Transformations of the American West Free Essays

Brittany Exam 3 Essay 9 Dec 2012 Transformations of the American West The three most important transformations of the American West were the completion of the railway system, economically, the diversity of the people, socially, and the conservation of land, politically. All of these transformations have made an unmistakable impact of the American West and what it is today. The largest economic transformation in American Western history was the building of the railroad systems. We will write a custom essay sample on Transformations of the American West or any similar topic only for you Order Now It was the key factor in united the East and West. The railroads were by far the biggest, most impressive technological achievement ever for that time period. The pace at which goods, people, livestock, etc. changed from the steady speed of a horse, ox, or mule to the most powerful driving force the country had ever seen. The United States would finally be a united continental nation. Barren fields that flowed as far as the eye could see were turned into boon towns like Wichita, Abilene and Dodge. People of an enormous diversity traveled to the West. Civil War veterans, former European peasants, poor families all wanted to own land and start farms. And so they did, fields that had once been nothing but grass became rolling fields of wheat. Railroads carried hundreds of thousands of western longhorn cattle to markets in the east for sale. This was the key to making the â€Å"cowboy† much more famous than just a young, dusty, man with nothing but a saddle and a horse. Buffalo hunters also traveled by railroad. So many people traveled to hunt the animal, that it almost became extinct. The building of these railroads was no easy feat. The mountains of the Sierra Nevada were a big slow-down for the production by the Central Pacific railroad company. Making that even more difficult, was the fact that the companies had a hard time holding onto workers. About 3 out of 5 used the company for a free ride to the West and then disappeared. The plans called for about 5,000 workers, but only about 600 were showing up. That’s when the Chinese immigrants came into play. A large part of their population was making a living looking for leftover gold and silver. At first, they were thought to be incapable due to their size and inexperience, but they proved that to be untrue. Before long, nearly 11,000 Chinese were employed by the Central Pacific and there were advertisements in China offering employment for immigrants. This large work force in addition to lots of black powder gave them what they needed to make it through the mountains in about 3 years. Beef prices were low due to the amount of cattle in the West so, to compensate cattle needed to be sold in eastern marketplaces where they weren’t as present. In less than 20 years, 6 million steers and cows were moved along cattle trails to railheads for shipping. As the railroads were being laid in the Great Plains, people were flocking to the west. People who had never before seen a buffalo. They shot the bison for sport, even organizing hunting excursions. People enjoyed it. So when word got out that people were being paid to kill bison because of their interference with the railroads, their meat, and their hides, they were slaughtered extremely quickly. The government even provided free ammunition. The bison population dropped from about 25 million to almost 100, nearly causing extinction. All of these aspects not only created many jobs, but also drew enormous profits, while moving crowds of people to the west. The railroad was an economic machine and absolutely transformed the west. The biggest social transformation of the American West was the amount of diversity in the people moving west. The West represented a lot of the same qualities that the original new America represented. Anyone could be a land owner, have a fresh start, escape racial inequality, find a job, etc. People of all races and religions were pursuing the same dream. The Homestead Act played a large part in attracting people to move to the west, by way of railroad, and work the land in order for nearly free ownership rights. The population skyrocketed in the west. States even competed to get the most people to move to their state. Immigrants moving to those states included Scottish, European Jews, German-Russian Mennonites, Swedish, Dutch, French, Bohemian, Norwegian, and many Americans from the East. Cowboys also came in an array of ethnicities. They were confederate veterans, assimilated Indians, freed slaves, and white men, and they all rode the long dusty trails together just trying to make a buck. After the civil war, many freed slaves and former buffalo soldiers moved to the West and worked the land in peace from racial inequality. All these people played a part in settling and transforming to West, making it the diverse place it is today. The biggest political transformation of American Western history was that of the environmental/conservation politics. The country had never had such a need for land conservation because before, we had so much unsettled land, but as people moved westward, things changed. Land was being destroyed to build railroads, trees were being cleared, animals were being hunted, land was being settled very quickly, and natural resources we diminishing. The frontier was being lost, and it would take government and political action to help preserve some of the land that was remaining. Lumber and coal companies wanted to do anything and everything they could to maximize jobs, growth, and profits. Conservationists, scientists, and outdoorsmen wanted to reduce waste, emphasize beauty for tourists, and protect wildlife. Theodore Roosevelt was an avid hunter, and he fought for the conservation movement when he saw the destruction of the natural animal habitat in the West. Roosevelt used his entire career to make this a national agenda, and it is still present in politics today. The Newlands Reclamation Act in 1902 created dams to help irrigate and preserve 230 million acres of farm land. The Yellowstone Act set aside a large portion of land in the Wyoming/Montana area to be a park. It was created to preserve timber, mineral deposits, and natural wonders, like the geysers in the park. It was enacted by the Senate and Congress in 1872. It was the first national park. In 1889 preservationist started organizing a movement to save the sequoia trees in the Yosemite Valley of Californian, eventually leading to the creating of Yosemite National Park. In 1891 Congress passed the Forest Reserve Act. This allowed the President of the United States to set aside forests which cannot be destructed. There became political groups, conservationist and preservationists, that had really never before existed. Conservation and preservation were political transformations that still hold true to be extremely important in American politics today. How to cite Transformations of the American West, Papers

My Career Goals as an Artist free essay sample

My Career Goals as an Artist My goal is to attain a career where I can express my artistic talent and passion for art as well as open my mind in ways that I could never do in any other field . To obtain these goals, I must set a track. After considering many other career opportunities, such as the army, attempting to obtain a Job at Boeing, and looking into various other art colleges ,to name a few, I have found that the Art Institute of Seattle has Just the rograms Im looking for and Just what I need to be successful at my goals. It has been a life-long dream of mine to put my imagination, with my world and characters, into life-like animation. I would like to create video gaming with three dimensional modeling as well as flash animation with thrilling story-lines that appeal not Just to myself, but to other viewers. We will write a custom essay sample on My Career Goals as an Artist or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page My portfolio reflects much of my ideas and that which I am passionate about. The Art Institute of Seattle offers Just the right nimation programs I need to obtain these goalseverything from simple flash animation to advanced three dimensional modeling in an interactive digital world. With this experience, I can gain a career Ill love for the rest of my life. I would be eligible to work at popular gaming and animation companies such as Blizzard, EA Games, and Forgotten Realms, which I have been a fan of for many years, using skills learned from the Art Institute of Seattle. I want to learn two dimensional and three imensional animation and techniques, story boarding, scripting, and rendering. I am very passionate about art and want to excel in it. Therefore, I am willing to participate in whatever programs and activities which are needed to complete my goals in this institute. I am very committed to fulfilling my goals and as so, I will push myself in all ways to succeed and graduate so that I may fulfill my creative dream and to be a proud part of the computer gaming and animation industry.

Retention Strategies

Introduction Retention of students in any institution of learning, irrespective of its level, is very essential as it contributes to the success of the students in terms of academic performance that in the long run affects the overall performance of the institution at large. This is so because the students are able to learn without disturbances which can be brought about by changes or transfers to other learning institutions where they have to adapt to the new environment and the learning strategies of the new school.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Retention Strategies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The practice of retaining the students is however not easy as it is faced with a lot of challenges which should be dealt with to ensure its success (Bean and Eaton, 2000).This piece of work discusses the retention of students in learning institutions much emphasis being given to the variables that affect student re tention, the goals and strategies that can be applied to handle the variables, the enablers and constrainers involved and finally an assessment plan to measure the success and progress of the goals and strategies. Variables That Affect Student Retention to Be Addressed In the Goals and Strategies There are numerous factors that are associated with the retention of students in learning institutions. The factors however depend on the type of school for instance elite institutions and community colleges with the former having high rates of retention as compared to the latter. Some of the general variables that affect student retention include; the academic status of the institution in terms of the overall grades attained the satisfaction linked with social life or student peer group which may include classroom relations, games interactions and even roommates socialization among others. The student background for instance the support from the parents’ income; the student’s education goals and previous education performance also determine his or her retention (Wetzel, O’Toole and Peterson, 1999). The organizational factors such as the orientation programs used in the institution, the rules and regulation governing the institution, the relationships between the staff and the students in the institution, the financial aid and housing policies also matter. The academic factors affecting retention of students include the resources available in the institution, the courses offered, the organization of faculties, and the learning programs among others. The social factors on the other hand may include the peers, the social groupings and integration among others. Environmental factors also influence the retention of students in learning institutions. They may include the transfer opportunities available, marital status of the students, the financial resources, and family and job responsibilities among others. The particular student also plays a role in determining his or her retention for instance his or her intentions and attitudes for example self motivation and development, the urge for performance and achievement, the value attached to education, satisfaction, the approach strategies and most importantly the student’s intention to stay enrolled in the institution (Lau, 2003).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Goals and Strategies to Address the Variables In setting the goals and strategies in a learning institution, it is essential to observe the retention indicators for instance the potential opportunities and challenges linked with the students. The important indicators could include course completion and course success rates among others. The major retention goals could be to enhance persistence and progression which entails semester to semester enrollment and its success. The retention goals should cater for the variab les mentioned above to ensure that they are solved in the most efficient, effective, and economic manner possible. There are various strategies that can be applied in the institution to ensure that students are not only enrolled but retained. Some of the strategies to be applied in this particular institution include early interventions for example provision of outreach programs meant to develop students competencies while they are still in high school and also just after their entry into the higher institution of learning, there should also be administration of appropriate orientation strategies that may ease the transition process of the students to the high level education institution that clearly contain information about the institution and the academic procedures as well as social support necessary for staying in the institution. Another strategy is the intensification and diversification of learning through development of appropriate standards and effective curriculums, emplo yment of knowledgeable and well trained teaching staff and provision of appropriate learning experiences for instance where the students are told of the relevance and application of all the courses taken. The parents are also an important constituent of the institution and programs should be developed that are aimed at making them understand the student life so that they can offer the necessary support and encourage them to remain in the school. Psychological counseling is also an important aspect as it helps solve most of the problems faced by the students that could in one way or the other affect the possibility of them being retained in the institution for instance stress. Provision of basic skills for example proper time management may also help keep the student comfortable and satisfied hence reducing the chances of deferment or transfer. Encouragement of participation in extra curriculum activities like social functions also helps the students to feel at home and anticipate fo r certain activities hence avoiding chances of losing interest in the institution (Seidman, 2005). Enablers and Constrainers Every process or activity is deemed to be having some enablers and constrainers or the factors that facilitate its success and those that derail its progress or success. The retention process in this institution can be enhanced by various factors for instance its high quality in terms of education standards and also the fact that the institution is well known, the availability of appropriate orientation programs, a pool of qualified and well trained personnel especially the teaching staff and a favorable institutional culture among others.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Retention Strategies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Constrainers to the retention process in the institution are also present and they include the limitation of financial aid to support the less fortunate students, poor students’ background which makes education prosperity impossible, poor individual attitudes among students for instance lack of self motivation and development and the absence of the urge to achieve among others. An assessment plan to measure the success and progress of the goals and strategies A process is never considered successful if the results of the set goals and the implemented strategies cannot be ascertained. A good retention plan should therefore include an assessment plan that can be used to gauge the rate of retention of the students as well as looking into the factors that affect the retention. The assessment metrics to be observed in determining the progress and success of the retention process as set by the retention goals and strategies include looking at the students’ participation and satisfaction in major functions and activities of the institution, the grades attained by the students, the rates of absenteeism among other factors. An effective asses sment plan should involve the formation of specific questions, data planning and data collection in regard to the identified metrics and information utilization and communication to ensure that student retention is enhanced by dealing with the faults identified (Tinto, n.d). Conclusion The retention of students in learning institutions is a very critical aspect that should never be underemphasized under all circumstances. The two major student related problems faced by the administration is the enrollment which entails the initial capture of the students to the institution and the retention of the students which entails keeping them enrolled. Attrition is however less disturbing in institutions which attract a large number of applicants and have high rates of retention and vice versa. While there are variations of students in different institutions, there is a general pattern that can be retrieved from various researches carried out on the issue in which retention follows. For insta nce it has been observed that the higher the level of education or degree offered in an institution, the higher the retention rates and vice versa. It is also true that older and well established learning institutions which in most cases have long traditions and bigger support have higher retention rates as compared to the emerging institutions which could be having shaky foundations.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The student retention rates are also higher in high quality institutions than it is in less prestigious learning institutions. The mode of learning also affects the retention rates for instance institutions that offer fulltime courses to the average aged students who reside in the school have high retention rates than those offering part time courses to the old people who are school non residents. Reference List Bean, J. P., and Eaton, S B. (2000). A Psychological Model of College Student Retention; In Rethinking the Departure Puzzle: New Theory and Research on College Student Retention, ed. John M. Braxton. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University Press. Lau, K.L. (2003). Institutional Factors Affecting Student Retention. Web. Seidman, A. (2005). College Student Retention: Formula for Student Success. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group Tinto, V. (n.d). The Assessment of Student Retention Programs. Web. Wetzel, N.J, O’Toole, D and Peterson, S. (1999). Factors Affecting Student Retention Probabilities: A Case Study. Journal of Economics and Finance. Volume 23. No. 1. 45-55. Spring. This essay on Retention Strategies was written and submitted by user Beau Young to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Discipline Alternatives To Punishment

, punishment reinforces poor self-images, and this often leads to more self-destructive behavior. Discipline alternatives, on the other hand, can be effective if used as part of an overall positive approach or treatment plan. Effective discipline alternatives improve children's self-images, and lead to more self-fulfilling behavior (Pearce, 1). Significance of Issue More than 125,000 of America's youth were in custody in nearly 3,500 public and private juvenile correctional facilities across the nation (Snyder). The majority of youth enter correctional facilities with a broad range of intense educational, mental health, medical, and social needs. Large numbers of incarcerated juveniles are marginally literate or illiterate and have experienced school failure and retention (Center on Crime, Communities, and Culture, 24). These youth are also disproportionately male, poor, minority, and have significant learning and/or behavioral problems that entitle them to special education and related services. Because education is critical to rehabilitation for troubled youth, it is considered the "foundation for programming in most juvenile institutions". Helping youth acquire educational skills is also one of the most effective approaches to the prevention of delinquency and the reduction of recurring crime. Literacy skills are essential to meet the demands of a complex, high-tech world in ... Free Essays on Discipline Alternatives To Punishment Free Essays on Discipline Alternatives To Punishment "Discipline Alternatives to Punishment" Introduction Discipline alternatives are the positive methods of procedure or practices which child and youth workers use to control or correct inappropriate behavior. There is sufficient evidence to indicate that punishment, one form of discipline, is not an effective technique to use with troubled youth (Krueger, 102). Punishment may provide immediate control in some situations, but over time, it usually leads to more severe behavior patterns than the ones the user was trying to correct. In other words, punishment reinforces poor self-images, and this often leads to more self-destructive behavior. Discipline alternatives, on the other hand, can be effective if used as part of an overall positive approach or treatment plan. Effective discipline alternatives improve children's self-images, and lead to more self-fulfilling behavior (Pearce, 1). Significance of Issue More than 125,000 of America's youth were in custody in nearly 3,500 public and private juvenile correctional facilities across the nation (Snyder). The majority of youth enter correctional facilities with a broad range of intense educational, mental health, medical, and social needs. Large numbers of incarcerated juveniles are marginally literate or illiterate and have experienced school failure and retention (Center on Crime, Communities, and Culture, 24). These youth are also disproportionately male, poor, minority, and have significant learning and/or behavioral problems that entitle them to special education and related services. Because education is critical to rehabilitation for troubled youth, it is considered the "foundation for programming in most juvenile institutions". Helping youth acquire educational skills is also one of the most effective approaches to the prevention of delinquency and the reduction of recurring crime. Literacy skills are essential to meet the demands of a complex, high-tech world in ...

Butch and femme roles of lesbians

Butch and femme roles of lesbians Butch and femme roles were extremely important to the community in the forties and fifties; it was the butch role that was the most visible, and therefore the most likely to cause public scorn (Weissman and Fernie). The two sources, The Reproduction of Butch – Femme Roles by Madeline Davis and Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy and Forbidden Love by Aerlyn Weisman and Lynne Fernie focus particularly on the function of the butch role among working class lesbians in Buffalo. These sources draw on articles, oral histories and interviews of lesbians from the early twentieth century. Both the resources state that, although â€Å"gender-appropriate† styles and behaviors were rigidly enforced in order to maintain a clear distinction between the sexes, butch women’s choice to not only reject traditional femininity but to also actively adopt masculinity was perceived as a threat to the very order of society and a prelude to social chaos. Despite the fear, and likelihood of haras sment by police and other straight men, the courage of butches to claim their identities in many ways prepared the way for later generations of lesbians to break free from the narrow conventions of socially constructed womanhood and claim access to a kind of power traditionally held only by men (Weisman and Fernie). As a result, male representations of lesbian sexuality have had the most influence in shaping attitudes towards butch and femme identities throughout the twentieth century. Such representations have almost always assumed the lesbian role -playing is an imitation of heterosexuality. The main theory underlying the feminist disregard of role – playing is that roles depend on sexual difference, which is naturally hierarchical, polarizing, and oppressive. Sexual difference is the grounds on which heterosexual roles are built, and thus contains within it an inherently unequal distribution of power. In the relationship of a butch and femme, since the identities of both a re built on popular cultural stereotypes of male and female behavior, they tend to reinforce the inequality in power inherent in this dichotomy. In addition, in most cases one of the partners is active, strong, dominant, and initiating whereas the other partner is passive, weak, submissive, and enduring. The partner who is dominant in this equation mimics the role of a male in a heterosexual relationship, whereas the passive, weak and submissive characteristics belong to that of the female. Thus, because the butch- femme roles have the potential for being just as sexist as heterosexual roles, they imitate the latter, especially when talking about power relations between two partners. (Weisman and Fernie) According to Judith Roof’s article, â€Å"The Match in the Crocus: Representations of Lesbian Sexuality,† the representations of lesbian sexuality in the dominant discourse often evoke the phallus by calling attention to its absence or substitution in sexual relations between women, so that it appears and seems necessary, at least symbolically, because of the inconceivability of sexuality without a phallus present. Therefore, lesbians are often depicted as having appropriated the penis, masquerading as though they really had it, and thereby assuming male privilege and acting upon it. This evokes the stereotypical image of the lesbians by phallocentric discourse and is seemingly embraced by the lesbian community in the form of butch roles. What Roof’s analysis makes possible is an understanding of the ways in which the dominant ideology has a vested interest in making the butch – femme role playing appear to be a mere replica of heterosexuality, as a way of calming male anxiety over the threat of female appropriation of male dominance. Thus, because the absence of the phallus requires them to achieve the balance through role playing, they merely are merely imitating the heterosexual norms.

A Critical Review in the Contemporary Themes in Youth Work Practice, Essay - 4

A Critical Review in the Contemporary Themes in Youth Work Practice, Thematic Area Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing - Essay Example Brendtro, Ph.D, the President of Reclaiming Youth International. The main message of the article is that a crisis should be perceived as a unique opportunity that can help a student or a young person come to grips or understand an important life problem. As opposed to a glass half empty, successful management of a crisis requires looking at it as a glass half filled with water. This understanding is critical in successfully managing the crisis, therefore illuminating the pattern of self-defeating behavior of the student and providing strength-based skills. In this regard, LSCI is presented as an advanced and effective strategy of this paradigm to help promote understanding and change (Perry & Hambrick, 2008, pg. 34). In my opinion, the authors stress upon focusing upon the LSCI as opposed to other traditional approaches used to help troubled youth. Traditional approaches, or alternatives to the LSCI method, are explained and presented as reactive in nature and ineffective for solving youth problems. The LSCI, on the other hand, seeks to focus on understanding the facts and causes of counterproductive conflict styles. In support of the theories and principles presented by the authors is my own experience as well as broader research and reading on the subject. Several experts and scholars on the issue of ways of reclaiming young people who show patterns of self-defeating behavior are in favor of the LSCI approach as opposed to conventional approaches, which are seen as reactive. My evaluation of what the authors presented in this article is that it is exactly right and effective in especially the present-day challenging environments for youth growth and development. One of the major reasons why I am in support of the theories presented by the authors is with regard to the interventions for various patterns of self-defeating behavior common among young people and children. The LSCI process has been broken down into six stages

Human Behavior Task Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human Behavior Task - Essay Example Therefore, proper OB will assist the managers to get people prepared for participating and interested in the organizational processes. This not only deals with the employees but also ensures change and innovation managements across the various stakeholders involved in the functioning of the organization. In this paper, we will focus on both theoretical support and practical examples to reflect more on the critical OB concepts. Research Question: How an understanding of OB concepts helps managers to overcome the challenges? Literature Review: Supporting Theories Organizational behavior is a sector independent management specialty, which demands considerable research and study today. In the 1990s, world wide adoption of open markets and subsequent globalization led to more dynamic developments and tendencies inside the various organizations around the world. Changing organizational practices become more important than ever since managers from different cultures, countries, backgrounds, and management schools began to interact and handle more diversified labor force. As a result, in today’s business environment, dynamics of OB extensively involve an understanding of real world organizational changes. Hence, experts like Brief and Dukerich (1991) have raised the critical question that whether theory in OB is useful or not. Yet, they state, â€Å"On a more positive note, it then is argued that theory in organizational behavior has practical value even though it may not be useful in a more narrower sense.† (Brief and Dukerich, 1991, p.327) Several theories in the realm of OB do suggest that robust concept of the subject can help managers to handle challenges. Motivation theories related to personality theory help the managers to motivate their subordinates, peers, and themselves. This behaviorist pattern is further reinforced with the help of organizational level theories that utilize group leadership and group dynamics concepts. So, theoretical approac h has helped the sphere of OB to evolve on a more scientific and rationalistic scaffolding. (Miner, 2006) In today’s multicultural and multinational business environments doped with competition and rivalry, understanding of OB can further help the managers to develop proper leadership practices and counter the challenges they face. Leadership theories become functional in this behaviorist segment. Avolio et al (2009) have proved that theoretical perspectives on transactional, transformational, and/or charismatic leadership do impact the function of an organization with the help of empirical research. Organizational behavior, in fact, is an interdisciplinary field of study, which covers various theoretical concepts. Thereby, the scope of OB involves theory based practical trials. Hence, OB concepts help managers to develop both subjective and objective understanding of the organization in general. They thus become instrumental for the managers to counter various challenges of the modern business world; and organizational change remains a prime focus area that requires holistic managerial commitment. (Alange and Steiber, 2009) Case Example In this section, we will discuss that how implementation of OB concepts help managers to overcome challenges in real world scenarios. The Case of Yasar University Yasar University is located in Turkey. It was established in 2001 â€Å"with the goal of helping students excel both academically and as members of society.†