Adoption of a reflective approach and reflective thinking

Adoption of a reflective approach and reflective thinking Basically, the basis of reflective approach suggests that the assessment of teacher quality should be achieved through reflection (Vieira and Marques: 2002). It is noteworthy therefore, that many writers in the field of teacher education such as, (Loughram: 1996; Richards: 1995; Cruickshan and Applegate: 1981; Dewy: 1910) have sought to define this word. A according to Richards (1995:1) the concept of reflection or critical reflection indicates to an activity or process in which an experience is recalled, considered and evaluated, usually in relation to broader purpose. It is a response to past experience and involves conscious recall and examination of the experience as a basis for evaluation and decision-making and as a source for planning and action. It is defined also by Cruickshan and Applegate (1981:553) as helping teacher to think about what happened, why it happened and what else they could have done to reach their goal. Furthermore, reflection is considered the deliberate and purposeful act of thinking which centres on ways of responding to problem situations (Loughram: 1996). Accordingly, it is noted that they agree that reflective teachers employ cognitive processes in order to solve the problems which might face them in their daily professional practice. On the other hand, the notion of reflective thinking traced back to Dewey (1910) which refers to problem framing, identifying alternative solutions and choosing from options according to the outcome we want and the situation at hand (Dewey: 1910 cited in Roberts: 1998). The main reasons for the adoption of reflective approach and reflective thinking: There are many reasons for the adoption of reflective approach and reflective thinking in teacher development programs which I think they are considered positive aspects. One of these aspects is that reflection approach provides a solution for teachers to shift from the routinised and automatic acts in their classroom situations and enables them to possess awareness about the kinds of decisions which they might make in their teaching and choosing the consequences of their instructional decisions. This can be achieved through reflecting on ones teaching as a step towards change in their teaching way (Richards: 1995).Because, according to (ibid: 1995) teachers who utilised reflective analysis in their own teaching admitted that it is a valuable element for professional growth and self evaluation. Another positive aspect is that the adoption of reflective thinking in teacher education can be considered a beneficial factor because, as Posner (1989) points out, when students teachers have the reflective thinking they will have new teaching ways instead of being tradition and have the possibility to interpret new experiences derived from their fresh ideas as a result of reflective thinking. Further more, reflective thinking will enable teachers to possess a philosophical approach to teach coherently because, by developing this kind of thinking they have the ability to integrate various types of knowledge which could be received during their teacher development program. On the other hand, it is important to note that reflection which is the basic component in reflection approach and reflective thinking has many advantages which can not be ignored. One of these advantages is that we can achieve the personal growth through reflection, because it makes us free from single views of situations which might hinder our thinking in defining problems and finding solutions. Moreover, problems which might face teachers can be reframed in different ways by reflection. Thus, providing a wide range of possible ideas then, helping teachers to have a wide range of possible solutions (Dewey: 1910 cited in Roberts: 1998). Additionally, when teachers use reflection they will have the ability to think about educational aspects of their work and a raise awareness of important ethical and moral questions (Van Manen: 1977). However, it is worth noted to mention the importance of critical reflection as Richards (1998) indicates that it enables teacher to have comprehension knowledge about themselves as teachers as a result, they can be prepared well to have a decision about their own teaching. This view can be supported by Dewey in 1904 when he pointed out preparing teachers to be critically reflective about their practice may be more important in long term than focussing on mastery of the techniques and skills (Dewey: 1904 cited in Richards: 1998:152). On the other hand, reflective teachers characterise by positive features according to the finding of a longitudinal study conducted by Korthagen and Wubbels (1995) regarded to teacher education program in Utrecht. These features include: First, reflective teacher have the ability to structure situations and problems. Second, they can evaluate their experience by using questioning approach for example, asking questions such as, why and how this happened in their own teaching. Third, they possess strong feeling of personal security and self efficacy and able to analyze and describe experience and interaction perfectly. Fourth, they are independent learners because they have clear understanding about what they need to learn. Hence, from what discussed above, we can see that reflective approach and reflective thinking play an important role which can not be ignored in teacher development programs. The underlying principles of reflective approach: Since reflection is considered an important element in reflective approach, writers such as (Dewey: 1910, 1933; Schà ¶n: 1983; Wallace: 1991) gave a great deal of discussion based on it. I am going to analyse the principles of reflective approach based on their discussions as follows: The principles based on Deweys account: According to Dewey (1910:1933) reflective thinking is the basis of deliberative thought. In his perspective disciplined deliberative thinking is seen as a basis for citizenship and personal progress (Roberts: 1998). Moreover, in order to reflect effectively, teachers should develop particular skills, for instance, observation and reasoning and should possess some sort of qualities such as, responsibility, open minded and wholeheartedness ( Griffiths:2000). But, it is noted that there is a shortcoming with this account in that his idea of teaching as routine action is unjustified because as Furlong and Maynard (1995:45) considered it is an over-simplification and does not capture the multi-facetedness ,unpredictability and sheer complexity of teaching (Furlong and Maynard:1995 cited in Griffiths:2000). The principles based on Schà ¶ns account: Wallaces reflective model: The principles of reflective approach in Wallaces reflective model emphasis that there are two important types of knowledge which should be included in teacher education courses comprised: First, received knowledge and second, experiential knowledge. The first refers to all concepts, skills and theories that trainees received through their academic study or from other sources such as, reading books. The second refers to the knowledge based on trainees past experience in their teaching practice (Wallace: 1991). Wallaces model, however, is separated into three stages as follows: The pr- training stage. The professional education/development stage. The professional competence stage. It is demonstrated in figure (4.1) below. To put it more simple, in the first stage there is believe that teachers trainees who engaged in professional education do not come with blank minds. In other words, they have already the idea of good and bad teacher that is to say, what Wallace refers to trainees existing conceptual schemata or mental constructs (Wallace: 49:1991). In the second stage, the professional development is achieved by theory and practice that is what he refers to as a cyclical process. In other words, the received knowledge and the experiential knowledge are integrated together. To illustrate, once students teachers engaged into classroom environment, they have the ability to discover a real framework of teaching and have awareness of the differences of classroom situations. Accordingly, their performance will be recalled during their teaching practice. For example, they will ask questions such as, how could some experienced teachers tackle with those situations and how they themselves can deal with them. Thus, they can evaluate their professional performance by reflecting upon their classroom activities. As a result, the positive and negative sides of their teaching strategy will be discovered. Hence, they will be professional educators and have the professional competence which is the aim of the third stage (ibid). Although, Wallaces reflective model can be applied in both pre-service and in-service education, yet from the principles drew above. It is noted that there are some limitations, because there is an important question should be asked here, is the experience shared among teachers because it seems to be private. Another limitation lies in participants school culture might not encourage reflection.

Capital Punishment Essay - Death Penalty as a Deterrent to Crime :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

The Death Penalty as a Deterrent to Crime Brutally murdered by a man no one would have suspected, an innocent twelve-year old girl was taken from her mother. Although, this poor girl's mother was stricken with grief and anger, she did not wish for this murderer to die for her own sake, but to protect other innocent girls like her own. She sat and watched, staring into the eyes of the man who had killed her daughter. She watched as they inserted the needle containing the fluid that would take his life. Is it morally unjust to execute criminals after they have committed a certain horrific crime upon another innocent victim? Until mid-twentieth century, this had been the tradition of practice, dating back to ancient times. In the United States especially, capital punishment is a hot topic of discussion and controversy. It is a difficult issue with many different points of view. Some are pro death penalty, others against the death penalty, and yet others with mixed feelings. So many different questions originate when the topic of the death penalty arises. Some of these are cost, sentencing equality, religious beliefs, the possibility of executing the innocent, and deterrence. These are just a few of the heated issues to consider. The death penalty is deterring crime, showing that individuals in the United States will be held responsible for their actions. Some of the first death penalty laws can be dated as far back as the Eighteenth Century. This was a time when death was the only punishment for all crimes. These death sentences were done by means of beheading, drowning, beating to death, and burning alive, among others. From 1823 to 1837, the death penalty was eliminated, in Britain, for over 100 of the 222 crimes punishable by death. In 1967, after many legal challenges through the courts, executions were stopped in the United States. Finally, the Supreme Court placed a suspension on capital punishment in 1972, although later allowed it in 1977, under certain conditions (Changes). Cost plays a major role in the death penalty. Opposing views say that it is far more expensive to execute someone than to give them life without parole. On the other hand, many others disagree. It has been estimated that life without parole cases will cost 1.2 million to 3.6 million dollars more than that equivalent to using the death penalty. On average, a life without parole sentence lasts thirty to forty years, while the annual cost of imprisonment is 40,000 to 50,000 dollars for each prisoner or more, each year (Lowe).

Analysis Of Different Types Of Competition Economics Essay

To travel markets back towards perfect competition, have to hold a really big figure of houses, complete freedom of entry, a homogenous merchandise and perfect cognition of the goods. In the short tally, the supranormal net incomes can be because there is no clip for new houses to prosecute the market. However, the supranormal net incomes will be competed by new houses in the long tally. In the short tally, the demand curve and the supply curve is equal to fringy cost. In the long tally, monetary value is equal to hanker run mean cost. The perfect competition market is a monetary value taker, so the monetary value is non alteration.MonopolyIn monopoly, has merely one house in an industry, restricted or wholly out of use freedom of entry, merely one alone merchandise. Barriers to the entry of new houses is apparent to protect a monopoly from rivals such as economic systems of graduated table, control over supplies of inputs or end products, patents or right of first publication, and t actics to extinguish challengers. Monopoly will acquire maximized monetary values. If the demand curve and cost curve of monopoly are the same of absolutely competitory industry, monopoly will bring forth less and halt at the higher monetary value than absolutely competitory industry to maintain their clients. Potential of rivals is of import such as a house ‘s monetary value and scheme.Monopolistic CompetitionIn monopolistic competition, has a rather big figure of houses, unrestricted freedom of entry, has different sort of merchandises. In the short tally, the houses can gain supranormal net incomes because clients still want to purchase the merchandises even though the monetary value goes up. However, in the long tally, the demand curve will touch the long-term norm cost curve ; it means the monetary value goes up so clients do non desire to purchase the merchandises because their wages still the same degree. Therefore, the houses will non acquire more net incomes. Many hou ses under monopolistic competition can prosecute in non-price competition such as merchandise development and advertisement to keep an advantage over their challengers. Monopolistically competitory houses may hold higher costs than absolutely competitory houses, but clients can acquire different sort of merchandises. Monopolistically competitory houses possibly have fewer economic systems than monopolies and have less research and development, but they can maintain monetary values lower than under monopoly.OligopolyIn oligopoly, has few figure of houses, restricted freedom of entry, has apathetic merchandises or merchandise distinction. Besides the houses under monopolistic competition, there are assorted barriers to the entry but similar to under monopoly.Chapter fourMarket StructuresTable Of ContentssIntroduction†¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ . p. 1Theory†¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ . pp. 2 – 3Part I – Perfect Competition†¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ . pp. 4 – 7Part II – Monopoly†¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ . pp. 8 – 10Part III – Monopolistic Competition†¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ . pp. 11 – 13Part IV – Oligopoly†¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ . pp. 14 – 15Decision†¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ . p. 16Mentions†¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ . p. 17IntroductionPresents, the market construction of the concern are plentiful and assorted. Classifying markets require each company or house have to understand item clearly to be after the right manner to make concern. As a consequence, market construction has four sorts: Perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly. It can be said, in any states which besides happen to positive and negative of each type. Therefore, chapter Four of Necessities of Economics is traveling to explicate four types of market construction. Besides, the competitions are between companies together is based on what sort of concern and the strength they have from each specific instance. This chapter besides give information about advantage and disadvantage of market construction because some sorts can acquire much net income merely and some sorts have to vie. In peculiar, each house will hold assorted schemes because they will hold assorted challengers and competitions.TheoryThe manner purchasers and providers interacts each other in the industry to make up one's mind the monetary value and the measure is defined as market construction. There are 4 market constructions that have been used in the economic universe: Perfect competition, Monopoly, Monopolistic competition ( Imperfect competition ) and Oligopoly. Perfect competition is the free-entry market in which there are limitless purchasers and Sellerss called monetary value taker. They have no power to command the monetary value of the merchandises which merely based on demand and supply in the market. There is a market that has merely individual marketer. It is stated as Monopoly market where the monetary value is set by one marketer. Example: EVN, Petrolimex†¦ Monopolistic competition or Imperfect competition is similar to hone competition, which has a batch of Sellerss bring forthing a differentiated merchandise. Each can put its ain monetary value and measure ; nevertheless, they are excessively little to act upon the whole market monetary value and measure. Oligopoly is the market which has a little figure of Sellerss in the industry. At least one determination about the monetary value or the measure of one house can count to the others. Finally, when different purchasers buy the merchandise by different monetary value, that statement is defined as monetary value favoritism. In international trading, sometime it can do a dumping[ 1 ].CASE STUDYChapter 4Market STRUTURESPart IPERFECT COMPETITIONThe economic system, in general, is all about competition. Competition is good because it makes clients to be a male monarch who can make up one's mind what productions they will utilize and how quality is that. However, true aims of houses are n't to do the clients to be a male monarch. What they try to make is maximise their net incomes. But in ‘perfect competition market ‘ , the fact is, houses can do supranormal net incomes in the short-term but in the long tally they wo n't do any net incomes. They merely have adequate to remain in concern. Perfect competition is a market construction where all houses produce the same merchandise and noA producerA orA consumerA has the rightA or ability toA controlA theA market, A asA affect the monetary value. Perfect Competition is merely a theory that does n't be in the existent universe because of so many conditions have to be met. However, there are markets that come near to perfect competition market if it has four following conditions. First, there are so many houses or manufacturers that participate in the market and none of them have a right to alter the market monetary value. For case, the market for rice in Vietnam is so broad. Regardless of one husbandman has produced 100 more kgs of rice, the rice market monetary value is still maintained the same. This status of each house being so little that they are undistinguished comparative to the market is what makes the MR curve horizontal or absolutely elastic.[ 2 ] Fringy Revenue curve[ 3 ] One house can bring forth a noticeable sum of end product but it is nil compared to the market. As a consequence, the extra end product the house produces can be sold at the same monetary value as smaller measures of end product. Second, it has to be the market where all houses are selling an indistinguishable merchandise produced in the same manner. When all houses produce an indistinguishable merchandise, they are called homogenous merchandises.[ 4 ]The premise about homogenous merchandises means that all houses will sell their merchandises at the same monetary value. If all the merchandises from different houses are indistinguishable, clients will choose houses by taking the lowest monetary value. Any house that set their monetary value higher than others will lose all its clients. Third, there is no limitation to come in or go out the market means that new houses can easy acquire into the industry every bit good as the older houses can acquire out. In long-term, this is really of import. New houses when they try to come in the industry, there is no other manner to vie with other houses beside of lower their monetary value to pull clients. The existing houses must follow the new lower monetary value in order non to lose clients and after that, supranormal net incomes are no more. That is the ground why in long tally, houses merely make adequate net incomes to remain in the concern. Finally, 4th conditions, is that all houses are to the full cognizant of monetary values, the manner of lower cost of production and market chances and clients know all about the monetary value, the quality of the merchandise at all times.[ 5 ]The economic expert called it by perfect cognition or perfect information. Although Perfect Competition does n't be in any existent economic systems, it is an ideal economic that make the economic become better and more expeditiously. In other words,

A Study of factors affecting moving forward

To properly critique this article, many guidelines are considered which include: data analysis and findings, discussion of the implication/recommendations, the statement of he problem, a literature review, hypothesis or research questions, description of conceptual/theoretical framework, research designs, sample and population, explanation of data collection and measurement, and explanation of procedures. Introduction Spinal cord injury (SIC) is a traumatic and devastating event in any person's life (Chem., 2013).Spinal cord injury might be partial or total, but whichever type can cause impairment of physical mobility leaving those affected with challenges of coping with rehabilitation. However, current treatment entities to focus in the provision of care in the acute stage and the prevention and (Chem., 2013) treatment of complications (Chem., 2013). SIC continues to impact the lives of those affected and their families socially, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Independence t o the greatest ability of the patient is a long-term goal.By providing a multi-disciplinary team to treat a patient, it gives additional professional support to allow a more rounded, stronger, and more positive recovery. Although many scientists are studying nerve regeneration and conducting stem cell research (Chem., 201 3) for the retirement of SIC but the cure is still a long way off (Chem., 2013). However, self-perception, age, self-efficacy are factors influencing individuals with SIC to successfully moving forward without withdrawing from the society.Patients who effectively learn to cope and work with disabilities can then have a positive self-perception and achieve optimal self-efficacy. Today, asking questions, seeking answers, and implementing evidence-best practices will advance and guide how care is provided for the SIC patient with the goal of a more enriched life post-injury. Rehabilitation assists the individual to achieve he highest possible level of self-care and in dependence. This study was conducted in Taiwan, so it is vital to study the behaviors, cultures, and definitions when reviewing the literature.Varying health beliefs on illness and behavior are expected. The difference does not mean that the study is invalid or negative. The research design for this quantitative article Was a descriptive-correlation, cross-sectional study. They studied the relationships between â€Å"moving-forward behavior† and how it relates to age, demographics, and disease characteristics (Chem., 2013). Three characteristics were combined o define â€Å"moving-forward behavior: self-efficacy, self-perception, and social support.

Monopoly of the United States Postal Service

Monopoly of the United States Postal Service A monopoly is a market system where one supplier has command over the whole or nearly the entire market. The supplier therefore has the ability to dictate the market in his favor. The ability to dictate can be on prices, packaging and service delivery among others (Money, 2011). This paper discusses the United States postal service in its capacity as a monopoly.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Monopoly of the United States Postal Service specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service was established in 1775 by the then continental congress. A post master general was named who effectively coordinated the postal services in the interest the Americans’ welfare. The congress then later directed the expansion of the postal service to include the costal and western regions. The expansion of services continued later. The access to the postal service was enh anced during the mid nineteenth century when the congress lowered the mailing rates making the service more affordable and accessible. This was followed by the introduction of mail deliveries to door steps at absolutely no cost. Another service, the parcel post was introduced by the â€Å"post office department† in the year 1913. The postal department was then awarded a monopoly by the congress to protect it from private firms which could selectively provide services on the basis of profitability. Further legislations have since been made to enhance the service delivery of the department that is currently known as the United States postal service. The postal service became a monopoly under the legislation of the congress. This monopoly was formed by a legislative act and not by any merger. It can therefore be said to have been formed naturally (USPS, 2008). Impact of the Postal Service on the Market The postal service has had significant impact in the American market. Its ext ensive service that handles hundreds of billions of mails in a year has enhanced communication both in the social and economic aspects. The postal service provided a means of communication among entities ranging from mail deliveries to money transfers. This had an impact of a fostered communication among people and entities especially before other modes of communications like the mobile phones and the internet were widely developed. It has also had negative impacts in its services. There have in the past been outcries over increased postal rates which can be attributed to lack of competition (Gale, 2011) Being formed by a legislation of the congress, the postal service can be classified as a government monopoly. Government monopolies are those monopolies that are established as a result of legislation passed by a government to protect a given market. In its case the United States postal service was established as a monopoly to protect it from private investors who would be selective in service delivery with profit as the guiding factor and not provision of the necessary services to people (USPS, 2008).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The postal service can be seen to have an extensively distributed network all over the United States. The supply of its services is therefore not limited as one of its legal mandate is the service delivery to the citizens (USPS, 2008). Geddes explains that as any state owned monopoly, the postal service at times offer prices that are bellow reasonable in order to force private competitors out of the market. This can be done even if its net effect is a loss to the state cooperation (Geddes, 2003). The postal service does not directly discriminate on prices but had in earlier years been accused of indirect discrimination of offering specialized services to second class mailers at no extra charge (FTP, n.d. ). References FTP. (n.d.) Post Office. FTP Resource. Retrieved from: web. Gale. (2011). United States Postal Service. Business High Beam. Web. Geddes, R. (2003). Opportunities for Anticompetitive Behavior in Postal Services. American Entreprise Institute for Public Policy Research. Retrieved from: aei.org/ Money. ( 2011). Monopoly. Money Terms. Retrieved from: https://moneyterms.co.uk/ USPS. (2008). Universal Service and the Postal Monopoly. United States Postal Services. Retrieved from: https://www.usps.com/Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Monopoly of the United States Postal Service specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Free Essays on History Of The Internet

In 1964, the RAND proposal was put forward. Written by Paul Baran, this proposal stated the principles of a new network which was to be built for maximum strength and flexibility. This new network would have no central authority. The principles of this network were that all the nodes would be equal in status and each could send and receive messages. All the messages would be sent in packets, each with its own address. These packets would be sent at one node and would arrive at another one. This may seem rather obvious, but what was new was that the way the packets went through the net was not important. That means that if one node was destroyed, the rest of the nodes would still be able to communicate. This is of course was inefficient and rather slow, but extremely reliable. The Internet still uses this method nowadays, and there has been only one collective crash so far. The Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) wanted to install an advanced network based on the principles in the US. The network was called ARPANET and consisted of four high speed computers (nodes). In 1969, the first node was installed in UCLA. By 1971 there were 23 nodes on ARPANET. In 1972 the first e-mail program was created by Ray Tomlinson of BBN. He chose the @ symbol to link the username to the address. Telnet protocol allowed logging on to a distant computer. It was published as Request for Comments (RFC). These were means of sharing developmental work throughout the network community. Instead of using the ARPANET for long distance computing, the scientists used it for communicating with each other. Each user had his/her own e-mail address. In 1973, â€Å"Development began on the protocol later to be called TCP/IP, it was developed by a group headed by Vinton Cerf from Stanford and Bob Kahn from DARPA. This new protocol was to allow diverse computer networks to interconnect and communicate with each other (Kristula 1974-1983).†... Free Essays on History Of The Internet Free Essays on History Of The Internet In 1964, the RAND proposal was put forward. Written by Paul Baran, this proposal stated the principles of a new network which was to be built for maximum strength and flexibility. This new network would have no central authority. The principles of this network were that all the nodes would be equal in status and each could send and receive messages. All the messages would be sent in packets, each with its own address. These packets would be sent at one node and would arrive at another one. This may seem rather obvious, but what was new was that the way the packets went through the net was not important. That means that if one node was destroyed, the rest of the nodes would still be able to communicate. This is of course was inefficient and rather slow, but extremely reliable. The Internet still uses this method nowadays, and there has been only one collective crash so far. The Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) wanted to install an advanced network based on the principles in the US. The network was called ARPANET and consisted of four high speed computers (nodes). In 1969, the first node was installed in UCLA. By 1971 there were 23 nodes on ARPANET. In 1972 the first e-mail program was created by Ray Tomlinson of BBN. He chose the @ symbol to link the username to the address. Telnet protocol allowed logging on to a distant computer. It was published as Request for Comments (RFC). These were means of sharing developmental work throughout the network community. Instead of using the ARPANET for long distance computing, the scientists used it for communicating with each other. Each user had his/her own e-mail address. In 1973, â€Å"Development began on the protocol later to be called TCP/IP, it was developed by a group headed by Vinton Cerf from Stanford and Bob Kahn from DARPA. This new protocol was to allow diverse computer networks to interconnect and communicate with each other (Kristula 1974-1983).†...

A Contrast Between the Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell and Salems Lot by Stephen King

A Contrast Between the Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell and 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King Rationalizing the Supernatural in Horror Novels Stephen King, often declared the greatest and most successful contemporary horror novelist wrote that, â€Å"the great literature of the supernatural often contains the same ‘let’s slow down and look at the accident’ syndrome.† (King, Nightshift xv). This refers to the guilty fascination readers feel as they are captivated by the gruesome details of horror literature. Both Alden Bells’ The Reapers are the Angels and Stephen King’s own ‘salem’s Lot rely on the phenomenon to create an enthralling story. Most people cannot deny that they feel compelled to admire a tragic wreck that is completely out of the ordinary, and this same instinct makes horror literature, like those mentioned, so successful. When in a car wreck, survivors are concerned with their safety and survival and can’t fully take in the details of the situation. Others who drive by, however, tend to slow down and look at the wreck, because they aren’t in danger and have the mental capacity to look at the details of the wreck. They can consider and comprehend the terrifying accident that happened. Similarly, horror novels allow readers to experience the supernatural and the morbid without being overwhelmed by their own fear, but rather they can inspect and approach the supernatural and morbid rationally. Alden Bell’s novel, The Reapers are the Angels takes place in a world of morbidity. Temple fights for survival in a world that has been mostly taken over by the undead, where â€Å"slugs† or â€Å"meatskins† are hungry for human flesh. She encounters fellow humans, some who help her and some who are enemies, as she moves nomadically throughout the United States. She is distant from characters and rejects living in one home, after the death of her younger brother, Malcolm, who she felt she was solely responsible for. Her world involves constant running and fighting, displaying constant fearlessness as most readers would not survive a day among the undead. Morbid images, involving human flesh, blood and carcasses are a reality for Temple. There are many parts of the horror novel that go into great detail of how a human body is torn apart, something that an ordinary person would never see or experience. One example of this is when part of Temple’s pinky finge r is chopped off, and she is fixing it up again. â€Å"It’s gone just above the first knuckle, a clean cut through the bone that shows as a yellow twig poking through at the end. She uses her other hand to draw the skin up over the end of the bone and pinch it shut like a foreskin†¦ now just run a thread through there a few times and tie it off. It’ll be okay.† (Bell, The Reapers are the Angels Ch. 4) This is situation is really out of the ordinary for most readers, who most likely wouldn’t be able to thread half their finger closed without getting sick. However, Temple’s tone makes this seem like a very normal occurrence. This tone is also expressed when she kills Abraham Todd, thinking, â€Å"Why do the livin and dyin always have to be just half an inch apart? She goes to the desk and takes a ballpoint pen from the drawer and puts the tip of it in his nostril and drives it upward sharp and hard with the heel of her hand to keep him from com ing back.† (Bell, The Reapers are the Angels Ch. 3) Most people aren’t murderers and would be extremely shocked in such a situation; probably too shocked to recount memories or make snarky remarks. Throughout the book, Temple is constantly facing dead bodies and other extremely morbid things, which she describes in great detail to readers. Her responses and feelings during these situations are rational and calm, or at least calmer that any regular person would react. She describes horrifying situations with great detail so that readers can understand and experience the situation; neither Temple nor the reader is too overwhelmed by fear to comprehend the situation of fear. Rather, readers are fascinated by the situation, as Stephen King suggests we do in his forward to Nightshift. ‘salem’s Lot exemplifies the author’s own claim about horror novels. Ben Mears, the main character of the horror novel, is an author staying in his childhood town to research for his new novel. During his stay he makes some friends and attempts to protect the people of the town as they transform into vampires. Without success, he leaves with the one other survivor, leaving the town empty of living humans. The detailed explanations that King uses to describe the morbid occurrences of the story create a novel that captivates readers. One of these occurrences was when Ben staked the vampire of Susan, his girlfriend. â€Å"Death had not put its mark on her. Her face was blushed with color, and her lips, innocent of make-up, were a deep and glowing read. Her forehead was pale but flawless, the skin like cream. Her eyes were closed, and the dark lashes lay snootily against her cheeks†¦ Yet the total impression was not of angelic loveliness but a cold, disconnected beauty.† (King, ‘Salem’s Lot Ch. 14 Pt. 15) The undead are monsters that we expect to appear frightening, but we don’t understand why we would feel frightened by them, until an author like King describes the beauty of a vampire like Susan and we understand why we feel uneasy. Further in the chapter, as Ben is staking her body, â€Å"blood gushed upward from the stake’s point of entry in a bright and astonishing flood, splashing his hands, his shirt, his cheeks. In an instant the cellar was filled with its hot, coppery odor.† This description is fascinating to readers, because in the situation we would not be able to comprehend what was happening, as we would be overwhelmed by fear. When we read about this shocking scene of the story, we experience it without fear distracting us from the details. Readers can slow down the situation and inspect the details of it, similar to how one would slow down to stare at a car wreck. The style and structure of the book itself is filled with extraordinary detail, even though the conclusion of the story is an empty town void of humans. The novel cycles through several different characters’ viewpoints and storylines. When looking at the storyline, many of the details and additional characters would not have actually been necessary in reaching the same conclusion. For example, the story of Dud Rogers, who lived by and maintained the Jerusalem’s Lot’s Town Dump, was described in painful detail. It described his introverted personality, his appreciation of setting the dump on fire, his angry thoughts and his habit of shooting rats (King, ‘Salem’s Lot Ch. 3 Pt. 10). References and connections between Dud and other community members were very rare and insignificant, and his fate was death and rising as a vampire like all the other people of the town, posing the question of whether his role in the book was important. Although it seems rea lly distracting when following the story line, especially because he is only one of many minor characters that each carry their own complicated story and personality, he played a role in the overall effect of the story, along with all of these minor characters. ‘Salem’s Lot is not a story of some individual vampires or even the horrific death of a group of innocent people, but rather how an entire town died. The detail given to characters like Dud contribute to formation of the town. They are important in making readers realize that this is not Ben Mears and his friends’ story, but the story of ‘Salem’s Lot. The detail also contributes to King’s â€Å"slow down and look at the accident† syndrome. With this full understanding of the community, readers can also better comprehend the death of the town. Something so morbid and horrific as the fall of a town to vampires is really irrational and incomprehensible to people, because it is extre mely out of the ordinary and in this case isn’t truly possible. The detail that King’s novel features creates an understandable explanation for this town’s unexplainable and terrifying status, and this is what captures readers. In his forward, King explains why appealing to this obsession with morbidity is effective in attracting readers. Most of our fears are irrational, or the way we approach them is irrational. We know that vampires, zombies and the supernatural do not exist, but we are afraid of them nonetheless. The forward uses an example that most people can relate to; we make sure our entire body is under the covers when we are in bed, in fear of a cold hand reaching out from under the bed, and where this hand may drag us. We can’t comprehend this fear because we feel it despite knowing it is irrational. However, horror novels, like those mentioned, approach these fears in a very rational way, as exemplified by both The Reapers are the Angels and ‘salem’s Lot. The rational descriptions and approaches to supernatural horrors in some horror literature interest readers, because they can finally achieve comprehension of their irrationality. This is fascinating to readers not because they are fascinated by morbidity, death and the supernatural, but because they can understand fears that were previously beyond their understanding. These horror novels are an opportunity for readers to slow down and think about supernatural horrors rationally without being under the influence of their own fear.