Theme for English by Langston Hughes and In the Inner City...

Speaking Out â€Å"Theme for English B† by Langston Hughes and â€Å"in the inner city† by Lucille Clifton are both simple poems written by African American during a time where being black was not so popular and a trying time for those whom were black Americans. They both wrote about the plight of blacks during their perspective times; Hughes’ piece was one that spoken in a straightforward and blunt manner, while Clifton was a harsh and muggy one. Both of these poems were written in everyday language, I would imagine, ensuring that their point was one that was easy to understand. Hughes’ poem was not written without any rhyme scheme, while Clifton’s had some rhyme scheme. These poems show the darker side, the evil and violence towards fellow Americans because of their skin color. To me both Hughes and Clifton speaks out about the evil side during a time when it was not popular to speak out about this dark side; which was considered the norm. In the poem Theme for English B, by Langston Hughes, the teacher tells the speaker to go home and write. The speaker wonders if it is that simple; I can tell he does not feel passionate about the assignment. He begins by writing that he is twenty-two, colored, and born and educated in Winston-Salem, Durham, and at college in Harlem. He writes that he is the only colored student in his class. He walks down a hill into Harlem, crossing streets before arriving at the Harlem branch of the YMCA. He takes the elevator up to

The End Of World War Two And The United States - 1411 Words

The end of World War Two saw Russia and the United States as world powers, each with totally different views on how the new world should be governed.The Cold War was a fight between Communism and Capitalism; only one method could prevail. Communism, was the notion that through a class war all would become equal, all property owned publicly and each person paid equally. On the opposite end of the spectrum lay Capitalism where there is an economic and political system of a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit; not the state. One way that America sought to protect and hopefully impede Soviet Russia was through its foreign policies. The major foreign policy act that the U.S had in place during the Cold War,†¦show more content†¦He proclaimed having 205 cards of official Communist party members and supporters who just so happen to work in government where they can influence our policies. Naturally the public was curious and afraid. Upon closer inspection it was found that the numbers were not so high but still what if all of McCarthy’s other allegations were true? This is where hysteria comes in, most people were scared that the government is just full of traitors and nothing was private. That’s when the House Un-American Activities Committee turned its attention towards the government and extirpating subversion in the states.. Due to his allegations, the reality of how far communism had spread was blurred and anti-communist pushed for radical policies against communism to ensure that Fifth-Columnists were not planted in the government. Although some critics of McCarthy tried to prove his allegations false, the conviction of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg who were guilty of espionage just and the convicted perjury of Alger Hiss made the public listen to him more. It seemed to American civilians that all over the world Communism was taking over and that a nuclear holocaust was in the way. This was aroused by the fact that Russia exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949, that same year China (the world’s biggest population) fell to Communism. It seemed like half of Europe was under

Physical and cognitive development in adolescence free essay sample

In the audio news story about high school drop outs (the one that focused on giving Fs), the teacher reported that since she arrived at Robeson _her standards have dropped dramatically_. Question 2 According to the video that you saw on teen pregnancy, they suggested that a major difference between Latinas and other ethnic groups was that _Latinas were much more likely to intentionally get pregnant than girls of other ethnic groups_. Question 3 Sheila is 13 and finally understands algebra. She tried to learn algebra when she was in 5th grade but just couldnt figure out what x was. What cognitive change has taken place that has allowed her to understand algebra now that she is older? _abstract thinking_. Question 4 Deepali knows that when she is angry, she often makes poor decisions. She also understands that theres often not just one right answer, but instead that it depends on the situation. Deepali is exhibiting _postformal thought_. Question 5 Jamal just woke up and has discovered that his sheets are wet. He realizes that he has had his first wet dream. This is the first time he has ever ejaculated. Jamal has just experienced _spermarche_. Question 6 According to the powerpoint slides the factors that may contribute to the lower age of menarche include _obesity_. Question 7 Lucinda has a 13 year old daughter who is pregnant. She is devastated. Based on what you have learned in class what can she encourage in her daughter to give her daughter and grandchild the best chances of success in life? _make sure her daughter gets an education_. Question 8 Although Angelo would like to believe that people do NOT judge him based on how he looks and instead judge him only based on the content of his personality, he knows that this is not always the case. As a result Angelo is always sure to dress appropriately for occasions in which he needs to create positive impressions on others. Angelo is showing _postformal thought_. Question 9 When Sergei who is 30 looks at other peoples facial expressions he uses his _prefrontal cortex_ and when Dennis who is 14 looks at other peoples facial expressions he uses his _amygdala_. Because of this Dennis is more likely to _misinterpret negative expressions as being angry_. Question 10 Bella is 8 years old and has just gotten her first period. Because Bella is an early maturing girl, there is a higher likelihood that she will _develop breast cancer later on in life_. Question 11 In the audio news story about high school drop outs (the one that focused on the Chicago Public School project), the focus of the new program to try to reduce dropout rates is  ­_prevention ­_. Question 12 Rachel has just started going through puberty. The beginning of her period is a _primary sex characteristic_ and the underarm hair that she has discovered is a _secondary sex characteristic_. Question 13 Gerard is thinking of discussing puberty and sex with his 11 year old son. He is not sure though about whether or not he wants to have this conversation. According to what we discussed in the PowerPoint slides and the clips that you saw on the subject, which of the following is a valid reason why it is important for him to have this conversation with his son? _All of the above_. Question 14 The dropout rate in the city of Chicago is _more than 50%_. Question 15 Mrs. Knobel wants to use Piagets theory to teach her high school sophomore anatomy and physiology. Which of the following would be the teaching technique most consistent with Piaget? _She has her students do a lab in which they themselves examine the anatomy and physiology of a frog_. Question 16 Natasha is 15 years old and her boyfriend is trying to pressure her into having sex. Which of the following would be a factor that would decrease the likelihood of Natasha having sex with her boyfriend? Having a higher IQ_. Question 17 Rebecca is 16 years old and is showing typical adolescent egocentrism. This means that she _believes she is special and unique and that others cannot understand her_. Question 18 Nicola is going through puberty. What is happening to her hormones? _Her estrogen levels are increasing and her testosterone levels are increasing as well_. Question 19 According to the video that you saw on teen pregnancy, they suggested that one of the biggest ways to prevent teen pregnancy was _to make sure that parents are involved in their lives_. Question 20 Rashid has just started going through puberty. His first ejaculation is a _primary sex characteristic_ and his facial hair is a _secondary sex characteristic_. Question 21 In the audio news story about high school drop outs (the one about the young man Demetrius), a common problem for young men is _anger management.

Minimum Wage in Saudi Arabia and Other Countries

Introduction The national wage structure influences socioeconomic indicators such as poverty and unemployment levels. It specifies the statutory minimum wages for the low-tier workforce in commerce, industry, and other sectors. Nations that have ratified the ILO conventions have mechanisms and procedures for setting the minimum wage in line with their socioeconomic development policies. The minimum wage is the lowest statutory limit of remuneration for wage earners in different sectors or regions.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Minimum Wage in Saudi Arabia and Other Countries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In Saudi, in a bid to foster Saudization, the labour ministry sanctioned a monthly minimum wage of $800 in 2012, causing a shift in labour demand and supply (Saudi Ministry of Labour 2). This research paper examines the notion of fair wage and the impact of minimum wage policies on the Saudi vs. Mal aysia’s labour markets. It also explores the correlation between higher wages and workforce productivity. Fair Wage The minimum wage delimits the lowest remuneration sufficient to meet family needs, taking into account the economic indicators, type of occupation, and collective bargaining considerations (â€Å"The World Factbook: Saudi Arabia† par. 8). Nations reserve the discretion, under the ILO convention number 131, to fix statutory minimum wage rates through a consultative process involving social actors from different industries or sectors (â€Å"The World Factbook: Saudi Arabia† par. 14). Therefore, minimum wages may differ depending on the type of sector or enterprise. Fair wage encompasses better working conditions, employment benefits, and social security to reduce income inequalities and improve living standards. The key attributes of fair wage include regularity of the payment, lump-sum pay, and non-discriminatory practices. A fair wage is a product of an impartial wage structure that considers not only variables such as job skills, competencies, and professional experience, but also the working conditions of the workforce. The concept of fairness in the minimum wage also discourages the practice of subjecting workers to long working hours. Therefore, a fair wage is the minimum living wage that â€Å"just share of the fruits of progress† and improved performance (International Labour Office [ILO] 103). In this respect, the fair wage expands the concepts of the living wage and minimum wage to include the conditions of work. The minimum wages in the production industry vary widely even among manufacturers involved in the same line of business. In 2014, the global minimum wage for the clothing and textile sectors averaged 35% and 25% lower than the overall rate in the production industry (â€Å"The World Factbook: Saudi Arabia† par. 24).Advertising Looking for research paper on labor law? Let's see if we can hel p you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Salary levels varied between â‚ ¬752 and â‚ ¬1,442 for skilled and unskilled workers, respectively. In most countries, textile sector wages are substantially higher than clothing sector wages (â€Å"The World Factbook: Saudi Arabia† par. 26). The differences stem from the fact that public agencies set a different rate for each sector. A key attribute of a fair wage is non-discrimination of workers. In countries like Cambodia, male workers earned 13.3% more than their female counterparts between 2004 and 2008 did, contravening the concept of fair wage (â€Å"The World Factbook: Saudi Arabia† par. 17). Male workers, in both clothing and textile factories, occupy managerial roles, and thus, earn better compensation than female workers receive. The ILO requires countries to create laws that protect workers against excessive work hours, entitle them to annual leave, and provide overtime compensation (92). Th us, minimum wages in the textile and clothing factories negate the fair wage concept as employees work long hours without overtime compensation and do not receive the recommended leave days. A Comparison of Minimum Wage Policies: Saudi Arabia vs. Malaysia Saudi Arabia In 2011, the Saudi Ministry of Labour launched the Nataqat policy to boost the population of locals in the workforce and reduce unemployment. The Nataqat, which is Arabic for ‘zones’, groups firms in Saudi, including multinational companies, into four categories, â€Å"red, yellow, green, and platinum† based on the proportion of Saudi nationals employed (Saudi Ministry of Labour 5). Depending on the category, a firm can enjoy certain privileges or receive sanctions (red zone) for employing a disproportionate number of expats. The policy has increased the demand for Saudi professionals and increased the minimum wage rate, causing the demand curve to move to the right. The effect of this policy has ha d on the demand curve can be illustrated as shown in Graph 1 below. Graph 1: The effect of the Nataqat policy on minimum wage Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Minimum Wage in Saudi Arabia and Other Countries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Before 2012, Saudi Arabia had no policy to guide minimum wage rates across various sectors (Saudi Ministry of Labour 2). In 2012, the Saudi government set a statutory monthly rate of $800 for both public servants and private sector employees. Subsequently, the Saudi Ministry of Labour created a legislation demanding that all Saudi nationals employed in private firms be remunerated over the minimum wage for a company to qualify for Nitaqat privileges (6). In this respect, most Saudi workers earn an income exceeding $800 per month. The higher minimum wage encouraged the Saudis to work. The competitive wages coupled with the favourable Nataqat policy had a dual effect o f driving the demand for Saudi labour force to the right and reducing unemployment levels as shown in Graph 2 below. Graph 2: The effect of minimum wage policy on labour demand The Saudi authorities implemented stricter work permit laws for foreign workers in 2012. Expatriates pay up to $650 per annum to receive a one-year renewable work permit (Saudi Ministry of Labour 4). The same law also prohibits them from switching employers in the middle of their contract. These laws led to an increase in the supply of local labour force while that of expatriates declined by up to 20% in one year (â€Å"The World Factbook: Saudi Arabia† par. 6). The implementation of these initiatives led to an increase in the minimum wages as well as the demand for local workers. Graph 3: The effect of employment statutes on labour supply Advertising Looking for research paper on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The minimum wage rate implemented in Saudi has led to an increase in the supply of local workers. However, the Nitaqat and stricter laws that limit the number of expats in the country have increased the demand for Saudi workers. Malaysia The Malaysian government adopted different minimum wage laws in 2013 for various regions. Accordingly, the monthly minimum wage stands at â€Å"RM900 or $216 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM800 or $192 for Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan† (Yuen 19). The policy aims at promoting the standards of living of 27% of the workforce and their households while incentivising investment inflows. The multiple rates have increased the minimum wage of agricultural sector workers across Malaysia. The policy has also enhanced labour efficiency and participation, eliminating market distortions (Yuen 21). Unlike Saudi, Malaysia’s unemployment levels have remained low since implementing the policy while the demand for labour continues to rise. Yuen attributes t his trend to Malaysia’s strong economic structures and a stable labour market (23). Therefore, Malaysia’s minimum wage policy has caused the demand curve to shift to the right while the unemployment levels have remained low, indicating that the supply of the workforce matches the demand. Unlike Saudi Arabia, Malaysia has a low proportion of foreign workers. Therefore, Malaysia does not have the unemployment problem (surplus labour force) experienced by Saudi Arabia. The influx of foreign workers into Saudi increases labour supply, affecting minimum wage rates. Nonlocal workers from low-income countries are preferred to the Saudis by multinational enterprises because they earn lower wages than their Saudi counterparts do. However, policy initiatives such as the Nitaqat have the potential of limiting the number of expatriates entering Saudi to stabilise the labour market. Strategies for Solving the Low-Wage Problem Countries employ a variety of mechanisms ranging from pe rsuasion to sanctions to address minimum wage challenges. Persuasion centres on the concepts of ‘fair play’ in minimum wage matters. Public authorities use persuasion as a strategy to build a â€Å"culture of compliance† among employers (ILO 77). Persuasive actions can occur at interpersonal or societal level. For example, interpersonal discussions between the US authorities and coal-mining firms in the 1980s enhanced compliance with fair wage and safety provisions (ILO 92). Persuasive processes can also occur at the societal level whereby employers who fail to meet the minimum wage requirements are depicted as unfair and exploitative. In the US, the government promoted the living wage in the 1990s as the â€Å"means of achieving individual independence† (ILO 81). In response, county authorities enacted laws requiring local firms to raise their wage level above the national minimum wage. Countries also establish minimum wage regulations to enhance complian ce. The minimum wage is arrived at through a consultative process involving the government, firms, workers’ unions, and social actors, making it legally binding. The collective bargaining process yields a mutually agreed rate that is institutionalised by the public authorities. The process enhances compliance because it entails binding agreements as opposed to top-down federal regulations. For example, the Uruguayan government, in 2006, established wage councils charged with the responsibility of minimum wage fixing and review (ILO 55). The intention was to tame plummeting minimum wage levels and improve the standards of living. The approach saw the monthly minimum wage nearly double (176%) between 2000 and 2008 (ILO 118). The tripartite wage fixing process in Uruguay helped bridge the income gap between male and female workers and regions. It also ensured a common understanding of the minimum wage regulations by employers and employees. In this regard, the country implemente d a national minimum wage system, as opposed to a sector-specific wage to solve its low wage problems. Besides regulation, governments use capacity-building measures to foster compliance. Employers and workers receive training to build their capacity to comply with the minimum wage law. This strategy empowers workers and enhances their understanding of employee rights. Public authorities and trade unions spearhead capacity-building initiatives in the US and the UK to increase minimum wage awareness in key sectors such as hospitality (ILO 121). The initiatives primarily centre on minimum wage implementation and working conditions. The aim is to prevent underpayment stemming from the lack of information about the minimum wage and improve the enforcement of labour standards in at-risk industries. Governments also use labour inspections and monitoring to enhance compliance with the statutory minimum wage. Labour inspection entails monitoring the compliance of a firm with wage rates to i dentify and punish non-compliant employers (ILO 119). Workers and unions can also monitor the employers’ compliance with labour standards. Arbitration councils also exist to resolve disputes out of court. In the US and Switzerland, tripartite arbitration councils comprising of representatives of the government, workers, and firms examine collective agreements and make determinations related to minimum wage violations. Minimum wage violations attract legal sanctions, including hefty fines, in countries that have ratified the ILO conventions. The fines are meant to deter non-compliance with minimum wage provisions. Usually, non-compliant employers are forced to give a payback compensation equivalent to the minimum salary multiplied by the number of times the offence has been repeated (ILO 116). In the US, criminal prosecution is possible for offenders breaching the minimum wage provisions. Besides sanctions, boycott campaigns and blacklisting of firms constitute other effective tools for enforcing the minimum wage law in the US. Higher Wages and Productivity Labour market trends indicate that the wages paid out to workers are not commensurate with the national productivity (gross output) levels. Labour productivity is the â€Å"output value produced by a worker, a firm, a sector, or a country per a unit of labour input† (Biesebroeck 61). Outputs can be the physical products that come from a production process, sales, or revenue. Labour input measures the amount of work or hours worked depending on the sector and skills required and adjusting for energy requirements and raw materials. In neo-Keynesian models, factors that affect worker productivity also influence wages. In this regard, a decline in productivity will affect employment and wage levels (Biesebroeck 65). Even in inelastic labour demand and supply curves, productivity is equivalent to market wage (price) levels as illustrated in Graph 4 below. Therefore, in the long-term, growth in produ ctivity will lead to a rise in the average wage levels. Changes in labour demand (D1 to D2) increase wages, which, in turn, translates into productivity growth as employees are motivated to work more. Conversely, a decline in demand reduces wages, affecting labour productivity. Graph 4: The correlation between labour supply/demand and wages (P) Factors such as worker heterogeneity and location of work affect the wage-productivity relationship. Workers occupy different positions based on their skills, and therefore, productivity is different for each class of employees (Biesebroeck 72). The location of work also determines the wages a firm pays its employees in line with the country’s minimum wage laws. In Saudi, the wages are higher for foreign and local workers. The adoption of strict employment laws has reduced labour supply, raising the demand for local unskilled workers. In this regard, despite the competitive wages, productivity may decline in Saudi because of the semi- skilled local labour force. In the long term, wages may decline in response to lower productivity. Conclusion Countries implement minimum wage policies to improve the standards of living of the labour force and stabilise the labour market. Saudi’s minimum wage policies have evidently reduced unemployment in the country. Wages have also increased, as demand and supply remain steady. However, the labour laws may affect productivity, leading to a drop in average wages. Works Cited Biesebroeck, Johannes. How Tight is the Link between Wages and Productivity? A  Survey of the Literature. Geneva: International Labour Organization, 2015. Print. International Labour Office [ILO]. Minimum Wage Systems. Geneva: International Labour Conference, 2014. Print. Saudi Ministry of Labour. Annual Statistics Report. Riyadh: Saudi Ministry of Labour, 2012. Print. The World Factbook: Saudi Arabia 2013. Web. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sa.html. Yuen, Joyce. â €Å"Minimum Wage Policy in Malaysia: Its Impact and the Readiness of Firms.† World Applied Sciences Journal 28 (2013): 19-26. Print. This research paper on Minimum Wage in Saudi Arabia and Other Countries was written and submitted by user Al1a to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.