Literature review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 7

Literature review - Essay Example They further state that schoolwork burden has some negative effects on test performance. Thus, according to the theory of child-centred education, students’ intrinsic motivation for learning could be developed under child-centred circumstances. The theory of â€Å"Learning for Mastery† which states that learning is a function of three variables; student cognitive entry about the need to learn, student affective entry characteristics showing the will to learn and quality of instruction where the teacher should show willingness to teach (Tang andFu, 2008, p. 505).Therefore, the quality of schoolwork completed in both child-centred and teacher-centred settings, will be analysed to compare academic performance. In this essay, the researcher will review the literature concerning three aspects of thesubject area: the issues around the definitions of child-centred and teacher-centred classrooms and the efficiency of schoolwork under both settings; the past and present contextsof acquiringChinese literacy in primary school in China; and the value of effective schoolworkfor improving children’s educational outcome in child-centred classrooms. In this regard, effective schoolwork refers to the way students can best use their study time in the hope that examination oriented teaching can be changed toward the development of an educational system that is multi-standard with the aim of alleviating burden of schoolwork (Tang and Fu, 2008). This will go a long way in improving schoolwork among the students at the primary level. The basic concept ofchild-centred teaching is that children’s physical, psychological and cognitive development should be placed at the centre of education (Doddington and Hilton, 2007). It is argued that,due to increasing anxiety about academic performance child-centred education has been replaced by teacher-centred education, which emphasises the authority of the teacher and ignores the learner’s individual

Dunkirk Was a Miracle of Deliverance Essay Example for Free

Dunkirk Was a Miracle of Deliverance Essay From the 27th of May to the 4th of June, there were the nine days of evacuation of British, French, Belgian and Dutch soldiers alike. They were trapped in the small town of Dunkirk due to the port that was there. After waiting for days, the majority were eventually rescued by a combination of naval vessels and civilian boats as well as fishing boats and ferries. It is regarded as a great victory for the British as it saved many lives although a military victory for the Germans. I agree with the quotation above that â€Å"Dunkirk was a miracle of deliverance† because of the overwhelming evidence of the pros of the operation (codenamed Operation Dynamo). The first pro of the evacuation was that 338,226 soldiers were rescued in the operation itself. Much of the British expeditionary force (BEF) was also rescued as well as 139,997 French soldiers. The German causalities were also very high with 27,074 killed and 111,034 wounded soldiers. Although there were many material losses, the morale of the British was raised after the evacuation of Dunkirk, as they felt that they were helping in the war effort and that even though many had died, many lived to â€Å"fight another day†. Another pro is that after Dunkirk the Americans were more motivated to enter the war and help the allies. On the other hand I disagree with this quotation because even with the rescuing of 338,226 men, another 68,000 British soldiers were killed and 290,000 French soldiers. Nearly all of Britain’s tanks, planes, naval vessels, small arms and motor vehicles were either damaged or left behind on the beaches of France. Another point for the cons is that many civilians were injured and killed whilst trying to rescue the soldiers stranded on the beaches. All in all Dunkirk was one of the greatest military victories for the Germans due to the massive loss of British soldiers and military resources. To conclude, although this was a great military victory for the Germans, it was also a great help in raising the hope of the British population. In short I agree with the quotation above because of the points stated above as well as the fact that if Dunkirk had failed in the slightest for the British then Churchill would have probably signed a peace treaty with Hitler, allowing the Germans to win the war. In the long-term, Dunkirk was a great victory for the British although it was a very big defeat in the short-term as much military strength was lost.

The Preceding The Beatitudes Theology Religion Essay

The Preceding The Beatitudes Theology Religion Essay Preceding The Beatitudes is the beginning of chapter 5 in the Gospel of Matthew. This is also the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5 starts off with Jesus going up on the mountain. Matthew 5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. When you first read this text you think that he was being overcrowded and simply went up on the mountain for more space. However, is that the only reason Jesus went up on the mountain? When we look at other verses in the Bible such as Luke 6:12 In these days he went out into the hills to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. Perhaps Jesus felt closer and more alone with God by being on the hills or mountain. Perhaps it made him feel closer to God. Or another reason may be that he was interacting and teaching his disciples on the mountain while the crowds surrounded them to listen down low. Look at the second part of this verse, when he sat down his disciples came to him, whenever Jesus sat down somewhere it was usually a good indication that he would be teaching so his disciples automatically came over to him. Matt 13:2, Mark 4:1, and Luke 5:3 are all other examples of when he sat down and taught as well. Matthew 5:2 And he opened his mouth and taught them by saying: This is where the teaching, otherwise known as The Beatitudes begins. In this part of the Bible Matthew seems to be portraying Jesus as the new Moses. The term Beatitude comes from the Latin word Beaus. It means happy, fortunate or blissful. Each beatitude has two phrases, kind of like a cause and an effect. Each beatitude also starts off with the word blessed. To be blessed is to be happy and filled with the Holy Spirit. The eight beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (5:3) Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (5:4) Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (5:5) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (5:6) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy (5:7) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (5:8) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of God (5:9) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (5:10) (5:11 12) Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter evil against you. To rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. Now let us take a deeper look at each beatitude individually. Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the opening verse to the Sermon on the Mount. At that time, the word Blessed was a common word for describing someone who is happy. That meaning of the word has been lost in the present day interpretation, but that seems to be the original intent of the Gospel writer. Blessed also means to be made holy, so when someone is blessed it means they are experiencing a life changing, spiritual transformation. Whoever goes by these rules will lead a happy life and a step closer into getting into Heaven. This could also be the interpretation of the word Blessed used. In my opinion, it means both. The poor in spirit, I think this means actual poor people, people who are destitute. Like the woman who gave everything she had, and was commended by Christ for doing so. It means they have spirit, yet little else, so they are blessed with spirit or in spirit, and theirs is the kingdom of heaven. They may not have anything on earth, but they can be assured of the afterlife. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. We already know that Blessed means to be made holy and to be happy. But what shall we mourn over? This can be having many meanings. A person can mourn over the loss of a loved one or friend, or even the loss of possessions. A person can also mourn over sin. Everyone mourns someone or something at sometime in their lives. In time, we laugh and are happy again. I think that is Gods way or seeing us greive and in pain and He puts happiness back into our lives. When I was a little boy my dog got ranover by a car and I cried for two weeks straight and wouldnt talk to anyone. I am an only child and that dog was my best friend. The dog would wait for me at the bus stop and walk me home even. After about 2 weeks over hell, I got off the school bus and found a puppy hiding under some bushes. I didnt really want the puppy at first, but knew it was alone like me so I took it home. I think God put that puppy in my path because he seen I was sad and lonely. God and the puppy (Cuervo) healed me. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. In Greek literature, the meaning of the word meek means gentle or soft. So to be meek you should be gentle and not strong. You should be gentle in a disposition that you do not fight Gods will. Also, if you compare Mathew 5:5 in different Bibles, you get the same translation as well; The King James Version Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. World English Bible Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. As you can see, they have been translated even further and shows that meek means gentle. The phrase inherit the earth could mean that in time God will come down to earth and choose these gentle people to rule over the entire world. Or it could be that these gentle people will get their every need provided by God. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Hunger and thirst here could be an expression for a strong desire. Since hunger and thirst are something EVERYONE needs in order to have nourishment to live, so does their soul need nourishment in faith. The soul needs nourishment as well in the need or desire of forgiveness of sins and to want to do the right things on Earth to go to Heaven. Those who have a great desire for righteousness will be satisfied in Heaven. Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Those who have mercy on others shall get mercy from God. People can show mercy to others in numerous ways. By sympathizing with them, showing them affection and tenderness. In return, when the believers ask God for mercy for certain reasons, they will receive it. Mercy is Gods gift for mercy. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. To be pure means to be clean and in the New Testament the heart is believed to be the center of ones essence or being. When I read this I think of small children for they are pure in heart and are said to have a guardian angel following them around to see that no harm comes to them. So maybe that is it. If we cleanse ourselves of bad thoughts and nastiness to make ourselves pure we shall see God by being under his protection until the day we actually see Him standing at the gates of Heaven. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. These peacemakers can be individuals that will go out of their way to make others happy or to help others in their time of need and the result being in that some way peace was made or kept. These are the ones that put themselves at risk in order to prevent arguments or wars. The phrase sons of God is a common Hebrew expression that means someone who has the quality and characteristic of God, someone who is Godlike. Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who are persecuted, not for any crimes they have done, but for unrighteousness. In other words, by living saintly and living righteously, you will separate yourself from the unrighteous people and be permitted into heaven. Now let us take a look at some similar passages in the Bible. Four similar blessings appear in the Gospel of Luke and are followed by four woes that mirror the blessings. This passage in Luke is also known as the Sermon on the Plain; Luke 6:20-22 Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account as the Son of man! Luke 6:24-26 But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. Theere being a difference in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Lukes version of the Beatitudes shouldnt surprise us really. Think about it. This is two different peoples version of what was said. Of course it would be recorded differently, because everyone is different and interprets things different in their mind. What does The Beatitudes say about the relationship with God? Basically through The Beatitudes God is giving us a pathway to follow to find happiness with God in our lives. By centering our lives on God, we become transformed. I think the whole message of The Beatitudes is if we center our life on God, we will find peace in our lives. What follows after The Beatitudes is the rest of chapter 5 in The Gospel of Matthew and also the continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Chapter 6 in the Gospel of Matthew is also a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Here Jesus tells the disciples to be discrete in several areas of their lives versus showing off with pride. Doing these things in secret will result in rewards from the Father in secret. Give to the needy, pray in your home with the door closed, fast in private, and not to worry about earthly treasures, but instead worry about treasures you can store in heaven by keeping your heart on God. I think the main question this passage may have addressed in the community for which it was originally written was What about the ten commandments? Think about it. At the time Jesus was giving these new rules from God, everyone was honoring the ten commandments as the law. Im sure Jesus had to explain that the ten commandments ARE the law, but The Beatitudes are kind of a modification to the laws. The ten commandments were the laws of the Old Testament and, yes, they are still the laws, but times were changing and new modifications were needed in the New Testament time.

american gothic design :: essays research papers

The most important aesthetic and philosophical style was developed in the eighteenth century, yet this style did not reach its apex until the nineteenth. With Christian elements and strong moral the movement appealed to the newly wealthy middle classes. The notable increase in prosperity that accompanied the Industrial Revolution was largely based on the accumulative benefits of inexpensive imports for the colonies. This new found affluence and status for the middle-class, has naturally revealed in the types of homes they lived in and the style in which they decorated and ornamented them. Unsure how to begin this new style of living, they chose architecture and furnishings that had previously been only for the aristocracy and the upper class. The critics of high Victorian style, known as the Aesthetic Movement, objected not only to the style and quality of machine-made furnishings but also to the manner in which they were used in the home. The typical middle-class drawing room was c rammed full of furniture, fabrics were used in abundance and every available surface was overflowing with knickknacks. Such displays were a means of showing off their new-found cultural interests, prosperity and status. They were also in accord with the fashionable notion that bareness in a room was in poor taste. Victorian Gothic style was zenithed in the mid-nineteenth century by those who yearned to return to the complexity of the skilled craftsmanship and design that prevailed in the Middle Ages. Architecture in the Middle Ages in northern Europe was based on arches, such as the gable, buttress, and ribbed vault. These houses had roofs that were high and sloping, which were imperative in wetter climates of the north, and inspired the used of decorative elements such as stonework and brick, oriel and lancet windows, or weathervanes. Colonettes rose to these ceilings and eliminated the used of masonry walls, now leaving enough interior room and wall space for windows. Large windows were made of stained glass, in later years portraying religious figures, and the glow of light was said to symbolize â€Å"heavenly spiritual light.† These subjects soon passed as the sixteenth century approached with a more classical form of architecture. This style, full of symmetry, rounded arches, and columns, and lacking culture, branded medieval design â€Å"barbaric†. Now collectively called Victorian the architecture was made up of several main styles. These include Italianate, Second Empire, Stick-Eastlake, and Queen Anne. Facades of Victorian Gothic homes were asymmetrical with steeply pitched roofs.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

C. S Lewis wrote the novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe initially for his Goddaughter in order to keep her in touch with Christianity. What Lewis did not realize is that many adults would also enjoy the fantasy children’s novel as well. The narrative is filled with mythical creatures, humorous moments, and suspenseful situations. Although many events and characters seem improbable, the four children in the book—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy—are realistically portrayed as well-rounded characters with individual strengths and faults. Although the novel is recognized as a children’s fantasy book, it is also popular with adults as the story contains bits of modern culture, vivid descriptions of violence and is heavy on Christian allegory. As much as the readers enjoy the magical land of Narnia, 21st century life is not exactly full of Dryads, Naiads and Fauns frolicking and feasting in the summer woods. By contrast, in today’s children’s fantasy novels, not every injustice is punished, and not all the good people live happily ever after: some of them die, because that is reality. Between school shootings, gang violence and child abuse is seems as though reality is thousands of miles away from the fantasy of complete and total justice in Narnia. What readers of all ages can relate to, however, is betrayal. For example, spouses who cheat, employees who steal from their employers, and friends who tell lies. This modern idea of betrayal is where readers from any age can relate to the novel. In the narrative, Edmund’s first betrayal is a small but unpleasant one: â€Å"Up to that moment Edmund had been feeling sick, and sulky, and annoyed with Lucy for being right, but he hadn't made up his mind what to do. When Peter suddenly asked him the question he decided all at once to do the meanest and most spiteful thing he could think of. He decided to let Lucy down† (Lewis 48). Edmund lies about his trip to Narnia in order to make himself look superior in the eyes of his older siblings. This small cruelty will pave the way for his greater betrayal further in the story. Readers of any age can connect with the modern culture of betrayal in the novel, where minimal details are explored that over time lead to Edmund turning his back on his siblings. This novel features an odd mix of childish adventure and bloody battles. Young children who read this story enjoy the fairy-tale aspects, while older readers can appreciate the repetition of scenes in which the children are often comforted by the sudden availability of tea, and the way the forces of good seem to always outweigh the evil. The use of violence throughout the novel deals strictly with fantasy for children, where it is mainly used for excitement. On the other hand, for older readers the violence in the novel can be seen as consequential where extreme force is used as simply last resort. For example, as the head of the forces of evil, the White Witch is not playing a long hand when she exclaims, â€Å"Summon all our people to meet me here as speedily as they can. Call out the giants and the werewolves and the spirits of those trees who are on our side. Call the Ghouls, and the Boggles, the Ogres and the Minotaurs. Call the Cruels, the Hags, the Spectres, and the people of the Toadstools. We will fight† (Lewis 149) There are many different creatures in Narnia that follow the White Witch and she merely acts as their stone cold captain. This quote explores evil where it is not an isolated incident in Narnia – it is the idea of violence and commands a great deal of power. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe functions as a spiritual allegory where one does not have to be too familiar with the Bible to recognize some of the key characters and themes. Without doubt, Aslan represents Jesus Christ, and also God himself, whereas the White Witch represents Satan. Narnia, where the adventure happens, visibly represents the Kingdom of God. Clearly there is no direct retelling of any of the Bible stories; however, readers can find elements taken and redistributed for younger readers. In addition, having this biblical reality come to life is important to ensure a committed Christian lifestyle not only for children, but also for adults. For instance, when Edmund arrives in Narnia alone, he immediately meets the White Witch where he is tempted with the enchanted Turkish Delight and the promise of becoming a prince of Narnia. The White Witch explains to Edmund, â€Å"I think I would like to make you the Prince – some day, when you bring the others to visit me† (Lewis 40). Succumbing to temptation is a very powerful theme in the Bible, where Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness with promises of great power. Not only does Lewis restate certain events in the life of Jesus in a context that is easy to understand, most importantly, readers of all ages can both relate to and enjoy the fantasy of Narnia. An understanding of the modern reality, use of violence and Biblical allegory in the novel is essential in satisfying both younger and older readers. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has already established itself as a timeless novel that appeals to both the atheists and Christians, the uneducated and to scholars, and lastly to children and adults. In addition to being a children’s fantasy book, it is an adventure story in which the heroes set out on a quest to recover their kidnapped friend and end up ruling the land. An analysis of this narrative, however, allows readers of any age to fully appreciate Lewis’ unique gift to simplify complex ideas and craft beautiful children’s fantasies. Thus, this allows the reader of any age group to gain a deeper understanding of Lewis as a skilled creative writer and a deeper satisfaction of his artwork, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

My Handsome Boy Named Scooter

My Handsome Boy Named Scooter Judith A. Bell ENG 121 Thomas, Cooper December 2, 2012 One gorgeous summer day, I decided to stop in our local Humane Society and peep in on the new dogs. It was love at first site, my handsome boy Scooter sat in the corner of the last cage I peered in. Our eyes met and we both knew he was coming home with me that very day. I put a brand new bright neon green collar and leash on him as if he and I were pro’s, it fit perfectly. I then knew we were off to a beautiful start of our relationship. I just knew we were going to become the best of friends forever.On the car ride home, he sat so adorable in the seat next to me. We both were so excited to get home, we could barely wait. It felt like we were on pins and needles all the way there. After arriving to Scooter’s new forever home, I immediately went to work on setting up the house for a puppy. Laying down puddle papers, food, and water down in certain spots is necessary. So, He could easily get used to his surroundings. He could even tell me from the start, with his amazing nose, where I put his treats. He put his front paws on the cabinet and started barking.The next day, we went out in the back yard to let Scooter experience the alluring long bladed grass. He ran and ran until his itty bitty body was plum wore out. He slept like a newborn baby that night, and from that point on, every night in his bed witch was as soft and plushy as mine. Another morning, Scooter awoke with a blissful look on his face, so I decided to capture the moment and go for a peaceful bike ride. The next thing I know, I hear a yelp like I have never heard before. He somehow got his cute little nose/mouth in the spokes.I immediately saw bright red blood, so we rushed off to the animal hospital. The vet took a look at Scooter; he then turned to tell me he lost two teeth. I felt terrible and started to cry. That’s when the vet whispered, Scooter will be just fine. I was so elated, and read y to go home. After a few months of pure bliss for us both, Scooter started running out of our yard to chase cars going by. The next thing I heard was an extremely high yelp again. A small orange as the sun, car hit my handsome boy. I tried to scoop him up to see how horrific his wounds were.I became very upset at what I saw, his back left leg was terribly hurt and that familiar smell of blood was present. This time Scooter needed stiches and a cast. The vet again whispered to me, he is a very luck boy, and must have nine lives. And again we returned home to recover from his wounds. He never has gotten the full use of his leg back since. Right away, my husband put a fence up around our whole five acres. Now that a few years have gone by my handsome boy is slowing down. He uses three legs as if he was born that way.This just shows me, that no matter how bad things can get, we can overcome anything but death. And, my handsome boy and I will be there for each other, for the rest of our lives. `All in all, my handsome boy Scooter has gone through terrible accidents, but I will always treat him as if he is my child. I rescued him, and I will continue to cherish and love every moment we have together. I recommend that everyone should adopt at least one dog in their lifetime. There will never be a dull moment, and the love you exchange is unbelievable. My handsome boy Scooter will hold a piece of my heart forever.