Abridging Cultural Differences in Learning Essay Example for Free

Abridging Cultural Differences in Learning Essay The world is not only composed of different races that come from different countries but also comprised of innumerable cultures unique from each other. Races from all around the world are greatly diverse. The diversity includes differences in practices, traditions and other cultural manifestations. Culture is one of the distinguishable characteristics of a group of people living in society. Culture is embedded in the community and is illustrated in various forms. In fact, even architectural design depicts culture of people in a particular place. Culture shapes and reshapes a persons individuality. It is influenced by various factors including socio-political, sociological, religion, and historical. Culture continually conform and mold to provide the ever-changing needs of the people in the society. The difference in cultural identity of the people could be attributed to the inherent beliefs, traditions and practices they adhere or grew up with. It is also due to the geographical locations of where we live because culture should match or fit to the geographical and topographical characteristics of the place. For these characteristics greatly affects some aspects of the culture. Learning Styles Learning plays a big role in the lives of people for it is essential in acquiring knowledge that is utilized in understanding things. Learning is an inherent human ability that is honed by factors that affects this particular human process like parenting, formal schooling, experience etc. The process of learning is never-ending, as people reach old age they still acquire new things like information and knowledge they will be able to utilize in some way. Learning has biological and sociological aspects or dimensions. These aspects affect learning either in a positive or negative way. Students may have different processes in taking in information and different ways of learning. Teaching strategies and methods also vary among teachers. Whenever teacher-student education style methods and preference are the same, learning is more likely successful. When there is an existing discrepancy in the learning style preferred by both students and teachers, the students tend to get bored and become inattentive to the lessons (Felder). Every individual have their preferred way of learning things. They are often unaware of this particular preference, they are just aware that they learn more of things that way. People tend to learn more using certain activities and methods than others (Melkman Trotman, 2005). The learning style preferences determine how people learn and the comfortable way in which they were able to learn more. These preferences exert influence learning efficacy (Melkman Trotman, 2005). Some of the biological aspects of learning are sound and light (Shalaway Beech, 1998), some people could not digest the things they should learn in the presence of loud noise and dim light, while there are some people who understand more of the lesson under that certain circumstances. The perception of an individual also affects the learning process of an individual. State of mental health is also another aspect that affects the learning process in which we determine if a person could easily learn the things being taught to them. This is where we could separate fast, average and slow learners. Developmental and sociological aspects that affect the cognitive processes include motivation (Shalaway Beech, 1998), in which some persons need to be motivated in order to digest what is being taught. Being in the in-group also one of the factors that is mostly seen in the school setting where students are more eager to go to school when they are not ostracized by the cliques or social groups. In most classroom settings, noise is not tolerated. Teachers react negatively whenever students squirm or wriggle in their seats, whenever they tap their desks with their pencils or whenever they show restlessness. However, studies prove that some children need such activities for then to able to concentrate, think and learn (Shalaway Beech, 1998). Research shows that when the learning preference of the children, either their biological or sociological aspect, there is a notable increase in achievement and behavioral response. Teachers also have individualized learning styles that affect their way of teaching. When the learning styles of the teacher and students happen to be the same, the more the students will learn (Shalaway Beech, 1998). Various sources discussed many types of learning style preferences. The three main learning style preferences are the auditory, visual and kinesthetic. The auditory learning style explains that some students learn more using their sense of hearing. They tend to get oral instructions easily. The visual learning style, on the other hand, explains how some students tend to learn more using their sense of sight. They are the students who frantically take down notes and copy down keywords from visual aids in class. The kinesthetic learning style explains why some students opt to learn on their own. They tend to learn more through experience and discovery (Learning Styles, 2005). Cultural Differences and Learning Culture and learning are two inseparable things (Moore and Anderson, 2003). The innate cultural identity of a person tends to affect their learning capabilities through influencing their learning styles. Researches find out that cultural groups tend to have unique learning styles that are different from other ethnic groups. But there is also a contrasting finding that members of the family tend to have different learning styles. Instructors and learning facilitators should be aware of three important things. 1. There are existing universally accepted learning principles, 2. Culture greatly influences the learning styles of individuals, 3. Every person has their distinguishable learning style preferences that affect their potential achievement and acquired knowledge (Moore Anderson, 2003). Culture could be held responsible in the developed learning style of an individual. Culture determines the preferences and values a person holds. United States is a multiracial and multicultural society in which the normal classroom is composed of people coming from the different ethnic groups (Shalaway Beech, 1998). Oftentimes, we are having a difficult time understanding people who have dissimilar taste and preference, because we know that there is no commonality or common ground that that two person could talk about. We tend to be biased in some way. Cultural differences are persons strengths, knowing the cultural background of the student will greatly help us to facilitate and induce classroom learning (Shalaway Beech, 1998). The knowledge in the cultural diversity and how it influences the learning process is very important especially to the course designers because there is an inevitable possibility that a group of individuals have different learning styles preferences (Moore Anderson, 2003). The negative implication of the culturally diverse classroom setting is composed of individuals with various learning style preferences. The instructor or learning facilitator have no control over the heterogeneous mixture of learning styles for it is difficult to develop a mixture of training methods and teaching strategies for all the students to learn in class. Conclusion Learning is among the fundamental human process very essential in life. The process of learning occurs in every setting and outside the confines of school and we are unaware that it happens. Culture is the embedded characteristic deeply rooted in society. It somehow defines the social identity of a person. Culture shapes individuality and influences the different aspects of a person, including tastes and preferences. Variety is the spice of life. The global society is composed of different races and cultures. Cultural differences are reflected in learning style preferences. The negative implication of cultural diversity in a classroom and having too many learning styles is that the teachers do not know what teaching methods they should used in order the students to learn the subject. Knowledge in this particular matter is very important especially to learning facilitators and course designers to develop a comprehensive and efficient teaching method to be utilized in classrooms in which ever student’s learning style is utilized. In this way we will be able to abridge cultural differences in learning. References Felder, R. Learning Styles. Resources in Science and Engineering Education. Retrieved June 25, 2008 from http://www4. ncsu. edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Learning_Styles. html. Learning Styles. (2005). Student Development Services. University of Western Ohio. Retrieved June 25, 2008 from http://www. sdc. uwo. ca/learning/index. html? styles. Melkman, A. Trotman, J. (2005). Training International Managers: Designing, Deploying and Delivering Effective Training for Multi-Cultural Groups. England: Gower Publishing Ltd. Moore, M. G. Anderson, W. G. (2003). Handbook of Distance Education. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Shalaway, L. Beech, L. (1998). Learning to Teach: Not Just for Beginners: The Essential Guide for All Teachers. New York: Teaching Resources/ Scholastic Professional Books.

The History Of Microsoft Windows Since 1981 Computer Science Essay

The History Of Microsoft Windows Since 1981 Computer Science Essay Since 1981, Windows has preserved the leading position in the operating system league, outweighing opponents such as Linux and MAC OS. In the course of the time, it has improved its services in order to provide the best quality to its customers. The trend from the creation and establishment of the first desktop operating system to the finalisation of the windows family into a more advanced group of mobile technologies and operating systems can be regarded as an immense triumph for the well known type of software. As a historical start-up point, it should be mentioned that Microsoft Windows announced on November 1983, an extension of MS-DOS that would make available graphical operating environment. This was only just the beginning. The first version of Windows (Version 1.0) was launched on the 20th of November 1985. This DOS Shell-like version included a minimal amount of Windows Application such as a simple painting program, a word processor, an appointment calendar, a card filer, a notepad, a clock, a control panel, computer terminal, clipboard and RAM. These applications were able to be communally multitasked but the function of overlapping windows in the course of Windows software was not yet possible. The software used for Windows 1.0 was way too simple and for that reason it failed to success in the market. After the failure of the first version, Windows released the second version of Windows (Version 2.0) on the 7th of December in 1987. Microsoft used the 286 intel processor, which extend memory capabilities and allowed users to overlap windows. The graphics were improved and it could use a series of keyboard combinations in order to circulate quickly through operations. Microsoft came out with a new release 2.03 exploiting the protected mode possessing additional memory capabilities of the intel 386 processor. As the time was passing by new windows releases were constantly modernised and developed. The third release of windows was back in 1990 and it was regarded as a great success for Microsoft. The Windows 3.0 came out with highly developed graphics (16 colours) due to VGA video cards. It also offered a variety of new features and applications and an improving multitasking using virtual memory. This was the most victorious version so far having repercussion on the market by selling over 10 million copies all around the world. After the third release Microsoft came out with Windows NT 3.1 in 1993. The modification that appears in the name is the NT which stands for new technology. Microsoft tried to develop a satisfactory operating system both in home and business editions using 32-bit on this version. However Microsoft used many similar features to windows 3.1, like overlapping windows. The same year Microsoft released Windows for Workgroups 3.11 which was a version of Windows 3.1 but it was networking aware. It had peer-to-peer workgroup and domain networking support. They mainly used by local area network and on standard PCs and laptops. In 1994 Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 3.5 which was basically Windows NT but much more improved. This product had better application support and was very keen to print servers. Another important improvement was that it had the capability to save long file names up to 255 characters. After the Windows 3.1, Windows for workgroups and MS-DOS, Microsoft came out with Windows 95. It was the first version of Windows which did not possess the necessity to install DOS being a much more improved interface with TCP/IP which supported dial up networking and mobile computing. The particular improvement consisted of 17 cabs and the full version of 28 cabs. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 circulated on 1996 and integrates the Windows 95 user interface with several bundled server processes. It was considered as a UNIX substitute and it consisted of over 16 million lines of code. After this release Microsoft announced that Windows NT would no more have the initials NT and the next release would be called Windows 2000. Windows 98 was an advance edition of Windows 95. This product included Internet Explorer 4 and it contained a variety of facilities in its arsenal including support from USB to ACPI power management, reading DVD discs and open/close applications in faster modes. It was consisted by 69 cabs and had a faster registry handling. Microsoft launched Windows 98 Second edition in 1999. There had been a series of new instalments with the most vital being the addition of Internet connection sharing, which let a number of machines on a local area network to share a single internet connection. Furthermore it was easier for the user and many problems which found in the first version were fixed. In 2000 Microsoft introduced the Windows Millennium Edition which improved multimedia and internet tasks. The system restore was presented for the first time. System restore offers the advantage to the user to restore his system to a previous point which it was working effectively. Another important feature was the Windows Movie Maker. The Millennium edition was the last version of Windows that based on the Windows 95 code base and the last release does not contain Product Activation. In October 2001 Microsoft released Windows XP which was the result of integrating Windows NT/2000 and Windows 95/98/Me. The initials XP stands for experience which represents the features you can use. The users had the benefit of enjoying music, movies, messaging easier than the other versions. However Windows XP had serious security problems that lead Microsoft to release three very important service packs. Service pack 1 was released in September 2002, Service pack 2 on August 2004 and the final release was in April 2008. Windows XP offered a variety of versions. The home edition for desktop and laptops, the professional for business and power users, the media centre which was related to entertainment, the tablet pc edition, the x64 that used on 64 bit operating system with the processor AMD64 and the final release was XP 64-bit edition which maintained 32-bit compatibility all the way through a software emulator and included quite similar features to the XP Professional version. Microsoft released Windows Server 2003 on April 2005. This product provided a series of new security features and a Manage Your Server application which was used in order to set up a machine for specific roles and achieved an enhanced performance. Some applications of less importance for the server edition were disabled and users had to enable them by themselves if it was to their desire. The acceleration for display, Windows audio and Themes Service were disabled. The Windows Server was available in six editions which were web, standard, enterprise, data-centre, small business server and storage server. All editions were available in 32bit and 64 bit except the Web version and the Small Business Server release. As was programmed, the release of windows vista occurred on the 30th of November 2006 for commercial use and for the general public on the 30th of January, 2007. An overall description of the new windows vista main purpose is that Windows Vista intended to have enhanced security by introducing a new restricted user mode called User Account Control, replacing the administrator-by-default philosophy. One of the major differences between windows vista and windows XP is that the original start button was replaced with just the windows icon. Furthermore vista consists of new graphic features, the Windows Aero GUI, new applications (such as Windows Calendar, Windows DVD Maker and some new games including Chess, Mahjong, and Purble Place,[8] Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11 and in addition a large number of underlying architectural changes. Vista has six editions. The starter, home, home premium, business, enterprise, ultimate. All these editions are available both 32 and 64-bit releases. The major benefit is that 64-bit can break the 4 gigabyte barrier in addition with the 32-bit which cannot fully access. Windows Server 2008 came up on the 27th of February. It had new virtualization technological and security features which existed on Windows Vista and it was considered as more successful that the previous version. Windows Server 2008 is considered to be the best solution for the information technology infrastructure. The final and current version of Windows is 7. It has more rapidly booting than Vista and a theres huge improvement on window management. Windows 7 is available now in six editions. The starter which is available on new PCs only, home basic, home premium, professional, enterprise which is offered only to business customers and the ultimate one which has limited availability to original equipment manufacturers . All versions are available on both 32-bit and 64-bit. There are many rumours about the next release of Windows. Theres nothing official yet but the next major release expected to be in a few years. Microsoft Windows is inevitably of great importance in the operating system sector and since its establishment, it has completed substantive steps striving for improvement until nowadays. The fact that the specific operating system is the main selling one in the market should not be regarded as a mere consequence but rather as a proof of the hard work imputed within the quality section of the whole scheme. Moreover, the rapid improvement in the proportionality of the quality, marketing and overall, the modernisation trend of the business is of great praise and admiration.

Athena the Greek Goddess :: Greek Mythology

Athena Athena was the virgin daughter of the great god Zeus and she was also one of the great Olympian deities. Not only was she the goddess of wisdom but she was also the goddess of war and the patroness of arts and crafts. Which led her to be a great leader Athena was born beside the river Triton where she was nurtured by 3 nymphs. One of the nymphs Was her playmate, Pallas. When she was just a girl, Athena accidentally killed Pallas. As a token of her grief Athena put the nymphs name before her own, so she was often know as Pallas Athena. Athena was endowed with much wisdom from her mother Metis, which means cunning. Because she enjoyed war and was a fierce warrior she used her intelligence for military strategy I will give you 3 examples of how Athena used he military cunning to pass challenges:- The first is the Trojan War: For ten years the Greeks tried to capture the city of Troy, but its walls were invincible. Athena inspired Odysseus to build a hollow wooden horse. He was to make the horse taller and Wider than the main gate of Troy so the Trojans had to destroy their own wall to bring In the gift from the gods, so they thought. The next example was when the hero Perseus was forced to fight the Terrible Gorgon Medusa. Nobody was able to kill her because if you looked directly at her You would turn to stone. Athena gave Perseus a highly polished shield so he could look at her Since he was looking at her reflection and not her face he did not turn to stone stone and was able to kill her. The 3rd example was when Hercules was forced to clean the filthy Augean stables. He was so overwhelmed by the filth that he couldn't do it. Athena then guided him into Changing the course of the Alpheus and Peneus rivers so that they would flow through the stables And thus wash them for him. She also had a city that she was the patron goddess of. Athens, the city named after her to this day. She competed with Poseidon, god of the sea, to become the patron god of Athens. Their contest took place on the Acropolis. which is a Large flat hill in the middle of the city. The winner was the one who could give the better gift to the people.

Kilgore Trout as Kurt Vonneguts Alter Ego :: Biography Biographies Essays

Kilgore Trout as Kurt Vonnegut's Alter Ego In 1922, two residents of Indianapolis, Indiana had a son who would later become one of the premiere writers in 20th century American literature. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was born to Edith and Kurt Sr. on November 11, 1922. He graduated from Shortridge High School in 1940, attended Cornell University for a year, then joined the army. He fought in World War II and was captured by the Germans in 1944. As a Prisoner of War, he lived through the firebombing of Dresden, an event which inspired his acclaimed novel, Slaughterhouse-Five. After he returned from Europe in April of 1945, he married Jane Marie Cox and spent several years studying at the University of Chicago and working as a reporter for the Chicago City News Bureau. In 1947, he went to work at General Electric Corporation as a research laboratory publicist. He worked there for 3 years until he left to become a full time writer in 1950. In the past 47 years, he has become one of the most acclaimed writers of our time. Kurt Vonnegut's first novel was entitled Player Piano and was published in 1952. Since then, he has written over a dozen other novels, collections of short stories, a collection of essays and interviews, and a play, Happy Birthday Wanda June. He spent 1965 in residence at the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop and taught writing at Harvard in 1970. He also was awarded a M.A. degree from the University of Chicago. Vonnegut currently appears on the Barnes and Noble Booksellers bag and is featured on a Visa commercial in which he buys a copy of one of his own books. If one looks through Vonnegut's works, one will find many occurrences of reoccurring characters, settings, and themes. Perhaps one of the most frequently occurring characters is Kilgore Trout, an obscure science-fiction writer with a small but

Blood Imagery in Macbeth Essay -- Macbeth Essays

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a story taken from Scottish history and presented to the Scottish king James I. Shakespeare took this gory tale of murderous ambition, however, and transformed it into an imaginative tale of good and evil. Shakespeare brought about this transformation by relying upon â€Å"imaginative verbal vigor† that imbeds itself in the brilliantly concentrated phrases of this literary work. Critics have dubbed it his darkest work, along with King Lear. In his critique of Shakespeare’s works and plays, Charles Haines describes Macbeth as â€Å"one of Shakespeare’s shortest plays, containing just 2,108 lines.† He further states that it is a vigorous, headlong drama, a relentless spectacle in red and black. (Haines, p. 105) This red and black spectacle reveals itself to the reader and audience through the use of blood imagery. Blood, or the imagery attached to it, appears 42 times in this play. This imagery of blood begins as a representat ion of honor and progresses into one of evil, then guilt, and finally returns to represent honor.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The symbolic use of blood roots in the opening lines of Macbeth when Macbeth accepts honor for his bravery in battle. Duncan sees the injured captain and says, â€Å" What blood is that?† (Act I, Scene 2 line.1) The captain says that Macbeth’s sword â€Å"smoked with bloody execution.† (Act I, Scene 1, line. 20) Here the captain describes Macbeth’s sword that is dripping with warm enemy blood and steaming in the cold morning air of the battlefield. The blood on the sword signifies valiant fighting by a brave soldier. At this point, King Duncan glorifies Macbeth. The bloody sword gives birth to this reverence. In his unique style of presentation, Shakespeare’s two references to blood allude to the honor that Macbeth earns in battle for his king. This was the highest of honors for a soldier. At this point, he becomes â€Å"brave Macbeth.† King Duncan rewards his bravery and victory by giving him the title of Thane of Cawdor. Ironically, this title was available because the previous Thane of Cawdor experienced execution for treason. Therefore, the first bloodshed earned Macbeth respect and a title. (123helpme.com, PG 1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After this advantageous victory, Macbeth listens to the three witches as they make predictions of the immediate future. Macbeth and his lady then set forth a chain of... ...ctions to the blood they have spilled. Finally, in a true Shakespearean twist, blood once again represents honor and victory at the end. This tragedy therefore ends with the same form of blood imagery as it began. However, the character that kills Shakespeare’s first character to gain honor through the shedding of an enemy’s blood wins the honor. Works Cited 1.) â€Å"Use of Blood Imagery in Macbeth.† 123helpme.com 23 April 2012.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  https://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=5720.htm. 2.)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Macbeth.† Zecscrab 24 April 2012.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www,zekscrab.users.50megs.com/Cummings/Shakespeare/Macbeth.html. 3.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shakespeare, William. â€Å"Macbeth.† Elements of Literature. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Austin: Harcourt Brac & Company, 1996. 301-382. 4.)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Haines, Charles. William Shakespeare and His Plays. New York: Franklin Watts, Inc., 1968. 5.)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Shakespeare’s Macbeth.† CliffsNotes West, Alex. Foster City: IDG Books Worldwide,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Inc., 2010.

Breadcrafter’s breads Essay

This business plan is a tightly constructed, succinct consideration of all factors relevant to launching this bakery. From rent charges to competition and seasonal changes to costs per loaf, this plan hasn’t left anything out†¦all without being overly verbose. This exemplary plan is very focused and complete, which will help the business stay on course. Breadcrafter’s breads will stand out from the competition due to their uniqueness and outstanding quality. Most of the breads are European in style, including Sourdough, Miche (a traditional French whole wheat bread), and Sourdough Rye. These breads are made by the sourdough method which uses no added yeast. This method imparts a rich flavor, which can be tangy or mild, as well as a toothsome inner crumb and a crackly crust. By using this method, a skilled baker can create truly delicious breads without added fats or sugars, making many of Breadcrafter’s products 100% fat free. Sourdough breads also have an extended shelf life, remaining fresh for days without the use of preservatives. Breadcrafter will also offer specialty breads, which will be made in the sourdough way with the addition of such luxurious ingredients as Parmagian cheese with fresh ground pepper and dried Michigan cherries with roasted pecans. Spent Grain Bread, made with barley leftover from beer brewing, is another unique product that Breadcrafter will offer. Two varieties of French style baguettes will be offered fresh daily, a high demand product that is available nowhere else in the area. Breadcrafter will also produce White and Wheat Sandwich Breads with soft crust and a tender crumb for traditional American Style sandwiches. As the needs of the customer change, so will the lineup of Breadcrafter’s products. The bakery equipment is chosen with versatility in mind. After establishing the business, Breadcrafter will research the possibility of producing sandwiches to increase revenues. This investment would require approximately $1500.00 for the purchase of equipment and ingredients. The company will also pursue wholesale contracts. Toothsome Foods Company has indicated interest in a contract to produce two Christmas products on a per loaf basis, Cherry Chocolate Fruitcake and Midwest Christmas Stollen. These products can help generate revenues in the slower Autumn months. The proprietor will also consider producing some of Toothsome Foods’ current lineup of Handmade Breads on a wholesale basis. Read more: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/Business-Plans-Volume-05/Bread-Bakery-Business-Plan.html#b#ixzz2IzCX4Wxt

Nelson Mandela Essay

The world leader I have chosen to write about is Nelson Mandela:  Nelson Mandela’s rise in the political arena can be traced back to his years as one of the leading members of the African National Congress, otherwise known as the ANC, beginning in 1944 (Mandela, 2009). The ANC was one of the oldest South African civil rights unions. The union’s primary purpose, the freedom and equal rights of all black citizens from the practice of apartheid–South Africa’s then legalized form of racism–was a natural draw for Mandela.Mr. Mandela describes in his own words the deciding moment when he joined the ANC: I had no epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment of truth, but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights, a thousand indignities, a thousand unremembered moments, [that] produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people (Mandela, 2009). Mandela’s desire and drive helped sustain him in the diffi cult years ahead. After joining the ANC and creating its first youth league (Mandela, 2009). Mandela went on to organize many nonviolent protests and civil disobedience demonstrations throughout much of the country.Growing in popularity, these campaigns were eventually deemed illegal by the National Party–the white supremacist government in power at the time–and ultimately led to the imprisonment of Mandela in 1962 (Mandela, 2009). Although many people advocated for his release throughout the years, it was from his own prison cell twenty years later when Nelson Mandela finally negotiated his own freedom and began the long, tedious, yet peaceful process of creating a new government for the South African people. Working together with South Africa’s new president, F.W. de Klerk, Mandela negotiated heroically in the creation of a new and non-discriminatory government.The two men made history on September 26, 1992 when they signed the Record of Understanding, a docum ent formalizing their agreement to create a new, non-racial, democratic government freely elected by the people (Mandela, 2009). Nelson Mandela went on to become the first freely elected President of South Africa and continued the hard work of rebuilding his country. He served his presidency for five years, stepping down from politics in 1999. Although removed from public office, Mandela continued to  advocate for issues important to his country; issues such as AIDS, poverty, and human rights. Again, Nelson Mandela worked tirelessly on behalf of his people, receiving numerous rewards throughout the years, until he formally retired from public life in 2004 (Mandela, 2009).As a result of his life’s work, Nelson Mandela forever changed the social view and practice of apartheid in his country. Politically, his efforts resulted in the first non-discriminatory, democratic (majority rule) government for South Africa. Therefore, I find these to be the two most significant social an d political changes that occurred as a result of Nelson Mandela. Task B.The individual I have chosen to write about is Martin Luther King, Jr.:  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was known as a religious reformer and civil rights activist who rose to greatness during the civil rights movements of the United States.Dr. King began his career as a civil rights activist in 1956 (About Dr. King, n.d.) when he was hired as a spokesman for the Montgomery Bus Boycott; a campaign organized and fully supported by the black community of Montgomery in protest of the segregation of the city bus lines. This boycott, which lasted for 381 days, ended successfully with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring racial segregation in public transportation unconstitutional (About Dr. King, n.d.). This landmark protest would prove to be but one of the many successful campaigns Dr. King would lead throughout his lifetime.In 1958, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) elected Dr. Martin Luther Kin g, Jr. as their president (About Dr. King, n.d.). The SCLC’s mission of providing guidance to the growing civil rights movement (occurring throughout much of the south) served as the perfect platform for Dr. King’s message. From here, Dr. King would go on to organize many campaigns, most of them occurring in Birmingham, Alabama, then described â€Å"as the most segregated city in America† (About Dr. King, n.d.).Drawing from the nonviolent teachings of Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. King’s peaceful protests and civil disobedience demonstrations were televised in stark contrast to the brutality of Birmingham’s police force. The televised beatings of young black protesters proved too much for the nation to bear, prompting congress  to begin legislation on behalf of the civil rights movement in 1962 (About Dr. King, n.d.).Although the Birmingham demonstrations led to the writing of his open and now famous â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail;† an articulat e, well written manifesto of Dr. King’s beliefs and actions (About Dr. King, n.d.), time would show that Martin Luther King, Jr.’s greatest moments were still to come. In 1963 Dr. King gathered more than a quarter-million people to Washington D.C.’s National Mall for the â€Å"March for Jobs and Freedom,† now commonly referred to as the â€Å"March on Washington† (About Dr. King, n.d.)It was here that Dr. King delivered his legendary â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, firmly placing himself on the world stage as a social and political leader, as well as becoming the youngest man–30 years of age– to receive the Nobel Peace. As a result of all the publicity Dr. King drew to the civil rights movement, congress soon passed the historical 1964 Civil Rights Act, and soon after the 1965 Voting Rights Act (About Dr. King, n.d.); sweeping legislation declaring it illegal to discriminate against blacks or any other minority people, and removi ng any obstacles obscuring blacks of their right to vote.After the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Dr. King carried on with his work, choosing to focus on economic justice and international peace. Tragically, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated while visiting a motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968 (About Dr. King, n.d.).Through his work, Dr. King introduced our country to the practice of â€Å"nonviolent† demonstrations, socially changing the way many people participate in protests even today. Due in part to his nonviolent campaigns, Dr. King’s efforts resulted in the passing of the Civil Rights Acts, one of the most significant political changes occurring in the history of our country. Therefore, I find these to be the two most significant social and political changes resulting from the actions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.