A New Introduction to Islam

Explore a timely introduction to the formation of the Bible in its historical and modern contexts In the newly revised Second Edition of  A Contemporary Introduction to the Bible: Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts , accomplished scholars and authors Colleen M. Conway and David M. Carr deliver a rigorous, accessible, and up-to-date introduction to the Bible. The textbook places the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and New Testament in the broader context of world history, with a special focus on the empires that influenced the Bible’s formation. Readers are introduced to the academic study of the Bible through a range of scholarly approaches. Readers benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the Bible in its ancient contexts, from the emergence of Israel’s earliest traditions to the writing and reshaping of the Bible amidst Assyrian Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic and Roman empires. The most up-to-date work in the field, seamlessly integrated into every chapter A wealth of pedagogical features including study questions, bibliographies, timelines, and illustrations An unparalleled coverage of both fundamental topics and cutting-edge issues, resulting in a truly outstanding textbook. Perfect for undergraduate and graduate students studying religion, history, sociology, and philosophy,  A Contemporary Introduction to the Bible: Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts, Second Edition  will also earn a place in the libraries of religious scholars and researchers seeking a one-stop reference to the Bible in its ancient and modern context.

An expert introduction to Samsung's new mobile platform Bada is a new platform that runs on mass market phones and enables you to build cutting-edge applications for mobile devices. As an access layer, bada has all the advantages of native coding and provides the power of multi-tasking and multi-threading. This book serves as a complete introduction to the exciting capabilities of bada and shows you how bada offers commerce and business services with server-side support. The authors walk you through the complete set of platform APIs and detail the architecture of bada. Code fragments are featured throughout the book as well as examples that utilize all of the major APIs, from sensors to maps and from phonebook to billing. Introduces Samsung's new platform, bada Explains the bada framework, its APIs, and the bada architecture Walks you through how bada is a logically structured mobile platform that allows you to build exciting apps for mobile devices Features code fragments and numerous examples that address all the major APIs Discover how bada boasts the richest set of end-to-end service, commerce, and billing APIs with this book! Ben Morris is a freelance author and developer, specializing in mobile software including Symbian OS and mobile widgets.

This book provides an introduction to index numbers for statisticians, economists and numerate members of the public. It covers the essential basics, mixing theoretical aspects with practical techniques to give a balanced and accessible introduction to the subject. The concepts are illustrated by exploring the construction and use of the Consumer Prices Index which is arguably the most important of all official statistics in the UK. The book also considers current issues and developments in the field including the use of large-scale price transaction data. A Practical Introduction to Index Numbers will be the ideal accompaniment for students taking the index number components of the Royal Statistical Society Ordinary and Higher Certificate exams; it provides suggested routes through the book for students, and sets of exercises with solutions.

Reflecting recent global developments, the second edition of this illuminating introduction to Islamic history expands its coverage of the Qur’an, Sufism, and Muslim views on human rights, including the rights of women. An expanded new edition of this concise, illuminating introduction to Islam, written by one of the field’s leading scholars Spans Islamic history from the life of Muhammad and the birth of Islamic ideals, through Islam’s phenomenal geographical expansion and cultural development, to the creation of modern states and its role in today’s global society Features expanded coverage of the Qur’an, Sufism, and Muslim views on human rights, including the rights of women Includes fascinating vignettes of Islamic life, representing mainstream Muslim viewpoints on issues of global concern Explores the complex interrelationships of cultural, political, and ideological developments woven throughout Islamic history, drawing on specific examples including current developments in Pakistan

A comprehensive introduction to TESOL for new and future teachers of English, offering a full and detailed view of the process of becoming a language teacher  Introduction to TESOL: Becoming a Language Teaching Professional  presents an expansive and well-balanced view of both the interdisciplinary knowledgebase and professional opportunities in the field of language teaching. Written to help aspiring TESOL educators understand how to begin their careers, this comprehensive textbook covers both the foundational linguistic elements of TESOL as well as the practical pedagogical aspects of the discipline.  Written with the needs of the introductory student in mind, this book delves into the essentials of English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching, covering professional organizations, language acquisition theories, instructional practices, professional development, and more. Readers are provided with clear descriptions of recent research and contemporary practices, numerous illustrations and examples highlighting key material, and engaging real-world vignettes from professionals teaching internationally. Offering a coherent overview and contextualized orientation of the field of TESOL, this guide:  Discusses the differences in TESOL approaches in international settings Addresses the current state and potential future of TESOL with a view for new developments in teaching pedagogy and language research Explores the history and development of the field, including the political, social, and cultural decisions made about language teaching and learning Describes the specializations, niches, and subfields within the discipline of TESOL Explains what, how and why TESOL educators need a working understanding of linguistics and second language acquisition theories Outlines the scope of the profession and how to engage in professional organizations to grow in expertise  Introduction to TESOL: Becoming a Language Teaching Professional  is essential reading for students and educators planning to enter this dynamic and rewarding area of language teaching.

Mapping: A Critical Introduction to Cartography and GIS is an introduction to the critical issues surrounding mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) across a wide range of disciplines for the non-specialist reader. Examines the key influences Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and cartography have on the study of geography and other related disciplines Represents the first in-depth summary of the “new cartography” that has appeared since the early 1990s Provides an explanation of what this new critical cartography is, why it is important, and how it is relevant to a broad, interdisciplinary set of readers Presents theoretical discussion supplemented with real-world case studies Brings together both a technical understanding of GIS and mapping as well as sensitivity to the importance of theory

Provides comprehensive, yet concise coverage of the broad field of bioethics, dealing with the scientific, medical, social, religious, political and international concerns This book offers complete information about all aspects of bioethics and its role in our world. It tackles the concerns of bioethicists, dealing with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy. The book introduces the various modes of ethical thinking and then helps the reader to apply that thinking to issues relating to the environment, to plants and animals, and to humans. Written in an accessible manner, Introduction to Bioethics, Second Edition focuses on key issues directly relevant to those studying courses ranging from medicine through to biology and agriculture. Ethical analysis is threaded throughout each chapter and supplementary examples are included to stimulate further thought. In addition there are numerous mini-case studies to aid understanding, together with key references and further reading. Topics covered include genetic modification; GM crops, human genetics and genomics; cloning and stem cells; assisted reproduction; end of life issues; human enhancement; transhumanism and more. A concise introduction covering the whole field of bioethics Ethical analysis included throughout Mini case-studies in each chapter place ethics into specific contexts Includes exercises and commentary to further clarify ethical discussions Now fully revised, updated and re-ordered, with new chapters on Biofuels and on Synthetic Biology Introduction to Bioethics, Second Edition is primarily aimed at undergraduate students taking courses in biomedical sciences, biological sciences, and medicine. It will also be useful to anyone with an interested in the ethics of biological and biomedical science, including science journalists and reporters, who want to inform themselves about current developments.

Thoroughly updated and revised, An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 7th Edition presents a comprehensive and fully updated introduction to the study of the relationship between language and society. Building on Ronald Wardhaugh’s classic text, co-author Janet Fuller has updated this seventh edition throughout with new discussions exploring language and communities, language and interaction, and sociolinguistic variation, as well as incorporating numerous new exercises and research ideas for today’s students. Taking account of new research from the field, the book explores exciting new perspectives drawn from linguistic anthropology, and includes new chapters on pragmatics, discourse analysis, and sociolinguistics and education. With an emphasis on using examples from languages and cultures around the world, chapters address topics including social and regional dialects, multilingualism, discourse and pragmatics, variation, language in education, and language policy and planning. A new companion website including a wealth of additional online material, as well as a glossary and a variety of new exercises and examples, helps further illuminate the ideas presented in the text. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 7th Edition continues to be the most indispensable and accessible introduction to the field of sociolinguistics for students in applied and theoretical linguistics, education, and anthropology.

This fully revised textbook is a new edition of Ronald Wardhaugh’s popular and accessible An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Provides an accessible, comprehensive introduction to sociolinguistics that reflects new developments in the field. Fully revised, with 130 new and updated references to bring the book completely up-to-date. Includes suggested readings, discussion sections, and exercises. Features increased emphasis on issues of identity, solidarity, and power Discusses topics such as language dialects, pidgins and creoles, codes, bilingualism, speech communities, variation, words and culture, ethnographies, solidarity and politeness, talk and action, gender, disadvantage, and planning. Designed for introductory and post-introductory students, and ideal for courses including introduction to sociolinguistics, aspects of sociolinguistics, and language and society.

This comprehensive new edition of Wardhaugh’s textbook incorporates additional study features and numerous new and updated references to bring the book completely up-to-date, whilst maintaining the features that made the book so popular with lecturers and students: accessible coverage of a wide range of issues, clearly written, and with useful student study features. A fully revised new edition of Ronald Wardhaugh’s popular introduction to sociolinguistics, which now includes over 150 new and updated references and new study features throughout Features new “Explorations” sections in each chapter incorporating suggested readings, discussion sections, and exercises – all designed to encourage students to develop their own skills and ideas Reflects new developments in the field, providing greater focus on ideas such as identity, solidarity, and markedness Provides balanced coverage of a range of topics, including: language dialects, pidgins and Creoles, codes, bilingualism, speech communities, variation, words and culture, ethnographies, solidarity and politeness, talk and action, gender, disadvantage, and planning Comprehensive and accessible, it is the ideal introduction for students coming to sociolinguistics for the first time