Heart of Darkness Parallels free essay sample

Apocalypse Now is a movie directed by Francis Coppola came out in 1979. It is set at the height of the Vietnam War. U. S. Army Captain Willard is sent on a top secret mission into the jungles of Cambodia. His mission is to seek out and destroy Colonel Kurtz, who is believed to have gone completely insane. The novel Heart of Darkness and the movie Apocalypse Now have many parallels. Both works follow the same story line but presented in completely different contexts. Even though Apocalypse Now is based upon the book, there are still many differences in themes, characters, and events. The largest of these differences is the setting and time of the two works. While watching Apocalypse Now the viewer is able to observe many scenes that are similar with the novel Heart of Darkness. One of the most apparent of these scenes is when the natives attack the men on the boats. We will write a custom essay sample on Heart of Darkness Parallels or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After the attack Coppola and Conrad both use fog to show the uncertainty the characters have in regards to completing their tasks. The men in the novel begin to randomly shoot into the jungle once the attack begins. They are unable to see their attackers so they are shooting completely blind. After the attack is over a large cloud of smoke from the men’s guns floating in front of the boat. Marlow then continues to lead the men of the boat blindly up the Congo River. In Apocalypse Now after the attack by the natives, a fog also surrounds the boat. In the movie the fog is used to represents Willard’s thoughts. Captain Willard is not sure whether what he is doing is worthwhile. He has no idea what he is getting himself into; one of his men has just died without even knowing the purpose of his mission. The fog in both stories is used to represent the leader’s uncertainty of their missions. In both Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness madness is represented during the attack. In the novel the Helmsman goes crazy and in the novel Chief is the character that succumbs to madness. In Heart of Darkness when the natives attack the boat the Helmsman begins to go crazy, jumping up and down going absolutely mad during the attack, acting like a complete animal. He begins shaking his empty rifle and screaming at the men on the shore he is unable to see. In the movie, Chief begins to go mad when he realizes that not even Willard knows the location of where they are headed. When the boat is to be attacked by the natives with harmless arrows the Chief goes absolutely absurd. Screaming at the shores completely exposing himself to his attackers. A huge mistake because as soon as Chief exposes himself a spear that turns out to be deadly hits him. There are many parallels between the novel Heart of Darkness and the movie Apocalypse Now. Throughout the entire movie there are scenes that are nearly identical to the novel. During the attack seen parallels with fog and madness can be seen in both Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness.

Top 100 Most-Used German Words

Top 100 Most-Used German Words Have you ever wondered what the top 500, 1,000 or 10,000 German words were? If you need to learn German vocabulary, which words should you learn first? Which ones are most frequently used? The Projekt Deutscher Wortschatz at the Universitt Leipzig scanned texts and included variations of the same word, including capitalization versus lower case and other possible forms of any particular word. The definite article (the) appears in all of its German variations: der/Der, die/Die, den, etc. The verb to be appears in all of its conjugated forms: ist, sind, war, sei, etc. Even the new and old spellings of dass/daß are considered two different words. The Leipzig researchers noted that if one were to select different text sources for analysis, one would get different results. An analysis of the vocabulary found in a novel versus that in a comic book or a newspaper would not be similar. Obviously, an analysis of spoken German would also yield different results.   Here are charts showing the top 100 most-used German words, and one showing the top 30 most-spoken German words. Students of German 101 should get familiar with these words and their forms. Top 100 German Words  Edited and Ranked by Frequency of Use Rank German English 1 der (den, dem, des) the m. 2 die (der, den) the f. 3 und and 4 in (im) in, into (in the) 5 von (vom) of, from 6 zu (zum, zur) to; at; too 7 das (dem, des) the n. 8 mit with 9 sich himself, itself, yourself 10 auf on 11 fr for 12 ist (sein, sind, war, sei, etc.) is 13 nicht not 14 ein (eine, einen, einer, einem, eines) a, an 15 als as, than, when 16 auch also, too 17 es it 18 an (am/ans) to, at, by 19 werden (wurde, wird) become, get 20 aus from, out of 21 er he, it 22 hat (haben, hatte, habe) has/have 23 dass / da that 24 sie she, it; they 25 nach to, after 26 bei at, by 27 um around, at 28 noch still, yet 29 wie as, how 30 ber about, over, via 31 so so, such, thus 32 Sie you (formal) 33 nur only 34 oder or 35 aber but 36 vor (vorm, vors) before, in front of; of 37 bis by, until 38 mehr more 39 durch by, through 40 man one, they 41 Prozent (das) percent 42 kann (knnen, konnte, etc.) be able, can 43 gegen against; around 44 schon already 45 wenn if, when 46 sein (seine, seinen, etc.) his 47 Mark (Euro) Mark (Euro) currency 48 ihre/ihr her, their 49 dann then 50 unter under, among 51 wir we 52 soll (sollen, sollte, etc.) should, ought to 53 ich I (personal pronoun) 54 Jahr (das, Jahren, Jahres, etc.) year 55 zwei two 56 diese (dieser, dieses, etc.) this, these 57 wieder again 58 Uhr Most frequently used as oclock in telling time. 59 will (wollen, willst, etc.) wants 60 zwischen between 61 immer always 62 Millionen (eine Million) millions 63 was what 64 sagte (sagen, sagt) said (say, says) 65 gibt (es gibt; geben) gives 66 alle all, everyone 67 seit since 68 muss (mssen) must 69 doch but, nevertheless, after all 70 jetzt now 71 drei three 72 neue (neu, neuer, neuen, etc.) new 73 damit with it/that; by that; because of that; so that 74 bereits already 75 da since, because 76 ab off, away; exit 77 ohne without 78 sondern but rather 79 selbst myself, himself 80 ersten (erste, erstes, etc.) first 81 nun now; then; well? 82 etwa about, approximately; for instance 83 heute today, nowadays 84 weil because 85 ihm to/for him 86 Menschen (der Mensch) people 87 Deutschland (das) Germany 88 anderen (andere, anderes, etc.) other(s) 89 rund approximately, about 90 ihn him 91 Ende (das) end 92 jedoch nevertheless 93 Zeit (die) time 94 uns us 95 Stadt (die) city, town 96 geht (gehen, ging, etc.) goes 97 sehr very 98 hier here 99 ganz entire(ly), complete(ly), whole(ly) 100 Berlin (das) Berlin Top 30 Words in Spoken German Rank German English 1 ich I 2 das the; that (one) neuter 3 die the f. 4 ist is 5 nicht not 6 ja yes 7 du you 8 der the m. 9 und and 10 sie she, they 11 so so, thus 12 wir we 13 was what 14 noch still, yet 15 da there, here; since, because 16 mal times; once 17 mit with 18 auch also, too 19 in in, into 20 es it 21 zu to; at; too 22 aber but 23 habe / hab (I) have 24 den the 25 eine a, an fem. indefinite article 26 schon already 27 man one, they 28 doch but, nevertheless, after all 29 war was 30 dann the

Managing teams effectively Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing teams effectively - Essay Example An obstructionist or a toxic group member is usually an individual who methodically and systematically impedes and blocks the progress of a project (Holpp, 1098). Hence, team leadership essentially involves the talent and the ability to deal with all forms of members in a team, be it the slackers or an obstructionist. As per the existing knowledge and theories of team management, the best way to deal with a slacker or an obstructionist is to follow a mixed approach, which aims at confronting the inherent propensities of such people, to bring them out into the open, while accompanied by soft tactics like acknowledging one’s best qualities and by motivating one to contribute to team effort (Holpp, 1998). Such a hot and cold approach towards the personality types under consideration is bound to yield the desired results, because of its moderation and versatility (Holpp, 1998). A slacker shirks responsibility or work does not mean that one is devoid of talent, skills, insight or a ptitude. So, simply speaking, a slacker stands to be a potential asset for a team if somehow one figures out a way to make one work (Holpp, 1988). Usually a slacker tends to avoid or by pass responsibility because one has a perception that the other team members are not consciously aware of one’s tactics of or predilection for doing so (Holpp, 1998). So the most effective way to disarm a slacker is to confront one and make one realize that the others are well cognizant of one’s talent for shirking work. However, confrontation here does not connote to aggressive or brazen interactions. In fact it means making a slacker realize that in a friendly and decent way, while giving one a chance to save face. A slacker is a talented person who cheats on work, and once one realizes that others are well aware of one’s propensity to cheat, one will certainly avoid repeating such a behavior, at least conspicuously (Holpp, 1998). Bringing things out into the open should be acc ompanied by meaningful soft strategies like defining the job responsibility of a slacker, appreciating one for one’s abilities and the immense contribution one could make to the team, allocating one short term targets with chalked out deadlines and the like. On the contrary, if a slacker continues to cheat even when one is revealed, then this calls for a timely disciplinary action. One way or other, sooner or later, a slacker will have to be confronted. There is no other way out, or is there? The team is bound to lose or face unrest if it indefinitely allows a member to be a non performer (Holpp, 1998). When it comes to an obstructionist, they are the team members who stymie projects while strongly believing that their stratagems are not obvious to other team members (Holpp, 1998). Again, bringing things out into the open by confronting an obstructionist is the best possible way to desist one. However, such a confrontation is bound to fail if not accompanied by a revelation o f the strategy and modus operandi of an obstructionist, as it will give one a chance to deny charges (Holpp, 1998). There are many ways in which an obstructionist operates. Some tend to withhold the information required by a team to succeed. There are others who bring in an element of aggression and controversy in the group meetings to mislead a team from its real objectives. Then there come obstructionists who play on resources by allocating resources to

Was it a mistake for Hitler to allow German forces to venture into the Research Paper

Was it a mistake for Hitler to allow German forces to venture into the Mediterranean regions - Research Paper Example It was not famous for the bad defeat the Americans faced there. It was far better to lose in this way at the beginning of the engagement then later in the decisive days of the campaign. The truth is that what the American army learned in this loss helped them immeasurably to improve their command structure and strategy when dealing with the Germans later on. This led Hitler and the Germans to underestimate the Americans too. The truth was always that Hitler saw the Mediterranean as a diversion (Murray, 108). And that it is what it was—something that distracted him from what he should have been doing, a mistake. Although many see Eisenhower as the most towering figure to come out from the victories of North Africa, two other Allied generals also made their name in that dusty theatre of war. The first of these two men, General Patton, was able to take control over one of the main American armies after the battle of the Kasserine Pass and to use it to maximum advantage. Patton wa s well known for driving his men hard and also for his iron discipline. The second famous general of this part of the conflict was the British general Bernard Montgomery, who became famous at the battle of El Alamein, one of the decisive victory of the North African theatre. These men gained the confidence in this theatre that they would later use to crush the Germans (Murray, 2002).

Market Analysis for Buffet Restaurant

Market Analysis for Buffet Restaurant The creation of a unique, innovative, entertaining, mid scale atmosphere that will differentiate us from the competition. The highest quality food is unbelievably low prices in a clean, fun environment. Controlling costs at all times, in all areas. Hiring the best people available, training, motivating and encouraging them, and thereby retaining the friendliest, most efficient staff possible. Section II: Business description Mission: We want our guests to have the total experience when visiting Enjoy with us. Not only will our guests receive a great meal, they will also be provided with a fun atmosphere. We will be doing unique things (such as serving all you can eat) that will set us apart from the competition. We will want the dining experience to be as pleasing to the senses as it is to the palate. Our main focus will be serving quality food at a great value. We will feature a large selection of freshly prepared food, most in full view of our guests. The purpose is service that customer satisfaction is paramount. Particularly, we want to be the restaurant of choice for everyone: families and singles, young and old, male or female. On the other hand, employee welfare will be important to our success. We want our employee to feel a part of the success of Enjoy with us. Happy employees make happy guests. Similarly, we will combine menu variety, atmosphere, ambiance, and friendly staff to create a sense of place in order to reach our goal of overall value in entertainment experience. Why do we think tourists come our shop? First of all, as we know, Singapore is a country includes 3 national (India, Chinese, and Malaysia). So, this reason is very comfortable to attract travelers come to Singapore. We think when they travel to Singapore; they want to try traditional food in this country surely. Consequently, we will decide to business Buffet restaurant. With Buffet restaurant, customer can try 3 kinds of food of 3 different national easily. Secondly, we would like to open this restaurant called Enjoy with us!!!. This means when customers come with us, they can enjoy their taste by themselves wholeheartedly. Lastly, we choose our business in Sentosa because this place is most tourists will come during their tour surely. It will take place around 1,000 square meters and totally designed to reflect and describe all kinds of food in 3 national. Our short term goal is to catch people interested and slowly gain market share from other restaurant. Our long term goal is to be well known in the world. This means when people talk about restaurant in Singapore, they will think about our restaurant immediately. Start up fund: S$5 Million investment As we know, Sentosa is an icon of Singapore, so the rental will be very expensive (around S$300,000). Moreover, our business is new, so we need to use about 10% of the budget cost to build our brand name (around S$500,000). Furthermore, this restaurant business plan is prepared to obtain financing for the initial launch of this concept. The financing is required to begin work on kitchen design, architectural plans, manuals and recipe books, site selection, equipment purchases, and to cover expenses in the first year of business (around S$2,000,000). In addition to the capital contributions, it will allow buffet restaurant to successfully open and maintain operations through year one. On the other hand, concentration will be on maintaining quality and establishing a strong identity in each local market. Similarly, we also need to pay management fees and salaries to staff (around S$900,000 for first year). Besides that, we need to require cash and long term asset (around S$1,000,000). Consequently, our business will need about S$5 million. Section III: Marketing A. Research and analysis: Target market (customer) identified: In looking at our market analysis, we have defined the following groups as targeted segments. Below are our targeted market segments: Age: Seniors, young married couples with children, teenagers, citizens. (Especially foreigners) Gender: we will equally target both sexes. Income: We will appeal to the high side of low income individuals and to all in the middle income bracket. By our definition, we will have very broad appeal for our concept. It is our goal to be the restaurant of choice for the largest dining audience in Asia and Europe. Singapore has more than 10 millions tourism arrivals in 2008. With the number of tourism arrival to Singapore like that, this condition has advantage to our business. Furthermore, with our restaurants seating almost 400 people, however, we hope it will have an average of 300 customers everyday for the first year and to grow 20% each year. It is our goal to have something for everyone everyday on our menu. Particularly, we need to maintain our loyalty as we should focus on their changing needs and menu choices. Besides that, our lunch strategy is dual purposed. As we know, some kinds people do not have lunch time, from that reason, we want to keep the price point at lunch as low as possible to keep us in competition with fast food restaurant. Not only do our guests get a sandwich, drink, and fries but also a salad, dessert and a selection of hot food items. On the other hand, we can reduce the hot food assortment from dinner; we will be able to keep our food cost in line with the reduced price. Consequently, we think this is a strategy that will broaden our customer base at lunch while still maintaining our core market segment. 2) Market needs: Our business is Buffet restaurant, so we think we need to focus on: Seeks strong value. Wants variety and flavor in its food. Looks for speed of service. Wants an entertaining dining experience. Insists upon a clean, friendly, and attractive dining environment. 3) Competitive advantages: As we know, Singapore is a country which attract tourists come and travel. Furthermore, they want to spend leisure time. This factor contributed to the large demand for good restaurant in Singapore today. From that reasons, the competition is strong. Due to intense competition, our restaurant must look for ways to differentiate their place in order to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage. a) Competitive comparison: In competing against the casual theme restaurant, we will have the following advantages: Lower price point for a complete meal. There will be no tipping at Enjoy with us, we are self service. Speed of service: no waiting for food. Everything will be readily available: hot, fresh, and cooked as requested. We will provide more entertainment than our competition. There will be something for everyone, everyday of the week. There will be no confusing menu board when guests arrive at our restaurant. We have made it simple: one price, everything included b) Technology: we will invest in a high speed computer to provide a fast and comfortable connection to link to our cash registers. We will also order online, email, and have a Web page. B. Marketing plan: 1) Market strategy sales and distribution: Our main focus in marketing will be to increase customer awareness in the surrounding community. We will direct all of our tactics and programs toward the goal of explaining who we are and what we are all about. We will price our products fairly, keep our standards high. Price strategy: All menu items are moderately priced. Sales strategy: The sales strategy is to build and open new locations on schedule in order to increase revenue. 2) Pricing and opening hours: Buffet Breakfast (6.00 am to 11.00am, Mon to Sun) : Adults $20, Child $10 Buffet Lunch (12.00 noon to 2.30pm, Mon to Sun): Adults $ 30, Child $ 15 Buffet Dinner (6.30 pm to 5.30 pm, Mon to Sat) : Adults $ 40, Child $ 25 Especially Buffet (6.30 pm to 11.00 pm) : Adults $ 50, Child $30 Note: Child = 5-12 years old. Free for accompanied child under 5 years old. All prices subject to 10% service charge and 7% GST. Prices subject to change. Our business includes: Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Particularly, we have 1 special service that always serves every Sunday. This service will free flow of soft drinks juices, draft beer and selected wines and champagne. 3) Advertising and promotion: Our business is new, so we need to have a good marketing plan to compete with them. Im going to use 10% of the budget cost which is 1/2 million to build our brand name. You will see our advertising everywhere, on television, on train, on the bus and news paper and also in the magazine of Singapore airlines, Tiger airways, Jetstar airlines. Website is not very important as we dont provide online purchase but we should have a nicely designed web to let people can do a research Enjoy with us!!! Leaflets will be given at all MRTs for 1 working day from 5pm to 6 pm; this is the most crowded time when people are going home after works. Particularly, in Singapore, they trade so many restaurants. Consequently, let to our business for advantages, we will have strategy as: Does not have the widest variety of food but everything here is of great quality. Free flow of fresh fruit juice, e.g. mango, pink guava, apple juices; self serve from bottles chilled in crushed ice. To-die-for desserts and pastries youd wish you had 2 stomachs! Always give promotion and discount on weekend days or holidays. Always change and prepare different kinds of food. It will make interesting in customer. They can come again and again. Section IV: Operations Quality food: fresh food, home style care. Variety, Variety, Variety: A different menu for everyday of the week will feature. Self service: Every new guest will receive a guided tour explaining our concept and the self serve system. Friendly employees: our employees will be ringing dinner bells when fresh foods come out. Furthermore, we will dress uniform that our customers can organize us easily. Reduced dinner pricing: on Monday Thursday, the dinner price will be slightly lower than on Fri/Sat/Sun. On the other hand, our principal owner will offer outside ownership in Enjoy with us!!! on an equity, debt, or combination basis in order to facilitate the start up and growth of our restaurant. Start up: Kitchen design Architecture plans Training: this will cover training of employees and management as well as cleaning and organizing the restaurant to opening. Manuals/Handbooks/Recipes. Building/ Land/ Equipment: we can build from ground up or we can do conversions from existing or close restaurants. Number of staffs: 10 managers, 5 securities, 15 waitresses, 5 bartenders, 2 receptionists, 2 cashiers, 3 chef, 5 cook helper. Location and facilities: Sentosa is the best place to open this kind of business because traveler can discover our shop easier and they can enjoy easily. With this location, we can attract customer from oversea and also citizen. They can come our restaurant on weekend to relax. Proximity to supplies: Supply can get from Malaysia, China, India directly or intermediary in Singapore. Access to transportation: Transport of foods and materials by sea or plane. Moreover, we need to have warehouse storage to hold foods and materials. Section V: Management A. Management team: As our restaurant is small business, it requires a simple organizational structure. Implementation of this organization to make all of the major management decisions in addition to monitoring all other business activities Management Team Legal structure stock agreement, employment agreements, ownership: Carefully to partnership or corporation. Need to follow legal about business in Singapore. Need to clear about employment agreement, stock agreement. C. Board of directors, advisers, consultants: Board of director is the principal owner. They will offer outside ownership in Enjoy with us!!! to improve our restaurant. Section VI: Financial A. Financial plan: Sales: our restaurant will open on 1/1/2011. Cost of goods sold: The cost of goods sold was determined by taking actual Profit and Loss statements from various restaurant concepts and then using our pricing structure and guest counts to arrive at costs. Marketing Fees: these funds will be used for the production of various marketing materials. Advertising: these funds will be used to maintain our sales at projected levels. Management Fees: we will use these dollars for accounting and payroll services of our firm. Fixed and Variable Expensed: The various fixed and variable expenses were determined by taking actual numbers from restaurant. B. Important assumption: We assume a strong economy, without a major recession. We assume, of course, that there are no unforeseen changes in consumers tastes or interests to make our concept less competitive. C. Financial forecast: Because our budget is $5 millions. So we can calculate below: 1) Break even analysis: Variable costs: 25% Cost of goods sold : $1,250,000 17% Employee payroll : $ 850,000 0.25% Credit card charges : $ 12,500 0.33% marketing fees : $ 16,500 2% Management fees : $ 100,000 10% Advertising : $ 500,000 2% Management bonus : $100,000 3.03% Employee payroll taxes and benefits: $151,500 1.5% Paper and cleaning : $ 75.000 61.11% Total variable costs : $3,055,500 Annual fixed costs $170,000 Management salaries $37,000 Management payroll taxes and benefits $16,410 Group insurance $137,000 Controllable expenses minus credit card charges and paper/ cleaning $40,208 Other expenses minus marketing fees, advertising, and management fees $100,000 Depreciation $500,000 Rental $1,000,618 Total fixed costs Start up asset: Cash required : $ 200,000 Long term asset : $ 700,000 Total asset : $ 900,000 Total requirements = Total variable cost + Total fixed cost + Total asset = $3,055,500 + $1,000,618 + $900,000 = $4,956,118 2) Profit and Loss: With an estimate of 300 customers everyday and to grow 20% each year (1.67% per month), lets say 1 customer will spend at least $40. We can see profit and loss account below: From profit and loss table, we can see: Payback period = Y + A/B YÂÂ  = the number ofÂÂ  years before final payback year. In the example, Y = 5 years.ÂÂ   AÂÂ  = Total remaining to be paid back at the start of the payback year, to bring cumulative cash flow to 0,ÂÂ  A = $4,956,118 ($145,747 + $427,447 + $765,487 + $1,171,135 + $1,657,913) = $788,389 BÂÂ  = Total (net) paid back in the entire payback year. B = $2,242,046 So, payback period = 5 + $788,389/$2,242,046 = 5.35 years or 5 years and 4 months In conclusion, our business will take back our capital after 5 years and 4 months. Section VII: Critical risks 1) Challenges: Because our business will be opened in Singapore which attracts different countries come and enjoy. Our challenges will service many kinds people and always have to make them comfortable and enjoy themselves when they come our restaurant. Consequently, we always need to update new ideas and try to have a good service. On the other hand, our purpose wants to make earn lots of money; we need to overcome challenges to have a good business 2) Risks and Contingency: Potential risks Trigger Contingency plan Food Related Lawsuits Our restaurant can be sued after a customer becomes after eating and contracting a food borne illness. Safe handling of food is an important priority for our restaurant. Liquor Liability If we serve beer, wine or other liquor. Need to test quality before sale products. Be sure we are protected from lawsuits resulting from alcohol related incidents. Property Risks Operating a restaurant often includes considerable equipment, building improvements and food stock. We need to buy insurance Price Need to cutting by competitors With Competitors, they will do anything to survive. So we always need to control the price. Number of customer Our plan needs 300 customer/day. Maybe, number of customer will not come enough. In this case, our management team will sit back to find out the reason. It could be caused by price or our marketing program was not effective, or it may be customer-service problems. Delay to complete the business plan When we will plan, maybe time for activities will be delayed This risk is very important. It directly affects all other progresses of the business. Production manager will be aware of this to make sure the chance of this risk equals to zero. Kitchen and electrical fire Overloaded or malfunctioning electrical equipment is a particular risk for our restaurant. Prevention is our best insurance! Be sure that we have appropriate fire suppression systems in place and maintained. Insurance companies typically require that our heat producing cooking equipment, particularly grease sources (fryers, grills, ranges), have aÂÂ  wet chemical fire suppression system and vent hood overhead. Section VIII: Harvest strategy segment Marketing strategy: Advertising is still word of mouth Promotion strategy: 3 different marketing tactics: Word of mouth/ in store marketing. Local Store Marketing (LSM) Local media Positioning Statement: It will be to increase customer awareness in the surrounding community. Pricing strategy: All menu items are moderately priced. Sales Strategy: the sales strategy is to build and open new locations on schedule in order to increase revenue. Sales forecast: opening day for our store is scheduled on 1st January, 2011. Section X: References Book: Federick, Howard (2006). Entrepreneurship: theory, process, and practice. Australia: Michael Tully. p.p.269 276. Website: Anon. (2010). Is your Restaurant a safe Investment? Available: http://www.quoteaustininsurance.com/pages/home/restaurant.php. Last accessed 3th May 2010. Anon. (2010). Singapore Tourism Board. Available: https://app.stb.gov.sg/asp/index.asp. Last accessed 3th May 2010. Anon. (2010). My tax portal. Available: https://mytax.iras.gov.sg/ESVWeb/default.aspx. Last accessed 3th May 2010. Anon. (2010). Which is the Best Buffet in Singapore?. Available: http://www.etour-singapore.com/buffet-in-singapore.html. Last accessed 3th May 2010.

Ict In Schools A Means For Transforming Teaching Education Essay

The application of Information and Communications Technology ( ICT ) in schools is perceived as a agency for transforming instruction and acquisition procedure, and has therefore been met with important enthusiasm. The underdeveloped universe besides perceives ICT as a tool that will advance socio-economic, political, and sustainable development and as portion of the nucleus of instruction, aboard reading, composing and numeracy. This perceptual experience is emphasized in schools in Ghana. Students and students can make their prep on the cyberspace, because such services and installations exist on the cyberspace. The cyberspace can besides ease high quality instruction in the schoolroom every bit good as enrich the learning accomplishments of instructors. Harmonizing to Griffiths ( 1999 ) , in most underdeveloped states, though information engineering has been introduced, it is non to the full incorporated. In Ghana, witting attempts are being made by authorities to distribute the usage of information engineering in all sectors. As a consequence, the authorities of Ghana has passed a policy ( ICT for Accelerated Development ) to defend the class in advancing information and communications engineering in Ghana. In the ICT for Accelerated Development Policy, it stated that â€Å" policy attempts shall be directed at utilizing ICTs to ease system of E-learning and E-education every bit good as life-long acquisition within the population at big † .1.2 Statement of the ProblemIn order to accomplish the aims of the new educational reform ( 2007 ) and ICT4AD policy of the state, coachs and pupils should be encouraged to develop involvement in the usage of ICT Tools such as Web Based Learning ( WBL ) Tools to heighten instruction and a cquisition of the class. This is premier exampled by the manner coachs and pupils of Konongo-Odumase Senior High School abandon the usage of WBL Tools. The coachs and pupils are supposed to take advantage of WBL Tools to heighten instruction and larning yet as it is now, they do n't. It is as a consequence of this job that, the research worker seeks to utilize the WBL tools to better instruction and acquisition.1.3 Purpose of the StudyThe chief intent of this survey is to better instruction and acquisition of ICT in Konongo-Odumase Senior High School. This intent is intended to be achieved by look intoing into the non use of WBL Tools. The information gathered will assist convey out intercessions that would better instruction and acquisition of ICT through the usage of WBL. Specifically, this survey is aimed at: Use appropriate methods to heighten pupils understanding during ICT lessons. Use immediate feedback to pupils to actuate them to analyze the topic. Monitoring pupil ‘s public presentation through WBL Tools. Keeping the involvement of both coachs and pupils in the instruction and larning procedure by utilizing an easy manner of accessing information.1.4 Research QuestionsHow will you utilize WBL to assist actuate pupils to go active in the survey of ICT? What method of learning will outdo aid to better instruction and acquisition? To what extent would the given of immediate feedback to pupils actuate them to analyze ICT? Is it utile for instructors to utilize WBL Tools to learn? How will the pupils develop involvement in the class?1.5 Significance of the StudyThe result of this survey would convey to bare the importance of WBL to schools and other affected establishments in general. It will assist make a more efficient mechanization for the modern-day coach to student instruction and acquisition procedure. It is hoped that this survey will convey to bare the demand for WBL Tools and sharing of resources with the schools with connectivity.1.6 Restriction of the StudyIn malice of all the attempts put into the survey by the research worker, the research was saddled with the following jobs, which were possible reverse that influenced the concluding consequence. Not all the questionnaires administered were responded and returned. Time restraints in footings of limited periods to subject the long essay and other immaterial factors facilitated the choosing of Konongo-Odumase Senior High School. Some respondent intentionally or out ignorance gave inaccurate responses. Some respondents were hard to be interviewed due to their heavy agendas therefore the figure interviewed was smaller than anticipated.1.7 Boundary line of the StudyAll pupils in all secondary schools in Ghana offer ICT as a topic. However, this survey is narrowed down in range to fiscal and clip restraints. It hence confined itself to merely first twelvemonth pupils and a few coachs.Chapter TwoLiterature ReviewDefinition of Web-Based DirectionKhan ( 1997 ) defines Web-Based Instruction ( WBI ) as: â€Å" †¦ a hypermedia-based instructional plan which utilizes the properties and resources of the World Wide Web to make a meaningful acquisition environment where acquisition is fostered and supported. † Relan and Gillami ( 1997a ) define WBI as: â€Å" †¦ the application of a repertory of cognitively oriented instructional schemes within a constructivist and collaborative acquisition environment, using the properties and resources of the World Wide Web. † Web-Based Instruction, besides called Web-Based Training, is defined by Clark ( 1996 ) as: â€Å" Individualized direction delivered over public or private computing machine webs and displayed by a Web browser. WBT is non downloaded CBT, but instead on-demand preparation stored in a waiter and accessed across a web. Web-based preparation can be updated really quickly, and entree to developing controlled by the preparation supplier. † Though the above definitions are non indistinguishable, there is a common subject, which is that WBI takes advantage of the Internet and World Wide Web to present information.Importance of Web-Based DirectionWBI, which is an emerging field in instruction, is however, a portion of the rapid growing that is the Internet. Reasons for the growing of WBI include: promotes growing of distance instruction economically ( dependable and cheap beginning ) as compared to computing machine based preparation, unrecorded broadcasts, picture tapes, and so on, ( Relan and Gillani, 1997b and Santi, 1997 ) , enables scholars who prefer or are required to larn outside traditional schoolrooms to go to categories at their places or offices, ( Bannan and Milheim, 1997 ) , and provides bringing medium, content supplier, and capable affair in one bundle, unlike other mediums, such as computing machine based preparation, that require a separate bringing mechanism ( McManus, 1996 ) . Nichols ( 1995 ) predicts that: â€Å" The possible benefit from explicating rating methodological analysiss for the Web [ for instructional stuffs ] depends on whether or non the Web will go a lasting medium or a passing craze? In fact, the Web will probably shortly go the most popular medium for the bringing of distance instruction type stuffs. † The development of information engineering has easy changed the manner people interact with computing machines. This alteration has besides reached the learning procedure: distance acquisition, where pupil and instructor are connected by engineering alternatively of a schoolroom, is going a feasible option to traditional instruction methods, and is poised for major growing over the following several old ages. However, understanding how to utilize the World Wide Web ( WWW ) to back up preparation and acquisition activities presents a significant challenge for the interior decorators and judges of this emerging engineering. Particularly they have to understand how communicating and interaction, two cardinal characteristics of the acquisition procedure, are changed by the computing machine engineering. Furthermore, they have to research the possibilities of successfully teaching via webs while turn outing the acquisition and cost effectivity of these advanced systems. Get downing from t he theoretical background presented in Chapter 2 and 3, we present a model for the development of web-based acquisition environments. These tools can be considered a peculiar signifier of interactive multimedia: computer-stored information, which is connected and retrieved via links. An interesting development of interactive multimedia analyzed by the text are shared interactive multimedias, new Internet tools in which different users, who are at the same time shoping the same web site, can pass on with each other. The usage of computing machine engineerings to heighten larning began in late '60s with the attempts of innovators such as Atkinson and Suppes [ 1, 2 ] . Since that clip the presence of computing machine engineering in schools has increased dramatically, and anticipations are that this tendency will go on to speed up. In peculiar, the visual aspect of Internet-based information and communicating engineerings is altering how preparation is being conducted in many colleges, universities and private companies. As noted by Federico [ 3 ] â€Å" we are in the thick of a paradigm displacement in instruction and preparation from schoolroom centric to web centric † ( p.653 ) . On one side the development of information engineering has easy changed the manner people interact with computing machines. Technological progresss have bit by bit shifted the focal point off from computing machines as such, and toward what people really do with them. The most apparent mark of this alteration has been the creative activity of wholly new synergistic communicating environments like Computer Mediated Communication and Computer Supported Collaborative Work made possible by the increasing power and flexibleness of today ‘s information engineering [ 4 ] . In fact non merely does the usage of the World Wide Web non vouch effectual larning [ 6 ] . Inappropriate utilizations of engineering may impede acquisition. For illustration, it is good known that pupils can blow a batch of clip surfing the Internet. The first studies of Web-based Learning appear in the early 1990s edifice on 30 old ages of computer-assisted direction. Advocates claimed computer-assisted direction is superior to text-based, talk, and traditional educational methods for grounds that include control by the scholar over content, clip, and topographic point of acquisition ; sweetening of acquisition, logical thinking, and efficiency ; and cost nest eggs. Many surveies that reported advantages contained methodological defects and reported advantages unrelated to computer-specific characteristics. Web-based acquisition ( WBL ) represents a farther development of computer-assisted direction. Technical advantages of WBL include cosmopolitan handiness, easiness in updating content, and hyperlink maps that permit cross-referencing to other resources. These proficient progresss, specifically hyperlink and seeking capablenesss, fit the constructivist larning theory, where scholars search out and make their ain cognition bases. However, as was apparent with computer-assisted direction, possible advantages may non interpret into important betterments in educational results. Web-based larning environments can function as motivational, instructional, mold, feedback, and appraisal tools. These environments besides can impact the cognitive and societal behaviours of pupils ( Mayer 2001 ; Wallace 2001 ) .What is web-based acquisition?Web-based acquisition encompasses all educational intercessions that make usage of the cyberspace ( or a local intranet ) . There are presently three wide categorizations or constellations within WBL: tutorials, on-line treatment groups, and practical schoolrooms. The differentiations between these constellations are frequently blurred, and in fact a given WBL intercession might utilize a combination of two or three, but the deductions for learning warrant a conceptual, albeit at times arbitrary, separation. On-line tutorials are similar to face-to-face talks. They by and large consist of information structured by the instructor in a manner that will ( hopefully ) facilitate acquisition. Tutorials are frequently enhanced by char acteristics such as multimedia ( sound, images, films, and lifes ) , links to online resources ( full-text diary articles or related web sites ) and other countries within the class, and self-assessment tools. Effective online tutorials frequently besides make usage of schoolroom instances. Online treatment is similar to the face-to-face little group session. As with any little group, there may be an component of didactic instruction from the teacher ( eg a brief tutorial ) but the bosom of the instruction lies in group treatment. Teachers take on the function of facilitators – specifying the range of the treatment, monitoring and steering the treatment as needed, and supplying or assisting pupils to happen extra resources. Communication among group members can be asynchronous ( hold between directing a message and having the response ) or synchronal ( unrecorded ) . Virtual schoolrooms are computer-based simulations of schoolroom brushs. It is besides deserving observing wha t WBL is non. The cyberspace has found many maps in ICT instruction in which the primary purpose is non an educational intercession designed for web-based bringing. These include archives of face-to-face talks ( eg Power- Point slides or videotaped talks ) and class course of study, on-line disposal of trials and class ratings, and administrative communications. While surely utile, these maps do non represent WBL.The Role of WBLTsWeb-based acquisition tools ( WBLTs ) , besides referred to as larning objects in the literature, are defined in this survey as â€Å" synergistic web-based tools that support larning by heightening, amplifying, and steering the cognitive procedures of scholars † ( Agostinho, Bennett, Lockyer, & A ; Harper, 2004 ; Butson, 2003 ; McGreal, 2004 ; Parrish, 2004 ; Wiley, et Al. 2004 ) . WBLTs offer two notable characteristics that can cut down the impact of possible obstructions instructors face when utilizing engineering. First, typical WBLTs are designed to concentrate on specific constructs, doing them easy to larn, easy to utilize, and more attractive to busy pedagogues who have small clip to larn more complex, advanced package bundles ( Gadanidis, Gadanidis, & A ; Schindler, 2003 ) . Ease of usage besides makes WBLTs more toothsome to instructors who are discerning about utilizing engineering ( Kay, Knaack, & A ; Muirhead, in imperativeness ) . Second, a broad scope of WBLTs exist including drill-and-practice appraisal tools ( Adams, Lubega, Walmsley, & A ; Williams, 2004 ) or tutorials ( Nurmi & A ; Jaakkola, 2006 ) , video instance surveies or supports ( Kenny, Andrews, Vignola, Schilz, & A ; Covert, 1999 ; MacDonald et al. , 2005 ) , general web-based multimedia resources ( Van Zele, Vandaele, Botteldooren, & A ; Lenaerts, 2003 ) , and selfcontained synergistic tools in a specific content country ( Bradley & A ; Boyle, 2004 ; Cochrane, 2005 ) . Furthermore, in contrast to other larning engineerings burdened with execution challenges and costs, WBLTs are readily accessible over the Internet and instructors need non worry about inordinate costs or non holding the latest version ( Wiley, 2000 ) . It is speculated that the wide choice of readily accessible WBLTs will do it easier for instructors to incorporate WBLTs into a schoolroom environment. In drumhead, barriers to utilizing engineering reported by instructors such as clip, limited accomplishment, fright of engineering, and limited entree to engineering are partly addressed by easy-to-use WBLTs that are readily accessible in a broad assortment of pedagogical formats.WBLT Research in Middle and Secondary School ClassroomsExisting WBLT or larning object research is limited to the sphere of higher instruction. Out of the 41 empirical surveies reviewed for this paper, 29 ( 70 % ) focussed on WBLT usage in higher instruction, whereas merely eight ( 20 % ) examined WBLT usage in center or secondary school schoolrooms ( Brush & A ; Saye, 2001 ; Ilomaki, Lakkala, & A ; Paavola, 2006 ; Kay & A ; Knaack, 2007a ; Kong & A ; Kwok, 2005 ; Liu & A ; Bera, 2005 ; Lopez-Morteo & A ; Lopez, 2007 ; McCormick & A ; Li, 2006 ; Nurmi & A ; Jaakkola, 2006 ) . Four surveies examined in-between school pupils ‘ usage of WBLTs. Kong & A ; Kwok ( 2005 ) looked at nine-year-old pupils ‘ independent usage of WBLTs for 15-20 hours while trying to larn about fractions. Students who used WBLTs significantly outperformed pupils who did non utilize WBLTs. Ilomaki et Al. ( 2006 ) examined 11 and 12 twelvemonth old pupils utilizing WBLTs to analyze eating wonts. Teachers and pupils did non measure the effectivity of the five hebdomad, WBLT unit, but the pedagogical schemes used by the teachers were described in item. Liu & A ; Bera ( 2005 ) examined in-between school pupils ‘ usage forms with regard to a scope of WBLTs. Eighty-two per centum of the pupils generated successful solutions utilizing WBLTs. Finally, Nurmi & A ; Jaakkola ( 2006 ) reported that synergistic, simulation-based WBLTs produced significantly better consequences than drill-and pattern WBLTs. Five surveies looked at the usage of WBLTs in the secondary school schoolroom. Brush & A ; Saye ( 2001 ) reported that pupils tended to look at superficial content in a WBLT when left to their ain devices and that more active counsel and construction was needed when utilizing information based WBLTs. Ilomaki et Al. ( 2006 ) explored the pedagogical affordances of WBLTs in three countries: nutrition, sense of the encephalon, and multiple intelligences. Kay & A ; Knaack ( 2007b ) used a comprehensive appraisal tool to measure the usage of WBLTs and found that overall utility, clear instructions, organized layout, and good theme/motivation were peculiarly of import to pupils. Lopez-Morteo & A ; Lopez ( 2007 ) reported that pupils perceived synergistic, recreationbased, collaborative WBLTs positively. Finally, McCormick & A ; Li ( 2006 ) completed an extended survey analyzing the attitudes of 770 secondary schools instructors from six different European states toward utilizing WBLTs from the CELEBRATE aggregation. Overall, 70 % of the instructors thought WBLTs were utile. Just over half the instructors felt WBLTs were good designed, although this was clearly dependent on the type of WBLT chosen. Over 50 % of instructors experient Internet jobs while utilizing WBLTs. In add-on, approximately 60 % of all teachers thought WBLTs improved their instruction and felt that pupils were more engaged. Overall, WBLT-use research is positive, albeit slightly ad hoc and inconsistent in informations aggregation schemes. Two surveies gathered user public presentation informations, ( Kong & A ; Kwok, 2005 ; Nurmi & A ; Jaakkola, 2006 ) , four surveies collected descriptive informations ( Brush & A ; Saye, 2001 ; Ilomaki et al. , 2006 ; Liu & A ; Bera, 2005 ; McCormick & A ; Li, 2006 ) , one survey implemented a formal study ( Kay & A ; Knaack, 2007a, 2007b ) , and one survey accumulated anecdotal studies ( Lopez-Morteo & A ; Lopez, 2007 ) . With the exclusion of McCormick and Li ‘s ( 2006 ) paper, all eight old surveies looked at pupil perceptual experiences entirely ; teacher feelings of how good the WBLTs worked were non examined.Feedback in web-based acquisition applicationsTesting and appraisal are widely used in web-based acquisition applications, and e-learning Systems. Computer-based testing has a figure of advantages, viz. : facilitation of informations analysis coevals of speedy or sometimes even immediate consequences decrease of clip for trials development addition in user motive in the instance of frequent measuring possibilities of proving at any clip entreaty to a great figure of users/respondents with a big assortment of penchants, features, instruction, ends, etc. By and large, there exist many types of jobs of proving and appraisal in web-based larning systems, including both more proficient 1s such as user individuality confirmation and security issues and more general facets such as personalisation and version of assessment procedure. Lack of interaction between pupils and instructors is one of the chief jobs in web-based acquisition applications ( Mory, 2003 ) . During the acquisition procedure a pupil performs a figure of actions where feedback is important, for illustration in appraisals or in feedback chiefly consists of information about the trials consequences presented to a user. In web-based larning systems feedback presented by computing machine is normally aimed to replace feedback given to the pupil by the instructor and to better pupil public presentation ( Mory, 2003 ) . The chief function of feedback in web-based systems is to inform and to actuate the user to increase his or her attempt and attending. In web-based larning systems feedback plays a important function in interaction. The feedback is particularly of import in proving and appraisal that is organised within the learning procedure. Harmonizing to Brusilovsky and Miller ( 1999 ) proving constituents are the best developed synergistic constituents in web-based instruction. However, we consider these constituents as being ill designed still. Most of the current testing constituents in e-learning and other web-based applications do non back up feedback version. They do non give information about the user ‘s public presentation in the most suited clip and signifier for him or her. In traditional distance acquisition ( external, but non computer-based acquisition ) feedback has been examined from a figure of different positions ( Hyland, 2001 ) . The surveies have shown that pupils particularly wanted elaborate feedback and remarks. The feedback was expected to supply positive remarks on strengths, non obscure generalizations. It is recommended that unfavorable judgment in feedback be constructive and that pupils should hold a opportunity to react to remarks ( Hyland, 2001 ) . Harmonizing to Mory ( 2003 ) the feedback mechanisms that are used by pupils have changed with the progresss and growing of web-based larning systems. The usage of student-centred and constructivist attack in larning system supposes the usage of learner-to-learner interaction and provides meaningful equal and teacher feedback ( Dabbagh,2002 ) . Harmonizing to Bischoff ( 2000 ) pupils need regular feedback in order to cognize how their public presentation was evaluated, how they could better it, and how their classs are calculated. The effectual elements of on-line learning include frequent and consistent online feedback, diplomatic online feedback, and appraising online feedback. Based on qualities of on-line feedback ( multidimensional, nonevaluative, supportive, pupil controlled, seasonably, and specific ) outlined by Schwartz and White ( 2000 ) and Mory ( 2003 ) has suggested that feedback in the web-based acquisition system should hold the undermentioned qualities: prompt, seasonably, and thorough online feedback ongoing formative feedback about on-line group treatments ongoing summational feedback about classs constructive, supportive, and substantial online feedback specific, nonsubjective, and single online feedback consistent online feedback. In web-based acquisition applications the chief maps of the testing constituent are to measure the users, to give the user information about his or her public presentation, to actuate the user, and to concentrate the user ‘s attending on farther interaction with the system. Feedback differs from rating, where the chief end is to rate and enter the consequence of the testing for the intent of measuring the user. There are several chief jobs with feedback in web-based applications. First of wholly, there is the job of feedback representation. It is widely argued in favor of expressed presentation of feedback, but there are excessively few thoughts about what should be included into feedback and what sort of construction it should hold. Naturally, the feedback should match to the undertakings and to the single features of the user. The effectivity of different types of feedback in web-based acquisition system has been by experimentation studied by Mandernach ( 2005 ) , who evaluated the educational impact of showing assorted degrees of computer-based, on-line feedback ( no-feedback, knowledge-of-response, knowledge-of-correct-response, topic-contingent, and response contingent ) . The consequences of this survey have shown that the type of computer-based feedback did non hold any influence on pupil acquisition, but at the same clip the pupils reported distinguishable penchants for knowledge-of-response and response-contingent computer-based feedback. This allowed to reason that the pupils prefer feedback that is direct and clearly addresses the rightness of their response. The other job of feedback is the clip of its presentation. The user could be provided either with immediate or with delayed feedback. Harmonizing to Mathan ( 2003 ) the job of feedback timing is of important importance for tutoring systems. H e argued about the tradeoff between the benefits of immediate and delayed feedback: while immediate feedback is more effectual, delayed feedback supports better transportation and keeping. The advantages and disadvantages of immediate and delayed feedback can alter with different larning ends and scenes. The of import inquiry of feedback is that it can pull attending off from the undertakings increasing the clip required to put to death them. Harmonizing to Oulasvirta and Saariluoma ( 2004 ) disrupting messages such as feedback in human-computer interaction influence the extent and type of mistakes in retrieving. We argue that the jobs of feedback discussed could be partly solved by version of feedback to the undertakings and to the features of an single user. Feedback version in web based applications can supply a user with feedback that is the most appropriate for his or her personal features, existent temper, behavior, and heed ( Choe et al. , 2004 ) .

Outlaws and Violence of American West Essay

Many Americans consider the era of the Old West as one of the most fascinating chapters in our history. It’s an era that is uniquely American, and people around the world identify America with the era of the Old West. There is much legend surrounding American History of the Wild West when it comes to American outlaws lawmen and violence. But what is the real history about violence in the west? In this paper I will talk about outlaws and lawmen as well as the portrayal of violence of the west and try to identify the myths and legends versus fact from which the American mind as drawn up. So what is an outlaw? Well an outlaw is pretty much just what it sounds like. Somebody who has broken the law and is on the run from the law. The west was not a lawful place and most of the people in the west where on the fringes with the law to begin with. One of the most famous outlaws in American history is Billy the Kid. Billy the Kid has come down as a towering mythological figure, yet the history of the real Billy the Kid is something we don’t really know that much about. Other famous outlaws like ‘Jesse James and his gang, and the Wild Bunch with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had their exploits widely covered by the popular press of the time, and the American public seemed to take great interest in the tales of their exploits.† So could the media of the time period make a lot of stuff up about the law in the American West because that’s what sold? Or is it just the love for crime and fantasy telling stories is what drives the American mindset. In spite specific incidents of violence, the lawlessness of the Wild West has been blown out of proportion. Ironically, the myth of the lawless West began before the period was over. News articles and books written in the East exaggerated the west’s tales, or simply made up, stories about the crimes and criminals of the West. â€Å"Hollywood later fueled the myth, feeding the public’s desire for excitement and adventure with stories of gunfights in the street and stagecoach robberies.† The true story of the Old West is rather boring to most people. Because of the need to hunt for food or protect themselves from wild animals, many people did have guns. However, fans of Hollywood westerns may be surprised to learn that many western towns had strict gun ordinances, making it illegal to carry guns in town. People entering the town were required to surrender their firearms to the sheriff. In fact, a story that has come to epitomize the violence of the Wild West involved a conflict over such a law. When Virgil Earp, along with his brothers Morgan and Wyatt and their friend Doc Holliday, confronted five cowboys in the city of Tombstone over carrying firearms in town, violence erupted. This incident became known as the gunfight at the OK corral and only lasted about 30 seconds yet it’s forever immortalized in our history. We know this because of the countless movies and books written about the event. It’s interesting to note that even in this most famous gunfight of the violent West, only three people were killed. In any modern city today, such a minor incident would probably not even be front-page news. So, was there violence in the mountains, plains, and frontier towns of the old west? Yes. Most of the settlers moving west, whether they were farmers, cowboys, miners, or some other profession, were honest and hardworking. Just as today, outlaws existed, yet in most places and for most people, violent crime was not the daily norm that popular entertainment would have us believe. As un American as it may be, relatively few people in the Wild West were involved in the gunfights and stagecoach robberies that were immortalized by the movies. As I mentioned before there is no outlaw more legendary than Billy the Kid. Countless books, movies, and songs have been written about his life, but the reality was not quite as sensational. Often portrayed as a cold-blooded killer, â€Å"he entered a life of crime out of necessity, not malice.† People who knew him personally called him brave, resourceful honest, and full of laughter. Under different circumstances, he probably have been a successful person if it weren’t for his upbringing. The most famous myth about Billy the kid was that he killed 21 people, one for each year of his life. In reality this is just not the truth. He was probably only responsible for four killings in his lifetime. In reality a lot of Billy the Kid’s story has also been kind of blown out of proportion, although most of the events are true. Enraged from the murder of John Tunstall, Billy and his fellow companions were deputized and given the warrants to bring in the Murphy men who had killed him. They called themselves the Regulators. Due to the corruption of the day, the governor sided with Murphy, and the Regulators became the enemy. He was known to have killed four men as mentioned previously but because the media and the American love for action, it was out of proportion. After a daring escape from jail, and a few years on the run, he was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett while hiding out in a friend’s home. Over the years, several people have claimed to be Billy the Kid, but the chance that he survived and/or his body was misidentified are highly unlikely. Sticking to the topic of violence in the American West as being somewhat a myth we can look at the California gold rush. In three years, more than 200,000 people had migrated to California, most of them trying to get rich quick. If there were ever a recipe for chaos, this would seem to be one. One would think that these gold camps where home to tons of violence and outlaws. People of varied backgrounds and ethnicities, all armed and all seeking a valuable resource. But the mining camps quickly evolved rules for establishing mining claims and for judging disputes. The fact that each person carried a six-shooter meant that each had a relatively equal amount of power. That minimized violence. Dozens of movies have portrayed the nineteenth-century mining camps in the West as places of anarchy and violence, but according to Roaring Camp â€Å"beginning in 1848, the miners began forming contracts with one another to restrain their own behavior. There was no government authority in California at the time, apart from a few military posts. The miners’ contracts established property rights in land that the miners themselves enforced.† Even though there was some violence in these camps the miners more or less kept civilized. Gunfights never really broke out and violence was kept at bay because of the law. Though we don’t learn about this too much because of the movies and media once again. So what about gunfights with outlaws and lawmen? It is in everybody mind that two men meet a high noon in the middle of a busy street for everybody to watch and then when the clock strikes you draw your pistol and shoot. Though movies and television would like us to believe otherwise, it was very rare when gunfights occurred with the two gunfighters squarely facing each other from a distance in a dusty street. â€Å"This romanticized image of the Old West gunfight was born in the dime novels of the late 19th century and perpetuated in the film era, to such a point that this fictional version is what our mind’s eye quickly conjures up when we hear the word gunfight.† In actuality, the real gunfights of the Old West were rarely that â€Å"civilized.† In fact, there are several misconceptions about these gunfights. The first of which is that very rarely, did the gunfighters actually plan a gunfight to occur, calling out their enemy for dueling action in the street. Instead, most of these â€Å"fights took place in the heat of the moment when tempers flared, and more often than not, with the aide of a little bottled courage.† They also didn’t occur at a distance of 75 feet, with each gunfighter taking one shot, one falling dead to the ground, and the other standing as a â€Å"hero† before a dozen gathered onlookers. Instead, these fights were usually close-up and personal, with a number of shots blasted from pistols, often resulting in innocent bystanders hit by a bullet gone wild. Much of the time, it would be difficult to tell who had even won the gunfight for several minutes, as the black powder smoke from the pistols cleared the air. This is not to say that it never happened similar to the movies. One of the rare instances is the Wild Bill Hickok-David Tutt Shootout in Springfield, Missouri. Even then, it wasn’t a â€Å"planned† event, but rather, â€Å"it occurred when Wild Bill ran into Tutt in the street and was insulted.† Always shown bravely facing each other in the popular westerns movies with the like of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, in reality, the opponents were more often running around shooting wildly and ducking for cover. The gunfights were not usually clean either, as the â€Å"fighters were drinking and missing normally easy shots, continued to shoot until they had emptied their pistol.† This popular idea to the public mind that the frontier of the American West was an extremely violent place with little value placed on a human life is far from truth it seems. Small Western cow towns are thought to have witnessed hundreds of murders and killings. As well as, many outlaws and their gangs riding through the towns robbing banks, trains and stagecoaches. In fact, â€Å"there were only five killings in Dodge City during its most homicidal year of 1878. Deadwood, S.D., had five deaths in its worst year with Tombstone, Ariz., experiencing five killings in its most violent year.† So why do these towns claim these accounts? Well that’s easy to answer. The west was opening up and settlement was becoming vast in nature. A lot of people moving westward were already on the fringe with the law. So these cities saw this as a selling point for people to come to their towns. That the law didn’t exist in the towns. Once again we see the media using the myths and legends to there leverage. Some of the real violence and outlaws that happened during the expansion of the west we don’t often hear about. The homestead act of 1862 contributed to rapid settlement of western lands, and thus to conflict and violence, specifically with the cattle barons that were already there. Cattlemen often â€Å"claimed large areas of open range, using it for grazing and for driving their cattle to market.† Although in most cases they had no legal claim to the land, they had used it in this way for years, often fighting off Indians and other cattlemen in order to do so. Along with their wealth and the power provided by the men working for them, they â€Å"felt that having come first gave them the right to do whatever it took to drive the homesteaders out. This was especially true when homesteaders fenced off their land, limiting access to already scarce sources of water.† The most famous of the conflicts that resulted is the Johnson County War, which ended only after the cavalry was sent in by order of the President. The large cattle barons also fought among themselves for control of the open range and lucrative government supply contracts. The most infamous of these fights is the Lincoln County War of 1878, in which the outlaw Billy the Kid as who I mentioned earlier rose to fame. Of course, miners, homesteaders, and cattlemen alike also had to worry about the native tribes that they were displacing. These conflicts also led to violence. Many Americans consider the era of the Old West as one of the most fascinating chapters in our history. It’s an era that is uniquely American. There is much legend and myths about history of the Wild West when it comes to American outlaws lawmen and violence. As we have seen in this paper, a lot of the violence and outlaws were blown out of proportion for the most part due to the over romantic love of violence the American mind has come to love. This is due to the western movies and novels because that’s what sold the American heart. Although we do see that violence did exist in the west with the Johnson and Lincoln county wars and outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James, most of the history of violence is was too dramatized. Why? Well I don’t know about you but John Wayne and Clint Eastwood seemed to be pretty big heroes in my mind, and well the movies are great way to feed our ego boosting American mindset of how the west was really won.