Grammar Translation Method free essay sample

It was also hoped that, through the study of the grammar of the target language, students would become more familiar with the grammar of their native language and that this familiarity would help them speak and write their native language better. Finally, it was thought that foreign language learning would help students grow intellectually; it was recognized that students would probably never use the target language, but the mental exercise of learning it would be beneficial anyway. Grammar Translation dominated European and foreign language teaching from the 1840s to the 1940s, and in modified form it continues to be widely used in some parts of the world today. At its best, as Howatt (1984) points out, it was not necessarily the horror that its critics depicted it as. Its worst excesses were introduced by those who wanted to demonstrate that the study of French or German was no less rigorous than the study of classical languages. We will write a custom essay sample on Grammar Translation Method or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This resulted in the type of Grammar-Translation courses remembered with distaste by thousands of school learners, for whom foreign language learning meant a tedious experience of memorizing endless lists of unusable grammar rules and vocabulary and attempting to produce perfect translations of stilted or literary prose. Although the Grammar-Translation Method often creates frustration for students, it makes few demands on teachers. It is still used in situations where understanding literary texts is the primary focus of foreign language study and there is little need for a speaking knowledge of the language. Contemporary texts for the teaching of foreign languages at college level often reflect Grammar-Translation principles. These texts are frequently the products of people trained in literature rather than in language teaching or applied linguistics. Consequently, though it may be true to say that the Grammar-Translation Method is still widely practiced, it has no advocates. It is a method for which there is no theory. There is no literature that offers a rationale or justification for it or that attempts to relate it to issues in linguistics, psychology, or educational theory [2, p. ]. In the mid and late of 19th century opposition to the Grammar-Translation Method gradually developed in several European countries. This reform movement laid the foundations for the development of new ways of teaching languages and raised controversies that have continued to the present day. Initial Principles of Grammar-Translation Method This has been just a brief introduction to the Grammar-Translati on Method, but it is probably true that this method is not new to many of you. You may have studied a language in this way, or you may be teaching with this method right now. Whether this is true or not, lets have some observations about the Grammar-Translation Method, identifying principle characteristics of that method. ? A fundamental purpose of learning a foreign language is to be able to read its literature. Literary language is superior to spoken language. Students study of the foreign culture is limited to its literature and fine arts. ? An important goal is for students to be able to translate each language into the other. If students can translate from one language into another, they are considered successful language learners. ? The ability to communicate in the target language is not a goal of oreign language instruction. ? The primary skills to be developed are reading and writing. Little attention is given to speaking and listening, and almost none to pronunciation. ? The teacher is the authority in the classroom. It is very important that students get the correct answer. ? It is possible to find native language equivalents for all target lan guage words. ? Learning is facilitated through attention to similarities between the target language and the native language. ? It is important for students to learn about the form of the target language. ? Deductive application of an explicit grammar rule is a useful pedagogical technique. Language learning provides good mental exercise. ? Students should be conscious of the grammatical rules of the target language. ? Wherever possible, verb conjugations and other grammatical paradigms should be committed to memory. Reviewing the Principles The principles of the Grammar-Translation Method are organized below by answering the ten questions. Not all the questions are addressed by the Grammar-Translation Method; we will list all the questions, however, so that a comparison among the methods will be easier to make. 1. What are the goals of teachers who use the Grammar-Translation Method? According to the teachers who use the Grammar-Translation Method, a fundamental purpose of learning a foreign language is to be able to read literature written in the target language. To do this, students need to learn about the grammar rules and vocabulary of the target language. In addition, it is believed that studying a foreign language provides students with good mental exercise which helps develop their minds. 2. What is the role of the teacher? What is the role of the students? The roles are very traditional. The teacher is the authority in the classroom. The students do as he says so they can learn what he knows. 3. What are some characteristics of the teaching/learning process? Students are taught to translate from one language to another. Often what they translate are readings in the target language about some aspect of the culture of the foreign language community. Students study grammar deductively; that is, they are given the grammar rules and examples, are told to memorize them, and then are asked to apply the rules to other examples. They also learn grammatical paradigms such as verb conjugations. They memorize native language equivalents for foreign language vocabulary words. 4. What is the nature of student-teacher interaction? What is the nature of student-student interaction? Most of the interaction in the classroom is from the teacher to the students. There is little student initiation and little student-student interaction. 5. How are the feelings of the students dealt with? There are no principles of the method which relate to this area. 6. How is language viewed? How is culture viewed? Literary language is considered superior to spoken language and is therefore the language students study. Culture is viewed as consisting of literature and the fine arts. 7. What areas of language are emphasized? What language skills are emphasized? Vocabulary and grammar are emphasized. Reading and writing are the primary skills that the students work on. There is much less attention given to speaking and listening. Pronunciation receives little, if any, attention. 8. What is the role of the students native language? The meaning of the target language is made clear by translating it into the students native language. The language that is used in class is mostly the students native language. 9. How is evaluation accomplished? Written tests in which students are asked to translate from their native language to the target language or vice versa are often used. Questions about the foreign culture or questions that ask students to apply grammar rules are also common. 10. How does the teacher respond to student errors? Having the students get the correct answer is considered very important. If students make errors or dont know an answer, the teacher supplies them with the correct answer. Some Considerations about the Initial Techniques of Grammar-Translation Method There are some useful techniques associated with the Grammar-Translation Method. Below is an expanded description of some of these techniques. †¢ Translation of a Literary Passage Students translate a reading passage from the target language into their native language. The reading passage then provides the focus for several classes: vocabulary and grammatical structures in the passage are studied in subsequent lessons. The passage may be excerpted from some work from the target language literature, or a teacher may write a passage carefully designed to include particular grammar rules and vocabulary. The translation may be written or spoken or both. Students should not translate idioms and the like literally, but rather in a way that shows that they understand their meaning. Reading Comprehension Questions Students answer questions in the target language based on their understanding of the reading passage. Often the questions are sequenced so that the first group of questions asks for information contained within the reading passage. In order to answer the second group of questions, students will have to make inferences based on their understanding of the pass age. This means they will have to answer questions about the passage even though the answers are not contained in the passage itself. The third group of questions requires students to relate the passage to their own experience. Antonyms/Synonyms Students are given one set of words and are asked to find antonyms in the reading passage. A similar exercise could be done by asking students to find synonyms for a particular set of words. Or students might be asked to define a set of words based on their understanding of them as they occur in the reading passage. Other exercises that ask students to work with the vocabulary of the passage are also possible (Allen 1983). †¢ Cognates Students are taught to recognize cognates by learning the spelling or sound patterns that correspond between the languages. Students are also asked to memorize words that look like cognates but have meanings in the target language that are different from those in the native language. This technique, of course, would only be useful in languages that share cognates. †¢ Deductive Application of Rule Grammar rules are presented with examples. Exceptions to each rule are also noted. Once students understand a rule, they are asked to apply it to some different examples. †¢ Fill-in-the-blanks Students are given a series of sentences with words missing. They fill in the blanks with new vocabulary items or with items of a particular grammar type, such as prepositions or verbs with different tenses. †¢ Memorization Students are given lists of target language vocabulary words and their native language equivalents and are asked to memorize them. Students are also required to memorize grammatical rules and grammatical paradigms such as verb conjugations. †¢ Use Words in Sentences In order to show that students understand the meaning and use of a new vocabulary item, they make up sentences in which they use the new words. †¢ Composition The teacher gives the students a topic to write about in the target language. The topic is based upon some aspect of the reading passage of the lesson. Sometimes, instead of creating a composition, students are asked to prepare a precis of the reading passage. p. s. It does virtually nothing to enhance a students communicative ability in the language. On the other hand, one can understand why Grammar Translation is so popular. It requires few specialized skills on the part of teachers. Tests of grammar rules and of translations are easy to construct and can be objectively scored.

Sleeping Bags Essays - Camping Equipment, Insulators, Bags, Bedding

Sleeping Bags Essays - Camping Equipment, Insulators, Bags, Bedding Sleeping Bags Choosing a Sleeping Bag Listed below are descriptions of the key characteristics differentiating Sleeping Bags. Price We list the Average Street Price (ASP) for a sleeping bag. Although ASP may be higher than the best retail price you can find, it is a good indication of what you may pay at a typical retailer. When an ASP is not available we list the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price. (MSRP). The price listed is for the standard size sleeping bag. Often there are long (and occaisonally short) versions of the bag as well. The long version typically adds an extra 10 to 20 dollars to the price tag, while the short version is either the same price or a few dollars less. Range: $20 to almost $800. 80% of sleeping bags are between $80 and $450, with a median price of $180. Brand Brand is usually the name of the company that makes the particular sleeping bag, although sometimes companies will produce several brands. Shape Have you ever had the desire to be wrapped up tight just like King Tut? Then look at the mummy shaped sleeping bag, which is specially designed to form fit the body. The mummy is the most popular shape for sleeping bags, with the advantage of being very compact and warm. Still, some people get a little claustrophobic with no room to toss and turn, in which case the semi-rectangular bag is a good choice. It gives you space to store a few things in the bag and move about, without sacrificing the tapered foot area or the mummy-style hood. However remember it is less heat-efficient and a bit heavier than the mummy shape. Rectangular bags are the bulkiest and heaviest of the bags, but they are cheap, roomy, and easy to zip together to form two-person bags. Range: Mummy, Semi-Rectangular, Rectangular Temperature Rating Temperature rating is a hotly debated subject in the outdoor world. It is the indicator of the lowest temperatures (in Fahrenheit) you can use the bag in and still be comfortable. There are no standardized ratings and so each manufacturer provides an estimate. In any case, this number may be different for you personally, according to whether you are a hot or cold sleeper. Use this number as a guideline, but keep in mind your own sleeping habits and choose conservatively according to the coldest weather you think you will encounter when camping. Range: -65 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill Type Do you prefer down or synthetic insulation? This is the big choice that everyone faces when buying a sleeping bag. Down fanatics will tell you there's absolutely no replacement for a sleeping bag filled with the down from a goose. Down bags are generally warmer, lighter, more durable and more compactible than synthetic bags. They mold to your body to fill the voids that steal heat and compress down to a little pouch at the bottom of your backpack. However, down bags are cold when they get wet, don't dry as quickly as synthetic bags, and can only be dry-cleaned. They are also more expensive. Synthetic bags are cheaper, machine washable, and more water resistant (it's even said they're comfortable when wet, although no bag is comfortable if soaked through). They dry quickly, resist mold and are non-allergenic. If you do a lot of camping in rainy conditions, a synthetic might be the way to go. However if money is no option and you want a high quality sleeping bag that will last three times longer than a synthetic bag, take a good look at down. Range: Down or Synthetic. Water Resistant Shell A wet sleeping bag is a miserable experiencecold and clammy to sleep in and sometimes difficult to dry. Some shells are made of a water resistant material that helps keep moisture out (blocking the wind as well). This is great in difficult weather. However, water resistant shells have their negatives as well. They are not as breathable as non-resistant shells, which means that you may be protected from the elements on the outside, but soaking your sleeping bag with sweat from the inside. They are also more expensive than the non-resistant shells, particularly the DryLoft shell, which can add over $100 to the price of the bag. When deciding if a water resistant shell is important to you, consider the weather you plan to be camping in to help you decide if the investment is worth it. Range: Yes or No. Insulated Draft

Selecting and Model and Anticipating Barriers posts Assignment

Selecting and Model and Anticipating Barriers posts - Assignment Example In matters of oral health, â€Å"...perceived severity...and...Perceived benefits† should be the main concepts in promotion of oral hygiene. Perceived severity of oral problems is usually low as oral problems are not perceived as fatal; however, quality of life is significantly lowered e.g. through pain and a problem like halitosis limits social interaction. Dentists thus can be involved in HBM by showing the benefits of prevention and healthy living; especially financial benefits and avoidance of pain (Maurer & Smith, 2009). I agree that â€Å"People know what is good for their health but it is difficult for them to change their behavior.† This might stem from them not knowing the actual steps needed to lead healthier lives in spite of them having insight to the health problems they face. By integrating people in decision-making, they are part of the solution thus likely to adopt change than when they feel the proposed changes are alien to them (Center for Disease Control and

An Empirical Project on The Effect of Variable A on Variable B Research Paper

An Empirical Project on The Effect of Variable A on Variable B - Research Paper Example In this research, the two variables in the investigation is the price of a pair of shoe and its demand in the market. To achieve this, several tools would be in place to determine whether there is indeed a relationship between the price and demand of a commodity. The tool used in this research is the price of elasticity of demand. In calculating the price elasticity of demand, the tool exploits the use of other several factors which have a role in determining demand and price of a commodity. The price of a single type of shoe can influence the demand for that pair in a number of ways. Price is in different stimuli that affect demand. To come up with the right conclusion on the effect of price on demand, certain price factors to be considered include the average price, nominal price, real price, nominal price, price levels and price changes (Landsburg 18). To explore such dimensions of price, it would depend on the data available. The price level refers to the price that is set on a c ommodity in a certain region. To approximate the price level, it is important to use the price index. The nominal value is the value of the commodity in terms of real currency. The real value is a measure of the market purchasing power after some period of time. In determining the estimates for the price elasticity of demand, the following model was in use; wGi= aGi + bGln xi + qGHln pH + †¢ zi + uGi. ... This formula could manipulate the amount of data that would be used to determine the price elasticity of demand for a pair of shoe in the market. An important tool to determine the relationship between price and demand is the study of the price elasticity of demand. The price elasticity of demand is an economic tool that shows the change that exists when there is a change in quantity demanded, on the price of the commodity. In addition, the price elasticity of demand could give a percentage change in the quantity in demand, when the price of the commodity changes by a single percentage. Most of the goods in the market would have a negative price elasticity, thus a negative price elasticity of demand. In many cases, the sign is not that important when analyzing the data. With a price elasticity of demand that is less than one absolute value, the demand is inelastic. This is interpreted as the change that occur at the price have little effect on the quantity that the market would deman d of the good. When the price elasticity of demand is more than one percent, the demand for the commodity is elastic, that is, a slight change in the price of the commodity would result to great change on the good’s quantity demanded (Landsburg 478). The above diagram shows a perfect inelastic price elasticity of demand. (Landsburg 489) The above diagram shows a perfect elasticity. The price elasticity of demand for a pair of shoes would depend on the following factors; if the substitute good is available, the percentage of income, necessity and other factors. As stated above, the price elasticity of demand for a good relates the price of a commodity to its demand. Therefore, when calculating the price elasticity of demand for a pair of shoe

Screening of Sugar Cane Alley and Eve's Bayou Essay

Screening of Sugar Cane Alley and Eve's Bayou - Essay Example It is one of the French films, which were directed by Palcy Euzhan in 1989. It has its setting in Martinique during the 1930s. The film revolves around the story of the mistreatment by the whites as they worked as slaves during the 1930s. The film is mainly based on the semi-autobiographical novel that was compiled by Zobel Joseph (Rue). The cinematography that has been used in the movie consists of tilt-shift photography. The cinematographer applied medium sized lenses to ensure the control of the plane of focus orientation making certain parts of the image appear sharp. This is the reason for the different shapes and lightings of the image in the film. Part of the film also reveals the traditional cinematography with dull brown outlooks. The music in the movie is has slow rhythm and low tone that allows for the clear narration of the movie hence facilitating the comprehension of the viewers. The teacher, Mr. Rock has the most influence on Jose. His influence is academic and racial related (Rue). He accuses him falsely because of plagiarism when he writes an essay explaining the suffering of the slaves in the sugar cane plantations. I identify myself with Jose. He is focused and is forgiving. He actually marches my traits. Formal education is portrayed in the film through the school learning system. Scholarships are other examples or elements found in the formal education. The movie also shows that formal education does not allow for copying of other people’s ideas (plagiarism), therefore, it stresses on creativity and absolute originality. Joe runs away from school after being accused of plagiarism. Informal education is shown on the movie through the teachings of Joe by his grandmother. This form of education does not require class work or education.... Joe runs away from school after being accused of plagiarism. Informal education is shown on the movie through the teachings of Joe by his grandmother. This form of education does not require class work or education. It is not also expensive like formal one hence no scholarships for it. Contrast, in the film, is portrayed through the depiction of class difference in the film. Joe’s grandmother, Tine is one of the extreme poor individuals in this society. There are extremely rich people in the same society, for instance, Leopold’s parents who are landowners. The filmmaker has employed his tactics and experience in ensuring that the entire film is not about the sentiments of Jose’s education, through the inclusion of his grandmother. The way Tine is treated is meant to inform the viewers on the core theme of the film, which is racism, and class disparities during the 1930s American societies. Leopold and his parents have been portrayed as opportunistic individuals. They offer Jose food in return for his labor service in their farm making him miss classes. This, in turn, is a portrayal that the society consists of class disparities and unfairness reins the entire society. The scene with Jose and Medouze is an educative one whereby Jose learns of the past and the experience undergone by his grandparents and ancestors (Rue). Despite being the fact that the movie is based on the novel, there is a distinct between the novel and the movie. The difference is on the settings of the two. The settings are on two different places and time. The movie was produced in the 1960s whereas the book was published earlier than that. Gender issues have been revealed in the movie as one of

Renewable And Non Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable And Non Renewable Energy Sources The world provides everything to human. The resources make people live better and better. There are many forms of resources; different resources have completely different functions and effects to people. People should protect them because some of them are not renewable. I will introduce the different types of resources, they are renewable or non-renewable and a lot of things about environment in this research. More and more industries are building up in the world. The pollutions are more serious than before. People cannot live without nice environment, so we should get some solutions for those pollutions. If people do not stop making pollutions, the consequences will be horrible and bad to human. Because everything is connected, no one can escape from it. World is our home, we should understand it, respect it and love it. Resources can be separated to be renewable and non-renewable. Or resources can be separated to be those five kinds: mineral resources, energy resources, land resources, water resources and biological resources. Mineral resources: All of minerals are non-renewable resource. Minerals include all materials extracted from the earth. Mineral resources include: Metallic minerals: iron, copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, tin and so onà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Non-metallic minerals like limestone, sandstone, sand, clay and so onà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ South Africas wealth has been built on the countrys vast resources nearly 90% of the platinum metals on Earth, 80% of the manganese, 73% of the chrome, 45% of the vanadium and 41% of the gold. Energy resources in the world: Coal-Non-renewable. Oil and gas-Non-renewable. Coal, oil and gas are called fossil fuels because they have been formed from the organic remains of prehistoric plants and animals. Thats why they are non-renewable. Except those three kinds of energy resources, most of other energy resources are renewable resources. Name of Energy Resources Non-renewable or Renewable Wind power Renewable Wave power Renewable Solar power Renewable Nuclear power Non-renewable Tidal power Renewable Hydroelectric power Renewable Geothermal power Renewable Bio mass Renewable Pumped storage Renewable Land resources-Renewable Water resources-Renewable Biological resources-Renewable Sustainability of energy resources: Definition: Sustainable energy is about using energy cleverly and using energy generated from pure sources and clean technologies. Using sustainable energy is benefit for humans present and future. Being efficient with our energy will reduce energy bills, reduce the amount of energy we need to produce in the first place and decrease pollutions. In fact, sustainable energy is not just about using renewable energy; perhaps it is about using energy wisely and introducing energy efficiency measures. Energy demand A number of factors are clearly. The worlds population will continue to grow for several decades at least. Energy demand increases faster and faster, and the proportion supplied by electricity will also grow faster still. The main question is how people generate that electricity? According to surveys, these days, 64% comes from fossil fuels, 16% from nuclear fission and 19% from hydro, with very little from other renewable in worldwide. Sources of energy Renewable energy like wind and solar are appropriate first consideration in sustainable development, because apart from constructing the plant, there is no destroy of mineral resources and no direct air or water pollutions. But these free sources cannot be the only option. Renewable sources other than hydro notably wind and solar, are diffuse and unreliable by nature of their occurrence. Except for renewable resources, another most important thing is what resources have most abundant and less polluting. The criteria for any acceptable energy supply will continue to be cost and safety, as well as environmental considerations. Energy resources There is abundant coal in many parts of the world, but with the constraints imposed by concern about global warming, it is likely that these will increasingly their large-scale use for electricity production will be scaled down. Current proposals for clean coal technologies may change this outlook. The main technology involves using the coal to make hydrogen from water by a two-stage gasification process, then burying the carbon dioxide and burning the hydrogen. Elements of the technology are proven but the challenge is to bring the cost of this down sufficiently to compete with nuclear power. Natural gas is also reasonably abundant but is so valuable for direct use after being reticulated to the point where heat is required, and as a chemical feedstock, that its large-scale use for power generation makes little sense and is arguably unsustainable. Fuel for nuclear power is abundant, and if well-proven but currently uneconomic fast breeder technology is used, or thorium becomes a nuclear fuel, the supply is almost limitless. The Hydrogen problems Hydrogen is expected to come into great demand as a transport fuel which does not contribute to global warming. It may be used in fuel cells to produce electricity or directly in internal combustion motors. Fuel cells are at an early stage of technological development and still require substantial, research and development input, although they will be an important technology in the future. Hydrogen may be provided by steam reforming of natural gas by thermonuclear processes, or by electrolysis of water. Advantages and disadvantages of energy resources: Name of energy resources Advantages Fossil fuels Very large amounts of electricity, fairly cheaply. Gas-fired power stations are very efficient. The power station can be built almost anywhere. Wind power Wind is free, wind farms need no fuel. Wave power The energy is free no fuel needed, no waste produced. Not expensive to operate and maintain. Solar power Solar energy is free and no pollutions. Nuclear power Nuclear power costs about the same as coal, so its not expensive to make. Produces small wastes. Nuclear power is reliable. Tidal power Once youve built it, tidal power is free. It produces no greenhouse gases or other waste. It produces electricity reliably. Not expensive to maintain. Hydroelectric power Once the dam is built, the energy is virtually free. No waste or pollution produced. Much more reliable than wind, solar or wave power. Geothermal power Geothermal energy does not produce any pollution, and does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. Once youve built a geothermal power station, the energy is almost free. Bio mass It makes sense to use waste materials where we can. The fuel tends to be cheap. Less demand on the fossil fuels. Pumped storage Little effect on the landscape. No pollution or waste Conclusion: Most of those energy resources have below advantages: No pollution. No waste. Cheap some of them free. Build up stations easily. Power is reliable. Name of energy resources Disadvantages Fossil fuels Burning any fossil fuel produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to the greenhouse effect, warming the Earth. Pollution. Wind power The wind is not always predictable. Suitable areas for wind-expensive. Can kill birds. Wave power Depends on the waves sometimes youll get loads Solar power Doesnt work at night. Very expensive to build solar power stations. Can be unreliable. Nuclear power Although not much waste is produced, it is very, very dangerous. Tidal power A barrage across an estuary is very expensive to build, and affects a very wide area. Only provides power for around 10 hours each day, when the tide is actually moving in or out. There are few suitable sites for tidal barrages Hydroelectric power The dams are very expensive to build. Building a large dam will flood a very large area upstream, causing problems for animals that used to live there. Water quality and quantity downstream can be affected, which can have an impact on plant life. Geothermal power The big problem is that there are not many places where you can build a geothermal power station. You need hot rocks of a suitable type, at a depth where we can drill down to them. Bio mass Collecting or growing the fuel in sufficient quantities can be difficult. We burn the biofuel, so it makes greenhouse gases just like fossil fuels do. Some waste materials are not available all year round. Pumped storage Expensive to build. Once its used, you cant use it again until youve pumped the water back up. Conclusion: Most of those energy resources have below disadvantages: Build up stations is expensive. Danger. Not easily to get power. Sometimes, bad weather will affect it. Pollution. Problems with resources: The major resources problems around the world: Natural resources are being degraded. The oil, the water, the old growth forests are all limited resources. They must be conserved for the most important future uses. Oil is necessary for the operation of all sorts of machinery, yet it is not being conserved but recklessly pumped out of the earth and sold to the highest bidder. Forest resources. In the early history, the earth is approximately 2/3 of the land is covered by forests. The area of forest nearly 76 million hectares. Now, world only has 36 hectares of forests because deforestation and forest clearing. The fresh water shortage. Human consumption of freshwater is increasing rapidly; it causes serious shortage of water resources. The freshwater resources on the earth are limited, and distribution is not balanced. Water shortages became very important problem to restrict many countries economy development especially the agricultural production. Drinkable water is increasing rare; indeed, it is sold in stores for the same price of colas. But underground water is needed for crops, and the underwater reserves are running out. Here, national and international management are required. Plowland decreases. Due to the population growth and the non-agricultural population increases, the land is almost zero. Meanwhile, many area face soil erosion and desertification of land degradation. Every year millions of hectares of arable land about loss. Desertification. The reasons are overgrazing, deforestation denudation and drought. Problem with resources in South Africa: The South African mining industry has been consistently churning out some of the worlds foremost natural resources, including precious metals such as gold and platinum. The world leader in platinum production, South Africa is suffering from an energy shortage. Two major shortages of resources are water and electricity in South Africa. Solutions: Firstly, citizens should save water and electricity. Secondly, South Africa government sets up more stations and use high developed technologies to use energy resources produce water and electricity. Finally, if SA does not have high technologies, it needs to buy them from other countries or scientists should start to make plans. Effect of mining on the environment: Mining has strong power to destructive to the environment. It is one of the main reason which causes of deforestation. In order to mine, people clear and burn trees and vegetations. The ground becomes completely bare, large scale mining operations use huge number of bulldozers and excavators to extract the metals and minerals from the soil. In order to cluster the extractions, they use chemicals such as cyanide and mercury. These chemicals go through tailings and are often discharged into rivers, streams, bays, and oceans. These pollutions contaminate all living organisms within the body of water and ultimately the people who depend on the fish for their main sources of protein and their economic livelihood. Small scale mining is equally devastating to the environment, if not more. There are two types of small scale mining ¼Ã…’land dredging and river dredging: Land dredging involves miners using a generator to dig a large hole in the ground. They use a high pressure hose to expose the gold-bearing layer of sand and clay. The gold bearing slurry is pumped into a sluice box, which collects gold particles, while mine tailings flow into either an abandoned mining pit or adjacent forest. When the mining pits fill with water from the tailings, they become stagnant water pools. These pools create a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other water-born insects. Malaria and other water-born diseases increase significantly whenever open pools of water are nearby. River dredging involves moving along a river on a platform or boat. The miners use a hydrolic suction hose and suction the gravel and mud as they move along the river. The gravel, mud, and rocks go through the tailings (pipes) and any gold fragments are collected on felt mats. The remaining gravel, mud, and rocks go back into the river, but in a different location than where it was originally suctioned. This creates problems for the river. The displaced gravel and mud disrupt the natural flow of the river. Fish and other living organisms often die and fishermen can no longer navigate in the obstructed rivers. Think about the fact that producing a single gold ring generates 20 tons of mine waste. Disadvantages of mining: It destroys forest and wetlands. It may mean that you have to cut down lots of trees just to get to the spot that has all the gold or iron ore. Underground coal mining can require the removal of almost an entire layer of material deep under the surface. When the timber supports collapse, this can lead to subsidence. The subsidence can mean damage to natural areas. It can even cause cracks in river beds, leading to loss of river flow. Some mining involves the inadvertent dispersal of heavy metals, such as lead, into the atmosphere. This can have serious health effects, including mental retardation in children. Asbestos mining causes the dispersal of asbestos into the environment. This will cause deaths among local residents and workers, often several decades later. Fortunately, the mining and use of asbestos are banned in most parts of the world. Industry and its exploitation of the resources: Gold: Gold is one of the most important roles in South Africas economy. A number of different techniques can be used to mine gold. The three most common methods in South Africa are panning, open cast and shaft mining. Panning Panning for gold is a manual technique that is used to sort gold from other sediments. Wide, shallow pans are filled with sand and gravel from river beds that may contain gold. Water is added and the pans are shaken. Open cast mining This is a form of surface mining. Surface layers of rock and sediments are removed so that the deeper gold rich layers can be reached. This type of mining is not suitable if the gold is buried very deep below the surface. Shaft mining South Africas thin but extensive gold reefs slope at an angle underneath the ground, and this means that some deposits are very deep and often difficult to reach. Shaft mining is needed to reach the gold ore. After the initial drilling, blasting and equipping of a mine shaft, tunnels are built leading outwards from the main shaft so that the gold reef can be reached. Iron: Iron is one of the most abundant metals on Earth. It is extracted from iron ore and is almost never found in its elemental form. Iron ores are usually rich in iron oxide minerals and may vary in colour from dark grey to rusty red. Iron mining and iron ore processing: One of the more common methods of mining for iron ore is open cast mining. Open cast mining is used when the iron ore is found near the surface. Once the ore has been removed, it needs to be crushed into fine particles before it can be processed further. As mentioned earlier, iron is commonly found in the form of iron oxides. To create pure iron, the ore must be smelted to remove the oxygen. Definition Smelting Smelting is a method used to extract a metal from its ore and then purify it. Smelting usually involves heating the ore and also adding a reducing agent (e.g. carbon) so that the metal can be freed from its ore. The bonds between iron and oxygen are very strong, and therefore it is important to use an element that will form stronger bonds with oxygen that the iron. A blast furnace is a huge steel container many metres high and lined with heat-resistant material. STEP 1: Production of carbon monoxide. STEP 2: Reduction of iron oxides takes place in a number of stages to produce iron. STEP 3: Fluxing: The flux is used to melt impurities in the ore. Phosphate: A phosphate is a salt of phosphoric acid. Phosphorus is seldom found in its pure elemental form, and phosphate therefore refers to a rock or ore that contains phosphate ions. Mining phosphates: Phosphate is found in beds in sedimentary rock, and has to be quarried to access the ore. A quarry is a type of open pit mine that is used to extract ore. In South Africa, the main phosphate producer is at the Palaborwa alkaline igneous complex, which produces about 3 million tons of ore per year. The ore is crushed into a powder and is then treated with sulfuric acid to form a superphosphate, which is then used as a fertilizer. In the equation below, the phosphate mineral is calcium phosphate. Coal: Coal is what is known as a fossil fuel. How coal is removed from the ground? Coal can be removed from the crust in a number of different ways. The most common methods used are strip mining, open cast mining and underground mining. Strip mining Strip mining is a form of surface mining that is used when the coal reserves are very shallow. The overburden (overlying sediment) is removed so that the coal seams can be reached. These sediments are replaced once the mining is finished, and in many cases, attempts are made to rehabilitate the area. Open cast mining Open cast mining is also a form of surface mining, but here the coal deposits are too deep to be reached using strip mining. One of the environmental impacts of open cast mining is that the overburden is dumped somewhere else away from the mine, and this leaves a huge pit in the ground. Underground mining Undergound mining is normally used when the coal seams are much deeper, usually at a depth greater than 40 m. As with shaft mining for gold, the problem with underground mining is that it is very dangerous, and there is a very real chance that the ground could collapse during the mining if it is not support. Pollution due to industry: Pollutants produces and the environment impact on the lithosphere and atmosphere include nitrogen cycle and the carbon cycle. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/AlfedPalmersmokestacks.jpg/260px-AlfedPalmersmokestacks.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution Major primary pollutants produced by industries include: Sulfur oxides Nitrogen oxides (NOx) especially nitrogen dioxide are emitted from high temperature combustion. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, non-irritating but very poisonous gas. It is a product by incomplete combustion of fuel such as natural gas, coal or wood. Carbon dioxide (CO2) a greenhouse gas emitted from combustion but is also a gas vital to living organisms. It is a natural gas in the atmosphere. Many of the largest polluters come from the chemical, pesticide, oil refining, petrochemical, metal smelting, iron and steel, and food processing industries. All are major users of energy that produce large amounts of waste products and pollution. Other industries have less potential impact but are still considered highly problematic when it comes to pollution. These industries include the textile, leather tanning, paint, plastics, pharmaceutical, and paper and pulp industries. Industries that are often outside the traditional manufacturing sector-but nevertheless contribute to environmental degradation-include the construction industry. Atmosphere: Air pollution is produced by industry. The plan sets overall national fixed emissions caps for industrial pollutants causing smog and acid rain. Air pollution can result in poor air quality, both in cities and the countryside. Some air pollutants make people sick, causing breathing problems and increasing the likelihood of cancer. Others are harmful to plants, animals, and the ecosystems in which they live. Some air pollutants return to Earth in the form of acid rain, which corrodes statues and buildings, damages crops and forests, and makes lakes and streams unsuitable for fish and other plant and animal life. Man-made air pollution is also changing the Earths atmosphere so that it lets in more harmful radiation from the Sun. Meanwhile, people release more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, preventing heat from escaping back into space and leading to a rise in global average temperatures. Global warming will raise sea levels and change climates all over the world. Some places will become hotter and drier, others wetter. The incidence of severe storms and flooding is likely to increase. Global warming will also affect food supply and increase the spread of tropical disease. Lithosphere: The lithosphere is the solid shell of a rocky planet called earth. That means the crust and the upper part of the mantle which is joined to the crust (see picture on the right). Under the lithosphere there is the asthenosphere, the weaker, hotter, and deeper part of the upper mantle. Nitrogen cycle: Four processes participate in the cycling of nitrogen through the biosphere: nitrogen fixation, decay, nitrification and denitrification Nitrogen Fixation The nitrogen molecule (N2) is quite inert. To break it apart so that its atoms can combine with other atoms requires the input of substantial amounts of energy. Decay The proteins made by plants enter and pass through food webs just as carbohydrates do. Nitrification Ammonia can be taken up directly by plants usually through their roots. However, most of the ammonia produced by decay is converted into nitrates. This is accomplished in two steps: Bacteria of the genus Nitrosomonas oxidize NH3 to nitrites (NO2à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢). Bacteria of the genus Nitrobacter oxidize the nitrites to nitrates (NO3à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢). Both soil and the ocean contain archaeal microbes, assigned to the Crenarchaeota, that convert ammonia to nitrites. Denitrification The three processes above remove nitrogen from the atmosphere and pass it through ecosystems. And denitrification reduces nitrates to nitrogen gas, thus replenishing the atmosphere. Carbon cycle Carbon exists in the nonliving environment as: Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and dissolved in water, carbonate rocks. Carbon enters the biotic world through the action of autotrophs like plants and algae, that use the energy of light to convert carbon dioxide to organic matter. Links to photosynthesis and to a small extent, chemoautotroph bacteria and archaea that do the same but use the energy derived from an oxidation of molecules in their substrate. Carbon returns to the atmosphere and water by respiration, burning and decay. Greenhouse effect Greenhouse effect is always be treated as negative terms. The negative concerns are related to the possible impacts of an enhanced greenhouse effect. This is covered in more detail in the Global Climate Change section of this Web site. It is important to remember that without the greenhouse effect, life on earth as we know it would not be possible. While the earths temperature is dependent on greenhouse-like action of the atmosphere, the amount of heating and cooling are influenced by several factors is like greenhouses are affected by some factors. In the atmospheric greenhouse effect, the type of surface that sunlight first encounters is the most important factor. Grasslands, forests, ocean surfaces, deserts, and cities all absorb, reflect, and radiate radiation differently. Sunlight falling on a white glacier surface strongly reflects back into space, resulting in minimal heating of the surface and lower atmosphere. Sunlight falling on a dark desert soil is strongly absorbed, on the other hand, and contributes to significant heating of the surface and lower atmosphere. Cloud cover also affects greenhouse warming by both reducing the amount of solar radiation reaching the earths surface and by reducing the amount of radiation energy emitted into space. The consequences of pollution around the world and South Africa: All of land pollution, air pollution and water pollution can affect wildlife, plants, and humans in a number of ways, such as: Lead to birth defects. Cause various kinds of cancers. People cannot eat fish and any animals. People cannot breathe. People cannot live anymore. The consequences like people build up industries, industries make pollution, and people cannot live because of pollutions. Solutions: People should be educated and made aware about the harmful effects of littering Items used for domestic purposes ought to be reused or recycled. Personal litter should be disposed properly. Organic waste matter should be disposed in areas that are far away from residential places. Inorganic matter such as paper, plastic, glass and metals should be reclaimed and then recycled. Decreases amount of industries. Save water. Plant trees and flowersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Conclusion and recommendation: Through this research, I think that humans activities effect environment a lot. People cannot live without good environment, everything is connected to human. People should respect environment and set a good relationship with it. According to this research, people will get some knowledge of resources such as the kind of energy resources, are whether renewable or non-renewable and how to exploit mineral resources. People will realize how much hurt they have made to environment. This research is worth to do and read; it teaches and tells people the truth of the world. Bibliography and Acknowledgements: http://www.bing.com/search?q=consequence+of+pollutionsrc=IE-SearchBox http://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%E7%A9%BA%E6%B0%94%E6%B1%A1%E6%9F%93%E7%89%A9ie=UTF-8oe=UTF-8bar=13tn=baofengyingyin_cb http://www.travel-university.org/general/geography/mineral-resources/ http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/index.htm http://tongfuzb.blog.163.com/blog/static/301218772007112422653429/ http://www.invest.net.cn/country/news/news_index.asp?id=85 http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/sectors/energy.htm http://people.bath.ac.uk/hssam/sauner/mainresults.html http://www.bing.com/search?q=effect+of+mining+on+the+environmentsrc=IE-SearchBox http://www.bing.com/search?q=industry+and+its+exploitation+of+the+resourcessrc=IE-SearchBox http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Atmosphere/Older/Pollution.html http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_effect_does_mining_have_on_the_environment

Argumentive Essay Essay

I believe that a child should complete a parent’s life. On the other hand I don’t believe that it is biblically right for homosexual couples to be able to adopt a child and raise that child. In the bible God created man and woman for a purpose. This purpose was to be able to reproduce the population and for one man to be in love and with one woman. I do not believe that in a homosexuality house hold that a child would be raised properly and normally like most children are able to be raised. I feel putting children in that environment is suggesting that homosexuality is okay and it truly isn’t when in terms of the bible. This sin was so important to God that he directly approached the subject in the bible saying it is a sin and that a man should be with a woman and a woman should be with a man. Being a huge supporter of the Christian faith because I am apart of that faith, I believe that being a homosexual is dishonorable and truly upsets God. On the other hand I am aware that not every heterosexual home in the world is a stable and a suitable home to raise a child in. In many homes in this world there are children that are beaten, raped, hungry, and also very poorly supported. In those terms and in those cases I do believe that it may be acceptable for a child that are in those conditions to be placed in a home where they will be loved and supported and be loved. I do also agree that a homosexual couple is very capable of loving and providing and taking care of a child. If the child is being beaten and unloved and raped and other extreme conditions I would be supportive and feel that it was okay for a child to be adopted into a homosexual home. I also feel that it is hard for the children that are being adopted to be able to accept what is going on and being able to know what is natural and taboo. Same-sex couples raising children must stand ready to prove to the world they are a family, just one that happens to have two mothers or two fathers. For example I would like to share this one homosexual couple’s tory. This constant burden of proof is especially difficult for families like the Muzingos, who live in a state that doesn’t allow them to establish legal ties to each other. Michelle Muzingo was in the delivery room when her wife, Katrina, gave birth to each of their three children, who are now 7, 4 and 1. She cut their umbilical cords and was the first to hold the children, who call her â€Å"mommy. † Yet because they live in Ohio, a state that does not allow gay couples to adopt, she is unable to make that title official. We are always scanning the circle around us to see what we need to put in place to protect ourselves,† said Katrina, 37. A report released earlier this week illustrates just how vulnerable these couples and their children are, both legally and financially. After all, 30 states do not have laws that allow same-sex parents to either adopt, while six states restrict them or impose outright bans. Even families who live in states that recognize their relationships can run into trouble if they travel or move. And if something were to happen to a parent who was unable to adopt or otherwise establish legal ties, the child might be denied certain federal benefits something that children of most heterosexual parents receive automatically. When having a child normally, with one man getting one woman that is married pregnant, it can be an extremely rocky road. Also I believe that not every home is perfect and there are many problems within each family. But I just think that too many complications can come from homosexual couples adopting a child.