Strengths And Weaknesses Of Policy Cycles Politics Essay

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Policy Cycles Politics Essay The term of policy seems to have broader meaning than what government should do or not to do. Bridgman and Davis (2000, as cited by Colebatch, 2009: 47) define policy as a course of action by government designed to achieve certain results. These series of action is started with thought, moving to actions, and ended with solution. In ideal world, policies are made by government, as representatives of pubic, to eliminate some of social problems. In reality, the policy process is more complex and in certain circumstance it fails to meet the stated goals. Problems throughout policy process mean that policy phase or policy cycle is not necessarily effective in achieving its objectives. However, separately from the weaknesses, policy cycle is a useful tool to guide policy maker in policy-making. This essay will describes the strengths of policy cycle as a tool in making a policy through a good process, and its weaknesses when facing a reality in the complex world. The Strengths The strength of policy cycle in policy process lies on its stages. Each stage in the policy cycle enables decision makers to identify problems, identify and evaluate alternative policies, and selecting the most appropriate strategy. Moreover, Althaus et al. (2007) suggest that policy cycle provide policy maker with an understanding about what they should do since every stage in policy cycle is clear and identifiable steps. As an illustration, in agenda setting stage, policy maker normally set the agenda by checking problems which have emerged and gained a lot of public attention and require government intervention. In this stage policy maker should know what and why there are prevailing problems surrounding certain issues. They also need to analyze social and political context and check whether current policy is effective for being applied to certain issue as well as get the general idea that will be involved in this policy. When a set of policy alternatives have been analyzed, the n ext stage is a decision making which is then followed by implementation. Policy cycle does not stop at policy implementation stage, but continued with evaluation in which the results decision that have been taken are monitored by all parties, both inside government and other groups outside government. Each of these stages can be seen separately and it makes possible for the policy maker to identify, revisit, and reanalyze which phase has been conducted in a wrong way. In addition, stages in policy cycle can be compared separately (Davis et al 1993). For instance, the evaluation stage allows the policy maker to make a comparison between the stated goal and result that have been achieved. The next strength of policy cycle is it is a tool to get more rational decision. The policy process often involves the interaction of many parties, ranging from government itself, researchers, media to politicians (Sabatier 2003). Each of these actors and institutions have different views on an issue and policy cycle accommodate all inputs from these parties and then analyzed more deeply to get the best strategy (Howlett and Ramesh 2003). For example, in the making of energy saving policy which is one of the sensitive sectors policy maker should have a coordination with many stakeholders outside government, such as trade and industry as the parties that concerned with the utilization of energy in production activities, the private sector which have interest with this issue since it relates with the reduction of working hours, and consumer protection as a representative body of the consumer voice. All options and alternative decisions given by all stakeholders are accommodated for dee p analysis before deciding the final choice. The process involves a variety of interests is seen as the strengths of the policy cycle because the decisions are more rational. Good decisions are not solely generated from the implementation of all stages in the policy cycle however policy-making without all stages has less chance of success. As argued by Michael Keating (1996, as cited by Sabatier, 2003) good process does not always bring good policy however bad process leads to bad outcome. Policy cycle is not a series of stages that are fixed from one stage to the next. To get the best possible decision, each stage in the policy cycle could be returned to the previous stage if it is found some mistakes or insufficiency data for decision making. In many cases, the cabinet might ask policy maker to revisit the process of identification and decision analysis because of lack of information received. In addition, the policy cycle stages can be performed repeatedly to get a good policy. For example, it is possible that policy instrument stage to be repeatedly found that if taken the wrong alternative. The Weaknesses Like other approach, the policy cycle has weaknesses. Firstly, it is difficult to generate a decision when external factors, such as politics has entered into the arena (Edward, 2001, as cited in Everett, 2003). In a democratic system, policy is taken not only by the one-governance but it will involve a lot of participant or political parties, as suggested by Davis et al. (1993, as cited in Everett, 2003) that most policies resulting from negotiations between interests. These political leader are not completely independent, they bring the party goals that often does not meet with the government goals. Leaders of the party could demonstrate their interests in almost every step of the policy-making process, either in the early stages such as agenda setting and decision-making which is sometimes led to take longer time to make a decision than what is expected. Not only in the agenda setting stage, these political leaders are also using the implementation process as one opportunity to br ing back the partys interests which are not accommodated in the early stages if they proposed alternative decision is not selected by the government (Howlett and Ramesh 2003). Furthermore Everett (2003) argue that even consultation, which is considered as the most important stage in policy cycle, cannot address controversy among political interest and sometimes fail to finish the policy process with concrete decision. She gives her case study on coal transport infrastructure location as an example of political influence in the content of policy. Secondly, it is un-doubtful that policy cycle is a tool to simplify policy process however this becomes less effective when the reality is more complex and challenging, as suggested by Everett (2003) that policy cycle is normative and impractical in decision making. This view is based on argument that policy process involves many hands from various level of government, and many of them are not addressing the same problem, or even have different ideas about what would be a good answer. All these different ideas and different interests are accommodated in the policy cycle, and sometimes they can slow decision making process or even change the decision. Moreover, good policy is not only determined by a series of stage but also quality of policy makers itself to analyze problems and choose the best strategy, pressures from interest groups, and political situations (Sabatier and Jenkins Smith 1993). It is therefore need more ability to understand activities and interaction of these differ ent parties than a set of stages. Finally, other thing that should be considered in policy process is urgency of policy. In certain circumstance, government should take a decision in a short time without passing all stages in policy cycle. For example, to anticipate the impact of the global financial crisis in Indonesia, the government issued fiscal stimulus policy to support the real sector activities. This policy was made à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹without doing the stages in the policy cycle such as coordination with local governments as one of the recipients of this aid. In addition, the scope of policy also becomes one of consideration that policy cycle is not necessarily applied in policy process. In certain circumstance, some of the issues that emerged were simple problems, it is therefore direct action is more appropriate rather than follow stages in policy cycle, but the same treatment cannot be applied for the problems that have a broader impact. In other words, policy cycle is not necessarily be u sed in every circumstance. Conclusion It is un-doubtful that the policy cycle is a tool to improve policy through effective series of stage. The stages in the policy cycle can provide a systematic framework to policy maker that helps them in the policy process. It also make possible for the policy maker to view each stage separately to determine the best strategy. However, it is arguable that the policy cycle can be applied in complex situations where a lot of interests enter to the arena and influence the policy process, such as politics. The other thing need to be point out is that urgency and scope of policy also become the other consideration whether policy cycle effectively explain the policy process. Despite the policy cycle has its weaknesses, every stage in policy cycle is useful tools in policy process but it does not necessarily meet the real process in decision-making.

Anti Insanity Defense :: essays papers

Anti Insanity Defense The insanity defense refers to that branch of the concept of insanity which defines the extent to which men accused of crimes may be relieved of criminal responsibility by virtue of mental disease. The terms of such a defense are to be found in the instructions presented by the trial judge to the jury at the close of a case. These instructions can be drawn from any of several rules used in the determination of mental illness. The final determination of mental illness rests solely on the jury who uses information drawn from the testimony of "expert" witnesses, usually professionals in the field of psychology. The net result of such a determination places an individual accordingly, be it placement in a mental facility, incarceration, or outright release. Due to these aforementioned factors, there are several problems raised by the existence of the insanity defense. Problems such as the actual possibility of determining mental illness, justifiable placement of judged "mentally ill" offenders, and the overall usefulness of such a defense. In all, I believe that these problems, as well as others which will be mentioned later, lead us to the conclusion that the insanity defense is useless and should be abolished entirely. Insanity is a legal, not a medical definition. Therefore, mental illness and insanity are not synonymous: only some mental illness constitutes insanity. Insanity, however, includes not only mental illness but also mental deficiencies. Due to this, there are problems in exactly how to apply a medical theory to a legal matter (Herman, 1983;128). The legal concepts of mental illness and insanity raise questions in a conflict between what are termed legalistic criminology and scientific criminology: mens rea, punishment v. treatment, responsibility, and prisons v. hospitals. This debate seesaws to and fro amidst a grey area between law and science. The major difficulty with a theory such as mental illness is that it is just that, a theory. To scientists theories are a way of life, but applied to the concept of law theories become somewhat dangerous. By applying a loose theory such as mental illness to law we are in essence throwing the proverbial "monkey wrench" into the wheels of justice. TESTING FOR INSANITY At the center of the legal use of insanity lies the mens rea. Every crime involves a physical act, or actus reus, and a mental act, or mens rea, the non-physical cause of behavior.

Examination Essay

English Language and Literature (Specification B) Unit 3 Talk in Life and Literature 9. 00 am to 11. 00 am Thursday 24 June 2010 For this paper you must have: l a 12-page answer book. ELLB3 Time allowed l 2 hours Instructions Use black ink or black ball-point pen. l Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Examining Body for this paper is AQA. The Paper Reference is ELLB3. l Answer one question from Section A and Question 5 from Section B. l Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work that you do not want to be marked. l Information The texts prescribed for this paper may not be taken into the examination room. l The maximum mark for this paper is 96. l All questions carry equal marks. l You will be marked on your ability to: – use good English – organise information clearly – use specialist vocabulary where appropriate. l l Advice You are recommended to spend one hour on Section A and one hour on Section B, including planning. H/Jun10/ELLB3 ELLB3 2 Section A – Talk in Life and Literature Answer one question from Section A and Question 5 in Section B (printed on page 10). The set plays for this unit are Hamlet, The Rivals, A Streetcar Named Desire and Translations. Read the passage from the play you have studied and answer the question related to it. NB: the questions are different on each play. EIThER Question 1 0 1 Hamlet – William Shakespeare Explore the ways in which Shakespeare presents the theme of falseness in this passage. In your answer you must consider how the playwright uses literary, linguistic and rhetorical devices and conventions to create specific dramatic effects. Where is Polonius? In heaven. Send thither to see. If your messenger find him not there, seek him i’th’other place yourself. But if indeed you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby. king (to attendants) Go seek him there. hamlet ’A will stay till you come. Exeunt attendants king hamlet king Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety, Which we do tender as we dearly grieve For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence With fiery quickness. Therefore prepare thyself. The bark is ready and the wind at help, Th’associates tend, and everything is bent For England. amlet For England? king Ay, Hamlet. hamlet Good. king So is it, if thou knewest our purposes. hamlet I see a cherub that sees them. But come, for England! Farewell, dear mother. king Thy loving father, Hamlet. hamlet My mother. Father and mother is man and wife; man and wife is one flesh; and so, my mother. Come, Exit for England! king Follow him at foot. Tempt him with speed aboard. Delay it not. I’ll have him hence tonight. Away! For everything is sealed and done That else leans on the affair. Pray you make haste. Exeunt all but the King H/Jun10/ELLB3 3 And, England, if my love thou holdest at aught – As my great power thereof may give thee sense, Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red After the Danish sword, and thy free awe Pays homage to us – thou mayst not coldly set Our sovereign process, which imports at full, By letters congruing to that effect, The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England. For like the hectic in my blood he rages, And thou must cure me. Till I know ’tis done, Howe’er my haps, my joys were ne’er begun. Exit Turn over for the next question Turn over H/Jun10/ELLB3 UoR Question 2 0 2 The Rivals – Richard Brinsley Sheridan Explore the ways in which Sheridan presents father-son relations in this passage. In your answer you must consider how the playwright uses literary, linguistic and rhetorical devices and conventions to create specific dramatic effects. sir anthony And it is my wish, while yet I live, to have my boy make some figure in the world. I have resolved, therefore, to fix you at once in a noble independence. Sir, your kindness overpowers me. Such generosity makes the gratitude of reason more lively than the sensations even of filial affection. I am glad you are so sensible of my attention; and you shall be master of a large estate in a few weeks. Let my future life, sir, speak my gratitude: I cannot express the sense I have of your munificence. Yet, sir, I presume you would not wish me to quit the army? O, that shall be as your wife chooses. My wife, sir! Ay, ay, settle that between you; settle that between you. A wife, sir, did you say? Ay, a wife. Why – did not I mention her before? Not a word of her, sir. Odso! I mustn’t forget her though. Yes, Jack, the independence I was talking of is by a marriage. The fortune is saddled with a wife – but I suppose that makes no difference? Sir! Sir! You amaze me! Why, what the devil’s the matter with the fool? Just now you were all gratitude and duty. I was, sir: you talked to me of independence and a fortune, but not a word of a wife. Why what difference does that make? Od’s life, sir! If you have the estate, you must take it with the livestock on it, as it stands. absolute sir anthony absolute sir anthony absolute sir anthony absolute sir anthony absolute sir anthony absolute sir anthony absolute sir anthony H/Jun10/ELLB3 5 absolute If my happiness is to be the price, I must beg leave to decline the purchase. Pray, sir, who is the lady? What’s that to you, sir? Come, give me your promise to love and to marry her directly. Sure, sir, this is not very reasonable, to summon my affections for a lady I know nothing of! sir anthony absolute sir anthony I am sure, sir, ’tis more unreasonable in you to object to a lady you know nothing of. Then, sir, I must tell you plainly, that my inclinations are fixed on another. Sir, my heart is engaged to an angel. absolute sir anthony Then pray let it send an excuse. It is very sorry but business prevents its waiting on her. But my vows are pledged to her. Let her foreclose, Jack; let her foreclose. They are not worth redeeming. Besides, you have the angel’s vows in exchange, I suppose; so there can be no loss there. You must excuse me, sir, if I tell you, once for all, that in this point I cannot obey you. Hark’ee Jack. I have heard you for some time with patience. I have been cool, quite cool; but take care. You know I am compliance itself when I am not thwarted; no one more easily led when I have my own way – but don’t put me in a frenzy! Sir, I must repeat it: in this, I cannot obey you! Now, damn me, if ever I call you Jack again while I live! absolute sir anthony absolute sir anthony absolute sir anthony Turn over for the next question Turn over H/Jun10/ELLB3 U 6 oR Question 3 0 3 A Streetcar Named Desire – Tennessee Williams Explore the ways in which Williams presents the relationship between the sisters in this passage. In your answer you must consider how the playwright uses literary, linguistic and rhetorical devices and conventions to create specific dramatic effects. This extract is not reproduced here due to third-party copyright constraints. H/Jun10/ELLB3Turn over for the next question Turn over H/Jun10/ELLB3 UoR Question 4 0 4 Translations – Brian Friel Explore the ways in which Friel presents love and courtship in this passage. In your answer you must consider how the playwright uses literary, linguistic and rhetorical devices and conventions to create specific dramatic effects. Yolland Maire. She still moves away. Maire Chatach. She still moves away. Bun na hAbhann? (He says the name softly, almost privately, very tentatively, as if he were searching for a sound she might respond to. He tries again. ) Druim Dubh? Maire stops. She is listening. Yolland is encouraged. Poll na gCaorach. Lis Maol. Maire turns towards him. Lis na nGall. Maire Lis na nGradh. They are now facing each other and begin moving – almost imperceptibly – towards one another. Carraig an Phoill. Yolland Carraig na Ri. Loch na nEan. Maire Loch an Iubhair. Machaire Buidhe. Yolland Machaire Mor. Cnoc na Mona. Maire Cnoc na nGabhar. Yolland Mullach. Maire Port. Yolland Tor. Maire Lag. She holds out her hands to Yolland. He takes them. Each now speaks almost to himself/herself. Yolland I wish to God you could understand me. Maire Soft hands; a gentleman’s hands. Yolland Because if you could understand me I could tell you how I spend my days either thinking of you or gazing up at your house in the hope that you’ll appear even for a second. Maire Every evening you walk by yourself along the Tra Bhan and every morning you wash yourself in front of your tent. H/Jun10/ELLB3 9 Yolland I would tell you how beautiful you are, curlyheaded Maire. I would so like to tell you how beautiful you are. Maire Your arms are long and thin and the skin on your shoulders is very white. Yolland I would tell you †¦ Maire Don’t stop – I know what you’re saying. Yolland I would tell you how I want to be here – to live here – always – with you – always, always. Maire ‘Always’? What is that word – ‘always’? Yolland Yes-yes; always. Maire You’re trembling. Yolland Yes, I’m trembling because of you. Maire I’m trembling, too. (She holds his face in her hand. ) Yolland I’ve made up my mind †¦ Maire Shhhh. Yolland I’m not going to leave here †¦ Maire Shhh – listen to me. I want you, too, soldier. Yolland Don’t stop – I know what you’re saying. Maire I want to live with you – anywhere – anywhere at all – always – always. Yolland ‘Always’? What is that word – ‘always’? Maire Take me away with you, George. End of Section A Turn over for Section B Turn over H/Jun10/ELLB3 U 10 Section B – Talk in Life and Literature Question 5 0 5 Text A is an extract from Educating Rita (190), a play by Willy Russell set in a northern university. Frank is a middle-aged lecturer, and Rita his Open University student. She has just had an angry quarrel with her husband, who despises her longing for an education. She is anxious to know what Frank thinks about her essay on Macbeth. Text B is part of a transcription of a university tutorial. The tutor is discussing Julie’s essay with her. Compare the two texts, commenting on the ways in which they reflect the differences and similarities between talk in life and talk in literature. In your answer you must explore the relationship between context, purpose and audience and the ways in which speakers’ attitudes and values are conveyed. End of Questions H/Jun10/ELLB3 11 Text A (breaking away from him): It’s all right – I’ll be O. K. Just give me a minute. (She dries her eyes. ) What was me Macbeth essay like. frank: Oh sod Macbeth. rita: Why? frank: Rita! rita: No, come on, come on, I want y’ to tell me what y’ thought about it. rank: In the circumstances †¦ rita (going and hanging her bag on the back of the swivel chair): It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t; in the circumstances I need to go on, to talk about it an’ do it. What was it like. I told y’ it was no good. Is it really useless? frank sits in the chair. frank (sighing): I – I really donà ¢â‚¬â„¢t know what to say. rita: Well try an’ think of somethin’. Go on. I don’t mind if y’ tell me it was rubbish. I don’t want pity, Frank. Was it rubbish? frank: No, no. It’s not rubbish. It’s a totally honest, passionate account of your reaction to a play. It’s an unashamedly emotional statement about a certain experience. ita: Sentimental? frank: No. It’s too honest for that. It’s almost – erm – moving. But in terms of what you’re asking me to teach you of passing exams †¦ Oh, God, you see, I don’t †¦ rita: Say it, go on, say it! frank: In those terms it’s worthless. It shouldn’t be, but it is; in its own terms it’s – it’s wonderful. rita (confronting him across the desk): It’s worthless! You said. An’ if it’s worthless you’ve got to tell me because I wanna write essays like those on there. (She points to the essays on the desk. ) I wanna know, an’ pass exams like they do. frank: But if you’re going to write this sort of stuff you’re going to have to change. ita: All right. Tell me how to do it. frank (getting up): But I don’t know if I want to tell you, Rita, I don’t know that I want to teach you. (He moves towards the desk. ) What you already have is valuable. rita: Valuable? What’s valuable? The only thing I value is here, comin’ here once a week. frank: But, don’t you see, if you’re going to write this sort of thing – (He indicates the pile of essays. ) – to pass examinations, you’re going to have to suppress, perhaps even abandon your uniqueness. I’m going to have to change you. rita: But don’t you realize, I want to change!

A Token Economy That Supports Both Behavior and Math Skills

A Point System is a token economy that provides points for the behaviors or academic tasks that you want to reinforce either for a students IEP, or to manage or improve targeted behaviors. Points are assigned to those preferred (replacement) behaviors and rewarded on an ongoing basis to your students. Token Economies  support behavior and teach children to defer gratification. It is one of several techniques that can support good behavior. A point system to reward behavior creates an objective, performance-based system that can be straightforward to administer. A Point system is an effective way to administer a reinforcement program for students in self-contained programs, but can also be used to support behavior in an inclusion setting. You will want to have your point system operate on two levels: one that targets specific behaviors of a child with an IEP, and another that covers the behavioral expectations of the general classroom, as a tool for classroom management. Implementing a Point System Identify the behaviors that you want to increase or decrease. These can be Academic Behaviors (completing assignments, performance in reading or math) Social Behavior (Saying thank you to peers, waiting patiently for turns, etc.) or Classroom Survival Skills (Staying in your seat, raising a hand for permission to speak.Its best to limit the number of behaviors you want to recognize at first. Theres no reason you cant add a behavior each week for a month, though you may want to expand the cost of the rewards as the possibility to earn points expands.Determine the items, activities or privileges that can be earned by the points. Younger students may be more motivated for preferred items or small toys. Older students may be more interested in privileges, especially privileges that give that child visibility and therefore attention from his or her peers.Pay attention to what your students prefer to do in their free time. You can also use a reward menu, to discover your students preferen ces. At the same time, be prepared to add items as your students reinforcers may change.Decide on the number of points earned for each behavior, and the time frame for winning prizes or earning a trip to the prize box. You may also want to create a time frame for the behavior: a half hour of reading group free of interruption may be good for five or ten points.Determine the reinforcer costs. How many points for each reinforcer? You want to be sure to require more points for more desirable reinforcers. You may also want some small reinforcers that students could earn every day.Create a Classroom Bank or another method of recording accumulated points. You might be able to make a student the banker, though you want to build in some deterrence to fraud. Rotating the role is one way. If your students have weak academic skills (as opposed to Emotionally Impaired students) you or your classroom aide may administer the reinforcement program.Decide how points will be delivered. Points need t o be delivered continuously and unobtrusively, immediately after the appropriate, target behavior. Delivery methods might include:Poker chips: White chips were two points, blue chips were five points, and red chips were ten points. I awarded two points for being caught being good, and five points were good for completing assignments, returning homework, etc. At the end of the period, they counted their points and rewarded them. After 50 or 100 points they could trade them in for a reward: either a privilege (use of my CD players during independent work for a week) or an item from my treasure chest.A record sheet on the students desk: Use a specific colored pen to avoid counterfeiting.A daily record on a clipboard: This would be most effective for young children who would either lose the chips or not be able to help with record keeping: the teacher can record their daily points on a class chart at the end of the day/period.Plastic money used to teach counting: This would be great for a group that is acquiring money counting skills. In this system, one cent would equal one point.Explain the system to your students. Be sure to demonstrate the system, explaining it thoroughly. You may want to create a poster that explicitly names the desired behavior and the number of points for each behavior.Accompany points with social praise. Praising students will pair praise with the reinforcement and increase the likelihood that praise alone will increase targeted behaviors.Use flexibility when administering your point system. Youll want to reinforce every instance of the target behavior to start but may want to spread it out over multiple occurrences. Start with 2 points for each occurrence and increase it to 5 points for every 4 occurrences. Also pay attention to which items are preferred, as preferences may change over time. Over time you can add or change target behaviors, as you change the reinforcement schedule and reinforcers.