Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Rhetorical analysis of Ha-Joon Chang's My Six-Year-Old Son Should Get Essay

Rhetorical analysis of Ha-Joon Chang's My Six-Year-Old Son Should Get a Job - Essay Example Chang begins the essay with an appeal from a unanimous father that his six-year-old son should get a job like other millions of children. The father justifies his appeal saying that the child one day is going to enter the adult world of survival, that is why; the sooner is the better. Chang expresses this thought through a bold sentence â€Å"I should make him quit school and get a job.† This technique immediately delivers the expected answer. Chang expresses it, â€Å"I can hear you say I must be mad. Myopic. Cruel. You tell me that I need to protect and nurture the child.† Chang’s explains this is how the noble rich societies are going to criticize a father who wishes to send the six-year-old child to the job. Ha-Joon Chang with the above approach received his readers’ attention and achieved the goal. He then delivers the key concept of his article â€Å"This absurd line of argument is in essence how free-trade economists justify rapid, large-scale trad e liberalization in developing countries.† Chang used literary analogy to achieve his goal and to establish his case to his audience. Devolved countries while do not morally approve sending a six-year-old child to the job, at the same time, care less if developing countries industries are forced to enter into an unequal battle because of free-trade economic policies. Chang, again uses analogy to explain the future economic conditions that these countries will eventually be facing due to free trade policies, â€Å"If I drive Jin-Gyu into the labor market at the age of six, he may become a savvy shoeshine boy or even a prosperous street hawker, but he will never become a brain surgeon or a nuclear physicist -- that would require at least another dozen years of my protection and investment.† Again, this is how Chang argues against the implementation of free trade policies in developing countries. After establishing his case to the audience, Chang starts proving the case. H e uses the term infant industries for developing countries and compares it to the process of bringing up of children by parents. Chang’s principal advocacy revolves around rendering protection to the infant industries. He also knows that he has to face opponents’ views that express governments can be over protective, and industries can manipulate for prolong government protection through clever lobbying. Chang explains that the policy needs to be used wisely (â€Å"My Six Year Child Should Get a Job†). In the process of defending his case, Chang uses historical facts. He juxtaposes current infant industries of developing countries with that of United States in the late 18th century. In this respect, Chang refers to the thoughts and proposals of Alexander Hamilton, the United States first Secretary of Treasury. At the age of 33, Alexander Hamilton, declares that a backward country like the US should protect its 'industries in their infancy' from foreign competiti on and nurture them to the point where they could stand on their own feet (â€Å"My Six Year Child Should Get a Job†). This is Chang’s core concept towards today’s free trade policies with respect to the developing countries economies. Hamilton proposed a series of protective measures to achieve the

Monday, October 28, 2019

Subjective exam Essay Example for Free

Subjective exam Essay A) Selling price of bond The determination of the selling price of bonds is important because it helps the bondholders know the yield they will receive if they were to purchase the bond. Bonds can be issued at par, premium and at a discount. A Bond is said to be issued at par if the yield is equal to the coupon rate. If the current market yield is more than the coupon rate stated on the bond, then, that bond has been issued at premium. If the coupon rate is more than the yield rate currently earned by similar bonds in the market (Sheth, 2007, Slide 23, chapter 12). Bondholders receive periodic payments of interest amount, which is constant over the life of bond. Therefore the price of the bond is arrived at by discounting all these payments i.e. the selling price is the present value of all periodic payments plus the present value of the maturity amount, which is the principle amount of the bond. (Englard, 1992, Page 6, chapter 1). The formula for calculating the price of the bond is as shown below. Bond price= (PV) =p (1+r)-2 + p (1+r)-2 +†¦. +p (1+r)-n + m (1+R)-n Where =p= period receipt/payment r=required yield –effective M=maturity value (principle amount) The periodic receipts of interest amount are constant over the bond period and therefore are annuity in nature. Therefore to calculate the present value of the interest payments the annuity formula is used. Present value interest payments=  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Constant interest receipts* (1-(1 +r) –n The maturity amount (principle) is received as a single amount at the end of the bond period, thus is a single amount discounted using the single amount formula. Present value maturity value =m (1+r)-1 Therefore, the total selling price is the sum of present value of interest and principal amount. 2) Presentation of bonds in balance sheet When a bond is issued, the following factors are considered in accounting for the bonds. Recording the issue or purchase of the bond Recording the interest received during the life of the bond. -Accounting for the retirement (through calling, refinancing or conversion) of the bond. (Sheth, 2007, Slide 16, Chapter 12) Issuer’s books As seen earlier bonds can be issued at par, discount or premium. Bond issued at par- the bonds were issued between interest dates. Long-term liabilities. Bond payable  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Current liability Interest payable (1 month)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Current assets Cash (amount of bond)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Bond issued at a discount Long-term liabilities Bonds payable  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Discount on bonds payable  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Current assets Cash (less discount on bond)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Bonds issued at a premium Long-term liabilities Bonds payable (plus premium) xxx Current assets Cash (including premium)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Investors books The buyers’ balance sheet will be as follows At par Assets Investments in bond  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Current-asset Interest accrued (1 month)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Cash (amount of bond)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx At discount Assets Investment in bond (less discount)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Current assets Cash  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx At premium Assets Bond investment (plus premium)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   xxx Current assets Cash   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (plus premium) xxx B) Income statement items The items that will be included in the income statement of Norris co. for the year 2008 include -Interest expenses -Adjustment to interest expenses (amortization) Interest expenses The amount of interest is determined using the par value and the coupon rate and not effective rate. (Englard, 1992, page 2-3) Illustration At par Using the example of Norris co. bond assuming that it was issued at par, then the interest will be 1000*xx%= interest. At discount Payment- interest = xx%*1000 Interest amount = yy% *(1000-discount) The difference between the interest payment and interest amount is amortization of discount. At premium Interest payment =xx% * 1000 Interest amount= yy% * (1000 +premium) The difference between the interest payment and the interest amount is the amortization of premium.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Emergent Systems †Religion Versus Science :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Emergent Systems – Religion Versus Science Religion is an institution that invokes unobservable and improbable entities to explain the natural world. It provides a default explanation for anything not currently understood. Over the last few thousand years, the number of unknowns has exponentially decreased along with religion's monopoly on why and how. Now, religion is almost never invoked to interpret reality. When someone has a seizure, a hole isn't drilled in his head. When our children ask where AIDS or lightning comes from, we no longer answer "God." We now have a wonderful array of social and natural sciences at our disposal. Sociology tells us why people behave seemingly oddly in groups. Psychology explains that people aren't strictly good or evil. Biochemistry shows us how the neurons in our brain work and even gives recipes for chemicals that make us happier and less anxious. Physics tells us how these molecules are bound together and how they can be split apart. Each of the sciences is pretty confined to its scope. The pure sciences explain the simple in slightly simpler terms. The social sciences explain the complex in slightly less complex terms. However, they do string end-to-end very nicely, one picking up where the previous left off. There does seem to be a large gap that is covered by no field at this time. That gap is between neurobiology and psychology. The first explains how each individual neuron operates. The second, what they do when about 15 billion of them get together. What happens in between that creates consciousness and apparent self-awareness? To many, it's obvious that this gap will be filled by another scientific field. However, to most of the world, this is the final unknown. Like the unknowns before it, it's filled by religion. Nearly all current religious beliefs are concentrated around this remaining scientific gap. What are the most prevalent remaining religious beliefs? People no longer believe the earth is the center of the universe or disease is punishment from God. These contradict existing hard sciences. The remaining beliefs are those that fill in for this missing scientific field. The soul and the afterlife. How are the soul and afterlife related to this missing field? The soul is a catch-all concept that substitutes for our lack of understanding of consciousness. Afterlife is recognition that because the mind (soul) is not understood, it is to be treated as a black box. The afterlife concept is a hopeful presupposition that because we do not know what goes on inside the black box, it may possess an ability to transcend its apparent cease of functioning. Emergent Systems – Religion Versus Science :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers Emergent Systems – Religion Versus Science Religion is an institution that invokes unobservable and improbable entities to explain the natural world. It provides a default explanation for anything not currently understood. Over the last few thousand years, the number of unknowns has exponentially decreased along with religion's monopoly on why and how. Now, religion is almost never invoked to interpret reality. When someone has a seizure, a hole isn't drilled in his head. When our children ask where AIDS or lightning comes from, we no longer answer "God." We now have a wonderful array of social and natural sciences at our disposal. Sociology tells us why people behave seemingly oddly in groups. Psychology explains that people aren't strictly good or evil. Biochemistry shows us how the neurons in our brain work and even gives recipes for chemicals that make us happier and less anxious. Physics tells us how these molecules are bound together and how they can be split apart. Each of the sciences is pretty confined to its scope. The pure sciences explain the simple in slightly simpler terms. The social sciences explain the complex in slightly less complex terms. However, they do string end-to-end very nicely, one picking up where the previous left off. There does seem to be a large gap that is covered by no field at this time. That gap is between neurobiology and psychology. The first explains how each individual neuron operates. The second, what they do when about 15 billion of them get together. What happens in between that creates consciousness and apparent self-awareness? To many, it's obvious that this gap will be filled by another scientific field. However, to most of the world, this is the final unknown. Like the unknowns before it, it's filled by religion. Nearly all current religious beliefs are concentrated around this remaining scientific gap. What are the most prevalent remaining religious beliefs? People no longer believe the earth is the center of the universe or disease is punishment from God. These contradict existing hard sciences. The remaining beliefs are those that fill in for this missing scientific field. The soul and the afterlife. How are the soul and afterlife related to this missing field? The soul is a catch-all concept that substitutes for our lack of understanding of consciousness. Afterlife is recognition that because the mind (soul) is not understood, it is to be treated as a black box. The afterlife concept is a hopeful presupposition that because we do not know what goes on inside the black box, it may possess an ability to transcend its apparent cease of functioning.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Application Of Constructivist Theory Education Essay

Following the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 ( NCLB ) and the Persons with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 ( IDEIA ) , pedagogues could no longer merely believe about implementing research-based instruction schemes. These Torahs clearly mandated practicians must utilize theory and research to supply grounds that learning methods lead to improved educational results ( Slocum, Spencer, & A ; Detrich, 2012 ) . Initially rooted in the health care professions, evidence-based pattern ( EBP ) has been adopted by many professions to heighten the practician ‘s ability to be a protagonist of research, usher determinations, and turn to the research-to-practice spread ( Biesta, 2010 ) . A long battle in many subjects continues to be related to the disparity between the methodological analysiss supported in research and what is implemented in existent pattern ( Gall, Gall, & A ; Borg, 2007 ) . This on-going division between practicians and research workers, every bit good as theoreticians and policy-makers, has been recognized, nevertheless, despite the increasing sum of research being done, small has been accomplished towards happening declaration. Researchers assert the consequences of probes are non good understood on the portion of the practician ( Spencer, Detrich, & A ; Slocum, 2012 ) . In contrast, practicians appear to believe the research may non be applicable or existent universe to their field. In add-on, the consequences of research may non be readily available in pattern related diaries ( Torres, Farley, & A ; Cooke, 2012 ) . EBP in instruction and other subjects has been met with the inquiry of whether there is truly a new manner of practising or merely another manner of picturing what has ever been considered standard process. In seeking to contract the research pattern spread in healthcare professions, the usage of EBP is a direct result for a call for client safety. This could use every bit good to instruction related to bettering scholar results ( Spencer et al. , 2012 ) . In healthcare professions, the Institute of Medicine ( IOM, 2011 ) , has described EBP as a decision-making procedure, incorporating the best research support with clinical expertness. For the practician, this should affect turn uping superior external grounds to reply inquiries. Unfortunately, the huge bulk of practicians rely chiefly on their more experient co-workers for way or go on on the same pattern way because that is the manner it has ever been done ( Benner, Sutphen, Leonard, & A ; Day, 2010 ; Langer & A ; Langer, 2009 ) . Either of these methods may take to inaccuracies when non supported by research based grounds and most likely consequence in hapless results ( Langer & A ; Langer, 2009 ) . If the outlook is practicians are to do determinations based on grounds, so the grounds must be relevant, of high quality, applicable, and readily available ( Spencer et al. , 2012 ) . Although the measure of instruction related research has increased since NCLB was enacted, there are few surveies which incorporate precise design processes, such as randomized controlled tests. As a consequence, many practicians find small choice grounds to back up their determination devising ( Butler & A ; Schnellert, 2010 ) . As the EBP motion continues, practicians, research workers, and policymakers are being encouraged to go occupied and collaborate ( Spencer et al. , 2012 ) . Research workers need to seek pedagogue parts in order to turn to pattern related issues. In add-on, supplying consequences of research to practicians in a manner that is clearly understood, more easy accessible, and promote serviceability would lend to contracting the research pattern spread ( Butler & A ; Schnellert, 2008 ) . The execution of resources, such as What Works Clearinghouse ( WWW, 2002 ) , enables practicians, research workers, and policymakers to link. WWW provides strictly designed research for EBP determinations and intervention intercessions. Through the usage of these sites, the practician is able to happen information rapidly without holding to seek through big databases. The execution of EBP in the educational sphere is non optional. The literature indicates there is non a deficiency of grounds, but instead a deficiency of execution ( Spencer et al. , 2012 ) . With the research pattern spread averaging 17 old ages, practicians and research workers must travel the grounds into action ( Spencer et al. , 2012 ) . At the higher instruction degree, instructors must pattern the importance of theory, grounds, and research to their pupils. Many pupils do non understand theory and merely like practicians, find it hard to border for many of the same grounds ( Slocum et al. , 2012 ) . If EBP is to be to the full implemented and the research pattern spread reduced, non merely must practicians and research workers work together, practicians and the practicians of the hereafter must work to understand, use, and visualise the benefits of research.Constructivist TheoryConstructivist attacks to larning hold traditionally been emphasized in higher instruction and are soon considered to be the most normally accepted theoretical account by pedagogues ( Hoic-Bozic, Mornar, & A ; Boticki, 2009 ; Hussain, 2012 ) . Learning is viewed as an active procedure in which old cognition is believed to be foundational ( Holly, Legg, Mueller, & A ; Adelman, 2008 ; Makgato, 2012 ) . The implicit in rule of constructivism is that the scholar is considered a complete person at a societal, cognitive, and affectional degree, which is thought to enrich and intensify the acquisition procedure ( Hrastinski, 2009 ; Ke, 2010 ) . The growing of online and blended class work continues to be important with the bulk of enrolled pupils being of the grownup population ( Allen & A ; Seaman, 2011 ) . Within distance instruction acquisition, much research has been influenced by constructivist and societal acquisition theories ( Hrastinski, 2009 ; Legg, Adelman, Mueller, & A ; Levitt, 2009 ; Makgato, 2012 ) . Despite the volume of research related to online acquisition, there has non been an grownup larning theory, which educators can or will subscribe to, to drive pattern and steer farther research ( Minter, 2011 ; Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2010 ) . The six most ideal features which contribute to successful online acquisition are discussed in the literature ( Cercone, 2008 ) . These properties are: a strong relationship between the pupil and the facilitator/instructor, an engaging and collaborative student-to-student connexion, the necessity of contemplation on the portion of the pupil in order to associate new cognition with foundational experience, a sense of community, the application of larning to the real-world ; and motive on the portion of the scholar ( Boling, Hough, Krinsky, Saleem, & A ; Stevens, 2012 ; Jackson, Jones, & A ; Rodriguez, 2010 ; Pelz, 2010 ) . Although all of these features are of import, the edifice of community is considered the critical constituent ( Garrison, 2011 ; Palloff & A ; Pratt, 2011 ) . The success of developing, implementing, and keeping community really frequently leads to the other properties being effectual every bit good ( Garrison, 2011 ; Ruey, 2010 ) . Research related to pupil acquisition and the development of community indicates a positive relationship ( Boling et al. , 2012 ; Hussain, 2012 ) . A survey based on appraising pupils sing their experiences within an on-line community and class public presentation indicated 85 % found the community experience to be positive, which enhanced their acquisition ( Vesely, Bloom, & A ; Sherlock, 2007 ) . Two extra surveies that were focused on perceptual experiences and attitudes of on-line pupils showed a important connexion between scholar satisfaction, pupil interaction, and community and cognition acquisition ( Liu, Magjuka, Bonk, & A ; Lee, 2007 ; Sadera, Robertson, Song, & A ; Midon, 2009 ) . Although the research related to online community development is converting, those in distance instruction contend that in order to achieve deep acquisition, accessing content online and learner interaction is non sufficient ( Garrison, 2009 ; Ke & A ; Xie, 2009 ) . The accent must be about developing quality larning results ( Ke & A ; Xie, 2009 ) . It is believed the best attack to carry throughing this is through the design of collaborative extremely engaged acquisition communities ( Garrison, 2009 ; Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2010 ) . Although people glean intending from personal contemplation and critical thought, the duologue which takes topographic point in groups of scholars is what creates cognition ( Garrison, Anderson, & A ; Archer, 2010 ; Garrison, 2011 ) . Online acquisition in the twentieth century was chiefly focused on bridging the physical sweep for those pupils who had restricted entree to instruction ( Garrison 2009 ) . The focal point is now switching to issues related to learning and larning online, engineering, and bettering the anytime-anywhere agencies of interaction. Although these are of import issues, unluckily, they remain geared to the independent pupil instead than to the whole of a community of scholars ( Akyol, Garrison, & A ; Ozden, 2009 ) . Over the last decennary there have been many theoretical parts to the online acquisition subject. Each has reflected patterned advance towards bettering the instruction and acquisition rules ( Garrison, 2011 ) . The inquiry practicians and decision makers are faced with is whether the theories that have been developed antecedently, supply the foundation for traveling on-line larning into the twenty-first century and will these theories support the immense alterations happening with current and future engineering ( Akyol & A ; Garrison, 2008 ; Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2010 ) .Application of Constructivist Theory: The Community of Inquiry ModelThe pedagogical every bit good as technological developments are clearly altering the landscape of higher instruction and online acquisition appears to be at the head ( Akyol & A ; Garrison, 2008 ; Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2010 ) . Administrators and module must acknowledge those pupils in the higher instruction system today require readying to last in a twenty-first century work force. Current learning methodological analysiss no longer run into the demands of today ‘s scholars and with the call for educational reform, redesign of larning experiences is indispensable. The following of import measure in traveling frontward is the finding of a theoretical model to steer pattern and research in order to supply meaningful larning results every bit good as critical thought ( Garrison, 2011 ; Ke, 2010 ; Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2010 ) . The Community of Inquiry ( CoI ) is a dynamic model built on constructivism and societal acquisition with theoretical foundations from Dewey, Vygotsky, and Bruner ( Garrison, Anderson, & A ; Archer, 2000, 2010 ; Garrison, 2009 ; Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2010 ) . Developed by Garrison, Anderson, and Archer ( 2000 ) to back up online acquisition pattern and research, the focal point of this model is that successful online acquisition requires knowledge constructing based on the development of community ( Shea et al. , 2012 ) . Within higher instruction scenes, CoI assesses effectivity of online course of study by three nucleus constituents: ( a ) societal presence, ( B ) cognitive presence, and ( degree Celsius ) learning presence ( Garrison, Anderson, & A ; Archer, 2010 ) . These three elements intersect with each other to add to the on-line educational experience as represented in Figure 1. Garrison ( 2011 ) described presence as consciousness or a sense of being that is influenced by learner-facilitator and learner-learner interpersonal communications. Essential to every portion of life is the construct of community. Unfortunately, many are of the belief that larning in conventional on-line coursework is in isolation and hence the construct of community is thought of as major failing ( Garrison, 2009, 2011 ) . Over a decennary has passed since Garrison et Al. ( 2000 ) developed the CoI model. Research utilizing this theoretical account has been extended and appears to formalize the nucleus constituents of societal, cognitive, and learning presence ( Arbaugh, 2007, 2008 ; Kanuka, Rourke, & A ; Laflamme, 2007 ; Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2010 ) . Significant, cross-institutional surveies have shown the stableness of the CoI theoretical account ( Arbaugh et al. , 2008 ; Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2010 ) . The challenge for research workers wanting to utilize the CoI model has been the deficiency of a common instrument to operationalize the theoretical account in order to mensurate the three presences in an online scene ( Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2009 ; Swan et al. , 2008 ) . In 2007, the CoI Questionnaire ( CoIQ ) was developed and tested in a multiinstitutional survey ( Arbaugh et al. , 2008 ; Swan et al. , 2008 ) . This 34-question Likert study was administered to 287 online alumnus pupils with consequences back uping its usage as a valid instrument. Cronbach ‘s alpha indicated 0.91 for societal presence, 0.95 for cognitive presence, and 0.94 for learning presence ( Arbaugh et al. , 2008 ) . The usage of the CoI study provides research workers with a consistent means to analyze the elements of CoI as related to instruction, and acquisition, every bit good as keeping in on-line instruction ( Garrison, 2011 ) . Bangert ( 2009 ) supported the cogency of the CoI study instrument by look intoing both undergraduate and graduate pupils ( N = 1173 ) in to the full on-line and blended categories. Analysis of study responses were consistent with the three CoI elements. Consequences of this survey indicated the study is an appropriate tool for pull offing the development and execution of on-line class work ( Bangert, 2009 ) . The constructs of societal presence. Social presence is defined as the degree in which the scholar feels connected to other members both socially and emotionally within an on-line scene ( Garrison, 2009, 2011 ) . The ability of scholars to place with each other online is by and large through the usage of asynchronous text. Although this method lacks any sense of gestural communicating and immediateness, both of which build societal presence, pedagogues are frequently challenged by this type of exchange ( Garrison, 2011 ; Shea & A ; Bidjerano, 2010 ) . Garrison and Arbaugh ( 2007 ) noted that the usage of text is frequently more valuable in easing the accomplishment of critical thought. Once societal presence has been established, Akyol and Garrison ( 2008 ) noted cognitive presence is besides enhanced. In contrast to this research, nevertheless, Jahng, Nielsen, and Chan ( 2010 ) studied 12 online alumnus pupils, reasoning that a lessened cognitive interaction occurred when societal communications were increased. This result indicated unneeded clip related to class debuts may good be uneffective as a portion of community development ( Garrison, 2011 ; Shea, Hayes, & A ; Vickers, 2010 ) . Social presence has besides been linked to student perceived acquisition and concluding class classs ( Akyol & A ; Garrison, 2008 ; Caspi & A ; Blau, 2008 ) . Extra support for the credence of a theoretical account for on-line acquisition is related to keeping as abrasion rates are significantly higher than those of on-ground categories ( Boston et al. , 2009 ; Garrison, 2011 ) . A survey of undergraduate on-line pupils ( N = 28,877 ) utilizing the CoI study resulted with the indicant of a important relationship between pupil keeping and societal presence ( Boston et al. , 2009 ) . The constructs of cognitive presence. Cognitive presence describes the grade in which scholars construct cognition through take parting in critical reflective thought and treatment ( Garrison, 2009, 2011 ) . Considered an indispensable constituent of critical thought, cognitive presence is designed within a social-constructivism point of view ( Shea & A ; Garrison, 2008 ) . Cognitive presence has been operationalized through the Practical Inquiry ( PI ) theoretical account that involves four phases: ( a ) the triping event, ( B ) geographic expedition, ( degree Celsius ) integrating, and ( vitamin D ) declaration ( Garrison, Anderson & A ; Archer, 2010 ) . The CoI model supposes that the scholar progresses through each stage of the PI enquiry as reflected in Figure 2 ( Garrison, 2007 ) . In add-on, this procedure requires enhanced learning presence and is often influenced by the societal presence of the group ( Garrison, Anderson, & A ; Archer, 2010 ) . Bai ( 2009 ) noted that many scholars do non clearly understand the necessity for prosecuting in and bring forthing grounds of critical thought in on-line treatment forums. A survey of on-line alumnus pupils in an educational engineering class comparing pupils in the autumn to those in spring was conducted by Bai ( 2009 ) . Fall pupils were provided with a rubric bespeaking the figure of needed stations, due day of the months, suggestions to include outside resources and how to entree forums while the spring group was given a usher utilizing the PI theoretical account with the four phases as classs, including features of each and the accent was on critical thought ( Bai, 2009 ) . Study consequences indicated more than half of the togss in both groups ne'er advanced further than the geographic expedition or brainstorming stage ( Bai, 2009 ) . Those pupils in the spring group, who had been provided the PI theoretical account posting usher, demonstrated higher degrees of interaction and critical thought as compared to those in the autumn group ( Bai, 2009 ) . Arbaugh ( 2007 ) noted cognitive presence is the most hard component for pedagogues to accomplish online. Studies indicated this construct appears to be more related with design, facilitation, and way in relation to learning presence ( Bai, 2009 ; Swan et al. , 2008 ) . The most of import demand in making cognitive presence relates to the facilitator who builds treatment, proctors discourse, and guides scholars to critically believe ( Garrison et al. , 2010 ) . The constructs of learning presence. The 3rd component of CoI is learning presence. The focal point of this construct is on instructional design, facilitation, and the sharing and staging of content by the teacher ( Garrison, 2009 ; Garrison et al. , 2010 ) . Teaching presence is considered critical to the full procedure as it is seen as important in relation to class satisfaction, a feeling of community, and the perceptual experience of acquisition by the pupil ( Garrison, Anderson, & A ; Archer, 2010 ) . A clear apprehension of the kineticss related to the presences is needed if a collaborative CoI is to be created and sustained ( Akyol & A ; Garrison, 2008, Garrison, Anderson & A ; Archer, 2010 ) . In add-on, it must be noted that learning presence is an integrative construct, which brings cognitive and societal presences together ( Garrison et al. , 2010 ) . The function of the pedagogue in an on-line CoI encompasses three primary constituents: ( a ) class instructional design and organisation, ( B ) facilitation of treatment, and ( degree Celsius ) direct direction ( Nagel & A ; Kotze, 2010 ) . Teaching presence online is about keeping balance wherein the teacher ushers and theoretical accounts for the scholar ( Shea et al. , 2010 ) . Once pupils begin to take duty for their acquisition and collaborate every bit good as comprehend content, balance occurs ( Garrison, Anderson & A ; Archer, 2010 ) . Research clearly indicated learning presence influences the success and satisfaction of online scholars ( Arbaugh, 2008 ; Abdous & A ; Yen, 2010, Ke, 2010 ) . Baker ( 2010 ) explored how educator presence and immediateness relates to student motive, knowledge, and affectional acquisition. Undergraduate and alumnus online pupils ( N = 699 ) were surveyed and consequences indicated a positive, but non a statistically important relationship between pupil motive, knowledge, and affectional acquisition, and pedagogue immediateness ( Baker, 2010 ) . Educator presence, nevertheless, was a important forecaster of these three features ( Baker, 2010 ) .CoI CritiqueOver the past 10 old ages a considerable sum of research has been accomplished specifically related to each of the single CoI elements ( Garrison, 2011 ; Garrison, Anderson, & A ; Archer, 2010 ; Lowenthal, Lowenthal, & A ; White, 2009 ) . More late, research workers have begun to utilize the full CoI model to steer online acquisition pattern and future research ( Lowenthal et al. , 2009 ) . Although reappraisal of research indicated the CoI model is valuable in analyzing online acquisition ( Garrison & A ; Arbaugh, 2007 ; Garrison, 2011 ) , others contended there is small grounds the model provides meaningful larning experiences ( Rourke & A ; Kanuka, 2009 ) . Between 2000 and 2008, Rourke and Kanuka ( 2009 ) reviewed literature citing the CoI model. Actual class informations had been examined in merely 48 of the 252 diary articles found. Merely five articles had involved geographic expedition of pupil larning perceptual experiences, which had been reported as a measuring of pupil acquisition. This determination resulted in Rourke and Kanuka ( 2009 ) reasoning CoI research had failed to research the averment that the model comprised of societal, cognitive, and learning presences influenced larning results. Reacting to this reappraisal, Akyol et Al. ( 2009 ) emphasized the CoI was presented as a cognition edifice larning procedure theoretical account based on social-constructivism theory merely. Arbaugh ( 2008 ) noted CoI research indicated societal, cognitive, and learning presences are clearly related to student perceptual experiences of larning. What remains in inquiry is whether there is a true association between meaningful acquisition and pupil ‘s perceptual experiences of acquisition ( Rourke & A ; Kanuka, 2009 ) . In reexamining the literature, there are evident spreads between the CoI presences and larning results. Research has non validated deep acquisition as the unequivocal consequence of the on-line interactions between pupils, content, and facilitator/instructor. The research related to CoI lacks probe of the discrepancies that may be within academic subjects and the impact this may hold on the presences ( Smith, Heindel, & A ; Torres-Ayala, 2008 ) . There is the possibility that much of the research reports merely on single classs instead than several classs and/or a plan. Lowenthal et Al. ( 2009 ) noted there was a strong possibility that differences existed due to the fact that pedagogues and scholars belong to distinctive pattern communities. Additionally, learner engagement in a community may be hard due to linguistic communication every bit good as literacy issues as many subjects have their ain linguistic communication, for illustration, medical specialty, nursing, and jurispruden ce ( Smith et al. , 2008 ) . Recently, Carlon et Al. ( 2012 ) studied 330 undergraduate and alumnus pupils from subjects such as physical therapy ( n=32 ) , nursing ( n=274 ) , and healthcare direction ( n=24 ) utilizing the CoI Survey. Across the subjects, consequences indicated there was no difference in learning presence ; nevertheless, there was a statistically important difference within nursing in the societal and cognitive presence as compared to the other subjects. This survey indicated support for the findings of Shea and Bidjerano ‘s research ( 2009 ) . The design, development, and bringing of an on-line class can besides impact the three presences ( Lowenthal et al. , 2009 ) . Whether a class is developed by an teacher, a group of teachers, or an instructional interior decorator, it will impact presence every bit good as the type of scholar activities developed for the class ( Lowenthal et al. , 2009 ) . Lowenthal et Al. ( 2009 ) noted these issues are seldom considered in the design and development stages.A New Presence: LearningShea, Hayes, and Vickers ( 2010 ) discovered that a significant sum of learning presence occurred outside the on-line treatment forum ; this came in the signifier of electronic mails, messages, and private pupil booklets which were non included in old surveies. The consequences indicated that although all efforts to enter instruction, societal, and cognitive presence online, there was a presence which could non be coded. Shea et Al. ( 2012 ) reviewed 56 surveies which had involved learner self-regulation elements. The research workers concluded on-line scholars were self-regulating to run into class ends and this did non suit within the current CoI theoretical account ( Shea et al. , 2012 ) . Because online acquisition requires a great trade of autonomy on the portion of the scholar, Shea et Al. ( 2012 ) noted that this spread would necessitate to be addressed. The current CoI implies societal presence occurs in isolation and learning presence fails to take pupil parts into consideration. Shea et Al. ( 2012 ) recommended accounting for these failings by suggesting a revised theoretical account that would include parts from both the instructor and pupil every bit good as emphasize socio-cognitive acquisition ( Shea et al. , 2012 ) .DecisionThe CoI model is considered one of the rule theoretical accounts steering research in online higher instruction ( Shea et al. , 2010 ) . Concentrating on the develo pment of the online community, learner cognition is noted as the consequence of collaborative attempt ( Garrison, Anderson, & A ; Archer, 2010 ) . Most of the research utilizing CoI has been limited to the survey of on-line treatments ; nevertheless, this is spread outing to scrutiny of full online and blended classs ( Garrison et al. , 2010 ; Shea et al. , 2012 ) . Although there are acknowledged failings in the CoI theoretical account, research workers continue to research this model with the end of developing a more comprehensive theoretical account and look intoing full classs for the three presences at the same time ( Shea et al. , 2012 ) . The most recent published survey has linked the Quality Matters ( QM ) peer reappraisal plan with CoI ( Swan, Matthews, Bogle, Boles, & A ; Day, 2012 ) . Research workers used the QM and CoI models to redesign an on-line alumnus class associating design, execution, and learner results for the first clip ( Swan et al. , 2012 ) . Initial findings in this on-going probe indicated QM and CoI class alterations can be connected to improved acquisition results. Future probes will find if these two models will work in subjects other than instruction ( Swan et al. , 2012 ) .

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Math Self-efficacy

Math Self-efficacy 1 Running head: SELF-EFFICACY AND STANDARDIZED TEST PERFORMANCE Accepted for publication in the Journal of Educational Psychology. This version may slightly differ from the published version. Does Math Self-efficacy Mediate the Effect of the Perceived Classroom Environment on Standardized Math Test Performance? Lisa A. Fast University of California, Riverside James Lewis University of California, Riverside Michael J. Bryant California Institute of the Arts Kathleen A. Bocian University of California, Riverside Richard A.Cardullo University of California, Riverside Michael Rettig University of California, Riverside Kimberly A. Hammond University of California, Riverside Math Self-efficacy 2 Abstract We examined the effect of the perceived classroom environment on math self-efficacy and the effect of math self-efficacy on standardized math test performance. Upper elementary school students (n = 1163) provided self-reports of their perceived math selfefficacy and the degree to which their math classroom environment was masteryoriented, challenging, and caring. Individual student scores on the California Standards Test for Mathematics were also collected.A series of two-level models revealed that students who perceived their classroom environments as more caring, challenging, and mastery-oriented had significantly higher levels of math efficacy, and higher levels of math efficacy positively predicted math performance. Analysis of the indirect effects of classroom variables on math performance indicated a small significant mediating effect of self-efficacy. Implications for research on self-efficacy and the perceived classroom environment are discussed. Math Self-efficacy 3 Does Math Self-efficacy Mediate the Effect of the Perceived Classroom Environment on Standardized Math Test Performance?In the current high-stakes testing environment, any attribute of a student that positively influences achievement is of interest. The degree to which a studen t believes that he/she is capable of performing specific tasks, referred to as self-efficacy, is particularly relevant given that self-efficacy has been argued to have powerful effects on achievement behavior (Bandura, 1986). Those with higher self-efficacy are proposed to have higher aspirations, stronger commitments to their goals, and recover more quickly from setbacks than those lower in self-efficacy. Beliefs in one’s efficacy can vary across academic subjects (e. . reading vs. writing) and self-efficacy for mathematics has received close attention. Students with higher math self-efficacy persist longer on difficult math problems and are more accurate in math computations than those lower in math self-efficacy (Collins, 1982; Hoffman & Schraw, 2009). Math self-efficacy is also a stronger predictor of math performance than either math anxiety or previous math experience (Pajares & Miller, 1994; Pajares & Miller, 1995, respectively) and influences math performance as stron gly as overall mental ability (Pajares & Kranzler, 1995).The demonstrated importance of self-efficacy in academic achievement has provoked widespread interest in specific factors that affect a student’s self-efficacy beliefs. Bandura’s (1997) social-cognitive theory proposed that self-efficacy is most strongly affected by one’s previous performance and research largely supports this (Chen & Zimmerman, 2007). His theory also suggests that self-efficacy is affected by observing others (e. g. watching peers succeed at a task), verbal persuasion (e. g. encouragement from parents and teachers), and interpretation of physiological states (e. g.Math Self-efficacy 4 lack of anxiety may be a signal that one possesses skills). Although several studies indicate that manipulating features of learning environments along these theoretical premises has immediate and detectable effects on self-efficacy (Schunk, 1982, 1983, 1984; Schunk & Hanson, 1985), it seems possible that st udents’ perceptions of their learning environments also affect their efficacy beliefs. Ames (1992) argued that learning environments may not provide a common experience for all students and that students’ subjective interpretations of their environment determine how they respond to it.For example, a teacher might be described by an objective observer as helpful, but if a student perceives him/her as unhelpful, then the perception of unhelpfulness will guide the students’ behavior more than the teachers’ actual helpfulness. Focusing on perceptions of the classroom environment is consistent with Bandura’s (1997) theory, which suggests that self-efficacy is influenced by how an individual interprets relevant information. For example, a student might interpret a perceived unhelpful teacher as evidence that he/she lacks ability.In the current study, we focus on three aspects of the perceived classroom environment that affect self-efficacy: Mastery-orien tation, Challenge, and Caring. The degree to which students perceive their classroom environment as one that encourages mastery versus performance goals has been prominently studied (Ames, 1992; Dweck, 1986; Maehr & Nicholls, 1980, respectively). Classrooms structured around mastery goals emphasize effort and the intrinsic value of learning; students who adopt mastery goals are more likely to believe that effort leads to success (Weiner, 1979) and display positive attitudes towards learning (Ames & Archer, 1988).In contrast, classrooms structured around performance goals emphasize ability and competition Math Self-efficacy 5 between peers; students who adopt performance goals are more likely to use shallow learning strategies (Meece et al. , 1988) and avoid challenging tasks (Dweck, 1986). Although both of these classroom goal structures theoretically influence the achievement goals that students adopt, only mastery goal structures are consistently related to selfefficacy.Several st udies have found that students who perceive their classroom environment as more mastery oriented have higher academic self-efficacy (Dorman, 2001; Friedel et al. , 2007; Middleton & Midgley, 1997), whereas performance oriented classrooms have been found to be unrelated, positively related, and negatively related to self-efficacy (Friedel et al. , 2007; Wolters et al. , 1996; Schunk, 1996, respectively). Studies using path analysis have also found that self-efficacy mediates the influence of mastery-oriented classrooms on performance (Bong, 2008; Greene, Miller, Crowson, Duke, & Akey, 2004).In particular, Wolters (2004) found that mastery goal structure had a significant positive effect on students’ math grades, but when math self-efficacy was included in the model, the effect of mastery structure on course grades became nonsignificant. The degree to which a classroom environment is perceived as challenging also influences self-efficacy. A challenging environment is one in whi ch students are provided with progressively difficult tasks as their proficiency increases. Vygotsky (1978) argued that challenge is essential for intellectual development and Grolnick et al. 2002) proposed that individuals are born with a need to test their abilities and master their environment. Accordingly, evidence indicates that students enjoy learning when tasks are challenging (Zahorik, 1996). Although challenge has been most prominently discussed as an important facilitator of intrinsic motivation (e. g. Malone & Lepper, Math Self-efficacy 6 1987), some researchers suggest that it also leads to stronger beliefs in one’s academic abilities (Meyer, Turner, & Spencer, 1997; Stipek, 2001).Participating in challenging activities allows students to notice their incremental improvement in a subject, which increases feelings of self-competence. In support of this, Gentry and Owen (2004) reported that middle and high school students who perceived their classroom as challenging were more likely to have higher academic self-efficacy. Similarly, Meyer, Turner, & Spencer (1997) found that fifth and sixth-grade students who were characterized as â€Å"challenge-seekers† had higher math self-efficacy, while students who were characterized as â€Å"challenge-avoiders’ had lower math self-efficacy.Finally, the degree to which students perceive their classroom as a caring environment also has an important influence on self-efficacy. In a caring classroom (also referred to as Teacher Involvement: Newman, 2002; Personalization: Frasier & Fisher, 1982), the teacher expresses personal interest in students, provides emotional support, and generally creates a comfortable atmosphere. Murdock and Miller (2003) suggest that students who perceive their teachers as caring are more likely to view themselves as academically capable and set higher educational goals for themselves.Positive relationships between students and teachers provide a critical development al resource for children; students are more likely to seek help when they need it and develop a wide range of competencies when they feel emotionally supported by their teachers (Crosnoe, Johnson, & Elder, 2004; Pianta, Hamre, & Stuhlman, 2003). Accordingly, evidence suggests that students who perceive their teachers as more caring have significantly higher academic self-efficacy (Murdock & Miller, 200; Patrick et al. , 2007). Pianta et al. (2008) also found that fifth-grade students had higher performance on math tests whenMath Self-efficacy 7 their classrooms were rated higher in emotional support. In addition, the effect of emotional support on math achievement was larger than the effect of quantity of math instruction. The authors noted that, â€Å"this is especially interesting because math is perhaps not a subject where teacher-student relations are as much a focus,† (Pianta et al. , 2008, p. 389). In summary, math self-efficacy appears to play an important role in math achievement and mediates the influence of mastery-oriented classroom environments on math achievement.Global academic self-efficacy also seems to be positively affected by caring and challenging classroom environments. However, several issues remain unclear. Little is known either about the influence of caring and challenging classroom environments specifically on math self-efficacy or whether math self-efficacy mediates the influence of challenging and caring classroom environments on math achievement. Further, virtually nothing is known about the relationships between math self-efficacy, perceived classroom environment, and achievement in the context of standardized math test performance.These are important gaps in the literature in light of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2002 that requires all students to take standardized math tests annually in grades 3 through 8 and once during high school. Scores on these tests are increasingly being used for â€Å"high-stakes† purposes that affect both students and teachers. According to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing (2007), standardized test scores of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders can be used for the following purposes in California: to place students into instructional groups (e. . remedial or special education programs), determine school eligibility for federal funding, make decisions about whether principals, Math Self-efficacy 8 teachers, and staff are offered continued employment, and determine whether or not teachers get bonuses. Several researchers have argued that the implementation of NCLB has led to a focus on testing and evaluation that permeates the school environment (Meece, Anderman, & Anderman, 2006; Ryan et al. , 2007). It is important to examine how student motivation (e. g. elf-efficacy) and classroom environments are related to one another in this legislated performance-oriented environment. In the current study, we predicted that math self-efficacy mediates the inf luence the perceived of classroom environment on standardized math test performance (Figure 1). Specifically, we predict that students’ perceptions of the degree to which their classroom environment is mastery-oriented, challenging, and caring has a direct and positive influence on math self-efficacy, and math self-efficacy has a direct and positive effect on student performance on standardized math tests.Each of these three aspects of the classroom environment will positively affect self-efficacy for the following reasons. Mastery-orientation will have a positive influence on math self-efficacy because environments that encourage students to take pride in their effort and value learning for its own sake, rather than simply emphasize the importance of good grades, will allow students to feel more confident in their ability.Challenge will also be associated with higher math self-efficacy because being afforded the opportunity to progressively master tasks that are slightly bey ond one’s current capacity allows a student to observe his/her own progress and gradually increase beliefs in his/her ability. Finally, caring will have a positive influence on math self-efficacy because Bandura (1993) argued that affective processes affect self-efficacy. In particular, environments that arouse anxiety and other negative emotions have a negative affect on efficacy beliefs (Usher, 2009).We Math Self-efficacy 9 hypothesize that environments in which teachers take a personal interest in and emotionally support students are less likely to arouse negative emotions than environments in which teachers are impersonal and emotionally disconnected, and therefore caring environments will positively affect self-efficacy. Methods Participants The 1,163 participants in our study were fourth, fifth, and sixth graders who attended elementary school in an inland southern California suburban school district during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 academic years.The schools were located in low to middle income neighborhoods, with 59% (n = 682) of our participants receiving free and/or reduced lunch. Participants came from 88 separate classrooms. The mean cluster size was 13. 22 (SD = 5. 95) and ranged from 2 to 25 students per classroom. The majority of our sample consisted of Latino/a (62%) and Caucasian (31%) students and other ethnic groups included African American (4%), Asian (1%), Pacific Islander (

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on A Shocking Accident And Shooting An Elephant

Often in literature as in life, people are swayed by the opinions of others. For most people the idea of not fitting in or being laughed at is a frightening thing. People go to extremes to avoid the embarrassment. The short story’s â€Å"A Shocking Accident† and â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† show the length men will go to, to avoid humiliation. In â€Å"A Shocking Accident†, a freak accident leads to the unfortunate demise of a young boy, Jerome’s father. He is so embarrassed that his father died after being crushed by a falling pig in Italy that he makes up multiple elaborate interpretations of how his father died. The author however reveals to us through characterization, that perhaps Jerome is not embarrassed him about the way his father died, but rather that others find it laughable, diminishing his father’s honor. Jerome is so afraid of people’s reactions to his father’s death that he never tells his own fiancà ©. Weeks before the wedding, Jerome becomes very anxious of his soon to be wife meeting his loud mouthed aunt. He feels in his heart that if the woman he loves laughs at the story of his father death, he could not wed her. Imagine, throwing everything away because you were too afraid of facing humiliation. Ironically, when she heard the story, she treated it with genuine compassion and concern, something no one else outside his family had done. Another example of someone willing to throw away something important to avoid being laughed at comes from the short story, â€Å"Shooting an Elephant.† An Englishman, working as a policeman in Burma, is hated by everyone around him. While on duty, he is asked to take care of an out-of-control elephant. For protection, he grabs a large gun. The sight of this draws attention in the town and soon he is being followed by thousands of cheering men (similar to the crowds gathered watch the Salem witch hang.) When he finds the elephant he does not intend to use the gu... Free Essays on A Shocking Accident And Shooting An Elephant Free Essays on A Shocking Accident And Shooting An Elephant Often in literature as in life, people are swayed by the opinions of others. For most people the idea of not fitting in or being laughed at is a frightening thing. People go to extremes to avoid the embarrassment. The short story’s â€Å"A Shocking Accident† and â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† show the length men will go to, to avoid humiliation. In â€Å"A Shocking Accident†, a freak accident leads to the unfortunate demise of a young boy, Jerome’s father. He is so embarrassed that his father died after being crushed by a falling pig in Italy that he makes up multiple elaborate interpretations of how his father died. The author however reveals to us through characterization, that perhaps Jerome is not embarrassed him about the way his father died, but rather that others find it laughable, diminishing his father’s honor. Jerome is so afraid of people’s reactions to his father’s death that he never tells his own fiancà ©. Weeks before the wedding, Jerome becomes very anxious of his soon to be wife meeting his loud mouthed aunt. He feels in his heart that if the woman he loves laughs at the story of his father death, he could not wed her. Imagine, throwing everything away because you were too afraid of facing humiliation. Ironically, when she heard the story, she treated it with genuin e compassion and concern, something no one else outside his family had done. Another example of someone willing to throw away something important to avoid being laughed at comes from the short story, â€Å"Shooting an Elephant.† An Englishman, working as a policeman in Burma, is hated by everyone around him. While on duty, he is asked to take care of an out-of-control elephant. For protection, he grabs a large gun. The sight of this draws attention in the town and soon he is being followed by thousands of cheering men (similar to the crowds gathered watch the Salem witch hang.) When he finds the elephant he does not intend to use the gu...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Biography of Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Writer

Biography of Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Writer Paulo Coehlo (born August 24, 1947) is a Brazilian writer and lyricist from Rio de Janeiro. He achieved fame with his second novel, The Alchemist, which has sold at least 65 million copies and holds the Guinness World Record for being the most translated book in the world by a living author. Fast Facts: Paulo Coelho Known For:  Brazilian writer/novelistBorn:  August 24, 1947 in Rio de Janeiro, BrazilParents:  Lygia Araripe Coelho de Souza, Pedro Queima Coelho de SouzaSpouse:  Christina OiticicaPublished Works: The Pilgrimage, The Alchemist, Brida, The Valkyries, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, The Fifth Mountain, Veronika Decides to Die, The Devil and Miss Prym, The Witch of Portobello, Aleph, Adultery, HippieAwards and Honors: United Kingdom’s 2004 Nielsen Gold Book Award, France’s Grand Prix Litteraire Elle in 1995, Germany’s 2002 Corine International Award for fictionNotable Quote: â€Å"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.† (The Alchemist) Early Life and Education Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro to devout Catholic parents, Lygia Araripe Coelho de Souza and Pedro Queima Coelho de Souza, and attended Jesuit schools during his childhood. He had dreams of being a writer early in his life, but his parents were opposed as they felt it was a dead-end career. They went so far as to commit him to a mental asylum three times, beginning when he was 17; he was subject to electro-shock therapy there. He eventually began law school at the request of his parents, but dropped out in the 1970s, joining Brazils hippie subculture and traveling abroad. Early Career Under the Dictatorship In 1972, Coelho began to write lyrics for Brazilian rock singer Raul Seixas, one of many musicians protesting the military dictatorship that was in place between 1964 and 1985. The military overthrew a left-leaning president in 1964 and began a campaign of repression, utilizing censorship, kidnapping, and torture and targeting left-wing activists, artists, and intellectuals. Coelho was imprisoned various times during the dictatorship and subjected to torture, an experience he wrote about in a 2019 op-ed for the Washington Post. In that piece he drew connections between the military dictatorship and the current authoritarian-leaning presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, who has professed admiration and nostalgia for the dictatorship. Coelhos Pilgrimage and The Alchemist After traveling to Europe in 1982 and meeting a spiritual mentor, Coelho embarked on the famous Road to Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage in Spain in 1986. This event changed his life, led him to return to Catholicism, and inspired his first novel, The Pilgrimage. From then on, he devoted himself to writing. He later stated regarding the impact of his pilgrimage, When I reached Compostela,  at the end of the Road to Santiago, I thought, what am I going to do with my life? That’s when I made the decision to burn all my bridges and become a writer.† Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho poses next to a plate with his name during his visit to Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, on June 23, 2008.   Miguel Riopa / Getty Images It was Coelhos second novel, The Alchemist, that converted him into a household name. The book chronicles the journey of a young Andalusian shepherd, Santiago, who embarks on a search for an Egyptian treasure that has appeared in his dreams; he ultimately finds the treasure back in his homeland. The novel is filled with inspirational messages about destiny that have been widely quoted. Published in Coelhos native Portuguese in 1988, it was not until it was translated to French in the early 1990s that the novel caught the attention of the world. New translations followed and The Alchemist holds the Guinness World Record for the most translated book in the world by any living author. It has sold anywhere between 65 and 80 million copies. Actor Laurence Fishburne has spent close to two decades trying to develop the novel into a feature film, and it appears the project may be coming to fruition soon. Author Paulo Coelho poses for a photograph at the London Book Fair as he is presented with the Guiness World Record for the most translations of a single title signed by the author in one sitting on April 16, 2007 in London, England.   Chris Jackson / Getty Images Since The Alchemist, Coelho has published a book roughly every two years. He has published both fiction and non-fiction/memoir, and is known for drawing on themes of spirituality and self-discovery. His novels often combine personal narratives with larger, philosophical questions. He also blogs extensively at http://paulocoelhoblog.com/ and is an active Twitter user who often posts inspirational quotes for his followers. Reception of Coelhos Work Despite his massive popularity with readers, Coelho has not always been lauded by literary critics, particularly in his home country of Brazil. Some critics believe he writes in a non-literary and unadorned style, at least in his native tongue of Portuguese. His books have also been critiqued as being more self-help than literature, as offering snake-oil mysticism, and for being full of vapid, inspirational messages such as what you might find on a Hallmark card. Coelho became a target of literary critics particularly in 2012, when he disparaged the work of James Joyce, widely considered to be one of the best writers of the 20th century. Sources Paulo Coelho. Britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paulo-Coelho, accessed August 8, 2019.Goodyear, Dana. The Magus: The Astonishing Appeal of Paulo Coelho. The New Yorker, April 30, 2007. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/05/07/the-magus, accessed August 8, 2019.Morais, Fernando. Paulo Coelho: A Warriors Life: The Authorized Biography. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2009.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Most Lopsided Presidential Elections

Most Lopsided Presidential Elections The most lopsided president election in U.S. history was Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelts 1936 victory against  Republican Alfred M. Landon. Roosevelt won 98.5 percent or 523 of the 538 electoral votes up for grabs that year. Such a lopsided president election is unheard of in modern history. But Roosevelts victory is by no means the only lopsided presidential election. Republican Ronald Reagan won the most electoral votes of any president in history, 525. But that was after seven more electoral votes were added to the prize. His 525 electoral votes represented 97.6 percent of all 538 electoral votes. Definition of a Lopsided President Election In presidential elections, a landslide election is generally agreed to be one in which the winning candidate secures at least 375 or 70 percent of the 538 electoral votes in the Electoral College. For purposes of this article, we are using electoral votes as a measure and not the popular vote. It is possible to win the popular vote and lose the presidential race, as happened in the 2000 and 2016 elections because of the way electoral votes are distributed by states.  A landslide presidential election, in other words, may not always result in a similarly wide margin in popular vote because many U.S. states award electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis to the candidate who wins the popular vote in their state. Using the standard definition of a landslide victory in presidential politics, when one candidate wins at least 375 electoral votes, heres list of contested presidential races that were among the most lopsided in American history. Note: President Donald Trumps 2016 electoral victory does not qualify as a lopsided victory as he won only 306 electoral votes. Democrat Hillary Clinton won 232 electoral votes but carried the popular vote. List of Landslide Presidential Elections Under that standard definition, the following presidential elections would qualify as Electoral College landslides: 1996: Democrat Bill Clinton won 379 electoral votes against Republican Bob Dole, who received only 159 electoral votes.1988: Republican George H.W. Bush won 426 electoral votes against Michael S. Dukakis, who received only 111.1984: Republican Ronald Reagan won 525 electoral votes against Democrat Walter Mondale, who got only 13 electoral votes.1980: Reagan won 489 electoral votes against Democrat Jimmy Carter, who got only 49 electoral votes.1972: Republican Richard Nixon won 520 electoral votes against Democrat George S. McGovern, who got only 17 electoral votes.1964: Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson got 486 electoral votes against Republican Barry M. Goldwater, who got only 52 electoral votes.1956: Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower got 457 electoral votes against Democrat Adlai Stevenson, who got only 73 electoral votes.1952: Eisenhower got 442 electoral votes against Stevenson, who got only 89 electoral votes.1944: Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt got 432 electoral votes against Republican Thomas E. Dewey, who got only 99 electoral votes. 1940: Roosevelt got 449 electoral votes against Republican Wendell L. Wilkie, who got only 82 electoral votes.1936: Roosevelt got 523 electoral votes against Republican Alfred M. Landon, who got only 8 electoral votes.1932: Roosevelt got 472 electoral votes against Republican Herbert C. Hoover, who got only 59 electoral votes.1928: Republican Herbert C. Hoover got 444 electoral votes against Democrat Alfred E. Smith, who got only 87 electoral votes.1924: Republican Calvin Coolidge got 382 electoral votes against Democrat John W. Davis, who got only 136 electoral votes.1920: Republican Warren G. Harding got 404 electoral votes against Democrat James M. Cox, who got only 127 electoral votes.1912: Democrat Woodrow Wilson got 435 electoral votes against Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, who got only 88 electoral votes.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Land and valuation of land with various land investments Research Paper

Land and valuation of land with various land investments - Research Paper Example This essay analyzes that unlike other investments, land investment is fixed in quantity and immobile. Its value, however, keeps on appreciating, this makes land one of the major and vital investment projects of all times. The risks involved in land investment are also very minimal, this is because, when one invests in the land he is sure that its value will keep on appreciating over a given duration, thus leaving no room for selling it below the investment price. This is contrary to other investments which might depreciate in value with time.Land investment is very advantageous in the sense that, it historically keeps on appreciating in value. There are fewer risks involved in the land investment. In addition to being an investment project, the land is also a factor of production, which means that investing in land may end up giving double returns, that of its value plus the proceeds from production, say if used for Agricultural purposes. Property appreciation; talking about property appreciation, this refers to increase in the value of a property with time, a good example is that of land. Due to increase in demand each day, some properties for example land will continue appreciating in value because population keeps on increasing and its supply remains fixed. Equity refers to the residual claim on an investment. The land has the equity in that, after investment on land, when one wants to sell off his property, he will sell land at a higher price than the initial investment price. The land is, therefore, the best equity investment.  ... Mostly, they are knowledgeable in finance, money matters including banking, stocks and commodities, investments and economics. INTRODUCTION People have always been passionate about acquisition of land for ranching, farming, hunting, fishing, recreating, commercial-agricultural, and for land to develop into a higher use. Lands are very precious from time immemorial and that is why there have been laws, which govern land issues right from the start of civilization. The meaning of land is not only derived on the face value, but by what it contains and encompasses and this is why different lands attract different prices when being valued. There are also areas with vast lands, which just lie idle yet they are owned by people. In the day-to-day life, almost everyone comes into play with some of the land rules governing the ownership, use or occupation of land. To begin, every person lives somewhere on a parcel of land. And many humans owe their existence, livelihood or employment, directly or indirectly, to something that was produced from land. This clearly shows that we cannot live without land. Some people live on leasehold homes while others on freehold properties. Not many will understand the term freehold and leasehold. It is therefore very important for each person to understand and appreciate what he or she owns or occupies. Individuals who rent homes on a weekly or monthly basis need to understand to what extent they can act or do things with the rented property and what they cannot do. The same principle applies to people living with their parents or on properties owned and managed by their partners. They need this knowledge so as to understand the rights they have, if any exists, and

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 31

Management - Essay Example These factors have enable the firm be the best semiconductor chip manufacturer globally. The company currently enjoys a wider market and increased profits. The two factors are of essence in the existence of a business. Intel thus has a number of strengths and these include effective marketing. There is no doubt to the fact that the firm has one of the best marketing teams in the world. The company manufactures information technology devices. It is therefore more likely for the firm’s employees to be technologically savvy. Such a team knows what to do to result in increased publicity for products. Within no time, the products and services of the business are uploaded onto the social networking platforms alongside the other conventional media. The social media offers clients a unique opportunity to stay a head of their competition; the customer literally interacts with possible clients who may develop customer infatuation with products (Alexander 128). Besides the extensive and very elaborate advertisement parameters, the company enjoys a favorable reputation. This factor comes from the fact that it has existed for a very long time and is arguably among the pioneers of modern day computing technology. The high quality of its chips is thus known and highly regarded. Such occurrences make clients develop loyalty with the given products. Customer loyalty as well as interpersonal recommendation is the most effective form of advertisement. With these, the firm enjoys positivity and commands a large customer base globally. Additionally, the firm currently enjoys the increased revenue because of the market segment it targets. It is common knowledge that the market is divided into two; there are those who shop while attaching more importance to the price of the commodity while there are those who attach heir shopping decisions on the quality of the products. Subscribers having a belief in quality will buy any good regardless of its price provided the

Friday, October 18, 2019

Fashion Glasses and Contact Lenses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Fashion Glasses and Contact Lenses - Essay Example The essay "Fashion Glasses and Contact Lenses" discovers the Glasses and Contact Lenses in Fashion. Style and fashion is associated with social status, cultural background of people belonging to various social groups. Changes in tastes and fashions call for innovations in design, quality and use of materials that enhance aesthetic values associated with the product. Gasses and contact lenses have evolved into fashion objects and undergone radical changes keeping in tune with the technological developments, though utility value of these products cannot be underestimated. Combination of fashion and utility in fact ensured sustainable growth of the eye glasses as fashion objects of style and fashion in the industry. When people are under compulsion to go for glasses either for vision correction or protection of their eyes, the next logical decision in buying involves proper selection of glasses. This decision is based on several factors which are guided mostly by cultural background of the consumer. But, the important aspects of decision making are style and fashion, keeping in mind the personality and social status of the person. Values are the beliefs or ideals shared by people in a culture which influences a person’s behaviour and attitude. In study of fashion emphasis is on the way in which the objects of fashion such as jewellery, garments and accessories like shoes and glasses acquire meaning in specific historical and cultural contexts. Tilley, C. stated The concept of objectification may be held.

Propostition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Propostition - Essay Example Among the most vivid issues is the sexual tendency of Mary. It is clear that she found opportunities to use sex as a way of surviving in the extremely demanding and fast growing city of New York. For this reason, she could reap economic benefits from the many encounters she was bound to have. Secondly, it is evident as per Amy’s perspective that she represented a class of indecisive women who were readily practicing manipulation through use of their beauty. It is only normal that one may have negative escapades with people while exercising such vices. While working at the cigar shop where she had been employed, Mary had once disappeared and then resurfaced after a period of time. This shows that she was not a stranger perplexing acts. It is also strange of how a suitor by the name Cromellin retreated after having his proposal rejected. The silence and attention may seem evil. Also, during the times she worked, there had been several youth gangs in the area. They committed acts of violence in the streets causing the police to be put on the spotlight. Mary’s daily routines of interaction with such people obviously did not translate well considering her manipulative nature. Consequently, there arise a lot of players in the life of Mary, many of whom have or may have a score to settle with her. It can be assumed that hers is a mysterious death since no one can point a finger at a specific player. On the other hand, it can be opposed that her death was not mysterious but rather consequential. Settling on the sexuality nature, it can be argued that the final conclusion of the police investigation may have been true. The police concluded that her death may have been as a result of a botched abortion procedure. Considering her sexual involvement with young men it is natural that she could have got pregnant. Mary also had a love affair with David Payne and they had planned to get married. Afterwards, Mary showed up at Crommelin premises (who she had earlie r rejected) planning for a reconciliation. Crommelin’s failure respond to the desperation letters from Mary finally prompted her to ask for financial assistance from him. It is understood that Crommelin did not respond therefore Mary acquired the money for an â€Å"emergency† elsewhere. On acquisition of the money she disappeared. Amy, in her book, asserts that she may have been seen in a place known for conducting abortions. In addition, witnesses reported that they had spotted Mary at a joint owned by a woman who executed such practices. The woman known as Mrs. Loss was a disciple of Madam Lestell (nicknamed Madam Killer). She had derived her nickname from her long-standing belief that the only birth control method was abortion. Since she was rather too reserved for the richer women, Mrs. Loss would take care of Mary. Mrs. Loss she denied any involvement with Mary upon interrogation. However, clothes resembling Mary’s were found at the nearby thicket. The woma n also admitted to hearing screams in the nearby bush. The evidence documented by the author and largely point to the act of abortion perpetrated by Mary Rodgers. More so, the asking of an â€Å"emergency loan† by Mary and the sight of her at the place associated with abortion inclines towards the act abortion. The final conclusion of the police: terming the death as a result of a botched abortion is dependable considering the provisions. This conclusion is more dependable than that of terming the

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Discrimination based on disease status Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discrimination based on disease status - Essay Example As a result, they will hide their conditions from the public in order to avoid such discrimination. This is not only disadvantageous to them but to the wider society as well. For instance, if an individual understands that he has contracted the deadly Ebola virus, he is likely to keep this information to himself for fear of discrimination, in the end, the person may end up infecting more people, thereby affecting the entire society. It is important that person who suffer from such conditions are not be viewed as a danger to society but instead handled with love and given the support needed. In this series for instance, in reference to the Zombies, Vicar Oddie, a member of the church in Roarton village, says that the government was putting back the dangerous friends into the community. Although such people may appear dangerous, it is important for the society to embrace them and look for ways of helping them. In handling people with such conditions however, great care needs to be take n to prevent further infections. Morally, the idea of discrimination based on disease in indefensible. This is based on three important points. First, such discrimination is in violation of individual justice. Discrimination based on health conditions is just as bad as discrimination based on things such as skin color, gender and religion. In this sense, people are treated unfairly not because of the mistakes of their own making but because of conditions they have no control over. It is obvious that such people are unjustly treated in the society.

Information Technology Project Management Essay

Information Technology Project Management - Essay Example This essay stresses that good understanding of these interactions will help us show the various approaches applied, contribute to an evidence base, and also the future development of the information systems. Importance of understanding this relationship is to help the information system users enhance their ability and discover their needs. This has increased to an increment in management of the risks accrued to children especially in the western societies. This paper makes a conclusion that a better method of governance can work efficiently in management of the failures associated with the information systems. The designing of a better information system requires to be incorporated with the requirements of both the working environment and the practitioners. There should be also a broader development concern of risk constituted to the children and the role the information system experts in relation to child protection. A relevant principle of the social technical is within the philosophical values and premises. This greatly depends on the level of participation. Participation involves co-ordination of the process that exists between information systems experts and the other people at large. The existing interaction of the two parties involved leads to an innovation of an effective organization design. Respect and considerations of all the people involved is crucial for the development of the project. Design is also another principle in the social technical.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Discrimination based on disease status Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discrimination based on disease status - Essay Example As a result, they will hide their conditions from the public in order to avoid such discrimination. This is not only disadvantageous to them but to the wider society as well. For instance, if an individual understands that he has contracted the deadly Ebola virus, he is likely to keep this information to himself for fear of discrimination, in the end, the person may end up infecting more people, thereby affecting the entire society. It is important that person who suffer from such conditions are not be viewed as a danger to society but instead handled with love and given the support needed. In this series for instance, in reference to the Zombies, Vicar Oddie, a member of the church in Roarton village, says that the government was putting back the dangerous friends into the community. Although such people may appear dangerous, it is important for the society to embrace them and look for ways of helping them. In handling people with such conditions however, great care needs to be take n to prevent further infections. Morally, the idea of discrimination based on disease in indefensible. This is based on three important points. First, such discrimination is in violation of individual justice. Discrimination based on health conditions is just as bad as discrimination based on things such as skin color, gender and religion. In this sense, people are treated unfairly not because of the mistakes of their own making but because of conditions they have no control over. It is obvious that such people are unjustly treated in the society.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Trojan Women Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Trojan Women - Research Paper Example The society back then had rudimentary beliefs in gods. The play, therefore, begins with the gods discussing sufficient punishment for the Greek armies after they permit the raping of a royalty’s daughter one Cassandra a daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba. Rape is the most common yet the gravest form of abuse that the women in the warring times suffered. The soldiers showed no regard to the value of humanity in the women of Troy. While the armies killed their husbands and maimed their children, the soldiers raped and wounded the women. The rape of the daughter of the queen is the height of the disrespect to the value of the woman's life that draws the wrath of the gods. They, therefore, plan an effective punishment for the soldiers who condone Ajax the Lesser even after he abuses the daughter of the royal family which indeed was a taboo punishable by death. During the war and animosity, women suffer the greatest brunt of the subsequent mayhem. The same is applicable in the play as the women of Troy including the royalties all fall to the mercies of the attackers Greek. Additionally, women suffer sexual abuse, which is always the greatest form of abuse levelled against women. The women of Troy suffer different levels of abuses from their attackers but the conspicuous sexual abuse is evident. Queen Hecuba, a serving queen of Troy is prophesied to serve a Greek general soon after her husband dies and the same applied to yet another royal woman, one Cassandra who is destined to become a concubine for the Agamemnon a Greek army general. The play communicates a number of themes key among which portray the suffering of women in both the pre medieval society and the modern day society. Women still suffer because of their physique (Euripides 33). The play merely depicts the difference in the societies of the differing times but indicate the basic forms of abuses suffered by women in every society. One of such themes is historical narrative. This comes out evidently not only as a theme but also as a literary stylistic device. The entire play is a historical account of an actual occurrence in the modern day Troy. The author gives a systematic point-to-point account of the warring times. To achieve efficacy and validity of his account, he picks an angle just as any other professional writer would. His account is the plight of the Trojan women. It is by the sufferings of the women that he builds a play, which does not primarily convey the sufferings of the women but also depicts the power struggles of the time, the weak pol itical systems in the societies at the time and the ramifications of war and lack of peace in the development process of societies. Before the invasion, Troy had been just a society like any other. People enjoyed peace and went about their businesses as usual thereby building a peaceful society in which through their political system, everyone had his or her place. The women indeed performed subordinate roles to the men and the ruling class never safeguarded the rights of women but at least there was peace and everyone including the women was happy. However, with the inversion causes an impulsive disturbance to the peace thereby disorienting the society as everyone begins to panic. The Greek

Monday, October 14, 2019

Strategic Planning and Key Performance Indicators Essay Example for Free

Strategic Planning and Key Performance Indicators Essay Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) help organisations understand how well they are performing in relation to their strategic goals and objectives. In the broadest sense, a KPI can be defined as providing the most important performance information that enables organisations or their stakeholders to understand whether the organisation is on track or not. KPIs help to reduce the complex nature of organisational performance to a small number of key indicators in order to make performance more understandable. This is the same approach we use in our daily lives. For example, when you go to your doctor he might measure blood pressure, cholesterol levels, heart rate and your body mass index as key indicators of your health. With KPIs we are trying to do the same in our organisations. Organisations clearly understand what indicators are required for learning and improvement and focus on those. They then separate out the external reporting indicators if they are not relevant internally to avoid confusion and data overload. They then create the right set of goals / objectives to drive high-performance. KPIs are there to give us information which helps us to make better informed decisions. Words, numbers, star ratings are all valid forms of measurement. What matters the most is that you measure the relevant things that will help you answer the questions that matter the most in your organisation. The word ‘indicator’ tends to be used rather than ‘measure’ and therefore a performance indicator ‘indicates’ a level of performance, rather than a measurement of it. When setting KPIs a good starting point is to come up with the questions you want to have an answer to before you start designing KPIs. One or two so-called Key Performance Questions (KPQs) should be identified for each strategic objective. KPQs will help you collect the information required which in turn will allow you to design the right performance indicators to help you answer your KPQs. KPIs can be used to set organisational salary platforms. Once organisational goals and targets are set then KPIs can be structured for certain management positions to attain a bonus if these performances are reached within a set time period. This is used to assist reaching the targets and goals of the organisation.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Hurricanes Essay -- Natural Disasters Storms essays papers

INTRODUCTION The term â€Å"hurricane† is a name given to violent storms that originate over the tropical or subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, or North Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes need warm tropical oceans, moisture and light winds above them in order to maintain themselves active. Those storms other than the ones considered typhoons are known as tropical cyclones, which is the general name for all such storms including hurricanes and typhoons. Hurricanes are named based on certain aspects and location of where they first originate. With just the right conditions lasting long enough, a hurricane can cause violent winds, incredible waves crashing against shorelines, torrential rains and floods that produce great damage to properties and human life. HOW HURRICANES FORM Tropical cyclones form and grow in warm ocean water as a collection of storms in the tropic, receiving their energy from latent heat. Hurricanes and other tropical cyclones begin as clusters of showers and thunderstorms. When one of these showers becomes organized with its winds making a complete circle around the center, a tropical depression is formed. â€Å"The deepening low-pressure center takes in moist air and thermal energy from the ocean while simultaneously the high pressure higher in the atmosphere pushes it outward† ( Longshore 1). As the clouds turn into a tight curl, the depression becomes a tropical storm. Due to low central pressure air spiraling cyclonically, the diameter of what is known as the â€Å"eye† of the hurricane is anywhere from ten to twenty miles. Hurricanes and tropical cyclones form, maintain their strength, and grow only when they are over ocean water that is approximately 27 °C (80 °F). This type of warmth causes large amounts of wat er to evaporate, making the air very humid. Since water is slow to warm up and cool down, oceans do not become warm enough for tropical cyclones to occur in the spring. When hurricanes start to get weak and die out as they move over colder water or land, they can still remain dangerous as they slow down and weaken CHARACTERISTICS OF HURRICANES Hurricane-force winds coming from a large, strong storm may be felt over an area with a diameter of more than 60 miles. The diameter of the area affected by gale winds and torrential rain can extend another 120 miles outward from the eye of the storm. The diameter of... ...agement officials. CONCLUSION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hurricanes unfortunately occur between June 1st and November 30th with no human control over them. Hurricanes tend to form in warm, humid, and moist water and travel from east to west. To track such storms, the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale which determines the strength of a hurricanes’ winds and rain is used. It tends to be the most accurate. The National Hurricane Center is the main forecast center for storms that originate over the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the northeastern Pacific Ocean. In addition, The World Meteorological Organization’s Western Hemisphere Hurricane Committee selects hurricane names, using alternating men’s and women’s names in English, Spanish, and French in alphabetical order. The National Hurricane Center determines a hurricane watch if the storm could hit within 36 hours or less and advises everyone to stay indoors and off the streets as much possible. All in all, hurricanes a re not something to be proud off or be upset at because of the damages it causes, but just realize that it’s Mother Nature’s creation and nobody can control or stop a hurricane once it has created a path.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Mercutio as Catalyst in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet Essay

Mercutio as Catalyst in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet In Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, the quick-witted character Mercutio â€Å"is a notorious scene-stealer† (Utterback 105). Mercutio’s major function in the play is to be a catalyst for the plot. Mercutio’s purpose as a character is most significantly revealed in his relationship with Romeo, his baiting of Tybalt, and his death. More importantly, Mercutio functions as the catalyst for the pattern of disasters in the play that follows his own tragic death, making him, as described by critic Stephen Greenblatt â€Å"a spirit that seems to challenge the very possibility of romantic love or tragic destiny† (856). Mercutio’s role in the play is directly linked to his relationship with his â€Å"very friend,† Romeo (III.i.108). This bond and camaraderie of the men provides the basis for the revelation of Mercutio’s character as a foil to Romeo. â€Å"These basic roles for the two friends mean that, through the badinage, Mercutio is essentially active and Romeo reactive or passive† (Porter 103). For example, Mercutio tells Romeo â€Å"Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance† (I.iv.13). He playfully pushes Romeo to â€Å"borrow cupid’s wings / And soar with them above a common bound† (I.iv.17-18) and advises his friend that â€Å"If love be rough with you, be rough with love. / Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down† (I.iv.27-28). These lines demonstrate Mercutio’s characteristic need for urgency and action. â€Å"Romeo by contrast characteristically replies that he is unable to comply with his friendâ₠¬â„¢s exhortations—he won’t dance, don’t ask him—and his most urgent words, ‘Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace’ (I.v.95), urge not action but its cessation† (Porter 103).... ... Pennsylvania State University Press, 1965. Phillips, Brian. â€Å"Character Analysis.† SparkNote on Romeo and Juliet. 24 April 2003. http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeoandjuliet/canalysis.html. Porter, Joseph A. Shakespeare’s Mercutio: His History and Drama. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1988. Romeo and Juliet. Dir. Baz Luhrman. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, and John Leguizamo. 20th Century Fox, 1997. Romeo and Juliet. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey, John McEnery, and Milo O’Shea. Paramount, 1968. Shakespeare, William. The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York: Norton, 1997. 865-939. Utterback, Raymond V. â€Å"The Death of Mercutio.† Shakespeare Quarterly. 24.2 (1973): 105-116.

Friday, October 11, 2019

My Passion for Reading and its Contribution to My Personal Growth

My passion for extensive and penetrative reading has unequivocally confirmed the truth of a statement once made by the 18th century French Philosopher, Dennis Digerot, â€Å"Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things.† My soul, not merely my intellect, has indeed been elevated to greatness!I began cultivating a reading culture at the age of four, in my Nursery-school days because I appreciated the teachings of my parents and teachers regarding the treasures hidden in the reading culture. Thus I read whatever I could find that caught my fancy.But reading whatever caught my fancy soon gave way to a discriminatory reading habit, because against the moral sense of decency and progressiveness which I owe to my upbringing, I weighed and sifted every idea I came upon.My selection of books soon narrowed to national newspapers, academic literature, poetry and dramatic literature as well as works of political and academic critics.Customarily, I read these selecti ons not as means to an end but as a matter of personal interest in the ideas and information they offered. For instance, I did not read academic books merely to pass my exams but tried to unearth the eye-opening ideas they contained, the sophistication to which they drew attention, and the refinement in mind and in character they recommended.Today, I have a celebrated sense of intellectual discrimination; I know my rights from my wrongs; I have a discerning sense of beauty and appreciation in matters of morals, fashion, arts and literature; I have a mind independent enough to have an uninfluenced say in nearly any matter. I feel my intellect and my soul unfold to the academic and spiritual promise of their individuality!

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Review Questions Essay

1. What are club drugs? What are some of the factors that support the use of club drugs? Club drugs are synthetic drugs that are typically used in bars, nightclubs, raves, and other gatherings, some factors that support the use of these are the setting of raves and nightclubs. 2. What are screening tests? Why are they used? Screening tests are nonspecific and help a forensic scientist identify several particular drugs that the substance is likely to be, these tests are used to narrow possibilities and eliminate others. 3. What are color tests? Why are these tests used? Color tests are test that use a chemical reagent to the drug and observing whether or not the material changes color, these tests are used to show the screening of drugs but not specifically. 4. What are microcrystalline tests? What information do they provide? Microcrystalline tests involve exposing the substance to a reagent and then examining the color and morphology of the crystals that form. This test can be done quickly and the drug does not need to be separated from any other substances that it is with. 5. What is spectrophotometry? How can this be useful in identifying drugs? Spectrophotometry tests use UV lights to distinguish drugs from one another. Because different drugs react differently to the UV light, it helps identify them. Critical Thinking Questions 1. Why are forensic scientists an important part of drug cases? Forensic scientists are an important part of drug cases because they help discover the drugs at the sight, and what drug it may be, using multiple tests. If someone possesses a drug forensics can prove whether they in fact did possess drugs. They can also test to see in a person is under the influence of a drug. 2. If you were a forensic scientist and you were called to a crime scene to see if drugs were present, what would you do to determine this? I would first do a color test, and then a spectrophotometry test, because all drugs have a different reaction to the UV light. 3. Why is it important for forensic scientists to have as much information as possible about the place where a possible drug substance was found?