The Necessity of Landfill Diversion in the United States Research Paper

The Necessity of Landfill Diversion in the United States - Research Paper Example In fact, the U.S. is not just one of the world leaders when it comes to manufacturing consumer goods; it is also taking the lead in waste generation. In 2010 alone, â€Å"Americans generated about 250 million tons of trash and recycled and composted over 85 million tons of this material, equivalent to a 34.1 percent recycling rate† (EPA 2010). With this data, it would appear that every individual in the U.S. generates 4.43 pounds of waste every day. However, the possibility of solutions in the near future is still dim and proving this is another estimate from the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA that out of the 250 million tons generated, only 85 million tons of waste would actually make their way to the recycling and composting plants. This is only 34.1 percent of the waste generated. This means that majority of the said waste are directed to one of the most commonly used solid waste management method in the world, the landfill. There are basically two kinds of wastes, organic and non-organic. The former are those that could be left to decompose through natural means while latter could not be subjected to the same treatment because of its highly synthetic composition. Both, however, contribute to the growing problem of solid waste management, especially because both could become hazards to the environment. Despite the fact that organic wastes could decompose and its composition be assimilated by the soil, these could still produce threats to the environment. During the process of putrefaction, organic wastes are known to trigger gas emissions and leaching that could contaminate the air and the soil respectively. There have been many cases also where groundwater is contaminated because of leaching. The non-organic wastes, on the other hand, pose a threat to both humans and the environment because these could contain substances that could be toxic. Since non-organic wastes do not decompose, the solutions that have been applied to these are recycling and reusing. As for the organic wastes, these are delivered to landfills where these are left to decompose through purely natural means or through the intervention of certain treatment that would hasten the process. Due to the fact that landfills are basically environmentally hazardous, there had been various studies carried for the purpose of determining safer designs that could be applied for their construction. However, there have been countless cases when leaks did occur resulting to the bacterial or viral contamination of the groundwater. Aside from this, landfills also contribute to air pollution and to the greenhouse effect because of its methane emissions. In the U.S. and in Europe, where the landfill is an integral part of solid waste management, areas that could be designated for such purpose are fast running out even as the demand for more numerous and bigger sites continue to increase. It is because of the â€Å"large numbers and the expanses of valuable real estate th ey occupy† that the landfills are problems that are becoming increasingly serious (Tammemagi 5). With all these issues attributed to landfills, there is clearly a need to determine alternative solid waste management methods. The introduction of such methods should lead to the reduction of the U.S.’s reliance on landfills and to shift instead to methods that are more viable and safer for both humans and t

Advertising and Identity through Consumer Culture Essay Example for Free

Advertising and Identity through Consumer Culture Essay Never before in the history of the modern world has advertising become so prevalent, ubiquitous, and an â€Å"undeniable essential† to a modern man’s everyday life than that of our century. Advertising images of all sorts, now flood public spaces: from billboards with eroticized images to the blinding electronic billboard, down to the â€Å"comfort ads† which oddly stares back in the rest rooms of malls. Magazines and televisions are also full of products that entice the readers and the audience to buy and patronize a certain brand. Similarly, cultural events cannot be seen without a popular brand nor is a sporting event complete without a corporate ad. Indeed, advertising has become part of today’s culture and has become an inescapable ghost that dominates our media, our road, and our home. The road towards the advertising era began its transition during the 1880’s to1920’s. It is during this period that ads focused largely on the products themselves. Products took the center stage, using heavy texts to introduce, feature and market the product. â€Å"Real† representation of people were absent in advertisements, but rather representation of people who stand for the social values such as   family structure and status differentiation were seen during this stage (Jhally, 1990, p. 228). With the written material properly explaining visual the visual imagery, ads during this period were instructional. At the same time they were also educational as well as promotional. These ads taught the consumer audience how to read commercial messages. However, by the postwar period, education was replaced for a puzzle of numerous visual messages. Visual images then took the limelight during the 1950’s. Texts were highly reduced and were then replaced by icons and images to allure the consumer. These visual imageries eventually took over the product. The image, rather than the product, became the main message that is communicated to the consumer audience. The once educational ads were now replaced with a hodge-podge of photos and visuals (Jhally, 1990, p. 229). As the 21st century ushered in, the idea of â€Å"identity† was then marketed to the buying audience, convincing the public that the products they buy represent their identity; identity which can now be brought in the nearest mall and will assure not only satisfaction but happiness as well. This paper will discuss the contemporary culture in the advertising industry as it permeates and even molds today’s idea of beauty, style, as well as identity. Similarly, it will discuss how people are influenced by this media medium by citing several studies and researches related to the mentioned topic. Apart form this, it will also discuss the benefits and the disadvantages brought about by the culture of advertising. Ours is an era whose society is in constant struggle to find their true identity. Never before has a mankind been so engrossed in a quest for an identity, life, and beauty only to be directed to the market place. Ads that promote images with identity are prevalent. A popular celebrity endorsing this line of clothing, for instance, will give the audience the message that buying these kinds of clothes will make you happy, beautiful, or popular. Likewise, purchasing this brand of shoes will make you a part of the â€Å"cool† or â€Å"in† group. Through these visual representations, consumers desire to be like the image they see on ads, and the consumption of this certain product will help them imagine, create, and sustain their idea of themselves, their image, and their identity. The idea of beauty is perhaps one of the most capitalized and used advertising ideas. Numerous magazines often represent a beautiful woman as someone who is skinny, blond, tall, and has a porcelain-like skin.   These faces are evidently plastered on every magazine cover. Of course, a brand logo is placed along side the photo of the model as if saying: You can be just like me if you use this brand†. Aside from this, almost every celebrity has the same body type. A small or fat woman would consequently mean that she is not conforming to society’s image of beauty, which therefore automatically makes her ugly. With all of these images, it is no wonder why millions of girls from different parts of the world accept the idea that in order to be beautiful, one should look like a cover girl or a celebrity. This also means that buying that certain skin care line or wearing the same brand of clothes would automatically transform them as they conform to the idea of beauty as well as their identity. In a report which studied the consumption patterns of youth, consumers regard consumption not as a mode of cultural activity, but rather as a rationalized process of fulfilling their desires. This means that a number of individuals actually believe that buying a product will fulfill their desire to look a certain way. Since their idea of perfection is duly represented by images of stunning models and celebrities, their pursuit of what is perfect can only be realized by using the same products or items that these models endorse. Although these ideals of perfection somehow give directions to the consumers, the truth is the images presented are first and foremost unattainable. More often than not, the audience is oblivious to the fact that the images they see, both on screen and on print, has already undergone a process of â€Å"editing† in order to make it even more perfect. The idea of beauty did not used to be boxed up with the idea of being skinny. In fact, during the prehistoric times, women are portrayed not as a wafer thin woman but rather as a full-bodied female with breasts, hips, abdomen, and thighs. The statuette called Venus of Willendorf for instance, has been revered as a goddess of beauty and fertility. Similarly, the statuette Venus of Moravany and Mal’ta are both revered because of their physical attributes. These images of beauty however, began to change as advertising emphasized the need to fit in a size two dress. This is particularly used by companies who promote diet and weight -lose products. Likewise, other manufacturers and business also saw the need to create slimming pills, slimming tea, and so much more. This eventually led other manufacturers to create clothes that will emphasize a woman’s thin frame. Apart from a person’s physical attribute, a person’s lifestyle is also used as a handle by the advertising world to create a market-based image. According to the same report, more than half of the young consumers believed that the products they buy represent their identities and lifestyle in some way. For them, identities are expressed in a variety of products such as shoes, clothes, cosmetics etc. Even seemingly trivial things are supposed to express their lifestyles. For instance, 36 percent of young males answered that their choices of telephone/ mobile equipment represent in some way their identities, and 63 percent of young females think that their choices of hair salon is a representation of their identities (Report on Youth Consumption Trend, 1994, p. 114). The one hour documentary entitled â€Å"Merchants of the Cool† is perhaps one of the most scathing examinations of how popular culture and advertising are entwined together. Exactly as the title suggests â€Å"Merchants of the Cool† chronicles how the media both reflects and influences pop culture. A large amount of money is paid to â€Å"cool hunters† in order to find out what is cool and what is hip. This information is then coursed through mediums such as the television. MTV for example, pay its â€Å"cool† audiences as well as the hosts and performers to attend to their party to make it look even â€Å"cooler†. Behind all these happening, there lies a big logo of a soft drinks brand. Much like how a ventriloquist controls a puppet, it is also the same with how a company and how advertising is behind how the image of â€Å"coolness† is presented (Frontline, 2001). This construction of a sense of identity, according to British sociologist Robert Bocock (1993), can be seen as a process which may make use of items of consumption such as clothing, footwear, popular music or sporting activities, including being a supporter of particular music groups, singers or soccer clubs. Such consumption patterns could be used as a central means of defining who is a member and who is outside a specific group. It is through material items that eventually determine an individual’s social group, which then ultimately gives him or her identity. A brand is a powerful tool that associates commodities with consumers because it symbolizes various elements of the product so that consumers have relative liberty in finding the association between their identities and commodities. The visual images, even the endorser of the brand also plays a crucial role in alluring the consumer to believe that by purchasing this product, you will become like me or that you will be popular or will have an identity like mine (Bocock, 1993, p. 4). However, the more important question is how does an individual associate his or her identity through the purchase of a certain brand or a certain product? The research mentioned above illustrates the characteristic mentality of a young consumer. I do not care about what other people choose. I think of design as an important consideration when I choose things, and my choices of commodities express a part of my personality. This statement underlines the prevalent belief that the freedom of choice of the consumer leads to the expression of his or her identity. In other words, since it is the choice of the individual that made him or her wear this particular pair of shoes, this particular pair then represents the identity of the individual who made the decision. Representative form of their self-identities derives from the individual level; individual consumers make a decision by themselves to buy things in order to express their own identities (Hattori, 1997, p.10).

Leitmotif Was A Musical Concept Film Studies Essay

Leitmotif Was A Musical Concept Film Studies Essay Romantic music is a term describing a style of classical music that began in the late 18th century or early 19th century. Romantic music as a movement came from the formats, genres and musical ideas created in the earlier period, such as the classical period. Although it went further in the name of expression and merging of different art forms with music. Romanticism does not always refer to romantic love, although that theme was prevalent in many works composed during this time. Romanticism pieces are understood to be more passionate and expressive.1 The expansion of form within a typical composition, and the growing quirkiness and expressiveness of new composes from the new century; it became easier to identify an artist based on his work or style. Romantic music attempted to increase emotional expression and power to describe deeper truths or human feelings, whilst still trying to preserve the formal structures from the classical period. Leitmotif A Leitmotif is a musical term that means a short and constantly recurring musical phrase. It is associated with a particular person, place or idea.  [2]  The term itself comes from the German word Leitmotiv, meaning leading motif or guiding motif. A motif is a short musical idea melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic and a significant recurring figure that has some special importance for the characteristics of a composition. Although it is usually a short melody, it can be a chord progression or even a simple rhythm. Leitmotifs can help bind a work together into a whole, and enable the composer to relate a story without the use of words. The power of the technique was used early in the nineteenth century by composers of the Romantic Period.1 Recurring themes or ideas were sometimes used in association with specific characters. Romantic music used Leitmotif to help narrate, people were aware of the musical code and the associations with characters and situations which allowed directors to define and complete plot ideas through sound. 2 Example of composers/famous pieces who used Leitmotif Richard Wagner is the earliest composer that can be associated with the concept of Leitmotif. His cycle of four operas, titled Der Ring des Nibelungen, uses dozens of Leitmotifs, often related to specific characters, things, or situations.  [3]  Wagner raised the issue of how music could unite different elements of the plot of a music drama in his Opera; the Leitmotif technique corresponds to this ideal. Wagner used Leitmotifs for their role in musical form and emotional effect. Richard Georg Strauss, born on the 11th of June 1864 and died on the 8th of September 1949 was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. Strauss used Leitmotifs in many of his operas and several of his symphonic poems to create mood and emotion in his music. Arnold Schoenberg, who was born on the 13th September 1874 and passed away on the 13th of July 1951 was an Austrian composer and painter, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art. He used a complex set of Leitmotifs in his choral work, Gurre-Lieder which was completed 1911. Modern composer John Williams was influenced by music of the Romantic Period and made use of Leitmotif in his film scores John Williams John Towner Williams was born in Long Island, USA, on the 8th of February 1932 into a musical family.  [4]  In 1948, Williams family relocated to LA, where he studied music at the University of California. Following his national service in the air force John Williams went to the Julliard School in New York, where he studied piano. He also worked as a jazz pianist in clubs and on recordings. In 1956, John Williams was hired by Twentieth Century Fox as a pianist in their studio orchestra, and he was also soon writing the music for some TV shows including Lost in Space, Wagon Train and Land of the Giants.4 At the studio Williams worked with great movie composers like Bernard Herrmann and Alfred Newman. In 1967, John Williams made the A list of movie composers when he wrote the Oscar-nominated score for The Valley of the Dolls. John Williams has scored nearly 90 films and has been Oscar nominated over forty times. John Williams themes for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, and ET have great appeal for the general public and his movie score albums are top sellers. Williams has also written compositions for the Olympic ceremonies which capture the true spirit of the game. John Williams was the conductor and musical director of the famous Boston Pops Orchestra, where he is still a guest conductor. As well as movie scores, John Williams has written concert pieces for such greats as Yo-Yo Ma and has conducted concerts all over the world. On December the 5th 2004 John Williams was one of the 2004 honourees at the Kennedy centre in Washington, D.C. The use of Leitmotif In John Williams films he uses a lot of music related to Wagner, such as diatonic scales for hero themes, chromatic scales for objects or negative elements, bright sounds for positive elements.  [5]  John Williams has become of the most successful scoring composers and one of the most respected. His approach is very direct and strong, and no one in the theatre will fail to recognize any link between the themes and the characters associated with them. He has a great capacity to reach the audience like a classical composer. Jaws Jaws is an American horror and thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg in 1975. In the story, a giant man eating great white shark attacks beachgoers on Amity Island, prompting the local police chief to hunt it down.  [6]  The main shark theme, is a simple alternating pattern of two notes, variously identified as E and F or F and F sharp which became a classic piece of suspense music, synonymous with approaching danger. John Williams uses Leitmotif in this film for the shark. Each time the shark is going to appear the same pattern is played that can be recognized by the audience. Indiana Jones Dr. Henry Indiana Jones, Jr. is a fictional professor, archaeologist, and adventurer. Indiana Jones is noted for his trademark bullwhip, his fedora hat, and his great fear of snakes.  [7]  Indiana Jones is also the general name given to the series as a whole, which has four movies, a TV series, novels, comics, video games, and other media. In this movie Williams used Leitmotif for the character Indiana Jones. For this Williams used a diatonic scale for a hero-theme whenever Indiana was about to do something heroic and at the end of the film. Star Wars The music of Star Wars consists of the scores written for all six Star Wars films by composer John Williams. Williams scores for the double trilogy are amongst the most widely known and popular contributions to modern film music. The scores utilize a diverse variety of musical styles, many culled from the Late Romantic Period of Richard Strauss.  [8]   The Main theme of star wars is easily the most recognizable melody and is often associated with Luke Skywalker, linking with heroism and adventure. It is heard over the beginning of all the films and forms the basis of the end title as well. The Rebel Fanfare is a short Leitmotif used extensively throughout all the episodes to represent the rebel alliance. The theme is constructed out of brassy major block chords that progress in parallel motion through intervals of a third. This results in a non-diatonic sound. 8 The force theme is a well known example of a Leitmotif. Out of all of the Leitmotifs in the series this theme is most consistently developed and consequently most difficult to attach a specific meaning. This theme can represent Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi and the Force from which they draw their power. Princess Leias theme is heard form episode III and onwards. It is a Leitmotif that represents a romanticized, somewhat naive idea of the princess and can also show that she is vulnerable. The imperial Leitmotif (not the imperial march) represents the Empire and Darth Vader in Episode IV. The Leitmotif is militaristic and is generally played by bassoons or muted trombones. 8 The Death Star Leitmotif is an imposing four chord played six times during episode IV to represent the Death Star. The Dual of Fates is another Leitmotif played in the first three episodes. It is composed from two minor Ostinatos and choral interjections that are head in The Empire Strikes Back.  [9]  The theme is used to represent the clash between the Light and Dark Side. In Episode II, the Leitmotif is played when Anakin goes off to search for his mother, implying an internal struggle between good and evil. Anakins Leitmotif is an innocent theme that contains seeds of the Imperial March. It has a warm melody that contradicts with the harmonic instability of a number of different passages. The concert arrangement makes the fate of this Leitmotif more explicit, ending with a number of subtle renditions of phrases from the theme it foreshadows. The Imperial March or Darth Vaders Theme represents the Galactic Empire as a whole and Darth Vader specifically. It features relentless martial rhythm and dark, non diatonic harmonic support. The Imperial March represents the Empire and is nearly equilivent to a galactic anthem. It is heard with progressive prominence through Episodes II and III, signalling critical points in Anakins downwards spiral to the Dark side. In the final rendition, accompanying Vaders death Williams reverses the effect of the theme. It ends with a cadence of solos as Vader dies. Word Count 1498

GCSE War Poem :: English Literature

GCSE War Poem â€Å"The Charge of the Light Brigade† and â€Å"For the Fallen†, are both poems about war. â€Å"The Charge of the Light Brigade† written by Alfred Tennyson on 14th November 1854, describes an event in the Crimean war. Britain and France were concerned that Russia may power southwards, so they attacked Russia at Balaclava. â€Å"For the Fallen,† was written by Laurence Binyon on September 1914, during the war with the intention of showing the reader the reality of war, in particular, Binyon takes a non-biased approach, demonstrating positive and negative consequences, of dying for one’s country. The two poems are similar because in both, the soldiers are brave and prepared when going to war and portray the soldiers as heroes. The differences are â€Å"For the Fallen† was written in the past tense and â€Å"Charge of the Light Brigade† is written in the present. In addition, Tennyson’s poem has a lot of action in it but Binyon’s poem is a view of soldiers after they die. â€Å"The Charge of the Light Brigade† is about 600 men who charged into an ambush of Russian and Cossack cannons. This happened because the commander mistook orders and told the men to charge into the Russian main base. Over two-thirds of the soldiers die, while in the midst of battle. Binyon’s poem is about men who all die in war. Binyon compares their lives to what they would be like if they had lived and how their deaths are regarded by other people. The first stanza of Tennyson’s poem creates an image of horses galloping forward: â€Å"Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward† Repetition reflects exhaustion because it is laborious. The next line tells the reader that the Light Brigade are the ones who are going to be defeated: â€Å"All in the valley of death†, By using a metaphor, which exaggerates a point, Tennyson is emphasising the fact that they are going to lose. The poet shows how he feels towards the soldiers. He is feeling bravery and stupidity for the Light Brigade. Bravery because no soldier turned back and rode away and no one questioned the command, â€Å"Charge for the guns†. He shows the stupidity by repeating â€Å"Valley of death†, because the soldiers are riding to death and Tennyson is commenting on the lack of questioning to an irrational command. In stanza three, the Light Brigade are in the peak of battle. Repetition of â€Å"Cannon† all around them creates a picture of an ambush. In the next two lines the cannons are firing fiercely. Tennyson uses alliteration to emphasize the impact the cannons are having. â€Å"Stormed at with shot ad shell†

The Dangers of Fossil Fuels

In recent decades, we have seen a remarkable advancement in science and technology. Owing to this, many wonder why the primary sources of consumer energy remain non-renewable fuels; petroleum (36%), coal (27%) and gas (23%) [International Energy Agency, 2013]. The issue with this is, â€Å"fossil fuels† which took millions of years to form are running out at an unprecedented rate, and there is no consensual view as to what will replace them. There are many reasons why the general population should be concerned about such an event affecting them.Firstly, wrought global development and population growth society has become overly dependent on energy from exogenous sources like fossil fuels. Secondly, the easier fuels to obtain have been mostly depleted hence companies are resorting to costly and hazardous extraction methods. Finally, the profitability of fossil fuel extraction is fast decreasing and this is inciting countries to use alternative sources such as hydro-electric. Sus tained global growth has left the world in a perilous position. In 1850 when the capacity of resources such as oil and coal were first predicted, they were deemed to sat for centuries.One factor these predictions failed to consider was sudden exponential population growth, a function of both technological advances and medical breakthroughs. Fossil fuels were the meaner by which this was made possible as their discovery led to more developed societies; incentives human growth. Today, the next wave of developing nations like China demand more fuel for their growing populations and are competing with high-development countries for a bigger portion of the rapidly shrinking resource. The migration from a forager society to an agricultural society was a key event in the context of energy.The people at this stage in history knew using all their energy hunting and gathering prevented them from doing activities they would otherwise want to do. Eventually, though communal agriculture, they le arnt to conserve their survival energy by forming a society wherein each member provided for one another. The discovery of the heat engine reinvigorated this idea. Work from human labor could be replaced with work from an exogenous source, in this instance fossil fuels. Today society continues exploit this idea to improve quality of life, mostly through transport and warmth.Services, manufacturing, minerals, food and clean water are further benefits of the constant flow of energy people receive. 90% of the energy consumed by the western world comes from non-human sources. (DRP T Morgan, 2013). Without the abundance of energy, the economic-based society humans know would cease to exist. There is scarcely enough energy in the form of fossil fuels for most to live easy and fulfilling lives, but the general populous should concede they deed to adapt sooner rather than later. The easy to obtain fuels like crude oil are depleting quickly.Consequently, companies reap millions of barrels of petrol, rendering these sources unprofitable. With fossil fuels not as abundant or easy to obtain as they used to be, desperate measures in the form of Franking and Deep Sea Drilling are being used. However, these methods are costly and put unnecessary stress on the environment. Governments don't feel obliged to intervene when the struggle for fuel is being eased. People wonder why governments are unconcerned that public funds are being spent n dangerous and costly extraction processes like franking and deep-sea drilling instead of investing it into finding a substitute.The reason is blatant: so citizens are kept happy. The world seems prosperous at this moment in history, but who knows how soon people will regret these senseless decisions. Much energy is needed to build and run the equipment, extraction devices and vehicles we need to obtain oil, natural gas and coal. Since the industrial revolution, ERROR (energy returned on energy invested) has been extremely high. For example, when oil was discovered companies got over 100 units of energy back for every 1 unit used during extraction (Charles Hall, 2010).This made extraction a profitable industry though as I noted previously, fuel reserves dried out and became harder to find. TAP Research (2013) found the global average ERROR last year had fallen to 15:1 . The effects of this trend have been seen everywhere, for instance rising petrol prices. In fifteen years, the cost of petroleum in New Zealand has tripled from 80 cents a litter to 220 cents a litter. Alternate fuels transport is presently so inconvenient that this trend seems destined to continue.The world may witness an energy cliff in the near future when the amount of energy consumed during extraction actually surpasses the amount the economy gets in return. Suddenly, renewable sources by default will become the favorable option, because they are economical enough to exploit. Future motorists will be forced to drive electric vehicles like the Ionians Leaf, even if according to specifications they cost $70 000, have a range of 100 kilometers and take n absurd 20 hours to charge on house current.Energy is one of the most important things in modern life; it fuels transport, businesses, schools, heats houses and gives us light. Without it people are confined to being hunter-gatherers. It is hard for one to conceive living like this, but this type of living may become standard if the energy surplus is wiped. Moving on from fossil fuels presents itself as a colossal challenge, one the next generation has to accept. In New Zealand, a high proportion of their energy consumed comes from hydro, ego- Herman and wind sources, so they could stand as the world leaders of a global renewable energy revolution.There is much potential for sources of clean energy like solar and wind power to outlast fossil fuels, and it would be great to see more money invested in these types of renewable energy sources. One hopes people will be informed in the f uture of the consequences of utilizing fossil fuels so they can make sensible decisions around their use. World governments can't ignore the issue forever, and every time someone speaks up makes it more likely for them to towards a brighter future.

Personal Responsibility

Personal Responsibility Personal Responsibility The way you perceive Personal Responsibility can be viewed many ways depending on your ethical perspective in life. We all live by a set of ethics that are instilled in us from birth through adulthood. These ethics contribute to our decision making and how we live our lives. In order to practice personal responsibility in higher education, you must first define what it means to you, the relationship between personal responsibility and college success and have a plan to follow. Even though uncontrolled situations can happen, you must take personal responsibility for your actions because it demonstrates work ethic and shows your character. Definition of Personal Responsibility My definition of personal responsibility is being accountable for my actions and the way I say or do things. By accepting accountability for my actions, I must make decisions that are ethically responsible. Every day we are faced with dilemmas and our peers expect us to react according to what is normal in society. These decisions must be based on integrity, honesty and our overall values. Once we reach adulthood, the expectation is we aspire into responsible adults without being coerced. This requires accepting that I chose the direction for my life and realize who I am. Recognizing how my choices affect me and others who depend on my support is a key factor of my decision making process. Understanding there are consequences for my behavior prepares me for accepting responsibility in everything I do. Personal responsibility has been defined as being accountable to oneself and the needs and well-being of others (Ruyter,2000). Doherty (1998) has argued that there is an increasing trend in society to refuse accountability and to blame others for one’s situation. Relationship between Personal Responsibility and College Success The relationship between personal responsibility and college success is the ethical choices I make while pursing higher education. In order to be successful in college, I must take personal responsibility for my actions. Students entering college are expected to demonstrate skills that will lead to success. It takes motivation and sincerity to endeavor the challenges and responsibility associated with continuing your education. According to Colby and Sullivan (2009) there are five key dimensions of personal and social responsibility. â€Å"In Striving for excellence: developing a strong work ethic and consciously doing one’s very best in all aspects of college, cultivating personal and academic integrity: recognizing and acting on a sense of honor, ranging from honesty in relationships to principled engagement with a formal academic honor code. Contributing to a larger community: recognizing and acting on one’s responsibility to the educational community and to the wider society— local, national, and global. Taking seriously the perspectives of others: recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment; engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work. Developing competence in ethical and moral reasoning: developing ethical and moral reasoning in ways that incorporate the previous four dimensions, and using such reasoning in learning and in life. (p. 24). As a college student, I must take personal responsibility in making sure I succeed. Since I have set the goal of continuing my education, the duty to myself is success. Preliminary Plan The choices I make on a daily basis can impact my success, therefore I must have a plan. My plan is to stay well engaged in my education by working with my academic counselor, attending class regularly, sta ying involved in class discussions, learning better time management skills and completing assignments on time. According to American Federation of Teachers (2011), â€Å"to further their own success, students must be responsible, among other things, for attending classes and keeping up with their coursework. Students must understand that the minimum time commitment required for success in their courses is generally two hours on top of every classroom hour. Engaging professionals in discussions about students’ coursework and their educational and career goals. It is imperative that students regularly seek out faculty, academic and career counselors outside of class. Periodically taking a hard look at their academic and career goals, the time commitments they undertake and the state of their finances to ensure that they develop a program of study that has a good prospect for success. † (Students). My weakest area is time management. Being a single mother of three children, working full time and managing a household is more than a lot of people could handle. In order to take control of these factors in my life, I have started planning ahead and created a biweekly schedule for the entire family. This schedule helps me keep track of upcoming class projects, my work schedule and my children’s activities. I have found this plan to be effective and proficient in keeping my schedule under control. (Ellis, p. 14, 2011). By planning a week or month at a time, you get a bigger picture of your multiple roles as a student, employee, and family member. With that awareness, you can make conscious adjustments in the number of hours you devote to each domain of activity in your life. For a plan to be effective, you must measure the results for success. To help keep me engaged with my academic goals, I have developed a strategy of keeping in constant contact with my academic advisor. I speak with my advisor about the required courses I need to fulfill and a time based goal for achieving this accomplishment. My classes currently require that I participate four days per week, however I devote more time to the classroom. I have also found that doing more than the required work for a class can give you a better understanding of the material. The schedule that has been created for me and my family is updated and evaluated weekly to ensure we are meeting our objectives. Conclusion In conclusion, although uncontrollable situations can happen, you must take personal responsibility for your actions. There may be classes or assignments I don’t enjoy but I must focus and find my strengths in that area. Sometimes life requires you to accept challenges that were not anticipated but good work ethic will discipline you to accept those responsibilities. The projects may not always be interesting but completing them is a true demonstration of your character. Accepting personal responsibility demonstrates strong work ethic and commitment to college success. Creating a plan to help you strategize practicing personal responsibility shows your commitment to success in college. References Colby, A. , & Sullivan, W. M. (2009, Winter). Strengthening the Foundations of Students' Excellence, Integrity and Social Contributions. Liberal Education, 95(1), 22-39 American Federation of Teachers. (2011). ERIC. Retrieved from http://www. eric. ed. gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet? accno=ED518097 Ellis, D. (2011). Becoming a Master Student (13th ed. ). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection Personal Responsibility There are different aspects involved in personal responsibility. These aspects need to work in harmony in order to have a successful outcome in achieving your goals. They include being accountable, setting priorities and being in control of your domestic obligations. Applying personal responsibility is a vital component of educational success and with that success, a chance for personal growth and increased economic stability occurs. Personal responsibility correlates with college success as it connects to every aspect of life, academic or otherwise.When a student is personally responsible, they demonstrate the ability to manage their time, and to e accountable to their professors, their peers, and most importantly, to themselves. Accountability As humans, we are accountable for all our actions. In terms of college success, being an honest student and having integrity support this. It is a student's moral obligation to uphold to your professors and your peers. The college campus and classroom, as well as all other academic areas, are communities where students not only learn independently and from an instructor, but from each other.In this way, as members of this community, we share with one another. The idea of accountability does not stop at our peers and professors. As students, we make ourselves accountable and responsible for being the best possible version of ourselves. In his commencement speech at Morehouse College, President Obama stated that, â€Å"the spirit of excellence, hard work, and dedication and no excuses,† (Obama, 2013) are requirements for success. This quote perfectly summarizes one of the major tenets of my definition of personal responsibility: living up to the best version of yourself.Proportioning As a student, you have a personal responsibility to complete your assignments, papers and exams. In order to be successful with this, you need to be able to strike a throng balance with how you manage your study time. Everyone has diff erent learning styles, and it would be beneficial to explore your strengths and weaknesses and seek help when needed, e. G. , by Joining study groups or academic workshops to prepare for upcoming exams. Being disciplined, diligent and honest with your approach to your education is your formula for academic success.Being accountable means that you will have to prioritize certain activities over others. Proportioning means deciding which tasks deserve and require most of your energy and attention at a given moment. To master this skill would be a great advantage to anyone, as it aids in time management and helps you achieve your long-term goals. Even the most organized people sometimes risk running out of time before their most important tasks has been completed. In his guide to becoming a successful student, physics Professor Richard Silverman at Western Kennedy University states, â€Å"[successful students] are good time managers.They know that time control is life control and have consciously chosen to be in control of their life. † (Silverman, n. D. Peg. L) According to Proportioning Techniques Save Your Time and Energy (2007), who gives helpful advice on proportioning with the 80/20- rule. It states, â€Å"One key reason proportioning works and works well is the 80/20 rule. The States 80 percent of our typical activities contribute less than 20 percent to the value of our work. Therefore, if you do only the most important 20 percent of your tasks you still get most of the value.Then, if you focus most of your efforts on those top value activities, you achieve much more than before, or you will have more time to spend with your family. † This quote illustrates how proportioning and accountability go hand and hand. Because of organizing time according to the order of importance, your family and friends will now that you prioritize your schoolwork above everything else; they will trust you and know that you are a responsible individual. Control a nd Management of domestic obligations: Paying bills on time and managing your finances is equally as important as managing time.Running a home is a lot like running a business, as the same principles apply. With everything in life, you still need personal gratification and enjoyment in doing it. Many college students of today go to school while taking care of a family. Both of these things might seem like it is impossible to do, but proper management might ease stress, and allow you more time to yourself. This in turn will make you feel accomplished and motivate you to continue to balance out the two areas of your life.In the article Paying for College: A Lifetime Proposition they wrote, â€Å"College is, in fact, a long-term investment returning financial and personal benefits that extend over a lifetime, but our society is ill-prepared, either psychologically or institutionally, to think of paying for college in lifetime terms † (McPherson & Skinner, 1986,Para. 29-36). It s uggests that the realization and understanding that applying arsenal responsibility to protect the investment you make with your education is vital.One way to prepare is to research all resources available whether it is scholarships, federal and state grants or student loans. However, if you intend to apply for a student loan, let it be the last option you choose because after completing your education, you will still have that financial burden and debt to repay. Despite how expensive it can be to pay for school, the results can be very rewarding. The knowledge and experience you receive will be priceless. Coming up with ways to implement these tactics is easier said than done, but here are many resources open to all kinds of students today.If you are having trouble with a class, it will be advisable to ask your instructor for additional help during office hours, or ask fellow classmates to arrange a study group. If it is available to you, tutoring assistance could also be a huge he lp. Avoiding procrastination is a goal for most students, but many fail to fall into its traps. One solution would be to, disable all electronic devices that can potentially distract you from your work, or you can download an extension that can temporarily limit your access to non-academic websites.In conclusion, although the balance between personal responsibility and educational success is established, taking personal responsibility can have a positive impact on college success for two main reasons. Demonstrating personal responsibility will have positive outcomes on how you manage your time as a student. Because you know that as a student you are accountable to your school community, you will take your work more seriously. By learning how to balance your schoolwork crosses over to the other areas of your life, and teaches you how to be expansible in terms of those areas as well. Personal Responsibility Personal Responsibility Essay GEN/200 Month Date, Year Professor Week 5: Personal Responsibility Essay: Final Draft To achieve academic success, students must practice personal responsibility through effective time management and communication. Personal responsibility also can be referred to as Accountability that is defined by Merriam-Webster as â€Å"the quality or state of being accountable; an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions. † http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/accountability.In my own words, being responsible is the same as being honest with oneself and possessing the honor and integrity to own up to all your decisions and accepting each consequence if one decides whether or not to follow through. Eleanor Roosevelt was quoted for saying; â€Å"In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. â € Ã‚   http://www. goodreads. com/quotes/tag/personal-responsibility. I agree with Eleanor Roosevelt because I control my own destiny.It is up to me to know the difference between right and wrong and make a wise decision. I know that any decisions I make will come with results. Results that I must maintain a focus mind on no matter what the consequences may be as well as understanding how it could affect the ones around me. A preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in my education would be time management. I want to concentrate on this area because as a student and in education I need to be able to have a better regiment as far as time management goes.Steinbrook (2006) stated: â€Å"The concept of personal responsibility in health care is that if we follow healthy lifestyles (exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking) and are good patients (keeping our appointments, heeding our physicians’ advice, and using a hospital emergency department only for emergencies), we will be rewarded by feeling better and spending less money. † This article is relevant because it demonstrates how individual behavior incorporating time management with appointments, work outs, specific lifestyles and eating habits can lead to positive results.To stay successful with deadlines and managing time I currently have implemented a to do list by my bed side each night, syllabus with different color highlighters as well as 2 different calendars which could be updated from any of my personal handheld devices. Personal responsibility is essential for clear communication. Most of us unfortunately live our lives in a place of insecurity. If we are not willing to take responsibility for our own insecurities then our communications are not true nor clear. In doing so, we are basically teaching other people to respond to us in an unclear way.Mathias  Dewatripont and Jean  Tirole (2005) stated: â€Å"Finally, in the realm of supervisory decision ma king, a similar observation is that personal responsibility enhances the receiver’s cognitive work. † This article is relevant because it demonstrates the different characteristics communication has pertaining to the sender and the receiver. Keeping in mind that this communication transfer is based on information gathered without the knowledge of knowing if it is true or not. Therefore, I need to focus on proactive listening and taking in all I hear without bias.With taking responsibility for the quality of my thinking I can then put myself in a position of being open, honest and without fear to everyone around me. I know that in implementing this secondary plan I will have created positive new behaviors to my daily life routine to ensure success in my education. In conclusion, although life can sometimes present itself with many different obstacles making it difficult to maintain and achieve set deadlines, personal responsibility is vital in order to maintain college s uccess for two main reasons.First, it teaches you communication and being on time. But most importantly, it shows dedication and determination while being responsible for one’s own actions and behaviors. References: Steinbrook, R. (2006, August). Imposing Personal Responsibility for Health. The New England Journal of Medicine, 355(8), 753-6 doi:10. 1056/NEJMp068141 Dewattripont, M. , and Triole, J. (2005,December). Modes of Communication. The Journal of Political Economy, 113(6), 1217 – 1238. doi:10. 1086/497999 Personal Responsibility Personal Responsibility Essay GEN/200 Month Date, Year Professor Week 5: Personal Responsibility Essay: Final Draft To achieve academic success, students must practice personal responsibility through effective time management and communication. Personal responsibility also can be referred to as Accountability that is defined by Merriam-Webster as â€Å"the quality or state of being accountable; an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions. † http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/accountability.In my own words, being responsible is the same as being honest with oneself and possessing the honor and integrity to own up to all your decisions and accepting each consequence if one decides whether or not to follow through. Eleanor Roosevelt was quoted for saying; â€Å"In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. â € Ã‚   http://www. goodreads. com/quotes/tag/personal-responsibility. I agree with Eleanor Roosevelt because I control my own destiny.It is up to me to know the difference between right and wrong and make a wise decision. I know that any decisions I make will come with results. Results that I must maintain a focus mind on no matter what the consequences may be as well as understanding how it could affect the ones around me. A preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in my education would be time management. I want to concentrate on this area because as a student and in education I need to be able to have a better regiment as far as time management goes.Steinbrook (2006) stated: â€Å"The concept of personal responsibility in health care is that if we follow healthy lifestyles (exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking) and are good patients (keeping our appointments, heeding our physicians’ advice, and using a hospital emergency department only for emergencies), we will be rewarded by feeling better and spending less money. † This article is relevant because it demonstrates how individual behavior incorporating time management with appointments, work outs, specific lifestyles and eating habits can lead to positive results.To stay successful with deadlines and managing time I currently have implemented a to do list by my bed side each night, syllabus with different color highlighters as well as 2 different calendars which could be updated from any of my personal handheld devices. Personal responsibility is essential for clear communication. Most of us unfortunately live our lives in a place of insecurity. If we are not willing to take responsibility for our own insecurities then our communications are not true nor clear. In doing so, we are basically teaching other people to respond to us in an unclear way.Mathias  Dewatripont and Jean  Tirole (2005) stated: â€Å"Finally, in the realm of supervisory decision ma king, a similar observation is that personal responsibility enhances the receiver’s cognitive work. † This article is relevant because it demonstrates the different characteristics communication has pertaining to the sender and the receiver. Keeping in mind that this communication transfer is based on information gathered without the knowledge of knowing if it is true or not. Therefore, I need to focus on proactive listening and taking in all I hear without bias.With taking responsibility for the quality of my thinking I can then put myself in a position of being open, honest and without fear to everyone around me. I know that in implementing this secondary plan I will have created positive new behaviors to my daily life routine to ensure success in my education. In conclusion, although life can sometimes present itself with many different obstacles making it difficult to maintain and achieve set deadlines, personal responsibility is vital in order to maintain college s uccess for two main reasons.First, it teaches you communication and being on time. But most importantly, it shows dedication and determination while being responsible for one’s own actions and behaviors. References: Steinbrook, R. (2006, August). Imposing Personal Responsibility for Health. The New England Journal of Medicine, 355(8), 753-6 doi:10. 1056/NEJMp068141 Dewattripont, M. , and Triole, J. (2005,December). Modes of Communication. The Journal of Political Economy, 113(6), 1217 – 1238. doi:10. 1086/497999