Thursday, March 19, 2020

Stereotypes †the Outsiders Essay Essay Example

Stereotypes – the Outsiders Essay Essay Example Stereotypes – the Outsiders Essay Paper Stereotypes – the Outsiders Essay Paper Essay Topic: The Outsiders Ever felt targeted? Witness person be judged by how they spoke? Felt as if no 1 belongs? Is it because they dress. act. or larn otherwise or a certain manner? Most immature grownups go through these types of battles. Stereotypes are preconceived labels subjected on the populace. When adolescents do things out of the ordinary. frock otherwise. or hang out with specific people they tend to be measured up into or against these stereotypes. A common happening in high school. these stereotypes that try to specify adolescents. can impact them either positively or work against us in negatively. When people are labeled it is normally through a stereotype. they are judged on their visual aspect. attitude. personality. and friends along with many other superficial constituents. â€Å"Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age. sex. colour. category. or faith. kids must hold the chance to larn that within each scope. some people are nauseating and some are delicious. † ( Manson ) Characterization is a tool used to picture person through the traits of their personality and association with those around them. Of class. with the clang of characters and imposed stereotypes. struggle between people is about certain. Rivalry. a by-product of struggle and the jurisprudence of endurance is ever at drama within society. S. E. Hinton uses these literary techniques of stereotypes. word picture and struggle throughout the novel of The Outsiders to picture they cardinal subject of competition. In The Outsiders. every character has been classified as â€Å"a greaser† . being stereotyped like that is pretty cruel. When Ponyboy said. â€Å"We both need a haircut and some nice apparels. They’ll know we’re goons the minute they see us! † ( Hinton. 64 ) He admitted to yielding to his stereotype. Proving to the readers that the Greasers were based on their visual aspect. When people see them. they think that because they wear raggedy-down old vesture they are hapless. non of import. juvenile delinquents. Additionally. apart from being judged on their visual aspect. they are grouped together. all being seen as punks with no room for individualism. Ponyboy. Dally. and Johnny met two immature Soc misss at the drive-in film theatre. Dally’s rude and unpleasant attitude gave the two misss a bad first feeling of the Greasers as a whole. Subsequently on. Ponyboy talked to Cherry. altering her position wholly through the deep conversation he has with her. go forthing her wholly astounded at his intellectuality and at the find that the Greaser stereotype she had fitted him into was wholly erroneous. In the beginning. Ponyboy drops the narrative to pass a few pages feeding the readers with a brief sum-up on the characters mentioned throughout the book such as Sodapop. Darry. Steve. Two-Bit. Dally. and Johnny. Ponyboy tells the readers that the ground his group is called The Greasers is because of their long greasy looking hair. â€Å"My hair is longer than a batch of male childs wear theirs. squared off in back and long at the forepart and sides. but I’m a wetback and most of my vicinity seldom fusss to acquire a haircut. Besides. I look better with long hair. † ( Hinton. 1 ) He informs the readers that the ground him and Sodapop have interesting names. is because it expresses the love their parents felt for them and it describes their personalities. He mentioned that Steve is smart and really cocky. Two-Bit neer takes things earnestly. ever jesting about. merely goes to school for the boot of it non to travel to larn or anything. Dally’s existent name is Dal las. he mentions that he’s tougher. colder. and more mean than any other Greaser. Readers are left with the idea that Johnny is frightened. unloved. victimized. abused. and helpless. When a auto full of Socs pulls up. Pony and Johnny seek to run off. Alternatively. those Socs trap them down. As Pony is about to submerge in an ice-cold park fountain. Johnny stabs a Soc. The Soc who was managing pulls him out. Johnny tells Pony that he stabbed a Soc as Pony’s seeking to retrieve his breath. Pony looks over to see a Soc on the land and puddle of blood merely to throw up. To avoid any more jobs they leave and go to an old wooden church far from place. Spending five yearss at that place entirely. they cut their hair to look different from the newspapers. Merely as they were approximately to travel place. the church catches fire. †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢I’ll acquire them don’t concern! ’ I started at a dead tally for the church. and the adult male caught my arm. ‘I’ll acquire them. You kids remain out! ’† ( Hinton. 91 ) Pony explains to the readers that several kids are inside the combustion church and there is non a whole batch of clip to wait for the fire section to come and deliver them. Pony wakes up. in a infirmary bed being reunited with his brothers. He is told that Dally is all right. but that Johnny is in critical status and might decease. When he gets out he’s told that there will be a rumble with the Greasers vs. the Socs. Being in good status. Pony wants in on the battle. Dally is released merely in clip for the battle. After the rumble. Dally got the intelligence that Johnny is deceasing. When he gets to the infirmary to state him the triumph of the bash. he is told that contending doesn’t solve anything and see Johnny’s painful decease. Dally being really disquieted make-believes to be armed and goes to the constabulary merely to be shot to decease. fall ining Johnny. As demonstrated. struggle has arisen in this narrative as a cause of the two opposing forces of the Socs and Greasers. The stereotypes show the cause for misconstruing and how stereotypes are neer right and that a group of people can neer are categorized as the same. True individualism radiances through with the usage of word picture. turn outing the stereotypes to be erroneous. The struggle in this narrative is the effect. the monetary value paid for the competition. which was cause of preconceived impressions and ignorance. Stereotypes are revealed to be false. individualism is at last illustrated through the development word picture throughout the narrative. and the concluding blow out is a representation of what ignorance. labels. and rivalry bring about. Plants CitedHinton. S E. The Outsiders. N. p. : n. p. . 1962. N. pag. Print. Manson. Margaret. â€Å"Stereotype Quotes A ; Quotations. † Think Exist. N. p. . n. d. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //thinkexist. com/?quotation/?instead_of_being_presented_with_stereotypes_by/?327616. hypertext markup language gt ; .

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

The Thirteenth Tale Book Club Discussion Questions

'The Thirteenth Tale' Book Club Discussion Questions The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is a rich story about secrets, ghosts, winter, books and family. These book club discussion questions on The Thirteenth Tale will help you explore Setterfields masterfully created story. Spoiler Warning: These book club discussion questions reveal important details about The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Finish the book before reading on. Books play an important role in The Thirteenth Tale. Discuss Margaret and Miss Winters relationships to books and stories. Could you relate to them? What is your relationship to books? Do you agree with Miss Winter that stories can reveal truth better than simply stating it?The two houses in The Thirteenth TaleAngelfield and Miss Winters estateare prominent in the story. How do the houses reflect the characters who live in them? What do you think they represent?Why do you think Margaret obeyed Miss Winters summons?Miss Winter asks Margaret if she would like to hear a ghost story. Who are the ghosts in the story? In what ways are different characters haunted (Margaret, Miss Winter, Aurelius)?Why do you think Margarets sisters death affected her so profoundly? Why do you think she was able to move beyond it at the end of the novel?After Mrs. Dunne and John Digence die, Miss Winter says the girl in the mist emerges. Did you believe that Adeline had matured? If not, did you suspect the t rue identity of the character? When did you first suspect Miss Winters true identity? Were you surprised? Looking back, what clues did she give you?Do you think Adeline or Emmeline was saved from the fire?What is the significance of Jane Eyre to the story?Do you think it is harder to keep a secret or confess the complete truth?Were you satisfied with the way the story ended for various charactersAurelius, Hester, Margaret?Rate The Thirteenth Tale on a scale of 1 to 5.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Glass ceiling and glass border are terminologies often used to Essay

Glass ceiling and glass border are terminologies often used to describe barriers women might face in the labour market. Do we see any evidence of these barriers disappearing - Essay Example Since little is known about these challenges, there is a lack of coping strategies developed to avert them. This deficiency in coping strategies limits the availability of opportunities for women’s progression to senior management positions by creating both covert and overt barriers (Donald and Hartmann, 2005, p.478). However, with the advent of globalization, issues of gender equity and gender equality are progressively gaining popularity (Donald and Hartmann, 2005, p.480). This has resulted in an increase in women’s participation in the labor force as they progressively get acceptance in professions, careers and occupations previously reserved for men. However, most of the results from the efforts fall short of set targets and expectations (Thomas and Sally, 2005, p.490). This has necessitated a proper understanding of the covert and overt barriers to women’s progression to top management positions. The slow but progressive disappearance of these barriers will form the major part of this document. IHRM is a practice that encompasses all the activities revolving around coordinating employees and their efforts towards attaining pre-determined goals and objectives at a global scale (Thomas and Sally, 2001, p.89). IHRM also entails the process of sourcing for human resources, allocating them appropriate roles, and effectively putting their skill sets to use to maximize on the organizational effectiveness and efficiency of international firms (Thomas and Sally, 2001, p.89). The term â€Å"glass ceiling† is used to describe the invisible and intangible barrier that prevents women or ethnic minorities from getting into top-level management in a hierarchical system (Olga and Rà ­o, 2012, p.160). A glass ceiling can also be defined as a set of attitudes that fosters the unjust prevention of women and ethnic minorities from getting into highly influential positions (Olga and Rà ­o, 2012, p.163). In most organizations, the existence of the discriminatory barrier in

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Critically evaluate the behaviours and traits for effective lead Essay

Critically evaluate the behaviours and traits for effective lead - Essay Example This process can be effective through appropriate management of change to adapt to all the environments of the business. Change management refers to an organized and planned approach that helps to address the various variations that occur in the business environments. This also involves the appropriate response mechanisms for responding to changes that may occur among the workplace because of the changes that the business adopts. Change management involves an outline of a process to follow in order to experience an overall transformation in the whole business together with its employees. This guideline represents different steps that an individual has to adhere to so that the organization and its employees are coordinated towards the process of fulfilling its objectives. Create a Sense of Urgency An organization can only change if it can acknowledge the change. The leaders of the organization and its employees must recognize the need for change. The leaders of the organization partic ularly the managers should strive to inform employees about the need for change in the organization. This is done by developing a sense of urgency in the organization and its employees about the outlined procedures to revolutionize the organization. The management should be able to convince the employees through instilling positive thinking amongst the employees. This can be done by explaining the future circumstances to employees and potential future threats that may necessitate a change. This is to prevent the company from falling into such pitfalls. The company can also examine opportunities that can be possible in the future, if the company adopts different mechanisms of approaching its business environment. The company can give forth-convincing explanations about the change it needs. This is a strong motivator to speech and thinking among employees in order to arrive at the necessary change. This will also attract support from other areas of interest such as customers and other industries that may have interests in the company. This further boosts confidence for the company’s proposal since all parties are able to accept the change (Green, 2007, 167). Form a Powerful Coalition The organization should focus on leading the change to realize change. The company organization needs to bring a group of experienced individuals that are able to further the objectives of the organization towards change. Individuals from different levels of the company’s hierarchy, who draw their power from different sources, should be pooled together because they can offer the necessary advice on how change can be realized. This coalition will offer a priceless effort towards furthering the company’s urgency by build the required momentum towards change (Cameron & Green, 2009, 121). Create a Vision for Change The organization should be able to consolidate its ideas of change and bring it to the individual’s level of understanding. The vision for change should summarize the core values that the organization aims to achieve and should be effectively comprehended by the coalition formed to push for it (Vukotich, 2011, 41). Communicate the Vision The organization should ensure that its vision is thoroughly communicated and embedded in the organization. This is done through frequent expression of this vision in the decisions that the company makes,

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent FMRI Psychology Essay

Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent FMRI Psychology Essay Functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) is the most widely used and powerful method of understanding the brain function and mapping neuroanatomy of the human brain. The most basic fMRI technique is blood oxygen level dependent (BLOD-fMRI). Paramagnetic deoxyhemoglobin in venous blood is a natural contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Basic principles and methodological applications of BOLD-MRI as an introduction are presented in this article, and the relationship between neural activation and a magnetic resonance signal change is represented in much detail. Introduction Functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) is a widely recognized technique for brain mapping and providing the anatomical information of brain activity. It has been demonstrated that this method bases on the local hemodynamic changes that influence deoxyhemoglobin changes in venous blood. Furthermore, susceptibility changes produced by deoxyhemoglobin changes lead to the changes of MR signal strength. This effect is called blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contract (1). High spatial and temporal resolution brain mapping can be structured by this basic method. Currently, it has become the most powerful study of brain function techniques. Compared with the traditional neuroimaging methods, including positron emission tomography (PET) and intrinsic signal optical reflection imaging, BOLD-fMRI can provide high spatial and temporal resolution sufficiently using internal concentration of oxygenation in human bodies as a natural contrast agent. Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) effect was firstly presented by Ogawa etc in 1990. They found that the magnetic resonance signal reduces when the concentration of oxyhemoglobin decreases. Also, their research showed that the reduction of signal not only occurs in blood, but also outside the blood vessels. Thus, they assert that this effect is caused by the property of magnetic field changes. After that, many researchers performed a large number of theoretical and experimental works to summarize the basis of BOLD-fMRI imaging. When neuron is activated, regional cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption volume increase, but there are differences between the two increases, which is that the increase in cerebral blood flow is more than the oxygen consumption. Due to this difference, the venous oxygen concentration in active regions is significantly higher than the surrounding tissue and the concentration of deoxyhemoglobin reduces relatively. BOLD contrast has its origin in the fact that when normally diamagnetic oxyhemoglobin gives up its oxygen, the resulting deoxyhemoglobin is paramagnetic (2). Deoxyhemoglobin is a paramagnetic material which can produce local gradient magnetic field in the blood vessels and surroundings. Hence, it has effect on reducing T2. When brain areas are activated, the effect of reducing T2 decreases result from the reduction of deoxyhemoglobin. Compared with the resting state, T2 or T2* is relatively extended in local brain regions. Therefore, the signal is relatively enhanced on the T2 weighting or T2* weighting functional magnetic resonance imaging maps. Current MRI brain mapping studies all focus on off-on subtraction mode, which is the fMRI signal in active condition minus the signal under control conditions. The signal is extremely weak, and the relative increasing strength is 2%-5% generally. During imaging, the functional image of corresponding brain areas can be obtained if superimposing the high signal in different colors of active area on the high-resolution T1 weighting anatomical maps. This method is called blood oxygen level dependent contrast fMRI due to it depends on the level of oxygen in local blood vessels (1). This article reviews the basic principles and available methodological information and research on blood oxygen level dependent (BLOD-fMRI). This review begins with some basic principles on BOLD-fMRI. Furthermore, the methods for BOLD-fMRI will be described in detail including block design and event-related design. Also, the results of BOLD-fMRI studies will be presented and the advantages and limitations of the current research will be discussed as well. Finally, the key points and important aspects of the BOLD-fMRI will be summarized as a conclusion. Materials and Methods BOLD-fMRI experiment steps include: firstly, make experimental planning and determine the most optimal stimulus or task programs. Secondly, high T1 WL resolution anatomical images and a great number of original images in stimulation and rest states can be obtained by scanning. Lastly, functional active maps should be obtained by experimental data analysis. Block design bases on cognitive subtraction mode to show the stimulus task in block form. A tropical block design contains two basic tasks which are experimental tasks and control tasks, and the two intervals of blocks appear. Task-related brain activities can be understudied by the comparison of regional cerebral blood oxygen reaction through stimulation and control tasks. It is widely used in locating brain function. It is the early main method to do functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments. The advantages are simple and easy to perform tasks. However, the drawback is that the BOLD signal changes larger result in long stimulation time and the high rate of oxygen reaction. In blocked designs, regardless of stimulus presentation or task performance interdigitated with rest, observing the relationship of the time course of BOLD response to activation paradigm is possible (3). Also, more than one image can be obtained during every experimental and rest period. The signal time course should be assumed to be activated, and it can be tested. A simple example is presented in Figure 1(a). Firstly, switch on and off the visual stimulation (black and green) quickly for 10 times. It is shown that the time course of pixels follows the stimulation paradigm. However, the difference between the stimulation and time course is quite obviously (p

Friday, January 17, 2020

How Xerophytes Are Adapted for Water Loss Essay

Biology essay: describe the adaptations shown by xerophytes to reduce water loss A Xerophyte is a type of plant that is well adapted to water. Water loss is something that is very bad for the plants if the ratio of water lost to water taken in is too drastic. The cells may lose their turgidity and may even submit to plasmolysis, which will result in the plant wilting and eventually dying. Water loss via transpiration (loss of water vapour from the aerial parts of a plant due to evaporation) is fundamentally inevitable due to the fact that plants exchange gases with the atmosphere, via their stomata-the pores in a leafs epidermis . The bad aspect of this is the fact that the plants must photosynthesise in order to acquire the energy vital for their survival; for this exchange to occur the plant must be able to allow the gases in and out of the leaves, and to do this the stomata must open, meaning that water can be lost due to the opening of an exit, and also the change in the water va pour potential gradient. Water potential is the measure of the tendency/ability of water to move freely in a solution. Water moves from an area of high water potential to an area of lower water potential, and this is what causes the water vapour in the plant to be lost to the outside atmosphere, due to the difference in the water potential gradient, and we call this â€Å"moving along the water potential gradient†. If the water potential outside the plant was higher than the water potential inside the plant, then the plant would absorb water vapour rather than lose it, but because of the extreme weather conditions, and the difference in water potential the plant loses rather than gains water. The potential of water vapour is the same concept, and simply means the same thing but in terms of the gaseous form of water. Most plants can reduce water loss by structural and behavioural adaptations such as: * A waxy cuticle on the leaf will reduce water loss due to evaporation through the epidermis * The stom ata are often found on the undersurface of leaves, not on the top surface- this reduces the evaporation due to direct heating from the sun * Most stomata are closed at night, when there is no light for photosynthesis * Deciduous plants lose their leaves in winter, when the ground may be frozen (making water less available) and when temperatures may be too low for photosynthesis. However although xerophytes do execute these adaptations, they also have a number of adaptations specific to their own requirements that reduce the rate of water loss. Firstly, the surface area. Xerophytes have much smaller leaves, often shaped like needles. This reduces the surface area of the leaves significantly; hence the total leaf surface area is also reduced. This means that there is a much smaller area for the water vapour to escape from, this works well because the smaller the surface area, the smaller the quantity of water that can escape, therefore the less water lost. The thorn like structures reduce the area exposed for transpiration. Pine trees are prime examples of this, as they have small needle-shaped â€Å"leaves† that h ave a small surface area, therefore are able to retain more water as a result, because less of the area is exposed, and so transpiration cannot occur as abundantly. Next, includes the way mesophyll, the spongy inner tissue of a leaf that is composed of loosely arranged cells of irregular shape, is densely packed together. This reduces the cell surface area that is exposed to the air inside the leaves, meaning that the space for water to have access to is reduced, because the cells are more compact, thus creating a sealed wall where water cannot escape into and less water will evaporate into the leaf air spaces as a result, hence reducing the rate of water loss. A third factor of xerophytes that they have adapted themselves to include the waxy cuticle, which appears on all plants, is a lot thicker than the typical cuticle. The waxiness reduces evaporation further, particularly cuticular transpiration, where water escapes from fissures through the cuticle. This is because the cuticle, found at the epidermal (outermost) layer of cells, is made up of a complex formula of waxy substances known as Cutin, which acts sort of like a waterproof layer to p revent the loss of water from the surface cells, therefore reducing the amount of water that could be lost to the atmosphere. Fourthly, closing the stomata when water availability is low will reduce water loss and so reduce the need to take up water. This is because when the stomata is open for various reasons including gas exchange, water can escape from the openings made by the stomata, this is bad or a plant like a xerophyte which wants to retain as much after as possible, therefore keeping the stomata closed as much as possible increases the plants chances of retaining water, particularly when water is scarce. Next, hairs on the surface of the leaf trap a layer of air close to the surface. This air can become saturated with moisture and will reduce the diffusion of water vapour out through the stomata. This is because the gradient of the water vapour potential between the inside of the leaf and the outside has been reduced, for if there is a â€Å"barrier† of water between the inside of the cell and the out, then the gradient of water potential is significantly reduced, because the difference in water potential is less, hence water will not want to move from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential. Pits containing stomata at their base also trap air that can become saturated with water vapour, and so also reduce the rate of water loss. This will reduce the gradient in the water vapour potential between inside and outside the lea, so reducing loss by diffusion. Behavioural aspects of adaptations that xerophytes achieve include rolling their leaves up so that the lower epidermis is not exposed to the atmosphere which can trap air that becomes saturated. This is another way to reduce or even eliminate the water potential gradient. Another point to make is that some plants have a low water potential inside their leaf cells. This is achieved by maintaining a high salt concentration in the cells. The low water potential reduces the evaporation o water from the cell surfaces as the water potential gradient between the cells and the leaf air spaces is reduced. An excellent example of a xerophyte is marram grass. A dense green plant with protruding spikes that appears in tufts, which you often see dotted along the coastal scenery. Its principal habitat is sand dunes and the conditions are very severe and can be particularly brutal at times, with winds and salty, dry terrain. The features described above mirror a lot of the characteristics that marram grass possess, such as rolling up its leaves to trap air inside as well as a thick waxy cuticle to reduce water evaporation rom surface cells, and hence is a very good example of a xerophyte. In conclusion, xerophytes are very durable plants that have adapted exceedingly well to living in such harsh conditions. Their features allow them to retain water incredibly well, and that provides them with an advantage to living in places such as the desert in comparison with a normal plant.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Biography of Polycarp, Christian Bishop and Martyr

Polycarp (60-155 CE), also known as Saint Polycarp, was a Christian bishop of Smyrna, the modern city of Izmir in Turkey. He was an Apostolic father, meaning he was a student of one of the original disciples of Christ; and he was known to other important figures in the early Christian church, including Irenaeus, who knew him as a youth, and Ignatius of Antioch, his colleague in the Eastern Catholic church. His surviving works include a Letter to the Philippians, in which he quotes the Apostle Paul, some of which quotes appear in the books of the New Testament and the Apocrypha. Polycarps letter has been used by scholars to identify Paul as the probable writer of those books. Polycarp was tried and executed as a criminal by the Roman empire in 155 C.E., becoming the 12th Christian martyr in Smyrna; the documentation of his martyrdom is an important document in the history of the Christian church. Birth, Education, and Career Polycarp was likely born in Turkey, about 69 C.E. He was a student of the obscure disciple John the Presbyter, sometimes considered to be the same as John the Divine. If John the Presbyter was a separate apostle, he is credited with writing the book of Revelations. As Bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp was a father figure and mentor to Irenaeus of Lyons (ca 120–202 C.E.), who heard his preachings and mentioned him in several writings. Polycarp was a subject of the historian Eusebius (ca 260/265–ca 339/340 C.E.), who wrote about his martyrdom and connections with John. Eusebius is the earliest source separating out John the Presbyter from John the Divine. Irenaeus Letter to the Smyrneans is one of the sources recounting Polycarps martyrdom. Martyrdom of Polycarp The Martyrdom of Polycarp or Martyrium Polycarpi in Greek and abbreviated MPol in the literature, is one of the earliest examples of the martyrdom genre, documents which recount the history and legends surrounding a particular Christian saints arrest and execution. The date of the original story is unknown; the earliest extant version was composed in the early 3rd century. Polycarp was 86 years old when he died, an old man by any standard, and he was the bishop of Smyrna. He was considered a criminal by the Roman state because he was a Christian. He was arrested at a farmhouse and taken to the Roman amphitheater in Smyrna where he was burned and then stabbed to death. Mythic Events of the Martyrdom Supernatural events described in MPol include a dream Polycarp had that he would die in flames (rather than being torn apart by lions), a dream that MPol says was fulfilled. A disembodied voice emanating from the arena as he entered entreated Polycarp to be strong and show yourself a man. When the fire was lit, the flames did not touch his body, and the executioner had to stab him; Polycarps blood gushed out and put out the flames. Finally, when his body was found in the ashes, it was said to have not been roasted but rather baked as bread; and a sweet aroma of frankincense was said to have arisen from the pyre. Some early translations say a dove rose out of the pyre, but there is some debate about the accuracy of the translation. With the MPol and other examples of the genre, martyrdom was being shaped into a highly public sacrificial liturgy: in Christian theology, the Christians were Gods choice for martyrdom who were trained for the sacrifice. Martyrdom as Sacrifice In the Roman empire, criminal trials and executions were highly structured spectacles that dramatized the power of the state. They attracted mobs of people to see the state and criminal square off in a battle that the state was supposed to win. Those spectacles were intended to impress on the minds of the spectators how powerful the Roman Empire was, and what a bad idea it was to attempt to go against them. By turning a criminal case into a martyrdom, the early Christian church emphasized the brutality of the Roman world, and explicitly converted the execution of a criminal into a sacrifice of a holy person. The MPol reports that Polycarp and the writer of the MPol considered Polycarps death a sacrifice to his god in the Old Testament sense. He was bound like a ram taken out of a flock for sacrifice and made an acceptable burnt-offering unto God. Polycarp prayed that he was happy to have been found worthy to be counted among the martyrs, I am a fat and acceptable sacrifice. Epistle of St. Polycarp to the Philippians The only surviving document known to have been written by Polycarp was a letter (or perhaps two letters) he wrote to the Christians at Philippi. The Phillippians had written to Polycarp and asked him to write an address to them, as well as to forward a letter they had written to the church of Antioch, and to send them any epistles of Ignatius he might have. The importance of Polycarps epistle is that it explicitly ties the apostle Paul to several pieces of writing in what would eventually become the New Testament. Polycarp uses expressions such as as Paul teaches to quote several passages which are today found in different books of the New Testament and the Apocrypha, including Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, 1 Peter, and 1 Clement. Sources Ari, Bryen. Martyrdom, Rhetoric, and the Politics of Procedure. Classical Antiquity 33.2 (2014): 243–80. Print.Bacchus, Francis Joseph. St. Polycarp. The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York City: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. Print.Berding, Kenneth. Polycarp of Smyrnas View of the Authorship of 1 and 2 Timothy. Vigiliae Christianae 53.4 (1999): 349–60. Print.Moss, Candida R. On the Dating of Polycarp: Rethinking the Place of the Martyrdom of Polycarp in the History of Christianity. Early Christianity 1.4 (2010): 539–74. Print.Norris, Frederick W. Ignatius, Polycarp, and I Clement: Walter Bauer Reconsidered. Vigiliae Christianae 30.1 (1976): 23–44. Print.Pionius, Alexander Roberts, and James Donaldson. [English Translation of ]the Martyrdom of Polycarp. Ante-Nicene Fathers. Eds. Roberts, Alexander, James Donaldson and A. Cleveland Coxe. Vol. 1. Buffalo, New Yokr: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1888 Print.Thompson, Leonard L. The Martyrdom of Pol ycarp: Death in the Roman Games. The Journal of Religion 82.1 (2002): 27–52. Print.