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Overview of the Glencoe Massacre

Overview of the Glencoe Massacre Conflict:Â  The Massacre at Glencoe was part of the repercussions of the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Date:Â  The MacDonalds were attacked on the night of February 13, 1692. Pressure Building Following the ascent of Protestant William III and Mary II to the English and Scottish thrones, many clans in the Highlands rose up in support of James II, their recently deposed Catholic king. Known as Jacobites, these Scots fought to return James to the throne but were defeated by Government troops in mid-1690. In the wake of James defeat at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland, the former king withdrew to France to begin his exile. On August 27, 1691, William offered the Jacobite Highland clans a pardon for their role in the uprising provided that their chiefs swore allegiance to him by the end of the year. This oath was to be given to a magistrate and those who failed to appear before the deadline were threatened with harsh repercussions from the new king. Concerned over whether to accept Williams offer, the chiefs wrote to James asking his permission. Delaying over a decision as he still hoped to regain his throne, the former king finally accepted his fate and granted it late that fall. Word of his decision did not reach the Highlands until mid-December due to particularly harsh winter conditions. Upon receiving this message, the chiefs quickly moved to obey Williams command. The Oath Alastair MacIain, the chief of the MacDonalds of Glencoe, set out on December 31, 1691, for Fort William where he intended to give his oath. Arriving, he presented himself to Colonel John Hill, the governor, and stated his intentions to comply with the kings wishes. A soldier, Hill stated that he was not permitted to accept the oath and told him to see Sir Colin Campbell, the sheriff of Argyle, at Inveraray. Before the MacIain departed, Hill gave him a letter of protection and a letter explaining to Campbell that MacIain had arrived before the deadline. Riding south for three days, MacIain reached Inveraray, where he was forced to wait three more days to see Campbell. On January 6, Campbell, after some prodding, finally accepted MacIains oath. Departing, MacIain believed that he had fully complied with the kings wishes. Campbell forwarded MacIains oath and the letter from Hill to his superiors in Edinburgh. Here they were examined and a decision was made not to accept MacIains oath without a special warrant from the king. The paperwork was not, however, sent on and a plot was hatched to eliminate the MacDonalds of Glencoe. The Plot Apparently led by Secretary of State John Dalrymple, who had a hatred of the Highlanders, the plot sought to eliminate a troublesome clan while making an example for the others to see. Working with Sir Thomas Livingstone, the military commander in Scotland, Dalrymple secured the kings blessing for taking measures against those who had not given the oath in time. In late January, two companies (120 men) of the Earl of Argyles Regiment of Foot were sent to Glencoe and billeted with the MacDonalds. These men were specifically chosen as their captain, Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, had seen his land plundered by the Glengarry and Glencoe MacDonalds after the 1689 Battle of Dunkeld. Arriving in Glencoe, Campbell and his men were warmly greeted by MacIain and his clan. It appears that Campbell was unaware of his actual mission at this point, and he and men graciously accepted MacIains hospitality. After peacefully coexisting for two weeks, Campbell received new orders on February 12, 1692, following the arrival of Captain Thomas Drummond. That No Man Escape Signed by Major Robert Duncanson, the orders stated, You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and put all to the sword under seventy. You are to have special care that the old fox and his sons do upon no account escape your hands. You are to secure all the avenues that no man escape. Pleased to have an opportunity to exact revenge, Campbell issued orders for his men to attack at 5:00 AM on the 13th. As dawn approached, Campbells men fell upon the MacDonalds in their villages of Invercoe, Inverrigan, and Achacon. MacIain was killed by Lieutenant John Lindsay and Ensign John Lundie, though his wife and sons managed to escape. Through the glen, Campbells men had mixed feelings about their orders with several warning their hosts of the coming attack. Two officers, Lieutenants Francis Farquhar, and Gilbert Kennedy refused to take part and broke their swords in protest. Despite these hesitations, Campbells men killed 38 MacDonalds and put their villages to the torch. Those MacDonalds who survived were forced to flee the glen and an additional 40 died from exposure. Aftermath As news of the massacre spread across Britain, an outcry rose against the king. While sources are unclear as to whether William knew the full extent of the orders he signed, he quickly moved to have the matter investigated. Appointing a commission of inquiry in early 1695, William awaited their findings. Completed June 25, 1695, the commissions report declared that the attack was murder, but exonerated the king stating that his instructions regarding repercussions did not extend to the massacre. The majority of the blame was placed on Dalrymple; however, he was never punished for his role in the affair. In the wake of the report, the Scottish Parliament requested an address to the king to be drawn up calling for the punishment of the conspirators and suggesting compensation to surviving MacDonalds. Neither occurred, though the MacDonalds of Glencoe were permitted to return to their lands where they lived in poverty due to the loss of their property in the attack.

Design Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Design Thinking - Essay Example Design thinking most commonly occurs in the artificial or built environments. It occurs in artefacts. Design thinking differs with the analytical, scientific methods of solving problems. In essence, the analytical, scientific methods start with a thorough definition of the parameters surrounding a problem in the process of creating a solution to that particular problem. On the contrary, design thinking investigates and identifies with both ambiguous and known aspects of the current problem to discover the hidden parameters and open up alternative courses that may lead to the goal. Design thinking is iterative in that; the intermediate solutions can form potential starting points for the alternative paths. Such intermediate solutions could include redefining the initial problem. Design thinking can be contemplated as a process for problem solving. Unlike analytical thinking, design thinking as a process includes the build-up of ideas with no or few limits on the scope of its brainstorming phase (Ingle, 2013). The nature of the brainstorming phase helps to encourage participation and input from a wide variety of sources and reduces the fear associated with failure in the participants in the ideation phase. The goal of the brainstorming phase in design thinking has been likened with the phrase ‘thinking outside the box’. The approach is a significant contribution at the brainstorming stage since it can help in the discovery of hidden ambiguities and elements of the situation and subsequently identify the faulty potential assumptions. There are several versions of design thinking. However, a commonly used version has seven phases. These are definition, research, ideation, prototyping, choosing, implementation and learning. It is within these seven steps that problems are framed, the right questions are asked, ideas created and the selection of the most satisfactory answers done. The seven phases of design thinking are not linearly

Michel Foucault Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Michel Foucault - Research Paper Example What did his work do? It linked philosophy with history by â€Å"encompassing such diverse topics as changing attitudes to insanity in post-Renaissance European society, the development of the prison system within the same society, and the codes of governing sexual practice in class times† (â€Å"Foucault†). Foucault deems it to be vital to outline the methods involved in the utilization of social control in society. Some of his major works include Madness and Civilization, The Order of Things and History of Sexuality (â€Å"Foucault†). Foucault’s multi-volume work entitled History of Sexuality provides an excellent excerpt that portrays Foucault’s vision and ideas. Part One: We â€Å"Other Victorians† is an excellent example of Foucault explaining how self-identity imposed by the dominant social culture affects the individual. Foucault’s exact words are, â€Å"†¦the imperial prude is emblazoned on our restrained, mute, and hypoc ritical sexuality† (Foucault 3). In private, sexuality is an open and cherished part of life. However, in society, it is frowned upon, even considered to be a sin if it is not contained within the boundaries of religion aka; after marriage. Sexual phrases and words have become taboo. Foucault says it used to be that, â€Å"sexual practices had little need of secrecy; words were said without undue reticence, and things were done without too much concealment; one had a tolerant familiarity with the illicit† (Foucault 3). In other words, perhaps sexuality was not a comfortable subject for every one, but when it was brought up in conversation, it was not treated with intense disdain. People tolerated the topic because it is one that is shared by the majority. But according to Foucault, that now has changed. The mention of sexuality in a social setting is socially prohibited. He says it best when he says, â€Å"The conjugal family took custody of it and absorbed it into the serious function of reproduction† (Foucault 3). Not only had the term sexuality become buried into the background, it had taken on a new identity. Foucault challenged the new system. Nothing had physically changed about sexuality including how people identified or used it in the privacy of their own homes. Its social meaning had altered to a state of something done for a ‘higher’ purpose only. There is suddenly no reason to perform the act of intimacy without the intention of making a baby. When sex was brought up in the Victorian period, it was immediately silenced (Foucault 3). Why did this happen? Foucault believed it to stem from the birth of purity. People in the Victorian Age prized the idea of prudency. But prudency, or purity, is considered to be unrelated, and even opposite, of sexuality according to the Puritans of the Victorian period. Sexuality, or sex, is deemed dirty and inappropriate. Especially, in context of desire vs. necessity. What is desire e xactly in terms of sexuality? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, desire is be defined as â€Å"conscious impulse toward something that promises enjoyment or satisfaction in its attainment; sexual urge or appetite.† But what is so wrong about the enjoyment of sex? A prude, who is considered better than others in Victorian society, would not consider sex enjoyable in social conversation. It is a mere act taken between two married people for the sole purpose of producing children. Purity is defined as â€Å"the quality or state of being pure† (â€Å"Purity†). What is most interesting about the word purity is that

Consequences Of An Older Population Research Paper

Consequences Of An Older Population - Research Paper Example Consequences of an Older Population Diverse studies have been undertaken to closely monitor factors that influence living conditions of a population. With vast developments that have been achieved over the past centuries, medical breakthroughs and improved nutrition, concurrent with other innovative products and services have resulted in an increasing percentage of aging population worldwide. The study conducted by the collaborative agencies on aging under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed that most significant increases in the number of people aged 65 and above were identified in developing nations where the percentage increase is projected to reach 140% by the year 2030 (US DHHS, n.d, 2). It has been the natural desire of humans to live a productive and rewarding life for a long time. However, despite the obvious benefits of a long life, there are consequences that should be evaluated in the light of its impact from various perspectives. In this regard, the current study aims to would proffer pertinent issues on the consequences of an older population. ... Medicaid, Medicare, Disability, Welfare and Supplemental Security Income, and The Older Americans Act). Options that could be helpful in relieving this potential burden, in terms of increased taxes, Social Security reform, and reduction in assistance would also be discussed. Finally, from the information gathered from scholarly sources, the paper would propose viable and validated measures to address the significant onus of an aging population. Causes of an Increasing Aging Population The study conducted by Schrier (n.d.) identified a significant cause for the aging population being â€Å"the long-term historical decline in the fertility of the population. In other words, the falling birth rate is responsible for fewer children in the population, and this, in turn, means that the older age groups will form a larger share† (Schrier, n.d, 3). This was supported by the discourse entitled Demographics of an Aging Population provided a clear explanation for the rationale for popula tion age structures in both mortality and fertility transformations, known as demographic transitions (Demographics, n.d). It was reported that the decline in rates of mortality were contributed by improved medical breakthroughs, immunizations, personal hygiene and public focus on health and cleanliness of the environment, that enabled people to survive from various diseases. On the other hand, fertility rates declined due to an interplay of economic and social factors. The need to generate more income for the family led to women joining the work force thereby leaving lesser time for child bearing and rearing, especially in developed countries. Trends in Global Aging The US DHHS (n.d.) have revealed trends in global aging, to wit: (1) â€Å"the overall

Strategies for the Dietary Control of Diabetes

Strategies for the Dietary Control of Diabetes A survey of the recent strategies for the dietary control of diabetes in the Middle East INTRODUCTION Significant changes in the political and socio-economic climates have been the hallmark of the last decade in the many of the countries in the Middle East especially those located in the territories of the Arabian Gulf. These changes have impacted in no small way on the demographics of the affected countries. Notable are the obvious shifts in age distribution and a perceptible increase in healthy life expectancy. Furthermore, there have been alterations in the conventional lifestyles of the people living in these countries perhaps due largely to westernization, rapid urbanization and industrialization (Abdella et al 1995). It is also worth mentioning that disease types, trends and or their prevalence have also changed dramatically. Prominent among these is diabetes. Diabetes – delineation The incidence and prevalence of diabetes have consistently increased in the last 20 years; these changes have paralleled environmental transformation as well as the adjustments to changes above mentioned (Abdella et al 1995; Zimmet et al 1977). The current projection of the World Health Organisation (WHO 2007) indicates that there will be further increases in the prevalence of diabetes in the Middle East. A working committee of the WHO on diabetes defined the disease as ‘a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiology characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both; the effects being long-term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs’ (Alberti and Zimmet 1998). Diabetes is caused by a lack of the hormone insulin, which is produced by the ÃŽ ²-islet cells of the pancreas. Glucose is the primary energy source for all cells and is provided by digest ion of carbohydrates from the diet. Insulin enhances the body cells’ uptake of glucose from blood plasma. Hence, defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or, most commonly, both leads to decreased uptake of glucose by the cells and an increase in blood glucose levels. Sustained increases in blood glucose level will lead to the excretion of glucose in the urine when such increases exceed the renal threshold of the molecule. This in turn leads to the typical symptoms of diabetes: excessive production of urine (polyuria) and extreme thirst (polydipsia). Fatty acids from fat stores are metabolized as an alternative energy source when the body senses a lack of glucose, the result is weight loss and fatigue other common symptoms of diabetes (Maitra and Abbas 2004). The clinical profile of diabetes varies minimally between the countries of the Middle East. In Kuwait for example, because of the marked disparity between individuals in their age of diabetes onset, mode of present ation, and the degree of obesity, the clinical profile of the disease is heterogeneous (Abdella et al 1995). Diabetes mellitus is not a single disease entity, but rather a group of metabolic disorders sharing the common underlying feature of hyperglycemia. Type 1 (early-onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and Type 2 (maturity-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) diabetes are well known types and are characterized by the different metabolic processes of the disease (Alberti and Zimmet, 1998). Type 2 accounts for about 80% of the disease worldwide. The chronic hyperglycemia and attendant metabolic dysregulation may be associated with secondary damage in multiple organ systems, especially the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels (Maitra and Abbas 2004). The Role of Diet in the Management of Diabetes Nutritional therapy is an integral part of the management of diabetes and plays a vital role in helping people with diabetes achieve and maintain optimal blood glucose level (United Kingdom (UK) Prospective Diabetes Study Group (UKPDS), 1990; Delahanty, 1998). The nutritional management of patients is based on evidence-based principles and recommendations for the treatment and prevention of diabetes and related complications (American Diabetes Association, 2002). These recommendations are based on evidence published in the international literature and from consensus and expert opinion as required (Ha and Lean, 1998). The benefit of tight control of both blood glucose and blood pressure in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes has been demonstrated in several well controlled randomized large-scale studies (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group, 1993; UKPDS 1998a,1998b). Generally, the objectives of strategies for the dietary control of diabetes are complementary to the aims of medical treatment. Dyson (2002) reported that these includes but not limited to the following: Maintaining blood glucose within predetermined target range Minimizing the risk of hypoglycaemia for those patients taking insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents Achieving weight loss in the obese patient Reducing the risk of long-term complications of diabetes Maintaining blood pressure and lipid levels within predetermined target ranges Improving and maintaining suitable quality of life. (Dyson 2002) Rationale for the project Contemporary management of diabetes places emphasis on the individual patient’s responsibility for diabetes control of blood sugars and of food consumption. The concept of self-care with regard to a recommended diet is thus considered important in order for patients to maintain normoglycaemia and reduce or prevent diabetes-related complications (Rubin and Peyrot, 1992; Rubin et al, 1997). The diabetic patient is expected to monitor his/her carbohydrate metabolism, energy expenditure and the effects of insulin or recommended medicaments on blood pressure and sugar levels. This inevitably demands a level of understanding about diabetes and of the effect of diet on the progression and or management of the disease. This survey will explore the individual patients’ approach to control or support the pharmacotherapeutic management of his/her diabetes using diet. The study will shed light on diabetic patient’s adherence to guideline dietary recommendations in the Middle East or on novel dietary strategies for the control of the disease. The results of this study is essential to health policies makers in the region and pivotal for governmental strategies to minimize the burden of the diabetic epidemics in the Middle East. Using Kuwait as First Port of Call for the Middle East Diabetes Diet Study (MEDDS) The middle east comprise a large region that covers parts of northern Africa, southwestern Asia, and south eastern Europe consisting of Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The ‘Middle East Diabetes Diet Study’ (MEDDS) will focus on Kuwait in its first phase. Implementation of the study in other countries of the Middle East will stem from its success in Kuwait following appropriate modifications to adapt the study tools to the settings and subjects of these countries. Description of First Target site: Kuwait is a relatively small country, (17, 818 km2 in surface area) and is situated in the North Eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Kuwait shares the north and west borders with Iraq, is bordered on the south by Saudi Arabia and on the east by the Arabian Gulf. Total population of Kuwait in 2005 was 2, 867, 000 and over 88% of these were aged 15 and over; percent Urban population out of total population was 100% during the same period (WHO 2007). The prevalence of diabetes in Kuwait was 104,000 in 2000 and the projection for the year 2030 is 319,000; this will amount to about 44% of the projected total population (WHO 2007). AIM AND OBJECTIVES Aim: The aim of this proposal is to develop a plan for the conduct of a cross-sectional survey of the recent ( Objectives: To purposely select a panel of experienced diabetes practitioners/clinicians to conceive questions assessing patients’ knowledge of their diabetes and the effects of their food types and feeding pattern on glycaemia and blood pressure control (in 11 main domains) To develop and validate a diabetes-diet questionnaire tool for the study To implement the diabetes-diet instrument during a face to face semi-structured interview designed to further explore recent dietary strategies for the control of diabetes To administer a 7-day diet dairy to respondents. Repeat the survey in other countries of the Middle East METHODOLOGY Development of Study Instruments An initial list of 11 patient’s knowledge domains as shown below will be used: Basic knowledge about diabetes Knowledge of patient’s own current management if involving pharmacotherapy Consumption of olives, fruits and vegetables, nuts and cereals in recent times. The intake of legumes in cooked foods in the last 5 years Recent intake of dairy and meat products. Consumption of alcohol/wine in the last 5 years Knowledge of other food types consumed recently Knowledge of feeding pattern in recent times Knowledge of occurrences of diabetes complications and or hospitalisations in the last 5 years Knowledge of the effect of food types and pattern of intake on control of blood pressure in the last 5 years Knowledge of the effect of food types and pattern of intake on the control of blood glucose in the last 5 years Under each domain, important points regarding each topic will be identified. To ensure content validity, a panel of 10 senior practitioners in the area of diabetes management will be identified and asked to participate in diabetes-diet (MEDDS) instrument development phase (Kline 1986; Streiner and Norman 1989). The expert reviewers will include 2 pharmacists involved in care of diabetes patients, 3 diabetes staff nurses, 3 diabetes specialist dietitians and 2 consultants in the area of diabetes. These will be identified based on their records of diabetes patient care experiences and on their knowledge of the factors impacting on the progression of the disease. The diabetes-diet (MEDDS) instrument’s content experts will rate each of the topic domains and indicate the percentage weight of each domain within the entire study tool. Between 6 and 12 multiple-choice questions will be created for each domain, with a focus on information ranked by the experts as most important for the objectives of the study. The multiple-choice question format is chosen because it is easy to administer and it will be easy to psychometrically validate the ensuing instrument (Kline 1986). Each multiple choice question will have 4 possible responses, namely one correct answer and 3 distracters. However, in order to fully capture any emerging theme, respondents will be allowed time to comment freely on the questions and the multiple choices in a semi-structured interview. These will then be transcribed for analysis. Existing questions from previous studies may be harnessed and modified by the panel. The expert panel will also rank the questions within the domain in descending order based on its relative importance to patients’ diabetes diet requirement/knowledge. After the initial item bank is compiled, the expert panel members will be asked to rank the overall quality of each item on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = poor, 5 = excellent) in terms of how well it tested each information point. These rankings will be used to eliminate questions and create a 20-30 item pilot instrument. An item bank will be developed based on this information. Questions will be written at 7th grade reading level as determined by the Flesch/Flesch-Kincaid Readability Tests calculated from Dave Taylor and Intuitive systems (2007). Respondents will also be asked to fill a 7-day diet diary. Inclusion criteria Adult volunteers aged 18-85, living in the study site with not less than 3 years diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Since retinal and vascular problems associated with diabetes mellitus are common, attempts will be made to administer the tools also in carers of blind diabetic patients. Exclusion criteria Anyone diagnosed with a mental illness as it may be difficult to determine the truthfulness of information collected from these patients. Patients who are deaf; this is because a researcher and the interviewee would need to be proficient in sign language for any meaningful interview to take palce Data-collection tools Three data-collection tools will eventually be used; (1) the diabetes diet questionnaire (MEDDS tool), (2) a semi-structured interview using validated questions developed by the experts group and (3) a health diary. The interview and diet questionnaire will be the main data source. The semi-structured interview will last for 20 -30 minutes and will be conducted to further explore dietary trends for the control of diabetes in the last 5 years; this will be done at any location convenient for the respondents. The MEDDS questionnaire will be self or researcher administered during the face-to-face interview. A team of 8 interviewers will be trained by the researchers for 4 days before the start of data collection. The questionnaire will be translated into the local language of the study site. The study tools will be pre-tested for about 1 week in diabetes patients across age and sex variables of the target diabetic cohort as shown by Abdella et al (1995) for diabetic Kuwaiti. Larger scal e administration of the instrument will be for 6 months following the pre-test period. Study population Based on the household registry linked to databases of diabetes organisations in Kuwait, the survey will stratify the area of Kuwait into seven strata according to the degree of urbanization, geographic location, and administrative boundaries. Townships or districts will be selected from each stratum with the selection probability being proportional to its size. Sample selection will involve the use of multi-stage cluster random sampling procedure at the district level to select sub districts and zones from where the study sample could be drawn. In each district, the area will be sub-divided into sub districts from which 3 zones will be selected based on population size. Within the selected zones, households will be randomly numbered, and houses assigned ‘even numbers’ will be selected into the final sample. . Instrument Administration Diabetes patients or their carer (as may be necessary) will be identified for face-to-face semi-structured interview, the administration of the diet questionnaire and the filling of a diet diary in the final sample population. Knowledge of dietary recommendations for the management of their diabetes will be investigated; types of food as well as feeding pattern in the last 5 years will be evaluated for each diabetes type. Answers will also be sought to questions that will provide insight into patients recent general daily energy intake and expenditure; daily amount of carbohydrate and protein in the diet, control of blood pressure and glucose levels in the last 5 years. Respondents will also provide insights into changes in local custom for dietary control of diabetes. Following the interview and administration of the diet questionnaire, each participant will be given a 7-day diet diary to complete after each meal or at the end of each day. It will be explained that the diet diary sh ould contain food types and time of eating and all dietary tactics taken to maintain normal blood glucose level (4–7 mmol/litre). The diet diary will further explore the truthfulness of information provided in the interview/ questionnaire as well as shed light on how the respondents have presented their recent self-care dietary strategies for the control of their diabetes. The Use of Interpreters Linguistic competency is central to cross-cultural studies and problems that may arise due to the researchers not understanding the local language could be overcome by the use of an interpreter (Davies, 1999). It may also be reassuring for the respondents to see someone with whom they share the same culture and language during the interview periods (Freed, 1988). Interpreters will either provide verbatim translation during the face to face interview or conduct the interview independently following adequate training (Baker, 1981). Psychometric Analysis of the Questionnaire for the Dietary Control of Diabetes Ensuring content and construct validity are appropriate methods to develop a knowledge instrument. Questionnaire validity is ideally established by comparing the new instrument being developed with an established recognized standard. There are no such standard for the target patients of this study. Reliability is also a vital attribute of a sound knowledge instrument. The diabetes-diet (MEDDS) instrument will be said to be reliable when scores are consistent over time within a site or as implementation moves from one site/country to another. The variability of the instrument’s results should in this case be due to true differences among the individuals patients that will be enrolled into the study (Streiner and Norman 1989). Content Validity Content validity refers to the extent to which a set of items reflects the intended content domain (De vellis 1991). A systematic approach to identifying important domains and developing specific items based on consultations amongst experienced practitioners in the management of diabetic patients will ensure the content validity of the ‘Middle East Diabetes Diet Survey’ (MEDDS) instrument’. This method follows those employed by Zeolla et al (2006) in determining patients’ knowledge of the management of their disease. Construct Validity Construct validity determines the instrument’s ability to function for its intended purpose (Kline 1986). The ‘contrasted group’ method will be used in this study to determine the construct validity of the MEDDS tool (Kline 1986). Reliability of the Diet Questionnaire A proportion of the diabetic patients recruited into the study will be followed-up after 4 months and urged to complete the diet questionnaire only. The time elapse is considered sufficient to reduce the impact of recall (Streiner and Norman 1989). A correlation coefficient will be calculated between the test scores from each administration. A coefficient of 0.80 or higher is considered acceptable for demonstrating test–retest reliability (Streiner and Norman 1989). Hypothesis for Construct Validity If the MEDDS instrument is a valid tool to assess the recent approaches for the dietary control of diabetes, patients managed for diabetes, should be more knowledgeable and achieve significantly higher scores than those not diagnosed or managed for the disease. To confirm this hypothesis, the response of diabetic patients to the final instrument will be compared with responses of age-matched subjects without diabetes in the same setting. Construct validity would be confirmed if the mean generated score for diabetic subjects were significantly higher than those not diagnosed or managed for diabetes. . Statistical and Data Analysis Statistical analyses will be by SPSS version 14. The results of the pre-test will be excluded from the analysis. Student’s t-test will be used to compare the differences in mean scores of patients managed and not managed for diabetes. Using chi-square (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ £2), demographics characteristics will be compared between patients managed and not managed for diabetes. Pearson’s correlation coefficient will be used for the test–retest reliability analysis. Descriptive statistics will be used to report patient demographics. The interview transcripts and the health diaries will be deliberated upon on more than one occasion to fully understand patients’ self care approach and identify individual patient’s dietary care strategies. Themes emerging from the interview will then be compared with dietary patterns observed in the 7-day diet diary and the diet questionnaire. Following a detailed analysis of the results of all 3 tools, perceptions of respondentsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ conformity to recommended dietary regimen or their general philosophy/strategy of managing diabetes with diet will be reached. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION The study qualitative paradigm protocol will be submitted for review and approval by the local ethics committee for the study region. A covering letter describing the goals of the study will be provided to patients agreeing to participate. The purpose of the study will be very carefully explained to the respondents and their consent will be individually obtained before the study tools are administered. Each participant will also complete a brief demographic questionnaire. In cases of identified illiteracy, the information contained in the form will be read by the study interpreter and informed consent sought. All respondents will assured of anonymity, confidentiality and that they could withdraw from participation in the study at any time. EXPECTED OUTPUT Interventions to prevent diabetes in the Middle East should include culturally appropriate and effective ways to improve the nutritional adequacy of the diet in line with international guidelines for the dietary control of diabetes. The result of the study will indicate the knowledge gaps if any in the study population. Tight glycaemia control associated with certain food types and feeding strategies identified in the study may become basis for its recommendation and use in other parts of the world for the control of the worldwide diabetes epidemic. References Abdella Nabila A., Moustafa M. Khogalib, Amani D. Salman’, Shaker A. Ghuneimi†, Jasbir S. Bajajd (1995) Pattern of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in Kuwait Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 29.1 29-136 Alberti, K.G. Zimmet, P. Z. (1998) Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Part 1:Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus, provisional report of a WHO commission. Diabetic Medicine, 15, 539^553. American Diabetes Association (2002) Evidence-based nutrition principles and recommendations for the treatment and prevention of diabetes and related complications. Diabetes Care 25: S50–S60 Baker N (1981) Social work through an interpreter. Soc Work 26:391–97 Dave Taylor and Intuitive system (2007) [Internet] [Accessed 21st April 2007] http://www.readability.info/ Davies CA (1999) Reflexive Ethnography: A Guide to Researching Selves and Others. Routledge, London Delahanty LM (1998) Clinical significance of medical nutrition therapy in achieving diabetes outcomes and the importance of process. J Am Diet Assoc 98: 28–30 Devellis RF (1991). Scale development: theory and applications. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group (1993) The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on the development and progression of longterm complications in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med 329: 977–86 Dyson Pamela (2002) Nutrition and diabetes control: advice for non-dietitians British Journal of Community Nursing Vol 7, No 8. 414-419 Freed AO (1988) Interviewing through an intrepreter. Soc Work 33(4): 315–97 Ha TKK, Lean MEJ (1998) Recommendations for the nutritional management of patients with diabetes mellitus. Eur J Clin Nutr 52: 467–81 Kline P. (1986) A handbook of test construction: introduction to psychometric design. New York: Methuen Co. Maitra A and Abbas A.K (2004). The endocrine system. In: Robbin’s and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (edited by V. Kumar, A.K. Abbas N. Fausto). Pp. 1189-1207, 7th edn. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders Company. Streiner DL, Norman GR. (1989) Health measurement scales: a practical guide to their development and use. New York: Oxford University Press. UKPDS (1998a) Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes: UKPDS 33. Lancet 352: 837–53 UKPDS (1998b) Tight blood pressure control and risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes: UKPDS 38. BMJ 317: 703–13 UKPDS (1990) Response of fasting plasma glucose to diet therapy in newly presenting type II diabetic patients: UKPDS 7. Metabolism 39: 905–12 WHO (2007) [Internet] Available: http://www.who.int/diabetes/facts/world_figures/en/ Accessed 21st April 2007 Zeolla M. M., Michael R Brodeur, Angela Dominelli, Stuart T Haines, and Nicole D Allie (2006). Development and Validation of an Instrument to Determine Patient Knowledge: The Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge Test Ann Pharmacother 40:633-8. Zimmet, P., Taft, P., Guinea, A., Guthrie, W. and Tchoma, L. (1977) The high prevalence of diabetes mellitus on a central Pacific island. Diabetologia 13, 111-115.

Dickens thought what meant to be a gentleman Essay

I am going to base my coursework on question 14 on what Dickens thought what meant to be a gentleman. I am going to do this because I too found this interest to what it actually means to be a gentleman. Throughout the novel of Great Expectations, Dickens is interested in what it means to be a gentleman. He tries to show us by telling us a story about a young boy Pip in which he grows up trying to become a gentleman, through Joe who is Pip’s brother in law who is a poor but a decent, hardworking man and also Magwitch the convict, who changes through the story but Pip especially changes. Great Expectations was narrated by Pip which he talks about his childhood and he growing up. This is called Bildungstoman. There was only really one reason why Pip wanted to become a gentleman, and that was to impress Estella, the girl he loved ever since he first gazed into her beautiful eyes. I thought that this was a bad choice to do because he tried to become something which he really that he wasn’t was by changing class systems. â€Å"Biddy† [†¦ ], â€Å"I want to be a gentleman†. Even Biddy thought that this was not a good idea and tried to warn him not to. â€Å"Oh, I wouldn’t if I was you†, [†¦ ] â€Å"I don’t think it would answer†. He thinks that by being a gentleman, he can win over Estella’s heart, but he thinks that by becoming a gentleman, he and Estella would be equal. I think this because back in the Victorian Times, class was very important of a person’s status and place in society and still is nowadays but some people now don’t like to think about it and think of each other as equals. Dickens tells us this by when Pip says that he wants to become a gentleman. It’s not really him wanting to become a gentleman; I think Dickens replaces â€Å"need† with â€Å"want†. I say this because Pip needs to become a gentleman to win over Estella’s heart otherwise he can’t. The word â€Å"Expectations† is repeated time to time in the novel. Dickens uses this word because I think it has something to do with Pip becoming a gentleman. I think that the word Expectation means something that someone or something has to live up to or they know what they have to do. It’s like a duty to fulfil. When Pip was young, he was expected to be Joe’s apprentice and work in the Blacksmith all his life but because his desire to win Estella, he wants to become a gentleman so he has new expectations but he is preoccupied of finding Estella. When Pip was a child, he was quite poor and lived with his sister who was married to Joe Gargery who is a blacksmith. His parents had died and so did his other young brother and sisters when they were very young who were beside their tombs aswell. This told me how poor people die earlier in life because they cannot afford medical care and live hygienically. But when he was asked to visit Ms. Havisham, it all changed there. He found out that some people have better lives than him because they are richer. I think this may have influenced him, making him want to be that aswell. These people were high in societies who were educated, so he thought that if he was to become a gentleman, he would be in a high society enabling him to marry Estella. Pip only had 1 sister and lived with her alongside Joe Gargery. His best was Biddy, his childhood friend. We never saw Pip hardly talking to his sister that much but he did talk to her politely and helped along in the house. Maybe this was because her sister always bragged that she raised him and she spent her life on him only making him feel rather guilty. This must of persuaded him to be like this to her. His behaviour didn’t change that much around Mrs Joe Gargery but later on she did die on illness which must of made Pip really upset by this. Pip and Joe got on very well with each other. They would often speak freely with each other. Before, Pip was thrilled to be Joe’s apprentice, but I think Satis House really affected his mind and what and how he spoke to others. â€Å"that I shall never forget you†. Joe really means something to Pip at the beginning. I think the politeness of Joe was a good influence for Pip to have around him. But when he left for London, things changed. Pip receives a letter from Biddy, telling him that Joe is coming to visit him. Pip was not happy by this. â€Å"Let me confess [†¦ ], not with great pleasure†. The word â€Å"confess† feels as if he is hiding his feelings from even himself and feels guilty about this. You can see the changes the class system has made into his mind, making him think bad things. Pip even began to think negative things about a person who he spent most of his life with. â€Å"I knew it was Joe by his clumsy manner of coming up the stairs†. Pip knows that it’s Joe approaching his door but instead of pointing out a normal thing which he would of normally of said before, he has disputably said a negative thing which again I blame the class system. Another thing was that before Pip left, he hugged Joe and left but when they met they only shook hands which even Joe thought he changed a bit proving again the class system changing a person especially a youthful mind. Pip treated Biddy very nicely and talked to her politely. These 2 were best friends since their childhood. We don’t see Biddy and Pip talk until Pip changes a bit and tells her about him wanting to become a gentleman. This was an important part because Biddy realises that Pip is changing and warns him not to go ahead of what he is planning. He takes into his head but then is overpowered by his will of Estella’s love. Pip gets a little angry at her too. â€Å"(I don’t know), I moodily answered†. The word moodily suggests he doesn’t like what she is suggesting to him and gets a little eager at her. â€Å"I am very sorry to see this in you. You are envious [†¦ ], dissatisfied on the account of my rise in fortune and you cant help showing it†. He thinks that she is saying all this because she is jealous of him becoming richer but she is not and just wants the wellness of her dear friend. I think this changed the relationship between these 2 because Pip kept failing on the wrong side of what Biddy actually went. I think that Pip should of atleast been more emotional when he left because I think that he was too over excited in leaving. Too me, he was forgetting what was more important in life than status. The only closest person around Pip who was the perfect and suited role model of a gentleman was dear Joe Gargery. He had the characteristics of what a gentleman would have without status though. I felt sorry for him from time to time because he deserved better but he was happy the way everything was. â€Å"I’m sorry to say, I’ve eaten your pie†. The convict admitted that he ate his pie and Joe replied, â€Å"god knows you’re welcome to it, [†¦], we wouldn’t have you starved to death†. He was so sweet and kind to the convict that he thought of the positive thing which was not to let a human being as himself starve. The word â€Å"welcome† tells me that he is a kind, decent and acts like a gentleman would without boasting. Dickens creates a character like Pip that treats people this way because I think that even Dickens wasn’t sure of what a gentleman was so to go through this change would make him see the audiences response of what they thought a gentleman was. I think this is quite an effective technique using the audience to see how they respond to these changes because it gives him an idea of what a gentleman is so then he can add it to his novel. To me, Joe is a gentleman. The way he acts and the words he says to people is a way a gentleman would speak: politely, caring, sharing, and hard working especially when he wasn’t upset when the convict took his pie but was actually thankful for not letting himself starve which most people in this world would not do. He never really says anything bad to anyone that offends them or makes them upset. A gentleman is a person who stands out and to me; Joe stands out as a character. Dickens portrays Joe to how Pip should be I think. I say this because when Pip becomes a gentleman, Joe was already one to everyone so I think he was setting an example. I think he’s just a good person because he just lives a simple, easy and nice life. It also could be by the fact that he was raised like this by his parents but I don’t know because the novel does not mention his background, just that he is married to Pip’s elder sister.

Dark Were The Tunnels Essay

A Change in Humanity George R. R. Martin’s short story, â€Å"Dark, Dark Were The Tunnels,† is one of the pieces included in John Joseph Adams compilation of apocalyptic short stories titled Wastelands: stories of the apocalypse. This story is not a traditional story of the apocalypse; it is not about humanity’s struggle to survive immediately after an apocalyptic event, in a changed environment. Nor is it a story about how humans are affected emotionally and struggle to live day to day. Instead this is a story about how humanity has already passed its struggle and has adapted to its new world so that people may easily live and build a civilization in their changed environment. Greel, the protagonist for the first half of this story, is a member of a portion of the human population that burrowed underground in order to escape the apocalyptic wasteland of the surface of the earth. There is, however, another group of humans who escaped to a place called Luna in order to survive the apo calypse. When two men from Luna venture in to the tunnels to look for any sign of survivors, they see Greel. The people of Luna are virtually unchanged by the apocalypse. However, the tunnel people have adapted to their new environment, with large photosensitive eyes, pale skin, long limbs and telepathic abilities. The explorers are shocked and disgusted by Greel’s appearance because he no longer looks like they do; in their eyes he is no longer a human being. â€Å"The creature in the pool of light was small, barely over four feet. Small and sickening. There was something vaguely manlike about it, but the proportions of the limbs were all wrong, and the hands and feet were grotesquely malformed. And the skin, the skin was a sickly, maggoty white.† (Adams 97). The theme of this story is the how differences between two groups of people can result in problems between the two groups. This story’s strengths are first that you get to see the same event from the point of view of two different characters. First you come to understand Greel, a member of the new underground species of humans; then you see the same events from the point of view of the people who escaped into space. This gives you an interesting understanding of how much humans have been changed by their apocalypse becoming he two types of humans are  now so different that they cannot communicate with each other. The second strength of the story is the way that Greel is introduced to the reader. If the story had started with a description of Greel than the reader might not have been able to sympathize with him. However by having his point of view first it makes the reader take Greels side and sympathize with him despite how he looks. The weakness of this story was that it di d not contain many background details. It did not explain how the humans who escaped the apocalypse by going into space managed to do this. Also the details that it did give about Greels civilization were confusing because they were not explained in detail, only talking briefly about fighting through the bad levels and climbing up through tunnels. However, a lack of detail is common in short stories because it is difficult to fit in a lot of background information while still keeping the story interesting and short. The importance of this story is that it shows the long-term effects of an apocalyptic event on humanity. Humans have been completely changed by an apocalyptic event, so much so that the people who did not experience this event are shocked and horrified by what the changed group of humanity has become. They no longer consider each other a part of the same species; they are now too different from each other. This is a unique story in the collection of apocalypse stories be cause it shows how a ‘normal person,’ someone unaffected by the apocalypse, reacts to a person who has been changed by the apocalypse. This story shows how the two types of people can no longer understand each other. â€Å"Dark, Dark Were The Tunnels† does not talk about the original struggles of the people who burrowed into the earth to escape the apocalypse, such as an inability to find food and the emotional impact of being trapped underground, instead it talks about how the people who have adapted to their new situation have created an entirely new civilization in their new environment. They are no longer the same group that fled underground; they have changed almost entirely. This is a story of these new people, people who were irrevocably changed by the apocalypse, meeting people who were not changed at all. The interaction between them does not end well for either party. They no longer speak the same language so they cannot communicate, they do not look the same physically, and both think that the other has a limited intelligence. The humans from Luna believe that Greel is stunted from his time undergr ound and Greel does not  understand why he cannot form a connection with the minds of the men from Luna, something that only happens with animals. Neither side understands the other and this results in Greel killing the humans from Luna because they killed his hunting rat, wrongly thinking that it was dangerous. Overall this story was a successful. It does belong in Wastelands because it tells the story of the aftermath of an apocalyptic event. It was made clear that there had been an apocalypse, saying that there had been a war; making the surface of the planet unlivable for a long time. This apocalypse is what led to the change in the human population that burrowed underground. The story is not a about the immediate effects of the apocalypse, it is a story about the aftereffects of an apocalypse. Work Cited Adams, John Joseph. Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse. San Francisco: Nightshade Book, 2008. Print.

Embarrassing experience Essay Example

Embarrassing experience Essay Example Embarrassing experience Essay Embarrassing experience Essay Auntie Liana! I stepped in the house in an elated mood of visiting my aunts house. But as I stepped in, I soon realized that something had gone wrong, the atmosphere was awkward. My aunt was talking about her favorite idol in enthusiasm, but the others, my cousins having awkward expression on their face , not knowing how to react to my aunts sudden speech. This reminds me of my first time bringing my friends home. It was an unforgettable experience. That day, after school, I brought my friends to my new house which had been renovated recently. We chatted happily along the pathway walking towards my house. After they reached my house, greeted my mother, they went to my room for heart-to- heart session that I had long-awaited for. We sat in a circle, each hugging a cushion, sat comfortably. With a happy mood, we started to share top secrets which was hidden in our heart. Just then, my mum barged in our room, squeeze into the circle we formed and Joined our conversation. She said in an excited way Im the great fans of cowboys!!!!! I still remembered how they dance!!! Just then, she stood up and started aiming with her weird, funny and old-style movement. We were all shocked and amused but her action and do not know how to react. My mums action let me blushed and felt so embarrass that I hope could find a hole and hide in it. Doing nothing, but we Just tried to enjoy her performance. The day ended in an awkward atmosphere. Remembering my experience, I could not help but smile. Realized that everybody experience this. Although the action of my mum made me felt embarrass but this is also her way to express her love. I will never forget this experience.

Definition and Examples of Epizeuxis in Rhetoric

Definition and Examples of Epizeuxis in Rhetoric Epizeuxis is a rhetorical term for the repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis, usually with no words in between. It is pronounced ep-uh-ZOOX-sis. It is also known as: cuckowspell, doublet, geminatio, underlay, and palilogia. In ​The Garden of Eloquence (1593), Henry Peacham defines epizeuxis as: A figure whereby a word is repeated, for the greater vehemence, and nothing put between: and it is used commonly with a swift pronunciation... This figure may serve aptly to expresse the  vehemence of any affection, whether it be of joy, sorrow, love, hatred, admiration or any such like. Examples ofEpizeuxis Mr. McCrindle had a sloping field. A sloping field! As if a farmer didnt have enough to worry about! (Magnus Mills, The Restraint of Beasts. Flamingo, 1998)Waitress: Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Bloody vikings. You cant have egg, bacon, Spam and sausage without the Spam.Mrs. Bun: I dont like Spam!Mr. Bun: Shh dear, dont cause a fuss. Ill have your Spam. I love it. Im having Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, baked beans, Spam, Spam, Spam, and Spam. (Monty Python, the Spam sketch)I undid the lantern cautiouslyoh, so cautiouslycautiously. (Edgar Allan Poe, The Tell-Tale Heart, 1843)I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly. (Will Ferrell in Anchorman, 2004)Theres little in taking or giving,Theres little in water or wine;This living, this living, this livingWas never a project of mine.(Dorothy Parker, Coda)Bad, fast! Fast! Fast! Last night I cut the light off in my bedroom, hit the switch and was in the bed before the room was dark. (Muhammad Ali , When We Were Kings, 1996) And my poor fool is hanged! No, no, no life!Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life,And thou no breath at all? Thoult come no more,Never, never, never, never!(William Shakespeare, King Lear)Phil Spector tamps his frontal lobes and closes his eyes and holds his breath. As long as he holds his breath, it will not rain, there will be no raindrops, no schizoid water wobbling, sideways, straight back, it will be an even, even, even, even, even, even, even world. (Tom Wolfe, The First Tycoon of Teen. The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby, 1965)Its a twister! Its a twister! (Zeke in The Wizard of Oz, 1939)Strong men also cry. Strong men also cry. (The Big Lebowski in The Big Lebowski, 1998)Give me a break! Give me a break! Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar! (advertising jingle)Im shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! (Captain Renault in Casablanca, 1942)All you hear from guys is desire, desire, desire, knocking its way out of the breast, and fear, striking and striking. Enough already! (Saul Bellow, Henderson the Rain King. Viking, 1959) For a nation which has an almost evil reputation for bustle, bustle, bustle, and rush, rush, rush, we spend an enormous amount of time standing around in line in front of windows, just waiting. (Robert Benchley, Back in Line. Benchleyor Else! 1947)Frank: Where’s the island? Where’s the island? Where the hell’s the island?Hurley: It’s gone.(â€Å"There’s No Place Like Home.† Lost, 2008)Oh you need fluff, fluff, fluffTo make a fluffer nutter,Marshmallow fluff and lots of peanut butter.First you spread, spread, spreadYour bread with peanut butter,Add marshmallow fluff and have a fluffernutter.(advertising jingle)All around me are familiar facesWorn out places, worn out facesBright and early for their daily racesGoing nowhere, going nowhere.(Tears for Fears, Mad World)

Macroeconomics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Macroeconomics - Research Paper Example Demand for goods and services are related to the real interest rate which is nominal interest rate minus expected inflation, whereas nominal interest rate is the market rate quoted in the financial pages of the newspaper. In this case, interest rate is almost zero that means nominal interest should be equal to expected inflation and the expected inflation is about 2% per year which is justifiable, it indicates that nominal interest rate showing unacceptable growth, adequate amount of rise in the nominal interest rate can increase the real interest rate to a desirable level. Usually when interest rate falls, borrowing increasing and individual’s purchasing power increases and so does the demand for goods and services, but if unemployment is very high and an economy is facing low GDP growth per year than shows the imbalance in the economy. According to the Philips curve, wages increases rapidly when unemployment is low and wages increases slowly when unemployment is low therefor e the government and the firms should raise wage rate to attract scarce workforce to increase the national production which will eventually increase the demands for produced goods and services. According to Okun’s law, a percentage increase in unemployment causes a 2% fall in real GDP, whereas in this case unemployment is very high, which is one the major reason of GDP downfall (Hall, 2011). Currently inflation is not matching the level of employment and GDP rate, therefore Fed and the government should increase the wage rate and decrease income tax rate to an acceptable level to encourage the spending which might result in increased demands for good and services and will eventually increase the national production, the government should also increase the subsidize the national production and increase import duty so national products will be preferred over international products (Hall, 2011). Conclusion By increasing nominal interest rate with a justifiable amount, by leverag ing wage rates and the local production, and by increasing import duty; the Fed and the government will be able to stabilize the economy and the balance of payment, the economy will grow at justifiable rate, the unemployment will decrease and the national production will increase while maintaining the inflation rate of about 2% which is quite justifiable. Part 2: Introduction Amendments in legislation and regulations were not the only causes of 2008 financial crises, changes in monetary and fiscal policy also contributed to the crises. The Federal Reserve dropped its federal funds rate very quickly to a very low rate, and kept the rate at historic lows for an extended period of time. Secondly the US deficit has increased its borrowing from foreign sources, especially from emerging countries such as China which are enjoying economic surplus. Contribution of monitory and fiscal policy in the causes of financial crises To eliminate the effect of the collapse of the technology equity bu bble and the terrorist attack on Twin Tower on September 11, 2001 on the economy; Fed chairman Greenspan injected low-interest rates below held guidelines which was an attempt to instill huge amount of liquidity in the US monetary system which actually resulted in lowering the interest rate by 2003 to 1%, the decided interest rate by Fed breaks the record of fifty years, that

Importance of Communication Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Importance of Communication - Research Paper Example Each follower can inspire others and they can also be inspired by the leader. Good communication skill successfully sends a clear message by way of oral, written or non–verbal method. It avoids any kind of confusion among followers. Confusion can lead to less productivity and conflict among team members. Communication not just means sharing information, but also good listening and writing skills. These are also part of communication. Listening to the followers can help to actively manage any difficulty which may arise in an organization. A leader can understand the requirements of followers and thus effectively lead them by fulfilling their needs. If the followers realize that their words are provided with due attention by the leader, they will be likely to communicate more efficiently. As a consequence, the leader-follower relationship will become strong (Mayfield & Mayfield, â€Å"The Role of Leader-Follower Relationships in Leader Communication†). There are certain t echniques for communicating with the followers. The manners, gestures, and verbal impressions always matter on the personality of a leader. A casual communication can lead to bad impression about leadership and thus, a serious expression is needed while making statement towards the followers. The anger or the satisfaction can be communicated by the non-verbal actions and these are very effective for maintaining an operative association between the leader and the follower (Mayfield & Mayfield, â€Å"The Role of Leader-Follower Relationships in Leader Communication†). Proper leader behavior is required to support leader–follower relationship. Communication ensues in the framework of a certain leader-follower relationship. It is not an autonomous procedure of transmission of information. Poor manners can counteract good communication. Communication will be ineffective without positive leader-follower relationship. The behavior of leader can facilitate the communication. I n an organization, a leader must be nominated on the basis of communication abilities and relationship building talents. In simple words, only conversation is insufficient; leader should also be capable of keeping the communication real and express encouraging behavior towards follower. Deprived behavior is regarded as a hindrance in communication (Mayfield & Mayfield, â€Å"The Role of Leader-Follower Relationships in Leader Communication†). Evaluation Of Own Communication As communication is a cooperative procedure, the evaluation must consider the decision of trained evaluator along with the impression of followers who are involved in the communication process. It comprises of self-report of the leader being evaluated. The evaluation of communication must be able to differentiate with the talking and listening from interpretation and writing skills. Though major part of evaluation is in the form of verbal communication, it also contains the interpretation and writing abili ty. The technique of evaluation must be reliable with the measurement of communication. The leadership communication can be evaluated by actual performance in collective atmosphere. The tools for evaluating communication must define the level of proficiency. It must be able to clearly recognize the responses (National Communication Association, â€Å"Criteria for Oral Assessment†