۱.
This paper, largely motivated by Hoey (2001), revisits the issue of Written Discourse Analysis and, in particular, the Problem-Solution Pattern. Much discussion embarrasses the way in which texts are pro-duced and understood. The different functional approaches include Halliday and Hasan’s approach, van Dijk’s process-oriented approach, the procedural approach of de Beaugrande and Dressler, and the Problem Solution approach of Michael Hoey. These approaches attempt to answer the question: what is a text? How is it constructed and how can it be interpreted? According to Hoey, the processes of reading and writing in any discourse are based on culturally popular patterns of organisation between the writer and the reader. The text may be seen as an interaction between the writer and the reader in which the reader seeks to anticipate the questions that the writer is going to answer. In conclusion, analysing some texts indicates that the problem solution method is a comprehensive and easy method for producing narrative and non-narrative texts.
۲.
This paper examines the role of the structural syllabus in EFL settings, particularly EFL classes in Iran. The paper starts with an overview of what the structural syllabus is. Afterwards, the shortcom-ings of the structural syllabus are reviewed. Next the role of formal grammar instruction is discussed in depth. Finally it is suggested that because of the crucial role that grammar instruction plays in EFL set-tings, the structural syllabus can serve these classes better than other syllabus types. The structural syl-labus advocated in this paper has two qualities. First, it is compatible with learners’ internal syllabus. Second, it benefits from innovative tasks such as consciousness-raising activities and communicative ac-tivities.
۳.
This paper aims to offer a critical reading of the contemporary English author Ian McEwan’s fifth novel entitled Black Dogs (1992). I postulate that literary critics have frequently read his fiction for what it is not. As such, McEwan’s thought-provoking engagement with cultural questions has more often than not gone unexamined owing to a critical blueprint that, reducing his oeuvre to the topoi of violence, or to a gallery of obnoxious characters branded as psychopaths, typecasts him as a writer of disturbing, salacious fiction. Arguing that McEwan writes to dissect and criticise contemporary cul-ture, I offer a reading of his novel as a literary intervention into a cultural debate. I argue that of cru-cial importance in McEwan’s novel is the question of the narrative structure through which the differ-ent segments of Black Dogs are recounted. Drawing on the narratological concepts and terminology in-troduced in the works of Gَerard Genette and Shlomith Rimmon-Kenan, I examine the complexities of the narrative discourses of McEwan’s novel and its interlinking thematic analogies. Based on this read-ing, I conclude that McEwan’s intervention in the ongoing cultural debates of today makes of him a se-vere critic of our time.
۴.
The proscription of illustration and painting in Islam is a topic often discussed by researchers and art-ists. Most orientalists have suggested that Islam generally opposed art, especially painting and illustra-tion, thus resulting in a number of limitations. A survey of different prophetic sayings on this subject (hadith singular, hadis plural), verses of the Qur'an, and artworks in the era of the caliphs has been pe-rused in this article. It seems that a core factor for the restriction was the possible reversion of newly converted Muslims to polytheism and idolatry. This was a genuine concern in early Islam. Today it is generally unknown, unheard of or simply ignored in the world of Islam. Islam has not prohibited paint-ing rather it does emphasize beauty and aesthetics.
۵.
During late nineteenth century, Khuzistan was considered to be the most fertile land of Persia which at one time had yielded $ 50 million if calculated on 1962 price index. Many British officials presented in Iran and India office have recorded the abundance of water through a network of five rivers and canals, making Khuzistan a fertile ground for major staple and cash crops. At the time when the general populace was affected by the famine, Khuzistan stood unaffected. But thoroughly and gradually Khuzistan had faced deplorable condition owing to the British policy and power struggle. With the opening of the Karun River, the British influence had reached to the extent that they started interfering in the appointment of governors and granting of Khuzistan developmental projects to French, Dutch or Germans. The present article highlights the increasing influence of British in the political and economic affairs of Iran especially Khuzistan which was considered to be the 'second Egypt' next to Seistan. They had even assisted by the principle Arabs and Bakhtiaris tribes of Khuzistan as well as the influential trading and commercial figures to sabotage the irriga-tion project which could hamper the water flow to Karun River, a back bone for their commercial interest. In the first quarter of 20th century the British policy in Khuzistan proved detrimental to their vested interest.
۶.
Sustainable ecotourism is a nature oriented tourism that maintains a sound relationship with the natu-ral environment, and contributes to its conservation. Ecological understanding is a prerequisite of sus-tainable ecotourism. Nature conservation and ecotourism are interdependent. There should be a sym-biotic relationship between the two, in which, both derive sustainable benefits in a lengthy period of time. In order to decrease natural deterioration, the present ecotourism economic and financial assess-ment should be challenged. Sustainable ecotourism demands new managerial methods that can esti-mate both environmental inputs and outputs in every single ecotourism venture and meets the required criteria of both. Triple-bottom-line accounting approach provides a foundation for assessment of envi-ronmental, social, and financial costs and benefits of ecotourism ventures. Ecotourism companies can allocate some of their resources to the nature conservation and people education. This is how they can obtain a positive triple bottom line. Developing environmental management strategies, programs and procedures with measurable objectives, and allocating adequate funds for their effective implementa-tion is recommended in this article. Effective financial management system with capable accounting mechanisms would provide the ecotourism organizations with the necessary foundations for transition towards sustainability.
۷.
This paper deals with the philosophical aspects of nationalism and pan-Islamism in view of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, a great poet and philosopher of sub-continent. The paper examines in an analytical way, how Iqbal’s concept of nationalism is different from Western brand of nationalism and coincided with Jamal-u-din Afghani’s ideal of pan-Islamism. The paper discusses how Iqbal reconciled his ideal with the real world-over dynamics, especially in the Muslim world after World War II. It is further ar-gued that how far his idea of Nationalism and his concern for Muslim unity had relevance to the con-temporary Muslim world, particularly in the context of predicament faced by the Muslim Ummah.
۸.
Mannea is the most important state, which was established before Median kingdom and ruled on vast part of northwestern Iran for several centuries. Manneaen were from Hurrian race and language and probably entered the region about 1500 B.C. In their political life although they suffered many inva-sions from Assyria and Urartu, they kept their political and cultural independence and expended their power and realm in next period. In spite of this historical fact and available archaeological data, up to the present time no notable study about Mannea has been conducted and therefore basic aspects of Manneaen culture have remained unknown. The present study undertakes to accomplish this.
