Thursday, April 30, 2020
William Faulkner an Example by
William Faulkner William Faulkner is an eccentric writer, and is still considered as one of the great writers produced by the United States, who is known for his heritage and literary works. Being an idealistic student in school days, his mind traveled towards directionless reading and made him give up his educational life. His later life was an amalgamation of loneliness and tragedy and he experienced a status of isolation in mind and heart. This was the period when his mind traveled scientifically and made him explore his hidden potentials as a matured writer and concept analyst. Opportunities to travel a lot gave him some magnanimous experiences, which made him step into the literature arena. Need essay sample on "William Faulkner" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed His first book, The Marble Faun, a collection of poems, appeared in 1924. It did not gain success. He sustained writing lots of fiction which turned out be a failure in his early days, but due to his clear vision and clarity in thoughts , he came up with his first novel soldiers pay which explained the situation of soldiers and their sufferings during the first world war. Even though the reach of this novel was not up to the mark, his second novel Mosquitoes throwed light on the literary scenes of the New Orleans and it spoke about the artistic independence. In 1929 Faulkner wrote Sartoris, the first of fifteen novels set in Yoknapatawpha County, a fictional region of Mississippi Sartoris was later reissued entitled FLAGS IN THE DUST (1973). The Yoknapatawpha novels spanned the decades of economic decline from the American Civil War. Faulkner used various writing styles. The narrative varies from the traditional storytelling, to series of snapshots or collage. ABSALOM, ABSALOM!, generally considered Faulkner's masterpiece. It records a range of voices, all trying to unravel the mysteries of Thomas Sutpen's violent life. Faulkner tried many methodologies, moulding him as a professional writer but none worked out or gave him the anticipated recognition as a professional writer. With lot of difficulties, he found a publisher for his leisure novel flags which once again raised criticism for one reason or the other. But Faulkner continued himself in writing many short stories and novels.Inspite of all his efforts and hurdles , his focus was clear and he was always exploring the ways to quench is literature thirst. His writing received a mixture of response a sentenced was too long and difficult to understand. And sometime he withholds important details or vital references and made it tough for the readers to follow. Faulkners writing style was completely based on European Modernism. Over the course of his career, Faulkner grew to be one of the greatest author of fictions and he has also been described as the Picasso of Literature. His writing always proved to be a thought provoking stuff with a balanced mixture of ethics, music, psychology, philosophy etc. He was also capable of bringing his peculiar thoughts into words which gained him more fame. As a result of his all hard work and astounding literary skills, William Faulkner was awarded the noble prize for literature in 1949. He was also the recipients for the two Pulitzer prized for a fable and The Reivers. Totally nineteen novels were published during Faulkners life time all but five are set in Yoknapatawpha County. Faulkners writing suffered at the later stage of his life due to continous traveling across many Asian countries. He continued his lifestyle of drinking and hunting in spite of frequently suffering injuries from falling off his horse. A fall on June 17, 1962 landed Faulkner in the hospital, where he later died of a heart attack on July 7th. Internet References: 1999, 2002 Gateway New Orleans, http://gatewayno.com/culture/Faulkner.html (13th July, 2006) 1997 Encyclopedia Britannica,(13th July, 2006) 2006 eNotes,(13th July, 2006) John.p.Padgett, The University of Mississippi
Friday, April 10, 2020
Writing a Sample Essay From A&P
Writing a Sample Essay From A&PYou've likely seen this sample essay from A&P (starting on page 20). Whether you've never heard of A&P, or you've heard of them but don't remember what they do, or you've heard of them and you're curious about the sample, here's what you need to know.As you might have guessed, the purpose of this A&P sample is to test the writing skills of their students. Students typically don't have much experience writing original essays, and a good refresher is always a good idea for them. And when you have lots of extra work sitting around in your spare time, why not try writing an original essay about something you're interested in?As you can see, the purpose of this sample is to test the writing skills of their students. Students typically don't have much experience writing original essays, and a good refresher is always a good idea for them. And when you have lots of extra work sitting around in your spare time, why not try writing an original es say about something you're interested in?A&P is a very old-school publishing company that does most of its business through books and textbooks. As such, they tend to publish a lot of writing samples - there are quite a few sites dedicated to this type of writing samples. Some examples of A&P writing samples include The Pencil, which are an 'adult' written word puzzle book, and the Doubleday-Heinemann Junior Literary Supplement, which are a collection of short stories.The writer of the A&P article is undoubtedly unfamiliar with the more 'adult' writing samples offered by A&P. I'm sure that a significant percentage of the population would find it difficult to get through an A&P book without encountering at least one copy of the paperback A&P publication.A&P is a very old-school publishing company that does most of its business through books and textbooks. As such, they tend to publish a lot of writing samples - there are quite a few sites dedicated to this type of writing samples.In case you've ever read or heard of a book titled 'The American Dream,' you've probably heard of A&P. There are many A&P web sites dedicated to the themes of The American Dream, and the focus is generally on the concepts of wealth and entrepreneurialism. In case you've ever read or heard of a book titled 'The American Dream,' you've probably heard of A&P.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Management Planning Tyco Essay Essay Example
Management Planning Tyco Essay Essay Example Management Planning Tyco Essay Essay Management Planning Tyco Essay Essay Tyco is an international and expanded company that offers necessary manufactured goods and services to consumers in some market sections. These sections consist of Fire A ; Security. Healthcare. Electronicss. Plastics A ; Adhesives. and Engineered Products A ; Services. Recently. Tyco possesses immense net incomes and provides work for approximately hundred 1000 workers in the universe ( Verschoor. C. . 2006 ) . Fiscal statement and hard currency flows in Tyco are well-built. Legacy economic and legal issues in this company have been answered. They perform an first-class integrating of concerns in the market place in order to last in the highest standing. Tyco International Ltd. is spliting their organic structures into three independent companies ( ââ¬Å"Tyco International to go 3 companiesâ⬠. 2006 ) . It is the greatest method to let Tyco to carry through their complete capableness. Every separated company will be capable to attempt more quickly and more competitively. Finally. it will bring forth more significance for their investors as a consequence of executing the development approaches as independent companies. Previously. Tyco assessed a broad graduated table of their planned choices. affecting the care of Tycoââ¬â¢s recent working attack. trades of sole industries. and divider of the industries. Tyco assume that their strategic direction planning. which full of continual betterment and value devising. is the finest method to make good repute in the planetary competitory market ( ââ¬Å"Tyco International to go 3 companiesâ⬠. 2006 ) . In Tyco. consistence is the footing in the lead of their concern activities. The consumers. investors. spouses. and the societies where Tyco operate are looking frontward to reliable and ethical direction from them on a day-to-day footing. Tyco should continuously give accent to their dedication to keep their nucleus importance. Their dedication to the top values of dependability starts with promising that every individual. who gets through the Tyco Company. will acknowledge Tycoââ¬â¢s chief values. These values qualify how Tyco behave as workers and as directors ( Verschoor. C. . 2006 ) . Tyco be obliged to dispute their egos about the best rules of entity and concern dependability. Tyco ever try to keep the company resources. Tyco persistently contest with the other companies to develop their merchandises. concern activities. and their egos. Tyco invariably struggle to acknowledge the public concerns and ease them to carry through their aims. Tyco are committed to multiplicity. impartial behaviour. common value. and dependance. They promote an environment that supports modernisation. originality. and outcome by agencies of cooperation. Tyco perform direction that educates. motivates. and encourages complete part and calling betterment. They support valuable communicating and transmittal. Tyco wage testimonial to the confidences that they create. They hold entity answerability for every accomplishments and results. Tyco make a on the job ordinance of changeless development that is an indispensable component of their doctrine. Tyco attempt to apportion the answerability in some parts in order to make their values go a cardinal component of their industries. All of Tyco executives and staffs should be responsible to the chief rules of dependability and complete obeisance through the regulations and schemes that influence the public presentation of their concern activities ( ââ¬Å"The Tyco Guide to Supplier Social Responsibilityâ⬠. 2007 ) . It is the answerability of Tyco to do certain that the assets that are critical to the success of the companyââ¬â¢s ends. Tyco has some attempts to carry through the success. such as using. go oning and developing their direction planning and progressing consumer satisfaction. All of these activities are recognized through the readying developments ( ââ¬Å"The Tyco Guide to Supplier Social Responsibilityâ⬠. 2007 ) . Normally. resource necessities are intended through the prediction process and attuned for the period of the twelvemonth in return to selling augmentation. net incomes schemes. capableness restraints. changing consumer necessities and another desires. Executive in Tyco should measure the sufficiency of resources and ordinances should be created rooted in recognized concern demands. Strategic planning that conducted by Tyco allows them to cut down disbursals while carry throughing consumerââ¬â¢s demand and acquire the most out of net income while finishing predicted demand. Normally. strategic planning picks are created by divide groups concerned on a elaborate portion of Tycoââ¬â¢s general program. For case. in a planned capableness prognosis survey. the merchandising unit investigates demand state of affairss and offers anticipations for approaching demand. Concurrently and unconnectedly. Tyco examines their scheme for capableness development and creates mentions ( Lofstrom. Erika ; Nevgi. Anne. 2007 ) . Management planning in Tyco must dwell of originative. theoretical and managerial facets. To turn up approaching inclination that is a chief rule of a direction planning. Tyco have to methodically acknowledge about their current standing. Therefore. the development of bettering a direction planning is supposed to consist an assessment of the companyââ¬â¢s past public presentation and recent province of personal businesss. Tyco can diminish the chance of misconstruing that will weaken the efficiency of their efforts. by get downing in a direction program how the legal map is assumed to partake in its understanding and internal control efforts. The direction planning should carry on in the way of a Fuller understanding process and a more wide-ranging method to the country under treatment ( ââ¬Å"Tyco International to go 3 companiesâ⬠. 2006 ) . Management in Tyco has completed a superb duty of revolving their company all over the topographic point. Tycoââ¬â¢s determination to set their attempts on established chief merchandises. and to do more efficient their concerns. has placed them in a good manner for an net incomes to productiveness in this period. Management in Tyco takes portion in an indispensable map in the accommodation process. It is a really optimistic betterment for Tyco investors ( ââ¬Å"The Tyco Guide to Supplier Social Responsibilityâ⬠. 2007 ) . As a vigorous and stimulating company. Tyco have productive concern activity. Tyco provides a program that contains full direction of saving and developments of organisation to do best usage of operational competency. The direction planning includes some characteristics that able to back up organisation in conveying service to their client to all purposes and intents. Tyco implements good technique of guaranting their intensive battle to fulfill the clients. This method is appropriate for Tyco that has competitory employment agreements ( Lofstrom. Erika ; Nevgi. Anne. 2007 ) . In decision. Tyco has wide-ranging survey and assets and is invariably runing. Tyco is continuously bettering advanced merchandises. They ever try to make invention for presented and new merchandises. activities. sweetenings to presented activities. and customized machines. utensils or tools ( Verschoor. C. . 2006 ) . Mention: INTEGRITY EXCELLENCE TEAMWORK ACCOUNTABILITY. ( 2006 ) . Retrieved 7 April. 2007. from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. tyco. com/WWW/Documents/pdf/tyco_guide_to_ethical_conduct. pdf Lofstrom. Erika ; Nevgi. Anne. ( 2007 ) . From Strategic Planning to Meaningful Learning: Diverse Perspectives on the Development of Web-Based Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Retrieved 7 April. 2007. from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. eric. erectile dysfunction. gov Planing and Conducting a Functional Exercise. Helpful Hints for School Emergency Management. ( 2007 ) . Retrieved 7 April. 2007. from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. eric. erectile dysfunction. gov The Tyco Guide to Supplier Social Responsibility. ( 2007 ) . Retrieved 7 April. 2007. from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. tyco. com/WWW/pdf/IntegrityBrochure. pdf Tyco International to go 3 companies. ( 2006 ) . Retrieved 7 April. 2007. from hypertext transfer protocol: //smallbusiness. yokel. com/r-article-a-11158-m-61-sc-100-tyco_international_to_become_3_companies-i Verschoor. C. ( 2006 ) .Tyco: an ethical metabolism. Strategic Finance
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Find out more about writing clear SOAP notes
Find out more about writing clear SOAP notes The How-To for Soap Note Writing The SOAP note is a document in the medical sphere, which contains all details of a patients medication. The title means Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plans. It is very important to control the accuracy of adequate treatment and in several situations to confirm the patient has got proper drugs and services. Its main goal is to help in standardization for medical cases. Description of SOAP Elements There are 4 main parts of this document according to its title: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plans. Here are the meanings of each paragraph: Subjective is a text written according to oral information provided by the patient. He explains his problem, symptoms, feelings, etc.; The objective includes the scientific researches and observation of his problem. Here should be all information that can help to investigate the reasons for disease and prescribe proper treatment; Assessment is a part of the different concepts of the patient. In addition, there must be the results of consultation with therapist according to previous findings in patients analyses and medical research; Plans mean the final actions for the patient to make him recover. Thanks to such a prescription, he will become healthy as soon as possible. Origin of SOAP The first notes about SOAP belong to 1960s. Exactly at that time, Dr. Lawrence Weed, who was a member of the University of Vermont, created the first SOAP document. During his professional experience, Dr. Lawrence always said that his invention must be very helpful in the problem-oriented medical record. And frankly speaking, this statement is absolutely true. All medical specialists will agree that SOAP notes are vitally important for all kinds of medical institutions. Besides, they usually have the template to help all colleagues to organize medical information for their sake. Besides, other establishments with another type of SOAP note may have difficulties with identifying the data in such documents. It means that nevertheless impressive usage of SOAP notes, the medical staff may have both advantages and disadvantages. Lets take a look and determine all the pros and cons of using SOAP. Advantages of SOAP Notes So such a job with SOAP notes brings lots of advantages for medical officers and patients. Its main goal is to make a uniform way to collect and organize all medical information of every single patient. Besides, this document helps not only to find the proper way of medical records standardization but also allows understanding the patients needs and most proper treatment for his case. Besides, the SOAP note is written using a special language so-called medical terms and abbreviations. Such an approach allows making the general base of words to improve the communications between medical officers. They can do it in the quickest and clearest manner. Disadvantages of SOAP Notes It is said such document usually includes numerous abbreviations. Medical workers are professionals and understand most of such terms. But people without medical knowledge or even education will have no opportunity to use it. But understand it is okay for such specific writing. Doctors in physiotherapy tent to consider this document to be very poor and limited. They insist that there are no full how-to for making SOAP notes more functional. Such an issue sometimes means more serious problems with reaching functional tasks. But lets be honest with each other in this situation. The SOAP notes include only 4 elements to make sense. If we try to increase its length and tasks, we will get a quite complicated file with numerous issues in its understanding. In any case, you can find out more about how to create a SOAP if you need it. Here is the professional guidance in making such text. How to Prepare a SOAP Note Now you know that medical documents are very important for doctors, patients, and other people in and outside this field. When you need health care, you require the best services, and the SOAP notes will be a part of its improvement. But due to numerous reasons, we can still face situations of ignoring SOAP rules. If we expect to make our best in the medical sphere, we have no right to miss any important detail. Thats why writing such document has minimum requirements to set staff free from the annoying job. Lets hope it will help to support the role of SOAP notes. There is no requirement in length and other things in writing SOAP texts. The content is much important for medical workers and patients than in the format. Thats why the first task for a writer is to control the quality of the text. Mistakes and misprints are not allowed. In any commercial or academic writing, even one mistake can ruin the general impression from content and cause serious problems. When it goes about writing SOAP notes, you are holding someone elses life in your hands. So be attentive and professional in your writing. Main Rules Thanks to recommendations of the American Physical Therapy Association, we have exact guidance of the SOAP notes content. It should include the following data: the full self-report of your patient (he must express all feeling and symptoms of current condition); the description of all interventions; the details of the equipment which was previously used; the response of your patient on each stage of medical research and treatment; the full descriptions of all issues, negative reactions, feelings, and complications (including patients complaint); main reasons why the intervention was changed; the list of reached goals; the details of communication (to estimate its quality for the future). As a professional medical officer, you must remember that your SOAP notes may someday be used by another doctor. For example, when you are still holding the case of this patient, you may require other specialists consultations. Or when your patient had already recovered and is going to require medical care in the future. Such factors make you ensure yourself that you properly write your SOAP notes and do not let any mistake to happen. In the previous paragraphs, we have already shortly described the main elements of SOAP notes. Lets have an in-depth look in writing the Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plans. This guide will help you make informative text. How to Write a Subjective Part Writing this part starts with a close conversation with your patient. He must speak, and your task is to note. Let him share all feelings, problems, symptoms, and family history. Each thing may be important in the diagnostic field. Besides, sometimes not only patient participates in such conversation, but also his or her family members. In your text, you can use abbreviations or direct quotes. The main goal is to document the patients impressions of his condition. Thats why you can use suggestive questions to help him share each detail. But try to avoid closed questions which can give you a short answer yes or no. Such a conversation will be uninformative. Also, try not to judge the patient because he may be a little wiggly because of his feelings. Here are the main parts of your Subjective paragraph: the complaint; the painful feelings; description of how he got injury; the anamnesis (medical history of a patient). The Subjective part of SOAP notes is very important. It allows the doctor to make further conclusions. How to Write an Objective Part This part requires the writer to share all details from the medical side. It includes such tools as frequency, duration, amount, and used instrument. Also, notice in your SOAP note all kinds of patients reactions to the mentioned above methods. The Objective block usually consists of such elements: vision, circulation, range of motion, palpation, muscular test, additional experiments. Be very attentive to all reactions and actions while examining your patient. Also, remember the following rules: Highlight all special tests if you use them; Identify the possible injury to have more options on the next stage; Get as more details from your medical tools as you can; Prefer exact type of motion (active, passive, etc.) instead of general types. How to write an Assessment Part This part includes the professional point of view and final thoughts of the medical expert. He must share his ideas according to all findings which were gathered before. Besides clear conclusion, the doctor must explain why he makes such a conclusion, it means that all interventions must be based on rational facts and evidence. Besides writing an assessment, the writer must forecast negative consequences, terms of treatment. The positive response must also be there. Here is further information in making Assessment: Give the full description of each issue; Avoid general phrases which can twist your Plans and SOAP notes in general; Never make vague conclusions. After you are finished with your Assessment, you must keep writing SOAP note with the final paragraph called Plans. How to Write Plans As you have already understood, this is no unimportant part of SOAP notes. But Plans has much more meaning because it is the last element in the document. This part of SOAP is dedicated to the patients treatment, which may be described in different kinds from medication to urgent surgery. The doctor is obligated to include in the Plans, both short-term and long-term recommendations. For instance, short-term advice is to take pills. This is one of the most spread ways of treatment. Among the long-term analysis, you can find changing the lifestyle, etc. In addition, you can to the Plan block the expected results. It may be helpful for the future to analyze the advantages of exact treatment. To make the best Plans for SOAP notes, you should also remember: Your pieces of advice in the plan must be a daily basis; You are not allowed to give only general recommendations; Make sure that the upcoming plan is also added. The Best Tips in Making SOAP Note There is lots of information about the meaning and writing such documents. Try to use the following recommendations if you aspire to make the most informative: Make your SOAP notes simple and easy-to-understand. Remember that not only you but also other people should have an opportunity to read and use its information; Write your text straight according to the well-known sample in the medical field. Such an approach helps to keep the proper structure, tone of voice, and other standardized elements of notes; Add only fair and relevant information about the patients treatment. This is a golden rule which has no exceptions; Use only those word combinations and abbreviations which are proper for medical workers. It is a professional and humanistic way to do your job; Fill information right after you get it and never miss an important detail. Dont postpone your writing so you will describe your case fully and responsibly. Besides such recommendations remember these additional notes. You should always keep your writing away from: Using fake data about the patient and his treatment. Using terms and word combinations which are not relevant to well-known medical vocabulary. Include undefined and vague information. Make SOAP too long or too short. Infringe previously accepted SOAP note template. Use the following help and create high-quality documents in the medical sphere! If you need any help, you can ask us for a consultation. Feel free to get professional support in SOAP notes writing. Example of a SOAP Note To start writing the best SOAP, the author should see several good examples. We recommend you to get real notes and analyze them according to your experience before making your own text. You can also ask your teacher to give your SOAP notes with mistakes so you can find and fix them. Such homework will be best to check your knowledge and skills in making SOAP documents. In any case, such close acquaintance with SOAP notes will help you to improve your medical and writing skills. Save this article and share it with your colleagues to make a general contribution to health care department development. So SOAP is professional writing among medical specialists since the 1960s. This document has much more advantages and several small disadvantages, but the medical sphere does really require it. Both patients and doctors will get only benefits from such professional text.
Monday, February 17, 2020
Political Double Lives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Political Double Lives - Essay Example ugh the media was slow to react, the story became front-page news, occupying television and newspapersââ¬â¢ attentions for weeks until it slowly faded away (Harris). The case of Edwardsââ¬â¢ mishap provides a paradigm case of the private life of a public figure being made public. In many ways, this case study is symptomatic of an entire piece of the population that hold public office. The question surrounds the issue of whether they should be allowed to have a private life or whether their private matters ought to be kept out of the limelight. Certainly, there is a case to be made for keeping politiciansââ¬â¢ lives under constant scrutiny. Recently, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came under fire for her husbandââ¬â¢s presidential library acceptance of large donations from the royal family of Saudi Arabia (Solomon and Birnbaum). Concerned about a conflict of interest, media scrutiny resolved the issue and nothing wrong could be found. This is a paradigm case of private affairs being pertinent in a public matter for a politician. Nevertheless, we should not make politicians sacrifice themselves as human beings for the greater good of the publicââ¬â¢s democracy. However, this debate does not require us to choose between extremes. As Tony Blair recently said, ââ¬Å"Ministers should not be judged on their private lives unless their behavior affected the performance of their public dutiesâ⬠(Webster). That is, only in cases where there is a potential conflict of interests, such as in Clintonââ¬â¢s case, should politicians revoke the right to privacy. This dispute originates, for the most part, because of the democratic structure of most developed countriesââ¬â¢ governments (BBC). Constituents expect of those they rightly elect to represent them to represent them in all ways, both in the policies they advocate for on the job and how they live their lives off the job. Given the enormous power the people vest in their elected officials, it seems only right, in the context of social
Monday, February 3, 2020
Econ ON OLIGOPOLY & SOME GAME THEORY IDEAS WITH OLIGOPOLY Assignment
Econ ON OLIGOPOLY & SOME GAME THEORY IDEAS WITH OLIGOPOLY - Assignment Example In the contestable market the evaluation of dealings among current firms and prospective entrants is investigated more critically. The market incumbents maintain an oligopoly through the determination of price levels in the market in their favor. Again the oligopoly is maintained by the government favor and creates a barrier for other firms from venturing in the market. 2) Suppose there are two firms operating in an oligopoly (termed a ââ¬Å"duopolyâ⬠), where the firm 1 cost function is given by C1 = 18Q1, for C1 = total cost, and Q1 = firm 1 output. The cost function for firm 2 is given by C2 = 21Q2, and C2 = total cost of firm 2, and Q2 = output of firm 2. The inverse demand for the product, Q, being sold by the oligopolist firms is given by P = 127 ââ¬â 3Q, where Q = Q1+ Q2, and Q1 and Q2 are the same product (vats of toxic solution for breaking down chemical components to be used in downstream plastic manufacture). Taking into the consideration the Cournot model in regard to the duopoly that is two firms where both firms concurrently decide a quantity to produce. Designating the quantity q1 as the amount produced by firm 1 and q2 as the corresponding amount produced by firm 2. Therefore the total quantity The firm production choices are strategic substitutes. That is, an increase in the amount produced by firm1 (holding fixed the underlying amount produced by the corresponding firm 2) will considerably lower the market price and thus resulting in lesser profits for firm 2. Thus, every firm ought to take into consideration the prevailing the production decisions of the other supplementary firm in the process of undertaking its individual production decision Firm 1 possess a marginal cost of production equivalent to c1 accompanied by firm 2 which possess a marginal cost of production equivalent to c2. The corresponding Nash equilibrium is computed through the employment tow
Sunday, January 26, 2020
An Exposition of Amos 5
An Exposition of Amos 5 With a view to an audience within a stated contemporary ministry setting, provide an exposition of Amos 5 As I engage to expound the book of Amos I would want to do an exposition of Amos 5 which with a view of a mixed Audience of men and women between the ages of 20 to 50 years of age and also young people who most of them are under the age of 20 years. The audience is a mixture of different nationalities that have different cultural background. According to Hasting (1963:28) writing in the dictionary of the bible, he says that Amos was one of the earliest prophets who prophesied in the 8th century B.C. Amos is known to have come from Tekoa and according to the dictionary of the bible, he prophesied when Israel and Judah were strong and prosperous. Though there was prosperity in Judah and Israel the book of Amos portrayed a lot of injustice taking place during that period. In (chapter 4) of Amos and verse (1) it talks of how the poor are oppressed and they are crushed. (Amos 1:1) The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa-the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash[a] was king of Israel. According to this verse, it makes us understand that Amos was a shepherd, and also understand that Amos may not be the one who wrote the book;(Thorogood 1992:10) cites that, the book of Amos is a collection of the Prophets words. We cannot be certain who actually wrote it, or when it was written. When we come to chapter 5 of Amos it can be hard trying to understand what specifically he is trying to address when he talks of a virgin Israel in verses 2. It is hard to interpret the book without first having understood some of the things that Amos is saying, for example, where he says, This is what the Lord says to Israel: Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing (vs. 4-5). Not knowing what Bethel, Gilgal and also Beersheba means one can not interpret what he was implying. Patte (2004:282) makes us understand that Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba were sacred places because they were memorials connected to the ancestors and history of the conquest of the land without having this knowledge it is a hard one to understand. The writings of Amos are regarded as Oracles, this is highlighted by Heaton(1977:73 ) Amos cultivate d the practice of embodying in his oracles quotations of his opponents claims. So this is to affirm that Amos was writing oracles. Wolff (1977) in his book of Joel and Amos cites that the literary tradition hardly allows us to recognize more than two dozen short individual oracles, so he is implying that Amoss writing was literal and he cites three basic type of speech found in the book of Amos (i) The messenger speech which he says that it is tied to what Amos was told to say by God. (ii) The free speech witness speech, this he says promotes relationship with the listener. (iii) Vision report, that one he says that it cannot be said with certainty whether is rhetorical or literary in Origin. When Amos is starting to speak the oracles he is using within and in front the text where he is addressing the children of Israel and tells them in verses 1-7 to hear what the Lord is saying and what will happen to them. As Amos is speaking in chapter 5:1-3, he regards the children of Israel as people who are already dead, and is lamenting over their state and seems there no hope for them when he says, Fallen and no more to rise. He compares them to a virgin woman engaged but now she has been forsaken. So he uses metaphor when he is addressing them. This may mean that Israel is glorious but their glory is gone. In verse 4-10 it is a call for them to call God even in their crisis, it is surprising that in the beginning, he speaks to them; It portrays them as people who have been utterly destroyed and no hope to rise again. In verses 4 he tells them to seek the Lord and live. On the other hand, he tells them, what not to seek Bethel and not to enter Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba fo r there are consequences when they do that. Marsh (1959:53) gives the meaning of the word seek and he says the word translated seek originally meant to ask for an oracle from some diviner, and then to offer worship and obedience to God. Applying this few verses as I address my audience bearing in mind the state of the nation that we are in where there have been a crisis in the economy and a lot of cuts in so many sectors that some services that the government used to offer are not longer there, I would bring to their attention to how the nation has declined and probably try to mention, maybe is because of the evil that is done in the nation. I would also encourage them to seek the Lord and not to put their trust in the systems, as Amos was encouraging the children of Israel to seek God and not seek the sacred places. When Amos is warning the people not to seek Bethel or go to Gilgal and having now understood that Gilgal was a sacred place as cited by Patte(2004:282), he is encourag ing them to worship the true God rather than go and worship those sacred places whereby even if they are sacred places they are not God themselves. I would, therefore, encourage my audience to worship the true God rather than men, bearing in mind that most of my audience are from African background where there is a tendency of worshiping the men of God. In verses (10 Amos talks of people hating correction or rather discipline and hate he who tells the truth. So I as address my audience I would encourage them to speak the truth and allow themselves to be corrected by the word of the Lord. Since my audience is a mixture of young people who most of them are under the care of their parents I encouraged them to adhere to discipline and obey their parents.[G1] In (verses 11-12) Amos talks of how the poor are oppressed, and he tells them because they have done these things and even extracted wheat unjustly from them even the house they have built they will not live in them. Amos was pronouncing judgment. As I bring this to my audience I would speak to them, warning them not to oppress each other and especially the old oppressing the young even on those who are married, men not to oppress women. I would speak to men oppressing women with confidence having some background knowledge how African women at times are regarded as not equal to their men and they tend to be oppressed. Amos changes his tone in verses 14 and he gives the people hope that if they seek the Lord they will live. What I see when I look at the previous (verses 12 and 13) he is telling them to stop oppressing the poor and they will live. So I would tell the audience that, when we are doing injustice to one another we are not seeking God, and God is not with us because after A mos telling the Israelite how they have oppressed the poor he tells them to seek the Lord in order for them to live. Amos here was like implying that God was not with the Israelite because they were oppressing the poor. Amos follows verses 14 with verse 15 by saying that they should hate evil, and my understanding I will interpret that not rendering injustice and oppressing the poor is what God hates. As a result of them hating evil, they will escape the calamity that Amos is speaking in (verses 16) which he says there will be wailing as the Lord passes across the land. The Israelite will understand the in a better way when they remember what happened while they were escaping Egypt when there was wailing in the camp of the Egyptians. Amos is saying that the wailing will be so great that, they will even call for people to help them to wail. As I would address my audience I would focus them on treating each other well and not oppressing others, this is because loving God is loving and treating other people justly, we cant say we love God and yet you treat others badly and oppress them. According to Patte(2004:282) in the commentary, he says that The horizontal relationship to neighbors is inseparably bound to the vertical relationship with God. To avoid punishment from God we have to love God and treat people well. Though God had sworn of bringing destruction we see in (verses 15) that he will leave some from the remnant of Joseph may be the ones who will carry on his purpose on the earth. This reminds me the day of Noah where he had to destroy everything apart from Noahs family. Amos in verse 17 is using literal language that he is going to pass through them and their vineyard will be wailing. This may not mean that God is the one who is going to pass the land himself; but may be the adversary. As I share this verse I may bring to the attention of my audience that the Lord may not necessary come to punish our wrong doing but things might happen when we dont live according to what the Lord has expected of us. In Verses 18 he is warning those who have been waiting for the day of the lord, may be expecting a reward, and instead he is telling them it will be darkness instead of lights. In other words, things will be so bad instead of being good and this is as a result of their actions. Most Probably they Children of Israel have been expecting God to come and reward them and have victory among their enemies. Thorogood(1992) in his book a guide to Amos commented that Amos did not share hope with the Israelites instead he predicted a day of darkness instead of light. Even in our day, we might be expecting great things from God because we believe in him, and instead, we find ourselves going through difficult times. Therefore it is important to check our ways and see whether there are people we are oppressing or doing things that cannot please God. Maybe the children of Israel thought because they have a covenant relationship with God, they can do anything and God turns a blind eye. Amos portraye d the day of the Lord they have been expecting a very gloomy day, in that they will be running from one problem thinking they have escaped they find themselves in another major problem. Amos uses allegory a lot; as he writes when he is talking about a lion, a bear, and even a serpent. Maybe he using this because for him being a shepherd has had encountered all these animals. If I were to use allegory I would use things that my audience would understand. In verses, 21-24 Amos is narrating how the Lord is not pleased by the sacrifices that they offer unto him and even their worship unto God. He said if justice and righteousness are not found in them, their rituals are in vain. Maybe they thought by observing the rituals and offering sacrifices they will please God even if they oppress the poor and put heavy taxes on them. I would also address the same issue to my audience that it is not by how much we do for God, or how much money we give to the Him; is about acting according to what he requires. Marsh (1959:57) as he comments on verses 21-24 cites that Israel had all externals of true religion-fine churches and cathedrals, great festivals popularly observed (everyone went to church on such days, moving rituals solemnly impressive sacrifices, beautiful music, and well-trained choirs. But such externals do not, of themselves, beget communion with God. In other words, outward rituals and appearance do not appeal to God. We must go beyond rituals and do what God want us to do. In verses, 25 Amos is like narrating what God is asking Israelites that they never offered him any sacrifices and that they carried idols with them. It is like he is saying that while they were not established they didnt offer any sacrifice to God and yet he took care of them. But now that God has established them the wont honor him, instead, he is saying they carried idols with them. Having an audience who some of them have come from hardship I would bring to their attention to remember wher e God has brought them from, some from great hardship and yet God has established them. I would encourage them to honor God and keep his commands. Amos has mentioned two things they carried which are sikkuth their king, and chiun their idols which according to Wintle (2015:1146) commenting in South Asia Bible commentary refers to these idols that the Israelites carried as Assyrian deities. This shows as if the Israelites regarded other gods more than the true God. They were holding unto what they may be; thought is the righteous way than do what God had instructed them to do. As we read these verses today we would also ask ourselves as Christians are we exalting things in our lives more than we exalt the Lord, and this can be true even in the audience I am addressing, in that some many have valued their jobs, families children or as a people we regard rituals more than we regard God. In conclusion, as I have looked at the book of Amos chapter 5 I can conclude and say that this chapter can speak to us as the church of today that we need to deal with injustices in our society and live righteous lives, and that will be a true worship unto God. Amos has reminded us the need of humility in our worship. Thorogood 1992:66) says that the closer our worship is linked with the rest of-of our life the more helpful it is likely to be, This means that we need to be conscious every time, that we have a relationship with God; and we can worship him anytime not only when we are gathered together. As Amos highlighted the injustices and oppression done to the poor by the children of Israel we also need to learn as Christians to treat each other well even when we are in different social status. Bibliography D.D, J. H. (1963). Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T.and T Clark. Heaton, E. W. (1977). The Old Testament Prophets. London: Anchor Brendon Ltd. Marsh, J. (1959). The Torch Bible Commentary series: Amos And Micah. Great Britain: Northumberland Press Limited. Patte, D. (2004). Global Bible Commentary. Nashville: Abingdon Press. Thorogood, B. (1992). A Guide to Amos. London: Spck. Wintle, B. (2015). South Asia Bible Commentary, One Volume Commentary on the whole Bible. Michigan: Grand Rapids, Michigan. Wolf, H. W. (1977). Hermancia, Joel, and Amos. United Kingdom: Fortress Press [G1]Deleted:h
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