Saturday, January 25, 2020

Comparing Virginia Woolfs Mrs. Dalloway and Emily Brontes Wuthering H

Comparing Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway and Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights share similarities in many aspects, perhaps most plainly seen in the plots: just as Clarissa marries Richard rather than Peter Walsh in order to secure a comfortable life for herself, Catherine chooses Edgar Linton over Heathcliff in an attempt to wrest both herself and Heathcliff from the squalid lifestyle of Wuthering Heights. However, these two novels also overlap in thematic elements in that both are concerned with the opposing forces of civilization or order and chaos or madness. The recurring image of the house is an important symbol used to illustrate both authors’ order versus chaos themes. Though Woolf and Bronte use the house as a symbol in very different ways, the existing similarities create striking resonances between the two novels at certain critical scenes. In Mrs. Dalloway, Clarissa Dalloway undergoes an internal struggle between her love for society and life and a combined affinity for and fear of death. Her practical marriage to Richard serves its purpose of providing her with an involved social life of gatherings and parties that others may find frivolous but Clarissa sees as â€Å"an offering† to the life she loves so well. Throughout the novel she grapples with the prospect of growing old and approaching death, which after the joys of her life seems â€Å"unbelievable†¦ that it must end; and no one in the whole world would know how she had loved it all; how, every instant†¦Ã¢â‚¬  At the same time, she is drawn to the very idea of dying, a theme which is most obviously exposed through her reaction to the news of Septimus Smith’s suicide. However, this crucial scene r... ...ng the juxtaposition of order and chaos. The roles that the houses of both stories play in this theme bring to light interesting similarities between the characters and thematic elements as well as revealing differences. Both Woolf and Bronte use the open window as a symbol for the opportunity to see beyond the physical, the ordered, into something less controllable by civilization. However, Catherine seems to be trapped in an unnatural and dangerous cycle of passion and madness that only dissipates after Heathcliff’s death, whereas Clarissa continues with life in society despite her attraction to death and to Septimus. The resonances between the window scenes of these two novels, though simultaneously similar and disparate, shed light on the nature of Clarissa’s and Catherine’s characters as well as on the two authors’ use of the civilization versus wildness theme.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Discipline and Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment by definition is the deliberate infliction of physical pain as a system of changing behaviour. Corporal punishment may consist of methods such as shaking, pinching, kicking, punching, slapping, hitting, painful body posture, or use of different objects such as sticks, belts and paddles (National Association of School Nurses, 2002, p. 1). In the past, corporal punishment was a technique of disciplining youth and children in the school setting.At present, several States in America have enacted legislation banning corporal punishment in schools. On the other hand corporal punishment has been an accepted mode of reprimand that several parents choose to integrate into their lives without giving a careful consideration. The mode of punishment can commence at any time but is generally initiated within the start of the child’s grade school (Mathews, 2006, p. 1). The physical inflictions can be tolerated all the way until the teenager grows old enough to leave or be independent.This type of correction is purely torture, which has been employed for centuries and is still a frightening and disturbing incidence in several families today. Dr. Murray Straus of the University of New Hampshire Family Research Laboratory revealed that corporal punishment: when regularly imposed to children it increases their antisocial behaviour such as bullying, cheating, stealing, lying, assaulting peers or sibling, and lack of repentance for erroneous doings (The Center for Effective Discipline, n.d. ); provides as a model for violent behaviour and for improper ways of dealing with disagreement among the punished children; erodes trust between a child and parent; and badly influences cognitive development of the child. Corporal punishment is not desirable for the reason that it increases the risk of child abuse and adults who were frequently hit during their childhood are likely to experience depression and other unconstructive mental health and social effects.This form of punishment can have a negative effect on the affected children as it relates to their physical and mental growth and health, as they are at a period of fragile mental capacity. Finally, corporal punishment is not desirable because children are entitled to security, care and good rearing from their parents and teachers. Adults should understand the significance of recognizing corrective discipline instead of outright imposition of corporal punishment in disciplining children.Because children’s ability to control their own behaviour is limited, corrective discipline is an important characteristic of adequate parenting for the reason that it generates the best preventive steps, which is reducing the occurrence of misconduct, and not eliminating it (Straus, Fauchier, 2007, p. 5). Corrective discipline incorporates positive in addition to disciplinary behaviours, and combinations of the two. Conclusion Corporal punishment has a strong possibility to influence the childâ⠂¬â„¢s self-image and contribute to violent and disruptive behaviours.However, the practice remains a commonly used method of discipline in most American families and is still legal in educational institutions in several States in America. The progress of social skills after the infliction of corporal punishment may be severely changed, leading to belligerent behaviours. The imposition of corporal punishment also advances the message that cruelty is an acceptable form of behaviour in the society. Clearly, corporal punishment is not desirable and effective in enforcing discipline among children.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

How to Write a Professional Letter of Acknowledgment

The purpose of letters of acknowledgment is to provide proof that you have received specific documents  or a specific type of request. Letters of acknowledgment are often used for anything involved in a legal process. Elements of the Letter As with any  business or professional correspondence, you should begin your letter with a few specific and expected elements: Your name, address, and the date on the top rightThe name of the person to whom you are addressing the letter on the top left on the line below your addressThe company name (if appropriate)The address of the firm or individualA subject line that briefly states the purpose of the letter in bold (such as Legal Case No. 24)An opening salutation, such as Dear Mr. Smith When you are beginning the letter of acknowledgment, start with a brief sentence stating that this is, indeed, a letter of acknowledgment. Some phrases you can use include: I hereby acknowledge the receipt of the following documents...I am acknowledging receipt of...We will make sure that the person responsible receives these materials immediately upon returning to the office. The remainder of the letter should include the body text, where you explain in one or two paragraphs what, specifically, you are acknowledging. At the end of the body of the letter, you can offer your help if needed, such as: If  I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. End the letter with a standard closing, such as: Sincerely, Mr. Joe Smith, XX Firm. Sample Letter It can be helpful to view a sample letter template. Feel free to copy the format below for your letter of  acknowledgment. Though it does not print as such in this article, note that you should generally make your address and the date flush right. Joseph SmithAcme Trading Company5555 S. Main StreetAnywhere, California 90001​​March 25, 2018​​​Re:  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Legal Case No. 24Dear ______:Because Mr. Doug Jones is out of the office for the next two weeks I am acknowledging receipt of your letter dated March 20, 2018. It will be brought to his attention immediately upon his return.If I may be of any assistance during Mr. Jones absence, please do not hesitate to call.Yours sincerely,Joseph Smith Sign the letter under the closing, Yours sincerely, just above your name. Other Considerations The letter of acknowledgment provides documentation that you have received the letter, order, or complaint from the other party. Should the matter become a legal or business disagreement, your letter of acknowledgment shows proof that you did respond to the request from the other party. If you are unfamiliar with business letter style, take the time to learn the basic format for writing  business letters, and review the  different types of business letters. This will help you refine your skills for specific business purposes such as making inquiries, adjusting claims, and writing cover letters.