Educational relevance of Vygotsky's theory Essay

Educational relevance of Vygotsky's theory - Essay Example The main idea in Vygotskys theory is his principle that biological and cultural development does not take place in isolation. Vygotsky held that development is a procedure that has to be examined, instead of a product to be attained (Social Development Theory, No date). This theory acknowledged that individuals learn through social interactions and their culture. They gain knowledge through dialogues in which individuals socially interact and communicate with others to discover the cultural values of the society. Vygotsky also believed that human activities take place in cultural settings and cannot be understood separately from these settings (Woolfolk, 2004). The second belief in Vygotsky’s perspective is that all superior mental functions begin in social activity, that is, the real formation of relations among humans. Development entails mental processes initially on the social level, among individuals, and after that on the individual basis, within the child. Thus, through these social interactions, an individual moves in the direction of more individualized thought process. The co-constructed progression consists of individuals interacting through common activities, typically to resolve a problem. When the child gets assistance through this process, he or she may be able to use enhanced strategies in the future, should a similar difficulty occur. The co-constructed dialogues directs to internalization, which then results in independent though process (Social Development Theory, No date). The development of language is considered to be the chief aspect of Vygotskys sociocultural theory. The language of a certain group of people signifies their cultural beliefs and value system. This suggests that children learn language in a similar fashion as learning of cognitive skills. Vygotsky affirms that individuals might have fabricated prejudices, regulations, and restrictions about language that limit the amount of possibilities

Girls dancing Essay Example for Free

Girls dancing Essay The failure of Parris to determine a cause for the girls dancing leads to another key character, Reverend Hale of Beverly. From the moment he enters the act, he is portrayed as a man of arrogance and over confidence. Yet, he seems embarrassed when Proctor praises him, contradicting his exterior demeanor. In the early course of the play, Hale is a force behind the conviction of so-called witches and he is continually probing people to confess. Like most of the other characters in the play, Hale himself is also afraid of the unknown, despite his experience with incidents of this kind in the past. He remarks that no matter what religious status an individual may occupy, they may still be accused of dealing with the devil. In a clear contrast to the beginning of the play he appears uncertain if the girls are telling the truth, but is reluctant to show his suspicions until the very end of the play. Tragically, his suspicions are told too late, as the trials no longer remain in his hands. His reluctance to speak what he actually believed in condemned many more people, which means that Hale is a key figure in showing how innocent people can be convicted and murdered so easily by the girls. John Proctor plays the most prominent role in the play, as Arthur Miller gradually brings him into the affray as more and more people become convicted, one of whom is his wife, Elizabeth. Proctor is regarded as a strong figure in the society of Salem, yet his past life continues to haunt him however, as he has committed the sin of adultery with none other than Abigail Williams herself before the play. Once the trials begin, Proctor realises he can stop Abigails rampage through Salem, if he confesses to his sin of adultery. This would ruin his reputation in the society, so he is reluctant to confess. This likens Proctor to Reverend Parris at this stage, as he they are both intent on keeping their good reputations. Towards the end of the play however, this changes as Proctor is prepared to lose his reputation by confessing to adultery and finding the truth. His confession arrives too late however, as the matters in the court have gone too far. This now likens him to Reverend Hale, as both of them form an invisible alliance in the courtroom, as both know that Abigail is manipulating the judges and is clearly lying. Proctor is also portrayed as an un-Christian being in the mind of the court when Hale questions him about his Christianity. This lack of religious belief in him is a key factor in the court proceedings once Proctor is brought before them. However Miller creates sympathy with the 20th century audience for Proctor by creating hostility towards other characters. The sympathy is also shown at the end of the play when Proctor refuses to give up his name in order to establish the truth. This gives the audience the impression that Proctor is a man of integrity and is willing to give up everything for the truth. Judge Danforth is the key figure in the condemnation of the accused persons. He is, like Parris, portrayed as a man intent on keeping his reputation rather than finding the truth. He enters the play as the trials begin, having no background knowledge of what has gone on in the society before the trials involving Proctor and Abigail, and has no knowledge of peoples ways of thinking and attitudes towards others. These factors ultimately are the main reasons why people are convicted in Danforths court, and not because of witchcraft. During the court case in act three involving Proctor and Abigail, all the truthful evidence that Proctor gives against Abigail is ignored by Danforth, as he is easily distracted by Abigails lies. This shows that Danforth and the courts justice is flawed. The flawed justice of the court is another clear reason of how Salems society is able to convict people so easily. He also expects people to side with the court by saying: A person is either with this court or against it. This shows that if you were against the court then you would be persecuted. During the case, his justice is frequently questioned, which angers him, as he is not used to having his justice questioned.. Danforths belief in the truth fluctuates, as there are points where he begins to doubt Abigails story such as where he studies Abigail for a minute. However, to wash away all of Danforths doubts Abigail pretends to have visions. This works on every occasion, and therefore proves that the courts justice is again flawed if it can be manipulated so easily by a mere 17-year-old Christian girl on a quest for love. The cause many people would believe of the outpouring of accusations and convictions in Salem would be Abigail Williams, but the detail that surrounds the events is immense. There are many different key figures surrounding the deaths and all play a large part in the events that took place after the dancin occurred.

Moods Themes And Ideas Created English Literature Essay

Moods Themes And Ideas Created English Literature Essay Growing up is an inevitable and everlasting process in every humans life, it is the way that we develop and the choices we make that define our personality. The fragility of childhood does not only refer to physical characteristics, this stage in life is when one is most socially delicate, and most easily manipulated by societys many stereotypes. In this composition, explore the themes of childhood, excitement and innocence in the 6 poems of Section C in the reading anthology will be explored. By analyzing the themes, literary techniques and writers craft that may be more cryptic to the average reader, we can reveal just how each respective author attempted to depict childhood, innocence or a completely other theme in itself and the personal motives that may have been behind this emotional topic. The 3 poems; Once Upon a Time, A Mother in a Refugee Camp and Prayer Before Birth written by Gabriel Okara, Chinua Achebe and Louis MacNeice respectively share a common goal to criticize some of the principles and ideals of modern society. Particularly in A Mother in a Refugee Camp, the author Chinua Achebe attempts to portray images to the reader that would normally be unheard of in a modern home due to how terrifying and horrendous they are. The cringe-inducing actions that take place in the extract show the audience just how gruesome the poor conditions are, furthermore, the way these events are depicted to the reader allows them to understand just how insubstantial the events are. Achebe compares their life to perhaps the readers when he writes, In another life this would have been a little daily act of no consequence before his breakfast and school; now she did it like putting flowers on a tiny grave. This bold comparison compares a normal morning routine with putting flowers on a grave, using such a simile shows that the occurrence in Achebes writing, the death of a child, happens all too often in the camp and is not of great significance. The idea that different people have different views on the same events is a main theme in this poem and life, especially when it comes to childrens perspectives. This is also the main theme in the poem by U.A. Fanthorpe, Half-past Two, the child being referred to for the entire poem is yet unable to comprehend time in the same way that others do, instead his perspective is different, picturing the times only as how they are significant to him, nothing more. This is probably true to an extent for everyone, not only children, in that not being able to understand something doesnt restrict our curiosity and we try to incorporate it into our lives regardless. Alternatively, in the piece Once upon a time by Gabriel Okara the concept of adults starting to lose their humanity as they mature is related to how pure and innocent children are. Evidence of this theme is shown towards the end of the poem when Gabriel Okara writes that the father is asking his son to teach him how to live and regain his former self. So show me, son, how to laugh; show me how I used to laugh and smile once upon a time when I was like you. This is done to show the reader just how envious an adult may be of their child who is yet to be exposed to the crippling stereotypes the modern day has to offer and of just how large a scale a poisoned society may affect ones mind. Moreover, the persona (the father) seems to be a bit envious of his child, he deeply wishes to be able to experience the naivety and innocence of being a child once more. I want to be what I used to be when I was like you. This shows that from the viewpoint of an adult, youth is something to be cherishe d dearly, which leads on to the next idea that childhood should not be taken for granted which is also explored in the poem by Vernon Scannell, Hide and Seek. It seems a long time since they went away. Your legs are stiff, this part of the poem is a metaphor that all of the childs friends have already lost interest and moved on, hence accentuating how little time we have, that childhood should be made the most of and that this is only truly realised when it is eventually lost forever. In Louis MacNeices piece, Prayer Before Birth he expresses how negative he thinks the typical modern lifestyle is. MacNeice creates an image of a perfect world from his perspective by using a single stanza to describe this ideal place. The third stanza serves this purpose, the way it is much livelier creates an impression on the reader as the rest of the poem is dark and depressing. In MacNeices poem, a vast array of techniques are used to better convey the theme of an unforgiving modern society for most of the writing, for example the repetition of the word me and the numerous instances of alliteration aid MacNeice in his attempt to engage the reader show them just how passionate he is about this subject. This is a stark contrast from the third stanza where MacNeice begins to use a calmer town and softens the rhyming and alliteration that was almost aggressive prior to the third stanza. For example, the phrases such as sing to me sound for friendlier than in the first two stanzas. T he way MacNeice wrote this poem makes it extremely apparent to the reader how passionate he is about his views on modern society; he shows his viewpoint of what humanity currently is in a bad light, while comparing it to his own wants which are shown to be a great solution. The final sentence of Prayer Before Birth ends the poem in quite a gruesome manner, Otherwise kill me. This is after the long list of desires the unborn child wishes to be born in to, after its prayers. MacNeice is hinting that if he had the choice before he had been born to be saved from this toxic humanity he would rather have not been born. Furthermore, he is possibly presenting an ultimatum to the audience that if the persona in his poem cannot be born into their ideal world they would rather not be born at all. Another key point displayed in this poem is the helplessness and delicacy of a child, in this case an unborn one, this theme is can also be seen in D. H. Lawrences poem, Piano the children in both of these poems are completely unable to fend for themselves. In Prayer Before Birth the child is unborn and just hoping to be born into the best possible environment, whereas in Piano a grown man is looking back on his childhood, no aware of how incompetent he was as a child and how he shall never be able to experience such a time again. All six poems I have written about portray our childhood as a time of purity, innocence and simplicity. In some poems it clearly shown to be the main themes while in others it is depicted far more subtly. In Prayer Before Birth, the use of some phrases describe the childs fears accentuate how childish the persona truly is, blood sucking bats and club-footed ghouls these may seem comical to the reader but from the perspective of the unborn child they are indeed their worst nightmares, further proving the personas innocence. Furthermore, the child refers to itself in first person a staggering amount of times, each stanza but the last is started with I while me and my are very common too. This gives the reader of the poem and insight into how frantic the child may be as the pace of the poem seems to be increasing throughout, the child seems only to be concerned with their own safety. This reflects a somewhat immature character that is yet too narrow minded to be afraid for anything that will not concern them. Once Upon a Time seems to celebrate childhood far more than the other two main poems I have chosen to write about, Gabriel Okara depicts the persona to be an adult looking back on his childhood and wishing he could experience it again, thus showing how much he misses it. However, the other two poems do not express this theme at all, in Prayer Before Birth the unborn child is listing all the terrible things modern society has waiting for it, even in childhood and MacNeice ends the poem with the child saying that it would rather stay unborn than be corrupted by such a poisonous environment in the childs opinion. Moreover, A Mother in a Refugee Camp supports the idea that childhood can be extremely painful too, not just to the child but to their parents as well. Achebe attempts to convey to the reader that despite the death of children happening so often it is still a terrible and soul ripping occurrence. It is stated that her child has already died and that the mother will soon have to forget this once again illustrates just how fragile children and life in general can be without proper conditions. Ultimately, Gabriel Okara, Chinua Achebe and Louis MacNeice use a wide array of literary techniques to convey various moods, themes and ideas that they want the audience to experience. They regard childhood as a time of purity, innocence and fragility and the ageing process as a slow and inevitable corruption of the mind and body. Each writer has different ways of representing these ideas; Gabriel Okara makes use of emotive language to illustrate an adult showing his envy to a childs innocence. Whereas Chinua Achebe uses a child to represent the only source of hope and happiness in a condemned and forgotten place, a refugee camp. Finally, Louis MacNeice attempts to depict children as a symbol of clarity, yet to experience the exploitation of society.

Oliver Twist And Sense And Sensability Comparison Essay -- essays rese

Set in the Victorian era, Sense and Sensibility and Oliver Twist, parallel but also contrast in many key elements. In both movies, mannerisms, class distinction, and the child's role in society were reflected by both writers. Through these analysis, I was able to achieve new insight into the conditions of the Victorian era. In Oliver twist, mannerisms were greatly displayed in Oliver as a character. His mannerism best demonstrated how upper-class children were supposed to behave during this era. They were to be 'seen' and not 'heard'. Oliver when spoken to, was extremely polite and respectful (Very odd for how, and where he was raised). Even when living in the streets, after being kicked out of the orphanage, he still kept his high morale standards. Much like children, women were also supposed to be 'seen' and not 'heard'. As well, it was not proper to show emotion, such exuberance or love in any way. Marianne, in Sense and Sensibility, goes against these "rules" of proper etiquette many times, such as when she shouts at John Willoughby at a ball; this drew much scandalous attention to herself. This was very humorous to me, because it was nothing i expected, or thought would happen. The one very positive element I saw in this era, was how the men displayed chivalrous attitudes, such as how they courted women, as well as their words. Unfortunately this was a double standard, since it sometimes had unpleasant results, like being forced into marriage. However, thei...

Annotation Assignment: A Separate Peace :: essays research papers

Setting: 1. Chapter 1, page 1, #2: â€Å"I didn’t entirely like this glossy new surface† Analysis: This quote shows that the setting was at one point different to the author. It was not glossy and new. 2. Chapter 1, page 4, #2: â€Å"Devon is sometimes considered the most beautiful school in New England, and even on this dismal afternoon its power was asserted.† Analysis: This quote showing setting can be closely related to the character Finny. Much like the school, Finny is beautiful even in the midst of some of his hateful classmates. 3. Chapter 1, page 5, #3: â€Å"Moving through the soaked, coarse grass I began to examine each one closely, and finally identified the tree I was looking for by means of certain small scars rising along its trunk, and by a limb extending over the river, and another thinner limb growing near it. Analysis: This setting shows in detail a location which is directly tied to the author. He remembers the tree in such detail because this was the place were the main conflict in his life took place. Theme: 1. Chapter 3, page 5, #3: â€Å"A little fog hung over the river so that as I neared it I felt myself becoming isolated from everything except the river and the few trees beside it. The wind was blowing more steadily here, and I was beginning to feel cold.† Analysis: This quote has the affect of creating a foreboding mood as if something dreadful is about to happen to gene and the landscape is warning him. 2. Chapter 2, page 18, #3: â€Å"It was hypnotism. I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything.† Analysis: This quote is based on the theme of envy. It is clear that Gene feels that Phineas can get away with anything. The reader can tell that Gene hate him because of this. 3. Chapter 3, page 29, #1: â€Å"â€Å"Blitzkrieg†, repeated Finny doubtfully. â€Å"We could figure out some kind of blitzkrieg baseball,† I said. â€Å"We’ll call it blitzkrieg ball,† said Bobby. â€Å"Or just blitzball†Ã¢â‚¬  Analysis: This quote shows the theme of microcosm. The boys are so isolated from the rest of the world and the war, that they do not understand fully the horrors of war. So much so that they name a game after a German tank invasion were thousands of people died. 4. Chapter 5, page 53, #1: â€Å"I couldn’t figure out exactly what this word meant, whether It meant broken in one or several places, cleanly or badly, and I didn’t ask. Annotation Assignment: A Separate Peace :: essays research papers Setting: 1. Chapter 1, page 1, #2: â€Å"I didn’t entirely like this glossy new surface† Analysis: This quote shows that the setting was at one point different to the author. It was not glossy and new. 2. Chapter 1, page 4, #2: â€Å"Devon is sometimes considered the most beautiful school in New England, and even on this dismal afternoon its power was asserted.† Analysis: This quote showing setting can be closely related to the character Finny. Much like the school, Finny is beautiful even in the midst of some of his hateful classmates. 3. Chapter 1, page 5, #3: â€Å"Moving through the soaked, coarse grass I began to examine each one closely, and finally identified the tree I was looking for by means of certain small scars rising along its trunk, and by a limb extending over the river, and another thinner limb growing near it. Analysis: This setting shows in detail a location which is directly tied to the author. He remembers the tree in such detail because this was the place were the main conflict in his life took place. Theme: 1. Chapter 3, page 5, #3: â€Å"A little fog hung over the river so that as I neared it I felt myself becoming isolated from everything except the river and the few trees beside it. The wind was blowing more steadily here, and I was beginning to feel cold.† Analysis: This quote has the affect of creating a foreboding mood as if something dreadful is about to happen to gene and the landscape is warning him. 2. Chapter 2, page 18, #3: â€Å"It was hypnotism. I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything.† Analysis: This quote is based on the theme of envy. It is clear that Gene feels that Phineas can get away with anything. The reader can tell that Gene hate him because of this. 3. Chapter 3, page 29, #1: â€Å"â€Å"Blitzkrieg†, repeated Finny doubtfully. â€Å"We could figure out some kind of blitzkrieg baseball,† I said. â€Å"We’ll call it blitzkrieg ball,† said Bobby. â€Å"Or just blitzball†Ã¢â‚¬  Analysis: This quote shows the theme of microcosm. The boys are so isolated from the rest of the world and the war, that they do not understand fully the horrors of war. So much so that they name a game after a German tank invasion were thousands of people died. 4. Chapter 5, page 53, #1: â€Å"I couldn’t figure out exactly what this word meant, whether It meant broken in one or several places, cleanly or badly, and I didn’t ask.

Pros and Cons of E-Commerce Essay -- essays research papers

Pros and Cons of E-Commerce   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Electronic commerce or e-commerce involves the buying and selling of products or services over the internet. Put simply, e-commerce means conducting business online. E-commerce software programs run the main functions of an e-commerce web site, including product display, online ordering, and inventory management. This software resides on a commerce server and works in conjunction with online payment systems to process payments. E-Commerce can help a small business off to a great start or can make it fizzle into bankruptsy. It can have a positive and negitive impact on the success of a small business.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many pros to e-commerce. One factor is that e-commerce provides service and performance by offering a user-friendly experience. In a regular business, the retailers may have to go some way before achieving such a responsive goal. E-Commerce also provides an attractive website. The colors, graphics, and animation can help an e-commerce site become successful. The website can also influence the customers to purchase and return. Promotions, coupons, and discounts increase the chances for a customer to use the site more frequently. Websites can provide the customers with personal attention. The customer can personalize the website to better fit their likes and remove their dislikes. Purchase suggestions and personalized special offers can most of the time substitute person to person in...

The Attitude of Confucius towards Women

No one would not recognize that Confucius until now has a great impact not only to China and to its neighbors such as Japan, Korea, and Vietnam but as well as to other countries that his teachings had traveled through. His thoughts had deeply penetrated into their culture believing that they were the right virtues to do for their daily living. But one of his teachings is now questioned and this is his attitude against women. Looking ahead†¦ The Attitude of Confucius towards Women IntroductionNo one would not recognize that Confucius until now has a great impact not only to China and to its neighbors such as Japan, Korea, and Vietnam but as well as to other countries that his teachings had traveled through. His thoughts had deeply penetrated into their culture believing that they were the right virtues to do for their daily living. But one of his teachings is now questioned and this is his attitude against women. As change of time goes by, even his descendants had now realized wh at women should be in this changing society. Biography of Confucius and the role of women in his lifeConfucius was believed to have been born 551 BC, at the city of Qufu, of the state of Lu (now modern day province of Shandong). His ancestry is said to have originated from the Royal State of Song, but had fled because of turmoil. It is also believed that Confucius was an illegitimate child because his father had not been given a healthy son by his first wife. According to Peterson (2008), Confucius belongs to the gentry or those who owned a large farm. But contrary to this, it is also believed that three years after Confucius was born, his father died and he together with his mother lived in poverty (Chien, 1978).Confucius then strived hard to rise starting from being a livestock caretaker, clerk and bookkeeper. At an early age of 19, he married Qi Quan then they had a child when he was 20. At the age of 23, his mother died and he had offered a three years mourning for her. Accordin g to the Temples of Confucius, he had became a Justice Minister of Lu at 53 but the sources of Peterson contradicts to this event saying that though Confucius wanted to had a position, he never had at least one and he had only spent his life teaching others who had the same wish to gain position.These discrepancies about the biography of Confucius is said to have its root to the many legendary accounts being attributed unto him by his historian followers later in his life. His ideas about wives in relation to husbands As a teacher of men who wants to rule, one discipline he had taught unto them is their relation to their wives. To start, he had a perception that women are the lone producers of disorders and this should not be blamed as something sent by the heaven. He regards them as cannot be taught nor instructed thus making them inferior to man.He also then gave an advice that â€Å"husbands should maintain a certain distance to his wife. † A philosopher from the Han dynas ty wherein Confucian teachings had been first widely adopted, Ban Gu had explained that women should not make the initiative before man, because â€Å"yin is lowly, and it proceeds to the yang in order to be completed. † Known women by that time had also supported this idea of Confucius, Zhao had admitted that women are weak and lowly, and their primary duty is to serve their husband.She also says that men could remarry twice, but women could not. But she ended her passage by paying respect to their gender, saying that as â€Å"man is honored for strength; a woman is beautiful for her gentleness. † Another saying pertains to the acts that should be done by court ladies, stating that â€Å"A husband is heaven, and Heaven cannot be shirked. † According to another record from the Han dynasty entitled Ritual and Book of Rites, daughter-in-laws should act as a lower class to his husband’s parents.Whatever she wants to do, she should first ask permission from t hem. According then to Nu Lun Lu, this one coming from the Tang Dynasty, says that a husband-wife relationship should be of man’s strength and woman’s weakness, that a wife should just be quiet and blame herself every time his husband is angry, that a wife should not leave his husband especially when he is sick. His ideas about the role of mothers in relations to sonsSpeaking of Confucius attitude about mothers, I might suggest that his teachings would had been influenced by his personal experiences with his father assuming that it is true that Confucius is an illegitimate child because his father divorced his first wife because she could not give him at least one healthy son. According to the famous disciple of Confucius named Mencius, â€Å"there are only three uncivil acts, the greatest of them is not producing a son. † But even though a mother could not give a son, he had not excluded her with the respect her child should give back to her.He had also regarde d that mothers are the first source of education of their children. His thinking about contacts with other states, including both trade and war as being affected by his attitude to women As he emphasized that women should be at the lowest level in the human society, his thinking about contacts with other states is that it should only be run by males and not by the inferior females. He strongly suggests that women should only be kept inside the bedroom to serve his husbands after a hard day’s work.Every work outside the house such as trading then is only of male-concerns, so thus also being a soldier at times of war. Justification As time had changed, people are now realizing that Confucius idea about the inferiority of women in the society had also changed. Basing on my opinion, Confucius had stated those teachings just to stress out the need of his province for men who would rule and protect it at times of war. He then perceived that women are belongings of men and a wifeâ⠂¬â„¢s main duty is to give him a healthy son that would make sure the continuance of his bloodline.