How does Hardy present characters and the setting in this particular chapter Essay Example

How does Hardy present characters and the setting in this particular chapter Essay The central character in this chapter is Tess, and Hardy reveals to the readers how Tesss guilt leads her to Alec, who has a lot more on his mind then just helping Tesss family. Tess is very beautiful and men are always pursuing her, either for purely sexual reasons or because she represents an excitingly unformed life waiting to be molded. The landscape and Tess are often described similarly, and the seasons and the weather reflect her emotional and physical state. The naturalistic imagery that Hardy uses is an important component of his style, which is characterized both by beautiful descriptive passages and by more philosophical or abstract asides detailing the ironies of his characters lives and fates. The countryside is almost a character in Tess. Much of the time the settings reflect whats happening to Tess and the characters that influence her life. Each station or place where Tess stops is a testing place for her soul. Nature also reflects the characters emotions and fortunes. For example, when Tess is happy, the sky is blue and birds sing. When events turn out badly the earth appears harsh and coldly indifferent to her agony. Nature is also depicted in the many journeys that take place in Tess. Both traveling and the rhythms of nature are seen as causing fatigue in the novel. Hardy focuses very heavily on Tesss reactions to the events around her and shows us the world more or less through her eyes. We will write a custom essay sample on How does Hardy present characters and the setting in this particular chapter specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on How does Hardy present characters and the setting in this particular chapter specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on How does Hardy present characters and the setting in this particular chapter specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In this chapter Tess, convinced she has murdered Prince, feels responsible for her familys subsequent lack of livelihood and therefore complies with Joans wish that she go in search of their rich relations Tess seems older than her years in her willingness to accept adult responsibilities, but shes also very naive and inexperienced. The beginning of Chapter 5 opens up with the situation where Hardy stresses that there is something bad foreshadowing Tess due to the loss of a family horse. This is the first hint in this chapter where the reader realizes that sorrow and pain may follow Tess in the near future. The haggling business, which had mainly depended on the horse, became disorganized forthwith. Distress, if not penury, loomed in the distance This distress looms in the distance because of the death of the horse. Joan Durbeyfield tells Tess about Mrs. dUrberville living on the outskirts of The Chase, and tells Tess that she must go and claim kinship and ask for help. Tess is deferential, but she cannot understand why her mother should find such satisfaction in contemplating this venture. Tess suggests getting work instead, but finally agrees to go. Tess mother seems to be a strong guiding force within Tess, although Tess father seems laid back. Hardy presents Tesss mother as vain, not very bright, and a poor manager of the household. Indeed, Tess does much of the work of looking after the many younger Durbeyfield children. Joan Durbeyfield schemes to get Tess to go to Trantridge in the hope that the girl might make a grand marriage with the rich Alec dUrberville, but she is otherwise shiftless and a fairly inactive mother. The reader gets the impression that if Tess father had been more assertive, than maybe he could have told her not too go. Instead, her mother is very manipulating with the situation Tess is faced with. He is a laborer, unintelligent like Tesss mother, and he drinks too much and works too little. When he hears that he has noble ancestors, he immediately becomes proud of the fact, and considers himself too good to work very much more. Because he is such a poor provider, the Durbeyfield family is doomed to poverty. Every day seemed to throw upon her young shoulders more of the family burdens, and that Tess should be the representative of the Durbeyfields at the dUrberville mansion came as a thing of course. In this instance it must be admitted that the Durbeyfields were putting their fairest side outward Durbeyfield, you can settle it, said his wife, turning to where he sat in the background. If you say she ought to go, she will go. I dont like my children going and making themselves beholden to strange kin, murmured he. Im the head of the noblest branch o the family, and I ought to live up to it. Tess is, perhaps, a striking example of someone forced to grow up too quickly which chapter 5 is a good example of. The death of the Durbeyfields horse is the event that motivates Tess to visit the dUrbervilles and beg them for financial assistance, Tess is in fact sent to find a husband; behind her mothers request is the assumption that Tess will marry a gentleman who will provide for the Durbeyfields. Mr. and Mrs. Durbyfield cling to their obsolete idea of the family in total ignorance of the reality, and Tess may suffer as a result. The Durbeyfield parents started the cycle of tragedy in Tess life by thinking of themselves first. Her parents weakness is that her father is lazy and her mother is simple. The Durbeyfields need of a new horse, and the mothers greed for her daughter to claim kin against her will with a noble family member of the dUrbervilles, starts Tess on her journey to her destruction. Tess parents could have supported themselves if they had not been so proud about being descendants of the prestigious dUrbervilles. Tess, being simplistic, is unaware of dangers a man such as Alec dUrberville posed, and it is not fair that she is being made to suffer for succumbing to an unknown danger. This is noted when she protests to her mother: Tess innocence is at risk her because she is not informed of the dangers of life by her parents; her mother does not even stop her from leaving with Alec, even though she has a feeling that Alec may take advantage of Tess. The greed for her daughters marriage into a noble family has put the wool over her eyes. Hardys writing style is simple but wordy here. The sentance structures are not long or very complicated, but the complexity in his work comes from the way he uses several sentences. For example, he uses a lot of imagery and describes the scenery in great detail. While each individual sentence may not be difficult to understand, it is the way the various sentences fit together to form a whole picture. The Vale of Blackmoor was to her the world, and its inhabitants the races thereof. From the gates and stiles of Marlott she had looked down its length in the wondering days of infancy, and what had been mystery to her then was not much less than mystery to her now. She had hardly ever visited the place, only a small tract even of the Vale and its environs being known to her by close inspection. Much less had she been far outside the valley. Tess leaves for The Chase, where she finds the home of the Stoke-dUrbervilles, as they are now called. When Tess arrives at the manor house, her first reaction is that its strange that such an ancient family has a new and modern home. The farmlands appear to be kept more for show than for income. The new industrial world seems to be creeping into the countryside. In contrast to this newness is the mysterious primeval forest known as The Chase, which encompasses the dUrberville estate like an unshakeable shroud. The Chase is so old that it puts Tess venerable ancestry to shame. It seems that for Hardy, nothing is as old or as essential as nature. It was of recent erectionindeed almost newand of the same rich red colour that formed such a contrast with the evergreens of the lodge. Far behind the corner of the house-which rose like a geranium bloom against the subdued colours aroundstretched the soft azure landscape of The Chasea truly venerable tract of forest land, one of the few remaining woodlands in England of undoubted primaeval date, wherein Druidical mistletoe was still found on aged oaks, and where enormous yew-trees, not planted by the hand of man grew as they had grown when they were pollarded for bows. All this sylvan antiquity, however, though visible from The Slopes, was outside the immediate boundaries of the estate. Tess notices how inappropriate this modern estate seems for people with such a supposedly ancient background. Youll notice throughout the novel that often Tess intuitively divines things that she cant explain or logically act upon. The representation of the cheapening and decay of ancient traditions is one of the many roles of Alec dUrberville. He is of course not a dUrberville at all, and Hardy depicts his house in a way, which highlights its modernity, and its disharmony with the natural and ancient surroundings. It is this aspect of the visit to the dUrbervilles that disturbs Tess most, highlighting her particular sexual innocence. Hardy introduces the theme of sexuality and innocence; at this point in the novel, Tess represents a particular sexual innocence. She is unaware of her own sexuality and thus cannot perceive the danger that Alec dUrberville presents to her. Tess is very wary, and she has no idea what to expect. The situation is an embarrassing one, but Tess guilt has driven her their, so now she feels it her obligation for the family. Her guilt and naivity could cause Tess problems as Hardy indicates. I thought we were an old family; but this is all new! she said, in her artlessness. She wished that she had not fallen in so readily with her mothers plans for claiming kin, and had endeavoured to gain assistance nearer home. A young man with an almost swarthy complexion answers the door, and claims to be Alec dUrberville. He does not allow Tess to see his mother, for she is an invalid, but she tells him that she is a poor relation. Alec shows her the estate, and he promises that his mother will find a berth for her. He tells her not to bother with the Durbeyfield name, but she says she wishes for no better. Alec prepares to kiss her, but lets her go. Tess perceives nothing, but if she had, she might have asked why she was doomed to be seen and coveted that day by the wrong man. From Alecs introduction in the novel, Alec dUrberville represents a sexuality that contrasts with Tess Durbeyfields innocence. However, as important as his sexuality is the danger inherent in his sensuality. His early attempt to seduce Tess only serves to foreshadow later, more serious attempts to infringe on his cousins innocence. Hardy even explicitly notes the danger that Alec dUrberville poses to Tess. Alec is presented a typical Victorian rake, and indeed seems somewhat stereotyped at times, with his curled moustache and melodramatic phrases to seduce Tess. He is deceptive and often cruel to Tess, though he can be kind to her as well; he seems to follow whatever plan seems most likely to succeed, for he has a genuine lust for her. He is rich and morally corrupt. His moral hollowness is underscored by the fact that his claim to the dUrberville name is completely spurious and false, like everything else about him. Of course Tess is ignorant of the fact that these dUrbervilles are frauds and consequently have no familial responsibility to her. When she meets Alec Stoke-dUrberville she assumes that hes her cousin and therefore treats him with a certain informality that he takes advantage of. Although Alec promises to make cousin Tess presence known to his mother, he does nothing of the kind. The historical background that Hardy presents us with shows irony that the rich relations that Tess had come to see only acquired their name, they are not at all family. Conning for an hour in the British Museum the pages of works devoted to extinct, half-extinct, obscured, and ruined families appertaining to the quarter of England in which he proposed to settle, he considered that dUrberville looked and sounded as well as any of them: and dUrberville accordingly was annexed to his own name for himself and his heirs eternally Of this work of imagination poor Tess and her parents were naturally in ignorancemuch to their discomfiture; indeed, the very possibility of such annexations was unknown to them; who supposed that, though to be well-favoured might be the gift of fortune, a family name came nature. After Tess doubts from her first thoughts of the house her relations live in, Tess is very unsure weather to approach the house or not. Hardy shows Tess innocence and how Tess is often led by her head, instead of not following her gut feelings. Her reluctance is outweighed by her sense of a duty to make reparation for the loss of the horse a virtuous motive and the obstinate insistence of her mother. Tess is trapped; her freedom of choice is curtailed by a combination of the fates, (the death of the horse and the discovery of family connections), and filial duty. Tess still stood hesitating like a bather about to make his plunge, hardly knowing whether to retreat or to persevere, when a figure came forth from the dark He had an almost swarthy complexion, with full lips, badly moulded, though red and smooth, above which was a well-groomed black moustache with curled points, though his age could not be more than three-or four-and-twenty. Despite the touches of barbarism in his contours, there was a singular force in the gentlemans face, and in his bold rolling eye. Hardy presents Alec as been smarmy, very overpowering and insistent. Tess picture of expectations of Alec that Tess had built up in her mind prior to the visit is very different to what Tess is presented with in reality. This embodiment of a dUrberville and a namesake differed even more from what Tess had expected than the house and grounds had differed. She had dreamed of an aged and dignified face, the sublimation of all the dUrberville lineaments, furrowed with incarnate memories representing in hieroglyphic the centuries of her familys and Englands history. But she screwed herself up to the work in hand, since she could not get out of it, and answered Tess is a very pretty, young and attractive but is unaware of this. Alec, already on their first meeting acts as if Tess is something he owns. Well, my Beauty, what can I do for you? Keeping Tess presence secret, he fills her mouth with strawberries and her basket with roses. She obeyed like one in a dream. Why does the shy Tess submit, though somewhat reluctantly, to such intimacies? Although Hardy never tells us explicitly, he suggests many reasons. First Tess believes that Alec is her cousin and that kin are more likely to protect than harm her. Hardy also shows us how completely awed Tess is by the unfamiliar richness of her new surroundings. She seems assaulted by sensations, not the least of which are Alecs passionate advances. Tess is probably caught in such a whirlwind of impressions that she follows where shes led. Tess wished to abridge her visit as much as possible; but the young man was pressing, and she consented to accompany him. He conducted her about the lawns, and flower-beds, and conservatories; and thence to the fruit-garden and greenhouses, where he asked her if she liked strawberries. Alec becomes very pressing and imposing toward Tess, and Hardy uses the walk of Alec showing Tess around the gardens as an opportunity to hint to the readers maybe of Alecs intentions. He wants to spend time with her and chat her up and he does this by flattering her and showering her with gifts of nature. They are already here. DUrberville began gathering specimens of the fruit for her, handing them back to her as he stooped; and, presently, selecting a specially fine product of the British Queen variety, he stood up and held it by the stem to her mouth. Nono! she said quickly, putting her fingers between his hand and her lips. I would rather take it in my own hand. Nonsense! he insisted; and in a slight distress she parted her lips and took it in. Hardy does this to again show how Tess is easily led and very easily pleased by the simplest of things. Tess is maybe not used to so much attention and gifts, so she is captured by the moment. Tess feels very powerless and guilty. Tess is also not aware of men and how they can manipulate and take advantage of women. Hardy maybe having another dig at Tesss parents, and how she has been told very little about life. She obeyed like one in a dream, and when she could affix no more he himself tucked a bud or two into her hat, and heaped her basket with others in the prodigality of his bounty Hardy uses the symbols of the strawberry and roses as a sexual indication to the readers. This creates a very awkward situation for Tess. This part of the chapter is presented as been very suggestive and a very passionate part of the chapter. Alec is almost acting like something from a fairytale, like little red riding hood as he fills her little basket towards Tess and she is certainly trapped by the big, bad wolf character that Alec comes across as. one who stood fair to be the blood-red ray in the spectrum of her young life. She had an attribute which amounted to a disadvantage just now; and it was this that caused Alec dUrbervilles eyes to rivet themselves upon her. It was a luxuriance of aspect, a fulness of growth, which made her appear more of a woman than she really was There is a strong sense given to the reader that Tess is more developed in physical appearance than mentally. I think Hardy gives a link between the strawberries and roses and likens them to Tess in the way that the strawberries and roses are artificially moved on in the green house, like Tess been forced by her parent to grow up to soon, almost ripe before their time. Although Tess appears mature, she is nai ve and not able to defend her self against Alec, who is devious and has more experience with life. The blood statement used in this part of the chapter the blood-red ray in the spectrum of her young life, is I think Hardy hinting to the reader of something bad to come, and that death is not long of Tess and maybe Alec would be a part of ruining Tesss innocence. For a momentonly for a momentwhen they were in the turning of the drive, between the tall rhododendrons and conifers, before the lodge became visible, he inclined his face towards her as ifbut, no: he thought better of it, and let her go. Alec has already decided on a plan in which to get Tess. Hardy has already suggested a number of times in the way Alec looks and admires Tess that he feels attracted to her young, nai ve, striking look Tess has about her. Alec knows he has to be careful in the way he goes about this, and I think he decides to kiss her, but doesnt think the timing is quite right, after all he doesnt want to scare her off. There is also a strong sense of entrapment that Hardy conveys, as if to let the reader know that Tess has made a very wrong move in visiting Alec, but is now trapped in the situation. Had she perceived this meetings import she might have asked why she was doomed to be seen and coveted that day by the wrong man, and not by some other man, the right and desired one in all respects Hardy uses time as an arch instrument of Fate, but it operates within the bounds of credibility and as a powerful aid to distinction in Tess. I think Hardy, in this chapter is showing how woman is Fates most important instrument for opposing mans happiness. Hardy shows that Tess is helpless in the hands of Fate and carries out Fates work.

Review of Literature of Global Warming Essay Example

Review of Literature of Global Warming Essay Example Review of Literature of Global Warming Paper Review of Literature of Global Warming Paper It is examined how the temperatures rising effects the amount of thunderstorms and the amount of crops are affected. They explain how the crops are being transformed to be able to feed more people with less substance for growth. Does global warming explain the relationship between thunderstorms and floods controlling the effects of the agriculture? Holler Breathable. 2003. Back to the roots. EMBOSOM Reports 4, no. 1, (January 1): 10-2. Http://www. Protest. Com. Explorer. Pus. Du/ (accessed September 26, 2010). Barbiturate (2003) has found that farmers in this era are using water before it can be replaced from aquifers underground. The population is growing and agriculture cannot keep up with the demands. The land that is to being used for farming is being examined for future use. The crops for food is being analyzed to see if it can be breed with another crop for more yield so that the crop is not killed by pests. All major crops planted today are based on the selective breeding of a very small number of wild plants that farmers domesticated 1 0,000 years ago. Therefore, todays crops contain only a fraction of the genetic variation that is present in their wild relatives. They have found ways to reduce the use of irrigation for a certain kind of tomato. Overall they want to genetically improve the crops that we already use to aka them not dependent on the major parts of growth for a plant. Scott, M. , Plain, D. R. 2009. The number of heavy, violent storms in EN Ohio increasing Retrieved from Lexiss. Com. Explorer . Pus. Du/ hotchpotch/eliminated/? ERP CIO B) Scott acknowledged that the state of Ohio is getting more rainfall since the climate is getting hotter. Scott also estimates analyzed that the region was receiving more rain more days per year than they usually received. The estimates went from 2. 5 days per year to 5. 3 days per yeheavynd inch of rain or more in those extra days. Farmers here already use more haHan billion gallons of surface water or groundwater a year to irrigate crops. The region is also seeing that they are also having droughts because of the temperature changes. Agriculture will be effected if the water that is being used now is not replenished. ShShutsN. , Hayden, T. , Petit, C. W. , SoSoberR. K. , WhWhitehallK. , Whitman, D. 2001. The weather turns wild Retrieved from leLexisscoComezExplorer apPusedDuohotchpotchnNonacademicShShutsHayden, Petit, SoSoberWhWhitehallWhitman, (2001) discuss the changes in temperature that we are experiencing the expected temperature changes that will happen n the next 1 00 years and the lack of water that could become droughts. The scientist listed in the article are also taking different stances on the subject of global warming and if it is a true phenomenon or manmade. The Kyoto protocol calls for reductions in emissions for the countries that are developed. ShShutsHayden, Petit, SoSoberWhWhitehallWhitman, examined how many different aspects of daily life would be effected by global warming. They looked at rising sea waters, depletion of water, death, and rain and flooding. The companies that acknowledged that there was a problem with global arming changed equipment for less emission output.

Toyota Cars Recalls Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Toyota Cars Recalls - Research Paper Example Finally, the purpose of this academic paper is to possibly recommend applicable solutions based on conflict management principles that would address the identified problems encountered by the Toyota Motor Corp. To further understand, how and why Toyota ended up with the Toyota Recall incident it is necessary to have knowledge on the background of the company and how it operates in the field of the automobile manufacturing industry. Toyota Motor Company Early Beginnings In 1933, Toyota did not out rightly start as an automobile manufacturing company. Actually, the family that started it was initially engaged with just spinning and weaving textiles and looms under Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, a small division, which was under the direction of Kiichiro Toyoda. It started to manufacture vehicles when the Japanese government at war with China encouraged this company to manufacture the needed domestic vehicles. (â€Å"History of Toyota†, 2011). A Window to Toyota Motor Corporation ( TMC) Today The CEO Who is running Toyota Motor Corporation today? â€Å"Akio Toyoda is the present President and Representative Director of the company. He is the grandson of the late Kaiichiro Toyoda, who operated the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, a company devoted to manufacture automobiles during the 1930’s. Akio Toyoda was elected to the said positions in 2009 replacing Katsuaki Watanabe.† (â€Å"The President†,2011) TMC’s Domain â€Å"TMC’s domain belongs to the automotive industry and thus, its main product is the automobile. However, TMC today has expanded to other non-automotive business activities to include financial service business segments† (â€Å"Toyota Company Overview†, n.d.).Their stakeholders include: customers, business partners (dealers and suppliers), investors, consumers, nongovernmental organisations government, community, stockholders. Vision & Philosophy â€Å"Since its foundation, Toyota has been using the Gu iding Principle which says: to produce reliable vehicles and sustainable development of society by employing innovative and high quality products and services† (â€Å"Vision & Philosophy, 2011). Guiding Principle: â€Å"TMC’s guiding principle is to produce reliable vehicles and sustainable development of society by employing innovative and high quality products and services† (â€Å"Guiding Principle†, 2011). Toyota Global Vision 2020 â€Å"Toyota promotes efforts towards finding balance between the cycles of nature and the cycles of industry. Toyota commits to the ideals being pursued for People, Society and the Global Environment through the combined energy of people and technology† (â€Å"Toyota Global Vision 2020†, 2011). Employment: 320, 590 (Total in affiliated companies) Date Founded: August 28, 1937 Capital: 397.05 billion yen (as of March 31, 2010) Note: Information current as of June 2010. The number of employees includes those dis patched from other companies as of March 31, 2010 (â€Å"Company Profile†, 2011) TMC’s Organizational Structure â€Å"We have a fairly flat organization, which allows for ease of communications and flexibility. Within departments the organization divides into groups and teams, this team structure is a key element of the Company’s effectiveness.†

Nutrition for Women and Children Research Paper

Nutrition for Women and Children - Research Paper Example g population partnerships to recognize and cure health issues, developing plans and programs to sustain individual and societal health efforts and assurance that requires enforcing laws and issues to ensure public health and safety, building linkages among people needed for personalized health services and ensuring supply of health care services that are otherwise unavailable, assurance of a very diligent public and personal health care workforce, evaluating accessibility, validity and quality of personal as well as public health care services and researching newer and innovative solutions to health care service related problems(10 Essential Public Health Services, pp.1).Although theoretically this can sound assuring, yet the problem lies somewhere else that needs to be discussed. First, let us take some examples of malnutrition and its effects in certain developing nations affecting its women and children. Research on malnutrition in sub-Saharan African nations done by Abosede and M cGuire (2001) show that in Gambia, seasonal food shortage causing low food intakes by pregnant women in times of agricultural workload being very high resulted in their dramatic weight loss during their pregnancy period resulting in lower birth weight rise from 13% to 35%. Another instance show anemic women in Benin, 55% of whom are pregnant, giving birth to iron- deficient babies. Nigeria shows children below 80% expected weight-for-age having a 33% increase in the duration of diarrhea. In Uganda it has been found that malnourished infants below 3 years of age being able to develop at a standard rate only be shortening physical activities by 20% per kg. body weight. This study also shows that many African countries suffering from vitamin A deficiency affecting 53 million children but only... This study also shows that many African countries suffering from vitamin A deficiency affecting 53 million children but only a mere 8million covered by supplementation programs. One hundred million people in Africa are suffering from Iodine Deficiency Disorders with almost two-thirds of pregnant women and more than half of infants being anemic due to deficiency of iron in their bodies. This essay makes a conclusion that the intervention should be pocket friendly and innovative in ensuring successful delivery mechanisms. The leadership is also expected to ensure government policies regarding agriculture and food production should be such as to ensure human nutritional demands. There are a few areas where the leadership can be useful in accelerating progress. Primary health care services is the prime sector where intervention should be operational, that is, proper counseling of mothers will help reduce infant deaths due to sub optimal breast feeding, supply of ready-to- use therapeutic foods which will allow malnourished infants to be treated in home. The topical time is a genetic age. In certain ways it is more of a natural development of biotechnology and genetic engineering; on the other hand, it is a revolutionary era in which there have been various views regarding diet and nutritional needs of human body. Genomic information is now being utilized to evaluate th e reasons for individual variations in correspondence to specific nutritional requirements and dietary plans.

Reading journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Reading journal - Essay Example In chapter 15 on The Stikine Ice Cap, the author concludes that McCandless death was a result of an accident more so borrowing from his journals. As a youth, we learn that McCandless was fond of mountain climbing and this explains why at 23 he sought to climb the Devils Thumb on the Stikine Ice Cap in Alaska where he dies (Krakauer 92-100). In chapter 16, Chris McCandless visits Liard River Hot Springs in Yukon Territory. He spends two days at the river. Later he becomes friends with Gaylord Stuckey who later gives him a ride after being stuck for a while. Stuckey purchases a rice bag for McCandless then gives him a ride to University of Alaska (Krakauer 108-116). Stuckey advices McCandless that he is too young to move to the snow but he ignores the advice. In the 17th chapter on The Stampede Trail, the story of the Teklanika River is revisited and why McCandless opted not to cross the river. The map that explains the downstream where McCandless wanted to cross is revealed (Krakauer 118-127). It is arguable that McCandless would have attempted using a different route rather than staying in the bus and starving to death. In the last chapter, McCandless is seen to return to the bus, continues hunting and gathering but the amount of energy he uses is more than what he consumes. From these chapters, one questions the concept of happiness in an individual’s life. Is the same related to the struggles of life and attaining the set goals? How far can one link the importance of family to an individual’s happiness? McCandless does not acknowledge his family members and sees no contribution of his family to his life. In a way or another, I am of the opinion that McCandless operated on some form of ignorance. I believe that McCandless died of starvation as a result of arrogance. If he applied some level of wisdom, he would have saved his life and even maintained relations with his family. It is as a result of his pride that his parents and

Wholistic Visual Cues When Reading

Wholistic Visual Cues When Reading To what extent do we use wholistic visual cues when reading? Researchers have proposed that individuals use the outline shape of a word, meaning wholistic visual cues, in visual word recognition in reading. Various methods have been used to investigate reading in individuals with differing reading abilities. The reading abilities of young children and individuals with dyslexia have been studied to determine how this deviates from normally reading adults. The majority of research found the use of wholistic visual cues is most beneficial to individuals with dyslexia (Perea Panadero, 2013) and those in the early stages of learning to read (Ehri, 1995). However, disparity between the research conclusions exist, proposing that wholistic visual cues are used in conjunction with other recognition processes. The holistically biased hybrid model (Allen, Wallace Weber, 1995) and the process model (Besner Johnston, 1989) both provide theories for word recognition. The holistically biased hybrid model uses either an addressed or an assembled pathway to process words, with the addressed pathway being dominant in normal reading (Allen et al., 1995). This model accounts for both word frequency and provides an explanation for reading behaviours when presented with a mixed case paradigm, supporting the use of wholistic visual cues in reading (Allen et al., 1995). Alternatively, the process model recognises words using either a familiarity assessment, letter analysis or multi-letter identification (Besner Johnston, 1989) and rejects the use of wholistic visual cues. The interactive activation model uses similar analytical methods as the process model (McClelland and Rumelhart, 1981), whereby numerous variables of the word are processed for recognition. The different uses of visual cues was dete rmined by Paap, Newsome and Noel (1984) who concluded that wholistic visual cues are used in the initial stages of word recognition and this is then followed by abstract letter identification. Evidence for both of these models have been found and provide evidence for and against the use of wholistic visual cues using a variety of research methods. A method used to research the importance of word shape in reading is that of the cloze test, whereby participants must anticipate the upcoming word. Haber, Haber and Furlin (1983) tested adult reading using cues including word length, envelope shape or providing the following word. They found that participants used the shape envelope to recognise the target word. The cue provided word length information which decreased the number of alternative applicable words. However, the wholistic visual cues did not provide semantic cues, suggesting that other methods of word recognition are required in conjunction with wholistic visual cues. Mirman and Magnuson (2008) discovered that words which are semantically similar increase reaction times in visual word recognition. These pieces of research support the interactive activation model because it requires the processing of several aspects of the word in parallel, including semantics (McClelland Rumelhart, 1983). Fisher and Murray (1987) replic ated Haber et al.’s (1983) research using children as their participants. No age difference was discovered in the use of wholistic visual cues between the ages of 10 to 13 years old. However, Johnston, Anderson and Duncan (1991) determined that at 8 years old salient external features improved reading accuracy which was not seen at the age of ten. This research therefore suggests that wholistic visual cues may be used more in reading behaviours when improving reading ability. Naming tasks have been particularly important in researching developing reading abilities. Webb, Beech, Mayall and Andrews (2006) studied the effects of concealing either the inner or outer sections of words for children. The outer sections of a word elicited more accurate reading ability, whereas inner visual information of words had no influence on the individual’s reading behaviours even when accounting for frequency effects. Increased performance when presented with the outer sections of words as opposed to the inner sections was also evidenced by Beech and Mayall (2005). This concluded that individuals process word shape envelopes in visual word recognition, suggesting that wholistic visual cues may play a role in the initial stages of the interactive activation model (Webb et al., 2006). It is also possible to explain the findings using Gestalt theory, proposing that individuals form connections between the outer sections of words in order to make up for the missing word sections (Beech Mayall, 2005). The Gestalt theory provides evidence for the use of wholistic visual cues and it is evident when researching the effects of presenting other sections of words. This was then analysed further by presenting only the upper section of words to normally reading adults. Perea, Comesana and Soares (2012) determined an improved reaction time when upper sections of words were presented. However, this did not apply to pseudo-words, implying that the word must be known in order to have the desired effect. The decreased reaction time indicates that upper sections of words have more salient cues than lower sections of words, meaning they are more representative of the target word. These pieces of research therefore emphasise the importance of wholistic visual cues in visual word recognition, however research by Pelli, Farell and Moore (2003) contrasted these conclusions. The researchers determined that individuals focus on minor cues in words and collate these for an overall representation of the word, contrasting the evidence of using wholistic visual cues when reading. Further information other than word shape envelopes must therefore be known in orde r to accurately process the given word. An alternative way in which the use of wholistic visual cues has been researched is that of using a mixed case paradigm, presenting an array of uppercase and lowercase letters to participants (Coltheart Freeman, 1974). Presenting words in a mixed case format increased reaction times as well as reducing the recognition of the word, providing evidence for the importance of wholistic visual cues and contradicting the interactive activation model (Coltheart Freeman, 1974). However, the mixed case paradigm had no influence on the identification of individual letters in this case, supporting the interactive activation model and opposing the use of wholistic visual cues. Besner and Johnston (1989) also found pseudo-words in a mixed case format to be detrimental to reading ability. This therefore demonstrates the need for the word shape envelope and rejects the interactive activation model due to the reduced reading ability. Allen et al. (1995) used a lexical decision task to compare the r eading of lower and mixed cases when given a time constraint on processing. The experiments concluded an increased reaction time for pseudo-words in a mixed case format, indicating the importance of wholistic visual cues in word recognition. Participants struggled to accept or reject pseudo-words presented for 400ms, representing the processing limitations during short exposure periods. This research is in line with Allen et al.’s (1995) holistically biased hybrid model but contrasts the analytical models, including the process model. The research carried out by Allen et al. (1995) indicates that for the successful completion of lexical decision tasks wholistic visual cues are necessary, meaning that reading methods may adapt to the task’s requirements. This provides an explanation for the great degree of variation seen in the research into the use of wholistic visual cues and shows the high level of validity of this method due to the replicability of the findings. Further research has led to the suggestion that wholistic visual cues may only be used in circumstances where normal reading behaviour is inhibited. This was recently demonstrated by Perea and Panadero (2013) using a lexical decision task to analyse reading behaviours for adults, children and children with developmental dyslexia. There was no effect on the reaction times for word recognition when pseudo-words were presented as having the same shape as real words for adults and children. However, those with developmental dyslexia were found to be affected by the word shape of pseudo-words (Perea Panadero, 2013), reflecting how wholistic visual cues are used to a different extent. This indicates the use of more analytical processing methods in normal reading. Lavidor (2011) also found word shape envelopes to be beneficial to individuals with dyslexia. These pieces of research suggest that children and those with dyslexia fixate on particularly salient cues in order to reliably process words (Ehri Wilce, 1985). This again dismisses the word shape hypothesis and provides further evidence for the importance of the interactive activation model (McClelland Rumelhart, 1981) during normal reading due to the use of feature analysis. These studies highlight the requirement for top-down processing in normal reading behaviours compared to dyslexia, as the interactive activation model (McClelland Rumelhart, 1981) requires the processing of multiple factors in word recognition. Cognitive processing, including top-down processing, is a vital part of visual word recognition. Research carried out by Yates (2013) provides further evidence with clustering effects that word shape alone has limited influence on normal reading behaviour. If a set of words only differ by a phoneme then word recognition requires a higher level of activation and is processed more slowly (Yates, 2013). This infers that the use of a word’s shape envelope is influenced by cognitive processing ability. Cognitive processing can again be seen by analysing parafoveal vision. When monitoring eye movements McConkie and Zola (1979) discovered normally reading adults do not detect any changes to manipulations of word shape in parafoveal vision. Contrasting evidence by Haber, Haber, Furlin, Paap, Newsome and Noel (1984) determined that when proofreading, participants remained unaware of changes to words unless the word shape envelope was manipulated. An alternative explanation for the lack of evidence for the word shape hypothesis may be that the use of wholistic cues becoming automated (Webb et al., 2006). Research has proven the importance of the word shape envelope for young readers and dyslexics, however it has not been consistently reported in adults. If word shape is processed in a more automated manner the individual’s cognitive load would be significantly reduced (Webb et al., 2006). This reduction would allow other, more efficient, reading behaviours to occur. These pieces of research led to the conclusion that wholistic visual cues are important in visual word recognition, however as an individual matures their reading behaviours may be modified. Previous research has found that individual’s reading methods change as their reading ability improves. Children initially use wholistic visual cues and then potentially develop more effective reading methods (Perea Panadero, 2013). Research by Seymour and Eldre (1986) determined that in order to read children have to be specifically taught to read each of these words, meaning they are unable to determine the phonological information of a word and as such rely on wholistic visual cues (Webb et al., 2006). This was also supported was Ehri (1995) who described stages in children’s visual word recognition. When children learn to read they engage in sight word reading or logographic reading, meaning that the word is read through memory retrieval. As children’s reading ability develops they learn the relationship of phonemes and graphemes and are thus able to apply this to more complex words in the consolidated alphabetic stage (Ehri, 1995). Research using children i s therefore of great advantage when focusing on adult reading. The conclusion has been reached that as children develop their reading ability they refine their use of wholistic visual cues. Thus as visual word recognition becomes more refined individuals use other recognition strategies in parallel with wholistic visual cues. Research into the use of wholistic visual cues has shown that adults do not necessarily use wholistic visual cues. However, evidence has shown that children and individuals with developmental dyslexia use these cues to a great extent. This difference may occur due to the processing of wholistic visual cues becoming more automated as reading develops. Alternatively, the varying use of wholistic cues may be explained by the demands of the task, as shown by lexical decision tasks (Allen et al., 1995). For this reason wholistic visual cues provide a more accurate account of visual word recognition when taken in conjunction with analytical models, such as the interactive activation model and the process model. References Allen, P. A., Wallace, B., Weber, T. A. (1995). Influence of case type, word frequency, and exposure duration on visual word recognition. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 21(4), 914-934. Beech, J. R., Mayall, K. A. (2005). The word shape hypothesis re-examined: Evidence for an external feature advantage in visual word recognition. Journal of Research in Reading, 28(3), 302-319. Besner Johnston (1989) Beech M Coltheart Freeman (1974) Allen Ehri, L. C. (1995). Phases of development in learning to read words by sight. Journal of Research in Reading, 18(2), 116-125. Ehri Wilce (1985) Lavidor Fisher Murray (1987) Webb Haber, L. R., Haber, R. N., Furlin, K. R. (1983). Word length and word shape as sources of information in reading. Reading Research Quarterly, 18(2), 165-189. Haber, Haber, Furlin, Paap, Newsome Noel (1984) Beech Mayall Johnston, Anderson Duncan (1991) Beech M Lavidor, M. (2011). Whole-word shape effect in dyslexia. Journal of Research in Reading, 34(4), 443-454. McClelland and Rumelhart (1981) McConkie, G. W., Zola, D. (1979). Is visual information integrated across successive fixations in reading? Perception and Psychophysics, 25(3), 221-224. Mirman Magnuson (2008) yates Seymoure Eldre (1986) Webb Paap, K. R., Newsome, S. L., Noel, R. W. (1984). Word shape’s in poor shape for the race to the lexicon. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 10(3), 413-428. Pelli, D. G., Farell, B., Moore, D. C. (2003). The remarkable inefficiency of word recognition. Nature, 423, 752-756. Perea, M., Comesana, M., Soares, A. P. (2012). Does the advantage of the upper part of words occur at the lexical level? Memory and Cognition, 40, 1257-1265. Perea, M., Panadero, V. (2013). Does viotin activate violin more than viocin? On the use of visual cues during visual-word recognition. Experimental Psychology, 61(1), 23-29. Webb, T. M., Beech, J. R., Mayall, K. M., Andrews, A. S. (2006). It’s what’s on the outside that matters: An advantage for external features in children’s word recognition. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 94, 163-181. Yates, M. (2013). How the clustering of phonological neighbours affects visual word recognition. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition, 39(5), 1649-1656.

Rain Forest :: essays research papers

Long ago, the Earth had a green belt of rain forests around its middle that covered almost twelve percent of the earth's land surface.(Miller & Berry 3) Today, the rain forest covers two percent of the earth's land surface and it is declining rapidly. The following will be a description of the rain forest, factors in its destruction, and if there are any answers to slow or halt the process. "Today, as we enter the last decade of the twentieth century, we have reached a turning point; we can no longer use the excuse of ignorance."(Hammond 2) People need to try harder to stop rain forest depletion. There are two major areas on earth where rain forests are located. One of these areas is called "The Old World Tropics," which includes Africa and Asia. In Africa, the rain forests are primarily located around the Zaire river. The other area in which rain forests are located is called "The New World Tropics," which contains Central and South America. The New World tropics are in lower altitudes as opposed to the Old World tropics, which are at higher altitudes. Rain forests are located around the equator. This location of the rain forests makes them warm and humid all year round. There are never cold winters in the rain forests. During winter in the rain forests, people comfortably are able to wear T-shirts and shorts. The rain forest has a rainy season which usually lasts most of the year. "The rain forests of the world are home to more than half of the animal species that live on earth."(CSIRO 1) Many of these creatures are some of the most beautiful and odd creatures in the world, Such as the large rodent Capybara, the Anteater, and many different colorful exotic birds. There are many beautiful creatures living in our Earth's rain forests. Many people are ignorant to the effects of rain forest depletion on our environment, and this ignorance is a major cause in the beginning of the destruction of the rain forests. "Eu ropean settlers exploited the rain forests for timber and cleared them for agricultural purposes."(Parish 4) "The name scrub, which was originally applied to the rain forest by European settlers, became a term for land seen as useless until subject to ax, fire, and plough."(Parish 4) People did not think of the affects on the environment because the little knowledge that was known about the affects was not very widespread.