Essay Sample on Software and Copyrights

Essay Sample on Software and Copyrights Sample essay on Software and Copyrights: Current copyright and patent laws are  inappropriate for computer software; their imposition slows down software development and reduces competition. From the first computer as we know them, the ENIAC, computer software has become more and more important. From thousands of bytes on miles of paper to millions of bytes on a thin piece of tin  foils and witched between two pieces of plastic, software has played an important part in the world. Computers have most likely played an important role in all our lives, from making math easier with calculators, to having money on the go with ATM machines. However, with all the help that has been given to us, we havent done anything for software and the people who write it. Software by nature is completely defenseless, as it is more or less simply intellectual property, and not a physical thing, thus very easily copied. Copied software does not make money for its creators, and thus they charge more for whats not copied, and the whole industry inflates. There are two categories of intellectual property. The first one is composed of writing, music, and  films, which are covered by copyright. Inventions and innovations are covered by patent. These two categories have covered for years many kinds of work with little or no conflict. Unfortunately, it is not that easy when dealing with such a complex matter as computer software. When something is typed on a computer, it is considered writting, as it is all written words and numbers. However, when executed by the computer, it functions like an invention, performing a specific task as instructed by the user. Thus, software falls into both categories (Del Guercio 22-24). It is generally covered today by copyright laws, for most mass market software at least. More advanced software or programming techniques, however, can be patented, as they are neither obvious nor old. This results in many problems which I will go into later. Copyrights last the lifetime of the author, plus 50 years, and can be renewed. Patents last only 17 years, but cannot be renewed. With technology advancing so quickly, it is not necessary to maintain the protection of the software for the length of the copyright, but also, it is sometimes necessary to renew them (Del Guercio 22-24), say, for a 10th sequel in a video game series or version 47.1 of Bobs Graphic Program. With copyrighted material, one is able to write software similiar to someone elses, so long as the programming code is their own, and not borrowed from the others (Del Guercio 22-24). This keeps the industry competitive, and thus results in better software (because everyone is greedy, and they dont want to fall behind). With patents no one is allowed to create software that performs a similar functions. Take AutoCAD and TrueSpace 2, two 3D modeling programs. TrueSpace 2 would be a violation of patent laws, as it performs a very close task to AutoCADs, which came first. Luckily for us, CAD programs are not new, they have been around for more than 10 years, and no one thought to patent them. Thus, you can see the need for change in the system. The current laws regarding the protection of intellectual material cannot adequately protect software, they are either too weak or too strict. We need a new category of protection. The perfect protection law would most likely last for 10 years, renewable. This is long enough to protect a program for as long as it is still useful, and allows for sequels and new versions just in case. It would also have to allow for others to make similar software, keeping the industry competitive, but it would have to not allow copying of portions of other software (because you cant quote something from someone elses software like you can with a book). However, there are many who dispute this, and I can see their point. Current copyright laws have and will protect software effectively, it can be just as protected as other mediums (Cosgrove). This is true sometimes, however, to copy a book would take time. You would have to type up each page to make a copy of it, or at least photocopy or scan each page, and it would most likely take up much more time than its worth. To copy a computer program however, takes seconds. Changing the law would take time and money, you might be saying. It would be a tremendous hassle in Congress to have a new law written just to cover that Information Superhighway thingy. Yes, thats true too, but to not change the laws will cost more. With the ability to patent new and non-obvious software functions comes serious problems. The latest new technology, be it ray-tracing 3D engines, anti-aliasing software, or a new internet exploring fad can be patented. This would mean that only one company and its software could use it. Any other companies that wanted to use the software would have to pay them a large sum of money for the rights. Also, since patent hearings are conducted over a period of 3 years, and in secrecy, company a might create a software package and then apply for a patent, and company b may create better software during that period, and might become quite successful, and then bam, the patent is given to the company a, who prompty sues the pants off company b. T his stagnates the computer industry; it used to be that company a would retaliate by making better software (Del Guercio 22-24). For example, Lotus software. They used to make data organization software. Up until I did this report, I thought they had gone out of business, because I hadnt heard about anything new being done by them. Well, while I was researching, I found the appalling truth. When patenting of software became acceptable in the early 90s, they closed up their RD departments and called in a bunch of lawyers to get them patents on all their programming techniques (Del Guercio 22-24). Ever since then, theyve been selling out the rights as their primarily (and Im willing to bet, only) business. This could even be taken to the extremes of actually patenting simple methods of handling data, such as say, mouse support. Now, it cant happen to mouse support as it is today, but in the future, something  undoubtedly will replace the mouse as the preferred method of input, for instance, in what may be a virtual reality future, the glove might be the input device. Anyway, say it did happen to mouse support. Every single program that uses mouse support would have to pay a fee for the rights to do so. This would result in higher software prices (arent they high enough?), and reduced quality in the programs, as they have to worry about the legalities more (Del Guercio 22-24). Needless to say, the patenting of software is not a widely loved policy, mostly embraced by large corporations like Lotus and Microsoft (Tysver Software Patents). Smaller companies and most often consumers are generally against it. Even with all the legal problems Ive mentioned that arise with current laws, thats not all. The complexity of software protection laws brings up a large degree of confusion. I myself thought that copyrights lasted 7 years until I read this. I asked 15 people in a chat room on the Internet what they knew about software protection laws, and only one of them knew that software could be patented. 12 of them thought that it cost lots of money for a copyright, which it doesnt. Its $20 for a copyright at most, and $10000 at most for a patent. 5 of them thought that software copyrights lasted 7 years (hey, its a popular misconception, I thought so myself at one point). And last but not least, 10 of them believed that there was no laws regarding the copying of software (there are, but theyre virtually ineffective). Now that you know all about the legal and business aspects of software protection, lets take a look at how it can affect you. Say youve got a web page, and youve got a link on your web page to your friend Bobs web page, and hes got a link on his page to JoeS LeeT PiRaCY aND WaReZ, and on that site, there is a link to a pirated copy of AutoCAD. Then Joe gets busted. Joe will almost certainly be in trouble, Bob will likely be either questioned or considered responsible, depending on the blatancy of the link, and YOU will likely be questioned and your page might be monitored for a time (Bilodeau). One such example is my web page. I had a link from my page (the Wierd Wide Web) to Archaic Ruins, which is a site regarding information on emulators of old video game systems. When the operator of Archiac Ruins got sued by a video game company (I think it was Konami), I too got questioned, and had my page had ANY questionable material on it, I would have been sued. Thankfully, I was too lazy t o work on the page, as I had planned to put up a page that had really old videogames. Who said procrastination was bad? How can you prosecute someone for a crime that is undefined? Thats a question many people are asking. What is a copy of software? Is it a physical clone of the media it came on? Or is it the code duplicated to someplace else? If so, where else? Currently, software copying is generally considered a copy of the code someplace else but thats a problem. We all know that a backup of software is a copy, but did you know that even running the software creates a copy of it? Yes, it does. When you load a program, it goes into your computers memory, and is legally considered a copy. While the copy does not stay indefinitely, it does stay long enough to perform a certain task, and can and has been looked upon as a form of software piracy, as stupid as that sounds. (Tysver Software Patents) BBS (Bulletin Board Systems, small online services run by normal people) Sysops (system operators) are legally considered responsible for all the files that are available on their system (Elkin-Koren). While at first this seems like an obvious thing, after all, it is their computer, they should know whats on it. However, if you had ever run a BBS before, which I do, youd know that its hard, if not impossible to know whats on your computer. Planet-X, my friend John Morses BBS, which I co-run, has 50 calls a day. Of those 50 calls, about 35 of them upload or download software. Neither one of us is constantly monitoring the system, nor is there a way to make the computer automatically check to see what happens. Thus, about half of the public files on the BBS we dont know about. Lets take a look at an example of BBSs and copyright, and how they oh-so-beautifully coincide. Sega Ltd., maker of the Sega Genesis and Sega Gamegear, recently sued the Maphia BBS for making Sega Genesis ROMs publically available in a download section. This section was a type of digital rental as it is commonly known in the BBS community. Commercial software publically available for download, on an on-your-honor system, you had to delete the files after a short period of time (24-48 hours). Unfortunately for the Maphia BBS, they did not have a disclaimer, stating that the files must be deleted after a trial period, and thus, Sega was able to sue them for it, as without the disclaimer, there was no proof that they had used the digital rental system, and thus it was not fair use, as it could be used for monetary gain by the downloader (not having to buy the game). Of course, it could be used for that purpose WITH the disclaimer, but the disclaimer does just that, disclaims the BBS operator of the responsibilities of that copy of software (Elkin-Koren). Another such case was the case between Playboy (I think we all know who that is), and the Frena BBS. The public file areas on the Frena BBS frequently contained image files, and more often than not, they were adult image files. Well, I dont know exactly how it happened, but Playboy somehow found out that this BBS had some scanned photos from a Playboy magazine, and because they have the copyright to all their photos, they w ere able to sue the operator of the Frena BBS. The operator had no idea that there were any Playboy images on his system (Elkin-Koren). Speaking of image files, they too can be a problem with software protection. Say youve got an image file that someone had copyrighted. You load it up in a photo-retouching program, and add a big old goat in the background and paint the sky red. Then you remove the artists file name. Viola, the picture is now semi-legally copyrighted to you, as it has been significantly changed from its original, although I wouldnt recommend going to court over it (Grant 12). All you have to do is change a very large portion of the image files coding. Technically, darkening or blurring the image, changing the file format, or interlacing the file changes the file entirely, and thus, its yours. Sounds too easy? It is. Copyrights and patents are designed to help the media it protects. But in the case of technology, its actually hindering it. CD-ROMs contain a lot of information, and are the perfect media for music. A lesser known media, the Digital Video Disc, or DVD, is much more versitile, containing 26 times the storage compacity of a CD-ROM, and 11500 times more than a standard floppy disk, or about 17 gigabytes (the largest hard drives are 9 gigs). However, DVDs are not available to the public. Why? Because of the ease of copying them. Weve all dubbed tapes, its easy to do. However, we often opt for higher quality originals, because there is always a bit of degradation in the copies (although its very small now). With DVDs, a copy is exactly that, a copy. No degradation, no reason to buy an original. All the big companies are really scared by this technology, because it will take another five bucks out of their pockets. DVDs would be one of the greatest advancements in the short history of computers, but because of the shadier uses it could be used for, well never see it. I like to compare it to the Internet, its very useful, but it can be used for illegal purposes. You be the judge (Ross 134-140). Luckily, we may yet someday see DVDs, because several companies are developing copy protection schemes for them, to stop the casual home hacker/copier. Macrovision, for instance, is producing hardware for the DVD player that will make them incompatible with VCRs (the easiest dubbing-to platform, the equivilant of CD to audio tape). It will send output through the audio/video out ports that when played on a TV, will appear normal, but when played through a VCR, will have color stripes running sideways across the screen. This is due to the differences between the ways the two work (Ross 134-140). So as you can see, current methods of protecting software are a hinderance on the software industry. The problems outweigh the benefits, but with a new law, the industry would be able to keep the benefits and minimize any drawbacks. Instead of having to nitpick over who wrote something that did something similar, it would be back to who wrote something more powerful than the other guy, and thats what makes the industry great, competition. Oh, and Id like to add that I broke copyright law a total of 13 times in the making of this report, when I made a copy of each reference with the school copying machine (James 16), although it was fair use, so Im not in any trouble (Ruth). 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Biography of Automobile Inventor Gottlieb Daimler

Biography of Automobile Inventor Gottlieb Daimler In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler (together with his design partner Wilhelm Maybach) took Nicolaus Ottos internal combustion engine a step further and patented what is generally recognized as the prototype of the modern gas engine. First Motorcycle Gottlieb Daimlers connection to Nicolaus Otto was a direct one; Daimler worked as technical director of Deutz Gasmotorenfabrik, which Nicolaus Otto co-owned in 1872. There is some controversy as to who built the first motorcycle, Nicolaus Otto or Gottlieb Daimler. The Worlds First Four-Wheeled Automobile The 1885 Daimler-Maybach engine was small, lightweight, fast, used a gasoline-injected carburetor, and had a vertical cylinder. The size, speed, and efficiency of the engine allowed for a revolution in car design. On March 8, 1886, Daimler took a stagecoach (made by Wilhelm Wimpff Sohn) and adapted it to hold his engine, thereby designing the worlds first four-wheeled automobile. In 1889, Gottlieb Daimler invented a V-slanted two cylinder, four-stroke engine with mushroom-shaped valves. Just like Ottos 1876 engine, Daimlers new engine set the basis for all car engines going forward. Four-Speed Transmission Also in 1889, Daimler and Maybach built their first automobile from the ground up, they did not adapt another purpose vehicle as had always been done previously. The new Daimler automobile had a four-speed transmission and obtained speeds of 10 mph. Daimler Motoren-Gesellschaft Gottlieb Daimler founded the Daimler Motoren-Gesellschaft in 1890 to manufacture his designs. Wilhelm Maybach was behind the design of the Mercedes automobile. Maybach eventually left Daimler to set up his own factory for making engines for Zeppelin airships. First Automobile Race In 1894, the first automobile race in the world was won by a car with a Daimler engine.

Capital Punishment Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Capital Punishment - Term Paper Example The arguments of Pojman, which supports capital punishment, were based on three premises from anecdotal evidence. First, the deterrent effect of an object is increased with the increased degree of fear it can cause to a person. Second, people fear death more than any humane punishment, and third, death penalty is a humane punishment. From these premises, the author concludes that the death penalty is a more effective mechanism to deter people from committing homicide compared to long imprisonment (277). The argument presented was potentially sound since it was supported by coherent reasoning. However, while the first premise is logical, the last two premises have a potential conflict since not all criminals are fearful of death and generally, capital punishment is inhumane. Nevertheless, the author’s conclusion still follows his premises since there is a high chance that potential criminals will avoid committing first degree crime if they are aware that the sentence that await s them is death compared to long imprisonment. However, it is argued that capital punishment is not an appropriate sentence to major offenders. There is also a strong contention against the principle that the death penalty has a greater deterrence compared to long imprisonment. ... However, it is argued that life as it is, has an intrinsic value. This makes it unjust and immoral to permit the gambling of the lives of murderers. For the anecdotal argument, one of the premises of the proponent states that the death penalty is a humane punishment. This premise is a weak assumption since it is contended that the moral values of society do not perceive death penalty as acceptable. Thus, killing a person is inhumane. Due to the weak premises of the proponent, it cannot be concluded justly that capital punishment, in contrast to long term imprisonment, has a greater deterrence among potential criminals. A study of Donohue and Wolfers on the homicide rates in US revealed that there is no statistical evidence to prove that the death penalty has a substantial deterrent effect on homicide commission. The findings of the time series analysis showed that as the death penalty execution rose up from 1920s to 1930s, homicide rates also increased while both of the execution and homicide rates went down from 1940s to 1950s (796). Moreover, Donohue and Wolfers also conducted a comparative study between Canada and US to determine if execution rates can significantly reduce homicide rates. The findings showed that both US and Canada showed similar changes in homicide rates amidst country specific legislations that directly affected their execution rates. For instance, when Canada did not conduct executions in 1962, its homicide rates were still close to the US. In a similar way, when US suspended its death penalty policy in 1972, both the execution and homicide rates of US and Canada rose altogether (799). This study supports the argument that capital punishment does not significantly influence homicide rates,

Unfair Dismissal And The Equality Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Unfair Dismissal And The Equality Act - Essay Example The first thing that a tribunal has to look at before it makes an award for a claim brought under unfair dismissal is to first look at the substantial merits of the case as was shown in the case of Iceland Frozen foods limited .vs. Jones the tribunal held that as to the substantive merits of the case they did not regard Mr. Jones failure to be serious and did not regard it reasonable to dismiss him on those grounds. Does Sarah woods case have substantial merit to constitute a claim? In the case of Sarah Wood, her employer discriminated against her on the basis that she could not speak Spanish and that she was not a Catholic. This also led to harassment from his employer and eventually her dismissal. The Employment Act provides for two tests when looking at a claim for unfair dismissal. It will first look to see if the employer acted reasonably in dismissing the claimant and further if the employer had fair reasons to dismiss the claimant. In the case of Sarah Woods, her employer did not have fair reasons to dismiss her and he did not act reasonably in doing so. There are dismissals that the employment tribunal regards to be automatically unfair even if the process of the dismissal was appropriate. These dismissals are those that fall under discrimination and especially based on race and religion. Race and religion fall under protected characteristics. There are several protected characteristics (S.4 of the Equality Act 2010) laid down in the Equality Act. These characteristics are aimed to be protected from discrimination (Deringer, 2010, p.1). Mr. Rodriguez disregarded the fact that Sarah woods had protected characteristic and contravened the equality act. This led to the discrimination of his employee. Which form of discrimination than did Mr. Rodriguez portray?

Course Syllabi- History of Graphic Design Essay Example for Free

Course Syllabi- History of Graphic Design Essay Course Description History of Graphic Design is a critical contextual research and survey study of the intents, influences, practices, and artifacts of graphic design. The course will be structured on readings, research, and visual presentations on subjects of designer activities throughout history with an emphasis on the broader historical context of the planning, production, form, distribution, reception and cultural integration of graphic design Student Handbook The Student Handbook is now available digitally rather than in hard copy. It can be found on the PNCA website (under Student Life) and on Homeroom (Home page, under PNCA Essentials). Disability Support PNCA is in compliance with federal law requiring colleges to provide reasonable accommodations for students with documented physical and/or learning disabilities. If you have a disability that might affect your performance in this class, please make it known to the instructor. Learning Outcomes At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to : - ­Ã¢â‚¬  Demonstrate and articulate in discussions, writings, and visual presentations an understanding of the historical context of the creation of a work of graphic design (i.e. time, place, culture, intents) - ­Ã¢â‚¬  Synthesize readings and lectures and be able to formulate and post discussion points and prepare visual examples for peer review and feedback (as comments) using online tools - ­Ã¢â‚¬  Utilize, and bibliographically document, a range of resources used for the study of the history of graphic design (books, journals, periodicals, online, interviews) - ­Ã¢â‚¬  Creative Practice Identify the roles, activities, and trades of communication design professionals throughout history and distinguish specific fields related to and integrated with the profession of graphic design - ­Ã¢â‚¬  Learning Outcomes are linked to PNCA’s Core Values which are: Identify and articulate the influence of fine art (theories, trends, aesthetics, visual styles) on the work of graphic designers Integrated Knowledge, Critical Thinking, Cultural Inquiry Social and Ethical Responsibility Course Content initiate, and participate in, discussion on the planning, process, production and distribution of works of graphic design - ­Ã¢â‚¬  Effective Communication - ­Ã¢â‚¬  formulate a connection of the cultural influences on design from history with practices of contemporary graphic designers through examples, writings, and discussions Assignments for this Class: - ­Ã¢â‚¬  - ­Ã¢â‚¬  - ­Ã¢â‚¬  - ­Ã¢â‚¬  Required Readings and discussion with evidence of comprehension Weekly Subject Research and On-line Posting to Homeroom Weekly In-Class presentations Final Research Paper Topics for weekly research will include: Design during Cultural Upheavals / World Conflicts Design for Social Causes / Design for Social Good Design for Commerce, Consumption, Commercialism Information Design / Dissemination and Distribution of Information Technological Changes and its Influence on Graphic Design Design as Author, Designer as Artist, Whole Designer The Concept of Brand and the Development of Brand Identity Low Design / Bad Design Major Benchmarks in Typography Reactionary Design / Culture Jamming Expectations/Policies for this course: Students are required to read and to be ready to articulate a response to all readings assigned in class. Each week there will be an assigned subject research topic that will require independent sourcing, image documentation, writing, and on-line posting on the ‘Homeroom’ site established for the course. Each student will make a 5-10 minute presentation of each assignment postings during classtime with an expectation of the use of prepared supported notes for verbal elaboration on the material presented. In-class and on-line participation in the form of response and discussion and will be expected and recorded. A final research project on the relatedness of the topics of historical practice presented to the practices of a contemporary designer or design firm/group will be in the form of a research paper. (8-10 pages minimum) Attendance You will be allowed two absences without additional penalty although you are responsible for any work that is missed. The third absence will result in the lowering of an entire letter grade from the computed final grade. A fourth absence will result in a final failing grade of F. Missing 30 minutes of a class period (during any part of the scheduled classtime) counts as an absence. Frequent tardiness (less than 15 minutes) will accumulate to absences (3 tardies =1 absence) Number of hours students are expected to work outside of class: This class meets for three hours per week, and six hours of work outside of class are expected. (3 credits) Grading Criteria †¢ Weekly Research Assignments timely completion / in-class presentation preparedness and comprehensiveness †¢ In-Class participation/contributions †¢ On-Line participation/contributions †¢ Final Research Paper Materials / Supplies Required: †¢ Access to, or ownership of, equipment to scan/photograph (digitize), upload and review visual and text information on a regular daily basis. (Computer and Camera/Scanner) †¢ Money for photocopying (approx. $20 projected) †¢ Flash Drive (2-4gb) Recommended: History of Graphic Design text purchases (Personal library) Bibliography The books listed here are predominantly larger volumes dedicated to a broad overview and history of graphic design. (More may be added during the semester) Many less comprehensive but key texts are available in the library as well as journals and periodicals that are specific to designers, styles, and various other edited groupings – these should be sought out and reviewed andutilized especially for more indepth study on a research subject. Major Texts of the History of Graphic Design Those mark with asterisk* are on reserve shelf at front desk of PNCA library and are available on 3 hr. check out (note: many of these text have duplicates or earlier editions and are available for longer check out periods if needed) Title: Meggs, History of Graphic Design, 4th Edition* Author(s): Philip Meggs, Alston Purvis Publisher: Wiley ISBN: 978047169902 Library Call#: Z 246 .M43 1983 Title: Graphic Design, a Concise History* Author: Richard Hollis Publisher: Thames Hudson world of art ISBN 0500203474 Library Call#: NC 998 .H65 1994 Title: Graphic Design: a New History* (1st and 2nd Editions) Author: Stephen Eskilson Publisher: Yale University Press ISBN: 0300120117 Library Call#: NC 998 .E85 2007 (1st Edition in Library*) Students are invited to contribute to the additions to this bibliography through their weekly research and presentation. All sources should be cited using MLA citation methods. Title: Graphic Design History, A Critical Guide* Author(s): Johanna Drucker, Emily McVarish Publisher: Pearson/Prentice Hall ISBN: 0132410753 Library Call#: NC 998 .D78 2009 Title: Graphic Design in America* Author(s): Mildred Friedman, Joseph Giovannini, Steven Heller Publisher: Walker Art Center ISBN: 0810910365 Library Call#: NC 998.5 .A1 G65 Title: Design, Writing, Research* Author(s): Ellen Lupton, Abbot Miller Publisher: Kiosk ISBN: 1568980477 Library Call#: Z 246 .L86 1996 Title: Communication Design, Principles, Methods, and Practice Author: Jorge Frascara Publisher: Allworth Press ISBN: 1581153651 Title: A Century of Graphic Design Author: Jeremy Aynsley Publisher: Barron’s Educational Series ISBN: 0764153242 Library Call#: NC 998.4 .A96 2001 Other Readings: Journal: Visible Language 28.3, New Perspectives, Critical Histories of Graphic Design, Pt. 1 Critiques Editor and Publisher: Sharon Poggenpohl Digital reference (Links) sites should be added to online postings On-Line History of Graphic Design Reference www.designhistory.org Weekly Course Schedule Week 1 6 Sept Week 2 13 Sept Friday, 13 September is the last day to add or drop a class. All information (dates, times and assignments) in this schedule is subject to change at any point during the semester. Updates will be announced and posted. Welcome / Introductions Class Expectations / Syllabus Overview / Course Structure / Assignments Using Homeroom / Communication Expectations Course Resources Reading Assigned (Posted on Homeroom) Critical Histories of Graphic Design Discussion of Readings on the approaches to History of Graphic Design development Lecture: Brief History of Graphic Design, Pt.1 Read on Homeroom these posted excerpts for this class: Graphic Design History, a critical guide, by Drucker and McVarish, Communication Design, Principles, Methods, and Practice, by Frascara, Graphic Design, a Concise History, by Hollis, Megg’s History of Graphic Design, by Meggs and Purvis, Visible Language 28.3 New Perspectives: Critical Histories of Graphic Design, article by Blauvelt Also read (for this classes visual lecture): â€Å"Prehistoric Prelude to Graphic Design† from Graphic Design History, a Critical Guide, by Drucker and McVarish Week 3 20 Sept Lecture: Brief History of Graphic Design, Pt.2 Read on Homeroom these posted excerpts for this class: â€Å"Early Writing: Mark Making, Notations Systems, and Scripts† from Graphic Design History, a Critical Guide, by Drucker and McVarish Lecture: Conventions and Norms Overview of Weekly Research Project Topics, Objectives, Goals, Expectations, Methods Introduction of Topic 1: Design during Cultural Upheavals / World Conflict Week 4 27 Sept Student Research Presentations of Topic 1: Design during Cultural Upheavals / World Conflict Questions and Discussion Introduction of Topic 2: Design for Social Causes / Design for Social Good Week 5 4 Oct Student Research Presentations of Topic 2: Design for Social Causes / Design for Social Good Questions and Discussion Introduction of Topic 3: Design for Commerce, Consumption, Commercialism Week 6 11 Oct Student Presentations of Topic 3: Design for Commerce, Consumption, Commercialism Questions and Discussion Introduction of Topic 4: Information Design / Dissemination and Distribution of Information Week 7 18 Oct Student Presentations of Topic 4: Information Design / Dissemination and Distribution of Information Questions and Discussion Introduction of Topic 5: Technological Changes and its Influence on Graphic Design Week 8 25 Oct Student Presentations of Topic 5: Technological Changes and its Influence on Graphic Design Questions and Discussion Introduction of Topic 6: Design as Author, Designer as Artist, Whole Designer Friday, 25 October is the last day to withdraw from a class. Week 9 1 Nov Student Presentations of Topic 6: Design as Author, Designer as Artist, Whole Designer Questions and Discussion Introduction of Topic 7: The Concept of Brand and the Development of Brand Identity Week 10 8 Nov Student Presentations of Topic 7: The Concept of Brand and the Development of Brand Identity Questions and Discussion Introduction of Topic 8: Low Design / Bad Design Week 11 15 Nov Student Presentations of Topic 8: Low Design / Bad Design Questions and Discussion Introduction of Topic 9: Major Benchmarks in Typography Week 12 22 Nov Student Presentations of Topic 9: Low Design / Bad Design Monday, 18 November SP14 registration begins Questions and Discussion Introduction of Topic 10: Reactionary Design / Culture Jamming Week 13 29 Nov Thanksgiving Holiday. No class. Week 14 6 Dec Student Presentations of Topic 10: Reactionary Design / Culture Jamming Questions and Discussion Final Paper Topic Determination Week 15 13 Dec Final Paper Draft Due – Individual Meetings Week 16 20 Dec Final Class – Course Wrap-up / Overview Friday, 20 December Last day of classes. Please note: The rest of the template is uniform for all PNCA classes, it includes: PNCA grading policy, statement on plagiarism, library ACE. This section should be included in any electronic versions of the syllabus, but doesn’t need to be distributed to students in paper form. ACE The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) @PNCA is a peer driven support network for students at all levels. ACE provides in person and online assistance with the following: study skills, digital tools, research, writing and editing strategies, math, professional practices (rà ©sumà ©s, cover letters, documentation), idea generation, project management, organization, and more. For more information, location and hours, please visit the ACE Homeroom site: http://homeroom.pnca.edu/sites/1019 About Your Library The Charles Voorhies Fine Art Library provides research assistance, help with citations and bibliographies and a place to document your artwork. Whether you are looking for articles, books, audio collections, DVDs, or Web resources, the library can help! For research help contact Dan McClure ([emailprotected]) and for help with library materials contact Serenity Ibsen ([emailprotected]). More information is available at www.library.pnca.edu. Statement on Academic Integrity PNCA values intellectual honesty and encourages authentic expression, independent thinking and original writing. The College expects that all work conducted and submitted by our students shall be the combined result of original thought and ethical research. All acts of plagiarism, whether deliberate or unintentional, are considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and will not be tolerated on the PNCA campus. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of and to act in accordance with the PNCA Guidelines for Academic Honesty. This is a document that defines plagiarism, discusses the conventions of ethical research and documentation, and explains the appropriate uses of source materials. These guidelines also describe the student’s responsibility for maintaining documentation and evidence of research in order to verify originality in all writing assignments at PNCA. The document: PNCA Guidelines for Academic Honesty is provided for you in the following locat ions on campus: the Student Handbook, the Library’s Homeroom site, the Academic Integrity HomeRoom site, the ACE HomeRoom site, the Foundation HomeRoom site, the Liberal Arts Homeroom site. You may also view written copies of the PNCA Guidelines for Academic Honesty in the office of Student Services, the Academic Dean’s office, and the PNCA Library. Student Information + Responsibilities Students are expected to have in their possession a current edition of the Student Handbook. Students are responsible for all the information contained in the handbook, and should refer to the handbook frequently for deadlines, policies, procedures, and responsibilities. Student Handbooks are available in the office of Student Services. Students are expected to check their student mailboxes frequently for communications from their instructors or from the administrative offices of the college. Week Two is the last week that you may add or drop a class with no penalty. Week Eight is the last week that you may withdraw from a class with a â€Å"W.† PNCA Grading Criteria This is the institutional grading policy for all PNCA students. Grades are distributed after the end of each semester. Grading Criteria Grade A: Student performance is outstanding. Student exhibits excellent achievement and craftsmanship in all aspects of work. Student exceeds the problem criteria and consistently challenges himself/herself to seek fresh solutions to assigned problems. Student exhibits a commitment to expanding ideas, vocabulary and performance. Student’s attendance, participation and class involvement are excellent. Grade B: Student performs beyond requirements of assignments. Student exhibits above-average progress and craftsmanship in all work. Student meets and exceeds the problem criteria. Student exhibits above-average interest in expanding ideas, vocabulary and performance. Student’s attendance, participation and class involvement are above average. Grade C: Student performance is average and all requirements are fulfilled. Student exhibits an average level of progress and improvement in all work. Student meets the problem criteria. Student exhibits interest in expanding ideas, vocabulary and performance. Student’s attendance, participation and class involvement are adequate. Grade D: Student performance is uneven and requirements are partially fulfilled. Student’s output is minimal. Student exhibits minimal improvement in work. Student does not meet the problem criteria in all assignments. Student exhibits minimal interest in expanding ideas, vocabulary and performance. Student’s attendance, participation and class involvement are less than adequate. Grade F: No credit earned. Student fails to meet a minimum performance level. Student does not exhibit achievement, progress or adequate levels of craftsmanship in all assignments. Student’s work is consistently incomplete or unsuccessful. Student’s attendance, participation and class involvement are inadequate. Pass/Fail Grade: A Pass/Fail grade will be given for designated courses in which the course content is such that direct faculty oversight of the learning experience is not possible, and evaluation on the present grading scale would be difficult. â€Å"Pass† implies a â€Å"C† grade or above. â€Å"Fail† implies less than a â€Å"C† grade and course work graded as â€Å"Fail† does not apply to the degree. Pass/Fail grades are not calculated in the grade point average. This grading applies to Internships. Graphic Design Co-op uses traditional letter grades. Incompletes In certain situations, a student may request an â€Å"Incomplete† grade in a class. You may petition for an â€Å"Incomplete† only if your situation meets both of these conditions: 1. An extenuating circumstance exists and it has prevented you from completing the coursework (Extenuating circumstances are illnesses, family, emergencies, etc.), 2. You are currently in good standing in the class. See the Student Handbook for more information about Grades and Incompletes.

Be Warned and Study Justice:The Shifting Definition of Justice in Virgi

Be Warned and Study Justice:The Shifting Definition of Justice in Virgil’s Aeneid A twenty-first century reading of the Iliad and the Odyssey will highlight a seeming lack of justice: hundreds of men die because of an adulteress, the most honorable characters are killed, the cowards survive, and everyone eventually goes to hell. Due to the difference in the time period, culture, prominent religions and values, the modern idea of justice is much different than that of Greece around 750 B.C. The idea of justice in Virgil’s the Aeneid is easier for us to recognize. As in our own culture, â€Å"justice† in the epic is based on a system of punishment for wrongs and rewards for honorable acts. Time and time again, Virgil provides his readers with examples of justice in the lives of his characters. Interestingly, the meaning of justice in the Aeneid transforms when applied to Fate and the actions of the gods. Unlike our modern (American) idea of blind, immutable Justice, the meanings and effects of justice shift, depending on whether its subject is mo rtal or immortal. Before discussing justice in the epic, it is important to establish the meaning of the term. For our present purpose, justice will specifically apply to the social system of moral checks and balances. Acts that are valued in society are rewarded materially or emotionally. Acts that are devalued lead to punishment. Also, recipients of unmerited punishment receive compensation for their injuries. Often, a person is seen as the embodiment of the value of their action, thus a person can be seen as â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad,† and the consequences of justice that affect them are based on the general value of their general actions. The value given to actions is based on a soc... ...are confronted with the question of moral absolutes, we are forced to wonder when and to whom justice truly applies. Hopefully, we will look at our world and our ideas of right, wrong and retribution in different ways, ways that will enlighten and enrich our lives, and the those of the an audience of readers 2,000 years from now. Works Cited Braund, Susanna Morton. â€Å"Virgil and the Cosmos: Religious and Philosophical Ideas.† The Cambridge Companion to Virgil. Charles Martindale, ed. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1997. 204-221. Solmsen, Friedrich. â€Å"The World of the Dead in Book 6 of the Aeneid.† Oxford Readings in Vergil’s Aeneid. S. J. Harrison, ed. New York: Oxford UP, 1990. 208-223. Virgil. The Aeneid. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Vintage Books, 1983. Williams, Gordon. Technique and Ideas in the Aeneid. New Haven, Ct: Yale UP, 1983.

Persuasive speech on volunteer work Essay

Intro It seems like most people who are trying to persuade you to do volunteer work are always trying to get you at their one specific company or organization. They show you all the benefits of working there and everything you should get out of it, all the reasons why it’s the best place to go. I’m sure one reason after another goes in one ear and out the other, especially when you have to listen to so many of them. Well today I want to discuss why any volunteer work is important in itself and it’s not so much about where you go or what you do but rather that you go out there and do it. First I will start with the importance of volunteering and why you personally should get involved, then I will talk about why volunteering should be voluntary and at a place that interests you (that’s not something we are used to thinking about but an important point nonetheless), and last tell you about what I learned during my volunteer work and why the Riley Arena Ice Rink in Cody WY is one great option for getting out there and starting to volunteer. Body The Importance of Volunteering 1. How it helps the community and why it is needed a. We all live in a community and the condition of it affects who we are and what we do. If its run down or has high standards b. A simple act of kindness can change a whole persons day or even their life c. Volunteering provides needed labor that may otherwise not be provided i. WY is ranked 18th in the country for volunteer work with about 30 Percent of residents consistently volunteering. (www.VolunteeringinAmerica.gov) it’s a pretty good number but I think we can do better. ii. In 2012 a total of 14.8 Million hours of work was given by WY residents resulting in $327 Million dollars’ worth of service iii. The sad part- a big chunk of those people are all over the age of 55. We need young people do to this too! I’m sure your thinking well that’s because I don’t really get anything out of it, that’s why only old people do it†¦but that leads to my next point of how it helps you 2. How it helps you specifically a. Learn new skills that can come in handy in life i. According to www.worldvolunteerweb.org 73 percent of employers would rather hire a person with volunteer work than without. and 94 percent of employers think that volunteer work can add useful skills to the job. ii. 94 percent of employees who volunteer actively either got a raise in salary or promoted over the employees who don’t volunteer. If the raise came down to you and one other person b. Increased sense of self-worth i. People who volunteer actively are 63 percent more confident in themselves according to that same study. I don’t know about you but I sure could use a bit more confidence, especially up here. ii. It can give you a sense of belonging and of being needed. This is bigger for men than woman because a lot of times men want to be useful and seen as doing good for the benefit of others. It’s who we are and volunteering is a great way to accomplish that. c. Provides opportunity to meet new people i. Meeting new people could lead to contacts in the future and it’s always a good idea to know as many people as possible, whether its people you are working with or helping serve ii. You never know when having friends will come in handy iii. Can introduce you to people in completely different walk of life or environments and that could be life changing in itself. Why Volunteering Should Be Voluntary 1. We usually don’t think about what doing volunteer work really means. We tend to skip across a big point†¦that it’s our choice to do. 2. According to Google.com the word voluntary comes from the Latin word Voluntas which means â€Å"out of free will† a. If we are going to pick somewhere to volunteer at it should be somewhere that we want to work at. Make it something that’s important to you! This will help in multiple ways including i. Increased happiness when doing the work. No one wants to be bored all day with something they don’t believe is important. ii. The quality of work is improved which makes the place you are helping at even more thankful iii. Sense of self-worth is even higher because we are helping with something that we know is needed b. If you don’t volunteer with something you value  you will get bored and not enjoy doing the work thus resulting in less time spent doing the work. So what’s the point then? It’s all about our will and what we think is right. Riley Arena Ice Rink –now I get to tell you all about my work here and why it’s a great place to start a volunteering career at 1. Background of Riley Arena a. Ice Skating Rink in Cody WY that started in 1999 by Mr.Riley (according to the riley arena website that is) b. During warmer months it also holds banquets and other large gatherings which can be scheduled through their website c. Homes the Yellowstone Quake hockey team 2. Why it’s a good start a. The work wasn’t too hard, mostly just time consuming. We mopped the floor and bleachers a few times b. They were very flexible with the hours that we wanted to come in help and always seemed thankful for us to be there. c. It really does look great on a resume and will let people know you volunteered at a â€Å"cool† place (it is an ice rink after all) 3. How and why it fit me a. I found a lot of pride in volunteering here because I felt like it’s somewhere that doesn’t get a lot of attention but still needed people to help at, even if it was cleaning bathrooms. b. Although I wasn’t out saving the world, or the children, or the animals, or the elderly†¦I was still making a difference in people’s lives. Conclusion In the end that’s what really matters anyway right, helping people in need and being a blessing in someone’s life. Volunteering is about helping the community around you and at the same time helping yourself, whether that is advancing your career or just making yourself feel good. You should try to volunteer somewhere that you believe is important and that you can make a difference, otherwise it won’t be fun for anyone involved. If you’re looking for somewhere to start your volunteering life then you could try out the Riley Arena but more importantly than going there is that you just get out there. Take a little time out of your  busy schedule and make a difference in someone’s live, because you never know what you will get out in return.  Thank you! Works Cited http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org http://www.helpguide.org http://www.rileyarena.coma