Islamic Faith Shia and Sunni Muslims

Introduction `Islam is a religion that has significantly influenced the history of the world and in the future, its impact will not decline. Thus, it might be necessary to discuss the historical background of this religion and its major tenets. Moreover, this paper is aimed at examining the divisions within Islam, in particular, Shia and Sunni Muslims. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Islamic Faith: Shia and Sunni Muslims specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the whole, the analysis of these questions can help us better understand contemporary Islam and its interactions with other religions of the world. This understanding can be important for modern globalized societies in which people representing different religious beliefs live together. Historical background of Islam The origins of Islamic Faith can be traced back to 610 when Muhammad received his first revelation from an angel. Some scholars believe that this date is the beginning of this religion (Senturk, 2005, p. 5). However, at that time, Muhammad did not tell many people about these revelations. Only in 613 he entered Mecca as a prophet and began his preaching, but his preaching did not appeal to many people. In fact, local authorities were opposed to it (Senturk, 2005, p. 5). In order to avoid possible threats to his life, Muhammad went to Medina where he gathered many of his followers. Yet, at that point, Islam as a religion was not represented by any institutions. These ideas were mostly spread by Muhammad and his pupils. The position of Islam became much stronger in when the Caliphate was formed. It was a theocratic state in which religious leaders played a key role (Senturk, 2005, p. 5). It should be noted that Muhammad strived to reconcile the tensions existing between various Arabic tribes. By avoiding these blood feuds, Muslim leaders were able to solidify various tribes and establish a state. Therefore, during the time of Muhammad, Islam was one of the factors that contributed to the growth of the state. Since that time, Islam began to spread to Africa, South-East Asia, and Europe, in particular the Iberian Peninsula. Certainly, this history of Islam is much richer, but the described events significantly shaped the development of this religion. The principles of Islam, the duties of Muslims, and prohibitions The Five Pillars At this point, it is vital to discuss the core tenets of this religion. The Five Pillars can be regarded as the cornerstone of Islam since they include the main ideas and rules that every Muslim has to accept and follow. The first and probably most important pillar is called Shahadah. Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It means declaration of ones faith in omnipotent and omniscient God or Allah that can control the existence of every living being. Furthermore, Shahadah im plies the belief in angels, the sanctity of religious texts, and the righteousness of prophets. Finally, according to this principle, Muslims must acknowledge Muhammad as the greatest profit of Allah (Anderson, 2007, p. 24). Thus, Shahadah is the key element of this religion. Every rule or prohibition that exists in Islam stems from this principle. The second element is Salat. The word can be translated as a prayer. In this case, it denotes a set of prayers that a Muslim has to say every day (Anderson, 2007, p. 24). The third element is referred to as Zakat. This tenet obliges every Muslim to help people who can suffer from poverty. It should be noted that alms-giving is one of the responsibilities for every believer. The fourth component of Islamic Faith is Sawn. The word denotes fasting during Ramadan (Anderson, 2007, p. 24). Finally, one has to mention the firth pillar which is Haji. It implies that every Muslim has to take make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime (Anderson, 2007, p. 24). Thus, one can say that the Five Pillars of Islamic Faith refer to both ideological and ritualistic aspects of this religion. They explain what kinds of beliefs are obligatory for every Muslim and how this person should confirm his/her faith. This is one of the first issues that people should learn about Islam or the behavior of Muslims. Additionally, one can mention some of those religious principles that may distinguish Islam from other religions of the world. For instance, unlike Christians, Muslims regard Jesus only as one of the greatest prophets, but not as the Son of God (Anderson, 2007, p. 65). This idea is incompatible with the premise that God is indivisible and monotheistic. It should be noted that Muslims do not agree with Jews who do not see Jesus or Muhammad as prophets or religious leaders. Thus, Islam may take its origins in the Judeo-Christian tradition, but in several ways, it differs from this tradition. Non-Muslim people should take int o account these distinctions in order to communicate with Muslims without any conflicts. Duties and prohibitions Islam imposes several duties upon a practicing Muslim. As it has been said before, this person has to care about impoverished and homeless people. Secondly, this individual must take care of orphans or those women who cannot support themselves. Furthermore, Muslims must respect every form of life and find peaceful ways of resolving any conflicts or disagreements. These are some of the main obligations that Muslims have to fulfill. Therefore, these people have to reach high moral standards.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Islamic Faith: Shia and Sunni Muslims specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The discussion of Islamic Faith should include the prohibitions that this religion imposes on the believers. First of all, one should mention complete unacceptability of idolatry or worshipping other gods because s uch behavior contradicts the very principle of monotheism (Anderson, 2007, p. 24). Furthermore, according to the rules of this religion, a Muslim man is not allowed to marry a woman who does not belong to the Judeo-Christian tradition. In other words, she must practice either Judaism or Christianity (Anderson, 2007, p. 84). In turn, a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry non-Muslims. Secondly, these prohibitions extend to eating habits, for instance, a Muslim is not allowed to eat pork or drink alcoholic beverages. Additionally, the use of drugs is strongly condemned in Islam (De Piano, 2002, p. 348). Overall, Islam favors moderation in every form of behavior, and every violation of this principle is prohibited. Additionally, the rules of Islam affect sexual relations. In particular, they forbid premarital sex. Finally, Islam influences economic life of those states in which the majority of the population are Muslims. For examples, in these countries the banks are not allowed to lend money with interest since policy is considered to be unethical. This issue should be kept in mind by people who do business in Muslim countries. These examples indicate that Islam really permeate personal, social, and even economic life. These prohibitions cannot be reduced only to some ritualistic aspects of this religion, since they can profoundly influence both individuals and societies. Divisions within Islam As a religion, Islam is not homogeneous; it has several internal divisions or denominations. In this case, one can speak about Shia and Sunni Islam (Akhter, 2009, p. 171). This division emerged in 632 mostly due to a political dispute. After the death of Muhammad, some Muslims believed the leadership should be passed to the members of his family and Imams who were allegedly chosen by God. This view was advocated by Shia Muslims. In contrast, their opponents argued that religious and political authority should be acquired by one of those people who followed Muhammad an d supported his ideas (Akhter, 2009, p. 171). These people were called Sunni. In their opinion, Muhammad’s successor did not have to be his relative. The failure to resolve this dispute resulted in the first civil war in the Caliphate (Akhter, 2009, p. 172). Later this political schism affected the religious practices of Shia and Sunni Islam. For instance, in Shia Islam Imams usually play a very important role. Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They are believed to be community leaders who set an example of faith and pious behavior to every other person. They act as important public figures. In turn, Sunni Muslims believe that Imams should be regarded only as religious scholars who interpret of the meaning of the Quran. Yet, they should not significantly affect public life of the state. Furthermore, one should mention that these religious groups have different attitudes toward hadiths. These are the collection of sayings or ideas that are normally ascribed to Muhammad. This is why some Shias can disagree with hadiths if they were recorded only by Sunni scholars. The division between Shia and Sunni Muslims can be illustrated demographically. For example, Shia Islam is mostly practiced in such countries as Iraq, Bahrain, or Iran. In turn, Sunni Islam is widespread in African countries, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or the UAE. Overall, Sunni Muslims constitute the majority of those people who practice Islam (Akhter, 2009, p. 173). Although, this schism took place many years ago, it still affects the life of many countries, especially at the time when military conflicts break out in the Muslim states. Thus, this religious division is still relevant to theologians, researchers, and even policy-makers. At first, it is vital to understand the under-lying causes of this division in order to avert possible conflicts. In popular opinion, Muslims are mostly associated with the Arab world, for instance, such countries as Saudi Arabia, Iran, or the United Arab Emirates. Nevertheless, Muslims also live in those countries where Islam is not the dominant religion. In this regard, one can refer to Russia, India, France, Israel, and so forth. This is why one should not assume that Islam can be reduced only to the Arab world. Muslims are a vibrant and expanding religious community can play an important role in every society. This issue is particularly important in the modern age of globalization when national borders begin to disappear. Conclusion This discussion has several important implications. First of all, it shows that Islam is a complex and dynamic religion that can play different roles in different societies. Although, it was influenced Judeo-Christian tradition, it has a unique set of beliefs, principles, and traditions. It began to evolve in the Middle Ages, when the majority of states were only in the stage of formation. Nowadays, this religion can influence political, social, and cultural life of a society. Reference List Akhter, S. (2009). Faith Philosophy of Islam. Delhi: Gyan Publishing House. Anderson, K. (2007). Islam. New York: Harvest House Publishers. De Piano, F. (2002). Religious Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy: East Meets West. London: Routledge. Senturk, R. (2005). Narrative Social Structure: Anatomy of the Hadith Transmission Network, 610-1505. San Diego: Stanford University Press. This essay on Islamic Faith: Shia and Sunni Muslims was written and submitted by user Lexie Logan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Whats Considered a Bad SAT Score Avoid This

What's Considered a Bad SAT Score Avoid This SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many students worry that a bad SAT score will be the kiss of death for their college applications. The SAT is an important part of the admissions process, so you obviously don’t want to submit a crummy score - but how do you know whether your score is all that bad to begin with? If you're worried about low scores, understanding where your scores stand in relation to other students’ is the first step to improvement. In this post, I’ll talk about comparing your own scores to those of the general population, your peer group, your target schools, and even your own potential scores. I'll finish off with strategies to bring up scores no matter your goals or study timeline. With this information, you'll be well-prepared to make necessary steps in improving your SAT scores. A Note on Percentiles Before we get started, I want to take a minute to explain percentiles, which arean important concept to grasp when we talk about comparing your SAT scores to different groups, whether they're big or small. Percentile scores are not the same as percentage scores (for example, a number out of 100 that tells you the fraction of correct answers you gave on a test). Percentile scorestell you how you do in relation to other people, which is really helpful when you’re dealing with a scoring system that isn’t necessarily intuitive. For example: A 10th percentile score means that you scored higher than 10% of the people who took the same exam 50th percentile means you scored higher than half 90th percentile means you scored higher than 90% of test-takers. You can have a high percentage score on a test and still end up with a low percentile score (if the test was easy), or a low percentage score and a higher percentile score (if the test was hard). For example, if you score a 90% on an exam where only 10% of students scored below a 90%, you'd be in the 10th percentile. This information is important because your actual SAT scores are only useful when you cantranslate them to percentile scores. When we talk about good or bad scores, we're inevitably comparing your test scores to those of other people or groups. Now that you know all about percentiles, we can get into the nitty-gritty stuff: what is a bad SAT score? Low Scores Compared to the US General Population We're starting big here - to get a basicunderstanding of low SAT scores, we'll look at how the general population performs on their tests. Your definition of low or poor scores might differ from other students - a reasonable cutoff for low scores, for simplicity’s sake, would be at the 25th percentile (so, the bottom quarter of scorers). As you may already know, the SAT is currently scored out of 1600points (the lowest you can score is 400).The average composite SAT score is around 1000, which is about the 50th percentile. Because the scoring system has recently changed, we don't have a lot of information about typical So that you can get a better understanding of general performance, here are some other important percentile cutoffs and their corresponding composite scores: 25th percentile→about 840 composite score 50th percentile→about 1000 composite score 75th percentile→about 1200 composite score If you'd like more detailed information about SAT percentiles, check out our score rankings guide. Low Scores Compared to Your Peers I don't usually recommend comparing yourself to peers;in this case, it's unfortunately necessary. Now that you know how you may compare to the rest of the country, the next step in figuring out what a low score is would be to figure out what your peers are scoring. Although college admissions officers often view SAT scores as a decent measure of academic preparation, they recognize that many other factors - including family income, social privileges, and educational advantages - play into students' scores as well. Thus, you'll be most likely compared to students who are similar to you in terms of school type, geographical area, background, interests, and grades. The better a handle you have on your peers' scores, the more nuanced your understanding of what a low score will be. Getting ahold of this information will be a bit more sensitive than just looking up average national SAT scores. Even if you can't get information right from your classmates, there are steps you can take to get a good estimate of peers' SAT score ranges: Get your school report with SAT score information. This report will have aggregated scores from students from your high school. How does the high school average compare to the national average? How do your scores (real or target) compare to those of your peers? See your guidance counselor. If you don't have access to your school report, or you're having trouble interpreting the information, your guidance counselor should be able to give you an idea of how your peers perform on the SAT. Ask around. If you're still having trouble getting information on peer scores, you could try asking your classmates. This will beespecially helpful if you can get info from honors students - their scores will generally be more competitive. SAT scores can bea touchy topic, however,so be sensitive and respectful if you discuss this information with your classmates. Use a rough rule of thumb. When lacking good information about peers' performance, you could use these (general) rules of thumb. Just keep in mind that these may deviate from your own school's averages depending on average performance (i.e. whether SAT scores at your school are above or below the national averages): Low composite scores for honors students (top 1/3rd of the class) will be around 1117, or 70th percentile nationally Low composite scores for top honors students (top 1/10th of the class) will be around 1256, or 85th percentile nationally Low Scores for Your Target Colleges Knowing how your scores compare to your peers may help you hone in on appropriate target, reach, and safety schools. How do you figure out what these schools will think of your SAT scores? What's the low score cutoff that will put your application in danger? Put simply; a low score is a score that will get you rejected.Schools don’t really publish hard minimum SAT requirements, but it’s east to get a general idea of what SAT scores they expect from applicants. In general, the bottom 25% of scores for a particular school is the danger zone. You can still get into a school if your score falls below the 25th percentile, but the chances are that your application will have to be exceptionally strong in other areas (e.g. GPA, extracurriculars). The "middle 50" percent of scores is a pretty safe range to aim for. If all students' scores were lined up in order, the middle 50 would be the range of scores from the 25th percentile to the 75th percentile. Your SAT scores don't necessarily need to be at the top of this range to get into a particular school, because by definition, 75% of its students have scores lower than those at the 75th percentile. If you want more information about SAT score ranges for particular schools, just google"[school name] PrepScholar admissions requirements." You can easily convert old SAT scores (out of 2400) to the new scoring system by multiplying by 2/3. What do you do, though, if your scores consistently fall in the bottom 25% of score ranges for the schools you're considering? Although it'simportant to have reach schools, it would be wise to apply to some less competitive schools as well. Apply to several schools where you fall into the "middle 50" score range in addition to a few safety schools to optimize admissions options. Low Scores for Yourself This isn't a comparison that many students consider when setting their own goal scores. There's so much focus on outward comparison that sometimes we forget to consider our own capabilities when thinking about low or high scores. It's important to be realistic about your own strengths and weaknesses when setting low score and high score parameters. If you set your score goal too high, you'll cause yourself unnecessary stress and frustration; set it too low, and you could miss out on opportunities at more competitive schools. How do you get an idea of what's reasonable? Your first step is to get a baseline score. Study for about 10 hours to gain basic familiarity with the SAT before taking a full practice test. Your score will give you a concrete place to work from. Keep in mind that many students, with adequate test prep, can improve 240+ points from this original baseline. This important initial step should help you understand what to expect from yourself when it comes to good and bad scores. If you’re not improving much after your baseline, then you know that the way you’re studying isn’t working. You may consider your baseline score to be within your low score range since you achieved it with minimal study time. To learn more about how to set appropriate SAT goal scores, read our guide to good and bad SAT scores. Don't get discouraged if you have low scores - that just means you have room to grow! How Do You Raise a Low SAT Score? If you've gone through all the steps of comparison and you find yourself disappointed with your scores, not to worry! There are things you can do to bring up those scores, but your plan of attack will vary based on your goal score and your study time availability. So what's your goal score? If your scores are already pretty high, and you want to get them as close to perfect as possible, read our guide to scoring a 1600. If your scores are in the lower end of the range, and you want to bring them up across the board, check out our posts on bringing up your reading, writing, and math scores. How much time do you have to study? If you have quite a bit of time on your hands, read more about setting a study timeline. You can also dive deeper into our blog sections dedicated to the reading, writing, and math sections. If youaretaking the SAT relatively soon, check out our last-minute study tips and strategies. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Spanish Verbs for Trying

Spanish Verbs for Trying To try is one of those English verbs that will steer you down the wrong path if you try to translate it with just one Spanish verb. This lesson looks at the most common ways of expressing the idea of trying and related phrases such as to try to or to try out. Fast Facts Tratar de and intentar are are the most common ways of translating try when it means to attempt something.Esforzarse and phrases using esfuerzo can also be used to emphasize the effort given.When try refers to a testing or testing out, the preferred translation is usually probar. Trying as Attempting When try means attempt, it can usually be translated as tratar de or intentar followed by an infinitive. The two are roughly synonymous, although tratar de is more common. Note that intentar is a false friend to the English verb to intend - intentar involves an actual attempt, not a mere intent as the English verb does. Tratamos de hacer lo mejor para conseguir el objetivo. (We are trying to do what is best in order to reach the objective.)Trataron de resucitar al cantante durante ms de una hora en el hospital. (They tried to resuscitate the singer for more than an hour in the hospital.)Trataremos de resolver sus problemas. (We will try to resolve your problems.)Vamos a tratar de ganar el campeonato. (We are going to try to win the championship.)Intentamos resolver las dudas que puedan surgir. (We are trying to resolve the doubts that may arise.)Intentar es major que esperar. (Trying is better than waiting.)Me intentaron hacer un fraude. (They tried to commit a fraud against me.)Intento comprender la verdad. (I am trying to understand the truth.) Trying as Testing When to try means to test, as the phrase to try out often does, you can often use the verb probar: Probamos algo nuevo. (Were trying something new.)Los estudiantes probaron comidas de los diferentes paà ­ses. (The students tried meals of different countries.)Los terroristas probaban gases venenosos experimentando con perros. (The terrorists tried out poisonous gases by experimenting with dogs.)Me probà © la camisa y vi que estaba hecha exactamente a mi medida. (I tried on the shirt and saw that it was made exactly to my size.)Desde que probà © su consejo, mi vida cambià ³ para siempre. (Ever since I tried her advice, my life has been forever changed.)Pues, pruà ©balo y vers. (Here, try it out and youll see.)Voy a probar un nuevo truco de magia. (Im going to try a new magic trick.)Probà © suerte de nuevo y abrà ­ mi propio negocio. (I tried my luck again and opened my own business.) Trying as an Effort To try in the sense of put forth an effort can often be translated as esforzarse or a phrase such as hacer un esfuerzo por. Although intentar and tratar de can also indicate an effort, they put less emphasis on it than do esforzarse and phrases using esfuerzo. Sà © que puedes esforzarte ms. (I know you can try harder.)Me esfuerzo con toda intensidad por ser sincero. (Im trying as hard as I can to be honest.)Pero yo me esfuerzo todo lo que puedo. (Im trying to do everything I can.)Hago un esfuerzo por  apartar de mi mente lo ocurrido y concentrarme en mi trabajo. (Im trying to get my mind off of what happened and concentrate on my work.)Volvià ³ al sillà ³n e  hizo un esfuerzo por  relajarse.  (She returned to the rocking chair and tried to relax.)Es necesario hacer un esfuerzo. (It is necessary to try.) Legal Use of 'Try' To try in the sense of to put on trial can be expressed by procesar or juzgar: El juez procesà ³ ayer a ocho personas por el robo de armas de guerra. The judge yesterday tried eight people for the theft of military weapons.Juzgaron a los activistas de Greenpeace en Espaà ±a. The Greenpeace activists were tried in Spain. 'Try' as a Noun Try as a noun can often be translated well using intento: Haz de nuevo el intento. Give it another try. ¡Al menos hicieron  su mejor intento! At least they gave it their best try!Al menos resulta un intento divertido. (At least it was a fun try.)

TELEVISION STUDIES Library Research Project Paper

TELEVISION STUDIES Library Project - Research Paper Example They therefore designed some fieldwork involving 20 under-two year olds, ten male and ten female, who watched the same episode of Teletubbies in their usual home or playgroup environment while being video-recorded. The tapes were then synchronised with the actual Teletubby recording, in such a way that the child’s movements, verbalizations and expressions can be seen as they relate frame by frame with the program. The tapes were analysed according to criteria of attention level, parasocial responses, TV literacy response, verbal echoing, cognitive response, pleasure, action around the TV set, and sharing with a companion. The study made various conclusions regarding the impressive attention spans that were demonstrated in particular sections of the program and the good basis that this data delivered for further â€Å"theorizing the interactivity of our young respondents with media texts† (p. 334). This article provides an excellent methodological model, based on observa tion and simple technology, which could be very useful for those wishing to explore issues around media designed for the under two age group or any other group who may not be able to verbalize their responses effectively. This chapter from an academic book was written by a Professor from Amsterdam in the Netherlands who leads a research center for research on children, adolescents and the media. It traces in detail the way that a child’s early development levels relate to the way that the child interacts with various media. What is interesting about this chapter is that it shows things from the child’s point of view, and warns against an adult, or parent, perception of what the child is doing or what the program is trying to do. So, for example, programs like Teletubbies which appear boring, repetitive and monotone to an adult, are in fact very sophisticated media texts which use carefully chosen stimuli like

Characteristics of Highly Effective School Administrators Essay

Characteristics of Highly Effective School Administrators - Essay Example e school administrator must be able to communicate goals and vision of his/her institution, and plans, achievements and challenges that the institution faces. The administrator should also be able to attract input from other stakeholders and develop the stakeholders support for ease in development and implementation of administrative policies. Administrative leadership, also known as managerial leadership, is another characteristic of an effective administrator. This feature incorporates abilities to balance between priorities, delegate leadership roles, facilitate innovation and improvements, and to ensure accountability. In balancing priority, an effective administrator identifies activities with their priorities and allocates time, in duration and order, to each activity to ensure effectiveness in completion. An administrator with the trait also identifies and recognizes potentials of each subordinate and promote growth. In addition, the successful administrator is accountable, setting standards for other to emulate, and leads in innovation and development of potentials. Highly effective school administrators also have educational leadership trait, also known as instructional leadership. The administrators ensure that instructional ventures are best on reliable vision towards effective learning. The administrators also ensure that instructions are improved continuously and that high levels of expectation and favorable culture for development are established in their

Oedipus And Blindness Imagery Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the story of Oedipus the king, Sophocles beautifully demonstrates the imagery of sight versus blindness through the use of tragedy and ignorance. Oedipus is ignorant to his own incest, therefore causing the first instance of his blindness. The second instance of Oedipus’ blindness is the ignorance of his true parent’s identity. The third instance of Oedipus’ blindness is a literal one, in which he physically blinds himself after finding the body of his mother, or wife. Sophocles utilizes his skill of creating a tragic character by showing Oedipus as blind on multiple levels, all the while being unaware of his blindness until the end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Oedipus’ first encounter with blindness is in the incestuous relationship he has with his mother. Although Oedipus does not realize the nature of his relationship he nor his mother take into account the prophecies they have both heard. The gods may not choose to show pity on Oedipus because he deliberately tries to usurp their power by leaving who he believes to be his mother and father. Oedipus is blind to the fact that his mother, his wife, the mother of his children is the fulfillment of the prophecy he hears long ago.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second instance of Oedipus’ blindness is his misinterpretation of who his true parents are. His hubris bars him from acknowledging the fact that he could not avoid the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. Oedip...

How Common Factors Found in the Synergetic Model Essay

Abstract This paper will discuss how the communication process can be affected by individual forces, societal forces, culture, context, and ethics. It will discuss the importance of understanding how communication is affected by these forces. It is important to understand the way they affect communication so that proper and effective communication can occur. How Common Factors Found in the Synergetic Model Affect the Communication Process Communication is a transactional process that involves more than one person. When an interaction between two or more people occurs, various factors come into play because of the difference in each individual person. Communication can be influenced by different factors and it is important to understand these factors and how they contribute to the effectiveness of said communication. Communication can be influenced by individual forces, societal forces, and by context. It is important to understand how communication is affected by these forces, so that we can properly and effectively communicated in the world today. Communication mainly focuses on the individual. Identity plays an important role in the communication process. A person’s identity is composed of many different individual forces or characteristics. â€Å"The factors that contribute to one’s identity can be demographic characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, regional identity, and socioeconomic class. In addition, individual forces include your field of experience, such as your education and experiences.† (Alberts 2012) It is important to understand not only, your identity but also the identity of the person or people you are communicating with. Since each person is unique,  they communicate in their own distinctive ways. Everyone is aware of the change in behavior when we interact with others in different settings. Our communication with other people changes along with our behavior. Our individual experiences and backgrounds influence the ethical competence in communication. We are responsible for how ethical we are in day to day communication. Although we are individuals, our individualism is limited by the society that we live in. A society is made up of different people, which means societal forces and individual forces play a role with each other. Communication is influenced by societal forces. These forces refer to the social structures of a society based on politics, history, and economics. The individual forces that affect communication can also be influenced by societal forces. Behaviors can be perceived differently when dealing with communication between multiple persons of different societies. Nonverbal communication is greatly affected by differences in societies. Many gestures and nonverbal messages vary greatly in meaning when expressed in different societies. â€Å"Participants bring their beliefs, values, norms, and attitudes to each interaction and the cultures they belong to shape each of these factors.† (Alberts 2012) Context plays an important role in the communication process. Context refers to the setting of the interaction as well as the individual participants. Being aware of the setting and situation allows us to choose the proper way in which to communicate. â€Å"When communicating with others we need to consider the way in which we are workings, sometimes we need to adapt to the way we communicate in different situations for example the way we conduct ourselves in a meeting would me a more formal way of communication and different to the way we are when working normally.† Setting plays a strong role in the way we communicate. Typically, if someone is in a public setting, their behavior is more rational than when they are in a private setting. We engage in human communication every day and it is important to understand how different factors affect the communication process. We need to understand them so that our messages are sent and received with a clear understanding. As humans in an age of such technological advancement, we are  faced with the task of communicating with people from different backgrounds and understand this phenomenon is the only way that we can effectively communicate with people and allow for progress to occur in our daily interactions. Works Cited Books Alberts, J., Nakayama, T., & Martin, J. (2012). Introduction to Human Communication. In Human Communication in Society (3rd ed., pp. 17-25). Pearson Education. Internet Kinsey Goman, C. (2011, January 1). How Culture Controls Communication. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2011/11/28/how-culture-controls-communication/ Shanahan, P., Elliott, D., & Australian Government Department of Education, E. (2009). Effective Communication with Young People. Australian Government Department Of Education, Employment And Workplace Relations. (2012, 07). Explain How Different Social, Professional and Cultural Contexts May Affect Relationships and the Way People Communicate.. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 07, 2012, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Explain-How-Different-Social-Professional-And-1057616.html McKeon, R. (1957). Communication, Truth, and Society. Ethics, 67(2), 88-99. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2378718?uid=3739256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21105057152463