Applies research into understanding changes in the chemistry and neurological pathways of the brain during motor and cognitive processes to the field of education.
Abstract This paper reviews literature that indicates that, particularly during the past five years, scientists have gained new insights into how the human brain works and what specific changes take place in the brain because of various motor and cognitive processes. The paper reports that these discoveries hold enormous promise for helping educators formulate improved methods of delivering educational services. The paper clarifies, however, that much research is needed still because the human brain is so enormously complex and every individual is unique. Despite these constraints, the writer believes that a fundamental paradigm shift in education will take place because truly individual educational approaches will be based on how different people learn at the molecular level.
Table of Contents:
Review and Discussion
Conclusion
From the Paper "These cost-effective techniques in educational services delivery have assumed new importance and relevance in recent years as American schools continue to struggle to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Therefore, identifying how young people learn by mapping the corresponding regions of the brain may provide better ways of teaching the approximately 80 percent of students who are not linear learners."
A discussion of the book "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky in which he uses repetition to help us understand his central character, Raskolnikov.
Abstract The paper shows how repetition is a key element in Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" and how certain colors are continuously repeated as an indication of a character's mental or moral state, as in yellow, which indicates mental or moral decrepitude. The paper notes that, throughout the book, certain phrases and also structural patterns are repeated. The paper also discusses how the use of repetition brings forth subtle details in our understanding of the protagonist Raskolnikov's road to redemption and that, until the very end, Raskolnikov continually goes through similar cyclical, repetitive attempts at justifying his actions.
From the Paper "With this in mind, the immediate regression reflects the level to which Raskolnikov is entrenched within his own moral theory. Even Sonya, the character that is meant to symbolize the hopeful and benevolent nature, can only change this Raskolnikov for a few moments. For the rest of the meeting, Raskolnikov deviates very little from his cynical state."
Abstract In "Beyond the Pleasure Principle", Freud presents his theory of the opposition between the death instinct (Eros) and the life instinct (Thanatos). Included in this examination and summary of Freud's theory, is the discussion of the role of the repetition compulsion, of the sexual instincts and of binding. All of these issues are set to an example so that they can be demonstrated along with how the play of opposition between these two basic forces contributes to forming the individual personality.
From the Paper "Freud uses two terms, Eros and Thanatos, to label what he calls the instinct of life and the instinct of death, respectively. Part of the energy of the life instinct is the Libido and that energy gets directed at oneself so that you want to preserve yourself, grow, develop, and advance. Heavily opposing the life instinct is the death instinct, which is geared towards destruction. This destructive instinct wants to keep things the same and is a drive to an earlier state, ultimately death (or "nothing"). Freud explains that the death instinct will often get repressed, showing itself as an aggression turned outward towards others. Freud claims that the pleasure principle, which aims at reducing tension, "seems actually to serve the death instincts" (1961, 77). "The pleasure principle, then, is a tendency operating in the service of a function whose business it is to free the mental apparatus entirely from excitation or to keep the amount of excitation in it constant or to keep it as low as possible" (Freud, 1961, 76). In other words, the pleasure principle works for what is pleasurable, which, according to Freud is a relaxed state without tension or stimuli. So, for Freud, the pleasure principle urges us to repeat actions that bring us to that relaxed and unstimulated state of being. Even taking drugs that make us forget and put us in a state of dull sensation could be an action that Freud would classify as the pleasure principle working. The pleasure principle would urge the person to continue the action of taking that particular drug over and over even though this would ultimately lead to death, which is the ultimate goal of the pleasure principle since it when we are dead we have absolutely no incoming stimuli."
Tags: freudian, freud, instinct, pleasure, principle, psychology, repetition, theory
Abstract This paper examines attention-attracting styles in poetry, primarily open form poetry. It uses the anonymous poem: "What a wonderful bird the frog are,? to highlight the characteristics of open form poetry explains the effect that this style of poetry has on the reader. It also touches on other attention-attracting devices, such as startling and repetition.
From the Paper "Artists and writers utilize all manner of devices to attract their readers? attentions. Vladimir Nabokov, in his tome ?Pale Fire,? framed a novel in the form of a poem and its associated criticism. Nabokov publically stated that he attempted absolute mediocrity in writing the poem ?Pale Fire,? but this only showcases the unerring genius in the remainder of the work -- and as some critics would have it, genius in the poem itself despite Nabokov's own disclaimer. Thomas Pynchon, in his epic ?Gravity's Rainbow,? used all manner of attention-getting including various songs that the reader automatically sets to music in her head."
Abstract This paper analyzes the movie's use of humor, both verbally and visually. It continues to use examples from the movie of how repetition combined with the unexpected twist holds the viewer in stitches. The author also comments on how the comedy becomes more protracted and complicated as the movie progresses.
From the Paper 'When Curtis goes to Cleese's house, the situation becomes more and more complicated, amounting to a drawing room comedy of errors. Mistakes multiply upon each other, with Archie's wife the only person seeming to notice anything amiss. The scene where Kline quizzes Palin about the location of the jewels sends common sense skittering everywhere: "What's the green fish's name" Well, I?m going to call her lunch!?
""A Fish Called Wanda" does a masterful job of combining various comedic effects while maintaining a plot that holds together. This is more satisfying than a movie based on one gag all the way through, such as Rodney Dangerfield going to college. That movie is one long gag that wears thin rather quickly. The ending isn?t terribly believable, but it's a comedy. It's not about reality."
Abstract This paper examines "The Banking Concept of Education", an essay written by Paulo Freire, which explains how education is really a tool that is used continuously to oppress the poor. It explores how the banking concept of education is the idea that the teacher teaches, and the student learns from that teacher by utilizing the basic drills, memorization, and repetition. It also looks at how an adult can have the thinking process greatly enhanced by learning the basics, such as the alphabet, reading, eventually, and then writing, not necessarily in that order, and how, once those basics are learned, then the adult can use the combinations of those skills to perform more complex cognitive processes.
From the Paper "The overall idea of the banking concept is that when a person like you or I are researching a topic in the library for example, the reason we can achieve this feat is because of the basics of education we have already been taught. For example, if we were to study China, we would need some understanding of reading, writing, geography, etc. The banking concept has worked well presenting those basics, at least for the affluent nations of the world. However, we may have chosen a different path had we not been taught those basics. If a homeless child in the ghettos of Rio needs to learn something, he will not be as prepared to utilize banking concepts because his immediate needs are different. Maslow has pointed out; I may be looking for food or shelter, not an alphabet in the homeless scenario."
Abstract This paper argues that the image of the speaker in Langston Hughes? s"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" as a wise figure representing the black community throughout the ages is conveyed not only in the poem's title, but also its concrete and plain diction, its repetition, and its free verse form.
From the Paper "The speaker's use of repetition relays the serious tone of the poem and the communal wisdom of the Black community. The poem's repetition is very formulaic, much like the oral traditions and histories passed down by African griots. The repetition drives home the point to the audience as well as tying the story together and making it easier for the griot to remember. The speaker begins by asserting, ?I"ve known rivers", a phrase that is repeated at the beginning of lines two and eight."
Abstract This paper explains that themes of death, altered states of consciousness and mental chaos are conveyed through traditional and sophisticated uses of poetic composition in Emily Dickinson's "I Felt a Funeral in My Brain". The author points out that the poet employs a plethora of poetic techniques such as alliteration, repetition, rhyme and rhythm to create mood and convey the central themes of emptiness and mental chaos. The paper relates that, just as sensory deprivation is a common tool used to create altered states of consciousness, so, too, is sensory overload; the speaker in "I Felt a Funeral in My Brain" describes both sensory deprivation and sensory overload.
From the Paper "Alliteration and repetition provide the musical and rhythmic backbone of Dickinson's poem. Examples of alliteration include: "felt a funeral," "seated, / A service," "silence some strange," and "dropped down," (1; 6; 15; 17). In addition to alliteration, "I Felt a Funeral in My Brain" also contains several examples of word repetition: "treading, treading," "beating, beating," "down, and down," (3; 7; 17). The rhythmic quality of both alliteration and repetition mirrors the motif of drums that the speaker refers to in the second stanza. Therefore, poetic devices perfectly reflect the theme. Musicality is also conveyed through careful word selections: the third stanza begins: "And then I heard them lift a box, / And creak across my soul /.../ Then space began to toll," (9-12). Key words invoking music and sound include "heard," "creak," and "toll." Aural imagery continues in the fourth stanza, which continues where the third left off with its allusion to a bell tolling."
Abstract This paper explains that Kennedy's speech of June 11, 1963 implements effectively various rhetorical techniques portraying not the acceptance of racial integration to create tension against peace and order but rather a dynamic, complete commitment towards the accomplishment of a new social order in which racial segregation becomes socially intolerable. The author illustrates several linguistic features of the speech which generate particular reactions that can lead to applause and approval: (1) the three-part list, (2) the repetition of a key idea or phrase, (3) the use of contrastive pairs and (4) the use of pronouns. The paper concludes that the speech is particularly impressive because of the strong personal engagement of the President who presents himself as a figure of moral leadership working for a just foundation, with regard to the basic values of the American society.
From the Paper "The Civil Rights Movement's began when the Supreme Court, as a result of a court case initiated by the NAACP (the case of Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas; insistent in opposition to racial segregation) confirmed racial segregation in schools, universities and other public institutions unconstitutional, therefore bringing to an end the era from 1896, during which the functioning standard was "separate but equal". Separate but equal meant that African-Americans had separate schools, railroad cars, buses, restaurants, bars and recreational facilities, but that they hardly ever were equal."
This paper discuses the short story "Azikwelwa", about a 1957 bus boycott in South Africa, by the South African writer, poet and journalist James Matthews.
Abstract This paper explains that James Matthews's short story "Azikwelwa" was first published in 1958, reprinted again in 1974, the year of the Mdantsane Bus Boycott, in the collection "The Park and Other Stories" and then reappeared in the journal "Grassroots" in 1982 as an example of life in South Africa and as a particular form of political and social propaganda. The author stresses that the political dimension of the story becomes evident when the protagonist, Jonathan, makes the decision to join the protest. At this point, the text stops being merely a journalistic account of this period of massive disturbances. The paper relates that the literary devices used in this short story, such as repetition, ternary rhythms, alliteration and fricatives, are unusual for prose writing, which makes the prose read more like a poem or a song.
From the Paper "In January 1957, a bus boycott under the slogan "Azikwelwa" (or "We shall not ride") was initiated by the people of Alexandra Township near Johannesburg to prevent the imposition of increased transportation costs. In the period 1950 - 1980, many such boycotts took place and the whole transport boycott movement is often linked to Apartheid resistance. Some have also identified it as a consumer and a political protest in a period when South African capitalism was entering in a phase of economic recession. For many, it was a demonstration of working-class solidarity which began with civil disobedience but evolved into a process of creation of a collective consciousness. Hence, the massive boycotts are said to have helped in the formation of South African identity."
Abstract This paper explains that Wordsworth, considered one of the greatest and most influential romantic poets, is know for his emotionally charged description of nature used as a basis for exploring moral and philosophical issues. The author points out that both the poems by William Wordsworth "Incident: Characteristics of a Favorite Dog" and "Tribute to the Memory of the Same Dog", which refer to a dog owned by Mrs. Wordsworth's brother, represent Wordsworth's style of steady, musical and "eternal" repetition. The paper concludes that, as brilliant as his poems showed him to be, Wordsworth was by nature a simple man of simple pleasures, who reflected the daily lives of common men in his poetry and prose, as reflected in both "Incident: Characteristics of a Favorite Dog" and "To the Memory of the Same Dog". Many quotes.
From the Paper "He spoke in "Memory of the Same Dog", in the last two lines, "Our tears from passion and from reason came, And, therefore, shalt thou be an honoured name!" referring to passion and full emotion often and ending such poems on such a note even if in the beginning it had begun flat and lifeless which was true of this poem. He sought the passion and full liveliness in the ending of most all of his poems, these two included, even if it was begun in a dull and lifeless fashion as in "To the Memory of the Same Dog." Whether, it was the passion to hold onto life which was recounted in "Characteristic of a Favourite Dog" by the dog who was sinking which chasing over a river to break through the ice in a furry. Also, in the dog who died of old age after a full lifetime where he was laid to rest, where the passion was from the "tears from passion and from reason came" for those who grieved for the loss of a dog known to be ill and old."
Abstract Stuttering is a communication disorder that interferes with a child's ability to speak fluently. It is characterized by the prolongation or blockage of sound, repetition, syllables or words, and its course can be cyclical, with the frequency and severity of the stuttering changing dramatically over time. This paper provides an overview of stuttering in preschool-age children, including how a stutter develops and how children are assessed.
Paper Outline:
General Description of the Disorder
Stuttering in Preschool-age Children
Patterns of Stuttering
Development of a Stutter
Assessment of Preschool Disfluent Children
Predictive Factors of Preschool Children Who Will Have Persistent Stuttering
References
From the Paper "Trautman says that there is also some research suggesting that children who have a behaviorally inhibited temperament might be at increased risk for stuttering (e.g. children who appear to be more sensitive to changes and tend to cry more often). In addition, Trauman notes that some parents have reported changes in the fluency of their child's speech after (non-related) treatment with stimulant medications, such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) and some asthma medications. However, she says that she knows of no clinical evidence supporting these observations."
Abstract This paper explains that, while Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is not to be confused with autism because they are distinctly different to the trained medical personal, according to scientific research AS is part of what is called "the autistic spectrum". The author describes the current use of several screening (assessment) questionnaires for the evaluation of primary-school-age children and the Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS), which can be completed by anyone who knows the child well including parents, teachers, siblings, speech-language pathologists and psychologists. The paper relates that the "ideal" treatment for AS coordinates therapies, which address the three core symptoms of AS---poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines and physical clumsiness.
Table of Contents:
Generalizations: Asperger's Syndrome vs. Autism
Epidemiology of Asperger's Syndrome
Assessments of Children for Asperger's Syndrome
Treatment and Intervention available for Asperger's
From the Paper "Meanwhile, children who suffer from AS are eligible, under federal law, for special educational services appropriate to their needs, according to the "Harvard Mental Health Letter". The AS child qualified for teacher aide assistance, tutoring, "a special curriculum," and in some instances, a special school. What AS students need in terms of educational support are consistent and very clear instructions, and a "routine" they can count upon. The instruction they require includes learning to "maintain eye contact," learning to read others' facial expressions, and to grasp "what is and what is not socially acceptable.""
Abstract The paper examines how Sylvia Plath's poem, "Daddy" is the performance of a mind that is finally confronting its own suffering and attempting to exorcise the influence of the speaker's father. The paper highlights the imagery, rhyme and repetition that demonstrates how Plath does not create in this poem, but only destroys and rejects her father.
From the Paper "The poem opens with the assertion that "[y]ou do not do, you do not do / Any more" , declaring the speaker's position as one forced to confront her situation with regard to her father. The poem exists as the performance of a mind that is finally confronting its own suffering and attempting to exert a control over the idea that has long oppressed it. The speaker jumps from nursery rhyme to ritual, English to German, from longing to curse. The childlike rhyme and repetition suggests the helplessness of the child and the combination of fear and love the father inspired. Simple, insistent rhythm and rhyme schemes, coupled with repetition, lend both a sense of storybook rhythm and that of a mystical spell by which the exorcism may drive off evil."
Abstract This paper explains that children diagnosed with autism are known to have abnormal communication skills and social interactions and exhibit limited repetitive interests and behavior. The author points out that, due to this lack of social interaction with the rest of the world, autistic children are deprived of many experiences that would have eventually led them to an understanding of this world. The paper relates that there are many possible variations of these symptoms, which create numerous autism spectrum disorders that range from mild to severe disability. The author describes Asperger's syndrome, PPD (pervasive developmental disorder), Rett's syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. The paper concludes that, although there is no cure for autism, several systems and therapies have been designed to ease the obstacles and complications presented by autism. The paper includes a case observed by the author.
From the Paper "In 1943, Kanner was the first to define autism; it was based on his study on eleven children which who all had an "unrecognized syndrome". Kanner discovered that the eleven children all had similar behavioral features. "These features included an inability to develop relationships with people, a delay in speech acquisition, the non-communicative use of speech after it develops, delayed echolalia, pronominal reversal, repetitive and stereotyped play activities, an obsessive insistence on the maintenance of the sameness, a lack of imagination, a good rote memory, and a normal physical appearance"."
Tags:repetitive communication, social interactions, asperger's spectrum
