Practitioner Faculty Members at SIPA COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Practitioner Faculty Members at SIPA COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The following blog entry was prepared by Sandhya Chari, an MPA student concentrating in Economic and Political Development. _______________________ When I reflect on what Ive learned at SIPA, I find myself very appreciative of my opportunity to study under adjunct faculty. While the full time professors have been nothing short of excellent, I would never have anticipated the importance or impact of the practitioners in my academic career. Last year, I had the opportunity to take Tools for Advocacy, taught by two professors from George Soros foundation, OSI, and a course in Microenterprise Development taught by a professor who also works full time at Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI). This semester I also have the good fortune of taking a course in Microfinance with a professor who spends the majority of his time working at Oxfam. For me, these courses have all provided that necessary real world touch that I wanted out of my policy education. Of course, I know the importance of economics, statistics and development theory and I enjoy those course as well, however these other classes have offered something uniquely different. They have provided opportunities for real world hands on learning, with more feedback for learning without the risks that come with the real world. Like most of my peers, I worked before coming back to SIPA, but one of the biggest reasons for my return to school was that I wanted a shift in my career. As such, a lot of what I hope to do after graduate school will be new for me. For this reason, it is great to get my feet wet in an academic setting first. For example, I had never before encountered a request for proposal or had the need to apply an advertising campaign to a policy issue. My classes taught by professionals currently in the field have given me the opportunity to do these things. They have presented me with work that is identical to what they deal with every day, and have allowed me to learn the basics of creating these things in an academic environment. Further, they have provided a great meeting point of academic theory and practice. The professors assign the readings that they know shape their work and then show how those readings are regularly applied in their professional environment. This makes the experience of doing the reading much more interesting as it shows direct use and application beyond classroom discussion. In addition to these practical skills, working with practitioners has also allowed for an opportunity to meet with professionals in the fields I am interested in. Having sustained interaction in a non-professional setting with these professors has allowed me to catch a different glimpse into their work lives. It has allowed me also to seek their mentorship regarding career possibilities and to explore other areas that might be of interest to me based on their course or organization. In short, they serve as one stop resources where students are able to learn about their field of interest in setting that is academic and professional at the same time. These classes have been invaluable to my time here at SIPA, in fact this summer I was able to directly use things I learned in my micro-enterprise course. I found my bosses referencing the authors we had read, and I found discussions at meetings focused around topics we studied in the classroom. I had never before experienced a melding of classroom and conference room in quite that way before. Im really thankful that I have the chance here to work with faculty who are in the field I see myself working in some day.

The Growth Of Democracy And Emergence Of Political Parties

1.There were many causes for the growth of democracy and emergence of political parties in early 19th century. To begin with, the expansion of franchise was instrumental in the growth of democracy. This occurred because certain legislatures laid back on their policies regarding who was allowed to vote. Many states started to increase white male suffrage, starting with Maryland, Indiana in 1816, Illinois in 1818, and Alabama in 1819. By the mid 1820s majority of the states had expanding voting rights to all white men, or all that paid their taxes. This is a short term cause of the growth of democracy. A long term cause of the growth of democracy was the American Revolution. The revolution helped weaken the elite power at the top of society.†¦show more content†¦He believed that political parties were necessary to counter leaders from abusing power. His party,the â€Å"†Bucktails† became the first political machines and were able to win control of the New York leg islature. Buren’s success was important cause for the emergence of parties. A long term cause for the emergence of parties was the decline in the power of notables in the 1820s primarily due to the emergence of the expanded franchise. Different political parties started to emerge, and most were lead by professional politicians. We can see that as the power of notables decreased, there was more opportunity for others to create their own political parties which obviously lead to the emergence of new political parties: Key Terms: franchise, political machines, Martin Van Buren, spoils system The expansion of franchise was extremely important in the growth of democracy as well as the emergence of political parties. As property qualifications needs to vote were removed in the majority of the states, white men from lower classes were given a say in who the leaders should. This increased the growth of democracy as more people were given a chance to participate in the politics and elections of America. This is also led to the emergence of parties as the new voters tended to vote for those who were dressed simply and had popular ideas. This would lead to the wealthy notables losing

The Narrator in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man Essay

The Narrator in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man The narrator in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man views himself as invisible because he believes the world is full of blind men who cannot see him for who is really is. In the beginning of the story, the narrator is treated by white men as the stereotypical black male - sex-hungry, poor and violent. These white men are completely blind to what black men really are. However, as the novel progresses, the narrator finds a way to remain invisible, yet take power from those who previously held it. Later on, we find that the invisible man eventually†¦show more content†¦It is rather appropriate that the boys are blindfolded, because it shows how the men view these boys. They dont see these black men for who they are, rather as sub-humans, playthings of the white race. Therefore, the black boys true identities are invisible to the white men, which is where the title o f the book is derived. The blindfolds also speak to how the black men cannot see the ulterior motive these men have. On the surface, the white men seem to be on a mission of goodwill, but the reader quickly sees that the boys are supposed to conform to another kind of characteristic associated with blacks - violence. The fight is an obvious allegory to why blacks are so unsuccessful in trying to gain power. Instead of banding together to fight for black rights, they are instead told by white men that the enemies are other blacks, so the blacks end up fighting themselves. The saying of a divided house cannot stand is particularly relevant in this case because the house (the black race) is unmistakably divided. The boys are finally rewarded for all of their hard work as coins and dollar bills are put on a rug. The blacks begin crawling to the money only to find that the rug is electrified. (The narrator will come back to electricity throughout his progression.) We see that at the very first stage of theShow MoreRelated The Invisible Man Essay example946 Words   |  4 PagesThe Invisible Man Ralph Ellison speaks of a man who is â€Å"invisible† to the world around him because people fail to acknowledge his presence. The author of the piece draws from his own experience as an ignored man and creates a character that depicts the extreme characteristics of a man whom few stop to acknowledge. Ellison persuades his audience to sympathize with this violent man through the use of rhetorical appeal. Ethos and pathos are dominant in Ellison’s writing style. HisRead MoreMetaphors In Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man1235 Words   |  5 PagesMetaphors in Invisible Man Ellison uses many examples of metaphors in his novel to convey invisibility, especially with references to music, imagery, and the use of a nameless character. With literature that challenged the accepted ideals surrounding that time period, Ellison expresses his thoughts by comparing an invisible man to various relatable subjects in life. When the narrator firsts starts on his journey and gets constantly bumped, he states that â€Å"You constantly wonder whether you aren’tRead More Invisible Man Essay: Importance of Setting1087 Words   |  5 PagesImportance of Setting in Invisible Man      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Liberty Paint Factory in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man provides the setting for a very significant chain of events in the novel.   In addition, it provides many symbols which will influence a readers interpretation.   Some of those symbols are associated with the structure itself, with Mr. Kimbro, and with Mr. Lucius Brockway.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first of many instances in these scenes that concern the invisible man and the symbolic roleRead MoreJazz in Invisible Man1464 Words   |  6 Pagesmusic in Invisible Man gives feelings that Ellison could never explain in words. In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the narrator’s search for his identity can be compared to the structure of a jazz composition. In order to see the parallel between the novel and jazz, one must first see how Ellison incorporates jazz music in the prologue of the novel. He not only sets the scene with jazz music in the background but also gives the narrator a deep understanding of music. The music that the narrator listensRead MoreInvisibility in Invisible Man1352 Words   |  6 PagesInvisibility in Invisible Man In order to analyze Invisible Man on any level one mush first come to terms with Ellisons definition of invisible. To Ellison invisible is not merely a faux representation to the senses; in actuality, it is the embodiment of not being. This simply means that for Ellison, his main character is not just out of sight, but he is completely unperceivable. The assertion that the Negro is relegated to some sub-section of society is nothing new; however, never beforeRead MoreRalph Ellison’S Novel, Invisible Man Serves As A Cultural1408 Words   |  6 PagesRalph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man serves as a cultural ethnography of the African American condition in the 1950s. Flooded with issues of signifyin(g), African American folklore, and trickster figures, Ellison’s main theme for the novel is for the narrator to find his own identity in a world defined by whiteness. Specifically, Ellison’s employment of the trickster, a figure that generally bends normal rules and conventional behavior, acts as a cultural â€Å"gift-bearer† that is essential to the readingRead More Invisible Man Essay: Values of the Invisible Man1267 Words   |  6 PagesValues of the Invisible Man      Ã‚  Ã‚   Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man is the story of an educated black man who has been oppressed and controlled by white men throughout his life. As the narrator, he is nameless throughout the novel as he journeys from the South, where he studies at an all-black college, to Harlem where he joins a Communist-like party known as the Brotherhood. Throughout the novel, the narrator is on a search for his true identity. Several letters are given to him by outsiders thatRead More The Search for Identity in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man Essay1107 Words   |  5 PagesThe Search for Identity in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man It is through the prologue and epilogue, that we understand the deeper meanings of Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. The prologue is essential, laying down a foundation that allows us to understand the meaning and reason behind the symbolism and relevance of events the that follow. The prologue allows us to understand the extent and level of intensity the novel is trying to achieve. Acting in the same way, the epilogue further illustratesRead More Betrayal of Self in Ellisons Invisible Man Essay1310 Words   |  6 PagesBetrayal of Self in Ellisons Invisible Man   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man, the nameless narrator is betrayed by a handful of different characters--for this reason his life remains in a constant state of upheaval throughout the novel. Confusion and a lack of personal vision cause the Invisible Man to trust many characters whose designs for him are less than virtuous. Oftentimes these characters betray the Invisible Man, whose reactions to said betrayals form the greater part ofRead MoreThe Real History in Ralph Ellison ´s Invisible Man Essay1831 Words   |  8 Pagesabout the novel Invisible Man. I chose the novel Invisible Man because it is literally perfect for this assignment. I am fully appreciative of the fact that it is extremely hard for any author to publish a novel that does not sway from the â€Å"real† history being referenced. Also, I do not believe that Ellison necessarily wrote this novel with intentions to include exact characteristics of the past, or in an ahistorical way. H owever, throughout the text of the novel Invisible Man, there are several

Emergence of Romanticism Free Essays

The Industrial Revolution and the Emergence of Romanticism The Industrial Revolution was a period of time during the 18th century originating in Europe that resulted in major socio-economic and cultural changes around the world. These changes in part gave rise to the English Romantic spirit, especially in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom’s economic system of manual labor shifted toward a system of machine manufacturing, resulting in the formation of factories and, therefore, modern cities. We will write a custom essay sample on Emergence of Romanticism or any similar topic only for you Order Now It also gave rise to the middle and working classes, aerating more employment opportunities but severely reducing the quality of living for those working, especially those in factories. This wrongful oppression brought on by the manipulation of the impoverished resulted in an intellectual and somewhat political movement known as Romanticism. Romantic artists and authors used their work to communicate the suffering of the people living in the newly industrialized world, and described imagined worlds of beauty and perfection as a form of escape from the harshness that surrounded them. One such artist was William Wordsmith. In his poem â€Å"l Wandered Lonely as a Cloud† Wordsmith uses nature as a form of escapism from the Industrial Revolution. He describes the beauty of a multitude of daffodils and the happiness it brought him. â€Å"And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. † The mere thought of the perfect and serene environment continues to make him happy and makes him forget of the horrible surroundings he lives in. This type of escapism was well-received, allowing a similar feeling to emanate in others who suffered the worst of the Industrial Revolution. The Chimney Sweeper† by William Blake is a two part poem that analyzes the innocence of child laborers during the Industrial Revolution and exposes the manipulation of authoritarian powers. Blake also used escapism to contrast the bleak reality of industrialized Europe to the beautiful world that was promised to those who put up with working in fatal conditions. And the Angel told Tom, if he’d be a good boy, He’d have God for his father never want Joy. † This excerpt from â€Å"Songs of Innocence† shows the lies that the children were fed in order to keep them obedient ND trusting. Blake more directly accuses the authorities in â€Å"Songs of Experience,† the second part of the poem. â€Å"And because I am happy and dance and sing, They think they have done me no injury, And are gone to praise God and H is Priest and King, Who make up a Heaven of our misery. Despite the worker’s mask of happiness and content, he is truly miserable, unbeknownst to his peers and family, who praise those who are slowly killing him. The government uses the trusted concept of God to force those under them to work and produce goods for them that will make them richer. This poem raised many questions about the effects and ethical state of child labor and lead to the eventual imposition of child labor laws. Another author, Thomas Hardy, exemplifies the effects of the formation of the working classes on the average person in his poem â€Å"The Ruined Maid. In the poem, a prostitute and her former acquaintance, a lowly farmer, discuss their ruined states, despite the former looking and acting more sophisticated and well-endowed compared to her previous appearance and attitude as a farmer. Mirror hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak, But now I’m bewitched by your delicate weekâ⠂¬ ¦ † The harlot’s friend compares her new appearance to what she used to be, assuming she’s become more successful, but she believes that she’s been ruined, a belief that she repeatedly expresses throughout the poem. This showcases her distorted perception of reality, believing she has it worse than her hard-working friend, when, in fact, the two live in about the same conditions and are both â€Å"ruined. † In many ways, the emergence of Romanticism was a reaction to the effects of the Industrial Revolution. The writings and artwork of many 19th century intellectuals ND artists were created as a revolt against the inhumane treatment of low class citizens and the unnatural transformation of the environment. They used escapism and imagery to provide a beautiful environment that was uncommon in the reality of the industrialized world and to expose the unjust effects that this new mechanized way of life had on not only the environment, but the people. These artists used the Romantic Spirit to instill a sense of hope within the oppressed and proved that the thoughts of individuals can inspire and fight against the majority, eventually coming out on top. How to cite Emergence of Romanticism, Papers

Philip K. Howard - Have Rules Replaced Thinking Essays -

Philip K. Howard - Have Rules Replaced Thinking Bound by Rules Date: October 5, 2000 THE DEATH OF COMMON SENSE How Law Is Suffocating America. By Philip K. Howard Have rules replaced Thinking? This is the question that corporate lawyer, Philip Howard, asks of American law throughout his work. He argues that rules are simply not enough and that they cannot supercede human judgment. He believes that the excess of government regulations does not only not protect Americans, but in fact can even immobilize them and their ability to take action. Howard's book makes an undeniable point that common sense has been lost in American law and he pleads for a freedom from rules, yet he lacks in the way of solutions to the problem that he makes so clear. Howard's undeniable point, proving the weakness of big government, is reached by relating endless stories of illogical and inefficient governmental bureaucracy. First, the example of New York City laws forbidding Mother Theresa from opening two multi-storied homeless shelters unless she were to install elevators in the renovated buildings. Also, Howard questions the U.S department of Defense spending $2.2 billion dollars to process paperwork for $2 billion dollars worth of travel. Other examples of ludicrous government control include a 33-page manual describing the qualification and uses of a hammer, and contract bidding procedures that inadvertently but obviously encourage corruption. Howard clearly makes his point, that the abundance of rules interferes with common sense and this makes it difficult for citizens to retain any power to make their own decisions. But then again, who would seriously dispute that? The second section of Howard's book explains how the routine of the law has brought us to the point where people argue, not even about right and wrong, but about whether something was done the right way. He sees government playing a referee role more often then it finds itself being the decision maker. Howard again concludes with the same principle by emphasizing the dangerous side effects caused by using government to solve every problem and regulate every process. In the final section of his book, Howard moves on to explore the rights revolution. This is a recent movement in which government has taken on the role of your rich uncle under your personal control and now everyone can be a part of a discriminated-against minority. Rights now exist for the handicapped, for the poor, the endangered species, and even the left handed. Howard believes that these rights weaken the understanding of authority and responsibility, and forces government to continue to help them. This does not result in bringing minority groups into society; in fact it has prevented citizens from working together and caused even more segregation and competition. Howard concludes this final section by encouraging the acceptance of responsibility and the value of compromising and maintaining a balance. The main flaw in the book is not the recognition of the problem, which should be obvious to most people, but in the solution. So, sure Philip Howard presents a wonderful case that proves our legal system is too big; there are too many laws and rights that are infringing on our freedom and hampering our nations prosperity. But what does he offer for a clearly focused solution? A return to common sense is all that he offers. No list of ramifications that would result from loosening the hold of the government is included. Nor is there even a list of areas where government could loosen its hold. The main difficulty lies in the fact that there are no easy solutions to this problem. If you loosen regulation you allow bad judgment. If you tighten regulation you don't allow good judgment. It seems like Mr. Howard doesn't acknowledge the difficulty or near impossibility of solving this problem. The beauty of Mr. Howard's book is the great challenge that it presents to its reader to find a way, any way to bring this country out its stupidity and back to sanity. Emotions will stir at mention of the book even weeks after you finish it. Anger, frustration, and a desire for an answer will drive you nuts. Perhaps, this was Mr. Howard's exact intention? Perhaps, he only wanted to share his thoughts

english literature Essay

english literature Essay english literature Essay both in oceania and gilead, rationalised and controlled temporality is supplemented by the state's attempts to manipulate traces of memory 1984: simultaneous control of personal memory and state history is the founding principle of ingsoc's doctrine member's memories are controlled by a way of lunatic dislocation in the mind (doublethink) the handmaid's tale: physical and symbolic remnants of before are either renamed or completely destroyed offred (herself deprived of name and identity) goes shopping and is haunted by echoes of vanished buildings like everything else in gilead, erasure of the past is distinctly gendered, most of the shops carrying things for men are still open it's just the ones dealing in vanities that are closed money is a thing of the past, it is something to be stuck in a photo album to be remembered As well as tearing down, covering up, and otherwise superseding the material culture of the undesirable past, Gilead, like Oceania, attempts actively to reshape its historiography so that the relation between past and present conforms to proper ideological principles. The Party in Nineteen Eighty-Four uses the discourse of history to posit an absolute, irreducible break between a supposedly ghastly pre-Revolutionary past, and a glorious, utopian present and future. To borrow from Derrida, its historiography consists in a series of â€Å"detestable revisionisms† (90), such as the child’s history text that Winston transcribes into his diary, which contrasts the (supposedly) â€Å"dark, dirty, miserable place† that was capitalist London with â€Å"the

Systematic and Systemic

Systematic and Systemic Systematic and Systemic Systematic and Systemic By Maeve Maddox Mark, one of our readers, requests a discussion of the difference between systematic and systemic. Both adjectives derive from the noun system which, in late Latin, meant a musical interval, that is, a difference in pitch between two notes. While retaining its original meaning, the Latin word came to mean, in addition: a union of several metres into a whole, the universe, body of the articles of faith, an organized whole, government, constitution, and a body of men or animals systematic [sis tuh MA tik] In its most common use by the general speaker and writer, the adjective systematic means Arranged or conducted according to a system, plan, or organized method. A novelist, for example, may have a systematic method of organizing note cards. More specialized meanings of systematic occur in the writings of philosophers, statisticians, and biologists, as the following examples from the OED illustrate: Logic: When the same words are used in sentences which express different kinds of propositions, yet in each case the usage is significant, then these words are said to have ‘systematic ambiguity’ This ambiguity is systematic because it can be formulated according to a rule. Statistics: an error with a non-zero mean, so that its effect is not reduced when observations are averaged. Natural history: Pertaining to, following, or arranged according to a system of classification; of or pertaining to classification, classificatory. systemic [sis TEM ik] Note: Beware the pronunciation. I once heard a radio reporter pronounce it as sus tee mik.) The adjective systemic is chiefly a scientific term meaning belonging to, supplying, or affecting the system or body as a whole. It is often used to refer to a condition that affects the nervous system in particular. Read the labels on your gardening supplies. If your herbicide, insecticide, or fungicide is described as systemic, it kills the pest youre after by entering its system and making its way throughout the plants or animals tissues. In 1961 M. A. K. Halliday came up with the term systemic grammar to describe a method of linguistic analysis. The rationale for the use of systemic instead of systematic in this instance eludes me, but then, so does the meaning of this OED example which records the use of the expression: The grammar that assigns to sentences structures like the one in Fig. 1 is generative fusion of elements of American-style immediate-constituent analysis, European-style dependency theory, and British-style systemic grammar. Unless you are referring to an organism, you probably want the word systematic. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Capitalize Animal and Plant NamesLatin Plural EndingsKn- Words in English