. (2013). State of the Union Russia- EU: Prospects for Partnership in the Changing World.  Journal Of Common Market Studies,  516-12. doi:10.1111/jcms.12047 US, EU impose sanctions after Crimea moves to join Russia. (2014).  Regional Today, 3-4. The U.S. and Europe Diverge on the Crimea Crisis. (2014).  Stratfor Geopolitical Diary, 13.Europe’s Risky Russian Energy Habit. (2014).  Bloomberg Businessweek, (4372), 16. Source document