Essay on How Standardized Testing Effects the Education

As child growing up some of the frightful memories include a visit to the dentist; an evil man with scary drill whose solve purpose is to hurt you or the first day in elementary school you finally leave all behind the cozy classrooms and nap times of kindergarten and enter the big leagues. All of these are considered a cakewalk compared to standardize testing. Since the start of elementary school students in the United States are taught to test. In many instances students are held back or placed in remedial classes because of lower grades. But many don’t realize that some students are not great at testing taking and because of the lower grades some educators believe that these students are lower achievers. This leads to lower self-esteem†¦show more content†¦Under the current policy of No Child Left Behind, standards and assessments rest tightly at the national education policy, and remain the strongest force on policy and practice. However, despite the important role of high-stakes testing in the effort to improve America’s public education system, there have been numerous effects on schools, teachers, and students. Facing the pressure of standardized tests, students try to cram too much information in a short period of time. Memory capacity decreases from the stress of one high-pressure test that can decide whether they get left back to do an entire year over. Poor test results may also make them feel insecure about their intelligence and encourage them to give up. Therefore it is evident that many students in the United States have weakened the ability to think creatively. Christopher Longo states that Inquiry-based science instruction has led the way in assisting students in the process of discovering knowledge for themselves instead of simply being asked to recall information. Inquiry learning promotes creativity by increasing motivation, wonderment, and curiosity. The author proposes that inquiry is the key to enhancing creativity, while still meeting the demands of standardized testing (Longo 2). Inquiry based learning is a form ofShow MoreRelated Problems With Standardized Testing Essay1454 Words   |  6 PagesIn Standardized Testing and Its Victims, an article written for Education Week, Alfie Kohn states: Standardized testing has swelled and mutated, like a creature in one of those old horror movies, to the point that it now threatens to swallow our schools whole.... Our children are tested to an extent that is unprecedented in our history and unparalleled anywhere else in the world. While previous generations of American students have had to sit through tests, never have the tests been given so frequentlyRead More The Negative Impact of High Stakes Standardized Testing1191 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized testing is not a new concept; it has been in use since the mid to late 1990’s. However the â€Å"high stakes† focus on standardized testing is. The practices that accompany standardized testing have long been in debate. Those in favor of standardized testing will argue that the testing creates a system that increases grades and accountability among teachers, students and school districts across the country. On the other hand those that oppose standardized testing wil l argue the ill effectsRead MoreTaking a Look at Standardized Testing1518 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized Testing Currently Standardized Testing is one of the many issues currently plaguing the education community. Testing is a very touchy and controversial topic in the politics of education, particularly in the United States. There are many varying opinions debating on the successes and failures in the process of testing today. The controversies over standardized testing in the United State, and specifically New Jersey, stem from the testing process and the creation of these tests. SomeRead MoreEssay On Standardized Testing1137 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized testing in public schools has become a norm across the United States. But, in Texas it has been found that students spend more time taking standardized tests than any other state (â€Å"Too Much Testing†). Standardized testing may be an asset to measure education, or more measure testing skills across the nation, but at what cost does it come? What are its effects on moral within the public education system, and how does the state govern ment of Texas interact within it. Why does the TexasRead MoreStandardized Testing Is Negatively Affecting The Quality Of Education Essay1467 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized Testing Takes Its Toll On Education According to Linn, â€Å"Americans have had a love-hate relationship with educational testing†, and the controversies on the use of standardized tests will probably continue long after the twenty-first century (29). How can people see the ‘love’ in this use of testing that has negative long-term effects on students? Why should the controversies live on beyond this modern century? Standardized testing is negatively affecting the quality of education givenRead MoreEssay on Standardized Testing a Failure in Education1335 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized testing scores proficiencies in most generally accepted curricular areas. The margin of error is too great to call this method effective. â€Å"High test scores are generally related to things other than the actual quality of education students are receiving† (Kohn 7). â€Å"Only recently have test scores been published in the news-paper and used as the primary criteria for judging children, teachers, and s chools.†(2) Standardized testing is a great travesty imposed upon the American Public SchoolRead MoreTesting Is A Form Of Testing Used By Our Educational System1002 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized testing is a form of testing used by our educational system to measure the success of a school’s students and faculty. A typical student takes 112 mandated standardized tests between PreKindergarten and twelfth grade. The use of these tests became mandatory in 2002 as part of the No Child Left Behind Act. Although there are some individuals who support these tests, many parents, students, and teachers experience the negative effects year after year. Standardized tests impact studentsRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1302 Words   |  6 Pages Standardized Testing is a regulation of rigorous dialogue and debate. Both sides of this subject impose arguments based upon moral and financial justifications, and span from the local to national level of legislation . The policy of standardized testing as a means to identify schools who are lacking in successful educational processes neither harm school districts through unequal distribution of power, nor negatively affect students’ learning; rather, it benefits students, faculty, and districtsRead MoreEmphasis on Standardized Testing Essay1525 Words   |  7 Pagesthroughout ones educational career, students are required to take standardized tests to show their progress and if they meet certain requirements they could qualify them for higher educational opportunities. Some common standardized test include: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), American College Testing (ACT), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), and Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL). Standardized tests are designed so that each person taking the test has theRead MoreStandardized Testing Should Be Discontinued887 Words   |  4 PagesYears ago, standardized testing was introduced to s chool systems to measure capability and knowledge of the students. The tests were supposed to help point out issues in the school’s instruction method and to encourage the administration to fix the problems. Even though these tests started as an excellent way to help the education system, their effects have changed over time. Standardized testing should be discontinued because it cannot represent the true knowledge of a student, it narrows what a

The Ugly Americ Influence And Effects - 2054 Words

The Ugly American: Influence and Effects Diplomacy is the art of dealing with foreign countries in a sensitive and effective way. The ability to influence the people contributes to effective American diplomacy. In, The Ugly American, William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick, comment on the nature of American diplomacy in 1950s Southeast Asia. They identify the characteristics and effects of both inept and skilled diplomacy. The book highlights knowledge of the language, history, and culture as critical components to the ability to influence indigenous populations. In many ways the situations and characters described in the book, mirror the situations and challenges faced by Special Operations Forces (SOF) today. The Special Operations Imperatives are a planning tool that SOF use to influence the people and situations they encounter. In order to understand the influence and effects of proper application of the Special Operations Imperatives the stories of Homer Atkins, Colonel Hillandale and Solomon Asch provide a setting to co mpare and contrast with my own experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq and Jordan. Homer Atkins understood the needs of the Sarkhanese people. He identified small scale, local options to address challenges affecting the day-to-day lives of the local population. He used local materials and humbly sought out and accepted input from the local population to ensure long-term sustainment of a bicycle operated water pump system. Homer Atkins treated the Sarkhanese with

The Summary of “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell Essay Sample free essay sample

Trifles by Susan Glaspell is a drama written in the early 19 100s. What happens is a husbandman by the name John Wright is murdered and the perpetrator is thought to be Minnie Wright. John’s married woman. This drama takes topographic point in the kitchen of John Wright’s abandoned farmhouse. This instance is investigated by three work forces: the sheriff of the town Henry Peters. the county lawyer George Henderson. and a adjacent husbandman Lewis Hale. The married womans of Mr. Hale and Mr. Peters go along with the work forces to the offense scene. The Men take a more traditional path to work outing the slaying by looking for grounds throughout the house. while the adult females stay in the kitchen and pull their decisions from â€Å"the mundane inside informations of a farm women’s kitchen† ( 915 prologue ) . Even though the work forces take the more logical path in work outing offenses. We will write a custom essay sample on The Summary of â€Å"Trifles† by Susan Glaspell Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page it is the adult females who uncover what happened by looking at the bad lucks in the kitchen. Some of the bad lucks are the destroyed fruit conserves. the unfinished comforter. and the empty bird coop. The bird coop is a important piece of grounds in the drama because of the status it was left in. The door flexible joint was broken. and the bird was nowhere to be found. Finally. the adult females find the bird in a box in Mrs. Wright’s run uping basket ( 1. 1. 110-115 ) . The status in which the bird was left was similar to how John Wright died. John was hung by his married woman. while the bird died from acquiring its cervix wrung by Mr. Wright ( 1. 1. 115 ) . This was the chief factor in finding that Mrs. Wright killed her hubby. Even though this piece of grounds was important in the instance. Mrs. Hale did non give it to the work forces. but hid it from them so that Minnie could populate her old life once more. Trifles is an illustration of a Modern Realistic Drama and a P roblem drama. A Modern Realistic Drama is a type of Drama that wants to paint the image of how life is experienced by the common adult male and adult female. These types of dramas do non hold mystical animals in them. nor do they hold to cover with abstract constructs such as the secret plan of Oedipus Rex. Modern Realistic Dramas have characters that the mean individual can associate to. Besides. this type of play has linguistic communication that modern English speech production people use often and understand easy. Trifles does non utilize Shakespearian English. but it uses normal English. For illustration in line 3 of Trifles. the Sheriff says â€Å"Now. Mr. Hale. before we move things about. you explain to Mr. Henderson merely what you saw when you came here yesterday forenoon. † ( 1. 1. 3-4 ) . Trifles shows the features of a Modern Realistic Drama by the usage of its common linguistic communication. relatable secret plan. and characters that would be seen in existent life. but it besides has a dramatic side to it. The manner the Trifles is considered a play is because of the secret plan in the drama. The secret plan of Trifles is that there is a group of people who are look intoing a slaying. This secret plan makes Trifles a job drama. A job drama is a drama that has a major personal. societal. or political job that causes the play’s dramatic constructs. In Trifles. the job that the people face is a slaying of a adult male by his married woman. This slaying can be seen as either unethical or ethical. The work forces in the drama see the slaying as unethical because they do non look at the background in which Mrs. Wright was populating in. instead they merely looked at the present and saw her as a liquidator. The adult females of the drama see the slaying as ethical to some grade because of the manner that Mr. Wright changed Minnie’s position of the universe. Before Minnie married John Wright. she was ebullient and lovely all the clip. The minute she married John. her temper changed from being a carefree gal to being a down homemaker. The adult females thought that because John put Minnie through all that wretchedness for most of her life. that the slaying was non every bit unethical as it may look. Bibliography Glaspell. Susan. Trifles. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5th compact erectile dysfunction. New York: Pearson Longman. 2012. 915-926. Print.

Under Armour strategic report free essay sample

These statements relate to expectations, beliefs, anticipated events and future trends, and are not necessarily based on historical facts, but are conditions and issues that are current to the market environment, are reasonable, but constitute only current views about future events. Economic Conditions and Trends There are several conditions that will be useful to monitor over the next decade for Under Armour, including: 1. Underperforming economies- A declining retail consumer market and an overall struggling economy means potential difficulties for UA which offers closely related, non-essential products. Several factors include general economic conditions, available consumer credit, and consumer confidence . Since UA has very limited experience working in a economic downturn, they are unable to effectively predict the full impact of a downturn in the economy with regards to sales and profits. â€Å"Consumer purchases of discretionary items tend to decline during recessionary periods when disposable income is lower or during other periods of economic instability or uncertainty† The financial conditions of the retail customers, are a concern, as well. UA currently extends credit to all retail customers, based on their financial condition, usually without requiring collateral. Economic uncertainties increase the risk of this practice, as a â€Å"slowing economy in our key markets or a continued decline in consumer purchases of sporting goods generally could have an adverse affect on the financial health of UA retail customers, which in turn, would have an adverse affect on UA sales, and their ability to collect on receivables† (UA, Inc-10k annual 2012) 2. Supply chain issuesSome suppliers used by UA are commodities, such as petroleum based materials and therefore are subject to potential price fluctuations, particularly when petroleum supplies are under duress. Other supplier economic related issues include: Specialty fabrics – Used in UA products are technically advanced textile products developed by third party suppliers and may be available, at least for the short term from a very limited number of sources. In 2011, only seven suppliers provided 45% of all UA products . Any disruption of the supply chain, due to unseen market forces could create product shortages, particularly if UA is unable to locate alternative suppliers. If additional supply sources can be found, UA may experience interruptions in customer order fulfillment, until the new suppliers have reached quality control standards and are properly trained. Labor Disruptions- Labor disputes at various ports or at the supply source can create significant risks such as work slowdowns, lockouts, strikes or other disruptions during â€Å"peak† importing or manufacturing seasons and could adversely affect UA business, â€Å"potentially resulting in cancelled orders by customers† (UA, 10K, 2012) Capital requirements- Growing and operating the UA business plan, will require significant cash outlays and capital expenditures for both product , capital equipment and property. Changes in leverage ratios, and interest coverage as defined in the UA credit agreement with their financiers, due to unforeseen economic influencers, could have a â€Å"material adverse effect on the UA business, operations and cash flow. If additional capital is needed, UA may have difficulty raising needed cash on terms that would be acceptable to the organization, depending on cash availability or restrictions due to economic uncertainties. If financing for whatever reason, would become insufficient or unavailable, â€Å"UA would be required to modify its growth and operating plans based on the availability of these funds†. Distribution problems- UA has a limited number of facilities, all which utilize computer controlled and automated equipment, making operations complicated. Risks include: security and computer viruses, power interruptions or other system failures, floods, fires or other natural disasters. If UA were to encounter such problems with their distribution facilities, â€Å"the ability to meet customer expectations, manage inventory and complete sales goals, would be materially adversely affected† (UA, 10K report, 2012) 3. Tax Laws – Because UA is subject to income taxes in the U. S, as well as numerous foreign jurisdictions, the effective tax rate could be adversely affected in the future, particularly as hard hit national governments seek to recoup lost tax revenues due to economic downturn. Several factors are important to consider, including â€Å"changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, and changes in tax laws, each of which could adversely affect profitability. Exchange rates will have a major impact on Under Armour from both the Globalization sales efforts and finished goods supply chain based on foreign soil. Exchange rates affect â€Å" export opportunities, the profitability of international trade and investment deals, and the price competitiveness of foreign imports† (Hill, 2007, p. 345) All of these factors have a major impact on global business, therefore it is essential that UA understands this foreign exchange risk. The majority of economic theories of exchange rate movements for any country, point to three factors: 1) price inflation 2) local interest rates, and 3) market psychology. â€Å"The law of one price states that in competitive markets free of transportation costs and barriers to trade, identical products sold in different countries must sell for the same price when their price is expressed in terms of the same currency. † (Hill, 2007, p. 345) Cultural and Social Issues The UA target market up to this point has been the male sports â€Å"identity† population between the ages of 15-31, mostly consisting of the Gen Y demographic segment. Because the Gen Y segment is the second largest segment next to the boomers (85 million strong), future growth looks optimistic, particularly because UA is also doing well with the Gen Z group, who will be even more likely to carry brand loyalty into their 20’s and beyond. UA has recently been active in reaching out to women and girl athletes in the same demographic age sets. Even though the Gen Y spending only makes up 4% of a typical household spending, this buying group tends to be more tech savvy, and tend to spend on highly â€Å"image† related products. (Athletes buy athletic gear and clothing, etc) Currently UA has a positive image here in the U. S. , due to a strong brand identification of the target market to UA products countrywide. A high level of belief in the technology advantages of UA products is a majority factor in the current success of the brand image. UA believes that â€Å"continued growth in industry wide sales of performance apparel, footwear and accessories will be largely dependent on consumers continuing to transition from traditional alternatives to performance products† This shift in belief systems, could shift at some point in time, as history has shown that the American public can move from trend to trend in the blink of an eye , due to massive advertising monies dedicated to the industry by competitors and the media. The U. S. public is known worldwide for its fascination with sports and athletics, and the lifestyles associated with these pastimes. A perfect market such as sporting goods apparel, may attract another â€Å"disruptor† much like UA, in some not too distant future, with something newer, more attractive, technologically advanced, and with a similarly great startup story. In addition, because â€Å"performance products are often more expensive than traditional alternatives, consumers who are now convinced these products provide a better alternative may still not be convinced they are worth the extra cost. Social/Economic/Cultural differences will have a great bearing in these types of buying decisions as those who engage in sports activities in certain areas of the country may not identify so closely to the â€Å" sports hero† or â€Å"team† identity culture that is evident in UA marketing efforts. (UA, 10K report, 2012) Another issue to consider is that UA offers products that are closely related and non-essential is therefore subject to the fashion preferences of the public. If Under Armour were to enter new markets such as casual clothing, they might lose some of the appeal that differentiates them from the competition. Social responsibility is a key factor to continued U. S. success for UA, especially in light of the damage sustained by Nike when it was revealed that some of their overseas plants had been practicing forced labor, breaking child labor laws, and determined to be unsafe working environments. If Under Armour were to practice any type of unethical behavior , whether it be child labor, or not compensating employees adequately for overtime, their reputation would be tarnished, as well. This type of problem would be more difficult  for a company the size of UA to overcome, than it was for Giant Nike, who had the stamina and deep pocket books to take on the media firestorm with a positive media message of their own, and to correct the problems quickly. â€Å"Under Armour has several policies put in place that address issues such as forced labor , child labor, harassment, discrimination, health and safety, and worker’s environment, compensation , benefits, and rights† Ensuring ethical rights should be a concern of Under Armour’s throughout the nation, as well as internationally. It will be important, as well, that UA exhibits social responsibility through supporting and sponsoring several charity organizations. Currently UA has been involved with the â€Å"Conservation Fund† and â€Å"Power in Pink† both notably worthwhile U. S. charities. Lastly , one of the key social/cultural advantage that has most evident in the rapid rise of UA in the sports apparel market, has been the development of extensive sponsorships throughout the U. S. sports world, including supplying 30 of the 32 NFL teams, and is the official supplier for the MLB, the MLS, the NHL, USA baseball and the US ski team. â€Å"A key element has been to create a link in the consumer market between our products and professional and collegiate athletes† This strategy has run parallel to the rapid rise of popularity in these specific sports arena and their participating athletes, both here and internationally. â€Å"However, as competition in the performance apparel and footwear industry has increased , the costs associated with athlete sponsorships and official supplier licensing agreements have increase, including the costs associated with obtaining and retaining these sponsorships and agreements† Particularly in the U.S. , the added spotlight on â€Å"super athletes† has driven up the demand for heavy cash outlays to secure the â€Å"association† of such athletes and teams. This cultural phenomenon, could be a problem for UA in the future, particularly if they are unable to maintain the current association with professional and collegiate athletes, teams and leagues, or to do so at a reasonable cost. This could potentially lead to losing the â€Å"on-field authenticity associated with UA products, and could ultimately be adversely affected in brand image, net revenues, expenses and profitability† (UA, 10K report, 2012) Global expansion will continue to be an emphasis over the next few years, as this is the most fertile new business opportunity for UA. This expansion will require the need for UA to adjust its message and products for the Europeans, for example, as UA’s traditional football and baseball centric marketing will not have the same affect on a culture with different sports preferences. UA has already found some traction here already, creating sponsorships with the Welsh Rugby Union, German, England, and Greece soccer Teams, and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Canada. Trending sports like mixed martial arts, are also the subject of attention , as UA has recently endorsed a premier UK martial arts expert, Cloe Bruce. The rising popularity of women’s sports, will require additional product innovation and advertising, as well. (www. forbes. com/sites/freddreier/2012) Geo-Political and Legal issues By year end 2011, UA was manufacturing products in 16 countries, using 23 primary manufacturers. Of these manufacturers, only 7 produced over 45% of UA products in Cambodia, China, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Vietnam and San Salvador. â€Å"During 2011, approximately 60% of UA products were made in Asia, 22% in Central and South America and 8% in Mexico. † A major concern for UA going forward with regards to the manufacturing side of the business, are the risks associated with doing business abroad where many political and geographical challenges, lie outside UA’s ability to control. A few of these concerns are : Political and labor unrest, terrorism and economic instability which could result in the disruption of trade from foreign countries in which UA products are produced. Currency exchange fluctuations The introduction and implementation of new laws and regulations, including those related to labor conditions, quality and safety standards, imports, duties, taxes and other charges on imports, trade restrictions and restrictions on the transfer of funds. Also to considered are rules and regulations regarding climate change. Reduced protection for intellectual property rights in some countries Changes in local economic conditions, due to political policies, that impact credit, cash flow and purchasing by our manufactures in these locales. (UA, 10K report, 2012) Global expansion of sales will be impacted, as well by these same issues, and will need to be considered during priority selection of target foreign markets. For example, UA currently sells indirectly to the consumer through distributors to much of Central and South America and Mexico. Many South American countries like Argentina, present too many risks associated with direct expansion, such as a recent recovery from a complete economic collapse, resulting in a high level of uncertainty and instability in this country. That coupled with a known , questionable legislative system, poses yet greater risk for a targeted entry into such a market. Mexico has some of the same inherent risks as with any foreign market, but the chance for success is greater because Mexico is an active participant in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and is governed to a degree by it statutes. In the U. S.  and across the globe, UA will also be subject to trade , and other regulations that could pose a risk to active investigations by government regulators if there is a failure to comply. â€Å"The labeling, distribution, importation, marketing and sale of UA products are subject to extensive regulation by various federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Product Safety Commission and state attorney generals here in the U. S. Elsewhere, UA faces similar trade oversight by other federal, state, provincial, local and international regulatory authorities in locations that their products are sold. The risk of noncompliance could result in significant penalties or claims which could harm UA operational functions, and /or the ability to conduct business. The adoption of new regulations or changes in the interpretation of existing regulations may also result in compliance costs, and may result in the discontinuation of product in a worst case scenario. Adding Global expansion to this matter, and the legal risk of doing business in some countries may become cost prohibitive. Two other important factors must be considered in this discussion on Legal issues that are significant to UA: The fabrics and the manufacturing technology of UA products are not easily patented, in fact, UA currently owns fabric or process patents on any of its products. â€Å"As a result , our current and future competitors are able to manufacture and sell products with performance characteristics and fabrications similar to our products. This is a big issue, and will be discussed in the later problems and strategies sections of this report. The success of UA depends largely on the brand image of its products. For UA , the registered and common law trademarks have â€Å"significant value† and are important identifiers and differentiators from it’s competition. As UA continues to expand product lines, they will be subject to claims from competitors who believe that UA is stepping on intellectual property rights of others, and fully expect that similar encroachments are to be expected against UA intellectual property from product expansions from competitors, as well. Environmental Issues The most important environmental issue affecting net sales revenues for UA products, is the weather. While quarterly results of operations may also fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of other factors, including timing of introductions and advertising, and changes in the product mix, most of these issues are controllable by the company. Weather, of course is not a controllable factor, and has, shown to have an adverse effect on quarterly results of operations and sales for UA. For example, the warmer than normal weather conditions throughout the fall and winter had an effect on the COLDGEAR line , leaving UA with heavy inventories into the spring of 2012. As most of the product was shipped prior to the unseasonable weather hitting, Much of the real impact will be felt in the fall 2012 sell in when many distributors and wholesalers will be stuck with last years’s inventory. Europe, which suffered from more summer weather issues has been beset by weaker than inflation sales increases (+2. 7%) suggesting that unit sales for UA, (as well as other similar sporting apparel companies) in that region actually fell. Among the list of sustainable business practices almost universally accepted by most CEO’s is the environmental factors that socially responsible companies are addressing, and more importantly reporting, such as resource consumption, emissions, and land/water conservation. Under Armour’s website contains information which addresses many of the requirements for sustainable business practices including global labor standards, and a code of conduct for suppliers, and a code of Business Ethics. Attention to this significant modern responsibility for successful companies is not without reward: Investment in socially responsible companies has grown from an estimated 12 billion in 1995 to over $220 billion in 2011. (Business Week online 2011) SPORTING GOODS APPAREL AND FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY Overview The Global Athletic Apparel and Footwear Industry is a dynamic and growing industry driven by a trend toward healthier, more active lifestyles, with several participating apparel companies joining with fashion designers to produce new clothing styles and to widen their product lines. The world sports apparel industry reached 120. 1 billion dollars in sales for 2011, and is forecasted to grow to 126. 30 billion $ Sales by the year 2015. Sales will continue to be driven by a trend toward less formal dress in the workplace and demand from specific demographics such as teenagers and baby boomers. These blurred lines of differentiation between sports apparel and garments used for casual, business, and everyday street wear continue to define an ever-changing landscape in the sports and fitness clothing market. Minor differences between sports apparel fitness, clothing and casual, active wear are leading to an interesting change in the target audiences. Changes in lifestyles and attitude towards fitness outerwear, are determining fashion trends with consumers, particularly with women, who are exhibiting a demand for more fashionable workout wear. Trends include, a â€Å"growing emphasis on versatility, convenience, fashion, compfort, style and performance is creating a strong demand for sports and fitness clothing which offers boh functional performance and style appeal. † (www. strategyr. com/sportsandfitness. An aging but active population in the U. S, Japan, European and emerging markets such as Asia and Latin America are excellent growth markets for sports apparel manufacturers. As women take up newer sports, they are becoming a highly lucrative target audience, as well. On the retail front sporting goods stores compete with fashion stores, while mass merchandisers compete with department stores and sporting goods chains for a piece of the market pie. Consumers are demonstrating a wide variety of preferences, classy tastes, and an eye for performance, flexibility and function. Increasingly, this target market is willing pay more for these product characteristic that might help them to gain a competitive advantage in their sports pursuit. New fabric characteristics such as temperature regulation, friction reduction, moisture advantage, stretch, lightness, and wind/water resistance are in popular demand. A strong trend towards â€Å"brand strengthening† is evidenced by downward integration of the sports apparel manufacturers into the retail distribution arena like â€Å"shop within a shop† in the chain stores, and single brand stores.

Feedback, Test Anxiety And Performance In A College Course Essays

Feedback, Test Anxiety And Performance In A College Course This essay was written to provide information on a study performed at Appalachian State University. The object of this study was to confirm or refute if immediate feedback enhances learning. The effects of three forms of test feedback were investigated within the necessary circumstance of a self paced, guideline based course in educational psychology. There were 88 participants in the study, but 15 students were unable to complete the course requirements, so their scores were not included in the report. These 73 undergraduate students completed seven units of work and were assessed by computer administered unit tests. The students were randomly assigned to one of the three test feedback forms being used in the study: 1. item by item knowledge of responses, 2. answer until correct, and 3. delayed feedback. Students received their assigned feedback during work on the first two units, then they were allowed to choose the feedback they preferred. Test anxiety was measured preceding to testing on Satason's Test Anxiety Scale and during testing on an item administered by the computer. Undergraduates who reported high test anxiety on the Scale experienced more anxiety during testing than students reporting low test anxiety. The anxiety during testing was not related to the type of feedback, and the two variables were not related to course performance on the second unit. Data collected at the end of the semester showed that students who reported higher test anxiety required more attempts to pass unit tests than those with lower test anxiety. When the undergraduates were asked they preferred the type of feedback, answer until correct. This preference was not related to the Scale scores or to being allowed to choose forms of feedback. Two strengths of this study are it's testing and the use of the random assignment. I feel that the times in which the administered the Test Anxiety Scale was an efficient time. If the Scale was administered afterwards then the students would have to look back, and the thoughts on their anxiety could have been changed by how they feel they did on their tests. The random assignment of feedback was a better choice than just allowing the student to choose. If the student was allowed to choose, they already would have some idea of what they worked better with, and that would not help in any way in the finds in the study, of which was bad and which was good feedback. One weakness of this study was that there have been others studies that contradict the findings in this study. I also feel that some people just have high anxiety about tests no matter what kind of feedback they are given. Psychology Essays

The Open Systems Interconnection Referencing Model

The Open Systems Interconnection Referencing Model Introduction One of the most epic accomplishments of the 21st century was the invention of the computer and the subsequent creation of computer networks. The interconnection capability of computer systems is arguably the feature that makes them most versatile and invaluable to their users.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Open Systems Interconnection Referencing Model specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With this realization, many manufacturers in the early days of computing set out to develop devices that could be used in internetworking. At the onset, various manufacturers designed network architectures that were specific to their devices leading to a lack of interoperability between devices by different manufacturers (Wetteroth 4). This was very inefficient and as such, there arose a need to come up with a common standard which would guarantee the seamless interconnection of various heterogeneous architec tures. The International Standards Organization (ISO) was therefore formed as a body charged with developing and publishing international standards. This body came up with the Open Systems Interconnection referencing model (OSI). This paper shall set out to explain the components of the OSI reference model as well as the need for adopting the standard. Importance of the Open Systems Interconnection Referencing Model The OSI reference model was produced in 1974 by the ISO encourages the creation of network equipment that is non-proprietary in nature by the various vendors in the field (Wetteroth 4). This model consists of seven layers with a description of the services that each layer must provide to the layer above it. An important point to note is that the OSI model is not a specific network architecture but rather a description of what each layer must do. As such, manufacturers are required to use this as a guideline when coming up with their own specific network architecture. Any device that conforms to the OSI standard is guaranteed to be able to communicate with another device that meets the same standards and functionality of devices is also Operating System independent. This results in great interoperability of the various network devices. In coming up with the various layers of the OSI, various principles were considered. Most notably, it was seen as necessary for each layer to have well defined functions; these functions had to be chosen in a standardized manner and the boundary between them was such as to minimize data flow through the interfaces. As a result of this, the model allows for the investigation of various network errors which would otherwise be very hard to find without the existence of layering as outlined in OSI. The seven layers of the OSI model Figure 1. The Open Systems Interconnection reference modelAdvertising Looking for research paper on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn Mor e Source: The Manual Page The different layers of the OSI model. 2009. Layer 7: The Application Layer This layer is the interface between the user and the network. The application layer controls how the operating system and its applications interact with the network (Hallberg 32). The functions of this layer include providing application programs with access to the network, control of data flowing through and the recovery from any error that might occur. At the application layer, the data been sent is encapsulated with an application header and the application data which constitutes the data being sent through the network. The protocols that exist at this layer include Telnet, FTP, SMTP and HTTP. The data transmission process begins with this level receiving data from the user application. Layer 6: The Presentation Layer This layer provides certain functionality which result in readability of data for the application layer. This is done through a number of coding and conve rsion functions which result in information that can be read across systems. The layer â€Å"transforms the data from the session layer to provide a standard interface for the application layer and from the application layer to a network format† (Lowe 397). The presentation layer in essence takes the data from the lower levels and puts them into a format that an be understood by the system. Hallberg reveals that some of the functions that take place at the layer include: compression and decompression as well as data encryption and decryption (31). In addition to this, this is the layer responsible for setting standards for different systems.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Open Systems Interconnection Referencing Model specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Layer 5: The Session Layer This layer controls the various sessions between communicating devices by establishing, maintaining, and when communicat ion is over, terminating the connection between the communicating devices. This layer performs negotiations between the communicating devices on issues such as flow control and user identification and authentication on the network (Hallberg 30). The Session layer also delegates who is to send or receive data at a given time and goes on to stipulate as to how long this will take place. The session layer allows for graceful closure and provides synchronization services. Layer 4: The Transport Layer The transport layer provides data transfer between communicating users by managing flow of information from one node to the other. This transfer is transparent in nature thereby the higher level layers need not concern themselves with the specifics. This layer also manages the flow of data and divides the streams of data into packets which are reassembled at the other end. At this layer, data is segmented and a TCP header placed at the end of each segment. This header includes control infor mation such as start and end flags so as to enable the recipient to establish the size of the message (Lowe 397). Sequence information is also provided so that even if data is transmitted non-sequentially, it can be reassembled back to the original form in the right order. This layer ensures that the all the data packets sent are received and that they are decoded in the proper sequence. The two major protocols which function at this layer are TCP and UDP. Layer 3: The Network Layer This layer provides the functional means of transferring data sequences of varied lengths from source to destination (Lowe 397). The packets of data obtained from the session layer are segmented into frames and their logical addressing is done. This layer covers the issue of addressing and routing. At the network level, an IP header is added. This makes the segments packets. The header information at this layer includes the IP address of the source and the destination. This is necessary for the logical-p hysical address mapping routers use this information to forward data to the required destination. This is done by translation of the IP address and MAC addresses. The network layer relies on the routing information provided to send individual packets to the correct destination and to notify the recipient of the source from which the packet originated. Layer 2: The data-link layer This layer turns the frames provided by the network layer into raw bits of zeros (0) and ones (1) in readiness for transmission at the physical layer and reconstitutes them to frames at the other end.Advertising Looking for research paper on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The data link layer encapsulates a header which contains LLC information identifying network layer protocols, Frame check sequence for error checking and the MAC address of the source and the destination. As such, at the data link layer a frame contains a header which has the IP address, MAC address and various control information (Lowe 398). This information is necessary for hubs and switches to enable them tell where to forward information. The Data Link Layer ensures that there is an error-free communication between the two communicating nodes and as such, if any error is detected, the layer requests for a retransmission of data from the transmitting node. The error detection mechanism method employed by this layer is the Frame Check Sequence. Layer 1: The physical layer The physical layer is responsible for the â€Å"transmission of the streams of bits through a physical media† (Wetteroth 3). This may be through a sequence of electrical impulses or through light variation s. Wetteroth states that the Physical Layer specifies the attributes of the physical medium that will be used for network communication (3). As such, definition of how the physical cable is attached to the Network interface Card is provided at this layer. In addition to this, the layer is also responsible for monitoring data error rates. Hubs, repeaters, network adapters perform on this level. Memorizing the Seven Layers To enable me memorize the seven layers, I have come up with a simple mnemonic which is fairly easy for me to remember: â€Å"Please Do Not Take Salty Pork Always† The first letter to every word in my formulae represents a level in the OSI reference model starting from Layer 1 all the way to Layer 7. Conclusion This paper set out to perform a concise yet informative research on the OSI (Open System Interconnect) standard model that was created by the International Standards Organization. The paper began by reaffirming the need for standardization in the comput er network industry. From the discussions provided, it has been seen that without standardization, the industry would have been full of devices that cannot interoperate which would greatly limit the choice for consumers since they would be forced to buy all devices from one vendor so as to avoid running the risk of devices not working together. From this paper, it is also clear that the OSI reference model plays a crucial role in ensuring interoperability among various networking devices. Hallberg, Bruce. Networking, A Beginners Guide, Fifth Edition. McGraw Hill Professional, 2009. Print. Lowe, Doug. Networking For Dummies. For Dummies, 2007. Print. The Manual Page. The different layers of the OSI model. 2009. Web. Wetteroth, Debbra. OSI Reference Model for Telecommunications. USA: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing, 2001. Print.

Personal Finance Concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personal Finance Concepts - Essay Example Secured loans are those that are lent by the bank or other financial institutions with some form of collateral or security. Collateral may include personal property that serves to assure the lenders that they will receive their payment or take over the collateral should the borrower fail to pay. On the other hand, unsecured loan is the amount of loan that is lent with an understanding that the borrower will repay it in future according to the agreement without defaulting. The secured loans normally attract lower rates, higher borrowing limits as well as longer repayment period. As a result, they do create less risk to the lender as they can usually sell off the collateral should the borrower fail to make payment (Garman & Forgue, 2012) There are a number of alternatives to loans that can be used by businesses and individuals to finance their financial needs. Such include factoring which refers to a situation in which a business sells its accounts receivables to financial institutions known as the factor and they in turn advance funds to such business under some specified terms and conditions. Hedge-Fund lenders is an alternative financing method that money is lent to higher risk businesses depending on the pitch made by the borrower. The decision to make such a lending is undertaken with due diligence with much

Grief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Grief - Essay Example This essay seeks to explore the reasons behind grief and whether it can be "treated" like a medical condition through psychological measures. There will also be a discussion of the different sources and forms of grief as psychological phenomena. Central to the understanding of Grief as a mental condition, are the different reactions people have to it , and recent academic opinion tends to avoid the traditional conceptions of grief being a " process" which is predicable in every sense. The new ideas seek to compare and evaluate the different responses of people to different kind of grief which has a lot to do with their family and gender orientation as well as religious and spiritual beliefs. A connected concept is bereavement, which implies a loss in ones life of a loved one or family and has the connected danger of transforming into a mental disease. Over the years there have been a number of physical and psychological therapies and counseling which have been developed to counter this traumatic time for people. Yet many people fare better in physical downfalls rather than emotional pitfalls involving grief and loss.The debate goes on about the whether grief "strikes like lightning" and kills slowly. Many academics like Dr. Elisabeth Kbler-Ross have spoken about how grief has certain stages involving anger and denial. Other psychologists deny the cyclical treatment of grief and look towards common experiences of people with in the themes of numbness ,yearning and despair. 1The stages of Grief It can be said that there is a difference between normal and abnormal grief (Engel 1961) and grief can be defined as "involving suffering and an impairment in the capacity to function which may last for days weeks and even months .We can identify a constant etiologic factor namely .real ,threatened or even fantasised object loss. It fulfils all the criteria of a discrete syndrome with relatively predictable sympatomatology and course. The grieving person is often manifestly distressed and disabled" Another academic notes that, "Whenever one's identity and social order face the possibility of destruction, there is a natural tendency to feel angry, frustrated, helpless, and/or hurt. The volatile reactions of terror, hatred, resentment, and jealousy are often experienced as emotional manifestations of these feelings."2 Medical and psychiatric opinion suggests that grief causes physical and stress related illnesses like bodily pain and asthmatic difficulties. Grief has also been recorded to cause death (Engels 1961) and it is said that it increases the risk of suicide amongst the aggrieved. Some writers have argued that there has to be a line drawn between grief and abnormal grief (Wilkinson 1999).The symptoms of abnormal grief are both physical and mental and include conditions like nightmares, asthma, insomnia, and loss of appetite. (Engels 1961 and Wilkinson 1999).Many people will try and avoid the pain by abusing medications and others report loss of libido and even hallucinations.(Engels 1961). The diagram on the left explains in simple terms the relationship between grief, bereavement and mourning The biggest misconception has been traditionally to assume for the people struck with grief that "time heals all wounds". Much rather if the condition of Grief is not treated and

Discussion Board Post Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Discussion Board Post Response - Essay Example This trend can impact n the competitive advantage of the facility since patients weighing more than four hundred pounds will opt to seek the services of other healthcare facilities. Facilities with more capital assets according to Zismer, Sterns and Claus () have a competitive advantage over others. In my organization, there is need for an additional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine to prevent long queues in the department as patients wait for their turn. Your case is similar to that in my organization as purchasing these equipments will increase efficiency of services. Your discussion Melton is also correct. Your organization considers the views of employees and incorporates their contributions in the formulation of budgets in terms of prioritizing purchase of capital assets. Incorporating employees in decision making has been proved to improve productivity as employees feel valued. Your organization does the correct thing. Subsequently, your organizations use of information regarding delays in patient care, patient anxiety, and patient satisfaction to demonstrate and justify the need for a vein finder sheds more light on how to demonstrate the need for an equipment in healthcare settings. My organization calculated the expected return of capital (Baker and Baker, 2014) to demonstrate the need for an MRI machine and the time patients wait in queues to be access the equipment. Your technique is applicable to my organization as

Education Studies Theories Of Learning Reflect Education Essay

Education Studies Theories Of Learning Reflect Education Essay It is widely understood that most of a childs learning and development takes place with an educational environment a school setting for example. But this does not mean to say a child learns approaches used in schools, which assist children to develop physically emotionally intellectually and develops by just listening to a teacher alone, there are a variety of different methods and sociably as well as to develop their language skills. Throughout my assignment i intend to reflect upon my own learning experiences, and discuss these in relation to different learning theories. In addition to this, i will then take into account what this may mean for my future learning and development and what different skills, qualities and abilities i feel are essential in order me to be an effective educational practitioner Before i am able to reflect on my own learning experiences, I must establish what learning actually is. I personally feel that learning is the way in which an individual has the ability to learn and develop in different ways for example cognitively emotionally and socially, we always need that guidance from a teacher, parent, peer. A leaner needs to recap over existing knowledge or behaviour in order for it to be improved or develop. What we learn at any time is influenced by our previous learning. An extension to this is defined by Nisbet (1986,p.11) who goes on to explain that we may certainly learns new ways of doing things and certain rules but we continue to rely on our previous habits that we have picked up from past experiences of learning. B.F. Skinner who was a behaviourist, his main contribution to behaviourism were the notions of positive and negative reinforcement. He also developed the idea of behaviour shaping, which is training humans to carry out new tasks through a s eries of increasingly complex activities leading to the desire goal. Where as Burns (1995, p99) talks about learning being relatively permanent changes in behavior as the result from experience, internal processes such as thinking, attitudes and emotions. Another definition of learning is defined by John Locke who was an English philosopher who believed, the learner starts off as a clean slate (Tabula rasa) onto which learning and experiences would be imprinted. Whether one agrees with the different learning theorists or theories, our personal development is largely facilitated by teachers or MKO (more knowledgeable other) who should have the motivation, understanding and knowledge to develop our full potential from an early age. Abraham Maslow believes the hierarchy needs to be met before and individual can start their learning process these are physiological needs, safety and security, belongingness and love, and self -esteem and Self-actualization. a learner whether it is a adult or child cannot learn unless they are warm, have shelter, fed and are loved. The learner has to feel safe and protected in the environment, we must also feel loved and belonging in order to achieve our full potential. Another important set of needs in the hierarchy is self-esteem, high level of confidence an individual- learner needs to have a positive view on themselves and finally self-actualization refers to the need for self-fulfilment a positive state of mind. I feel these hierarchy needs are crucial in order for an individual to learn because if we are homeless, cold, hungry, or unloved then in my opinion we would not be concerned about our intellectual development. This first experience of learning that I will discuss is learning to drive a car. Many of my friends and family had passed their driving test, and had the freedom to go wherever they wanted without asking for a lift or arranging a time that was best. I used to watch in envy as they drove past, but I was too scared to get behind the wheel myself, because I was involved in a serious car at the age of 10. I was planning to go to study away the following year at Preston University and my mum encouraged me to start taking driving lessons, so I could travel back on the weekends and be more independent, she had promised to buy me my first car and assist with the running of it. I eventually got the courage and started taking lessons. Throughout my learning I did struggle with certain manoeuvres, for example a 3 point turn in the road I used to hit the curb as I would reverse backwards, because my instructor had said he cannot give me guidance all the time because the examiner would not guide me on the day. My instructor had picked up on me finding it difficult and stopped teaching me other manoeuvres for the time being, and every lesson I had involved two turns in the road until i could do them. He made it challenging every time because he didnt take me to the same roads and some of the roads where narrower than others. So I spent 1 year working at getting to level of being a good safe dri ver then I was ready to take my test, and passed. Looking back at what it was that actually motivated me to get behind the wheel and put my fears behind me, was the fact that most of my friends my age could drive and in some sense u could say I felt left out, and was always the one sat as a passenger rather than the one actually driving. Since beginning this subject of study I have developed and understanding about different levels of motivation, a child or adult being able to be motivated themselves individually in order to learn effectively. I am going to use examples to explain what I exactly mean by this and how it is relevant to my learning experience. I was intrinsically motivated because I wanted to learn to drive, so I was more independent and didnt feel unaided, I was also extrinsically motivated because my mother said when I pass she will buy me my first car, so I was rewarded for my achievement at the end. Now I will go on to explain which theories or learning theorist are most relevant in my learning experience. REFRENCEFirstly the constructivism theory of which Piaget ideas were integrated into, he believed children using direct experience and then exploring and learning, in their own way at their own pace, whilst being involved in an activity. My learning to drive experience demonstrates that I learned at my own pace because it happened over a period of time. Banyard and Hayes (1994, p.259) explain how Albert Bandura believes that people can learn new information and behaviours by watching other people, known as observational learning where we model other behaviour and I knew roughly how to start because i used to watch my mother and friends when I was a passenger. Bruner (1960) explained how learning is an active process revisiting basic ideas over and over, building upon them and elaborating to the level of full understanding. This was possible through the concept of the spiral cu rriculum. Bruner believed information being structured so that the basics can be taught first, and then complex after, then re-visited at more complex levels later on. For example first I learned how to drive on local quite roads, then at a later stage once my confidence built up and I gained more knowledge I was taken on busier main roads during rush hour. My next learning experience I will discuss in my essay is learning my timetables. I recall back to when I was in first school about year three or four, my teacher gave me a set of time tables to learn and then take sheet home to practice . I remember I was finding it difficult to get to grips with the 6 times table, so I asked my mother to help me. She made me some flash cards and turned learning them into a game. We laid the cards out on the table and I had to match the cards together for example, the card 36 to 6 x 6. I really wanted to do well because my mother had said if i did well she would take me to toy shop. When my mother would come to pick me up from school the teacher would tell her how well i did, and when we used to go shopping into town my mother would buy a tamagotchi. So I was most defiantly motivated in learning them. When thinking about this learning experience since doing this topic, has made me come to realise that because my learning style is kinaesthetic, this was the reason why I found the flash cards helpful and easier for me to learn, because I was moving things around rather than just looking at the sheet reading them and trying to remember them. The theories that I found relevant to my learning experience here was Edward Thorndikes laws of effect theory, in addition and skinners positive reinforcement theory were the most important, both of the theories are very similar. Banyard and Hayes (1994, p.267), states that behaviour that has a positive and rewarding outcome is therefore more likely to reoccur in similar situations. The other theory i found relevant was the Social Constructivism theory, of which ideas Vygotsky ideas of learning were integrated into. Recalling back to my learning experience when I was receiving guidance and help from my mother, Vygosky would view it as scaffolding which was one of his most important concepts. He believed that without scaffolding from the More Knowledgeable other (MKO) we only have the ability to reach our zone of actual development (ZAD) meaning we would only achieve what we are cable of without help, on the other hand if our learning is scaffold then we have the ability to reach our zone of proximal development (ZPD).REFRENCE In terms of my future learning, it is important that I stay persistent so I can reach my goal in becoming a primary school teacher. I understand that every child is different with their own unique learning styles, every child learns in their own way and pace and it is important to meet their learning needs. I also believe that it is important for me to be able to view tasks how a child would receive it, as this is what will make me a effective practitioner because I will be able to adapt the teaching approach to that individual if needed Another vital part of this essay is to discuss the skills and qualities I feel are essential for any effective educational practitioner. Listening effectively to the children is an important skill a teacher needs, so they can cater for the different learning styles in order to give them the best possible opportunities to learn. I also feel it is crucial that a teacher is warming, kind and approachable so the children feel comfortable in talking about anything no matter the problem or situation. Another skill I feel is crucial is having excellent communication, having the ability to communicate with other teachers, students of all ages and parents. It is also vital that the educational practitioner has a positive attitude and is patient even in difficult situations. On reflection of my essay, I have realised how much knowledge I have achieved, which I can use in the classroom in the future. I have learnt that not everyone learns in the same way, was as the teachers need to make learning fun and efficient. Whilst doing this essay I realised why certain outcomes occurred in terms of my own learning experience i.e. motivation, positive reinforcement and support network around me.

The Life of Albert Simms :: essays research papers

â€Å"Come ova here and do yo work boy!† â€Å"Did you address me with a sir boy?† This is something a racist white man or female might say to a young black boy in the South. How would one feel if they were treated differently just because of their race? Would it have immediate and long term effects on one’s life? The two statements above are examples of how people talk to their labeled inferiors. In this case, this pertains to the autobiographical book Black Boy, written by Richard Wright. This relates to racism in the deep South, and how it changes and affects a young African-American living through this tough time. Racism towards Richard had several long term effects. It caused him to think differently of people, to have a different view on life, and learn never to give up. The first lasting and long term effect racism towards Richard had on him was that it caused him to think differently of people. Racism caused Richard to think differently of people because he did not understand how, or why the white people that he lived with hated him, and his race with such a great passion. He never comprehended how people could have so much hatred inside of them to act, and treat another race so poorly. Richard reads in an advertisement from the newspaper he was selling, â€Å"The only dream of a is to be President and to sleep with white women†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wright 131). This quote is depicting an African-American. The advertisement was degrading to Richard, because this was one of the first times that he realized that people from all over the country hated his race, not just from his small town. He did not know what to do, what to feel, or how to react to such a statement. It was instances like these that caused him to think differently of people. After he overc ame, and passed instances like these, he began to have a different view on life. The second long term effect that racism towards Richard had on him was that it caused him to have a different view on life. Richard experienced many occasions where racist acts were committed and directed towards him. These acts could have been directed towards him for several reasons, but they all had one major effect on him: it caused him to have a different view on life.

Paper Towns By John Green Essay

Quentin and Margo meet at a random night when Margo sneaks into Quentin’s room. Since then, Quentin follows Margo on her adventurous mission for revenge of her boy friend cheating. Quentin and Margo get closer which makes Quentin to feel like he is going to be close friends with her since that day. However, Margo goes missing the next day, leaving only few clues for Quentin to search for herself. Quentin and his friends, Ben, Radar, and Lacey, find few clues at Margo’s room when her parents go away. At her room, they find Walt Whitman’s book, Leaves of Grass, and find few quotes that are highlighted. Quentin then finds a location clue at his house and head to the location in search of Margo. He finds maps that are connected with holes from the pins. He later finds out that she is at Algoe, New York, and heads to Algoe with his friends on a road trip. After a road trip, Quentin and his friends arrive at Algoe, New York where Margo is. They see Margo writing down s tuffs in her black notebook. Margo is surprised to see that Quentin was able to find her but she soon recognizes their effort and starts to explain about herself. Quotes: 1) â€Å"†¦maybe she loved mysteries so much that she became one.† (Page.8) This quote is important because it’s foreshadowing Margo’s live later in the book. Margo disappeared after her adventurous night with Quentin, only left a few hints for him to look for her. She becomes a mystery for everyone because no one knows where she is. However, Quentin and his friends later found her in Algoe. Margo being different from others is represented with her mysteriousness and odd perception. 2) â€Å"It’s a paper town. I mean look at it, Q: look at all those cul-de-sacs, those streets that turn in on themselves, all the houses that were built to fall apart.† (Page. 57) As Quentin and Margo are on top of the Suntrust Building, Margo is explaining her point of view of the city where she has been living for eighteen years. By comparing Orlando to paper town. The way that she talks about the cul-de-sacs expresses her feeling of being trapped because the roads turn in on themselves not leaving any open places. Also, the paper town relates to the houses where everything is frail including the people who live there because they only care about things that concern them blocking out  everything else. 3) â€Å"I looked down and thought about how I was made of paper. I was the flimsy-foldable person, not everyone else.† (Green 293). Margo explains to Quentin her real thoughts on paper town and paper girl reflecting on her previous statement at the Suntrust Building. Margo begins to understand herself better after having isolated herself by running away. Margo describing herself as â€Å"flimsy-foldable† refers to her dual life where everyone in school perceives her differently. She is viewed as the leader and the popular fashionable person admired by many of her fellow classmates. However, at home, there is a side that no one is aware of regarding Margo such as the record collection she owns. Regarding this fact, Margo can easily change herself to a different person just like paper changes its shape when it’s folded. Therefore, Margo herself sees and realizes who she really is through comparing herself to paper. Character Comparison: Quentin Jaconsen Quentin take his friends and family for granted, thing almost of his own wants and selfish. However, he is also funny and intelligent and has a good heart. In Quentin I found a character I was particularly able to relate in one way, his expectations of his best friend Ben. For pretty much throughout the book, Quentin constantly wants Ben to change. He wants him to stop being so crass, to stop using the word â€Å"honeybunny†, to stop being obsessed with finding a date to take to their prom and to stop being too busy or too tired when Quentin wants to talk again about Margo or play Resurrection. Basically, Quentin wants Ben to be exactly like him. He never truly accepts Ben for who he is. Like what Radar tells him â€Å"You know your problem, Quentin? You keep expecting people not to be themselves. I mean, I could hate you for being massively unpunctual and for never being interested in anything other than Margo Roth Spiegelman, and for, like, never asking me about how it’s going with my girlfriend – but I don’t give a shit, man, because you’re you†¦.You’re funny and you’re smart, and you may show up late, but you always show up eventually.† (Page. 194). Radar then goes on to tell Quentin â€Å"Just saying: stop thinking Ben should be you, and he needs to stop thinking you should be him.† (Page. 195). Reading Radar’s speech helped me to realize I have the same problem with Quentin. I want people not to be  themselves. I want them to be nicer, happier, friendlier, less self-involved, more sincere, more understanding, more enthusiastic, more interest in the thing I’m interested in and a whole of other things. I want them to be what I want them to be. But I don’t just do this with people. I do it with everything. I constantly crave everything in my life to be better, to be more exciting, to be more meaningful than it really is. I think this is because I can’t help but imagine all the awesome and amazing possibilities of what someone or something could be. Connection: In another book of John Green, Looking for Alaska, Alaska mysteriously goes missing, just like Margo. However, in the real world, generally, there are quite a few teenagers who run away from home because they are misunderstood or they feel the need to just get away from the stress, which was the case with Margo. Seminar Question: If I were to lead a seminar discussion on Paper Towns by John Green, I would ask â€Å"Since Margo compared herself to paper, who is the real her? Does she feel comfortable for not being who she really is? Is that mean Quentin been liking the â€Å"paper† Margo all the time?†

Christmas Tree Elephant Toothpaste Chemistry Demo

Christmas Tree Elephant Toothpaste Chemistry Demo Did you know you can do the elephant toothpaste demonstration to make a Christmas tree holiday chemistry demonstration? Its extremely easy, plus it makes an excellent demo to do before the  holiday break! Christmas Tree Elephant Toothpaste Materials There are a few ways to set this up to make a Christmas tree. The key is to add green food coloring to get the tree effect and then either perform the demonstration in an erlenmeyer flask, which naturally produces the tree shape, or else perform the reaction in a tube with a tree template placed over it. You can make a tree shape from aluminum foil, with slots cut up the side and an opening at the top to force the foam from the reaction out into the proper shape. 50 ml of detergent100 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide10 ml of a saturated solution of potassium iodidegreen food coloringerlenmeyer flask or homemade Christmas tree model Procedure Place the erlenmeyer or your Christmas tree container on the lab bench. Add the detergent, peroxide and food coloring.Pour the potassium iodide solution into this mixture to catalyze the reaction.Optionally, touch a glowing splint to the foam tree to relight the splint and demonstrate that the bubbles are filled with oxygen. Safety Information Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer. This demonstration uses a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide than the home variety, which means you need to wear gloves to protect your hands against an accidental splash or spill, which could cause a burn. Chemistry Hydrogen peroxide is catalytically decomposed into water and oxgen. This is a nice example of an exothermic reaction. The audience will be able to see steam rising from the foam. The overall equation for the elephant toothpaste chemical reaction is: 2 H2O2(aq) → 2 H2O(l) O2(g) The decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen is catalzyed by the iodide ion. H2O2(aq) I-(aq) → OI-(aq) H2O(l) H2O2(aq) OI-(aq) → I-(aq) H2O(l) O2(g) Dishwashing detergent is added to capture the oxygen and form bubbles. This is an exothermic reaction which may produce steam. Kid-Friendly Version of the Demonstration If you cant obtain 30% hydrogen peroxide or simply want a demonstration that is safe enough for kids to perform, you can perform an easy variation of this demonstration: detergentwarm water3% hydrogen peroxide (the type sold at pharmacies)pack of active yeast (from a grocery store)green food coloring In an erlenmeyer or tree-shaped container, mix together 1/4 cup detergent, 1/2 cup of the 3% hydrogen peroxide and several drops of green food coloring.In a separate container, stir the packet of yeast into a small amount of warm water. Allow 5 minutes for the yeast to activate before proceeding with the demonstration.Perform the demonstration by pouring the yeast mixture into the peroxide and detergent mixture. This reaction does not produce the huge volume of foam of the traditional elephant toothpaste reaction, but all of the chemicals are safe enough for kids to handle. In this reaction, yeast catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas: 2H2O2 → 2H2O O2(g) As in the other reaction, the detergent captures the oxygen to form bubbles. Less foam is produced because there is a smaller amount of hydrogen peroxide to decompose. Learn More Red and Green Color Change Christmas DemonstrationElephant Toothpaste VariationsBorax Crystal Snowflake Decoration

How to Identify a Pseudoscience

How to Identify a Pseudoscience A pseudoscience is a fake science that makes claims based on faulty or nonexistent scientific evidence. In most cases, these pseudosciences present claims in a way that makes them seem possible, but with little or no empirical support for these claims. Graphology, numerology, and astrology, are all examples of pseudosciences. In many cases, these pseudosciences rely on anecdotes and testimonials to back up their often outlandish claims. How to Identify Science vs. Pseudoscience If you are trying to determine if something is a pseudoscience, there are a few key things you can look for: Consider the purpose. Science is focused on helping people develop a deeper, richer and fuller understanding of the world. Pseudoscience often focuses on furthering some type of ideological agenda.Consider how challenges are dealt with. Science welcomes challenges and attempts to disprove or refute different ideas. Pseudoscience, on the other hand, tends to greet any challenges to its dogma with hostility.Look at the research. Science is supported by a deep and ever-growing body of knowledge and research. Ideas around the topic may have changed over time as new things are discovered and new research is performed. Pseudoscience tends to be fairly static. Little may have changed since the idea was first introduced and new research might not exist.Can it be proven false? Falsifiability is a key hallmark of science. This means that if something is false, researchers could prove that it was false. Many pseudoscientific claims are simply untestable, so there is no way for researchers to pr ove these claims false. Example Phrenology is a good example of how a pseudoscience can capture the public attention and become popular. According to the ideas behind phrenology, bumps on the head were thought to reveal aspects of an individuals personality and character. Physician Franz Gall first introduced the idea during the late 1700s and suggested that the bumps on a persons head corresponded to the physical features of the brains cortex. Gall studied the skulls of individuals in hospitals, prisons, and asylums and developed a system of diagnosing different characteristics based upon the bumps of a persons skull. His system included 27 faculties that he believed directly corresponded to certain parts of the head. Like other pseudosciences, Galls research methods lacked scientific rigor. Not only that, any contradictions to his claims were simply ignored. Galls ideas outlived him and grew wildly popular during the 1800s and 1900s, often as a form of popular entertainment. There were even phrenology machines that would be placed over a persons head. Spring-loaded probes would then provide a measurement of different parts of the skull and calculate the individuals characteristics. While phrenology was eventually dismissed as a pseudoscience, it did have an important influence on the development of modern neurology. Gall’s idea that certain capabilities were linked to certain parts of the brain led to a growing interest in the idea brain localization, or the notion that certain functions were linked to specific areas of the brain. Further research and observations helped researchers gain a greater understanding of how the brain is organized and the functions of different areas of the brain. Sources: Hothersall, D. (1995). History of Psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Megendie, F. (1855). An elementary treatise on human physiology. Harper and Brothers. Sabbatini, R.M.E. (2002). Phrenology: The History of Brain Localization. Wixted, J. (2002). Methodology in experimental psychology. Capstone.

Business report explaining a certain topic Essay

Business report explaining a certain topic - Essay Example Another motivating factor can be where people will be motivated to reach their target. This will lead to their success and recognition. The need for recognition and job satisfaction which is that emotional payoff can also be a motivator (Madura, Jeff 35). This topic also looks at the importance of motivation. This helps in appreciating this topic. Some of the benefits it provided by motivation include improving the level of efficiency of people. It helps to appreciate that in order to get quality output from employees, the gap between ability and that willingness has to be filled. This in turn also helps in the achievement of the organizational goals. Employees who feel appreciated are most likely to work efficiently as they feel as being part of the organization. Goals may be achieved where co-ordination and co-operation takes place simultaneously. This can be done effectively through motivation. Motivation is important to understand as these leads to retention and stability of staff. This is because they will feel as being part of the organization. By looking at the importance of motivation, the topic also looks at the causes of de-motivation. A drop in staff motivation can become damaging to the business if the cause of de-motivation is not identified and addressed. Some of these de-motivating factors include: Inadequate job skills due to lack of training of staff. This affects the confidence of employees and frustrates the employees that affect their motivation. This is because of lack of the knowledge to perform what is expected from them. It can also be caused by goal flaws where company goals may not be inclusive of the interests of the employees. This in turn makes employees not to feel as part of the organization leading to their de-motivation. Overwork is another de-motivating factor. Employees who are overworked often loose there motivation even if they receive payment for overtime worked. The topic also

Bribery and corruption in the public sector Essay

Bribery and corruption in the public sector - Essay Example These are regulations and authorizations, taxation, and spending decisions. On the whole, Mauro explained that when these direct factors are in place, people simply try to forego them as a way of fulfilling their personal gains. By so doing, they are caught in the web of bribery and corruption. A typical example of this is some who engages in bribery or other corrupt means to get a passport, a shop opened or tax invaded. Examples of indirect factors include the level of public sector wages and penalty systems. Explaining further, Pope (2000) postulated that in countries such as Sweden where pay levels are high, corrupt practices are hardly likely to happen. Tzong-Shiang and Xu also argued that passed on the classical model of crime prevention, corruption is most likely to occur when the penalty for bribery and corruption cannot be seen to be more deterring than what a person gets from indulging in the acts. Impact of supply-side and demand led corruption Like every other economic tra nsaction, corruption is also said to have a supply side and a demand side. The supply side of bribery and corruption generally refers to the favor seeker who is willing to buy money or a gift to change the normal course at which public activities and transactions must be performed. The supply side, on the other hand, refers to the public official who willingly takes a bribe or engages in the corrupt act as an abuse of power vested in him or her to offer contracts, issue license or allocate any form of a scare resource.

Health care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Health care - Essay Example The caregivers were even in favor of such services because they needed counseling services due to the every day stress they were experiencing and this stress was ruining their work and personal life balance. According to a research conducted by Roberts and others, people who are near to death, stay at home and prepare to die and need the support of caregivers such as health care professionals and family members to live the remaining days of their life in peace (Roberts 2007). With the assistance of telecommunication, assistance can be provided to such patients as healthcare settings can not remain available 24/7. Those who are terminally ill can not move themselves and require immediate attention when they suffer different kinds of health issues. Availability of tele hospice services will assist such patients as they will be able to obtain advice and treatment for their issues over a simple phone call. Several patients suffer from loneliness and anxiety in their every day life, these disorders are mostly found in those individuals who do not have support and who do not have someone to talk to. It is not easy for patients to reach hospitals all the time when they need support and assistance from care givers. The health care professionals even need assistance and counseling because of the traumatic events they experience in their every day life. Tele hospice services can help solve all these issues. Due to availability of hospice services through the telecommunication, patients who do not need to attend health care settings can easily obtain support and counseling services over phone calls. On the other end, a special line for health care professionals can help them release their stress and obtain advice when they suffer from heavy stress due to their everyday work. The health care settings experience the problem of limited staff availability due to which they can not attend all pat ients and those patients who do not need to

Consequences of Exploration for Europeans and the Indigenous Peoples Essay Example for Free

Consequences of Exploration for Europeans and the Indigenous Peoples Essay In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean bearing the name of the Spanish Crown in hopes that he had landed in the Indies of Asia using a direct sea route. Though that is not where he landed, his New World was a place of great wealth, new materials and crops, new source of labor, and new land for the European nations. The consequences for the native people of the Americas were much worse with devastating death tolls, enslavement, new diseases and racist attitudes towards them. Though it would not be fair to say that the Europeans did not share in negative consequences or that the indigenous people did not gain any advantages. The greatest negative consequences for the Europeans due to the European expansion are a devastating economic revolution, and the introduction of the venereal disease Syphilis. Once the Spanish began to mine the precious ores of America the wealth of Spain underwent a major transformation. Demanding one-fifth of all profit, the Crown became immensely rich and this showed in their influence on the rest of Europe, seeing that other countries now lacked the material wealth of Spain. Throughout this time of great wealth the population rose steadily in Spain. With population increase, came an increased demand for food and merchandise. Spain had expelled a large amount of their skilled farmers, workers, merchants and businessmen during the Inquisition when they cleansed their country of the Jewish and Muslim people. Along with the demand in Spain, the demand for Spanish and European products in the Americas also became hard to keep up with. With the ever-increasing influx of silver bullion the prices in Spain began to rise and the inflation quadrupled the prices of everything within thirty years. In 1556, Martin de Azpilcueta Navarro, a Spanish canon lawyer, writes about the influx of American silver as the cause of the inflation. We see by experience that in France, where money is scarcer than in Spain, bread, wine, cloth, and labour are worth much less. And even in Spain, in times when money was scarcer, saleable goods and labour were given for very much less than after the discovery of the Indies, which flooded the country with gold and silver. The reason for this is that money is worth more where and when it is scarce than where and when it is abundant. Along with this, the Spanish king Philip II spent more money on outside enterprises to worsen his countries debt. When needing to pay his debt to other countries, he also paid in silver bullion spreading the inflation to the rest of Europe. The discovery of the Americas led Europe to inflation and increased prices and Spain to almost complete debt by the seventeenth century. Besides silver and gold, the native people of the Americas passed Syphilis on to the Spanish who came to settle there. In five year time, Syphilis had spread to Russia from the European Atlantic coast. Though it could not be proven, Syphilis is thought to have originated in Espaniola because no evidence of Syphilis exists in Europe before 1493. These open sores, boils, and aches in the joints caused excruciating pains to many Europeans due to this quickly widespread venereal disease. The only proven effective way to treat Syphilis was from drinking the boiled bark of the guaiacum tree which only grew in Espaniola. Though no exact numbers were calculated for Syphilis it could not be compared to the death tolls that the European diseases left on the Indian populations. In a period of 130 years, something like 95 percent of all Native Americans died of disease. That number is far greater than experts (until recently) had ever suspected. The Native Americans who survived the plagues were, of course, completely demoralized and depressed by this tremendous loss of their loved ones, of their lifestyle, and of their ancient culture. (Bib 2. ) The 95 percent population loss of the Natives was staggering compared to probably one percent death caused by Syphilis. Thus though Syphilis was a negative consequence of European expansion it proved minor compare to the Indigenous peoples loss due to European disease. Besides new crops and animals the indigenous people were introduced to new religions, medicines and ways of life that helped better themselves. Christianity was introduced to the indigenous people thanks to very ardent Catholicism from the Spanish and Portuguese. These Christians taught of love, equality and a heaven after death for those who acted well on earth. For many indigenous people this religion called to them and they were converted. Those who did not convert voluntarily were either forced to convert or killed. The native people actually became very passionate about this religion and even followed religious doctrines more closely than the Spanish conquistadors. The natives began to spread peace and love as a bigger doctrine than territory fighting which shows how religion was a positive outcome from European expansion. New technology and medicine helped more effectively cure the local people and brought new light to the topic. In Pre-Colombian times the Indian populations would come to the ailing and stay by their side through illness thus probably catching the illness themselves, the Europeans taught to isolate the sick and better medicines to treat them. The lives that new medicines saved in the Americas is immeasurable but probably still do not compare to the lives lost from European diseases. New technologies such as guns, steel and sailing equipment helped build stronger weapons than the ones previously possessed by Indians, and a new material from which objects could be made. Very strong steel could be used to make protection from swords and swords themselves thus fortifying indigenous peoples ability to make weapons, protect themselves, and hunt. Many thousands of things brought from Europe helped make indigenous life better such as candles to light the night and paper so writing and language could be better developed. Though much understated there were many positive outcomes from European expansion to the indigenous people of the Americas and even a few negative outcomes for the Europeans themselves. More often than not, when talking about the European expansion into America, the Europeans seem to get much better rewards from their expansion. And they actually did. They reaped much higher rewards from their conquest of the Americas than the indigenous people, yet it cannot be forgotten that both peoples had multiple sides to their gains and losses due to European expansion. Bibliography Quotes: {draw:frame} 1. Why were Native Americans so vulnerable to European diseases? (article). Articles on how to feel good more often and get more done. Web. 10 Oct. 2009. http://www. youmeworks. com/why_native_americans. html. Galloway, J. H. The Sugar Cane Industry An Historical Geography from its Origins to 1914 (Cambridge Studies in Historical Geography). New York: Cambridge UP, 2005. Print. American Indian past and present. Norman: University of Oklahoma, 2008. Print. Other Info: Spanish colonization of the Americas -. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 11 Oct. 2009. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Spanish_colonization_of_the_Americas. Native Americans in the United States European colonization. Spiritus-Temporis. com Historical Events, Latest News, News Archives. Web. 11 Oct. 2009. http://www. spiritus-temporis. com/native-americans-in-the-united-states/european-colonization. html.

Technology and Society in 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Enders Game, and America in 2004 :: comparison compare contrast essays

Technology and Society in 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Ender's Game, and America in 2004 Science fiction authors of the 1940's and 50's like George Orwell, Ray Bradbury, and Isaac Asimov wrote their books about technological dilemmas such as automation (robots), information technology, and technologically influenced utopias (or depending on the reader, dystopias). Charles Allen once said that "if the human race wants to go to Hell in a basket, technology can help it get there by jet." In the era of the mentioned authors, technology was a new and exciting idea, and the concept of technology causing so many problems was far from their minds. Today, however, our lives are practically dictated by technology. Ray Bradbury and George Orwell were more frightened of the endless possibilities of what humans can do with technology. In 1984, George Orwell wrote of a future where people didn't know what privacy was because the government used the art of spying to gain control and acceptance. The government watched the actions of its citizens from the moment they were born until the time of their death. Protection from surveillance was impossible because all technology was owned by "Big Brother." Besides that, how can one miss something they've never experienced? If you were born without a finger, do you really miss it? It may be useful, but if you've never experienced it, how do you know you're actually missing out? We face the same conflict today, almost fifty years later. Our government uses all kinds of surveillance to keep track of its citizens, from satellites in space to cameras mounted on telephone poles. Although it's highly unlikely that total privacy has been taken from us, the concept is possible. When Orwell wrote 1984, he wrote of a foreign idea, not realizing that we are experiencing excerpts of his book in 1999. It's almost sad, in a way, that our government has taken a piece of one man's imagination and applied it to everyday life. Who's Big Brother now? Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, is set in a society where the written word is strictly forbidden. Firemen of the future are required to set fires, not put them out. They are required to find houses, buildings, basically any place that contains the forbidden books.

Education and Egalitarianism in America :: American Education School Educators Essays

Education and Egalitarianism in America The American educator Horace Mann once said: "As an apple is not in any proper sense an apple until it is ripe, so a human being is not in any proper sense a human being until he is educated." Education is the process through which people endeavor to pass along to their children their hard-won wisdom and their aspirations for a better world. This process begins shortly after birth, as parents seek to train the infant to behave as their culture demands. They soon, for instance, teach the child how to turn babbling sounds into language and, through example and precept, they try to instill in the child the attitudes, values, skills, and knowledge that will govern their offspring's behavior throughout later life. Schooling, or formal education, consists of experiences that are deliberately planned and utilized to help young people learn what adults consider important for them to know and to help teach them how they should respond to choices. This education has been influenced by thr ee important parts of modern American society: wisdom of the heart, egalitarianism, and practicality... the greatest of these, practicality. In the absence of written records, no one can be sure what education man first provided for his children. Most anthropologists believe, though, that the educational practices of prehistoric times were probably like those of primitive tribes in the 20th century, such as the Australian aborigines and the Aleuts. Formal instruction was probably given just before the child's initiation into adulthood -- the puberty rite -- and involved tribal customs and beliefs too complicated to be learned by direct experience. Children learned most of the skills, duties, customs, and beliefs of the tribe through an informal apprenticeship -- by taking part in such adult activities as hunting, fishing, farming, toolmaking, and cooking. In such simple tribal societies, school was not a special place... it was life itself. However, the educational process has chang ed over the decades, and it now vaguely represents what it was in ancient times, or even in early American society. While the schools that the colonists established in the 17th century in the New England, Southern, and Middle colonies differed from one another, each reflected a concept of schooling that had been left behind in Europe. Most poor children learned through apprenticeship and had no formal schooling at all. Those who did go to elementary school were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion.