Onboard Note

Based on findings of prior research, the author, Bronfenbrenner proposes that methods for natural observation research have been applied in a manner that fails to consider the changing environments that affect human behavior. Observation in one natural setting is not enough to fully understand human behavior. The examples the author offers relate to observation studies of child behavior and development. Bronfenbrenner suggests that researchers cannot fully understand child development within the context of a single setting, with a single set of adults. The child may behave one way at home with both parents but display different behavior and react differently to each of his/her parents in a setting outside the home, such as at school, at a medical appointment, or in another setting outside the home. The author suggests that age, socioeconomic status, and other demographics may influence how the child responds to the father and to the mother. Bronfenbrenner gives an example of a child fr...

William Shakespeare is widely regarded to be one of the best authors of English literature in history. His works have been translated into numerous languages and his plays are still being performed on stages today. The study of Shakespeare's work is relevant in today's society not only for its influence on modern language, theatre, and literature, but also because his plays contained themes which still ring true today. Shakespeare is credited with introducing more than 1,700 words to the English language, many of which are creative uses of previously established verbs or nouns. In doing so, he is perhaps the most influential single individual when it comes to English vocabulary. In addition, the body of work he created has influenced countless later plays, films, and novels. Famous musicals like West Side Story and films like The Lion King are adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. To study Shakespeare is to study the direction and development of the English language from the ...

Henrik Ibsen wrote A Doll's House in 1879, and it was a contemporary drama at that time. All three acts of the play take place with the same set, which is the living area of the Helmer home. The home is situated in an unspecified village in Norway. The room is decorated tastefully but not ostentatiously, consistent with the middle-class lifestyle of the Helmer family. As act 1 opens, it is Christmas week. Nora has been Christmas shopping, and a porter brings the Christmas tree into the home. Act 2 occurs on Christmas Day in the same home. The confined setting of the play reinforces the theme of Nora's restricted lifestyle. She feels as if she is her husband's doll, and she realizes that her children have been her dolls. The setting, then, is the "dollhouse," which is a better translation for Americans of Ibsen's title than the British English equivalent "doll's house." Nora's slamming the door of her house when she walks out on her husband at...

The biblical allusions that O. Henry employs in "The Ransom of Red Chief" do reinforce the overall irony of the story's plot—a child getting the better of his kidnappers—but also feature delightful irony in their own right. Comparing Red Chief's flinging the stone at Bill to the story of David and Goliath is ironic because by this time in the story, readers likely already feel sorry for Bill and dislike Red Chief. It's the most natural thing in the world for people to take the side of the underdog (the David against the Goliath), yet readers know Red Chief is no hero. He has already pitched rocks at a kitten, after all. As a result, we're tempted to take Goliath's side. When Bill asks Sam if he knows who his favorite Bible character is, it's ironic on a couple of levels. First, we don't expect an outlaw to have a favorite Bible character. Even Sam thinks the question is a result of Bill's being temporarily knocked senseless. Second, though, Bil...

You need to find the absolute value of the complex number, using the formula |z| = sqrt(a^2+b^2) , hence, you need to determine a and b. a = 4, b = -6. Replacing 4 for a and -6 for b in formula of absolute value, yields: |z| = sqrt(4^2+(-6)^2) |z| = sqrt(16+36) |z| = sqrt52 => |z| = 2 sqrt 13 Hence, the distance of the complex number z = 4 - 6i from the origin is given by the aboslute value |z| = 2 sqrt 13 . The complex number z = 4 - 6i is displayed as the point (4,-6) in a coordinate plane, or as a vector from the origin to the point (4,-6).

Kino's canoe is the tool he uses to provide for his family and is an essential part of his life. Kino's canoe enables him to catch fish and carries him to deeper waters, where he dives for pearls. Steinbeck writes that Kino's canoe was the "one thing of value he owned in the world" and was passed down through generations in his family. Symbolically, the canoe represents Kino's heritage, culture, and family. Kino's life and future are intricately linked to his canoe. After Kino finds the Pearl of the World, he plans on traveling across the sea to the capital in his canoe, where he can sell the pearl for a high price. Kino then kills a man in self-defense and plans on using the canoe to escape from the village and flee the authorities. Unfortunately, Kino discovers that there is a gaping hole in the bottom of his canoe. Steinbeck writes, "This was an evil beyond thinking. The killing of a man was not so evil as the killing of a boat. For a boat does not...

Product placement in movies and TV shows involves more than just invoking a feeling of familiarity. It also involves targeting a specific demographic or age group, particularly those who tend to skip ads, to make them become more emotionally connected to a product and develop an association with it.  Research shows consumers remember product placement and that it has conscious and unconscious effects. For example, people tend to recall the product to a greater extent when they see it placed within a show or movie, which is a conscious effect. They also tend to exhibit a higher intention to purchase a product after seeing it placed within entertainment, which is a subconscious effect of product placement. Research suggests effective product placement can also lead the audience to reject that product's competitors, which also operates on a subconscious level. The less disruptive the placement is to the content, the more effective it is shown to be.  Which product placement you choose...

There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that Fortunato's murder was premeditated.  In the first line of the story, the narrator and murderer, Montresor, says that when Fortunato insulted him, "[he] vowed revenge."  This certainly suggests that Montresor conceived of and planned the murder in advance.  He also says, It must be understood, that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will.  I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile was at the thought of his immolation. Here, Montresor claims that he has continued to pretend he is friends with Fortunato, never revealing that he is, all the while, planning the man's total destruction.   Furthermore, Montresor has with him a "mask of black silk, and . . . a roquelaire," or long cloak, with which he can hide his identity from anyone who might see him with Fortunato.  In addition, Montresor told his servants that he would be gone all ...

The Battle of Midway occurred between June 4th and June 7th, 1942, six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This battle served as a decisive victory for the United States in which Japan became weaker and weaker in military strength until the end of Japan's participation in World War II. During this naval battle, the US used aircrafts to viciously bomb Japanese naval ships. After this decisive battle, the US continued to out-produce Japan in terms of weapons production and continued to show more and more military strength. The battle was such a turning point because until that point, Japan had an upper hand within the Pacific Theatre and were aiming to use a victory during the Battle of Midway to secure their dominance in the Pacific Theatre. However, when Japan lost this battle, they lost their dominance in the Pacific Theatre permanently. When the US won this battle, they were able to establish a submarine base at Midway and further extend military operations. The Battle of Mi...

Act 1, Scene 1 is the first time we see Antonio and Bassanio interact, and in this scene we also see several literary devices that show us they are very good friends.   Antonio's first words are to ask, Well, tell me now what lady is the same / To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, / That to-day you promised to tell me of. From this we see that Antonio and Bassanio trust one another with their secrets, and that Antonio really cares to hear the latest news about his friend's life.   Bassanio does not immediately tell Antonio about the lady, because he has a large favor to ask of Antonio, and he wants to make sure that he is free to ask it.  Antonio assures him: ... be assured / My purse, my person, my extremest means / Lie all unlocked to your occasions. This is the literary device of foreshadowing.  "My person" means "my body."  Although Antonio could not possibly imagine it at this point in the play, his "person" will almost be "unlocked...

Leopold Kaplan was, in fact, once General Leopold Kaplan. He is a retired army general and is completely unknown to the protagonist of the story, John Anderton. Leopold Kaplan is a skeptic as regards the efficacy of the Precrime Unit, which John Anderton founded and now heads. The Precrime Unit exists to try and stop crimes from happening before they have actually taken place, using information sourced from human beings—now treated almost as animals—who are blessed with the gift of precognition. Kaplan is actually working to bring down Precrime with the help of a new army that he heads; his supposed retirement is really a front for his true intentions. Upon discovering this, Anderton kills Kaplan, whom he was originally sent out to protect from a murder. According to the text, Leopold Kaplan is retired from the Army of the Federated Westbloc Alliance, of which he was once the general. He hates the idea of the Precrime, an organization that uses people with the gift of precognition to p...

There are various ways that Golding establishes a dichotomy between civilization and savagery since, indeed, that is one of the novel’s major themes. That theme becomes apparent from the very outset, as chapter one immediately describes how the boys are stranded on the island. To clearly identify this theme, we must examine the specific language Golding uses to describe the behavior of Ralph and Piggy as they become aware of their circumstances. In the novel’s opening lines, Golding places special emphasis on clothing and dress to establish the difference between proper and improper behavior. Ralph has “taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand, his grey shirt stuck to him and his hair was plastered to his forehead.” Ralph has removed his school uniform, effectively casting off the proper dress of a student, so that it “trailed” behind him. Thus, school -- with all its rules and boundaries -- is now in his past, a part of a civilized society that Ralph discards so t...

Let's look at a concrete example here. Imagine that Mary, a sixteen-year-old girl from a relatively poor family, became pregnant after having a relationship with 17-year-old Bob. Let's think about how social policy could affect whether these two young people and their child would prosper or be trapped in a cycle of poverty. The first interdependency we should consider is the relationship between the two young parents. If they are encouraged to stay together and have access to shared social housing, they will do a better job of raising the child. If both young people can find jobs in their neighborhoods, they are more likely to stay together and provide a secure environment for their child. If the state creates special classes for pregnant teenagers in which they can bond with others in the same situation, they can provide mutual support and babysitting.  On the other hand, if there are no jobs in the neighborhood and no support structures for the young parents, both may drop ou...

Both men are profoundly at odds with their respective societies, albeit for different reasons. Although Creon is king of Thebes and his word is law, he cannot overcome Antigone's stubborn defiance. In his role as king, Creon is supposed to protect his society from all manner of threats—both internal and external. To that end, he believes himself to be doing the right thing in refusing to allow Polynices's body to be buried. Polynices was a threat to Thebes; he wanted to take over the city and was planning to desecrate the temples. However, in due course, Creon's stubbornness puts the safety and security of Theban society in serious jeopardy. By willfully ignoring the prophesies of Tiresias and the entreaties of his son, he risks not just his throne, but also the very integrity of his kingdom. Hamlet's alienation from society stems largely from his wicked uncle's usurpation of the throne. The state of Denmark is so rotten, so contaminated by moral corruption, that it...

Suppose that a telescope has $200$-in mirror that is constructed in a parabolic shape that collects light from the stars and focuses it at the prime focus, that is, the focus of the parabola. The mirror is $3.79$-in deep at its center. Determine the distance from the vertex to the focus. If we let the vertex of the parabola lies on the origin and halfway between $200$-in. Then its equation is $x^2 = 4py$ where the focus is located at $(0, p)$ and endpoints at $(100, 3.79)$ and $(-100, 3.79)$. Hence, the endpoints are the solution of the equation, so.. $ \begin{equation} \begin{aligned} x^2 =& 4py \\ \\ (100)^2 =& 4p(3.79) \\ \\ p =& 659.6306 \text{-in} \end{aligned} \end{equation} $ It shows that the distance from the vertex to the focus is approximately $660$ inches.

I will start with the independent variable. The independent variable in an experiment is the variable the experimenter has control over. For example, if you are testing the effect of amounts of water on plant growth, the independent variable is the amount of water since that is was the experimenter is controlling. In the experiment you are referring to, the independent variable is the presence of the loud cymbal noises, since this is what the experimenter is controlling. Another way to think about the independent variable is to think about what is different between the experimental and control group. In this experiment, the only thing that was different was the presence of the loud noises, making that the independent variable. The dependent variable in an experiment is the variable that is being measured and cannot be controlled. In the plant example, the amount of plant growth is being measured and cannot be controlled by the experimenter. In the experiment above, the dependent variab...

Ah, the "fate-vs-free will" question. High school English teachers usually get this wrong. Oedipus absolutely has free will. In Greek myth, prophecies exist to come true.This fact does not, however, preclude Oedipus’ own agency in his (and others’) ruin. Apollo (the god of prophecy) knows what will happen; he does not make them happen. Ah, comes the objection, but without Apollo's prophecy Oedipus would have lived footloose and fancy-free in Corinth for the rest of his life. But the Delphic Oracle wasn’t a door-to-door enterprise. Oedipus went to them. Some random drunk questioned his parentage. Now, Polybus and Merope could have done a lot of people a big favor by leveling with their adoptive son, but they were more interested in protecting the line of succession at Corinth. They tell Oedipus to let it go, but he just has to know the truth — his very name is suggestive of knowledge. (Gr. oida = “I know”.) Oedipus tells Jocasta that the Oracle did not answer his question,...

When Pi begins being teased about his full name, Piscine, and mockingly nicknamed "Pissing Patel," he decides to take matters into his own hands. When he begins as a student at a new school, he claims a new identity for himself: I got up from my desk and hurried to the blackboard. Before the teacher could say a word, I picked up a piece of chalk and said as I wrote: My name is Piscine Molitor Patel, known to all as—I double underlined the first two letters of my given name—Pi Patel. For good measure I added Pi =3.14 and I drew a large circle, which I then sliced in two with a diameter, to evoke that basic lesson of geometry. With his new name established, Pi thinks, "I was saved. I could breathe. A new beginning . . . [S]o, in that Greek letter that looks like a shack with a corrugated tin roof, in that elusive, irrational number with which scientists try to understand the universe, I found refuge." The number "pi" represents the ratio of a circle's ci...

According to Robert M. Lombardo, author of Organized Crime in Chicago: Beyond the Mafia, the study of crime in Chicago has long been plagued with controversies. While the media and public focused intense attention on notorious organized crime figures such as Al Capone, very few sociologists studied organized crime in a scholarly way. One of the few was John Landesco, who published Organized Crime in Chicago in 1929 (this book was reprinted in 1968). Landesco differed from most sociologists in the Chicago School of Sociology by laying blame for organized crime on the business community and the government of Chicago, and he advocated a reform of the social structure of Chicago, including services to integrate Sicilian immigrants into society, and the reform of the police department. He believed that the business, government, and social stratification of Chicago gave rise to organized crime, not immigrants themselves.  Another debate among historians and sociologists is how to even classi...

Determine whether the equation $3x + 7y = 21$ defines $y$ as a function of $x$. Solving for $y$ in terms of $x$ gives $ \begin{equation} \begin{aligned} 3x + 7y =& 21 && \text{Subtract } 3x \\ \\ 7y =& 21 - 3x && \text{Divide both sides by } 7 \\ \\ y =& \frac{21 - 3x}{7} && \text{Simplify} \\ \\ y =& 3 - \frac{3}{7} x && \text{Answer} \end{aligned} \end{equation} $ The last equation is a rule that gives one value of $y$ for each value of $x$, so it defines $y$ as a function of $x$. We can write the function as $\displaystyle f(x) = 3 - \frac{3}{7} x$