Kite Runner Essay Example for Free

Kite Runner Essay Sometimes, up in those trees, I talked Hassan into firing walnuts with his slingshot at the neighbors one-eyed German shepherd. Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked, he wouldnt deny me. Hassan never denied me anything. And he was deadly with his slingshot. Hassans father, Ali, used to catch us and get mad, or as mad as someone as gentle as Ali could ever get. He would wag his finger and wave us down from the tree. He would take the mirror and tell us what his mother had told him, that the devil shone mirrors too, shone them to distract Muslims during prayer. And he laughs while he does it, he always added, scowling at his son. Yes, Father, Hassan would mumble, looking down at his feet. But he never told on me. Never told that the mirror, like shooting walnuts at the neighbors dog, was always my idea. But we were kids who had learned to crawl together, and no history, ethnicity, society, or religion was going to change that either. I spent most of the first twelve years of my life playing with Hassan. Sometimes, my entire childhood seems like one long lazy summer day with Hassan, chasing each other between tangles of trees in my fathers yard, playing hide-and-seek, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, insect torture – with our crowning achievement undeniably the time we plucked the stinger off a bee and tied a string around the poor thing to yank it back every time it took flight Think of something good, Baba said in my ear. Something happy. Something good. Something happy. I let my mind wander. I let it come: Friday afternoon in Paghman. An open field of grass speckled with mulberry trees in blossom. Hassan and I stand ankle-deep in untamed grass, I am tugging on the line, the spool spinning in Hassans calloused hands, our eyes turned up to the kite in the sky. Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we dont have to say anything – thats how it is between people who are each others first memories, people who have fed from the same breast. A breeze stirs the grass and Hassan lets the spool roll. The kite spins, dips, steadies. Our twin shadows dance on the rippling grass. From somewhere over the low brick wall at the other end of the field, we hear chatter and laughter and the chirping of a water fountain. And music, some thing old and familiar, I think its Ya Mowlah on rubab strings. Someone calls our names over the wall, says its time for tea and cake Next to me, Sohrab was breathing rapidly through his nose. The spool rolled in his palms, the tendons in his scarred wrists like rubab strings. Then I blinked and, for just a moment, the hands holding the spool were the chipped-nailed, calloused hands of a harelipped boy. I heard a crow cawing somewhere and I looked up. The park shimmered with snow so fresh, so dazzling white, it burned my eyes. It sprinkled soundlessly from the branches of white-clad trees. I smelled turnip qurma now. Dried mulberries. Sour oranges. Sawdust and walnuts. The muffled quiet, snow-quiet, was deafening. Then far away, across the stillness, a voice calling us home, the voice of a man who dragged his right leg Quote #1Sometimes, up in those trees, I talked Hassan into firing walnuts with his slingshot at the neighbour’s one-eyed German shepherd. Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked, he wouldnt deny me. Hassan never denied me anything. And he was deadly with his slingshot. Hassans father, Ali, used to catch us and get mad, or as mad as someone as gentle as Ali could ever get. He would wag his finger and wave us down from the tree. He would take the mirror and tell us what his mother had told him, that the devil shone mirrors too, shone them to distract Muslims during prayer. And he laughs while he does it, he always added, scowling at his son. Yes, Father, Hassan would mumble, looking down at his feet. But he never told on me. Never told that the mirror, like shooting walnuts at the neighbors dog, was always my idea. (2. 2-3)| This passage shows up early in the novel and really tells us quite a bit about Amir and Hassans friendship. Hassan protects and defends Amir and, foreshadowing later events in the novel, refuses to tell on Amir. (Hassan will later take the blame for the wad of cash and the watch. ) We should also note that Amir seems like the gang leader in this passage, getting the two boys into trouble. Does Amir control the relationship? Is this why Hassan often takes the blame for things? Does Amir ever take responsibility for anything in the novel? Quote #2Then he [Ali] would remind us that there was a brotherhood between people who had fled from the same breast, a kinship that not even time could break. Hassan and I fed from the same breasts. We took our first steps on the same lawn in the same yard. And, under the same roof, we spoke our first words. Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name. | Theres a primal closeness between Amir and Hassan. Later, well find out the two boys have the same father, but notice how Hosseini is laying the groundwork for that revelation. The two boys might as well be brothers: they learn to walk together, they learn to speak together, and they feed from the same breast. Which brings up an interesting question: What does Rahim Khans revelation – that Amir and Hassan are half-brothers – really change? Arent the two already brothers in everything? Or does blood fundamentally change Amirs relationship with Hassan? Quote #3Ali and Baba grew up together as childhood playmates – at least until polio crippled Alis leg – just like Hassan and I grew up a generation later. Baba was always telling us about the mischief he and Ali used to cause, and Ali would shake his head and say, But, Agha sahib, tell them who was the architect of the mischief and who the poor laborer? Baba would laugh and throw his arm around Ali. But in none of his stories did Baba ever refer to Ali as his friend. (4. 2-3)| Baba and Alis friendship parallels Amir and Hassans on a number of levels. First, as this passage indicates, theres a similar pattern of leadership (and power): both Baba and Amir have dominant roles in each friendship. And, lest you forget, Baba betrays Ali much like Amir betrays Hassan. As they say, two peas in a pod. Or, maybe it would be four peas in a pod. Were not sure. Anyways, after Amir learns that Baba lied to him for years, he says: Baba and I were more alike than Id ever known. We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us (18. 7). Four peas in a pod. Quote #4But we were kids who had learned to crawl together, and no history, ethnicity, society, or religion was going to change that either. I spent most of the first twelve years of my life playing with Hassan. Sometimes, my entire childhood seems like one long lazy summer day with Hassan, chasing each other between tangles of trees in my fathers yard, playing hide-and-seek, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, insect torture – with our crowning achievement undeniably the time we plucked the stinger off a bee and tied a string around the poor thing to yank it back every time it took flight. (4. 6)| Amir lays out the opposing argument just prior to this paragraph. In it, he says ethnicity will always define a relationship. We believe Hosseini really wants us to grapple with Amirs contradictory stances: Does Amirs friendship with Hassan ever get past history, ethnicity, society, and religion? Later, Amir will justify his cowardice in the alleyway by asking himself if he really has to defend Hassan (since Hassan is a Hazara). Does Amir ever get past his prejudices? Were really not sure about this one. Hosseini devotes the entire novel to this question. Quote 5I know, he said, breaking our embrace. Inshallah, well celebrate later. Right now, Im going to run that blue kite for you, he said. He dropped the spool and took off running, the hem of his green chapan dragging in the snow behind him. Hassan! I called. Come back with it! He was already turning the street corner, his rubber boots kicking up snow. He stopped, turned. He cupped his hands around his mouth. For you a thousand times over! he said. Then he smiled his Hassan smile and disappeared around the corner. The next time I saw him smile unabashedly like that was twenty-six years later, in a faded Polaroid photograph. (7. 52-54)| Yet again, Hassan demonstrates his loyalty and devotion to Amir. If we were to judge Amir and Hassans friendship by actions and not simply expressions of loyalty, the score would be pretty lopsided. (Of course, Amir saves Hassans son at the end of the book from a pathological pedophile so that counts for something. ) We also want to point out the irony in Hassans reply: For you a thousand times over! Amir will develop a pretty nasty case of insomnia as the guilt piles up inside him. Really, Amir returns to the alleyway thousands of times in his memory before he comes to peace with his cowardice. And so the phrase a thousand times over is colored with some pretty devastating irony. Yes, Hosseini is using irony again. Quote #6[Assef:] But before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about this: Would he do the same for you? Have you ever wondered why he never includes you in games when he has guests? Why he only plays with you when no one else is around? Ill tell you why, Hazara. Because to him, youre nothing but an ugly pet. Something he can play with when hes bored, something he can kick when hes angry. Dont ever fool yourself and think youre something more. Amir agha and I are friends, Hassan said. He looked flushed. Friends? Assef said, laughing. You pathetic fool! Someday youll wake up from your little fantasy and learn just how good of a friend he is. Now, bas! Enough of this. Give us that kite. (7. 106-108)| This is a fairly complex scene. Assef, before he assaults and rapes Hassan, asks Hassan whether he really wants to sacrifice himself for Amir. We know Amir is listening in – and watching – this exchange between Assef and Hassan. In a way, Assefs speech is not prophetic but descriptive: Amir is abandoning Hassan right now. However, we wonder if Assefs description is inaccurate. Is Assef describing his own relationship with Hazaras or Amirs with Hassan? Sure, sometimes Amir does cruel things to Hassan, but he also reads to Hassan and spends almost all his free time with Hassan. Amir may hesitate to call Hassan his friend, but perhaps thats because neither friend nor servant really describes Hassan. Brother might do the trick, but Amir has no idea at this point. Quote #7Think of something good, Baba said in my ear. Something happy. Something good. Something happy. I let my mind wander. I let it come: Friday afternoon in Paghman. An open field of grass speckled with mulberry trees in blossom. Hassan and I stand ankle-deep in untamed grass, I am tugging on the line, the spool spinning in Hassans calloused hands, our eyes turned up to the kite in the sky. Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we dont have to say anything – thats how it is between people who are each others first memories, people who have fed from the same breast. A breeze stirs the grass and Hassan lets the spool roll. The kite spins, dips, steadies. Our twin shadows dance on the rippling grass. From somewhere over the low brick wall at the other end of the field, we hear chatter and laughter and the chirping of a water fountain. And music, some thing old and familiar, I think its Ya Mowlah on rubab strings. Someone calls our names over the wall, says its time for tea and cake. (10. 73-75)| You need some context for this quote. Baba and Amir are on their way to Pakistan, but theyre not traveling by taxi or bus. Theyre in the belly of an oil tanker along with dozens of other Afghans. Baba tells Amir to think of something good, something happy. So what does Amir think of? His childhood with Hassan. We believe this passage proves Amirs (brotherly) love for Hassan. Notice that Amir doesnt recall a special moment with Baba, or even his books or poetry. He thinks of Hassan. Quote #8Lying awake in bed that night, I thought of Soraya Taheris sickle-shaped birthmark, her gently hooked nose, and the way her luminous eyes had fleetingly held mine. My heart stuttered at the thought of her. (11. 104)| Soraya doesnt sound that hot here. From Hosseinis description, we picture the witch in Sleeping Beauty: her nose is hooked like a scythe, and her eyes are glowing in a potion-induced mania. However, we do think Sorayas sickle-shaped birthmark should remind you of someone else in the book. Give up? Thats right: Hassan. (Hassan has a harelip. ) Why do you think Hosseini compare these two characters through their physical features? What else do they have in common? Quote #9When we got to Kabul, I [Rahim Khan] discovered that Hassan had no intention of moving into the house. But all these rooms are empty, Hassan jan. No one is going to live in them, I said. But he would not. He said it was a matter of ihtiram, a matter of respect. He and Farzana moved their things into the hut in the backyard, where he was born. I pleaded for them to move into one of the guest bedrooms upstairs, but Hassan would hear nothing of it. What will Amir agha think? he said to me. What will he think when he comes back to Kabul after the war and finds that I have assumed his place in the house? Then, in mourning for your father, Hassan wore black for the next forty days. (16. 24-25)| You may be confused by the voice here. Its actually not Amir – Rahim Khan gets one chapter in the book. Rahim Khan recounts his trip to Hazarajat to find Hassan and bring him back to the house in Kabul. When Hassan does move back to the house with Rahim Khan, he refuses to live where Baba and Amir lived. Does Hassans refusal suggest that Hassan is only Amirs servant and the two never achieved an equal friendship? (Side question: Does Hassan sense – on some unconscious level – Babas true relationship to him? Is that why he mourns Baba for forty days? ) Quote #10Next to me, Sohrab was breathing rapidly through his nose. The spool rolled in his palms, the tendons in his scarred wrists like rubab strings. Then I blinked and, for just a moment, the hands holding the spool were the chipped-nailed, calloused hands of a harelipped boy. I heard a crow cawing somewhere and I looked up. The park shimmered with snow so fresh, so dazzling white, it burned my eyes. It sprinkled soundlessly from the branches of white-clad trees. I smelled turnip qurma now. Dried mulberries. Sour oranges. Sawdust and walnuts. The muffled quiet, snow-quiet, was deafening. Then far away, across the stillness, a voice calling us home, the voice of a man who dragged his right leg. (25. 150)| We think this is one of the most beautiful passages in the book. Hosseini moves effortlessly between the past and present. Sohrab becomes Hassan, and the park in Fremont, California becomes a snow-quiet Kabul. The smells of Kabul mix with the smells of the New Year celebration in the park. Perhaps, at least in the space of this passage, Amir does find peace. America allowed Amir to escape his past for so many years; but, in this moment, the two homelands merge. Ali calls Amir home, and Amir doesnt seem to mind. ROAD TO AMIRS REDEMPTION THE KITE RUNNER REVISION - Top of Form zainboThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Author: Zain Mehdi | Edited by: zainbo Mar 11, 2012, 12:58pm #1| The topic of the Essay is After reading the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, do you think Amir has found redemption in things hes done. If so, please explain how I wrote this essay based on the events that took place in the novel. Each paragraph must have a quote from the book and Ive included that. I just need to see if my essay is well written, correct grammar and other little mistakes. Please and thank you. ROAD TO AMIRS REDEMPTION In a lifetime, everyone will face personal battles and guilt, some large and some small. Such as guilt over sneaking out, not doing homework, or telling your parents a little white lie. People find peace of mind through redeeming themselves, in other words, we do something that makes up for the cause of guilt. Khaled Hosseinis novel The Kite Runner revolves around betrayal and redemption. Redemption is the act of saying or being saved from sin, error or evil, which the main character Amir seems to need the most. Amir lives with the guilt he has built up over the years because of one incident from his childhood. Amirs fathers words still echo through his head A boy who wont stand up for himself becomes a man who cant stand up to anything. ? pg. 24 Although Amir destroyed the lives of many people, and he has had more than one opportunity to redeem himself of his guilt, he is not the selfish little boy he once was. How often does one stop and think, How will this affect everyone else in my life? Amir had a chance in the alley, to put Hassan first and change the path of both their lives, but he made the decision to turn around and run because it was what he thought was best for him: I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan ? the way hed stood up for me all those times in the past ? and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. Thats what I told myself as I turned my back to the alley, to Hassan. Thats what I made myself believe. I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. ? pg. 77 Amirs selfish ways were a result of the lack of his fathers affection in his life. As a young boy, he was forced to deal with his fathers disinterest in him, which made him incredibly jealous of Hassan. Amir could not understand at the time, why his father adored his servants son more than his own son. As the tension increases between Amir and Hassan, Amir can no longer stand to see Hassan everyday because of what Amir had not stopped and he could not bare seeing his father showing Hassan love and not him. Hassan and his father are forced to leave their home after Amir places his watch under Hassans pillow and accuses him of stealing it. Hassan did not even deny the accusations because he had figured out what Amir was doing. Hassan knew. He knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again, maybe for the last time. ? pg. 111 Even after the alleged theft of the watch, Amirs father is willing to forgive Hassan, which stunned Amir, and made him see that the love his father has for Hassan is greater than he imagined. Amir did not just ruin Hassans life; he also ruined the lives of many people with his decisions after the incident in the alley. Baba lost a chance to watch his son, Hassan, grow up and also lost the chance to bring him to America so he could start a new life. Sohrab lost both his parents to war because they were still living in Afghanistan, lost his childhood to war, and tried to commit suicide as a result of Amir going back on his promise to keep him safe from orphanages. Soraya lost her right to the truth when Amir kept his past a secret even though she opened up to him about hers. It is one thing to destroy your own life with guilt, but it is a completely different issue when you destroy the lives of others. Before Amir can go on the road to redemption, Amir must realize that he cant go back and change what he has done as a child, and he must find inner peace. Although if it was not for Amirs actions as a child, Sohrab never would have needed to be saved in the first place but by saving Sohrab, the last piece of Hassans life, does make a difference. From the moment he chose to turn his back on Hassan, there were many chances where Theres a way to be good again ? pg. 238 for all his wrongdoings, but he chose not to take any of these. Sohrab was his last and only chance for redemption. I have a wife in America, a home, a career and a family. But how could I pack up and go back home when my actions may have cost Hassan a chance at those very same things? And what Rahim Khan revealed to me changed things. Made me see how my entire life, long before the winter of 1975, dating back to when that singing Hazara woman was still nursing me, had been a cycle of lies betrayals and secrets. ? pg. 238 Amir admits that he cost Hassan a chance at a good life and that he had many opportunities to change the outcome of Hassans life. But at this moment he realized he could lose everything he has built in America, but for the first time in his life, Amir did not care about only himself, he came to terms with what he had done, and he was ready to redeem himself at any cost. Amir finally became the man who stood up for himself and his sins. Throughout his childhood, Amir looked for his fathers affection and he never could get it. His father had said Im telling you, Rahim, there is something missing in that boy. ? pg. 24 Amirs father would have been proud of him at this very moment because that was all he had wanted from him. The guilt that was built over the years was finally put to rest at the safety of Sohrab. In Afghanistan when Amir stood up for Sohrab and Assef aggressively beat him up, Amir had said My body was broken? just how badly I wouldnt find out until later? but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed. ? pg. 289 which showed Amir had come to terms with what he had done as a child and was finally felt relieved. Although he was getting beat up, it did not matter anymore, he just wished he had stood up to Assef years ago, and maybe he would have earned his redemption in that alley. | | Jennyflower81Threads: Posts: 884 Author: Jennifer Reeves 85 | Mar 11, 2012, 02:17pm #2| Such as guilt over sneaking out, not doing homework, or telling your parents a little white lie. Not a full sentence. You could start this sentence with: Guilt can stem from People find peace of mind when they redeem themselves, in other words, they do something that makes up for the cause of their guilt. Amir had a chance in the alley, to put Hassan first and change the path of both their lives, but he made the decision to turn around and run because it was what he thought was best for him: I would break up this sentence into 2 sentences, because it is a bit too long, it would be easier to read if it was in 2 shorter sentences. Amirs selfish ways resulted from the lack of his fathers affection in his life. At the time, Amir could not understand why his father adored his servants son more than his own son. As the tension increases between Amir and Hassan, Amir can no longer stand to see Hassan everyday because of what Amir had not stopped and he could not bare seeing his father showing Hassan love and not him. Right here, you begin writing in present tense, when the beginning of the essay is written in past tense, be sure to stay consistent with this, it makes your paper easier to read that way. | | zainboThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Author: Zain Mehdi | | Thank you, any more updates? | | Jennyflower81Threads: Posts: 884 Author: Jennifer Reeves 85 | Mar 11, 2012, 05:04pm #4| Amir did not just ruin Hassans life; he also ruined the lives of many people with his decisions after the incident in the alley Can you be more specific about how exactly did he ruin Hassans life? This is kinda vague. Another example of a life ruined is that of Soraya- you say: Soraya lost her right to the truth when Amir kept his past a secret even though she opened up to him about hers I dont know if this is her life being ruined, although she was wronged. How did this ruin her life? Clarify this. but it is a completely different problem when you destroy the lives of others. Although if it was not for Amirs actions as a child, Sohrab never would have needed to be saved in the first place but by saving Sohrab, the last piece of Hassans life, does make a difference. This sentence is long and confusing, I would make it into 2 shorter sentences. Amir admits that he cost Hassan the chance at a good life and that he had many opportunities to change the outcome of Hassans life. At this moment, he realizes he could lose everything he has built in America, but for the first time in his life, Amir did not only care about himself, he came to terms with what he had done, and he was ready to redeem himself at any cost. | | chalumeau | | ROAD TO AMIRS REDEMPTION? During their lifetime, most people face guilt: some appropriate some inappropriate. Redemption is a way that makes up for the cause of the guilt. In Khaled Hosseinis novel, The Kite Runner, the theme revolves around betrayal and redemption. I looked up the word redemption in The Kite Runner: p. 65, All I saw was the blue kite. All I smelled was victory. Salvation. Redemption. If Baba was wrong and there was a God like they said in school, then Hed let me win. I didnt know what the other guy was playing for, maybe just bragging rights. Important quote. p 231, And from this one last chance at redemption. What is going on here? My body was broken? just how badly I wouldnt find out until later? but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed. ? pg. 289 Good quote you found. Salvation is when God saves you. Redemption may be part of salvation, but redemption also has a place separate from the Divine. After doing a wrong, a person may be redeemed by performing some act, or saying something, or fighting for (or against) someone. You know how they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Redemption is in the eye of the wronged party. Its why you hear phrases such as, redeemed in her eyes. You cant be redeemed without permission. Hopefully, the wronged party accuses the right person, and the right person knows what wrong was committed. Otherwise, you have a very confusing situation for all parties. One that cannot be redeemed. Ever. Try writing your essay again with the theme of redemption as the main focus. Try to answer these questions: 1) What wrongs were committed? Pick the best 3 wrongs he committed. You partially explained these. 2) What does Amir think about redemption? Why does he seek it? Usually a person feels badly about something, or the other party is making his life miserable enough to cause him to cry, ___! 3) What action or words support him receiving redemption? 4) What action or words deny him redemption? 5) At the end is he redeemed? In the eyes of the wronged party? Did the wronged party (parties) know the truth that the reader knows? Does he feel redeemed? Did he know the same truth as everyone else? For the record, Ive never read The Kite Runner. I dont have a copy of the novel either. I wanted to try to help you focus and organize your essay. Ive written many A-essays over the years. | | zainboThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Author: Zain Mehdi | Mar 12, 2012, 08:37pm #6| thanks, ill try to work on it| | Essay Forum / Literature Review /| Unanswered [this forum] / Featured / Similar| Bottom of Form Similar discussions: * Michigan Supplement. Kite Runner * The Kite Runner: A Marxist Perspective * The Kite Runner Thesis Statement * HELP! Kite Runner Essay on Father/Son relationship * Persuasive essay on The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini + The Devil in the White City * The redemption of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities * Run after the kite common app essay * UC Essay I am a runner, track and cross-country * Developing Runners Mindset Common App Essay for Stanford * Morality and Responsibility essay (connection between Frankenstein and Blade runner) Random: MSW Essay on Parent Advocacy- Child Protective Services The discrimination theme in The Kite Runner helps explain? Discrimination The Kite Runner tackles the issue of ethnic discrimination in Afghanistan with an example of the relationship between Pashtuns and Hazaras. Babas father sets an example for him of being kind to Hazara people, even though they are historically demeaned and persecuted. He could have easily sent Ali to an orphanage after his parents death, but chose to raise him in his household. Baba does the same with Hassan, although this is complicated by the fact that Hassan is actually his son. Even in Babas house, the house of best intentions, the class barrier between the Pashtuns and Hazaras endures. Ali is as dear to Baba as a brother; he calls him family. But Ali still lives in a hut and sleeps on a mattress on the floor. He tends the garden, cooks, and cleans up after Baba, and raises Hassan to do the same. So strong is Hassans identity as a servant that even as an adult, when Baba is gone, he has no sense of entitlement. He insists on staying in the hut and doing housework. When Hassan dies defending Babas house, he does so not because he feels it belongs to him, but because he is being loyal to Baba and Amir. In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, discrimination is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. On the one hand, the Taliban do not seem to care whom they are beating, torturing, or executing. Children like Sohrab and grandmothers like Sanaubar are all susceptible to the Talibans cruelty. In this way, the Talibs discriminate against everyone but themselves. As Amir notices, Assef forces Sohrab to dance to music for his enjoyment dancing and listening to music have long been banned. Amir thinks, I guessed music wasnt sinful as long as it played to Taliban ears. On another level, the Taliban discriminate specifically against the Hazara people. They massacre the Hazaras not only in Mazar-i-Sharif, but in the region of Hazarajat and nearly anywhere else they can find them. Assef and his fellows do not see the Hazaras lives as worthwhile; they barely see them as human. Assef tells Amir, Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion littered with garbage, and someone has to take out the garbage. Like his idol, Hitler, he feels entitled to killing those he deems unworthy of living in his land. He even relishes the term ethnic cleansing because it goes so well with his garbage metaphor. Hosseini has mentioned in interviews that his focus on discrimination in The Kite Runner angers some Afghans, who feel it is inappropriate. Like Baba, many people do not mention the Hazaras history of persecution. Perhaps these people are so uncomfortable with this topic because by having Assef appear in pre-Taliban times and emerge as a leading Talib, Hosseini shows that the Talibans persecution of the Hazaras and other Shiites is not new, but a greatly intensified outgrowth of long-held discrimination. In The Kite Runner friendship is a recurring theme, particularly in terms of how friendship is experienced between different social classes and castes. This is explored in the relationships between Baba and Amir who are Pashtun and Ali and Hassan who are Hazara. A central issue in the novel is how friendship is experienced, understood and expressed between social unequals when they have been pushed together by circumstances (Baba’s father’s adoption of Ali meant he and Baba grew up from boyhood together, followed by Amir and Hassan sharing their entire childhoods in the same house, despite their very different status within the household. ) Amir constantly reflects on the question of friendship: ‘But in none of his stories did Baba ever refer to Ali as his friend. The curious thing was, I never thought of Hassan and me as friends either. Not in the usual sense anyhow†¦Because history isn’t easy to overcome. Neither is religion. In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shi’a and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing. ’ When questioned by Assef about his friendship with a Hazara Amir admits: â€Å"But he’s not my friend! † I almost blurted. â€Å"He’s my servant! † Had I really thought that? Of course I hadn’t. I hadn’t. I treated Hassan well, just like a friend, better even, more like a brother. ’ Hassan regards Amir as his friend and shows it by his unfailing loyalty which is indicative of his awareness of the unequal power in the relationship. Amir is bothered by Hassan’s unfailing loyalty and self

Reflective Writing on the meaning of Leadership

Reflective Writing on the meaning of Leadership During the first workshop of PASBD, I was in a way taught by our lecture, that working in a group or a team, every member is an important key to achievements, and having a leader is important to keep the team on track as well as lead the team to achieve goals. Leadership can be seen as a counteractive influence when groups experience difficulties in establishing the conditions necessary for making the best possible choice Dennis Gouran (qtd. in Beebe Masterson 2006). Therefore, a leader always gave me an impression that he or she has to be brilliant with good leadership skills, thinking that if a group is lack of a skillful or brilliant leader, a team would most probably fail. Throughout the semester I came to see the importance of a leader, but not as a dominant to the entire team. I felt that having a vertical leadership  [1]  is somehow not so appropriate in completing our task as a group in this subject; rather Shared Leadership will be more appropriate used to explain our g roup. Having a leader is crucial to keep the team going, however a team does not restrict to only one leader. According to Pearce Conger (2003) leadership is broadly distributed among a set of individual instead of centralizes in hands of a single individual who acts in the role of a superior, referring this as Shared Leadership Craig Jay, (2003), which is the process of influencing each other in a team, leading each other to achieve a certain goal or achievement, where leadership is carried out by the team as a whole, rather than solely by an individual alone.  [2]  . In our group, I felt that each group member has a very important role to keep the team going, having each with different skill contributing to a team will only keep the team resourceful, and unlock the thinking by bringing in new idea. Benne and Sheats, 1948, (qtd. In Craig Jay, 2003), raised that team members had actually the roles that is as critical as the team leader, where leadership is a reciprocal process. And the roles are divided by Benne and Sheats into two categories, which are Task Role  [3]  and Socioemotional Roles  [4]  . In my own opinion, I felt that I am most suitable to be classified as the Socioemotional Roles in a team, where I played most of the role as a group observer or as a follower. I do not enjoy leading a team dominantly, most of the time it will depend on situation where I felt suitable to contribute, usually collecting each group member opinion and idea before deciding on which suggestion is most appropriate to be taken up. Team Role Considering the team role, define as A tendency to behave, contribute and interrelate with others in a particular way. Belbins (1993) I would consider myself as a Monitor Evaluator Belbins (1993), being describe as having the characteristic of sober, strategic, discerning, able to sees all options and could judges accurately. A Monitor Evaluator in a team is needed to provide a logical eye, make impartial judgments where required and to weigh up the teams options in a dispassionate way  [5]  . This stands in a part of my personality, where I often not like to make a judgment without knowing the actual situation. During a group discussion, I usually observe the interaction and the statements of others before I start putting more of my opinions. It is important to have delegated team role in a group, with the different combination of characteristic, the team can only help each other to meet up all the requirements needed to complete the task. Due to the different characteristic of members in a group, it leads to a certain disagreement between members during the completion of the task. However to get job done, members of a group often need some corporation to a certain extent. In my situation I find it sometimes difficult to coordinate with group members who are in the team role of a Shaper  [6]  , where they have the tendency to hurt people feeling on some statement they made, without realizing it. Their actions often speak louder than words, made me feel annoying and difficult to concentrate. Despite the characteristics which I do not like about Shaper, they are actually important in providing drive to ensure that the team kept moving and did not lose focus or momentum, Belbins (1993). On the other hand, I most enjoy te aming with members with the role of Co-coordinator ², where they often delegates well, and will seek for advice for other members, allowing each members to feel the respect and involved in to team. According to Beebe Masterson (2006), Not only group members need a mutual concern to unite them, but they also need to feel they belong to a group. Nevertheless, each Team Role has its own contribution; however there are also allowable weakness Belbins (1993), where allowable weaknesses are the downside of the characteristics of the roles, which is allowable due to the strength which goes with it. As for my role as a Monitor Evaluator, I have the weakness of being said to lack of drive and ability to inspire others, and overly critical, Belbin (1993). I often realize this weakness of mine and attempt to change, by trying to say things to keep the discussion in progress. Weakness offers clues to a possible strength, Belbins (1993), knowing my own weaknesses could help to improve more in the future. I believe that by making use of my weakness appropriately, it could transform into strength. Working in Team/Group Working in a group is different from working individually. Working individually allows having flexibility in time management, as I can plan my own schedule to work on the assignment, as well as deciding on something without have to seek discussion or the opinion of other group members. When working in group, one of the major frustration about group work is the time it takes to accomplish task Beebe Masterson (2006). Working in a group, it needs much cooperation from each group members to get things done effectively and efficiently. This includes encouraging the group members to attend the discussion meeting, and ensuring every group member to take on the responsibility to complete their task assigned, If we want a better solution, it is going to take time, patients, and understanding, Beebe Masterson (2006). Because working in a group involves a few individuals, and few individual usually means involving different time to suit, as each has own different daily activities. This will create some difficulties in finding the correct time and place that is convenient for all to hold a discussion meeting. On the other hand, I also find many advantages in working in a group. Having a group of people working together is like pooling of skills and knowledge, and this will to certain extent speed up the researching process and the decision making. Working together with a few person, allows to have discussion on problems and solutions, increasing the probability of picking the error done by another, and could pool different opinion to a problem. There are different types of group according to Beebe Masterson (2006); there are the primary group and secondary group. Primary group members associate with one another to perpetuate the joy of community, to fulfill the basic human needs to be social Beebe Masterson (2006), therefor the conversation is informal. Secondary group is what I would classify as our group, as the secondary groups exist to accomplish task or achieve goal the reason you join secondary group is to get something done Beebe Masterson (2006). Our group is assigned with a take to complete every week, we gather to solve the problem in the task given. Further, our group could also be classifying as the Focus Group, where we have a goal to focus, as well as given a particular topic to follow, Beebe Masterson (2006). In order to get the group working well there are two most important behavior of group member based on Michael Mayer, Beebe Masterson (2006), these behavior encourage members to participate fully in the discussion, especially in analyzing problem, and, offer supportive comments to others, Beebe Masterson (2006). To me, having these behaviors can only our group fully utilize the skills and knowledge we have to achieve the best result possible. However, working in groups, I had come through different types of personalities grouping. Some are in a dominating role, where without seeking permission from others, they tries too in a way give order to people telling them what to do. Trying to get ideas across group members who like to dominate is rather challenging for me, I had experience some hard time convincing on an idea. This experience gives me a lot of practice on my patients, and practicing different way of communicating an idea. Nevertheless, there are also group members who are B locks Progress and some are Social Loafing, Beebe Masterson (2006). Block Progress has an attitude which is often stubborn and disagreeable with no supportive reason. Social Loafing are people who attempt to rely on others to do their job, and hold back on their contribution, Beebe Masterson (2006). These group members will delay the progress of the group, keeping the group from achieving goals. From these, I had realized that to work together effectively, individuals must develop common goals and collective focus rather than pursuing only individual goals Beebe Masterson (2006). To get the work effectively done I will have learn to be a competent group communicator, Beebe Masterson (2006), to always have motivation  [7]  and have the ability to interact appropriately to achieve goal. Communication Having the ability to convey ideas through communication is very important when working in group, as Speech communication gives individual access to the ideas and inner world of other group members, Beebe Masterson (2006). Failure in communication well will cause misunderstanding, leading to conflict or inability to come out with a well done assignment. Problems of communication that I have faced are such as Bypassing and Allness Statement, Beebe Masterson (2006). Bypassing is when, I or my group member is trying to make a statement, we misunderstand the meaning of on a same word, and this had leaded us to produce or work not as required at first. Further is Allness Statement, means that some statement is simple but untrue generalization, Beebe Masterson (2006). Knowing that there are chances that we may misunderstand out group members word, I often like to summarize our discussion at the end of the meeting, to ensure that the message is got through clearly. Throughout the entire course, I found myself in groups are being generally low profile, in the sense where I prefer to monitor the progress of the group discussion and only give opinions when I felt I am needed to, in another words seeking for others to discover that I have something to say. Realizing that a group cannot function without words; communication is the vehicle that allows a group to move towards its goals Beebe Masterson (2006), I have encouraged myself to speak out more during a discussion. At the beginning I was struggling to get points out of my mouth, after few discussions, I had felt more comfortable. In order to be sure of my communication skill I had done a test through the internet, on a website call Test Yourself  [8]  . The outcome of the test on my communication skill says that I am insightful, where I sometimes have difficulties interpreting other peoples words and actions, and see things from their perspective, although I can generally sense what others are feeling and thinking relatively well. Conflict between group members Conflict, happens when members have disagreement over two or more options that a group can take, Beebe Masterson (2006), and A conflict occurs because people do not understand one another Beebe Masterson (2006). It is something difficult to avoid when involving contact between human, in terms of communication or what so ever. In my situation, while needed to work in a group of five, there are always chances of conflict happening once any members cant get into the same opinion. A group with more than two people will often add complexity and element of uncertainty to the Trans active communication process, and this will affect the outcome Beebe Masterson (2006). I would preferably try my best to avoid conflict when working in my group, as conflict will have negative impact on a group harmony and the outcome of our work, I will keep the group from completing its task, interferes with the quality of the groups decision or productivity, threatens the existence of the group Beebe Maste rson (2006). According to the book of communication in small groups, Beebe Masterson (2006), Communication scholars Gerald Milller and Mark Steinberg had identified three common types of interpersonal conflict; they are the pseudo-conflict, where people misunderstand one another, Simple conflict, where people disagree about issues, and, Ego conflict, when personalities clash, Beebe Masterson (2006). Throughout the entire course, I came through the three types of interpersonal conflict in a different way. These conflict does not happen when our group members first met, it all happen when we begin to know more about each characteristic and working style, then begin the disagreement between each other. The conflict that I found most challenging to deal with is the Ego Conflict, as in the situation when the group members become defensive about their position because they think they are being personally attacked, Beebe Masterson (2006). There are times where the entire progress of the task is being delayed, and other group members are put into pressure, by worrying if the deadline could be met. Fortunately, we managed to overcome these obstacles, meeting the deadline. Dealing with conflict, each individual will have different style in managing it. Even though working in a group, each will manage the conflict in their own way as the feel more comfortable with. I myself manage conflict in a Nonconfrontational Style, one of the three general styles of managing conflict by, Linda Putnam and Charmaine, according to Beebe Masterson (2006). Nonconfrontational Style explains that a person in managing the conflict face by working hard to avoid conflict with others, Beebe Masterson (2006). I do not like to go into argument with others, for any reason; I will feel very uncomfortable to communicate or rather become speechless, when things begin to feel unpleasant. Thus, I would choose to withdraw myself to a certain extent, until the situation become calmer before I start to sort things out by communicating with the group member. Avoiding an immediate attack from another group member may give you time to think of more appropriate response rather than blurti ng out the first thing come to your mind Beebe Masterson (2006). However, in some situation, Avoiding conflict does not make the source of problem go away, it still exist Beebe Masterson (2006). When the conflict became too critical to be left to calm by itself, it cant be avoided by keeping quiet, things would have gotten worst if so. In this, no matter how uncomfortable I am to face the conflict, I still have to stand out to solve the problem, trying not to make things reach the extent where, group members turn into enemies. If others are unlikely to change, then you may have to change yourself, Belbins (1993). Conclusion Going through the entire PASBD course is a whole process of learning, teaching in the lecture, and through experience. From the lecture, I had learned on skills of presentation as well as got more understanding on the topic of PASBD. What I gain from the lecture are actually from the experience of others, and I can only understand it theoretically, if I did not got the true experience I can never have the real feeling of what the theories actually trying to convey. Mr. JJ said something about experience, the meaning is roughly of: experiencing the process is like riding a roller coaster; you will not want others to tell u about it, it is what you need to feel for yourself through your real experience. It is through the experience that I could utilize what I learned, and physically going through the process allowing me to have deeper impression on the leanings. Belbins (1993) had also mentioned something about experience learning, saying that Like competing in the Olympic Games, the g reat thing is to have taken part. Unless people enrol for the event, they cannot win the race. What we do will be what we learn; people equipped themselves for work through working, and through the lessons learned through experience, Beebe Masterson (2006).

Airplanes And Aircraft Engineering Essay

Airplanes And Aircraft Engineering Essay Aircrafts are capable of flight using forward motion that generates lift as the wing moves through the air. Airplane is propelled by a screw propeller or a high-velocity jet, and supported by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings. There are many components of an airplane however the essential components are a wing system to sustain it during flight, tail surfaces to stabilize the wing, movable surfaces to control the attitude of the machine in flight, and a power plant to provide the thrust to push the craft through the air. An enclosed body which is known as the fuselage houses the crew, passengers, and cargo, as well as the controls and instruments used by the navigator. An airplane also requires a support system when it is at rest on a surface and during takeoff and landing. Airplanes have different shapes and sizes depending on the purpose, but the modern airplanes have some features in common. They are fuselage, tail assembly and control surfaces, wing, power-plant and landing gear. In this report the prime focus is on the Prime components of the aircraft assuring structural integrity while meeting requirements for optimum operational performance of an aircraft. The empennage is also known as the tail is the rear part of the aircraft. Usually it includes the stabilizers, rudder and elevator as many other components as seen below.. It is constructed depending on the aircraft for example in fighter jets it may be constructed around the exhaust nozzle. In commercial aircrafts the empennage is built from the cabin pressure-cone and may contain the Flight Data Recorder (black box), Cockpit Voice Recorder and the pressure out-flow valve. There is another design which does not require an elevator. In this design there is a one-piece horizontal stabilizer that pivots from a central hinge point, such a design is known as a stabilator. 2. Wings: As we can see below is a wing. Wings are airfoils attached to each side of the fuselage and are the main lifting surfaces that help the airplane during flight. There are great variations in the wing designs, sizes, and shapes used by the various manufacturers. Each of these specifications fulfils a certain need with respect to the performance for an airplane. Wings may be attached at the top, middle, or lower portion of the fuselage and are referred to as high-, mid-, and low-wing, respectively. The number of wings may vary. Monoplanes contain a single set of wings while those with two sets are called Biplanes. The principal structural parts of the wing are SPARS, RIBS, and STRINGERS. These are reinforced by trusses, I-beams, tubing, or other devices, including the skin. The wing ribs determine the shape and thickness of the wing (airfoil). Attached to the rear, or trailing, edges of the wings are two types of control surfaces referred to as ailerons and flaps. http://khup.com/view/2_keyword-design-of-aircraft-rib-structure/aircraft-structure.html 2.1 Spars 2.1.1. Definition: The spar is the main structural member of the wing, in a fixed-wing aircraft, running span wise at right angles to the fuselage. There may be more than 1 spar or none at all. 2.1.2 Uses: Fight loads and the weight of the wings whilst on the ground is carried by spars. Spars are also used in aerofoil surfaces such as the tail plane, fin and serve a similar function, although the loads transmitted may be different. 2.1.3. Loads: Upward bending loads from the wing lift force that supports the fuselage in flight. Downward bending loads due to the weights acting. Drag loads dependent on airspeed and inertia. Rolling inertia loads. Chordwise twisting loads due to aerodynamic effects at high airspeeds. 2.1.4. Materials: Wooden construction Early aircraft used spars carved from solid Spruce or Ash. Wooden spar types have been used and tried with such as spars which are box-section in form; or laminated spars which are laid up in a jig, and compression glued to retain the wing dihedral. Wooden spars are still being used in light aircraft such as the Robin DR400. Metal spars A common metal spar in a general aviation aircraft generally consists of a sheet aluminium spar web, with L or T -shaped spar caps being welded or riveted to the top and bottom of the sheet to prevent buckling under applied loads. Tubular metal spars The German Junkers J.I armoured fuselage ground-attack sesquiplane of 1917 used a Hugo Junkers -designed multi-tube network of several tubular wing spars, placed just under the corrugated duralumin wing covering and with each tubular spar connected to the adjacent one with a space frame of triangulated duralumin strips riveted onto the spars. Advantages Gives substantial increase in structural strength at a time when most other designs were built with wood-structure wings. Geodesic construction In aircraft such as the Vickers Wellington, a geodesic wing spar structure was employed which had the advantages of being lightweight and able to withstand heavy battle damage with only partial loss of strength. Composite construction Nowadays aircraft use carbon fibre and Kevlar in their construction, ranging in size from large airliners to small aircraft. Companies have employed solid fibreglass spars in their designs but now often use carbon fibre in their high performance gliders such as the ASG 29 Advantages The increase in strength and reduction in weight compared to the earlier fibreglass-sparred aircraft allows a greater quantity of water ballast to be carried. 2.1.5. Disadvantages: The wooden spar has a danger of the deteriorating effect that atmospheric conditions, both dry and wet, and biological threats such as wood-boring insect infestation and fungal attack can have on the wooded spars; consequently regular inspections are often mandated to maintain airworthiness. Similar disadvantages on metal spars limit their use. 2.2 Ribs 2.2.1. Definition: In an aircraft,  ribs  are forming elements of the structure of a  wing. Ribs are attached to the main  spar, and by being repeated at frequent intervals they form a skeletal shape. Usually ribs incorporate the  airfoil  shape of the wing. They are the cross-section shape of a wing. The ribs can be classified according to the types of load acting on it. Lightly loaded ribs are subjected to aerodynamic loads while a rib is subjected to concentrated forces transferred from primary points is considered as moderately loaded rib. 2.2.2 Function: Maintain the sectional shape of wing box. Function as panel breakers for stringers. Provide support for attachment of other systems. Distribute locally applied air pressure loads. 2.2.3. Stiffness: The ribs contribute little to the overall stiffness of the wing box and also carry little of global bend and twist loads acting on the wing. 2.2.4. Loads: Loads acting on the ribs are of three types: Loads transmitted from the skin-stringer wing panels. Concentrated forces transmitted to the rib due to landing gear connections, power plants nacelle connections, etc Body forces in the form of gravitational forces. Inertia forces due to wing structural mass. 2.2.5. Materials: Ribs are made out of wood, metal, plastic, composites, foam. Carbon reinforced composites (CFC) or Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) are used extensively in aircraft structures as they give high stiffness and strength with lower weight. 2.2.6. Advantages and Disadvantages: Wooden ribs are subjected to atmospheric deterioration. http://khup.com/view/2_keyword-loads-acting-on-ribs/report-5.html 2.3. Stringers or Longerons Interior of a Boeing/ Stearman PT-17 showing small channel section stringers. 2.3.1. Definition: A longeron  or  stringer  or  stiffener  is a thin strip of wood, metal or carbon fibre, to which the skin of the aircraft is fastened. Longerons are attached to  formers  in the case of the fuselage, or  ribs  in the case of a wing, or  empennage. In early aircraft, a fabric covering was sewn to the longerons, and then stretched tight by painting it with  dope, which would make the fabric shrink, and become stiff. 2.3.2. Properties: Longeron and stringer are used interchangeably. If the longitudinal members in a fuselage are less in number (usually 4 to 8), they are called longerons. The longeron system requires that the fuselage frames be closely spaced (about every 4 to 6 in/10 to 15 cm). If the longitudinal members are numerous (usually 50 to 100) then they are called stringers. In the stringer system the longitudinal members are smaller and the frames are spaced farther apart (about 15 to 20 in/38 to 51 cm). Longerons are of larger cross-section when compared to stringers. 2.3.3. Advantages: On modern aircraft the stringer system is more common because its more weight efficient despite being complex to construct and analyze. Some aircraft, use a combination of both stringers and longerons. The stringers carry bending moments and axial forces. They also stabilize the thin fuselage skin. 3. Power Plant: A power plant consists of propeller and engine.   The main function of the engine is to supply power to run the propeller. It also generates electrical power, provides vacuum source for flight instruments, and provides a source of heat for the pilot and passengers. The engine is covered by a cowling, or in some airplanes, surrounded by a nacelle. Its purpose is to streamline the flow of air around the engine and to help cool the engine by ducting air around the cylinders. The propeller on the front of the engine converts the rotating force of the engine into forward acting force called thrust that helps move the airplane through the air. 4. Landing gear: Every matter has its base on which it stands. The principle support of the airplane when parked, taxiing, taking off, or when landing is its landing gear. The most common type of landing gear consists of wheels, but airplanes can also be equipped with floats for water operations, or skis for landing on snow. The landing gear consists of three wheels two main wheels-tail wheels and a third wheel positioned either at the front or rear of the airplane-nose wheel, the design is referred to as a tricycle gear A steerable nose wheel or tail wheel permits the airplane to be controlled throughout all operations while on the ground.    5. Fuselage Fuselage is aircrafts main body and covers the majority of the airplane, it holds all other pieces of the aircraft together and other large components are attached to it. The fuselage is generally streamlined to reduce drag. Designs for fuselages vary widely. The fuselage houses the cockpit where the pilot and flight crew sit and it provides areas for passengers and cargo. Some aircraft carry fuel in the fuselage; others carry the fuel in the wings. 5.1. Types of Fuselage Structures: Truss Structure Geodesic construction Monocoque Shell Semi-monocoque 5.5.1. Truss Structure: This kind of structure is used in lightweight aircraft using welded steel tube trusses. A box truss fuselage structure can also be built out of wood-covered with plywood. 5.1.2. Geodesic construction: Geodesic structural elements used by during the wars, World War II, to form the whole of the fuselage, including its shape. In this multiple flat strip stringers are wound about the formers in opposite spiral directions, giving a basket-like appearance. This proved to be light, strong, and rigid and had the advantage of being made almost entirely of wood. Its redundant structure can survive localized damage without catastrophic failure. 5.1.3. Monocoque Shell In this method, the exterior surface of the fuselage is also the primary structure. A typical early form of this built using moulded plywood, where the layers of plywood are formed over a plug or within a mould. A later form of this structure uses fibreglass cloth impregnated with polyester or epoxy resin, instead of plywood, as the skin. A simple form of this used in some amateur-built aircraft uses rigid expanded foam plastic as the core, with a fibreglass covering, eliminating the necessity of fabricating moulds, but requiring more effort in finishing. An example of a larger moulded plywood aircraft is the de Havilland Mosquito fighter/light bomber of World War II. No plywood-skin fuselage is truly monocoque, since stiffening elements are incorporated into the structure to carry concentrated loads that would otherwise buckle the thin skin. The use of moulded fibreglass using negative (female) moulds (which give a nearly finished product) is prevalent in the series production of ma ny modern sailplanes. 5.1.4. Semi-monocoque. This is the preferred method of constructing an all-aluminium fuselage. First, a series of frames in the shape of the fuselage cross sections are held in position on a rigid fixture, or jig. These frames are then joined with lightweight longitudinal elements called stringers. These are in turn covered with a skin of sheet aluminium, attached by riveting or by bonding with special adhesives. The fixture is then disassembled and removed from the completed fuselage shell, which is then fitted out with wiring, controls, and interior equipment such as seats and luggage bins. Most modern large aircraft are built using this technique, but use several large sections constructed in this fashion which are then joined with fasteners to form the complete fuselage. As the accuracy of the final product is determined largely by the costly fixture, this form is suitable for series production, where a large number of identical aircraft are to be produced. Both monocoque and semi-monocoque are referred to as stressed skin structures as all or a portion of the external load (i.e. from wings and empennage, and from discrete masses such as the engine) is taken by the surface covering. In addition, the entire load from internal pressurization is carried (as skin tension) by the external skin. As stated above we are now familiar with the prime components of an airplane. Now let us get into detail, and understand the components such as the bulkhead, Frames, Ribs, Spars, Stringers (Longerons), and Skins. 5.2. BULKHEADS 5.2.1. Definition: A bulkhead is the physical partition that divides a plane or a fuselage into different classes or sections. Typically, a bulkhead is a wall but can also be a curtain or screen. In addition to separating classes from one another, i.e. business and economy, bulkheads can be found throughout the plane, separating the seats from the galley and lavatory areas. Bulkheads also contribute to the structural stability and rigidity of a craft. 5.2.2. Uses: 5.2.3. Loads: 5.2.4. Materials: 5.3. FRAMES 5.3.1. Definition: The airframe provides the structure to which all other components are attached. Airframes may be welded tube, sheet metal, composite, or simply tubes bolted together. A combination of construction methods may also be employed. The airframes with the greatest strength-to-weight ratios are a carbon fibre material or the welded tube structure, which has been in use for a number of years. 5.3.2. Uses: 5.3.3. Loads: 5.3.4. Materials: Material Selection Material Usage Advantages Disadvantages High strength unidirectional graphite/epoxy Spar caps High strength, low weight High cost, low impact resistance, difficult to manufacture High modulus  ±45 ° graphite/epoxy Skin (w/foam core), Shear web, Wing ribs High strength, low weight, low surface roughness, stealth characteristics High cost, low impact resistance, difficult to manufacture Aluminum 7075-T6 Bulkheads, Longerons Low cost, ease of manufacture, good sturctural efficiency Low strength, not weldable Stainless steel (AM-350) Landing gear Relatively low cost, high strength, corrosion resistance High weight Nickel (Hastelloy B) Nozzles and ducting Temperature resistance Low structural resistance Kevlar Internal armor High strength, low weight, high impact resistance High cost, difficult to manufacture

The Internet Essay -- Technology Impact Web Cyberspace Essays

The Internet Today the use of technology is tremendous. Almost every home has a computer and a way of communication like the telephone. Most have radios and satellites for cable television. To some people technology is all that they depend on for survival. I have learned that technology plays a huge role in every person’s life. The use of technology today has helped make life a little bit simpler and has changed our way of thinking. For instance, the Internet is a highly effective tool for communicating, for gathering information and for cooperation between dispersed locations. It has â€Å"negated the limitations of physical presence† (Shields 5). There is continuous development and improvement. The growing list of applications serves as testament to advertising, communication, shopping, and banking, to name just a few. Many businesses are discovering new ways to reach their customers, new ways to improve efficiency, new products and services to sell. The future is limited only by your imagination. The Internet is, quite literally, a network of networks. It is comprised of thousands of interconnected networks spanning the globe (Black 1). The computers that form the Internet range from huge mainframes in research establishments to modest PCs in people’s homes and offices. Despite the recent hype, the Internet is not a new phenomenon. Its roots lie in a collection of computers that were linked together in the mid-1960s to form the US Department of Defense’s communications systems. Fearing the consequences of nuclear attack, there was no central computer holding vast amounts of data, rather the information was dispersed across thousands of machines. A set of rules, of protocols, known as TCP/IP was developed to allow dispar... ... to the Internet’s bytes there has been a long road of development. The reason for the developments is the desire for information. Information has always been valuable. Each one of these inventions has been a tool for political and economical resource in their time, and each has been surpassed by the next in efficiency and speed. Global communication is becoming more and more a comfortable, worldly cultural phenomenon. Together with this development the world is becoming a smaller place. The question is what is next? Works Cited: Black, Uyless. Advanced Internet Technologies. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1999. Shields, Rob, ed. Cultures of Internet: Virtual Spaces, Real Histories, Living Bodies. California: SAGE Publications, 1996. Whyte, W. S. networked futures: trends for communication systems development. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1999.

Essay --

Shusanta Bhattarai Ms. Kelley Formal lab report The conservation of Mass and how it’s connected to chemical reactions Introduction In this lab, we were looking at the conservation of matter, chemical reactions and using mass to find the number of moles present after a reaction. We had previously studied moles (measurement system) and mass. We copiously took notes on the masses of the objects after reactions and observed how the quantity would â€Å"change† after a chemical reaction. The conservation of mass is a law that states a mass will stay consistent over time and will not change until it is not combined or removed. We performed a lot of chemical reactions in this lab. The first part of the lab was putting a coiled piece of copper in silver nitrate and washing it out with water. The second and third part was also about adding chemicals and seeing the reactions. The purpose of the experiment was to determine if the values of silver and silver nitrate would stay the same. The hypothesis was that if chemical elements and compounds react the ratio would stay the same, due to the conservation of mass and the law it has. Procedure Originally, I was supplied with 30 cm of copper wire and a test tube. First, the wire was cleaned with steel wool.The copper wire was coiled around the full length of the test tube. The copper was then weighed. Then an empty 250 ml beaker that was labeled by my partner was weighed. A vial of white silver nitrate was also weighed. After, 2/5th of the clean beaker was filled with distilled water and the solid silver nitrate was stirred in with the water until the crystals that were formed dissolved. Then the end of the copper wire was bent so we could submerge the coil in the solution and still be able t... ...s is attached and the mass must remain consistent over time. The chemical process did not change the quantity and it showed. 4. The ratios might be different because there might have been a flaw in the procedure. They all still surround 1 and no one in the class got one but we all got something close. 5. I think that the decanting process was the main source of contamination. Sometimes water doesn’t take out all the specks. We could buy a high tech decanting type-system and walk through each student individually so that there would be minimal chance of error. Conclusion We saw that no matter the chemical change we would get the same ratio. The purpose worked out in a great fashion and showed us that the quantity was almost the same. The whole class got a number that was close to one. The hypothesis was supported because the conservation of matter proved to be true.

Standard Setting in Political Environment

Introduction Accounting standards dominate the accountant’s work. These standards are being constantly changed, deleted, and/or added to, both in the United States and abroad. They provide practical and handy rules for the conduct of the accountant’s work. They are generally accepted as firm rules, backed by sanctions for nonconformity. Accounting standards usually consist of three parts: * A description of the problem to be tackled A reasoned discussion (possibly exploring fundamental theory) or ways of solving the problem * In line with decision or theory, the prescribed solution In general, standards, especially auditing standards, have been restricted to the prescribed solution, which has generated a lot of controversy about the absence of supporting theories and the use of an ad hoc formulating approach. The general trend, however, is to include the description and the reasoned discussion, thereby providing a concise, theoretically supported rule of action.The Publ ic Interest Theory was implicit in our examination of standard-setting. The theory suggests that regulation is required to answer the demand of the public for correction of market failures. The theory assumes that the central authority has the best interests of the society as its objective. In other words it does its best to maximize social welfare. The regulation is a trade off between the costs involved and the benefits received by society. The Interest Group Theory takes the view that an industry operates in the situation where there are a number of interest groups (constituencies).Development of standard setting approaches in various countries IASB The International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) is the independent, accounting standard-setting body of the IFRS. The IASB was founded on April 1, 2001 as the successor to the International Accounting Standard Committee (IASC). It is responsible for developing IFRS and promoting the use and application of these standards. The Inter national Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) was incorporated as a tax-exempt organization in the US state of Delaware.The IFRS also the parent entity of the IASB, an independent accounting standard-setter based in London, England. The IASB has 14 Board members. They are selected as a group of experts with a mix of experience of standard-setting, preparing and using accounts, and academic work. In January 2009, they have their meeting with the Trustees of the Foundation concluded the first part of the second Constitution Review, announcing the creation of a Monitoring Board and the expansion of the IASB to 16 members and giving more consideration to the geographical composition of the IASB.FASB Since 1973, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has been the designated organization in the private sector for establishing standards of financial accounting that governs the preparation of financial reports by nongovernmental entities. Those standards are officially recognized as authoritative by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The SEC has statutory authority to establish financial accounting and reporting standards for publicly held companies under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.Throughout its history, however, the Commission’s policy has been to rely on the private sector for this function to the extent that the private sector demonstrates ability to fulfill the responsibility in the public interest. The mission of the FASB is to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting that foster financial reporting by nongovernmental entities that provides decision-useful information to investors and other users of financial reports.That mission is accomplished through a comprehensive and independent process that encourages broad participation, objectively considers all stakeholder views, and is subject to oversight by the Financial Accounting Foundationâ⠂¬â„¢s Board of Trustees. MASB Standard setting in Malaysia entered a new era with the Financial Reporting Act 1997 which established the Financial Reporting Foundation (FRF) and the Malaysian Accounting Standard Board (MASB) in 1997. The Financial Reporting Act 1997 was gazette on 6 March, 1997.The FRF is established under the Financial Reporting Act 1997 (Act). The FRF comprises representation from all relevant parties in the standard setting process, including preparers, users, regulators and accountancy profession. The FRF, as a trustee body, has responsibility for the oversight of the MASB’s performance, financial and funding arrangements, and as an initial source of views for the MASB on proposed standards and pronouncements. It has no direct responsibility with regard to standard setting. This responsibility rests exclusively with the MASB.The aims of the MASB are to implement an efficient, effective structure and ‘due processes’ for the development of MAS B Standards, a conceptual framework and other forms of authoritative guidance. Other than that, MASB also aim to pursue the development of MASB Standards, a conceptual framework and other authoritative guidance on a basis that recognizes that users of financial statements are the primary customer, so that those users are better able to make economic decisions. The MASB established a committee in May, 2002 known as the Issues Committee to replace its predecessor, Interpretation Committee.The change in name reflects the expanded scope of the committee which, in addition to dealing with interpretations of approved accounting standards, also deals with other accounting related issues where there are no existing accounting standards. The committee, hence, is responsible for reviewing accounting issues that have received or likely to receive different views in interpretation and to provide recommendations to the Board for decision. Standard setting approaches MFRSs are full convergence, w hich are copy word by word of IFRSs issued by the IASB except for the terminologies.The due process of MFRS Framework aligns the MASB's due process timeline to that of the IASB with the aim of putting the new or amended standards in place for adoption and application within a timely manner. This is to ensure, that the effective date of the new or amended standards will be the same as that of IFRSs. * Stage 1: MASB seeks public comment on IASB's draft technical pronouncements. The IASB's draft technical pronouncements include Discussion Paper, Exposure Draft and Request for Views.MASB will disseminate the IASB draft pronouncements together with an Invitation to Comment to local constituents by publishing on MASB website a â€Å"Comment Online† feature and sending a copy of the documents to the relevant authorities, professional bodies, accounting firms, industry related associations, and public listed companies. The due date for the public to submit comments to MASB is usually one month before IASB's comment deadline so as to allow MASB Working Group and the Board a reasonable time to consider the comments received before making a submission to the IASB.In addition, public forums may be organized if these IASB draft pronouncements represent major change or shift from current practice. * Stage 2: Deliberation at the Working Group level on IASB's draft pronouncements The IASB's draft pronouncements will be deliberated in WG meetings and to provide comment / recommendation to the issues raised in the draft pronouncements for the Board's consideration. The WG will also consider public comments received and their recommendations on those comments for the Board's consideration. Stage 3: Deliberation at the MASB (the Board). The public comments received, Working Group's comments and recommendations will be tabled at the Board for deliberation and consideration. During the discussion, the Board will consider all comments received and thereafter, a comment letter to the IASB will be prepared and submitted to IASB accordingly. * Stage 4: Issuance of Standard by IASB. Following publication of the final standard by the IASB (IFRS), the Working Group will deliberate on the changes made, if any, from the draft pronouncements.Thereafter, the Working Group's views or recommendation, including possible issues/ implications, if any, of the IFRS will be presented to the MASB for consideration. * Stage 5: Issuance of standard by MASB. After due deliberation by the Board, copy of the MFRS (word-for-word with IFRSs) would be presented to the FRF members for their comments before it being issued as approved accounting standards in Malaysia. Ethics of standard setting It is likely that if there was no regulation, markets would cease to work.Have two motivations, there are the external motivation – the enforcement approach, a regulator, and the internal motivation – the people will want to keep their promises and honour contracts. The more et hically that people behave, the greater reduction there would be in required regulation. One way to look at it would be, for example, if all professionals acted in their own self-interest, ignoring the clients’ recognition, in due course clients would become very suspicious.Regulations would grow and professionals would be very carefully looked into. However, if professionals can be trusted to act in a trustworthy way, then it could be a win-win situation. It goes beyond adopting a code of ethics. Professionals would have to act professionally towards the client. Professionals must become transparent in their actions so clients will have full trust in their actions. Certainly professionals have self-interest and this must be taken into account.As some regulation would be required, what about standard setting from an ethical point of view. When accountants are dealing with clients there is very likely an imbalance of accounting knowledge between the two but accountants should not impose their own values on the client. Issues involved in standard setting The standard setting bodies have an ethical issue because the standards set for clients, those who manage the companies, have a third dimension, as the managers’ interests often conflict with those of the public.Our case is the investing public, the third party. Now investors needs are well served by good disclosure of material. But we have seen in our previous modules that standards that are beneficial to the investor often impose burdens on the managers, volatility. Whose interests should the regulator serve. Duska & Duska, stated the accountant and the regulator can easily reconcile the obligations by acting with integrity. In the long-run the interests of the public and the investor merge.The answer comes across clearly in Duska & Duska. They argue that the profession has an obligation to â€Å"look out for the best interests of the client, avoiding the temptation to take advantage of the clie nt†; this quotation implies the public interest theory. It is important to consider the debate between what is termed â€Å"rules-based† and â€Å"principle based† accounting standards. It is important to consider the debate between what is termed â€Å"rules-based† and â€Å"principlebased† accounting standards.Considering Enron’s actions they were strictly based on rules actions of GAAP. They were not based on â€Å"principles† There is a difference. Rules attempt to put down detailed directions to be followed, and it is difficult to cover all situations. The Principle indicates the intent we have in mind and the course we follow. It is putting into effect the real ethics we wish to pursue. Accounting issue in Islamic Financial InstitutionAccounting standards are developed in various parts of the world and are predominantly developed based on the environment of local jurisdiction and typically the behavior of the large and most often multinational corporations would be subjected to these standards. MASB has also appointed a Working Group to develop a framework of accounting concepts based on the Shari’ah principles to assist the Board in developing financial accounting and reporting standards for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of transactions based on Shari’ah principles which would facilitate the development of the Islamic Capital Market.The main characteristics that influenced the environment of an Islamic bank in the Shari'ah and this has to be central in the development of accounting standards for Islamic banks, which was not part of the consideration of the international standard setter. There are major differences between Islamic banks and Conventional banks that impose difficulties for Islamic banks to comply with standards not actually meant for them. Appropriate mechanism to track the risks and rewards other than a financial reporting system, which Islamic financial instituti on were deprived of prior to AAOFI.Foundation of setting standards for Islamic financial institution is on the basis of filling in a vacuum that conventional standards have left void. AAOFI did not reject existing GAAP standards except in cases where such principles conflict with Shari'ah principles. It is clearly stated in AAOFI's Statement of Objectives that â€Å"it is natural that there should be differences between objectives of other bank and objectives of Islamic bank. The kinds of issues addressed by AAOIFI Standards. Substance over formThe framework of accounting standards by IAS and other generally accepted accounting standards require that the accounting information is presented according to the substance and economic reality and not merely the legal form. Requiring and entity that enjoys a greater of economic benefits of an asset to report the asset in their balance sheet appeared in a leasing contract in consistent with this postulate. Apparently this characteristic of accounting principles is in violation of Shari'ah and hence is not recognized by AAOIFI standards.Prudence Prudence is a concept that appears in the IAS Framework of Accounting Standards and promotes the need to be cautious in overstating asset or profits especially in the business world. AAOIFI Standards are silent on this characteristic of financial reporting. The reason that can be attributed to the silence which must not be read as an objection, is that such a principle conflict with the very idea that financial reporting in Islam should focus on fair reporting of an entity's financial position. AAOIFI Standards are silent with regards to the concept of prudence and leaves it to the best discretion of the preparers of financial statements to compile with their local regulatory requirements. Asset Valuation Typical measurement basis is the historical cost measurement simply because this is the most commonly adopted by the enterprises in preparing their financial statements. Isla mic bank's financial report the measurements of asset would also very much be influenced by the terms of the Shari'a contract underlying the product.AAIOFI's standard requires the bank to value the asset in their balance sheet on the basis of cash equivalents value. The other aspects where AAIOIFI standards depart from conventional practice is on the treatment of asset in an Ijarah Muntahia Bittamleek contract. IMBT is an innovation is in fiqh to satisfy the financial lease contracts in conventional practice. IMBT is a combination of two contracts which runs sequentially one after the other and the reporting of the financial transaction as mentioned in AAOIFI's FAS 8, IMBT would reflects

Weber and Marx: Inequality

Marx vs. Weber in today’s society Marx and Weber have not lived within the same social conditions we are facing today, and one question that may arise is, whose approach to social class and inequality is more compatible with today’s society? Taking a closer look at Weber’s analogy, and the concept of â€Å"life chances†, one may attempt to conclude that his approach is more flexible and fitting in today’s society. Weber offers a micro level analysis of inequality at the individual’s level, which makes his approach more versatile.Furthermore this approach can explain the changes in regards to class determination by the market situation over time through the concept of life chances. Marx is known for putting forth a theory of classes that is centered on economical grounds where â€Å"society [†¦] is [†¦] splitting up into two great hostile camps [†¦]: bourgeoisie and proletariat † (Marx, 1978, p. 474). Belonging to either class will depend on whether you own the means of production or not; from this system stems inequality.Weber takes a step further then Marx, and discusses other social forces then economical one, that influences social class and inequality. Weber put central importance to the concept of power, â€Å"the chance of a man or a number of men to realize their own will in a communal action even against the resistance of other who are participating in the action† (Weber, 2003, p. 95). The way power is distributed creates â€Å"three discrete but interrelated realms [classes, status groups and parties]† (Weber, 2003, p. 94).These three dimensions in relation to power are used to explain inequality. Distribution of power among classes leads to unequal access to material resources since classes are â€Å"purely economically determined† (Weber, 2003, p. 99). As for status power, one’s â€Å"social estimation of honor† (Weber, 2003, p. 99) determines the capac ity to exercise power upon those who view him or her as a superior. Class and Status power â€Å"influence one another and they influence the legal order and are in turn influence by it† (Weber, 2003, p. 99).Parties on the other hand, focus on gaining social power that enables them to have influence on decision-making. From Marx’s Manifesto of the communist party (1978) one can concluded that the Bourgeois and the proletariat are mutually dependent on one another, but this does not make them equal in a capitalist society. Weber does agree that the capitalist society and the â€Å"economy has a particularly determinative impact on the social order and power† (Weber, 2003, p. 94). However Weber points out that individual still have agency and â€Å"a relative autonomy to culture and politics† (Weber, 2003, p. 94).Hence, the determination of class-situation by the market situation cannot be exclusive to Marx view based on the relationship to the means of pro duction. Weber’s puts forth a concept of â€Å"life chances† which entails that even the dominated still have a scoop of choices. In today’s society, these choices have expanded and become more equal. For example, today’s market is seen to be a knowledge-based market, where higher education and skill set is given more value. Those in lower classes also have a possibility to compete in the labour market since higher education is becoming more accessible to everyone.Weber’s approach gains versatility by looking at the role of social action and therefore takes into consideration an individual’s â€Å"rationally motivated adjustments of interest† (Weber, 2003, p. 97). Marx’s approach focuses too much on the economical conditions, and although it may still be relevant today economy, it fails to accurately predicted other dimensions of life that have influenced social class and inequality. A shift to a knowledge base labour market an d increase in higher education accessibility has improved individuals â€Å"life chance†.However upon putting forth the argument that individuals have more choices now then before, one may questions the true intention of these choices. It could be, as Marx may suggest, an illusion of choice set forth by the dominant classes to prevent a revolution from the dominated class. Reference: Marx, K. and Friedrich E. (1978). Manifestation of the Communist Party. The Marx-Engels Reader, (2nd ed), edited by Robert C. Tuker. 473-483. Weber, M. (2003) Class, Status, Party. Social Theory: the Roots and Branches, edited by Peter Kivisto. 95-100.