School Counseling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

School Counseling - Essay Example Post the diagnosis, I started seeing my struggles in schools in an optimistic light which led me on a path towards self-exploration and self-acceptance instead of being critical and frustrated for being different. I agree with the implications mentioned by the writer in terms of frustration, depression and low self esteem. Overcoming these hurdles is not easy however the key lies in coming to an understanding about the unique way in which ones mind works. 3. I find commendable the way in which the ADHD is addressed not just from the student’s perspective but also that of the teachers, making the approach suggested much more effective and practical. What I feel works best with this approach is the fact that instead of treating the child like something is wrong with him the student’s hyper-ness is treated like it can be used to create a positive impact on his life when used appropriately. 4. The angle with which the topic is approached is highly plausible; that of addressing the severity and the lack of awareness of ADHD being a genuine flaw of the academic teaching staff – teachers. Their inability to spot a child with ADHD and in some cases be indifferent even when they do seems to be an area of genuine concern. 5. I agree with the core essence of the topic which goes right into the root of the problem as far as emotional and behavioral disorders are concerned, looking at all the right places – family, home life, history and background information. The common example of the girl who internalized her problems leading to cutting herself being one I can highly relate. 6. As much as I appreciate the approach suggested by the writer by taking in a holistic view of the individual’s problem to come up with a tailored treatment approach, focus and goals, what concerns me is the critical role time will play in the approach. Collaboration with the individual’s

Developing a Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Developing a Research Paper - Essay Example It is essential to not commit plagiarism in a research project, and part of doing that means keeping meticulous records of where sources are found. Not taking this step will either lead to committing academic dishonesty by failing to attribute an idea to a source, or lead to much more work as one has to re-research things one has already researched to find where the source originated. Secondly, well structured research projects tend to be more cohesive, as every bit of research relates to the topic, because the groundwork has been done beforehand to ensure that everything is on-point and focused. But most importantly, structure simply makes things easier. If one does not structure a research project correctly (having a research question, doing preliminary research, focusing and so forth) one will waste a great deal of time researching things unnecessarily, backtracking over steps already taken, and so

Gorbachev & Soviet Union Essay Example for Free

Gorbachev Soviet Union Essay The disintegration of the Soviet Union was an inevitable matter, and neither the 1991 coup could have prevented it even if it were successful. There were other factors too that contributed to the disintegration of the Soviet. However, Gorbachev had the power to prevent the Soviet from disintegrating, had he acted in a different way than he did after the coup. The coup fails On 19th August, some of the ministers who served Gorbachev, including the minister of defense, Yazov, the minister of internal affairs, Pugo and the head of KGB (Komityet Gosudarstvjennoj Biezopasnost), proclaimed state of emergency. They announced that Gorbachev’s health was a hindrance to his leadership duties, and that due to the poor political and economic situations in the country, a state committee had assumed economic powers. They also sent out messages that no one should disobey the orders of the committee. The leaders isolated Gorbachev in the president’s holiday villa at the Black sea. They also took over the radio and television stations, and instructed the military to roll over tanks in Moscow. The coup was however a failure as some of its members were not confident that it would be a success. Counterargument The failure of the coup radically accelerated the disintegration of the USSR. Also, all of the major organizations and mechanisms that were holding the USSR together, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the KGB, the military, the police, and the office of the presidency, were weakened. They also could not stop the disintegration of the Union because even before the coup was organized, already there were signs of its failure. Therefore, whether the coup happened or not, the disintegration would have occurred anyway. The failed August 1991 coup gave a sharp impetus to the process of the disintegration of the Soviet Union because by the end of the year the USSR had collapsed. Questions have been asked as to why the armed forces never intervened to stop the collapse of the USSR. The answer to this is because the coup and its aftermath increased splits in the armed forces, particularly along ethnic lines. There was also the belief that the coup attempt would fail and that the instigators of a military putsch would be punished. (Treisman 22) What Gorbachev could have done to prevent the disintegration Had Gorbachev acted differently, had he opposed and imprisoned the radicals instead of flirting with them, the USSR might have survived. The author says that the survival of the Soviet Union hinged on the personal determination of one person- Gorbachev’s ability to take advantage of all the powers at his disposal as president of the Soviet Union. Unlimited power as now concentrated in the hands of the general secretary/ president, who, being endowed with emergency powers could have carried out any reforms, completed perestroika, and achieved the same results within a very short time without disintegrating the Union. Gorbachev, like other leaders such as Yakovlev, or Shevardnadze, is said to have realized that the old system could not be maintained without bloodshed and institutionalized terror. The former leader was surrounded by opportunists, and narrow minded bureaucrats who couldn’t accept the end of their privileges. He did not get rid of his subordinates who were a threat to him and the Soviet. Many people did not want the Union to disintegrate, so they hated him because of his refusal to act despotically even if the stake was the future of the Soviet. Counterargument It is argued that perestroika would have been impossible without the leadership of Gorbachev. However, I disagree with this. Gorbachev would have introduced new reforms and enforced them on people, but this too failed. However, it is likely that the entire history of the Soviet Union would be different if someone else would have been in the position. Someone who understood what really needed to be done. Likewise, if someone outside the party leadership had suggested the sort of reforms that Gorbachev instituted, the powerful politburo would never have allowed the individual to remain in power. Because party officials recognized Gorbachev’s loyalty to the Soviet system and to socialism as a world view, they reluctantly endorsed perestroika. As a result of what would have been seen as mistaken judgment, party officials would therefore be extremely diligent in choosing future leaders of the party and would shy away from charismatic, forward thinking leaders. Instead, they would favor reactionary hard-liners for all leadership positions. If Gorbachev had followed the pattern set by Khrushchev and initiated reforms while keeping the reins of control tightly in his own hands, neither the central government nor the republics would have been in a position to quest or resist changes that resulted from the implementation of Perestroika. Another change that might have prevented the dissolution of the Soviet Union would have been for Gorbachev never to have introduced glasnost, which created an unfettered and critical media that in turn fostered a public ready to revolt. Without glasnost, the actions of Soviet leaders would have remained free of public reproach, and Gorbachev would have been able to force the people to comply with his reforms. An uninformed public would have trusted the Soviet government to act in their best interests. Aware of what Gorbachev could have done differently, the hard-liners would have been determined to avoid those same mistakes. With dissidents again in exile or strictly limited in their contact with the outside world and with tightly censored media, the hardliners would have been able to control ongoing influences on public opinion. All forms of Western media would have been banned from the Soviet Union. However, since the people had been exposed to liberalizing forces, the hard-liners would have been forced to resort to Stalin-like tactics to a stamp out all dissent and terrorize the population into submission. (Treisman 25) Conclusion In general, it could be said that Gorbachev’s strategies of leadership were unsuccessful. Although he made a difference in the history of Soviet Union, it is during his era that the soviet disintegrated. Although there were things that he could have done to prevent this, he preferred leading in his own way. His weaknesses are especially seen where the organizers of the coup were not immediately prosecuted. He was also unable to enforce the reforms that could have prevented the Soviet from disintegrating. He would also have denied people the freedom to demonstrate and rebel against authorities. This never happened, as the soviets had become enlightened and knew demonstrations and strikes were their key to freedom. The history of the Soviet Union should be a good indicator of the reasons why we need to choose leaders we can trust to lead us wisely. Works cited 1) Treisman Daniel, The Return: Russia’s Journey from Gorbachev to Medvedev, Daniel Treisman, 2009

Good Year Tire Corporation :: essays research papers fc

COMPANY BACKGROUND By 1998, Goodyear had a debt of $3.7 billion dollars. From 1995-1998 Goodyear’s principal business was development, distribution, and sales of times for most applications. Goodyear was a multi-product, diversified conglomerate and its’ approach to becoming a global company was having only one single global strategy, instead of tailoring products and distribution to each national market. OVERVIEW OF STRENGTHS Size still matters and Goodyear has size. Its 1999 sales were $12,881,000,000 representing a one-year sales growth of 2%. Its net income was $241,000,000, a lot of money but a decrease of 64.7% from one year earlier. Despite that drop in net income, Goodyear paid a $.30 dividend. Its net income also beat Wall Street’s expectations. It has become the world leader in tire sales as a result of its alliance with Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Goodyear ranks No. 130 in Fortune Magazine’s 500 list of large companies. Its product diversity includes the manufacture and sale of tires, industrial and consumer products from rubber including belts, hoses, and tank tracks, and a wide range of synthetic rubber, resins, and organic chemicals. Goodyear supplies tires to European and North American auto manufacturers and construction and agricultural equipment manufacturers and operates more than 900 retail tire outlets that also provide auto repair ser vices. Like many American manufacturers, though, it has extended its reach to include international markets in order to stay ahead of its competition. It has more than 90 facilities in 30 countries, and world-wide marketing operations. Two attributes that any company desires are brand recognition and brand loyalty. Goodyear enjoys both. Its’ blimps are one of the world’s most recognized advertising symbols. In 1999, it ranked No. 1 in six of eight categories to lead its industry in Fortune’s â€Å"Most Admired List†. Leadership categories included quality, innovativeness, employee talent, social responsibility, financial soundness, and long-term investment. Of these, quality is probably the most important in creating and keeping brand loyalty. Its P/E ratio is 15.95, a very conservative number when compared to Internet stocks, which frequently have P/E ratios of 50 or more. The industry (rubber/plastics) P/E ratio is 13.65 while the broad market (8,000 stocks traded on the NYSE, AMEX, and NASDAQ, has a P/E of 39.46. Another strength is its intangibles, which include a 100,000-person workforce, patents and trademarks. Goodyear owns 2,903 patents and five trademarks (Goodyear, Hi-Miler, Vi per, Vintner, and Allegra). OVERVIEW OF WEAKNESSES In 1999, Goodyear’s sales were down from 1998 in Eastern Europe, Africa Middle East market, Latin America market, Engineered Products market, and Chemical Products market.

Lillian D. Wald

Dear Mr. President, To keep the country running smoothly, the citizens must participate in it. If we, the citizens of the United States, don’t do our part, the government will have full reign over OUR society. Essentially meaning that would no longer be a democracy. That is something that we Americans pride ourselves on, being a democracy. We must ensure that we maintain and keep the rights and freedoms that we have. The purpose of this letter is to ask you to consider declaring a new holiday in the name of Lillian Wald.This day wouldn’t just be to recognize her as a person and all of her accomplishments, but what her accomplishments really were- Civil Rights. Lillian Wald’s achievements stretched from the health field to civil rights for children. Her feats have shed a new light on the American society, inspiring to us all. Lillian Wald was a nurse, social worker, public health official, teacher, author, editor, publisher, and most importantly a civil rights act ivist for peace, women, children, the sick, and many others.She had such an unselfish devotion to humanity, which ultimately made her great. It all started when Wald met a young nurse who inspired her to follow in her footsteps. At the age of 22 she had graduated nursing school and enrolled in the Women’s Medical College to begin studying to become a doctor. During her time in college, she managed to be a volunteer nurse for the poor and less fortunate in New York’s lower east side. While volunteering, Wald saw the need for change. Immediately dropping out of med school, she moved closer to the needy.In 1893 Wald created the Henry Street Settlement. Starting off with the help of 10 nurses, she created a small empire that would expand to 250 nurses that treated 1300 patients per day by 1916. All of this needed some kind of funding. Well Wald took care of that with fund raising and volunteer donations. Also made it a point to make all of this racially integrated. Lillian Wald, with the help of some volunteers, treated and cared for the poor and educated people about health, hygiene, and protecting themselves from diseases. But that’s not all.She had now moved her sights to the New York Board of Education. She had made it a goal to make it mandatory to put a nurse in every school, everyday. Of course, that goal had been accomplished, following it by protecting children further by ensuring that their civil rights had not been forgotten. From children she went to help women, and protecting them from being forced into almost slave labor conditions, making sure divorced women weren’t left without money, and giving them the right to birth control. Did she stop there? Not if her name was Lillian Wald!She was also an anti-war activist and fought whole heartedly for peace. But after those efforts went amiss, she didn’t hesitate to do her part and become the Chairmen for the committee on Community Nursing of the American Red Cross. Major industries were her next target, making sure to protect workers with health inspections, and also making sure a nurse was on site at most job sites and factories. Of course all of this hadn’t gone unrecognized; she had been named in the New York Times 12 greatest living American women in 1922.Also she had received the Lincoln Medallion and proclaimed and outstanding citizen of New York. But all of this was a long time ago, and I’m afraid people have forgotten what she has done, which calls for a reminder. Lillian Wald once said â€Å"We have found, that the things which make men alike are finer and stronger than the things which make them different, and that the vision which long since proclaimed the interdependence and the kinship of mankind was farsighted and is true. †She began her journey to achieve her dreams in 1893 when she came across a situation that needed attention now. Her answer to this problem served as an essential stepping stone to all of her li fe’s accomplishments that in time spanned to an international scale. Without her, health care amongst many other things wouldn’t be where they are today. Considering this information, I ask you Mr. President, to make a new national holiday to be recognized in her name, with the thought of our Civil Rights that she made sure we had.

Climates and Climate Related Factors Essay

Tropical wet climates or wet equatorial climates are usually found in areas near the equator as the name states. These areas include the Amazon, Congo, Southeast Asia and are sometimes found in the trade wind belts. The Koppen symbol for this type of climate is Af. This climate has the smallest temperature range in the world being between 2 and 3.6 degrees. These areas don’t have a dry season because of the close proximity to the equator which covers 5-10 degrees. The weather remains constant being warm and wet year around. Tropical wet climates see 60-100 inches of rain annually and experience convective thunderstorms. This climate is known for being seasonless due to the consistency in day to day weather. The reason for thse constant weather patterns is mainly location. The latitude position allows sun coverage directly above creating uniform insolation. Also, the ITCZ creates the year around humid, unstable air. These weather conditions create oxisol and latosol soils which are the least fertile; however, are an ideal location for tropical rainforests to emerge. Tropical rainforests and selva are home to animals such as birds, reptiles and insects. Those who live in these types of climates may use the weather to their advantage with agriculture, forestry, and with slash and burn cultivation. Tropical savanna climates are found further from the equator extending to 25Â °N and S latitude. The Koppen symbol for this type of climate is Aw. Characteristics that make this climate distinctive is the alternation of a wet and dry season. Locations that experience the Aw climate are Africa, S. America, and N. Australia. Winters in this climate are dry with clear skies and are associated with subtropical highs. The summers are wet with many thunderstorms anf convectional rain of the ITCZ. The tropical savanna sees an average of 35 to 70 inches of rain annually which mostly comes from the summer season. The average annual tempeteature range is 5 to 15Â °. A surplus of the water supply comes during the summer. These weather conditions create a laterite soil type making it an ideal location for grasslands and tall grasses to thrive. These grasslands are home to lions, gazelles and zebras. Those who live in these locations can create ranches with animals or use the wildlife to their advantage for ecotourism. The tropical monsoon climate is similar to the tropical savanna climate in the way they both have wet summers and dry winters. The Koppen symbol for this climate is Aw. This type of climate is found in areas such as southeast Asia, western Africa, northeastern South America, the Phillipines, northeastern Australia, and some islands of the East Indies. It isn’t uncommon to see 30 inches of rain within two or three months in the summer. The annual total rain in inches falls within 100 and 200. There is a surplus of rainfall in the summer and a deficit in the winter. The tropical monsoon climates are dominated by offshore winds and seasonal reversal of winds. Latosol soils, red or yellow in color, are found in the Aw climate allowing deciduous forests with some grasses to grow. Birds, reptiles and insects call this climate home. Those who live in tropical monsoon climate can build plantations, grow rice or sugarcane. The tropical desert climate, or Bwh, is found in North Africa and southwestern Eurasia. Moist winds are kept out of this area by the Andes mountains. These locations are found 25-30 degrees N and S latitude. The tropical desert climate experiences very hot summers and mild winters. The annual temperature ranges 15 to 25Â °F with scarce rainfall typically less than 12 inches. Climatic controls that cause these weather patterns are cool ocean currents that cool any air that comes across it and subsidence from subtropical highs. The desert has aridosol soil which is fertile, but requires irrigation. Snakes, birds, reptiles and rabbits call the tropical desert climate home. Those who call the tropical desert home can create jobs by salt mining. The steppe climate, or Bsh, is very similar to the tropical desert climate and surround the Bwh climates except on the western side. They are found mostly on the edges of the desert. Rainfall is somewhat greater than the tropical desert climate and temperatures are slightly moderated with hot summers and mild winters. The weather system is controlled by cool ocean currents and is affected by the rain shadow of mountains. The steppe climate has short grasslands making it an ideal home to many reptiles, snakes, birds, and rabbits. Chestnut/brown soils allow these grasses to grow. Those who call the steppe climate home may take up cattle ranching to earn an income. The humid subtropical climate, represented as Cfa Cwa and Cwb, is located at 30 degrees latitude on eastern sides of the continents. Some locations that experience this type of climate include North America, South America, and Eurasia. The summers at this latitude are warm and hot, while the winters are mild to cold. During the summer, the average temperature ranges between 75 and 80 degrees. These climates receive convectional rain during the summer and cyclonic rain during the winter. Annual precipitation is abundant between 40 and 65 inches. The location of the humid subtropical climate plays a huge role on the climate. It is located in between and on up tilted side of subtropical high pressure cells. There is gray/brown or yellow podsol soil in this climate allowing forest growth. Forests also bring along the forest animals such as deer, raccoons, and black bears. This also makes it an ideal farming area. The Mediterranean or sometimes referred to as the Dry- summer sub-tropial climate, is known as Csa or Csb. These C climates are located 35 degrees North and South latitude. Some locations that experience this type of climate include Southern Europe, Central Chile, and the South tip of Africa. Summers in these locations are hot and dry with wet, mild winters. Average annual precipitation ranges from 15 to 25 inches. Rainfall in the Mediterranean is cyclonic. A large amount of the precipitation falls in the winter and summers are mostly rainless. These weather patterns are controlled by the subtropical high pressure cells. There is a deficit of rain in the summer and a surplus in the winter. The soils in these C climates can be very fertile if irrigated. The soil is a chestnut/brown pedical which is very dry with an abundance of calcium. Chaparrals thrive in this type of climate. They take on a brown/yellow color in the summer and become green in the winter. Mountain lions, bears, deer, coyotes, gofers and birds call this climate home. These areas are used for agriculture with irrigation in the winter. Moving further from the equator at 40-60 degrees North and South latitude is the West Coast Marine climate. The koppen symbols for this type of climate are Cfc and Cfb. Some major locations within this climate are Western and Central Europe, the Western side of North America, and New Zealand. For this latitude, these areas experience very mild winters as well as mild summers. Westerly winds adjacent to the ocean are the reason for the mild summer and winters. It is wet year around due to oceanic influence with an annual rainfall between 30 and 50 inches received mostly in the winter. Podsol or spotosol is the soil type this climate allowing needle leaf forests with some deciduous trees to grow. Deer, bears, birds and other forest animals call this climate home. These forests may be used people for lumbering to gain a profit on the lands. The mid-latitude desert and steppe climates are also very similar. First, the mid-latitude desert climate, or Bwk, can be found distant from the ocean and surrounded by mountains. Some of these locations include central Eurasia, North American and southern South America. The Bwk region receives most of its precipitation during the summer when warming is occurring. This warming also causes the ice to melt and create more of a water supply. The winter is dominated by severely low temperatures and anticyclonic conditions. These low temperatures create a much lower annual temperature range than the subtropical desert climate. The most fertile soil in the world is found in the mid-latitude climate allowing grasslands to grow. These grasslands are home to grass eating animals and the lands are used for animals to graze. The mid-latitude steppe climate, or Bsk, isn’t much different from the desert climate. It’s mainly used as a transition between desert and humid climates. Some areas that experience these climates are in found in the interior southwest of the United States such as Colorado. The temperatures in the Bsk climate are similar to the desert climate; however, have more precipitation and lesser temperature extremes. These climates are similar in the way that they are both grassland oriented, home to grass eating animals, and the land is used for animals to graze. Moving even farther from the equator, between 35 and 55 degrees North and South latitude, is the Humid Continental climate, or Dfa, Dfb, Dwa, and Dwb. Eurasia and North America are a couple locations that have this type of climate. They experience long, very cold winters and hot summers. Precipitation is not high ranging only between 20-40 inches. Westerly winds and storms, especially in the winter play a key role in the weather conditions. The average winter month temperature is usually between 10 and 25 degrees F. Gray-brown podsols are found in the humid continental climate as well as prairie grasses and mixed forest, deciduous and evergreen. There is a large variety or mammals and birds. The humid continental climate is ideal for farming. 50 to 70 degrees North and South latitude is the Continental Subarctic climate, or Dfc, Dwd, Dfd, and Dwc. Locations that experience this climate are Western Alaska across Canada, Eurasia, and Scandanavia. There are extremely cold winter conditions in these D climates with a light amount of snow that falls during the winter; however, little melting takes place until the summer. Cyclonic storms alternate with prominent anticylonic conditions. The annual precipitation is 5-20 inches. Also, continentality is also a key factor in the reason for the cold winters and hot summers. The absolute annual temperature variation has sometimes been as dramatic as -90 degrees F to 98 degrees F. Podsolization occurs here making the soil cold and wet. This is an area where evergreen trees will thrive and be a home to animals such as deer, birds, bears and elk. Many people use these locations for forestry. The last two climates are Tundra and the Icecap which are both cold climates. The Tundra, or ET climate, is located pole ward of the margins and occupies small coastal areas in the Antarctic. The warmest month will only reach up to 32 degrees F making it extremely difficult for plant life other than small bushes and grasses to grow. The ET climate experiences long, cold winters and cool summers. Most of the precipitation falls during the summer, but is less than 10 inches annually that falls mostly in the form of snow. There is a low evaporation level due to the low temperatures. Tundra soil is found in these climates. Polar bears and some birds can tolerate the coldness of the ET climate and many people use these animals for fur trapping. The last climate is the Icecap or EF climate. Antarctica and Greenland are two locations that experience these freezing weather conditions. 50 degrees F is the average temperature of the warmest month found on the very edge of the Tundra. More towards the center of the tundra, temperatures don’t exceed 32 degrees F. There is a sparse amount of precipitation in this climate with only less than 5 inches all in the form of snow. The cause for these freezing temperatures is mostly the latitude location. Also, the distance from sources of heat cause cold temperatures. There is no soil type here, with no vegetation and no economic activity.

Monster A critical analysis Essays

Monster A critical analysis Essays Monster A critical analysis Essay Monster A critical analysis Essay Essay Topic: Film Monster is possibly the most powerful film anyone could ever wish to see. In terms of using a punch to deliver its message this film is the Tyson of this cinematic generation of films. This movie pushes the boundaries of thematic content and attempts to do what few films are brave enough to do, i. e. humanise a serial killer. It is the performance, if calling it that does it enough justice, of Charlise Theron, which makes this boundary pushing not only possible, but also successful. This essay will take a look at this complex story and attempt to examine its relationship with the plot, specifically how the plot is constructed and how it distinctly tells this story. In attempting to create a film like monster, the filmmakers are faced with very real challenges. Now every film it can be said, is challenging to make, but a film this complex, this real, and this emotionally demanding is always going to be tricky. The filmmakers are trying to portray a specific message, that is to say monster is very thematic in its story content. It takes a look at the influences in a persons life, which might possibly lead up to that person going so far as to commit murder. The danger with this is that it could come across as though the film is justifying the murders. I feel that Patty Jenkins manages to strike a balance between overly sympathising with Aileen and making us judge her, rather giving some sense of understanding. She does this by showing Aileens human side and by telling her very complex story in a passionate, real, often hard-hitting way. The problem with telling a biographic story is that the real plot might not naturally fit a specific plot structure, but the filmmakers have managed (however accurately, Im not sure) to construct the plot of Monster in an incredibly detailed, thoughtful and emotionally engaging way. While the story itself spans perhaps twenty years, the plot highlights the most dramatic events and constructs them in such a way, in such an order so as to drive home the themes and messages of Monster in the most accessible and poignant way. The first act begins with the young Aileen. Aided by the voice over narration we learn some of the necessary background information, detailing Aileens tragic childhood. We are given clues as to how and why she started prostituting herself as well as her social/economic background. These all lay a strong foundation from which the story and our understanding can be built on. The first few scenes of the young Aileen hook us into the story. We hear about how Aileen dreamed of becoming famous, of rising out of her situation. They also hint toward the tone and mood, i. e. the genre of the film. It is through this clever use of narration that we can closely identify with, i. e. become familiar with her attitude to life, her world and history of dilemmas. We hear how she always wanted to be taken to a new life, and would do anything (anyone) who she thought might help her get where she wanted to go. These words echo with us as we dissolve forward to the life of the adult Aileen, leaving us to fill in some of the gaps, guessing how messed up her life must have got. We enter Aileens adult life with a lonely shot of her sitting by the highway. This is very appropriate as the previous shot was of her as a teenage girl getting into the car of a strange man on the side of a main road. We can guess that this pattern has been ongoing and we pick up with the adult her having just finished with a client. Soon thereafter the plot takes us right into the inticing incident. In a lonely roadside bar we meet Salvie, a lesbian girl who herself has been searching for something, love and understanding. It is this confrontational meeting of Salvie and Aileen which propels the plot forward. It introduces a brand new element into Aileens life, which sets it off on a changed course we later learn that she was contemplating suicide. At first Aileen is unsure of her how she feels about Sylvie, but it is after Sylvie has invited her out that night, that she realises she has potentially found the friend she never had and always wanted. They go out to the ice rink and soon find themselves involved in a passionate love-making session outside. Suddenly Aileen has found direction. She wants nothing more than to be with Sylvie. This leads up to the first act climax and first major turning point. Aileen returns to the highways to ply her trade, in order to make much needed money. A dubious looking customer soon picks her up. Then in a very disturbing scene, he beats and sodomises her. She manages to free herself and using his gun, shoots him, and then drives off with his car and money. This plot point sets the scene for the rest of the movie. Aileen has committed murder. The atrocities committed to her fuel her hatred for men, which will motivate her to continue her murder spree. She also discovers a means to make lots of money. She also has a goal, for the major plot of the movie is surrounding her murders, indeed, the Sylivie/Aileen plot is also a major plot, but the two plots are so intermingled that it is hard to see them as mutually exclusive. Nonetheless, this climax takes us straight into act two, as Aileen Rushes to make her appointment with Sylvie. After some convincing Sylvie agrees to run away with her and spend at least one week with her. There is a lull in the pace as we see a montage of them renting a hotel, going out, living the dream life they had both always wanted. But soon there is a minor set back. Sylvie goes home to get some cloths and is confronted by her aunt who reprimands her. Sylvie manages to not be deterred and passes the test of her character growth (or de-growth) as she chooses to go her own way with Aileen. Then comes another plot point. In an emotional, reminiscing scene, Aileen tells Sylvie how she always wanted to be president and that she was once told that all you need in life is Love and to believe in yourself. This motivates Aileen to go out and look for a real job. She is extremely unsuccessful and the old Aileen resurfaces as she loses her cool with an obnoxious potential employer. Straight thereafter Aileen is picked up by a corrupt cop who forces her into a sexual favour. These two scenes refocus the plot. We can see that Aileen can do nothing but prostitute herself and they also re-affirm her hatred for men, which will drive her onto more murders. By about the half-way point of the movie, Aileen reaches a point of no return. In a previous confrontational scene in which Sylvie accuses her of not providing for them, Aileen had told Sylvie about the first murder, but she agrees to go out and whore for money. The point of no return comes when in a car with the guy; she hesitates, hesitates, then pulls out her gun and shoots him. She is now a murderer. She knows again what her goal is; survival by murder. She feels that she is doing it for Sylvie and indeed shows us that she loves her in her own way. In a powerfully passionate scene and no-return point in the Sylvie/Aileen plot, Aileen tells Sylvie that she loves her and the two make love. The rest of act two involves a few more murders and some set backs in their relationship. Sylvie goes out to the bar attempting to meet new people, and upsets Aileen. They go to funworld and things look on track once again, as they also make plans for their trip to the Florida Keys. All good times must come to an end, and this happens as, in what is in my opinion the act two climax, they have a car crash and end up on the run. Aileen tells her about the murders and they now have a new clearly defined goal, that is to avoid capture. Act three especially the last fifteen minutes are extremely intense and engaging. The story continues as previous but at a more intense and emotionally engaging level. Sylvie in a surprising and lady MacBeth look a like scene, tells Aileen that she just needs to carry on killing as they need to live. In the most extreme depiction of the murders, Aileen kills a John who was very benign and just wished to help her. Then she mistakenly kills a cop. They realise that things are getting out of hand and Aileen sends Sylvie on ahead or home (not sure) so that she can meet up with her later. She is ultimately however picked up by the cops. The film doesnt relent there as we are dragged ever closer by the power mostly of Charlises performance and specifically the parallel editing in the jail scene. Aileen and Sylvie have a phone conversation, and they both profess their undying love. Matching the very subtle, slow camera movement away from Sylvie, is her ever more dubious questioning. It is a very sudden, very tragic moment when the pennie drops and at various times the audience become aware of the betrayal, albeit understandable, taking place. It is even more tragic to see Aileens response as she admits solely to the murders, saving her only true love of any punishment, thus conveying beautifully the films major theme of the desperation love can drive you to. In the final shot of Aileen being led to the electric chair, her narration is heard. The last hard-hitting message comes as, commenting on something she had heard when she was young about reaching your dreams, she says cynically I guess they have to tell you something. Upon first watching it, I failed to realise how structured this movie actually was. But it is through movies like this that my faith in the Hollywood formula is being reborn. This movie is by no means boring, tiresome or old. It is just perfectly structured. From the first frame it grabs you by the collar and engages you in a two-hour ride of emotions. It is an incredibly difficult story to tell. It deals with issues that many feel are better left undelt with and thus does not appeal to everyone. We are not forced to like Aileen. There are constant emotional checks that cause us to examine our sentiments. Indeed we can pity her, but not necessarily forgive or excuse her behaviour. What this movie does do and I feel this was the filmmakers intention is get us to think a little harder about our own life, our treatment of others our place in society and those less fortunate than us. It also makes us think a bit more before judging someones actions, as we dont necessarily understand their background. It makes us question what a monster is, and if indeed a monster is ever a monster or just someone similar to us who has had a life to tough for them to handle. The judgements to these philosophies are left up to the audience to make, but the reason theses themes and questions are put across so powerfully in this story is definitely in large part as a result of the construction of the totally engaging plot.