Abstract This paper presents a discussion of how "slang," a sociolinguistic phenomenon, can be correctly understood by English language learners. It looks at the linguistic features of slang and the need for effective communication for new immigrants to the United States.
From the Paper "This research examines linguistic features of slang and ways in which it affects the language experience of English language learners ELL. The research will set forth the context in which slang becomes relevant to andre aches meaning with ..."
Abstract The paper shows that the novel "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens appears after the first reading as a text alarmingly ambivalent, unconventional and unique. The author shows how the text appears to be a documentary of Dickens' times, highlighting through literary means not only the polluted texture of the town but the complexity of its inhabitants. The paper discusses the relationship between "literature" and ?SocialContext? in Hard Times and how it is reinforced not only through application of conventional literary tools, but a subtle reworking of elements forming contemporary 19th century literature.
From the Paper "The novel Hard Times by Charles Dickens appears after the first reading as a text alarmingly ambivalent. Unconventional and unique, the text appears to be a documentary of his times, highlighting through literary means not only the polluted texture of the town but the complexity of its inhabitants. The relationship between "literature" and "Social Context" in Hard Times is reinforced not only through application of conventional literary tools, but a subtle reworking of elements forming contemporary 19th century literature. Dickens? novel has often been alluded to as somewhat modernist, and it would seem the most pertinent form to express the depersonalization and dehumanization caused by the excesses of the industrial revolution."
Abstract This paper outlines the various strands in social theory which have played an important role in the debate about the relations between the individual, society and social activity. It concentrates on some important "dualisms" in sociology such as macro-micro, agency-structure and individual-society and therefore provides a clear understanding about whether individuals are a product of their personality or the socialcontext in which they are embedded.
From the Paper "Social theory can be seen as a collection of ideas and thoughts which strive towards fitting together individual and collective needs in society (Becker 1970). Moreover, social theory is not necessarily diverse and irredeemably fragmented since that theory is never completely isolated of empirical research, any more that empirical research is free from theoretical assumptions (Layder1994). This concept is expressed in the pairings "individual-society", "agency-structure" and "macro-micro". These are the key dualisms in social theory which constitutes undoubtedly a persistent dilemma when trying to determine how social order is created and what individual motivations make up society."
Abstract The paper discusses how suicide is imagined to be a transgression of cultural boundaries and the sanctity of life. The paper then questions if there can be a suicide that does not transgress cultural boundaries. The paper also considers how suicide is situated within the cultural definitions and constructions of death that dominate various cultural settings. The paper reviews the relevant literature and concludes that a suicide must always be a transgression of cultural boundaries since it has only as much cultural importance as is granted to the act by the norms and prescriptions of the larger socialcontext.
From the Paper "Suicide speaks to the nature of our cultural boundaries and our implicitly agreed upon notions of death and dying. Implicitly, there seems to be a common thread that runs through diverse cultures condemning the practice of suicide. When openly discussed, few non-reflexive cultural texts consider suicide to be a laudable act. There are, of course, exceptions. Kelleher provides Biblical examples of military suicides that are presented in a positive light after the shame of defeat, and all but praises the use of suicide--via hunger strikes--for political purposes (Kelleher 9-11). But outside of fairly narrow exceptions, suicide is imagined to be a transgression of cultural boundaries and the sanctity of life."
Abstract The paper examines social phobia, a disorder in which the individual has a significant fear of society or performance in a socialcontext. The paper further analyzes how the individual with social phobia suffers from one of three socially related disorders to include shyness and avoidant personality disorder. Shyness is the mildest form of these phobias with avoidant personality disorder being the extreme form.
Abstract The paper looks at various research studies on the subject of drug research, especially in terms of the socialcontext of drug and intoxicants, in social work to analyse the remedies available and thus make counseling effective. The paper also examines how individuality has not been protected by the social worker due to misconceptions on the issue and how to treat it.
From the Paper "In reflecting upon the implications of recent drug research for Social Work and policies, it is evident that achieving a greater understanding of the social context of drug and intoxicants use is necessary before social workers will be fully equipped to provide effective counseling. Unfortunately, too many social workers have been violating the Least Harm Principle because of misconceptions about drug and intoxicants usage in society, and have devised misguided counseling approaches that are often counterproductive and harmful. This is unacceptable, but remedies are available in the form of numerous research studies, which can be read, absorbed, and acted upon by social workers so that counseling can conform to reality instead of being based upon theories and misconceptions."
Abstract This paper defines what sociolinguistics is, illustrating this definition by looking at the movies "Crocodile Dundee" and "Crocodile Dundee II". It looks at dialectal and pronunciation differences which appear throughout the two movies, which help explain the way in which different social networks/stereotypes are developed and maintained.
From the Paper "Sociolinguistics deals with the attempt to understand the relationships between language, and the societies that give it structure and function. A variety of factors separate these "societies". These factors include a variety of things such as social stratification, personal identity, geography, and group reference through a type of accent/dialect continuum, which can be associated with characteristics derived from economic factors and language contact. Due to the lack of a "consensus" view of social class or one socially prestigious norm of social class, the sociolinguistic differences are made obvious in the movies Crocodile Dundee I and Crocodile Dundee II (Thomas and Wareing 128)."
Abstract This paper presents a comparative analysis of the thoughts on capitalism by Karl Marx, Edouard Bernstein, Vladimir Lenin, and the Marshall Plan. The paper posits that Marx and Lenin's arguments for socialism stands in opposition to the ideologies advocated by Bernstein and the Marshall Plan, wherein socialist communism is perceived and, as history proves, can be detrimental to the welfare of society in general. In a larger context, the comparative analysis of the works of Marx, Lenin, Bernstein, and the Marshall Plan reflect the politics involved in implementing the economic system of capitalism as evident in each political philosopher's analysis of capitalism and socialism as new modes of politico-economic societies.
From the Paper "Karl Marx is an important point of reference in discussing the detrimental effects of capitalism on human societies. With Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx conceived the "Communist Manifesto" a political treatise that questioned the benefits of capitalism on the social order of the modern society in the nineteenth century. Marx argues against the bourgeoisie, the elite and wealthy class who owns and controls all means of production (such as machineries and land) as industrialism emerged in the century. The bourgeois class, according to Marx, have evolved from being landowners to factory-owners, a class that "has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class antagonisms. It has but established new classes, new conditions of oppression, new forms of struggle in place of the old ones." From this statement, he then goes on to enumerate how, with the dominance of the elite class, the proletariat or working class is continually oppressed."
Abstract This paper debates the benefits and limitations of social networking, both from a personal as well as an organizational perspective. It defines social networking and discusses how social networking exemplifies the capabilities of the Internet's development, collaboration and publishing technologies in the development of Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and other sites that are at the epicenter of social networking today. The paper contains tables and figures.
Table of Contents:
Executive Summary
Putting Social Networking into Context Benefits of Social Networking
Assessing the Limitations of Social Networking
Ethical Issues of Social Networking
Summary
From the Paper "Instead of fighting and resisting the major change that social networking brings to communicating, collaborating, sharing and learning, organizations must throw off their preconceptions and pilot these technologies. The life forces in any organization aren't physical assets, its knowledge and the ability to learn as an organization. Social networking is the catalyst, the nurturing agent of this change. Its effects permeate and can improve communications skills between individuals and departments, organizations and even divisions scattered across the globe. To ignore the growth of social networking and its potential contributions to personal, professional and organizational goal attainment is to become myopic and miss the opportunity to be transformed by greater insight and knowledge shared with and gained from others."
Abstract This paper analyzes the Nextel Communications company from an investment perspective. In order to do this, the paper looks at a number of relevant factors. The history of the company is detailed, its products and services are described, and the cell-phone industry, Nextel Services, is discussed. In addition, Nextel's business strategy, structure and ownership, major competitors and competitive advantage, market share and market strategies, stock performance, and several other economic indicators are thoroughly reviewed and discussed. The paper concludes with an evaluation of Nextel and an investment recommendation. Graphs and charts are included with this paper.
Background
Business Organization
Competition
Ethics and Social Responsibility
Marketing
Operations
Technology and R&D
Financial Performance
Stock Performance
SWOT analysis
Summary Evaluation
From the Paper "Nextel was initially formed under the name Fleet Call in April 1997. The company was rather small at the time of its existence and expansion efforts were underway. After six year of being virtually unknown, the company renamed to Nextel Communications, Inc. in the year 1993. The forthcoming years would bring the promise of growth of mergers with four other companies to captivate fifty leadings markets in the United States which promised Nextel a solid recognition in the cellular services market."
Abstract The paper explains that political anthropology concerns itself with the distribution of power in a variety of socialcontexts. The paper discusses how power from this perspective is not viewed only in terms of Big Men or authority figures, but also how power is manifested in domestic politics or its distribution and use within families' kin networks and communities. In this essay, the writer compares and contrasts the manifestation of power within the Aliyah Center in Barbara Myerhoff's "Number Our Days" and the distribution and use of power in my sorority.
Abstract This paper analyzes the social comparison theory in four sections, first by exploring a journal article that explored the theory in the United States and China. The paper also analyzes a mass media example in the context of social comparison. A personal example is then provided within an academic setting to see how the real life-scenario works. Finally, the theory was examined in an ethical context.
Outline:
Abstract
Social Comparison, Individualism-Collectivism, and Self-Esteem in China and the United States by Chung and Mallery
Mass Media Example of the Social Comparison Theory
Personal Example of Social Comparison Theory
Social Comparison Theory and Ethics
From the Paper "Chung and Mallery (1999) "examined the possible differences in social comparison between individualistic and collectivistic cultures" using the United States and China for the sample (para. 1). Chung and Mallery predicted that based on past research, collectivistic cultures, where individuals focused on achievements that would be beneficial to a collective group rather than themselves, would be positively correlated with upward social comparison, while the contrary would be true for individualistic cultures. In essence the a priori expectation is that "upward comparisons were positively correlated with individual self-esteem, and downward comparisons were negatively correlated with collective self-esteem" (Chung & Mallery, 1999, para 14)."
Abstract This paper discusses fundamentalism, a social change theory developed by Durkheim. The paper presents an overview of the theory within multiple contexts. The paper also describes how these varying contexts influenced the development of his theory. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of social change according to this theory.
From the Paper "The following presents the topic of social change in context. A specific social change theory, functionalism, and a specific theorist, Durkheim, are presented. This is followed by an overview of the theory within multiple contexts..."
Abstract This paper discusses how the value of community centers goes beyond building social capital within the community that it serves. It looks at how community centers are paramount to building strong communities all the way up the chain to the national level and how, through bonding, bridging, and linking, community centers help to make this world a web of support.
Outline:
Defining Social Capital
Forms of Social Capital: Bridging, Bonding, Linking
Who do Community Centres Benefit?
Do they Build Social Capital?
What is the Impact of Community Centres on the Larger Perspective?
From the Paper "The primary difficulty with discussing social capital in any situation is that the definition of social capital has changed over the years. Social capital, in its broadest definition, refers to intangible concepts and ambiguous terms. The term "capital" is typically associated with economics. Taken in this context, one expects to be able to quantify capital in real terms. However, when one considers "social" capital, the term takes on a new meaning. It implies a connection with intangible concepts such as welfare, good will, and humanitarian activities. The term "capital" takes on an entirely different meaning in this context. "
Abstract The paper aims to determine how social networking as a demographic and technological trend is changing the dynamics of how individuals and companies communicate in Australia, China, Sweden, United States and the United Kingdom. The paper looks at Facebook to show how the freedoms of social networking promise significant gain in terms of creativity, communication, collaboration and the development of entirely new socialcommunities, but there are also many issues regarding the ethics and transparency of social networking.
Outline:
Introduction
Social Networking and Web 2.0 Technologies Are Changing Collaboration
Ethical Issues of Social Networking in Countries of Interest
From the Paper "The influence of social networking on globalization in general and specifically across the nations of the Australia, China, Sweden, United States, and the United Kingdom has fostered more fluid and rapid communication, collaboration, and greater levels of transparency (Hedgebeth, 2007), (Huang, Behara, 2007), (Kirsner, 2007), (Finin, Ding, Zhou, Joshi, 2005) and (Bernoff, Li, 2008).
"These three factors are serving as the catalysts of creating entirely new social networks that cross geographies and national boundaries. The collection of technologies referred to as Web 2.0 (O'Reilly, 2005) has their basis a more communicative, interactive Internet series of applications and processes."
