What Essay Topics Are Considered Good Cause and Effect Essays?

What Essay Topics Are Considered Good Cause and Effect Essays?Good cause and effect essay topics for middle school students are essential to writing college-level composition. An essay that is well-written and high-quality will receive a higher grade than one that is poorly written and could cause a student to lose points from the professor. In order to be prepared, students must know how to write such essays and what to include in their write-ups.The first step in writing an essay that is well-written is to review the material and make sure the student has read about or learned about it. This way, the student can then examine the information from a variety of different angles and examine the information in context. By doing this, the student can make sure that the information he/she learns is relevant and true.It is also important for students to know what information is not allowed and what should be. Sometimes topics that are not allowed include topics that the student has written about. These are topics that were made up by the student. This is not allowed as it ruins the credibility of the essay.Other times, topics that are not allowed involve using someone else's statements in the main points of the essay. For example, if a student uses someone else's statements and uses them in their main points in their essay, the student could be penalized if the teacher finds out. Students should avoid using statements that are not related to the topic at hand.Next, students should make sure they follow all of the rules. Students should write the essay at least two drafts and make sure they have had time to edit and revise the essay if necessary. Once the essay is complete, students should also send it to both their teacher and to the school's administration for approval.Finally, when writing a good cause and effect essay, students should be sure to answer all of the questions that the professor asks. One important question that a student should always be able to answ er is: 'How does the writer feel about this subject?' Students should always be able to answer such questions as how they feel about racism, violence, power, or any other controversial topic.A student's answers to these questions should be convincing but never go against the rules of good cause and effect essay topics for middle school students. For example, if a student claims that they did not understand why someone would be offended by a subject matter or they were not offended by the subject matter in question, the essay could easily be disqualified.These are the major topics that students should be familiar with when writing essay topics for middle school students. By making sure that they know what topics are acceptable and what are not, students will be able to write excellent college-level essays.

Background information about waste disposal practices Essay Example

Background information about waste disposal practices Paper A primary objective of waste management today is to protect the public and the environment from potentially harmful effects of waste. Some waste materials are normally safe, but can become hazardous if not managed properly. For example, 1 gal (3. 75 1) of used motor oil can potentially contaminate one million gal (3,790,000 1) of drinking water . Every individual, business, or organization must make decisions and take some responsibility regarding the management of his or her waste. On a larger scale, government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels enact and enforce regulations governing waste management. These agencies also educate the public about proper waste management. In addition, local government agencies may provide disposal or recycling services, or they may hire or authorize private companies to perform those functions. Throughout history, there have been four basic methods of managing waste: dumping it, burning it, finding another use for it (reuse and recycling), and not creating the waste in the first place (waste prevention). How those four methods are utilized depends on the wastes being managed. Municipal solid waste is different from industrial, agricultural, or mining waste. Hazardous waste is a category that should be anteed separately, although it sometimes is generated with the other types. The first humans did not worry much about waste management. They simply left their garbage where it dropped. However, as permanent communities developed, people began to dispose of their waste in designated dumping areas. The use of such open dumps for garbage is still common in many parts of the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Background information about waste disposal practices specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Background information about waste disposal practices specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Background information about waste disposal practices specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Open dumps have major disadvantages, however, especially in heavily populated areas. Toxic chemicals can filter down through a dump and contaminate groundwater . The liquid that filters through a dump or landfill is called leached. Dumps may also generate methane, a flammable and explosive gas produced when organic wastes decompose under anaerobic (oxygen-poor) conditions. The landfill, also known as the sanitary landfill, was invented in England in the 1 sass. Ata landfill, the garbage is compacted and covered at the end of every day with several inches of soil . Landfill became common in the united States in the sass. By the late sass, it was the dominant method for disposing municipal solid waste in the nation. Early landfills had significant problems with leached and methane, but those have largely been resolved at facilities built since about he early 1 sass. Well-engineered landfills are lined with several feet of clay and with thick plastic sheets. Leached is collected at the bottom, drained through pipes, and processed. Methane gas is also safely piped out of many landfills. The dumping of waste does not just take place on land. Ocean dumping, in which barges carry garbage out to sea, was once used as a disposal method by some United States coastal cities and is still practiced by some nations. Sewage sludge, or waste material from sewage treatment, was dumped at sea in huge quantities by New York City as recently as 1 992, but his is now prohibited in the United States. Also called bossily, sewage sludge is not generally considered solid waste, but it is sometimes composted with organic municipal solid waste. Burning has a long history in municipal solid waste management. Some American cities began to burn their garbage in the late nineteenth century in devices called crematory. These Were not very efficient, however, and cities went back to dumping and other methods. In the 1 sass and sass, many cities built new types of more-efficient garbage burners known as incinerators. The early incinerators were rather dirty in arms of their emissions of air pollutants, and beginning in the sass they were gradually shut down. However, in the 1 9705, waste burning enjoyed another revival. These newer incinerators, many of which are still in operation, are called resource recovery or waste-to-energy plants. In addition to burning garbage, they produce heat or electricity that can be used in nearby buildings or residences, or sold to a utility. Many local governments became interested in waste-to-energy plants following the energy crisis in 1973. However, since the mid-1 sass, it became difficult to find locations to lid these facilities, mainly because of public opposition focused on air- quality issues. Another problem with incineration is that it generates ash, which must be landfill. Incinerators usually reduce the volume of garbage by 70-90%. The remainder of the incinerated waste comes out as ash that often contains high concentrations of toxic substances. Municipal solid waste will likely always be landfill or burned to some extent. In the past 25 years, however, non-disposal methods such as waste prevention and recycling have become more common. Because of public concerns and the high costs of entangling and burning (especially to build new facilities), local governments want to reduce the amount of waste that must be disposed in these ways. Municipal solid waste is a relatively small part of the overall waste generated in the United States. More than 95% of the total 4. 5 billion tons of solid waste generated in the United States each year is agricultural, mining, or industrial waste. These wastes do not receive nearly as much attention as municipal solid waste, because most people do not have direct experience with them. Also, agricultural and mining wastes, which make up 88% of the overall total f solid waste, are largely handled at the places they are generated, that is, in the fields or at remote mining sites. Mining nearly always generates substantial waste, whether the material being mined is coal , clay, sand , gravel, building stone, or metallic ore. Early mining concentrated on the richest lodes of minerals . Because modern methods of mining are more efficient, they can extract the desired minerals from veins that are less rich. However, much more waste is produced in the process. Many of the plant and animal wastes generated by agriculture remain in the fields or rangelands. These wastes can be beneficial because they return organic matter and nutrients to the soil. However, modern techniques of raising large numbers of animals in small areas generate huge volumes of animal waste, or manure. Waste in such concentrated quantities must be managed carefully, or it can contaminate groundwater or surface water. Industrial wastes that are not hazardous have traditionally been sent to landfills or incinerators. The rising cost of disposal has prompted many companies to seek alternative methods for handling these Wastes, such as Waste prevention and recycling. Often a manufacturing plant can reclaim certain east materials by feeding them back into the production process. Hazardous wastes are materials considered harmful or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Wastes may be deemed hazardous because they are poisonous, flammable, or corrosive, or because they react with other substances in a dangerous way. Industrial operations have produced large quantities of hazardous waste for hundreds of years. Some hazardous wastes, such as mercury and dioxins, may be released as gases or vapors. Many hazardous industrial wastes are in liquid form. One of the greatest risks is that these wastes will contaminate water supplies. An estimated 60% of all hazardous industrial waste in the United States is disposed using a method called deep-well injection. With this technique, liquid wastes are injected through a well into an impervious reconfirmation that keeps the waste isolated from groundwater and surface water. Other methods of underground burial are also used to dispose hazardous industrial waste and other types of dangerous material. Pesticides used in farming may contaminate agricultural waste. Because of the enormous volumes of pesticides used in agriculture, the proper handling of unused pesticides is a daunting challenge for waste managers. Certain mining techniques also utilize toxic chemicals. Piles of mining and metal-processing waste, known as waste rock and tailings, may contain hazardous substances. Because of a reaction with the oxygen in the air, large amounts of toxic acids may form in waste rock and tailings and leach into surface waters. Public attitudes also play a pivotal role in decisions about waste management. Virtually every proposed new landfill or waste-to-energy plant is opposed by people who live near the site. Public officials and planners refer to this reaction as NIMBI, which stands for Not In My Backyard If an opposition group becomes vocal r powerful enough, a city or county council is not likely to approve a proposed waste-disposal project. The public also wields considerable influence with businesses. Recycling and waste prevention initiatives enjoy strong public support. About 19% of United States municipal solid waste was recycled or composted in 1 994, was incinerated, and 71 % was landfill. Preventing or reducing waste is typically the least expensive method for managing waste. Waste prevention may also reduce the amount of resources needed to manufacture or package a product. For example, most roll-on deodorants once came in a plastic bottle, which was inside a box. Beginning about 1 992, deodorant manufacturers redesigned the bottle so that it would not tip-over easily on store shelves, which eliminated the need for the box as packaging. This is the type of waste prevention called source reduction. It can save businesses money, while also reducing waste. Waste prevention includes many different practices that result in using fewer materials or products, or using materials that are less toxic. For example, a chain of clothing stores can ship its products to its Stores in reusable garment bags, instead of disposable lactic bags. Manufacturers of household batteries can reduce the amount of mercury in their batteries. In an office, employees can copy documents on both sides of a sheet of paper, instead of just one side. A family can use cloth instead of paper napkins. Composting grass clippings and tree leaves at home, rather than having them picked up for disposal or municipal composting, is another form of waste prevention. A resident can leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing (this is known as grass-cycling), or can compost leaves and grass in a backyard composting bin, or use them as a mulch in the garden. When the current recycling boom began in the late sass, markets for the recyclables were not sufficiently considered. A result was that some recyclable materials were collected in large quantities but could not be sold, and some ended up going to landfills. Today, the development of recycling markets is a high priority. Close the loop is a catch-phrase in recycling education; it means that true recycling (I. E. , the recycling loop) has not taken place until the new product is purchased and used. To boost recycling markets, many local and state governments now require that their own agencies purchase and use products made from cycled materials. In a major step Fontana for recycling, President Bill Cloudiness an executive order in 1993 requiring the federal government to use more recycled products. Many managers of government recycling programs feel that manufacturers should take more responsibility for the disposal of their products and packaging rather than letting municipalities bear the brunt of the disposal costs. An innovative and controversial law in Germany requires manufacturers to set up collection and recycling programs for disused packaging of their products. The high cost of government-created recycling programs is often criticized. Supporters of recycling argue it is still less expensive than landfill or incineration, when all costs are considered. Another concern about recycling is that the recycling process itself may generate hazardous wastes that must be treated and disposed. Recycling of construction and demolition (CD) debris is one of the growth areas for recycling. Although CD debris is not normally considered a type of municipal solid waste, millions of tons of it have gone to municipal landfills over the years. If this material is separated at the construction or demolition site into separate piles of concrete, wood, and steel, it can usually e recycled. Composting is considered either a form of recycling, or a close relative. Composting occurs when organic waste-? such as yard waste, food waste, and paper-?is broken down by microbial processes. The resulting material, known as compost, can be used by landscapers and gardeners to improve the fertility of their soil. Yard waste, primarily grass clippings and tree leaves, makes up about one-fifth of the weight of municipal solid waste. Some states do not allow this waste to be disposed. These yard-waste bans have resulted in rapid growth for municipal composting programs. In these orgasm, yard waste is collected by trucks (separately from garbage and recyclables) and taken to a composting plant, where it is chopped up, heaped, and regularly turned until it becomes compost. Waste from food-processing plants and produce trimmings from grocery stores are composted in some parts of the country. Residential food waste is the next frontier for composting. The city of Halifax, in Canada, collects food waste from households and composts it in large, central facilities. Biological treatment, a technique for handling hazardous wastes, could be called a high-tech form of composting. Like composting biological treatment employs microbes to break down wastes through a series of metabolic reactions. Many substances that are toxic, carcinogenic (cancer-causing), or undesirable in the environment for other reasons can be rendered harmless through this method. Extensive research on biological treatment is in progress. Genetic engineering, a controversial branch of biology dealing with the modification of genetic codes, is closely linked with biological treatment, and could produce significant advances in this field. Waste management became a particularly expensive proposition during the 1 9905, especially for disposal. Consequently, waste managers constantly seek innovations that will improve efficiency and reduce costs. Several new ideas in land-filling involve the reclamation of useful resources from wastes. For example, instead of just burning or releasing the methane gas that is generated within solid-waste landfills, some operators collect this gas, and then use it to produce power locally or sell it as fuel. At a few landfills, managers have experimented with a bold but relatively untested concept known as landfill mining. This involves digging up an existing landfill to recover recyclable materials, and sometimes o re-bury the garbage more efficiently. Landfill mining has been criticized as costly and impractical, but some operators believe it can save money under certain circumstances. In the high-tech world of incineration, new designs and concepts are constantly being tried. One waste-to-energy technology for solid waste being introduced to the United States is called fluoride-bed incineration. About 40% of incinerators in Japan use this technology, which is designed to have lower emissions of some air pollutants than conventional incinerators. A 1 994 United States Supreme Court ruling could increase the cost of incineration significantly. The Court ruled that some ash produced by municipal solid-waste incinerators must be treated as a hazardous waste, because of high levels of toxic substances such as lead and cadmium. This means that incinerator ash now has to be tested, and part or all of the material may have to go to a hazardous waste landfill rather than a standard landfill. A much smaller type of incinerator is used at many hospitals to burn medical wastes, such as blood, surgical waste, syringes, and laboratory waste. The safety of these medical waste incinerators has become a major issue in some communities. A study by the Environmental Protection Agency released n 1 994 found that medical waste incinerators were leading sources of dioxin emissions into the air. The same study warned that dioxins, which can be formed by the burning of certain chemical compounds, pose a high risk of causing cancer and other health hazards in humans. The greatest impetus for waste prevention will likely come from the public. More and more citizens will come to understand that pesticides, excessive packaging, and the use of disposable rather than durable items have important environmental costs. Through the growth of the information society, knowledge about these and other environmental issues will increase. This should result in a continuing evolution towards more efficient and environmentally sensitive waste management. Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal, managing and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics. Waste management is a distinct practice from resource recovery which focuses on delaying the rate of consumption of natural resources. All waste materials, whether they are solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive fall within the emit of waste management. Waste management practices can differ for developed and developing nations, for urban and rural areas, and for residential and industrial producers. Management of non-hazardous waste residential and institutional waste in metropolitan areas is usually the responsibility of local superconductivitys, while management for non- hazardous commercial and industrial waste is usually the responsibility of the generator subject to local, national or international authorities. Waste collection methods vary widely among different countries and regions. Domestic waste collection services are often provided by local government authorities, or by private companies in the industry. Some areas, especially those in less developed countries, do not have a formal waste-collection system. Examples of waste handling systems include: In Europe and a few other places around the world, a few communities use a proprietary collection system known as Invade, which conveys refuse via underground conduits using a vacuum system. Other vacuum-based solutions include the [emailprotected] [3] single-line and ring-line automatic waste collection system, here the waste is automatically collected through relatively small diameter flexible pipes from waste collection points spread out up to a distance of four kilometers from the waste collections stations. In Canadian urban centers curbside collection is the most common method of disposal, whereby the city collects waste and/or recyclables and/or organics on a scheduled basis. In rural areas people often dispose of their waste by hauling it to a transfer station. Waste collected is then transported to a regional landfill. In China, Plastic paralysis or Tire paralysis is: the process of converting waste lactic/tires into industrial fuels like paralysis oil, carbon black and hydrocarbon gas. End products are used as industrial fuels for producing heat, steam or electricity. Paralysis plant is also known as: paralysis unit, plastic to fuel industry, tire to fuel industry, plastic and tire recycling unit etc. The system is used in USA California, Australia, Greece, Mexico, the united Kingdom and in Israel-For example, REESE paralysis plant that has been operational at Texas USA since December 2011, and processes up to 60 tons per day. [J In Taipei, the city government charges its households and industries for the volume of rubbish they produce. Waste will only be collected by the city council if waste is disposed in government issued rubbish bags. This policy has successfully reduced the amount of waste the city produces and increased the recycling rate. In Israel, the Arrow Ecology company has developed the Aerobic system, which takes trash directly from collection trucks and separates organic and inorganic materials through gravitational settling, screening, and hydro-mechanical shredding. The system is capable of sorting huge volumes of solid waste, salvaging recyclables, and running the rest into biogas and rich agricultural compost. Background information about waste disposal practices Essay Example Background information about waste disposal practices Paper A primary objective of waste management today is to protect the public and the environment from potentially harmful effects of waste. Some waste materials are normally safe, but can become hazardous if not managed properly. For example, 1 gal (3. 75 1) of used motor oil can potentially contaminate one million gal (3,790,000 1) of drinking water . Every individual, business, or organization must make decisions and take some responsibility regarding the management of his or her waste. On a larger scale, government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels enact and enforce regulations governing waste management. These agencies also educate the public about proper waste management. In addition, local government agencies may provide disposal or recycling services, or they may hire or authorize private companies to perform those functions. Throughout history, there have been four basic methods of managing waste: dumping it, burning it, finding another use for it (reuse and recycling), and not creating the waste in the first place (waste prevention). How those four methods are utilized depends on the wastes being managed. Municipal solid waste is different from industrial, agricultural, or mining waste. Hazardous waste is a category that should be anteed separately, although it sometimes is generated with the other types. The first humans did not worry much about waste management. They simply left their garbage where it dropped. However, as permanent communities developed, people began to dispose of their waste in designated dumping areas. The use of such open dumps for garbage is still common in many parts of the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Background information about waste disposal practices specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Background information about waste disposal practices specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Background information about waste disposal practices specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Open dumps have major disadvantages, however, especially in heavily populated areas. Toxic chemicals can filter down through a dump and contaminate groundwater . The liquid that filters through a dump or landfill is called leached. Dumps may also generate methane, a flammable and explosive gas produced when organic wastes decompose under anaerobic (oxygen-poor) conditions. The landfill, also known as the sanitary landfill, was invented in England in the 1 sass. Ata landfill, the garbage is compacted and covered at the end of every day with several inches of soil . Landfill became common in the united States in the sass. By the late sass, it was the dominant method for disposing municipal solid waste in the nation. Early landfills had significant problems with leached and methane, but those have largely been resolved at facilities built since about he early 1 sass. Well-engineered landfills are lined with several feet of clay and with thick plastic sheets. Leached is collected at the bottom, drained through pipes, and processed. Methane gas is also safely piped out of many landfills. The dumping of waste does not just take place on land. Ocean dumping, in which barges carry garbage out to sea, was once used as a disposal method by some United States coastal cities and is still practiced by some nations. Sewage sludge, or waste material from sewage treatment, was dumped at sea in huge quantities by New York City as recently as 1 992, but his is now prohibited in the United States. Also called bossily, sewage sludge is not generally considered solid waste, but it is sometimes composted with organic municipal solid waste. Burning has a long history in municipal solid waste management. Some American cities began to burn their garbage in the late nineteenth century in devices called crematory. These Were not very efficient, however, and cities went back to dumping and other methods. In the 1 sass and sass, many cities built new types of more-efficient garbage burners known as incinerators. The early incinerators were rather dirty in arms of their emissions of air pollutants, and beginning in the sass they were gradually shut down. However, in the 1 9705, waste burning enjoyed another revival. These newer incinerators, many of which are still in operation, are called resource recovery or waste-to-energy plants. In addition to burning garbage, they produce heat or electricity that can be used in nearby buildings or residences, or sold to a utility. Many local governments became interested in waste-to-energy plants following the energy crisis in 1973. However, since the mid-1 sass, it became difficult to find locations to lid these facilities, mainly because of public opposition focused on air- quality issues. Another problem with incineration is that it generates ash, which must be landfill. Incinerators usually reduce the volume of garbage by 70-90%. The remainder of the incinerated waste comes out as ash that often contains high concentrations of toxic substances. Municipal solid waste will likely always be landfill or burned to some extent. In the past 25 years, however, non-disposal methods such as waste prevention and recycling have become more common. Because of public concerns and the high costs of entangling and burning (especially to build new facilities), local governments want to reduce the amount of waste that must be disposed in these ways. Municipal solid waste is a relatively small part of the overall waste generated in the United States. More than 95% of the total 4. 5 billion tons of solid waste generated in the United States each year is agricultural, mining, or industrial waste. These wastes do not receive nearly as much attention as municipal solid waste, because most people do not have direct experience with them. Also, agricultural and mining wastes, which make up 88% of the overall total f solid waste, are largely handled at the places they are generated, that is, in the fields or at remote mining sites. Mining nearly always generates substantial waste, whether the material being mined is coal , clay, sand , gravel, building stone, or metallic ore. Early mining concentrated on the richest lodes of minerals . Because modern methods of mining are more efficient, they can extract the desired minerals from veins that are less rich. However, much more waste is produced in the process. Many of the plant and animal wastes generated by agriculture remain in the fields or rangelands. These wastes can be beneficial because they return organic matter and nutrients to the soil. However, modern techniques of raising large numbers of animals in small areas generate huge volumes of animal waste, or manure. Waste in such concentrated quantities must be managed carefully, or it can contaminate groundwater or surface water. Industrial wastes that are not hazardous have traditionally been sent to landfills or incinerators. The rising cost of disposal has prompted many companies to seek alternative methods for handling these Wastes, such as Waste prevention and recycling. Often a manufacturing plant can reclaim certain east materials by feeding them back into the production process. Hazardous wastes are materials considered harmful or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Wastes may be deemed hazardous because they are poisonous, flammable, or corrosive, or because they react with other substances in a dangerous way. Industrial operations have produced large quantities of hazardous waste for hundreds of years. Some hazardous wastes, such as mercury and dioxins, may be released as gases or vapors. Many hazardous industrial wastes are in liquid form. One of the greatest risks is that these wastes will contaminate water supplies. An estimated 60% of all hazardous industrial waste in the United States is disposed using a method called deep-well injection. With this technique, liquid wastes are injected through a well into an impervious reconfirmation that keeps the waste isolated from groundwater and surface water. Other methods of underground burial are also used to dispose hazardous industrial waste and other types of dangerous material. Pesticides used in farming may contaminate agricultural waste. Because of the enormous volumes of pesticides used in agriculture, the proper handling of unused pesticides is a daunting challenge for waste managers. Certain mining techniques also utilize toxic chemicals. Piles of mining and metal-processing waste, known as waste rock and tailings, may contain hazardous substances. Because of a reaction with the oxygen in the air, large amounts of toxic acids may form in waste rock and tailings and leach into surface waters. Public attitudes also play a pivotal role in decisions about waste management. Virtually every proposed new landfill or waste-to-energy plant is opposed by people who live near the site. Public officials and planners refer to this reaction as NIMBI, which stands for Not In My Backyard If an opposition group becomes vocal r powerful enough, a city or county council is not likely to approve a proposed waste-disposal project. The public also wields considerable influence with businesses. Recycling and waste prevention initiatives enjoy strong public support. About 19% of United States municipal solid waste was recycled or composted in 1 994, was incinerated, and 71 % was landfill. Preventing or reducing waste is typically the least expensive method for managing waste. Waste prevention may also reduce the amount of resources needed to manufacture or package a product. For example, most roll-on deodorants once came in a plastic bottle, which was inside a box. Beginning about 1 992, deodorant manufacturers redesigned the bottle so that it would not tip-over easily on store shelves, which eliminated the need for the box as packaging. This is the type of waste prevention called source reduction. It can save businesses money, while also reducing waste. Waste prevention includes many different practices that result in using fewer materials or products, or using materials that are less toxic. For example, a chain of clothing stores can ship its products to its Stores in reusable garment bags, instead of disposable lactic bags. Manufacturers of household batteries can reduce the amount of mercury in their batteries. In an office, employees can copy documents on both sides of a sheet of paper, instead of just one side. A family can use cloth instead of paper napkins. Composting grass clippings and tree leaves at home, rather than having them picked up for disposal or municipal composting, is another form of waste prevention. A resident can leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing (this is known as grass-cycling), or can compost leaves and grass in a backyard composting bin, or use them as a mulch in the garden. When the current recycling boom began in the late sass, markets for the recyclables were not sufficiently considered. A result was that some recyclable materials were collected in large quantities but could not be sold, and some ended up going to landfills. Today, the development of recycling markets is a high priority. Close the loop is a catch-phrase in recycling education; it means that true recycling (I. E. , the recycling loop) has not taken place until the new product is purchased and used. To boost recycling markets, many local and state governments now require that their own agencies purchase and use products made from cycled materials. In a major step Fontana for recycling, President Bill Cloudiness an executive order in 1993 requiring the federal government to use more recycled products. Many managers of government recycling programs feel that manufacturers should take more responsibility for the disposal of their products and packaging rather than letting municipalities bear the brunt of the disposal costs. An innovative and controversial law in Germany requires manufacturers to set up collection and recycling programs for disused packaging of their products. The high cost of government-created recycling programs is often criticized. Supporters of recycling argue it is still less expensive than landfill or incineration, when all costs are considered. Another concern about recycling is that the recycling process itself may generate hazardous wastes that must be treated and disposed. Recycling of construction and demolition (CD) debris is one of the growth areas for recycling. Although CD debris is not normally considered a type of municipal solid waste, millions of tons of it have gone to municipal landfills over the years. If this material is separated at the construction or demolition site into separate piles of concrete, wood, and steel, it can usually e recycled. Composting is considered either a form of recycling, or a close relative. Composting occurs when organic waste-? such as yard waste, food waste, and paper-?is broken down by microbial processes. The resulting material, known as compost, can be used by landscapers and gardeners to improve the fertility of their soil. Yard waste, primarily grass clippings and tree leaves, makes up about one-fifth of the weight of municipal solid waste. Some states do not allow this waste to be disposed. These yard-waste bans have resulted in rapid growth for municipal composting programs. In these orgasm, yard waste is collected by trucks (separately from garbage and recyclables) and taken to a composting plant, where it is chopped up, heaped, and regularly turned until it becomes compost. Waste from food-processing plants and produce trimmings from grocery stores are composted in some parts of the country. Residential food waste is the next frontier for composting. The city of Halifax, in Canada, collects food waste from households and composts it in large, central facilities. Biological treatment, a technique for handling hazardous wastes, could be called a high-tech form of composting. Like composting biological treatment employs microbes to break down wastes through a series of metabolic reactions. Many substances that are toxic, carcinogenic (cancer-causing), or undesirable in the environment for other reasons can be rendered harmless through this method. Extensive research on biological treatment is in progress. Genetic engineering, a controversial branch of biology dealing with the modification of genetic codes, is closely linked with biological treatment, and could produce significant advances in this field. Waste management became a particularly expensive proposition during the 1 9905, especially for disposal. Consequently, waste managers constantly seek innovations that will improve efficiency and reduce costs. Several new ideas in land-filling involve the reclamation of useful resources from wastes. For example, instead of just burning or releasing the methane gas that is generated within solid-waste landfills, some operators collect this gas, and then use it to produce power locally or sell it as fuel. At a few landfills, managers have experimented with a bold but relatively untested concept known as landfill mining. This involves digging up an existing landfill to recover recyclable materials, and sometimes o re-bury the garbage more efficiently. Landfill mining has been criticized as costly and impractical, but some operators believe it can save money under certain circumstances. In the high-tech world of incineration, new designs and concepts are constantly being tried. One waste-to-energy technology for solid waste being introduced to the United States is called fluoride-bed incineration. About 40% of incinerators in Japan use this technology, which is designed to have lower emissions of some air pollutants than conventional incinerators. A 1 994 United States Supreme Court ruling could increase the cost of incineration significantly. The Court ruled that some ash produced by municipal solid-waste incinerators must be treated as a hazardous waste, because of high levels of toxic substances such as lead and cadmium. This means that incinerator ash now has to be tested, and part or all of the material may have to go to a hazardous waste landfill rather than a standard landfill. A much smaller type of incinerator is used at many hospitals to burn medical wastes, such as blood, surgical waste, syringes, and laboratory waste. The safety of these medical waste incinerators has become a major issue in some communities. A study by the Environmental Protection Agency released n 1 994 found that medical waste incinerators were leading sources of dioxin emissions into the air. The same study warned that dioxins, which can be formed by the burning of certain chemical compounds, pose a high risk of causing cancer and other health hazards in humans. The greatest impetus for waste prevention will likely come from the public. More and more citizens will come to understand that pesticides, excessive packaging, and the use of disposable rather than durable items have important environmental costs. Through the growth of the information society, knowledge about these and other environmental issues will increase. This should result in a continuing evolution towards more efficient and environmentally sensitive waste management. Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal, managing and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics. Waste management is a distinct practice from resource recovery which focuses on delaying the rate of consumption of natural resources. All waste materials, whether they are solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive fall within the emit of waste management. Waste management practices can differ for developed and developing nations, for urban and rural areas, and for residential and industrial producers. Management of non-hazardous waste residential and institutional waste in metropolitan areas is usually the responsibility of local superconductivitys, while management for non- hazardous commercial and industrial waste is usually the responsibility of the generator subject to local, national or international authorities. Waste collection methods vary widely among different countries and regions. Domestic waste collection services are often provided by local government authorities, or by private companies in the industry. Some areas, especially those in less developed countries, do not have a formal waste-collection system. Examples of waste handling systems include: In Europe and a few other places around the world, a few communities use a proprietary collection system known as Invade, which conveys refuse via underground conduits using a vacuum system. Other vacuum-based solutions include the [emailprotected] [3] single-line and ring-line automatic waste collection system, here the waste is automatically collected through relatively small diameter flexible pipes from waste collection points spread out up to a distance of four kilometers from the waste collections stations. In Canadian urban centers curbside collection is the most common method of disposal, whereby the city collects waste and/or recyclables and/or organics on a scheduled basis. In rural areas people often dispose of their waste by hauling it to a transfer station. Waste collected is then transported to a regional landfill. In China, Plastic paralysis or Tire paralysis is: the process of converting waste lactic/tires into industrial fuels like paralysis oil, carbon black and hydrocarbon gas. End products are used as industrial fuels for producing heat, steam or electricity. Paralysis plant is also known as: paralysis unit, plastic to fuel industry, tire to fuel industry, plastic and tire recycling unit etc. The system is used in USA California, Australia, Greece, Mexico, the united Kingdom and in Israel-For example, REESE paralysis plant that has been operational at Texas USA since December 2011, and processes up to 60 tons per day. [J In Taipei, the city government charges its households and industries for the volume of rubbish they produce. Waste will only be collected by the city council if waste is disposed in government issued rubbish bags. This policy has successfully reduced the amount of waste the city produces and increased the recycling rate. In Israel, the Arrow Ecology company has developed the Aerobic system, which takes trash directly from collection trucks and separates organic and inorganic materials through gravitational settling, screening, and hydro-mechanical shredding. The system is capable of sorting huge volumes of solid waste, salvaging recyclables, and running the rest into biogas and rich agricultural compost.

Willy Russells attitude to education as revealed in Educating Rita Essays

Willy Russells attitude to education as revealed in Educating Rita Essays Willy Russells attitude to education as revealed in Educating Rita Paper Willy Russells attitude to education as revealed in Educating Rita Paper Essay Topic: Education Literature Although Educating Rita is about Rita becoming educated, there are underlying messages within the play that reveal what its writer, Willy Russells attitudes and opinions of education are. One main part of the play is the contrast between Frank and Rita and how their roles reverse as Rita becomes educated. Education gives Rita a choice. Rita wanted education to give her a meanin to life which she didnt need as a child growing up in working class culture. Her school was borin, ripped-up books, broken glass everywhere, knives an fights and education was only for the wimps. As she has matured she thinks there must be more to life than everyone pissed or on the Valium, tryin to get from one day to the next. By becoming educated, she is making the leap from working class to middle class, although Denny, her husband, doesnt want her to. Education makes Rita stronger and thats what Dennys frightened of. This evidence could be Russell trying to question why education is so important? As Frank says, education is nothing of value as he takes it for granted. To Rita, education is everything. Rita has a very admiring view towards education and is always referring to proper students who she idolises. She sees education as an escape from herself and her current life. This can be seen from the way she describes herself as a stupid woman and says she wants to change from the inside. At the start of the play she comments on people in her culture being stuck-up idiots and wonders whats it like to be free? This could be Russell implying education gives freedom, but as we find out later in the play Frank, due to being educated, has become metaphorically trapped. His window hasnt been opened for generations and he wont be able to get out of his door. Rita says her student friends are not trapped theyre too young for that suggesting Frank has become old and trapped within himself. Russell may be trying to say education can trap people and really educated people, like Frank, know absolutely nothing. Franks attitude to education is quite the opposite of Ritas, which is the contrast Russell wanted to convey. Frank sees Rita as a breath of fresh air and by education doesnt want her to lose her uniqueness which he values in her. This is Russell suggesting educated people are all the same and are not to have a view. One of Franks key quotes is Youll have a much better understanding of something if you discover it in your own terms. The reader could interpret this quote in several different ways and I believe its Frank giving Rita advice, not only on education, but also on life itself. Here, Russell could be saying that if uneducated people want to learn they should help themselves like Rita does, and come to their own conclusions. Another one of Franks key quotes is I know nothing which he says to Rita. This is probably Russell suggesting the more you know, the less you really know. This is backed up by some of the most intelligent people turning insane as they realise how insignificant their intelligence is. This is a very deep comment from Russell. Frank is not a stereotypical lecturer; he is pissed at lectures, always on the stuff, unhappy and only lectures as he needs the money. He is not enthusiastic and sees education as so very little. Here, Russell exposes an issue of education today. This is something he wants to be addressed. A point that Russell makes very obvious is the fact that most if not all uneducated people are in the working class, in situations they dont like. Denny gets himself out of the fact he cant have a baby with Rita by moving on and having a baby with his new fianci. Rita chose education instead of staying with Denny and is building a better life for herself. She had a choice and took it, and this shows that Russell thinks education can be good when you use it to your advantage and make it work for you. This is something Frank has not done. Frank has taken his education for granted and has wasted opportunities and this could well be another view from Russell to people in the educating process to take opportunities and not waste them. This shows Willy Russells attitudes to education are mixed and are not all bad. Educating Ritas comedy is mostly shown in the difference in background and language of Rita and Frank. Frank asks her You are? and Rita replies, What am I? This shows her naivety and may be Russell saying uneducated people arent accustomed to formal situations and language. This is also shown when Rita leaves a note saying, sorry couldnt come when she was invited to Franks dinner. It shows the difference between their cultures and classes in which education plays a large part. We see Rita change considerably throughout the play as she becomes educated. Her language changes, along with her image, personality and attitude. She respects herself, has choices and so feels she has become a better person. Frank also changes, he ends up having to move to Australia and realises his problems and mistakes. He is also changing for the better. It is argued whether the play should be called Educating Frank as Rita teaches Frank what she knows and Frank teaches Rita.

Is the American Media Responsible for Perpetuating an Unrealistic Essay

Is the American Media Responsible for Perpetuating an Unrealistic Beauty Ideal for Women - Essay Example When these models walk the ramp, the youth populations which watch these shows are tempted to follow their footsteps and undergo extreme dieting and starvation. Women watching these American television shows feel that they are imperfect and resort to different shortcuts to attain wafer thin body structure. America’s new Television show named â€Å"America’s Next Top Model† has created such a surge among teenagers that they take unrealistic steps to attain thin body figure. According to (Erp,23) â€Å"The popularity of talent shows such as America's Next Top Model is just a more pronounced example of society's increasing obsession with youth and beauty, another addition to the flood of images serving up idealized, teen perfection†. The teenagers and young women are blindly influenced by the extreme thin structure of models and actresses that they hardly think about the negative impact upon their health and body. They fall victim to eating disorders like Ano rexia and Bulimia and get accustomed to depression and anxiety disorders. Television and movies establishes and put forward a message that only underweight and ultra – thin women are worth living in this era. American media’s promotion of Barbie doll image In America it is not unusual for media to display a Barbie doll concept to the female population all over the country. The Barbie has been influencing the growing up girls who are between the age of 3 to 12yrs.It is estimated that one in three girls aged under 12 yrs in American owns a Barbie doll. Girls playing with it tend to compare her body structure with Barbie and attempt to attain her body image. If Barbie doll is imagined as a human being, then she would be so thin that... This report approves that the government and other voluntary organization take deliberate step to boycott unhealthy concepts promoted by American media. There should also be funding from the part of government to advertise health promoting campaigns to acknowledge the teenage population about ideal weight and right beauty concept. All the population around the world watches American entertainment media and nurture their fashion and beauty concepts around it. The female models displayed in all the media are extremely thin, which is an unattainable body image for the ordinary female population. The television channels like Fashion TV, depicts female models that are so thin that they look terribly starved and undernourished comparing to a normal female. This essay makes a conclusion that media is a channel which has a tremendous power to communicate to people around the world. If mass media and advertisement campaign does not pass on a beneficial message to the public then they are misusing their power and position. Beauty is not a thing to be achieved by torturing the body and undergoing mental stress and bodily deprivation. Beauty is something which reflects happiness, health and joy. A human being needs healthy and nutritious food to function in a balanced way. When young women deprive their body of essential nutrients they end up being diseased and ugly looking. Today the world is running after glamour and sexy body image but people are forgetting that in the long run when they suffer from illness no media will come for their help or resort.

Ethical Ways and Unethical Decisions on a Case Assignment

Ethical Ways and Unethical Decisions on a Case - Assignment Example These include Autonomy promotes choice (Patterson & Patrick, 2000). However, while allowing the woman to make her own choices, the parole officer should still tell her about the parolee’s previous charges. This is because the parole officer has been trusted to offer protection. Pollock (2007), reports that while utilitarian ethics may tolerate actions (means) that ultimately have a good end, any â€Å"bad means† (such as not letting the woman know about the previous child molestation offences of the parolee) might lead to a bad outcome. In this case, not letting the woman know of the parolee’s previous child molestation charges would be going against the code of ethics established for rehabilitation counselors. This is because the woman’s three children aged 6, 9, and 14 would be at serious risk of being harmed by the offender (John). However, in keeping with the justice requirement cited in the rehabilitation counselors’ code of ethics, the probation officer should recognize that no crime has been committed against any of the woman’s children yet (Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, 2009). An unethical decision would be to assume that the parolee has already committed a crime by being close to â€Å"potential victims.† Other options available in this situation include informing the woman to avoid John at all costs for the safety of the three children. The argument for this is that extreme shaming should be avoided. Pollock (2007) argues that â€Å"shaming† conditions only work towards making the offender feel abandoned and cast aside by the society and may work against the rehabilitation process. Since no offence had been committed to the woman or her children, avoiding â€Å"shaming† the parolee further would still be ethical and morally acceptable. Patterson, J., & Patrick, A. (2000). Choice: Ethical and Legal Rehabilitation Challenges.Rehabilitation Counseling

What is learning Essay Example for Free

What is learning Essay ?What is learning? From born to dead, we non-stop to learning, how to sound, walk, study knowledge, even working skill. We learn in our whole life. But what is learning? Why we need to learn? Is it to follow other success person so we need to learn? Gagne(1965) describe learning as four factors, Drive, Stimulus, Response and Reinforcement. For every learning process before it start there are also have a reason to basic on, whatever we are learning a knowledge or a skill. And this is the factor of drive, it can improve you to want to learn. It can be a basic need or other drive. For example, a baby learning how to speak, it can describe as a basic need drive, because the baby want to let his mother father to know what his want, and speak is the most effective and efficient way to achieve, thats why the baby go to learn. In stimulus factor of Gagne theory, learner must be stimulated by the learning process, because some of stimulus can make the learner to drew some nature response, it can help them to learn more effect and efficient. And when the learner in the learning process, they will get some individual stimulus, that is the feel of the new thing of you learn. When the stimulus was occur on the learner, they will take a response such as increased skills and knowledge. This stage must occur after process of drive and stimulus. The last factor is reinforcement, when the learner taking some new skill or knowledge, those thing may forget quickly, because we also can not remember now thing hardly for first time, that’s why we need to practice to reinforcement the new skill or knowledge. In the process on the learning, there have many variable element, such as what type of the learner are, what the way are adopt to learn, those variable will influence the result of the learning process. Below we will talking about those variable, how those influence the result. Learning styles encompass a series of theories suggesting systematic differences in individuals natural or habitual pattern of acquiring and processing information in learning situations. A core concept is that individuals differ in how they learn. The idea of individualized learning styles originated in the 1970s, and has greatly influenced education. Proponents of the use of learning styles in education recommend that teachers assess the learning styles of their students and adapt their classroom methods to best fit each students learning style. Although there is ample evidence that individuals express preferences for how they prefer to receive information, few studies have found any validity in using learning styles in education. Critics say there is no evidence that identifying an individual students learning style produces better outcomes. There is evidence of empirical and pedagogical problems related to the use of learning tasks to‘correspond to differences in a one-to-one fashion. ’Well-designed studies contradict the widespread meshing hypothesis, that a student will learn best if taught in a method deemed appropriate for the students learning style. Learning styles are a popular concept in psychology and education that are intended to identify how people learn best. The popularity of this concept grew dramatically during the 1970s and 1980s, despite the evidence suggesting that personal learning preferences have no actual influence on learning results. While the existing research has found that matching teaching methods to learning styles had no influence on educational outcomes, the concept of learning styles remains extremely popular. There are many different ways of categorizing learning styles including Kolbs model and the Jungian learning styles. Neil Flemings VARK model is one of the most popular representations. In 1987, Fleming developed an inventory designed to help students and others learn more about their individual learning preferences. David A. Kolbs model is based on the Experiential learning Theory, as explained in his book Experiential Learning. The ELT model outlines two related approaches toward grasping experience: Concrete Experience and Abstract Conceptualization, as well as two related approaches toward transforming experience: Reflective Observation and Active Experimentation. According to Kolbs model, the ideal learning process engages all four of these modes in response to situational demands. In order for learning to be effective, all four of these approaches must be incorporated. As individuals attempt to use all four approaches, however, they tend to develop strengths in one experience-grasping approach and one experience-transforming approach. The resulting learning styles are combinations of the individuals preferred approaches. For type of the learner, it can classification as 16 different type, as Serialist vs. Holist, Controlled vs. Impulsive, Dependant vs. Independent, Mature vs. Immature, Structured vs. Unstructured, Familiar vs. Unfamiliar, Instructional vs. Experimental, Deep learning vs. Surface learning. To identify what type the learner are, we can uses some of test to calculate it, and this is also a important step, because different type of learner will have stimulus by different learning way. As the way of learning, they were through words, questions, through images, pictures and abstract representations , through music and rhythm, through movements or physical activities, through social interaction and through independence or self-interaction. Those analysis by Gardner, in 1999. For suggest learner to used different way to learn, Riding (1997) to publish that, Cognitive Style, that’s mean an individual’s consistent preferences for particular ways of gathering, processing and storing information and experiences. It is a fusion of methods of thinking and of personality. And he also also warned about the possibility of confusing style with ability in 1997. Those theory bring out one mine idea that everyone who before go to learn, they should to find out what kind of they are, and what method are suitable for first, that is the most important. But this is not a easily even for an experience teacher, that’s why teacher should have a reliable and valid instrument, because some characteristics are not discernable, by (Beaty 1986; Dunn, Dunn, and Price 1977; Marcus 1977 How to Implement and Supervise a Learning Style Program, P. 9). Cognitive Style and learning style two-oriented theories and models mostly in the late twentieth century (1950) proposed that the two are very similar at first glance, very confusing. Jonassen Grabowski (1993) explain the main difference between the two is that learning styles were analyzed only for the learner preferences, without taking into consideration the actual ability of learners. To calculate the type of the learner are, there have few popular method to measure Cognitive Style, and there usually will identify as two big type of style. (Riding,1997 ). They are ‘wholist-analytical(WA)’ and ‘verbaliser-imager(VI) type. The wholist-analytical group are concerned with whether the individual processes and organizes data as a whole or in a piecemeal fashion and the verbaliser-imager group are concerned with whether the individual normally represents information in their memory as pictures or as words during the process of thinking. We can use Belbin test, MBTI test, and VARK Questionnaire test VARK Questionnaire test is a method to analysis a person learning style, basic on their gift and ability, VARK model as well as other learning style theories has been questioned and criticized extensively. One large scale look at learning style models suggested that the instruments designed to assess individual learning styles were questionable, while other critics have suggested that labeling students as having one specific learning style can actually be a hindrance to learning. Despite the criticism and lack of empirical support, the VARK model remains fairly popular among both students and educators. Many students immediately recognize that they are drawn to a particular learning style. Others may find that their learning preferences lie somewhere in the middle. For example, a student might feel that both visual and auditory learning is the most appealing. While aligning teaching strategies to learning styles may or may not be effective, students might find that understanding their own learning preferences can be helpful. For example, if you know that visual learning appeals to you most, using visual study strategies in conjunction with other learning methods might help you better remember the information you are studying or at the very least make studying more enjoyable. So what happens if no single learning preference calls out to you? What if you change preferences based on the situation or the type of information you are learning? In such instances, you probably have what is known as a multimodal style. For example, you might rely on your reading and writing preferences when you are dealing with a class that requires a great deal of book reading and note-taking, such as a history of psychology course. During an art class, you might depend more on your visual and kinesthetic preferences as you take in pictorial information and learn new techniques. There have four item to take a mark, Visual, Aural, Read and Kinesthetic. Visual learner are good at receive of image information some picture as charts, diagrams. illustrations, notes, and videos are all let visual learners easily to remember the information . People who prefer this type of learning would rather see information presented in a visual rather than in written form. Aural (or auditory) learners is good to learning by use of there ears . They more perfer to get a good part out of lectures and are good at remembering speech by people of there mouth. Reading and writing learners more likely to get information through as words. Learning source that are primarily text-based are strongly preferred by these learners. Kinesthetic (or tactile) learners learn best by touching and doing. Hands-on experience is important to kinesthetic learners. Of the outcome of my test of doing VARK test, my result are Visual: 5, Aural: 9 , Read/Write: 2, Kinesthetic: 9, that is mean that im good at aural and kinesthetic. Those of sound and touching thing and resource are effect for me to learning, those are stimulate way for me. That’s mean listing the teacher told and feel the new thing. Belbin test is a analysis method of calculate role of team of a person, this develop by Dr. Meredith Belbin in Cambridge, UK. Its main function are help tester to know himself, from self-character to other people idea of himself. And calculate the tester career development. It can understand the member of the team person working style quickly. Then you can know how to communicate with, and make the performance be more efficient and effect. And the nine type is Shaper (SH), Implementer (IMP), Completer-Finisher (CF), Coordinator (CO), Team Worker (TW), Resource Investigator (RI), Plant (PL), Monitor-Evaluator (ME) and Specialist (SP). As my know of myself, I will describe myself as Implementer (IMP), because its characteristic are Implementers are the people who get things done. They turn the teams ideas and concepts into practical actions and plans. They are typically conservative, disciplined people who work systematically and efficiently and are very well organized. These are the people who you can count on to get the job done. On the downside, Implementers may be inflexible and can be somewhat resistant to change. For my target career as a business administrative, this is suitable for of the role of the Implementer (IMP). MMDI test, full name is Myers Briggs Type Indicator, this test let character describe as sixteen type, this sixteen type include all human behavior, they are 1)ESTJ male chauvinism 2)ESTP challenge 3)ESFJ master 4)ESFP show off 5)ENTJ general 6)ENTP inventor 7)ENFJ educationalist 8)ENFP reporter 9)ISTJ public servant 10)ISTP adventure 11)ISFJ take care 12)ISFP art 13)INTJ professional 14)INTP scholar 15)INFJ author 16)INFP philosopher. Those of them also have benefit and weak point and no one is the best. When I finish the test, I know that im the type of the ESFJ master adventure one, this is different between I estimate one as ESTP challenge one, therefore, ESFJ as Enthusiastic, talkative, popular, responsible natural collaborators, active member of the committee. May be longer than the creation of a harmonious and harmony. Often doing good to others. Encouragement and praise when you get the best work. The main interest lies in those things that have a direct and significant impact on peoples lives. In the analysis, ESFJ is suitable of occupation such as Housekeeping Nurse, Administration, Teachers, Family Physicians, Clergy or other religious workers Office Manager, Counselor, Accountant, Administrative Assistant, this is matching with my target career as administrative.

Stephen Sondheim :: essays research papers

Stephen Sondheim - Biography Stephen Sondheim was born on 22 March 1930, the son of a wealthy New York dress manufacturer. But, when his parents divorced, his mother moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania and young Stephen found himself in the right place at the right time. A neighbour of his mother's, Oscar Hammerstein II, was working on a new musical called Oklahoma! and it didn't take long for the adolescent boy to realise that he, too, was intrigued by musical theatre. Although he subsequently studied composition with Milton Babbitt, he chose to apply what he learned he all-or-nothing commercial hothouse of Broadway. Like Hammerstein, he has written the occasional pop song (with Jule Styne for Tony Bennett) and dabbled in films (Stavisky, Reds, Dick Tracy), but, like Hammerstein, he has always come back to the theatre. His initial success came as a somewhat reluctant lyricist to Leonard Bernstein on West Side Story (1957) and Jule Styne on Gypsy (1959). Exciting and adventurous as those shows were in their day, and for all their enduring popularity, Sondheim's philosophy since is encapsulated in one of his song titles: "I Never Do Anything Twice". His first score as composer-lyricist was A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1962) - a show so funny few people spotted how experimental it was: it's still the only successful musical farce. In the following three decades, critics detected a Sondheim style - a fondness for the harmonic language of Ravel and Debussy; a reliance on vamps and skewed harmonies to destabilise th e melody; a tendency to densely literate lyrics. But, all that said, it's the versatility that still impresses: you couldn't swap a song from the exuberantly explosive pit-band score of Anyone Can Whistle (1964) with one of the Orientally influenced musical scenes in Pacific Overtures (1976); you couldn't mistake the neurotic pop score of Company (1970) for the elegantly ever-waltzing A Little Night Music (1973). Sondheim hit his stride in the Seventies, forming a unique partnership of hyphenates with Hal Prince: a composer-lyricist and a producer-director working together to re-invent the musical. Some were plotless (Company), some characterless (Pacific Overtures), one went backwards (Merrily We Roll Along). But, as his onetime choreographer Michael Bennett put it, before you can break the rules, you have to know what they are - and Sondheim knows America's cultural heritage better then anybody. Follies (1971) is an