A Summary and Review on an Action Research Report

This is an action research project by a group of students taking up Master of Arts in Teaching and Leadership from Saint Francis University in Chicago, Illinois. It focuses on the use of guided reading in the improvement of student’s reading comprehension and fluency as summarized in the title.Chapter one of the research report begins with a general statement of the problem and focuses on the immediate problem context which are Sites A and B. It describes each school site in terms of its physical structure, profile and salaries of teachers and staff, profile of students, and profile of the district population as well as the profile of its surrounding community.It also points out the national context of the problem and how teachers of the concerned schools can solve the problem. At this point, the researchers included related studies and related literature on the procedures and benefits of guided reading.Chapter two presents the documentation of evidences on the problem. It pre sents a result of a teacher survey which proved the existence of the problem on the students’ reading comprehension and fluency. Research studies on the problem that were conducted by other researchers are revealed. Furthermore, the possible causes of the problem are also discussed.Chapter three provides the strategy for solving the existing problem and it deliberates the literature review on guided reading. It has specified the procedural details, the persons involved and the time frame of the research project.   It also presents in a table a detailed action plan which includes the objectives, interventions, targeted group behaviour, teacher/ researcher behaviour, materials and time duration. The methods of assessment are also given.Chapter four imparts the steps that were done to collect data, the results of the project, the conclusions and recommendations and the reflections of the teacher researchers. It concludes â€Å"that the guided reading intervention using levell ed texts was highly successful in addressing the problem of the reading comprehension and fluency of grades 2 and 4.† Thus, they recommend this reading intervention to those teachers whose students are having problems in reading comprehension and fluency.The researchers have been impersonal in writing the four chapters. However, it became personal when they wrote their reflections on the end part of the paper. There was an inconsistency in the pronouns used because of the 1st person personal pronoun â€Å"we† used on page 31. There are approximately four times more active voice clauses than passive voice clauses in the text. In fact, they are too many to be counted.The paper has been objective in presenting information whether from the researchers’ data gathering or information from other authors. In reporting facts and data, the writers were neutral in their attitude. Indeed, the text has an average degree of formality. Though, it cannot be highly formal because of the personal nature of its closing part.The text has used grammatical cohesive devices such as the linking signals: additionally (10), in conclusion (14), the first †¦, the second†¦(16), the third†¦ (17), during week two (41), in week four, the following week (42), and many more. It also used substitution such as â€Å"this problem† to refer to the below grade level expectancy on reading tasks of students in grades 2 and 4 (1) and â€Å"as stated above† to refer to â€Å"helping readers develop independent, effective strategies (12).†A few of the lexical cohesive devices used in the text are the repetition of phrases such as â€Å"guided reading† (10-13) and â€Å"thirst for reading† (13).

Relations of the mind to the body

A definite relationship exists between the mind and the body.   Some theorists express this relationship as the mind-body connection, and many continue to debate about whether the mind controls the body or whether the body controls the mind.   â€Å"The body-mind problem concerns the relationship between minds, or mental processes, and bodily states or processes.   Philosophers aim to explain how a supposedly non-material mind can influence a material body and vice-versa,† (Philosophy of the Mind, n.d.). Although it may be difficult to explain, there is evidence that people experience this mind-body connection on a regular basis.   Throughout history people have used their minds to control their bodies.   For example, â€Å"using ancient meditation techniques, Tibetan monks have demonstrated to scientists their ability to raise their own body temperature and hold it high enough that they are able to dry out wet cold sheets wrapped around their body, even in a chilly room,† (Bridger, 2006). Our bodies respond to our minds, the way we think, and to our emotions.   What happens in our minds greatly affects our bodies, as there is a definite relation between the two.  Ã‚   However, many people don’t realize the extent of this connection.   For example, â€Å"poor emotional health can weaken your body’s immune system, making you more likely to get colds and other infections during emotionally difficult times,† (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2006).   If you want to change your body, you have to change your thoughts.   â€Å"We do not realize that little ordinary negative thoughts we have throughout the day have the power to create substantial changes within our bodies.   Negative thoughts wreak havoc on your body and will age you at a greatly accelerated rate,† (The Mind Body Connection, n.d.). I believe in the body-mind relation because I have experienced the connection.   When I have allowed myself to think bad thoughts, I have noticed that my body feels weak like those thoughts have somehow sucked the energy out of my body.   I have also allowed myself to think negative thoughts to the point of getting a headache, or feeling sick to the stomach.   I don’t think we can separate our minds from our bodies.   When I think happy thoughts I feel more energetic. Science and medicine will never be able to prove every aspect of the mind-body connections, and that is not really important because I doubt that every reality of life can be proven.   But I know there is a strong relation between the mind and body and it is beneficial for us to learn more about this connection.  Ã‚   Knowing that our thoughts affect our bodies is a motivating factor in helping me pay more attention to what I think, and to focus on thinking positive thoughts. References American Academy of Family Physicians (2006). Mind/Body Connection: How Your Emotions Affect Your Health.   Retrieve April 1, 2007 from http://familydoctor.org/782.xml Bridger, D. (2006).   How Much Can Your Mind Control Your Body?   Retrieved April 1, 2007, from http://www.mindpowernews.com/127.htm Philosophy Of The Mind (n.d.).   Retrieved April 1, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_mind The Mind Body Connection (n.d.).   Retrieved April 1, 2007 from http://www.quantumhealthandfitness.com/mind-muscle-connection.htm   

Government Corporations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Government Corporations - Essay Example This article travel around the metaphor and lays out a general view of the troubles that have arisen from the unhelpful development of corporations. Future articles will argue ways to address these troubles. Among the World War and the depression of 1929 a few additional government corporations were shaped. Since the beginning of the despair, throughout which the government has made use of its powers to temper the unfavorable financial situation, the device of government corporations has been ever more employed. From 1929 to 1938 at least thirty-eight essential federal corporations have been recognized. It is clear, therefore, that twice in new history the national government has made wide and speedy use of government corporations and entrusted them with the expenditure of marvelous sums of money. "Corporate Governance is a meadow in economics that investigates how to safe /motivate efficient organization of corporation by the employ of incentive mechanisms such as, contract, organisational plan and legislation. Furthermore, this is frequently limited to the query of improving monetary performance. For instance, how the corporate owners can protected /motivate that the corporate managers will bring a competitive rate of go back." (Baumhart, R, 6-19). The purpose of this chapter is... In addition, an in-depth analysis of the roles and purpose of the CG (Corporate Governance) in organizations in general will be included, how CG assists in the organization and how CG helps the organization strategy. Moreover, the research is concentrated on the CG in market. This chapter is very helpful in increasing the knowledge relative to the studying area since the results and the findings of the primary data will be related with the literature review. Therefore, the knowledge from literature review is going to provide a more professional research that will focus on the purpose of this research. Also, the purpose of this is to offer an overview of significant information published on the topic in order to narrow down the research questions to a specific, suitable form. Corporate Culture Corporate governance is on the radar monitor as investors have realized that it is not immediately one more abstraction but a power that can vitally power the economic growth of businesses. Good corporate governance ensures clearness, fairness and answerability with admiration to shareholders and other stakeholders and is a precondition for the honesty and trustworthiness of market institution including stock connections and other person corporations. According to the newest PricewaterhouseCoopers Management Barometer periodical review institutional shareholders hold more than 60 percent of shares in nearly everyone big, international companies. Institutions that are worth and growth investors possess a total of 48.5 percent of all shares in surveyed company. Despite the important ownership stake represent by institutional investor, the survey has also proved that institutions put forth only incomplete power over a company's

Is new technology a need with a higher expense or a want in simplicity Research Paper

Is new technology a need with a higher expense or a want in simplicity in aviation - Research Paper Example Global passenger traffic has risen from about 1.7 billion in the year 2000 to about 3 billion in 2012 with only two dips in the trend happening in the year 2011 due to the 9/11 attack, economic downturn, and the SARS Epidemic, and also in the year 2010 caused by the financial crises and global recession (International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) (as cited in Beynon). The reasonable response of airline companies with the greater influx of passengers is to add new planes to its fleet. A report by the Airline Monitor (2012) compiled the total air craft deliveries per year by Boeing and Airbus, two of the largest aircraft manufacturer (as cited in Beynon). The report shows that there will be a total of 1,300 new aircrafts delivered by the end of 2013 and as much as 1,600 additional aircrafts by 2019. The cost of procuring an A350 (Airbus) is about $320 million while a B777 (Boeing) costs about $315 million. (Rothman and Walid and AircraftCompare.com) It is evident from these statistics that a huge chunk of the tax payers’ money are channeled to the improvement of aircrafts used by our armed forces and there’s also a lot of money being poured out into the commercial airline business. However, we are just recovering from the effects of the Global recession and the financial crises that’s why we need to take in perspective the amount of money that we spend as well as the government spends on buying and improving our aircrafts. Two of the changes that aircraft manufacturers infuse in their new fleets are better fuel efficiency and replacement of gauges in the cockpit with Multifunction Electronic Display Systems (MEDS). The MEDS are essentially cathode-ray tube (CRT), active-matrix liquid-crystal display (AMLCD) (tannas.com) or LED monitors that display the information once seen from the different gauges in the cockpit. Better fuel consumption is highly beneficial for cost reduction and less ening the impact of flight to the environment however, there is a question on why we need to upgrade the gauges to panels and monitors when the mechanical gauges works just fine? Is this upgrade a necessity that we are willing to pay high prices for or just a whim to make things simpler in aviation? I. The Need for Electronic Flight Displays The â€Å"glass cockpit† as NASA names it is a new configuration in the airplane and space shuttle cockpit design using CRT, LCD, or LED screens in place of the old electromechanical displays, gauges and instruments that have worked for so long in the aviation industry. Instead of having multiple knobs, buttons, switches, indicators, gauges and symbols that cluttered the cockpit, the screens now display all the relevant information for the pilot to safely take-off, fly and land the plane (NASA, 2000). Lane Wallace, a correspondent of the â€Å"Airborn Trailblazer† said that before the 70s there really was no need for computerized e lectronic flight displays; however, with the increasing complexity of aircrafts, the improvement of digital systems and ballooning air traffic prompted the need for displays that could process raw in-flight and aircraft-systems data and integrate is so as the displayed information contains the position, situation and progress of the aircraft within the three dimensions and with regards to speed and time. (NASA) The developers of this technology say that cockpits that are fitted with these displays

Designing Production Systems Process Selection and Capacity Planning Essay

Designing Production Systems Process Selection and Capacity Planning - Essay Example It also aims to discuss some practices that made it a better or a different manufacturing company. Rockwell Automations Marion plant is located in the western part of North Carolina. The plant started its operations in 1996 with a total land area of 174,000 sq feet. Its major products include "mounted spherical and tapered roller bearings with shaft sizes ranging from 1 3_16 inches to 5 inches. These bearings go into such things as mining machinery, fans and other air-handling equipment, waste treatment equipment, forest products processing equipment, food processing machinery and metals processing equipment." (John S. McClenahen) The production floor of the plant is divided into two major areas, which has a total of 20 manufacturing cells. In the front area 16 manufacturing cells producing 351 products which comprises 80% of the plants total sales revenue. At the back are remaining 4 cells, producing items that comprise the remaining 20% of the plant's total sales revenue. This is also called the build on demand area. To date, the company still continues to help manufacturers worldwide succeed through their industrial information control and information solutions, giving them the competitive advantage they so rightfully deserve. Leading companies did not become model companies wi... And Rockwell Automation's Marion plant was never an exception. Basically, the plant is lean, with its processes and practices tailored to fir into the JIT systems. The details of their practices are described in the following context. A. Competitive Edge The practice that made Marion plant unique is in its circle of analysis and improvement of its products and processes. An article published in IndustryWeek described this process. "This cycle begins with product data analysis, moves to describing the current value stream, then to charting the future flow of the value stream, proceeds to achieving the goals by taking tools from the toolbox and comes back to data analysis again. Along the way, product and process priorities get set and action timelines are established." (John S. Mclenahen) Data and figures of the product and its processes provide very important information as to where production is heading and what areas can still be improved. However, these data and figures will only remain as data unless utilized properly. And the Marion plant people have all the tools and resources necessary, books and literature, to assist them in this aspect, especially when something comes up. Even then, these tools will also become useless if the people who have access to it do not use it or do not have the expertise and experience to use it. Marion plant employees are empowered employees. Empowered employees enable companies to reap positive rewards. In a book entitled Empowering Employees, the authors excerpted an article from Oraganizational Dynamics ("Seven Questions Every Leader Should Consider," A Autumn 1997) authored by Robert Quinn and Gretchen Spreitzer. The excerpt cited four characteristics that

Definitional Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Definitional Argument - Essay Example The main body of the paper will focus on illustrating how the three elements mentioned above are related to the concept of adulthood. The first element of the paper is related to the aspect of physical adulthood and how it impacts on the growth and behavior of a human being. Basically, the physical growth and development of a person leads to adulthood. This is also referred to as maturity. Any person who is referred to as mature or an adult has physically developed and that person is capable of performing various tasks on his or her own. An adult person is energetic such that he or she can perform hard tasks that may not be performed by a minor. By virtue of physical development, it is expected that an adult person can work for himself in order to satisfy different needs he may encounter. This element is aptly portrayed by Seamons who reports that people over 25 years old should not expect too much sympathy from Spain’s courts after the parents may have decided to stop the mon thly allowances given to such people. This came in the wake of a man aged 25 years who took mom and dad to court after they stopped forking over the $588 they had been giving him each month. However, the judge ruled out that there is no money until the man starts looking for a job. Ideal judgment for an adult! The second element of the paper focuses on the intellectual aspect of the concept of adulthood. A mature person or an adult is expected to reason in a logical way and this person can use the power of reasoning to solve different problems he may encounter. A mature person is capable of using his mind to deal with various life situations. This is illustrated in the movie â€Å"Adulthood† where Sam finds himself entrapped in the memory of the past where he spent six years in jail. In order for him to cope with the situation, he must realise that he is on a journey to adulthood. In most cases, adults deal with issues of substance and they often focus on aspects that can imp rove their welfare compared to young people who tend to experiment with a lot of things. People who have not yet fully developed in terms of intellectuality often need the guidance of mature people such that they may be able to handle different life situations. People who have intellectually developed are rational thinkers and they often try to find the best possible solutions to the problems they may encounter in their lives. People who use their reasoning capacity to deal with different situations have a unique way of dealing with different scenarios. The third element of this paper will focus on social aspect of adulthood and will also highlight the factors that impact on the behavior of an individual person. Adulthood is also closely related to social development of a human being. As a human being develops from an adolescent to an adult, social changes that take place within that individual. This is a period when young people begin to experience the need for social comfort or cl oseness and this impacts on their social development. According to a paper entitled â€Å"From adolescence to adulthood-a story of growing up,† it can be noted that there is a strong correlation between social development of an individual and adulthood. It is at this stage that a person feels like loving someone as well as to be loved by someone. This is an inevitable part of human development and this defines adulthood in different societies. Over and above, it can

For this I want to discuss Paul's Case by Willa Cather on a sociology Research Paper

For this I want to discuss Paul's Case by Willa Cather on a sociology based . I need sources that I will use and explain about it. At least one primary source and at least 3 secondary sources - Research Paper Example Most of her terminologies are symbolic, and the source will help in unraveling the symbols. It is essential to explore Paul from separate perspectives to make a non-biased judgment. In addition, it provides an insight on whether what Paul’s condition is a disorder, or it is a normal human behavior. Terrell Scott Herring’s article suggests that Paul distances himself from the society. His lifestyle distances him from social confines, identity, and sexuality. Paul feels like somebody is constantly watching him and in consequence, he is subconscious. His excessive gestures and nervous tics perplex his faculty teachers. In addition, Herring presents the characteristics of other late nineteenth-century males in comparison to Paul. The source is useful because it analyzes and explores Paul’s lifestyle. The author looks at Paul’s identity and sexuality in a wider context. In the end, it is easy to characterize Paul as a separate individual from the society. The comparison supports my paper because I can relate Paul with other people in the society and understand his identity in a neutral manner. Sherry Crabtree’s article discusses the significance of flowers in "Pauls Case." His red carnation is perceivably a talisman, which alienates him from the world. Even so, his teachers see it as a source of defiance. For instance, he walks into class with a colorful shirt that does not show any remorse. The source also mentions several other instances of flowers, which also characterize Pauls desires and show his alienation from the world. The source will support my paper because it will aid in understanding the role of the flower in Paul’s life. The role of the flower is quite confusing, but Crabtree provides an insight on its purpose in his case. The flower defines his life and affirms his identity as an individual, and not a collective thinker. The source is also valuable because it expands the interpretation of the essay. In addition, it

Computer think Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Computer think - Essay Example Actually, the majority current calculators are truly a kind of computers, with several pre-installed application programs to assist in solving complicated and difficult jobs. In addition, the computers have greatly influenced over lives. They have totally transformed the working practice of business domains. Moreover, they have brought revolution in mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Banking and various other disciplines of life (McGuigan and Wallace), (Norton) and (Shelly, Cashman and Vermaat). This paper presents a detailed overview of computers, their largest impact or influence on our thinking and our life. This paper will analyze some of the important aspects of computers throughout our life. This paper will also evaluate that how computer has enriched various walks of our life. Then I will present the impact of modern technology of computer in a community. An introduction to computers At the moment each particular individual is familiar with the term computer. Due to t heir massive utilization we are able to discover computer systems at all over our surroundings. Actually current world will be imperfect without computer systems as well as their utilization in various walks of life. It’s approximately impractical to yet visualize the recent benefits and services exclusive of the utilization of computer systems. A lot of persons might recognize that computer implies a PC, over which they are able to watch movies, play interesting games, organize staff records as well as handle every day planning, activities and development. However, this is only a simple fraction of computer expertise. Therefore, computer implies even more than a personal computer. In this scenario, a computer could be referred as a device which accepts data and instructions carry out processing and functions consequently. In addition, these controlled instructions are recognized as computer software and computer systems implement this software to perform a function. Moreover , during a specified instant of time, a group of instructions can be provided to a computer to execute a number of processes, all together (The Gemini Geek). Computer Technology Vs Calculators Similar to computer systems, another device known as calculator as well obtain data or instruction like an input and return back to the users in the form of useful information. However, a calculator is able to offer perform operations on a current and instant input simply. Therefore, computers can perform a collection of instructions simultaneously; consequently a computer system is able to work like a constant employee. In addition, computers give information for particular instructions using a determined way, thus there is no need to input a single data or instruction at a given instant of time. Moreover, an individual computer system is able to manipulate a variety of instructions all together. Due to this special trait, computer systems may show an ample impact and useful services and func tionalities like banking, transport, safety, management interaction etc (The Gemini Geek) Computer Utilities At the moment computers have been classified according to their capabilities. Considering their utilization and service function they could be divided into different kinds. In this scenario, the fastest computers available in the marketplace are known as

Amazon.coms Business Model Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Amazon.coms Business Model - Research Paper Example As a result of stiff competition in business, the company has devised a new mechanism that aims at cushioning itself from the current inflation and economic recession by engaging in other business such as selling electronic devices, toys, food and music. The company also offers shipping transport to other airlines thus maximizing its profits from all the sectors. The success and economic growth of Amazon Company are grounded on the following principles that are customer oriented: convenience, pricing and selection. From the Swot analysis approach, it has been established that combining these three factors improves the company’s image by developing loyalty, trust and commitment to customers. This is one of the strategies that have been used by Amazon Company to lay off most of its competitors as it enhances high productivity and efficiency in the Company. Part 1.A: Pros of Amazon.com The prosperity and economic growth of Amazon organization is grounded on the following advantag es: Leverage of economies of scale: The company has greatly utilised the availability of fixed assets that are related to distribution and storage of goods by offering shipping services. Through the interaction of many customers the company markets its products thus expanding its market share to other regions of the world. Expansion of the market share: For any company to prosper in the business arena, it should develop strategy plans that aim at distributing its goods and services at the lowest cost. With the advancement of science and technology coupled with the easy access to internet, the company has in the recent time launched a new website. In this website the company has managed to display more goods and services that its offers to consumers thus increasing its sales volume. Localization of goods and services: From the past experiences, the company has realized that most consumers lacked some of the related goods that the company availed in their shelves, hence compelling cus tomers to shop them elsewhere. In order to counteract such effect, Amazon Company has increased the brands of goods by ensuring that there is one-stop shopping centre. Customers are now in a position to buy all their goods from one main location. Provision of availing other related goods: This idea aims at taking into account the needs and preferences of all the customers on the purchased goods. For instance, if a consumer has bought a book and he has eyesight problems, the company should be in a position to sell reading glasses to that customer rather than sending him to other shops. This idea has also improved the company’s image globally in the sense that it consumers are allowed to make orders based on their personal interests and preference. Implementation of effective marketing strategy: Marketing is a crucial facet in an organizational operation because it allows the company to realize the efforts made from the production system. It connects the organizational goals an d objectives with the needs of the customers as stipulated in the market domain. Amazon Company adopted the strategy of market segmentation which allows flexibility in product distribution. Based on the demand and population density, the company produces goods that are specifically meant for a certain portion of the population hence satisfying the needs of consumers. Part 1.B: Cons faced by Amazon Company The journey to the Company’s success has not been smooth without the challenges and drawback as highlighted below. Stiff competition from other companies: The world of business can be compared to a battle field where the mighty survive while the weaklings perish. Consequently, well established organizations have a high chance of

The Reliability of Online Media in the Realm of Politics Essay Example for Free

The Reliability of Online Media in the Realm of Politics Essay The advent of the World Wide Web has shifted the impact of the meaning of media and reliability. From major newspapers abandoning their print outlets to the latest up to the second news on somebody’s blog, the internet has changed the way people consume the news. The political landscape has seen some of the most significant changes and is a key example of how the reliability of the online world has come under questioning following the latest elections and news. Politicians have always relied on the media to disseminate their messages. In our digital age, the traditional forums of print media, radio, and television have become integrated into an online multimedia platform. According to a 2004 Pew survey, over 50 million Americans went online for election news everyday during the Presidential election (Nogourney). It is now common practice for politicians to have their own website and a social networking page on such sites as MySpace and Facebook or to publish Podcasts and YouTube videos in order to gain exposure and to further control their messages by excluding the intermediary forces of journalists. In a New York Times article, journalist Adam Nogourney wrote of the shifting trends of politicians as regards the new utilization of online media, â€Å"The Internet appears to be far more efficient, and less costly, than the traditional tools of politics, notably door knocking and telephone banks (Nogourney). The internet has also provided an forum for constant updates and information sharing that allows candidates and the public to analyze, comment, and react to the latest news from the campaign trail. That being said, there has been an increasing debate about the reliability of candidate news and information in an era of fierce competition and rampant misinformation efforts by political party ideologues and the unverified accounts of millions of bloggers that have free reign to publish their opinions without regard to journalistic ethics. In a 2007 article concerning the role of media in politics, Associated Content wrote an editorial speaking of this impact, â€Å"The media also influences the publics perception on the viability of a candidate. If reports say a certain candidate is ahead in an election, the public will come to accept that evaluation, which can greatly influence how voters cast their ballots (Influence). In this way, political polls and published statistics and trends have a greater access to a viral online community and this can significantly impact the public perception of the campaign. The role of the online media is only going to grow as traditional forums become further integrated into the online dialogue. As has always been the case in the media, questions concerning the reliability of information will continue to be asked. Outside from party ideologues and ulterior motivated bloggers, the information presented online parallels that of traditional media in terms of reliability, it’s just that now individuals have more choice as to how they consume their news and information. Works Cited The Influence of the Media in Politics, Campaigns, and Elections. (2007). Associated Content. Retrieved 27 March 2009, from http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/443975/the_influence_of_the_media_in_politics_pg7. html Nogourney, Adam. (2006). Politics Faces Sweeping Change via the Web. The New York Times. Retrieved 27 March 2009, from http://www. nytimes. com/2006/04/02/washington/02campaign. html

History of Theatre: From Greek to Modern Day

History of Theatre: From Greek to Modern Day Modern American Theatre Modern American theatre has changed a lot since the time of traditional Greek Tragedies and Roman Theatrics. Technology changes have changed many of the different methods that we use to convey artistic styles and themes. Todays theatre has many contrasting and diverse styles; it contains both higher levels of musical and acting talent. The Broadway sensation Wicked for instance, is a great example of modern theatre. It contains a very interesting script, and the theme of the story is a combination of comedy and tragedy. Technology changes in costuming, prop building and even acting has changed everything about the theatre. Wicked also took on an international presence, unlike past theatre, which was isolated to regional performances and even seasonal performances, Wicked has been shown on every continent on the planet. Even though there have been a lot of changes in modern theatre, the core components of modern theatre are still the same as they have been in the past. Although theatr e has evolved a lot from historical theatre, many of the same themes, styles and developments are still consistent with the past. Theatre had its origins in the earliest parts of human history. Before there was actual theatre and actors, the first form of theatre can be found in the development of dance culture. Dances were originally performed in commemoration of major events, celebrations and religious ceremonies. At first, they were very informal affairs with little practice, but dancing as rituals evolved into very sophisticated forms of artistry by the 3000B BCE era. The foremost reason that dancing occurred was for religious rituals. The theme of religion that first originated in ritualistic dancing will continue in theatre for more than four thousand years. Famed critic Ellis Havelock explains, Religious dances, it may be observed, are sometimes ecstatic, sometimes pantomimic. . . . Pantomimic dances, with their effort to heighten natural expression and to imitate natural process, bring the dancers into the divine sphere of creation and enable them to assist vicariously in the energy of the gods. The dan ce thus becomes the presentation of a divine drama. As dancing became more sophisticated with time, and they were eventually performed at every level, especially before major events such as wars, seasonal changes, or religious celebrations. Eventually, rituals evolved further into sophisticated displays that took on themes and styles, this was the first development of drama as we know it (Bellinger, 1927). The evolution of dance from tribal and informal affairs into very complicated rituals can be seen in Persian and Asian early civilizations, they exhibited the most complex form of evolving dance culture. Despite the early development of dance, there are many similarities to modern theatre. First, ritualistic dances had heavy religious overtones and only performed during key periods of time. This was the foundation of Greek theatre, which directly evolved from these tribal dances and dramas. Another similarity is the development of story-telling through theatre, as dances took on more sophistication; they took on story-lines, complicated plots and a common theme that is carried in the dance. The emerging concept of stories through dance was very important because it led to the creation of theatre. This type of dance culture evolved slowly into a new type of theatre during the Greek era, this era saw the rise of theatre, not as a religious experience, but rather as an art form. Greek theatre is where modern theatre draws its roots from. It is the start of the Western tradition of theatre because not only did the Greeks enjoy theatre as part of religion, but also saw it as an art form. The first steps towards Greek theatre occurred when dances and rituals to the ancient Greek God of Win, Dionysus, became more and more sophisticated. The biggest change was the addition of style and theme that led to the development of plays, where spoken word was used rather than only song and dance. Formal Greek theatre is renowned for its style, themes and physical constructions. Every element of modern theatre can be traced to Greek theatre. The great Greek playwrights were very interested in the development of theme in their plays. They were the first to create category of themes suited for different plays. These themes included tragedy, comedy and satire. Tragedy was the most common element in Greek plays, in particular, the biggest development that the Greeks made as in the concept of a Tragic hero, or a hero who is ultimately defeated by their hubris (Bates, 45-47). Stylistically, Greek plays had a very specific structure; they were created primarily to be played once, therefore, they were often staged in a series of four plays. With the first three being tragedies and the final one a comedy that tied them all together to lighten the mood of the crowd. The development of style and a system for organizing plays along scenes and acts was very important and is still something that persists in modern theatre. Finally, the Greeks were also known for their actual physical constructions of theatre areas. Unlike, the previous era where rituals were performs at religious centers and in preparation for battles, the Greeks created amphitheaters within every city where they would hold yearly plays and contests. Amphitheaters were large central stages that are surrounded by raised stairs for seating. They became the popular form of theatre construction for the next thousand years. Greek theatre can be seen as the roots of all modern theatre because they added many of the different core elements that we see in theatre today. They were also the first to have professional actors and playwrights rather than religious figures. Greek theatre started the trend of having professional performers by introducing the actor’s guild where they trained very skilled troupes that would travel around Greece and perform for cities and rural areas along the way. Following Greek theatre, the next evolution of theatre occurred during the Roman era. Roman theatre was not extremely original because it took many of the elements of Greek theatre and made it their own. Many Roman plays were adaptations or even direct copies of Greek plays, so much of their architecture, styles and themes were the same. The biggest difference between the two is that Romans made theatre much more secular. Their plays did not focus on religion nearly as much as Greek theatre, which meant that they were more focused on the aesthetics and art of theatre. This led to the extended use of props to communicate different meaning. For instance, a black wig was used to mean that a character is a very young man. The use of props and elaborate backgrounds surrounding theatre made them more attractive and accessible to the masses. This meant that theatre was one of the main forms of entertainment during the Roman era. Because Roman theatre was less sophisticated than Greek theatr e in many ways, and it did not have a religious focus, they performed many more comedies than tragedies. Overall Roman theatre is important to the history of theatre because it represented easier access to the arts and a secular approach to theatre. Theatre during the medieval era however, took a very large step backwards. While the Roman era expanded on the Greek era, the Medieval or Dark Ages represented a period of chaos and seclusion. The fall of the Roman Empire meant that Europe became less focused in the cities and more agrarian. Without a large audience to appeal to, the concept of theatre almost died completely. During this era, theatre and plays were exclusively religious in nature and were performed by monks and priests as they traveled around the country. The only type of theatre that was available related strongly to the Bible. Rather than having props or physical stages, plays were performed by traveling monks as they moved from village to village, there ewes no formal staging areas. From a style perspective, plays were performed as if they were direct translations of the Bible and all of the different scenes and acts corresponded with Biblical stories. One of the most famous plays of this era was the English Cycle s, which portrayed the birth and death of Jesus. Theatre during this era took a very large step backwards from the advances made from the Greek and Roman era, however, the majority of theatre development did not die, but they were not explored until much later during the Renaissance revival period. The era that had the most influence on modern theatre was the Renaissance era. American theatre draws most of its influences from this era because it closely relates to the style, themes and structures that we are use to in our modern era. The Renaissance was a period of revival that took place across Europe as changes in technology, art, science and all aspects of life took place at the same time. There were many different theatre movements during this era; the two largest of these was the Spanish theatre movement and the English theatre movement. In Spain, theatre evolved during the Golden Age of around 1550 to 1700 when Spain was the most powerful country on the planet. During this era, theatre became divided into three areas, religious, comedic and musical. The greatest development in theatre occurred in England during this period, English theatre is best known for the Elizabethan period, where theatre as an art form flourished. English theatre is known for two areas, theatre construction and its famous actors and writers. English theatre was the first to construct very large theatres solely for the use of plays and musicals. These â€Å"hubs† were where the most famous plays were performed, and the most famous of these was the Globe theatre where Shakespeare held his performances. The construction of these theatres was very influential to modern theatre because it resulted in the development of standalone arenas for performances. This was a much bigger step towards more stylized displays, better props and most importantly, permanent actors. Elizabethan era produced the most well known and famous writer, William Shakespeare. During Shakespeare’s career, he almost single handedly propelled theatre to the top of entertainmen t and national attention. His Globe theatre would attract royal donors and he was sponsored by the Queen. During this era, English theatre took theatre to new heights of success and as a result, many of today’s conventions are adopted from this era. Even today Shakespeare’s plays are reproduced in theatres around the country. The neo-classic era was known for using very formal decorum around each performance, where every part of the display had to be picture perfect. Modern theatre is very hard to explain unless we can see it through the lenses of history. American theatre is very diverse, it contains many different styles of theatre that includes traditional theatre in the form of Shakespeare plays, but it also extends out as far as Cirque De Soleil and the modern Broadway musicals. All of these different forms of theatre have common similarities however that were inherited from the past. One of the major developments of modern theatre is the location of a central theatre â€Å"Mecca† in New York City. The development of Broadway, especially in the early 1900s made it one of the most prominent areas of theatre culture in the world. Broadway brought out a new culture to theatre because it created â€Å"theatre as art† to a new level; it also brought social distinction between classes. The theme that is consistent in American theatre is Realism, a concept that was developed as early as the Roman era, but only became mainstream during the Renaissance and beyond. Realism is theatre that depicts real life, both its pitfalls and its brutality. This is best seen in a classic American play, â€Å"The Death of a Salesman†. Which showed how the American dream can sometimes be only a dream for the majority of the American middle class? Theatre has now diversified to many different thematic focuses however. Musicals, theatre, and classical theatre are very different each with their own â€Å"Mecca† and focus. Another major development is in the educational system for actors and writers, within modern theatre it is no longer a guild system as in previous generations and eras, but now there are formal schools and colleges that teaches the art of acting and theatre. Actors and writers formed their own guilds that were able to leverage their talents to help increase theatre within the US in general. As technology increased, theatre is now more accessible than ever, stages are much easier to construct and skilled actors and writers can travel the world in order to stage their performances. Technology has also made it much easier to build props, so performances today are becoming more realistic with better props and better technology. Theatre has a very strong place in our society because of its culture and history. However, even with the success of theatre it has changed because of the emergence of television and radio, which compete with theatre in terms of entertainment venues. As a result, theatre has become a more upper class or â€Å"sophisticated† enjoyment, which has led to the emphasis on musicals. In the new millennium, theatre will change even more, this can already be seen with the new types of musicals such as â€Å"Wicked† that are being performed on Broadway, as well as new theatre troupes like Cirque De Soleil which are revolutionizing how we see theatre and theatrical performances. In both cases, theatre is very much alive, and many of the elements of today’s theatre can be seen throughout history. For thousands of years, theatre has developed and become a very important part of our society. Therefore it only makes sense that it will continue to be more important as time goes on. References Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature. August Wilhelm Schlegel. London: George Bell Sons, 1904. pp. 200-12 Manual of Greek Literature from the Earliest Authentic Periods to the Close of the Byzantine Era. Charles Anthon. New York: Harper Brothers, 1853. pp. 160-174. The Drama: Its History, Literature and Influence on Civilization, vol. 1. Ed. Alfred Bates. London: Historical Publishing Company, 1906. A Short History of the Drama. Martha Fletcher Bellinger. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1927. A Short History of the Drama. Martha Fletcher Bellinger. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1927. pp. 3-8. Book Title: The Dance of Life. Contributors: Havelock Ellis author. Publisher: Houghton Mifflin. Place of Publication: Boston. Publication Year: 1923. Page Number: iii.