Paraphrasing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Paraphrasing - Essay Example Moreover, this lab experiment made it possible to design and create center-tapped transformer and full-wave bridge rectifier circuit and examine their waveforms as well as give explanation for them. It was not easy to realize how to get the waveform of the second circuit, however the task was implemented. In general, this lab experience was done effectively for both circuit designs. This lab experiment goal was achieved, and it became possible to determine the maximum safe operation current for the zener diode. It also became possible to find out how to chose the source voltage and the resistances for the zener circuit. Additionally, it became easier to get to know and examine how the zener diode is working. In general, this lab experience was done effectively for both circuit designs. This lab experiment goal was achieved, and it became possible to determine the maximum safe operation current for the zener diode. It also became possible to find out how to chose the source voltage and the resistances for the zener circuit. Additionally, it became easier to get to know and examine how the zener diode is working. In general, this lab experience was done effectively for both circuit designs. This lab experiment goal was achieved, and it became possible to determine the needed results of the three parts of this experiment. Also it has to observe the behavior of the circuit when there are set and changeable voltage regulators. Overall, this lab experience was done effectively for this lab circuit design. 2. NPN: The meter reading is high when placing the negative lead to the base terminal and the positive lead to either of other two terminals. Also, in the NPN transistor, by placing the positive lead to the base terminal and the negative lead to either of the other two terminals. PNP: The meter reading is low when we put the negative lead to the base terminal and the positive lead to either of other two terminals. Also, in the PNP transistor, by placing the

Administrative Theory Essay Example for Free

Administrative Theory Essay The issue about the ability of public servants to serve the best interest of the public through a solid public governance and administration system has always been an important point in related debates and discussions. In this paper, the focus will be on the role of the Administrative Theory, its related perspectives and paradigm, and how disaster response actions act as a mirror reflecting the state of public service, and the significance (or lack of) of the Administrative Theory in today’s world. Disasters, some say, bring out the best in everyone. If this was true, then the worst disasters can be used to gauge public service and the ability and competence of public servants as well as the use and significance of dogmas, structures, policies, beliefs and design of pubic administration in the modern day life. An example of one of the deadliest modern day natural disaster is Hurricane Katrina. See more: The Issues Concerning Identity Theft Essay â€Å"Hurricane Katrina may be the largest natural disaster in dollar terms in U. S. history, with damage exceeding $50 billion (Birkland, 2006, p. 105). † Hurricane Katrina, for its ferocity, strength, and extent of damage is a good case study in the assessment of public service doctrine use and compatibility, as well as the competence and ability of the people working under these public service perspectives to cope and cooperate successfully under a pre-defined dogma. Ideally, the Administrative Theory was designed so that a particular process and protocol is established so that actions of different individuals, serving to be able to accomplish one purpose, are constructive and contributing towards the achievement of a particular goal, in essence making the theory the catalyst of the start of a process that can provide assistance. The Administrative Theory, as an idea, is always expected to influence constructive and positive output from any endeavor (i. e. response to a natural disaster). But in application, the use of the existing paradigm for Administrative Theory is not always assisting the efforts during a natural disaster. Sometimes it also hinders the effective delegation of assistance and response by individuals and agencies during a natural disaster because it is incomplete and not fully suitable for the present design of local and federal governance as it is applied in the United States. The best example to use as a case study to determine Administrative Theory’s characteristic as being unsuitable and incomplete when used in the current system of governance in the United States is the administration problems that happened during the Hurricane Katrina disaster response and management. Following the idea of the Administrative Theory, members of the agencies responsible for responding to the victims of Hurricane Katrina should have effortlessly handled the situation considering that everyone has a task to fulfil. What the Administrative Theory failed to discuss and include in its parameters is the complexity brought about by inter-agency operation present during the Hurricane Katrina disaster management action and similar incidents. Because of the rigors of the Administrative Theory and the limitations that are found in the theory’s nature and essence, how the people acted and reacted with each other during the disaster response was far from being smooth and flawless. In the assessment of the Hurricane Katrina public administration efforts for disaster response and assistance, observers can see that in employing the ideas found in the Administrative Theory (as well as with consideration to other factors too), the situation became more problematic and complicated. â€Å"Then Hurricane Katrina slammed into the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi, virtually destroying New Orleans and many smaller communities along the Gulf Coast. Although arguments continued long afterward about the adequacy of federal, state , and local emergency response, in the minds of many Americans government had failed its most basic responsibility: to help its citizens in a time of dire need and to protect them from further harm (Stivers, 2008, p. 73). † Because of this, it can be considered that the Administrative Theory can be considered as a source of hindrance and not a source of assistance in the effective action during natural disaster response, assistance and management. What are the issues? There is just one important issue that is connected with the assessment of the impact of the Administrative Theory and the disaster management during Hurricane Katrina. This is the assessment of the administrative aspect of the local and federal government, and why many individuals believe that in general such efforts failed. The Hurricane Katrina and how the government (local and federal) responded, cooperated and interacted during the disaster management efforts provided a classic case wherein administrative theories and its use or absence is seen and reflected. The issue focuses on the fact that despite the country’s capability – material and theoretical – to respond well and effectively during disasters like Hurricane Katrina. The effort was considered as a failure, owed largely to the role of the existing public administration approach. The presence of Administrative Theory aspects, in this case, and how this particular disaster management effort brings to light what is lacking in the current public administration theories and models. The realization, all in all, is that the ensuing complexity of local and federal governance makes elusive the perfect formula for effective public administration and governance in different levels, including disaster response and management. â€Å"People who study and practice administration often take the view, perhaps only half-consciously, that if only the right formula for organizing work and assigning responsibility can be found, things will fall into place and everything will run smoothly or, at least, more so than before. Many of the post-Katrina criticisms levelled at governments have centered on failure to coordinate rescue efforts. These charges reflect the continuing belief in the power of the right system. Certainly they mark the belief that there is a right system (Stivers, 2008, p. 73). † Who are the actors? In the assessment of the Hurricane Katrina and the assessment of the Administrative Theory perspective in the effort to provide disaster response, assistance and management in the location of the disaster, it is important to identify the actors (individuals and agencies) who took part in the effort who may or may not be responsible not only for what measure of success there is in the endeavor but also in the failure of the parameters and perspective of the Administrative Theory in this particular scenario. The Administrative Theory talks about roles and responsibilities, but it did not explain how complexities of these things should be addressed during interagency response to natural disasters, something that happened during Hurricane Katrina. â€Å"Interagency relationships lead to well documented problems associated with unclear authority and responsibility. The House committee examining the government response to Hurricane Katrina blames all levels of government, from the White House, to Governor Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana, to Mayor Ray Nagins of New Orleans, for the delayed response to the storm (Callahan, 2006, p. 139). † This is just a ballpark assessment of the list of characters involved who also contributed to the failure of the disaster rescue and assistance action, despite administrative practices and because of the incompetence of such measures in handling real life scenario. Other participants are identified by the National Response Plan (NRP) program of the government, which identifies the federal as well as non federal agencies and organizations which should be involved in the time of disaster management (Hogan, Burnstein, 2007, p. 151). But NRP in itself was considered by some as problematic. â€Å"As Hurricane Katrina plowed ashore, this cumbersome and contradictory schematic of national disaster response was about to be put to a stern test (Cooper, Block, 2007, p. 130). † There are also some other actors who are involved in this interagency action and it included government entities (military, paramedic, search and rescue units, office of the mayor and governor, etc) as well as private (NGOs and private citizens). What leads the various actors to make the choices or take the positions that they do? There are several reasons that could answer the question about the motivation of the actors to act or decide as they did at the height of the Hurricane Katrina. This may include accountability, responsibility, initiative, instinct or even the sense of direction coming from an existing protocol and systematic approach to problems such as this. How each actor weighs each and any of these is another consideration. Some of these maybe personal forces (i. e. instinct, initiative, a sense of ethics and responsibility, personal clarity of mind and sense of direction during crisis, etc), while other possible motivation maybe organization forces. There are also other reasons, like the absence of a possible course of action that directs everyone involved inside a particular course of action for this eventuality. â€Å"The NRP offers no clear guidance on what distinguishes a run-of-the-mill disaster from a catastrophic event. But generally, catastrophic events imperil the national leadership, echo through the national economy and cause national disruptions (Cooper, Block, 2007, p. 130). † What are the organizational forces? Even if there were aspects of the Administrative Theory in use during the effort to provide assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina which can be categorized as organization forces, some of these aspects maybe considered useless as well because these forces (like the push and pull of the initiatives and information of the people working under the system) are not properly acted upon. Take for example, the characteristic of the Administrative Theory about the idea of chain of command and information sharing based on a ladder-type hierarchy. This aspect was in use, pre-Katrina, as well as during and after the Katrina crisis. But critics believe that it was a failure nonetheless because the response of the individuals to the information shared through the chain of command was not properly acted upon. Because of this, there were feelings of dismay and low moral, and some people integral in this chain of command, realizing the breakdown and futility of such design, resigned from their position. â€Å"Matthew Broderick, head of the DHS Operations Directorate and the HSOC, resigned effective March 31, 2006, following the House of Representatives report on Katrina, which singled him out for failing to inform high-level officials of Katrinas devastating impacts William Carwile, a veteran FCO who had been put in charge of the Katrina response for Mississippi and who had struggled to inform the administration that Katrinas impacts were truly catastrophic, resigned his post and left government service shortly after Katrina (Tierney, Bevc, 2007, p. 48). † What are the external forces? While external forces were hardly discussed as source of the failure of the operation to answer the devastation of Katrina immediately and in the long term, there may also be external forces at play in this situation. This may include the presence of political consideration of political leaders that could have affected and influenced the actions that they took during the disaster. Foreign aid and support, as well as foreign pressure, and the threats coming from the outside which may aggravate the situation inside Mississippi and New Orleans, may have also contributed to the turn out of the rescue and assistance efforts.

Study Of Solubility Equilibrium Biology Essay

Study Of Solubility Equilibrium Biology Essay The solubility product constant of potassium hydrogen tartrate in water and it dependence of temperature were investigated in this experiment. The solubility product constant was determined at different temperature through acid-base titration against NaOH. A linear graph was obtained by plotting ln Ksp against 1/T and positive correlation between temperatures and solubility product constant was observed. This study concluded that solubility product constant of potassium hydrogen tartrate is dependent only on temperature. Introduction The aim of this experiment is to investigate the solubility product constant of potassium hydrogen tartrate in water and it dependence on temperature. Solubility is often defined the amount of substance required in obtaining a saturated solution. Therefore, only a small amount of potassium hydrogen tartrate (KHC4H4O6) is needed to produce a saturated solution as it has limited solubility in water. In the saturated solution, the rate of the dissociation of the solid is the same as the rate of the aqueous ions forming the solid compound; the solution is known to be at equilibrium. The equilibrium equation for KHC4H4O6 in the solution can be written as: The constant for the equilibrium equation can be expressed as: Ksp = [K+] [HC4H4O6-]. This constant is also known as the solubility product constant (Ksp) which has a fixed value for a given system at constant temperature. Thus, by finding out the concentration of the ions dissolved, the solubility product constant for KHC4H4O6 can be determined. From the equation above, the dissociation of KHC4H4O6 will produce equal amount of potassium ions (K+) and hydrogen tartrate ions (HC4H4O6-). Thus, by obtaining the concentration of one of the ions, the concentration of the other ion can be derived and the solubility product constant can be calculated. As HC4H4O6- behaves like a weak acid, its concentration can be determined by acid-base titration using NaOH, a strong base as the titrant, with phenolphthalein as the indicator. As NaOH and HC4H4O6- react with each other in 1:1 ratio, the amount of NaOH used in the titration will be equal to the amount of HC4H4O6- present in the solution. While Ksp is fixed at a certain condition, changes in temperature will affect the value of Ksp. According to the vant hoff equation, the value of Ksp is related to the change in Gibbs free energy and can be expressed as: From the equation, the solubility product constant depends on three variables which are the change in enthalpy, the change in entropy and the temperature. The change in entropy and enthalpy with respect to temperature were stated to be insignificant due to the similar heat capacities of the product and reactants. This suggests a linear trend between the remaining variable and Ksp [1]. Therefore, a graph of natural logarithm of Ksp versus the reciprocal of temperature can be plot which the gradient of the graph can be used to calculate the enthalpy change and the y-intercept for the entropy change. Thus, the relationship between Ksp and temperature can be observed. Experimental Procedure Dried KHC8H4O4 (0.5002 g) was prepared in a 250 mL conical flask with the help of an analytical balance. Deionized water (25.0 mL) was added into the flask and a standard solution of KHC8H4O4 was obtained. The prepared solution was then titrated against an unknown concentration of NaOH to the endpoint, with phenolphthalein as the indicator. The volume of NaOH used was recorded. The entire procedure was then repeated with different masses KHC8H4O4 (0.5039 g, 0.5033 g). The concentration of the NaOH was calculated from the volume of NaOH used and tabulated in Table 1. A saturated KHC4H4O6 solution was prepared by adding one gram of KHC8H4O4 into a 250 mL conical flask, containing 100.0 mL of deionized water. The flask was swirled for five minutes and put to rest with occasional swirling for another five minutes at room temperature. At the end of ten minutes, the solution was then filtered and the supernatant was collected in a dry 250 mL conical flask. Concurrently, the temperature of the solution in the filter funnel was recorded. Two portions of 25.0 mL of the filtered solution were then pipetted into two separate 250 mL conical flasks. The two solutions were titrated against the 0.7070M NaOH solution to the endpoint, with phenolphthalein as the indicator. The volume of the NaOH used was recorded. The procedure was then repeated for different temperatures. For temperature above room temperature, a hot water bath was prepared in a one litre beaker on a hotplate stirrer. The saturated KHC4H4O6 solution was prepared in the same way but was placed in a hot water bath with constant stirring, using a stir bar. The solution was put aside with occasional monitoring until a constant temperature was observed. Next, the solution was decanted in small amount into a dry conical flask. The temperature of the solution in the filter funnel was recorded concurrently. Three portions of 25.0 mL of the filtered solution were then pipetted into three separate 250 mL conical flasks. For temperature below room temperature, an ice-water bath was prepared in a one litre beaker. The solution was also prepared in the same way as the previous procedure and was placed into the ice-water bath. The solution was cooled until the solution stabilized at a certain temperature. The solution was then filtered and the temperature of the solution in the filter funnel was recorded. Three portions of 25.0 mL of the filtered solution were then pipetted into three separate 250 mL conical flasks similar to the above room temperature setup. The six solutions were then placed aside for it to return to room temperature and then titrated against the standardized NaOH. The solutions were titrated the same way as the titration done at room temperature. The volume of NaOH used was recorded for the different solutions were recorded. The average volume of NaOH used for the same temperature was then calculated and tabulated in Table 2. Data Treatment and Analysis The calculations of [HC4H4O6-], [K+] and Ksp at 302.15K: [NaOH] = 7.070 x 10-2 mol L-1 Amount of NaOH used = (7.070 x 10-2 mol L-1) (1.2825 x 10-2 L) = 9.067 x 10-4 mol Amount of HC4H4O6- = Amount of NaOH used = 9.067 x 10-4 mol [HC4H4O6-] = [K+] = 9.067 x 10-4 / (0.0250 L) = 3.63 x 10-2 mol L-1 Ksp = [K+] [HC4H4O6-] = (3.63 x 10-2 mol L-1)2 = 1.32 x 10-3 The calculated value of [K+], [HC4H4O6-] and Ksp were tabulated into the table below: Table 2: Determination of Ksp of KHC4H4O6 at different temperature Temperature / K Average Vol. of NaOH used / L Amount of NaOH used / mol [HC4H4O6-] / mol L-1 [K+] / mol L-1 Kspof KHC4H4O6 285.15 7.4750 x 10-3 5.327 x 10-4 2.13 x 10-2 2.13 x 10-2 4.54 x 10-4 294.15 1.0075 x 10-2 7.180 x 10-4 2.87 x 10-2 2.87 x 10-2 8.25 x 10-4 302.15 1.2825 x 10-2 9.067 x 10-4 3.63 x 10-2 3.63 x 10-2 1.32 x 10-3 309.15 1.6375 x 10-2 1.158 x 10-3 4.63 x 10-2 4.63 x 10-2 2.14 x 10-3 320.15 2.2375 x 10-2 1.582 x 10-3 6.33 x 10-2 6.33 x 10-2 4.00 x 10-3 Based on the temperature and Ksp value obtained in Table 1, values of 1/T and ln Ksp were calculated and tabulated in Table 3. A graph was plotted based on the values: Figure 1: Graph of Ksp versus 1/T From Figure 1, the gradient and y-intercept was obtained as shown in Table 4. The enthalpy change and entropy change was calculated based on the vant hoff equation: Gradient = (/ R) = -5692.06 Standard deviation of gradient: Â ± 99.87 = (-5692.06 x 8.314) Â ± (99.87 x 8.314) = (47.32 Â ± 0.83) kJ K-1 mol-1 Y-intercept = (/ R) = 12.25 Â ± 0.33 Standard deviation of Y-intercept = Â ± 0.33 = (12.25 x 8.314) Â ± (0.33 x 8.314) = (101.85 Â ± 2.74) J K-1 mol-1 The standard error of regression was found to be 0.0295. (Number of measurements = 6, Degree of Freedom = 4) Results and Discussion From the data obtained, the calculated values of and were (47.3 Â ± 0.83) kJ K-1 mol-1 and (101.85 Â ± 2.74) J K-1 mol-1 respectively. Ksp of KHC4H4O6 was found to be 1.32 x 10-3 at 302.15K. It was observed that a linear graph was obtained upon plotting ln Ksp against the reciprocal of T. The increase in temperature was also found to correlate with the increase of Ksp values. The literature Ksp value for KHC4H4O6 is 3.8 x 10-4 at 291.15K. [2] The approximated Ksp value that corresponds to 291.15k based on experimental data was calculated to be 6.755 x 10-4 as shown in the Appendices. Linear Relationship between T and Ksp Based on figure 1, a linear model was observed between the reciprocal of T and the natural logarithm of Ksp. This was supported by the R-square value of 0.99 which greatly suggests a linear trend from the experimental data plotted. The standard error of regression obtained from the experiment was found to be 0.0295, which indicates a good fit among the experimental values obtained, corresponding to a good precision of the experimental data. Thus from the linear trend, the claim of insignificant changes of enthalpy and entropy due to temperature changes was valid. Therefore, the assumption that the value of Ksp is dependent only on temperature at which the dissolution occurs can be established. Comparison of Literature values The estimated Ksp value based on experimental data was 6.755 x 10-4 at 291.15K and was found to be 43.75% higher than the literature value (3.8 x 10-4) [2]. The difference could be accounted to the limitation of this experiment. As the experiment was carried out in different temperature, one of the limitations was due to the apparatus used. The volumetric glass pipette used was calibrated at 20 , thus at other temperature, expansion or contraction might occur leading to the inaccurate volume transferred for titration after the filtering process. Another source of error was noted to be the temperature fluctuation during the filtering process. Although the solution were decant in small portions to minimize errors, rapid increase of the temperature for the cold temperature reading was observed. This corresponds to the increase in the ions concentration dissolved in the solution, thus resulting in a higher value of Ksp. Despite the percentage difference of 43.75%, the difference between both values was actually small due to the fact that the Ksp of KHC4H4O6 is a very small value. When the uncertainty of the enthalpy change and entropy change was taken into account, the experimental Ksp value was assumed to be between 3.446 x 10-4 and 1.324 x 10-3(Refer to Appendices). The literature value was noted to be within this range, thus the experimental data do agree with the theoretical value of KHC4H4O6. Change of Enthalpy and Entropy The change of enthalpy from the reaction was found to be (47.3 Â ± 0.83) kJ K-1 mol-1. The positive enthalpy change means that the dissolution of KHC4H4O6 was an endothermic process where heat was absorbed during the process. This was expected as the dissolution breaks up the stronger ionic bonds within KHC4H4O6 and weaker bonds between the water molecules and the ions was formed. These resulted in a positive net change for enthalpy for the reaction, which is consistent with the positive enthalpy change derived from the experimental data. The change of entropy was found to be (101.85 Â ± 2.74) J K-1 mol-1. As entropy was often defined as a measure of disorder, the positive entropy can be explained with the increased disorder brought about when the when KHC4H4O6 dissolved into ions. As the value of enthalpy change was much larger than the entropy change, in order to get a larger value of ln K based on the vant hoff equation, higher temperature was required. This coincide with high temperature favors endothermic process such as dissolution of KHC4H4O6, thus it can be concluded that temperature have a positive correlation with Ksp. Conclusion Ksp have a linear relationship with temperature for KHC4H4O6. The temperature dependent of enthalpy change and entropy change was found to be insignificant for the dissolution of KHC4H4O6. As dissolution is an endothermic process, temperature has a positive correlation with Ksp, thus higher temperature allow more KHC4H4O6 to dissolve. This concluded that solubility product constant of potassium hydrogen tartrate is dependent only on temperature.

Free College Admissions Essays: Strength and Weakness :: College Admissions Essays

Strength and Weakness Everyone has strengths and weaknesses but as a child, it's hard to deal with your weaknesses. It's not until you grow up and realize that you have to use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses. Combining logic with technology can be a useful tool. For me it was the way to overcome my disability. Early on in my education I encountered learning disabilities. These learning disabilities included reading, spelling, grammar, and difficulty in time writing reports. These learning disabilities have frustrated me. I wondered " Why couldn't I do this?" I knew that I had the intelligence, but I just could not finish the assignments. I would then become angry. My anger sometimes led me to break pencils and throw them across my room. The basis of my learning disabilities, I discovered, was in transferring my thoughts and ideas from my head to paper. Reading was also a challenge for me in the early grades. I never had trouble understanding stories themselves; but when I had to answer question s about what I had read, I often had difficulty formulating an answer. Another major issue I had was the slow pace of my work. In elementary school I usually didn't finish my homework until 10 o'clock at night. Other students in my grade were finished by 7 o'clock. Although this was difficult for me to deal with, I did not let it stop me from completing my homework. Originally I felt sorry for myself. I believed that I would never overcome these problems. This led me to complain how unfair it was. Perhaps, I thought, someone did not want me to succeed. Word processing was a huge benefit to me in overcoming my learning disabilities. Before I had a desktop computer I had great difficulty writing reports. This was due to the fact that I had to type up my reports using a typewriter. After every sentence, my mother had to check my spelling. Due to this my progress was at a snail's pace. Also, throughout elementary school, and into the beginning of high school, I had illegible notes. Then , at the beginning of junior year, I purchased a notebook computer. This aided me greatly. I could now actually take notes since I could type far faster than I could write. Free College Admissions Essays: Strength and Weakness :: College Admissions Essays Strength and Weakness Everyone has strengths and weaknesses but as a child, it's hard to deal with your weaknesses. It's not until you grow up and realize that you have to use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses. Combining logic with technology can be a useful tool. For me it was the way to overcome my disability. Early on in my education I encountered learning disabilities. These learning disabilities included reading, spelling, grammar, and difficulty in time writing reports. These learning disabilities have frustrated me. I wondered " Why couldn't I do this?" I knew that I had the intelligence, but I just could not finish the assignments. I would then become angry. My anger sometimes led me to break pencils and throw them across my room. The basis of my learning disabilities, I discovered, was in transferring my thoughts and ideas from my head to paper. Reading was also a challenge for me in the early grades. I never had trouble understanding stories themselves; but when I had to answer question s about what I had read, I often had difficulty formulating an answer. Another major issue I had was the slow pace of my work. In elementary school I usually didn't finish my homework until 10 o'clock at night. Other students in my grade were finished by 7 o'clock. Although this was difficult for me to deal with, I did not let it stop me from completing my homework. Originally I felt sorry for myself. I believed that I would never overcome these problems. This led me to complain how unfair it was. Perhaps, I thought, someone did not want me to succeed. Word processing was a huge benefit to me in overcoming my learning disabilities. Before I had a desktop computer I had great difficulty writing reports. This was due to the fact that I had to type up my reports using a typewriter. After every sentence, my mother had to check my spelling. Due to this my progress was at a snail's pace. Also, throughout elementary school, and into the beginning of high school, I had illegible notes. Then , at the beginning of junior year, I purchased a notebook computer. This aided me greatly. I could now actually take notes since I could type far faster than I could write.

Abnormal Psychology Reflection Essay

The objective of the course was for a better understanding of mental disorders. This course has given me the ability to apply information learned about human experience, and relate it to psychopathology. During the semester I have learned various types of psychological perspectives and diverse treatment plans; and by taking this class I have been given the tools, and skills to think critically about mental disorders. The course of abnormal psychology is a branch that deals with the description, causes, and treatment of abnormal behavior patterns. Abnormal psychology is the thoughts or behavior that cause social, cognitive, emotional, and various other tribulations for an individual. When there is an abnormal behavior pattern disrupting one’s psychological functioning or behavior, it is due to a psychological disorder. I have realized that to be able to distinguish when a person has a psychological disorder, it is vital to be able to determine the definition of the abnormal behavior. The characteristics that classify abnormal behavior are unusualness, social deviance, faulty perception, significant personal distress, maladaptive behavior, and dangerousness, all traits that need attention and diagnosis. Abnormal behavior can bring unhappiness, conflict, or even discomfort in the individual’s everyday life not only impairing one’s lifestyle, but can affect others. However, behavior that is normal in one region may be considered abnormal in another, henceforth I must also be refined in the cultures around the world and of the patient. Each culture approaches mental disorders differently, and have different forms of normality’s, and solutions for one’s behavior. In this class I was taught how American and western cultures approach mental disorders. Throughout the course I learned about different perspectives of psychology and different approaches to treatment. The perspectives that I consider to best explain abnormal behavior is the biopsychosocial model. The biopsychosocial model is an integrative model, which explains abnormal behavior through the interactions of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. The reason why IÂ  believe this model is the most accurate is because it takes into account that there is not just one factor that can cause a mental illness. One of the most interesting ways it approaches disorders is that it comes up with the diathesis-stress model. This model is a way of explaining how people end up suffering from mental disorders, by assuming that mental disorders come from the interaction of two things, genetic and life experience. A person that is genetically susceptible, minimal stress from the environment can trigger a mental illness; in contrast a person can withstand immense environmental stress and withstand mental illnesses. I find this model to be conclusive because it explains how all three factors contribute to different mental disorders. The treatment that I found most efficient and effective for mental disorders is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy treats a maladaptive-learned behavior through applying the behavioral principles of learning. This gives the individual the ability to reconstruct his or her thoughts in a more positive matter. Disorders tend to make a person feel hopeless and maladaptive, but this treatment allows the person to have control of their thoughts and feelings. Mental illnesses can lead to disturbances in a person’s thoughts and may be an emotional experience. Mental illnesses tend to make life difficult because a person may find it hard to sustain relationships, keep a job, or motivate oneself to do daily activities. Without treatment, they can and often do make life intolerable to live. From this class I have a better understanding how mental disorders can affect one’s life and what one can do to change their life. Furthermore, this class has given me a better understanding of the various psychological disorders, and how to diagnosis, as well as treat them. This has guided me so that one day I can help other people, and make their lives enjoyable and fulfilling.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find: the Struggle of Acceptance

John Tucker Dr. Larry Composition II 30 April 2010 The Struggle of Acceptance The short story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† portrays forgiveness and change as a key factors leading to emotional turmoil resulting in the death of the grandmother. Both, forgiveness and change give reasoning for the murder and reasoning to prevent the murder. In both cases Jesus Christ shows His impact on life, peoples beliefs and motives. Death, even though a horrible incident, really gives perspective of how Christ influences the point of views of both the grandmother and The Misfit as points in commitment in Him and living a Christian life come into play.The Misfit spent his whole life believing in something that was, in my opinion as a believer, wrong. It is very hard to follow something your entire life and accept something entirely opposite in the matter of minutes and ask for forgiveness making it entirely difficult for The Misfit to commit toward what the grandmother was trying to pers uade. Living a Christian lifestyle, you must take in consideration that forgiveness takes part in commitment toward Jesus Christ. Commitment is something that you do not rush into, commitment is something that takes time and is something you build.To ask for forgiveness for sin takes courage and the want to turn wrong into right. This point in The Misfit’s life is where the fear of not only commitment but change takes its toll. Changing his perception meant changing his beliefs, and changing his beliefs meant changing his life. The Misfit was not only afraid of change but afraid of the fact that Jesus may have actually arisen from the dead, resulting in his beliefs to be obliterated and his life a terrible mistake. A realization this big forced him to eliminate doubt, in this case the grandmother trying to convince him of being, in her point of view, good.But the grandmother’s words didn’t fade along with her death; O’Conner commented on her own work sayi ng, â€Å"†¦the old lady’s gesture, like the mustard-seed, will grow to be a great crow-filled tree in The Misfit’s heart†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Kennedy, Gioia 253) Without question, In my opinion, along with O’Connor’s, the grandmother’s act of reaching out to another son of God, forgiveness and change prove to show great effect in a person’s life in this story with the result of a drastic measure ending the life of a woman leaving a mark on The Misfit’s heart and beliefs.Not only was the Misfit’s life affected by change, but the grandmother’s life took a drastic turn as well. Supporting my idea, Elisabeth Piedmont-Marton stated â€Å"As the paths of these two characters converge . . . they are both given opportunities for grace. † (Brinkmeyer Jr. , from Kennedy, Gioia 267) Case in point, throughout the story the grandmother was worried about taking the image of a Christian woman other than acting like one. Being s elfish, the grandmother only thought of herself when the location of the trip was being decided.Not only did the dispute between the family and the grandmother represent her selfishness but more importantly her desire to save only herself as the people she loved died around her. The confrontation with the Misfit gave the grandmother’s attitude a turn in the opposite direction resulting in an understanding that her life wasn’t being lived in a Christian manner. This realization led to an attempt to save the Misfit’s life and help him make the right decisions in the future through the acceptance of Jesus Christ, probably the most honorable thing a person could do in their life.The struggle of accepting Christ and following Him with Christian morals really takes part in the story and is the main reason for conflict. Robert H. Brinkmeyer Jr. , a critic on Flannery O’Connor, studied O’Connor’s work and evidentially came to say O’Connor was , â€Å"Trying to bridge this gap between believing author and unbelieving audience†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Piedmont-Marton) I believe O’Connor, â€Å"Trying to bridge this gap†¦Ã¢â‚¬  truly took the struggle of acceptance into consideration judging on her history for writing short stories and their plots.Symbolically, O’Connor uses the grandmother’s words of persuasion to suggest the power that good has over evil and the desperate actions evil will carry out to avoid the fact that it is mistaken. Forgiveness and change is among the last steps of transforming evil, or sin, into what is right. With that being said, evil makes a choice relying on the quality of persuasion, in this case the grandmother portraying the fact that forgiveness and change is still an option. Talk about death being the factor that influences the misfit and the grandmother specifically through Christ.Then emphasize how Christ is the center of the internal conflict. And then broaden the very end by talking about how the story is about death and how each faith impacts decision making and how the story turns out.Bibliography Piedmont-Marton, Elisabeth, for Short Stories for Students, Gale Research, 1997. Kennedy, X. J. and Dana Gioia. Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Boston: 2010. Print Brinkmeyer Jr. , Robert H. â€Å"Flannery O’Connor and Her Readers. † Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. Boston: 2007. Print