Monday, December 30, 2019

The Importance Of College Education - 912 Words

The Importance of College Education 4. with a college education young adults are more likely to make more money or have better pay jobs than those without a higher education. In the article, â€Å"More Students Getting Graduate Degrees† writer Cecilia Capuzzi states that â€Å"in every academic major group, more education resulted in more money(2). With this said the more Knowledge and education a person gains the more likely they are to be financially successful. A person with an associates, bachelors, or master’s degree will be more financially successful than those without a higher education. In fact, only 14 percent of people with a high school diploma earn more than the median worker with a college degree (Halton 1). The chances are of becoming financially successful are less likely to happen to those who have only graduated from high school. College graduates even tend to earn more if they take the same job as someone with only a high school education (Halton 2). 5. The economy today is very competitive in the workforce and employers are more likely to hire someone with a college degree. The degree signals to employers that recipients can complete a demanding program and that they have already been vetted by an institution (Capuzzi 1). Having a college degree also stands out to employers letting them know that they are highly skilled and that they are also reliable. The more experience and education an individual has the more likely they are to get hired. Employers look forShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of College Education1142 Words   |  5 PagesJacartier McGee Education is the single most important factor in the growth of our country. Specifically, higher education paves a future and provides opportunity for students that attend college and gives them a shot at a career. 50 years ago, college was strictly for the elite, high class Americans. Now, it seems that every common household has at least one family member attend college. But with the increasing drop out rate today, students seem less interested in learning at college and their prioritiesRead MoreThe Importance Of A College Education? Essay1692 Words   |  7 Pages A college education has a different meaning for every person in the world. To someone a college education could mean that they’re smarter than most, or it’s one more step closer to their future goals, or it could just be another piece of paper to make their family proud. The importance of a college education depends on what a degree means to the person. I think the true purpose of a college educ ation should be base more on a personal level, and not a broad level. The reason why I thinkRead MoreThe Importance Of College Education1257 Words   |  6 Pageswhen deciding whether to go to college or which college to attend. The importance of college has been a long-debated topic that is becoming more and more popular. It used to be that a high school education was necessary to succeed, and a college degree was merely beneficial. However, today college has escalated into something that is considered necessary to succeed. New York Times columnists, David Leonhardt, states that â€Å"if youre someone who can get into college, going is practically a no-brainerRead MoreThe Importance Of A College Education?1419 Words   |  6 PagesZhao English 101C Professor A.Pino Nov 13th 2017 The importance of a college education In the period of their high school career, the students shall begin to ask and consider the college education’s importance. The answer is that the accepting college education offers chances to graduates, which are more widespread to those who have the levels of senior high education or less. Most of people understand that they desire to accept a college education, but they do not know why or how it would fulfillRead MoreThe Importance Of A College Education1511 Words   |  7 PagesFor many Americans, a college education is essential to future success.† His statement taps into one of the biggest issues in America. While education is a strong value in this country, after high school, the percentage of people getting an education dramatically drops. Although many people choose to not go to college, there are also many people who do not go simply because they cannot afford it. Without the skill set that one acquires during these crucial years of education, many Americans thenRead MoreThe Importance Of Education In College924 Words   |  4 PagesGonzalez from Resilient Scholar is helping me also by guiding me towards help and tutoring. I am currently taking two summer courses at Glendale Community College through a special program   EOP is hosting there.   Geology 101 and Astronomy 152 is what I am currently taking at GCC. I have met with Dr. Joong-won Lee a very respected professor in the College of Health and Human Development, and he has helped my set up a plan of which courses I should take until I graduate from Csun. He helped me make a veryRead MoreThe Importance Of College Education756 Words   |  4 Pages140 colleges/institutions in the United States today as confirmed by infoplease.com and job options are endless. These institutions offer people a â€Å"gateway† to achieve long term success. In today’s society, there is the ongoing debate on whether or not college is worth it. Various valid points are brought up from ea ch side. These points are what make this topic so debatable. Although there is a debate on whether a college education is worth it or not, in my opinion the answer is clear. College educationRead MoreThe Importance of College Education705 Words   |  3 Pageswhether or not to attend college can be difficult, especially given the tremendous costs associated with tuition, books, and campus living. Moreover, getting a good job or earning an attractive income is not necessarily guaranteed with a college degree. The decision of whether or not to attend college must come from within, and must transcend thoughts about money. For me, going to college represents a genuine personal feat. There are three main reasons why college education is important to me. FirstRead MoreThe Importance Of College Education1138 Words   |  5 PagesCollege Education 1. INTRODUCTION My issue is the debate if college education is worth it. Many people think going to college is the ideal thing to do but there is also people who think college is not worth all the time and money. In 2016, the employment rate was highest for young adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher, 88 %. College prepares young adults for the real world and everything they need to know. Typically, college graduates have higher employment rates and have a better chanceRead MoreThe Importance Of College Education1593 Words   |  7 Pages Most parents encourage their children to achieve a college degree because they believe it is a passport to success. Nationwide it has been known in order to get ahead, go to college. College helps young adults socialize, be independant, and allows them to find themselfs. College graduates have been known to posses higher employment rates, and greater work benefits. Also, college can be a huge milestone in ones life. That being said, these are most likely the reasons why the majority of high school

Sunday, December 22, 2019

The Fallacies Of Callahan s Arguments - 1550 Words

Philosophers throughout history often have a pessimistic outlook on life. Socrates, Lucretius and Epicurus are just some of a number of philosophers that argue against the liberal view of life. Daniel Callahan is a contemporary philosopher that explores the role of medicine in modern society. Callahan argues against the liberal view of life by saying that people should focus on living full and fitting lives. In the first section, titled The Fallacies of Callahan’s Arguments, I explore the problems with his ideas and show that his argument does not justify setting a limit to human lives. In The Argument for the Continuation of Life, I argue for the liberal view of life and support it with Christine Overall’s views. Human beings should be able to extend their lives as they see fit and setting limits based on anti-life extension ideas would go against the individual’s right to choose. THE FALLACIES OF CALLAHAN’S ARGUMENTS: Daniel Callahan begins Chapter three with a critique of the modern state of medicine; he believes that medicine has placed too much effort on life extension. Callahan then tries to determine the goal of medicine through his beliefs. He states, â€Å"I want to argue that medicine should be used not for the further extension of life of the aged, but only for the full achievement of a natural and fitting life span and thereafter for the relief of suffering† (Callahan, 53). In his thesis, he states that he believes that medicine should only be used for the relief ofShow MoreRelatedContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pagesglobal management accounting community. Alnoor Bhimani London School of Economics December 2005 CONTENTS ‘ FOREWORD Anthony Hopwood PREFACE Alnoor Bhimani CONTRIBUTORS 1. New measures in performance management Thomas Ahrens and Christopher S Chapman 2. Contract theory analysis of managerial accounting issues Stanley Baiman 3. Reframing management accounting practice: a diversity of perspectives Jane Baxter and Wai Fong Chua 4. Management accounting and digitization Alnoor Bhimani 5. TheRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesand permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your request to 201-236-3290 . Many of the designations by manufacturers

Saturday, December 14, 2019

We’ve Had Enough of NAFTA Perspectives in Withdrawing Our Membership Free Essays

After 14 years of existence, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has still yet to prove its worth as an effective regional trade bloc. As an avenue to promote free trade and globalization, NAFTA has been much criticized for its inability meet the objectives and levels of political and economic integration. In this case, the debate of whether the United States should withdraw its membership in the NAFTA or not will enable us to assess the viability of this regional trade bloc in the age of globalization. We will write a custom essay sample on We’ve Had Enough of NAFTA: Perspectives in Withdrawing Our Membership or any similar topic only for you Order Now It was in December 1992 that the leaders of Canada, Mexico, and the United States have given their nods to draft the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (OAS, 2008). Approved in the US Congress in 1994, NAFTA the agreement went into effect 1 January 1994 (OAS, 2008). The main goal of NAFTA is to build a framework for North American countries to ease out the trade barriers in order to promote a steady flow of exported and imported goods in the area. Aside from allaying the barriers that hamper trade among the three countries, NAFTA also aims to achieve â€Å"greater openness in the trade of services and in foreign investment†. Another important purpose of NAFTA is to permit â€Å"the three countries to cooperate and coordinate on environmental and labor issues† (Jones, 2003). However, problems began to arise when environmental and labor concerns in this agreement became convoluted. Critics began to scoff NAFTA to be promoting inequality to the region. It is also revealed later that there are trade policies that are questionable that could be proven to be detrimental in the long term perspective. In the globalizing world, it is but logical that most trade groups contain countries in the same area of the world to offer trade agreements, like NAFTA, to obtain mutual benefits. Yeung et al. (1999) offered these reasons why countries form regional trading blocs: 1. Economic Development. Many countries attempt to achieve economic growth by creating their own industries and by embracing a policy of imports substitution. However, many industries encounter problems related to limited domestic markets and the inability to achieve economies of scale. Under these circumstances, many countries pool their resources and create larger markets by integrating their economies. 2. Managing Trade Regionally. Many countries regarded global trade institutions as too bureaucratic and slow in responding to both trade opportunities and trade problems. As organizations expand their membership, they tend to become less responsive to their members, ideological differences proliferate, negotiations take forever, and reaching consensus is often very difficult. Neighboring countries usually have similar cultures and philosophical outlooks. The smaller group can respond faster than the global groups to problems and trade opportunities. 3. Economic Competition. Countries can become far more economically prosperous by forming trade blocs. European countries, for example, viewed economic integration as a way to stimulate trade in Europe. But Europeans also believed that economic growth in Europe would enhance their ability to compete with the United States and Japan. 4. Political and Strategic Considerations. Although trade appears to be the primary reason for economic integration, many countries form trade blocs for political and security reasons. NAFTA reflected a trade-policy response to the regionalization of capitalist competition at a global level. Content rule, tariff reduction schedules, and other NAFTA provisions are designed to favor its members. Premised on an improved capacity to export commodities produced under low-cost conditions in Mexico into the high-price consumer markets of North America, Western Europe, and Japan, NAFTA is an attempt to reclaim economic power in a capitalist world system. Petras and Morley (1995) argue that â€Å"NAFTA is the centerpiece of a new economic strategy †¦ which Washington hopes to use as a springboard for its reemergence as a more competitive player in the world market† (p. 128–129). Moreover, Olson (2005) indicated that NAFTA promised a â€Å"win-win† scenario for Mexico and the United States because having it would mean more jobs and increased wealth, which in turn would bring greater stability to the area and lessen migratory pressures. Indeed, it is undeniable that NAFTA has brought about the sharp expansion of regional trade and investment in the region. From 1993 through 2004, â€Å"US merchandise exports to and imports from Mexico have increased by 166 and 290 percent, respectively† (Hufbauer 2005, p. xxxvii). As Mexico is burdened with gargantuan debt, they regarded this trade agreement with the United States as an essential step in achieving economic development. The United States desired to maintain stability in Mexico and saw abundant and inexpensive Mexican labor as beneficial to U.S. companies that were anxious to gain a competitive advantage over the Japanese and Europeans. Canada, wanting to retain its favorable trading relationship with the United States, viewed economic integration in North America as a way of countering U.S. dominance of the Americas (Vega-Canovas 1999, p. 230). However, NAFTA could not go unfazed without mudslinging from several critics. Jubasz (2004) revealed that the most reliable data available demonstrated how economic globalization of trade like NAFTA has caused the most dramatic increase in global inequality and poverty in modern history. Globalization of trade had only benefited the countries with bigger economies to dominate over economically-challenged countries. The policies of economic globalization such as free trade, financial liberalization, deregulation, reduced government spending, and privatization had concentrated wealth at the top. It had tried to removed from Third World governments and communities the very tools needed to ensure equity and to protect workers, social services, the environment, and sustainable livelihoods. In this way, economic globalization and its institutions—including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the World Trade Organization (WTO, and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), have created the most dramatic increase in global inequality—both within and between nations—in modern history and have increased global poverty. More specifically, NAFTA has been accused to have caused the environmental degradation in Mexico.   Gallagher (2007) observed that â€Å"rises in income have been small and environmental degradation has been large† in Mexico since the NAFTA was established. Costly environment degradation is slowly eating away the natural resources because the proper mechanisms were not put in place to help Mexico manage its economic growth in an environmentally sustainable manner. To keep at pace with NAFTA, Mexico doubled spending on environmental protection and started a much-needed industrial environmental inspection program. However, shortly after NAFTA was signed and fiscal and financial woes set in, attention to the environment are totally ignored. Moreover, labor issues had rocked NAFTA in the 1990s. It had been an issue during Ross Perot’s presidential bid against Clinton and famous claim of an impending â€Å"giant sucking sound† helped frame the political debate, but also alluded to important economic trends that affected them all. Fact is that Mexicans complain of the devastating impact it has had on small farmers in Mexico after being integrated in NAFTA. Dugger (2003) reported that the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a research institute in Washington, D.C. filed a report concluding that NAFTA failed to generate substantial job growth in Mexico, hurt hundreds of thousands of subsistence farmers there, and had miniscule net effects on jobs in the United States. Income inequality is greater and illegal immigration continues unabated (p. A9). The World Bank, on the other hand, found that NAFTA brought significant economic and social benefits to Mexico and argued that Mexico would have been worse off without the agreement (Dugger 2003, p. A9). Clearly, there is a big problem with the level of integration among the United States, Canada, and Mexico in NAFTA as compared to that achieved by the European Union. NAFTA, unlike the EU, does not provide for the free movement of people across borders. NAFTA countries pursue their own independent trade, foreign, domestic, and defense policies. Compared with the Europeans, who have given up some aspects of national sovereignty in exchange for European political and economic unification, NAFTA members jealously guard their sovereignty. In this case, there should be strong reforms needed in the NAFTA trade policies to make it more favorable for Mexico. If unfair regulation persists and environmental concerns are still ignored, it is high time that United States should withdraw its membership from the NAFTA because it does not bring the greater good that it promises for the region. Works Cited Dugger, Celia W. Report Finds Few Benefits for Mexico in NAFTA, New York Times, 19 November 2003, A9. Gallagher, Kevin P. In Mexico, Free Trade Has Led to Large-Scale Environmental Degradation. In Miller, D. (Ed). Current Controversies: Globalization. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007 Hufbauer, Gary Clyde. NAFTA Revisited : Achievements and Challenges, Washington, DC: Peterson Institute for International Economics, 2005. Jubasz, Antonia. â€Å"Globalization Is Making World Poverty Worse.† In Balkin, K. (ed.), Poverty. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Olson, Eric L.  Divided states of the Americas: human rights and democracy in Latin America: a progress report.  Sojourners Magazine  35.3  (March 2006):  28-34. Organization of American States (OAS). NAFTA. 6 February 2007. http://www-old.itcilo.org/actrav/actrav-english/telearn/global/ilo/blokit/nafta.htm. Petras, James, and Morley, Morris. Empire or Republic: American Global Power and Domestic Decay. New York: Routledge, 1995. Vega-Canovas, Gustavo. â€Å"NAFTA and the EU: Toward Convergence?† in Yeung et al. (Eds.). Regional Trading Blocks in the Global Economy, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 1999. Yeung, May T., Perdikis, Nicholas and Kerr, William A. (Eds.). Regional Trading Blocks in the Global Economy; Cheltenham, UK: Edward How to cite We’ve Had Enough of NAFTA: Perspectives in Withdrawing Our Membership, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Regulating Natural Monopolies

Question: Discuss about theRegulating Natural Monopolies. Answer: Introduction In this paper, the researcher seeks to investigate and present a detailed explication behind the rationale for governments to wish to establish the price that natural monopolies charge at the level whereby the demand curve (D=AR=P) intersects the average total cost curve (ATC). Understanding Natural Monopolies Government Regulation The main challenge with monopolies is that when they are left uncontrolled by the government, they will most probably decide to undertake production at an output level that is far lower and offer products at prices that are extremely higher compared to those from virtuously competitive sector (Berg Tschirhart, 2010). A natural monopoly shall produce at point at which the price charged is above he MC, showcasing resources under-allocation towards commodities. The monopoly limits the output and raise its price and in so doing, he is assured a maximum profit, though at a societal cost of less overall consumer welfare or surplus. Surprisingly, in certain industries, due to vast array of output upon that economies of scale are witnessed, it makes increasing sense sometimes for solely one firm to partake. Those markets remain regarded as natural monopolies and certain instances include cable television, along with natural gas besides other industries which have vast economies of scale (Braeutigam, 2015). Government regulators are trapped in dilemmatic setting in speaking to natural monopolistic businesses like electricity sector. An electricity firm that has a monopoly in a given marketplace shall anchor the price along with output decision on profit maximization law which every unfettered business shall; it shall generate at a point whereby their MR equates their MC. The challenge is for a natural monopoly since MR is below price charged, that implies that maximizing profit output level (whereby MC=MR), MC will be below price: proof of allocative inefficiency that is never sufficient electricity shall be generated and price shall be extremely abnormal for certain customers to acquire. In this manner, the need for government regulation arises. The government concerned with acquiring the right quantity of electricity to the right quantity of the individuals (allocative efficiency) might decide to establish a price ceiling for electricity at a level at which the price equates MC of the firm. This, nevertheless, shall probably be underneath ATC of the firm taking in mind that ATC drops over a vast array of output, a setting that will culminate to losses for a business, and might result into collapse. Therefore, many administrations have established a price ceiling whereby price is equivalent to ATC of a firm, implying a firm shall break even solely earning a normal profit substantially merely sufficient to enable the firm run the business; this is regarded as fair-return price. As show above, government regulation of monopolies is meant to only allow the monopolies to gain the normal profits. It is clear that this can only be achieved at a point whereby administration creates price charged by natural monopolies at a point whereby the demand curve intersects the ATC curve where firms can break even. This will make the monopolies to only obtain the revenues required to cover the monopolys total amount of variable and fixed expenses during a given period of time. The administration might decide to undertake regulation of natural monopoly to safeguard interest of consumers. For instance, monopolies enjoy market power for establishing higher prices unlike competitive markets. The administration have various options to choose from when regulating the monopolies including price capping, barring the monopoly power growth and yardstick competition. Reasons for Government Regulation The government will regulate monopoly to bar excess price from being charged by monopolies. In the absence of administration regulation, natural monopoly might place price beyond. This will culminate into allocative inefficiency hence a drop in consumers welfare. The government also regulate to ensure better service quality. In case a natural monopoly enjoys a power over a given service provision, it might have less incentive to provide good service quality. The administration will thus regulate to make sure that the monopoly firm meet the minimum service standard. The government will also regulate to control the monopsony power. For a monopoly firm, it will be well placed to abuse the buying power of monopsony. For instance, supermarkets might utilize their overriding market location and hence squeezing farmers profit margins. The regulation will also be done to indorse competition. In certain businesses, it is conceivable to promote competition, hence there shall be little sense for regulation by government. The government also regulate due to natural monopolies. Certain sectors are natural monopolies and hence because of huge economies of scale, it will be supremely efficient to only have one firm. Accordingly, there is no need for encouraging competition by the government and hence it is indispensable to regulate firms to bar the exploitation of the power of monopoly. Average Cost Pricing The government uses price capping to regulate the monopolies from charging the high price above that of a competitive market. For example, for freshly privatized industries like gas, water and electricity, the administration has established regulatory agencies including OFGEM (electricity and gas markets), OFWAT (tap water) and ORR (office of rail regulator) in the United States. These bodies undertake to limit the surges in prices. The average cost pricing is helpful in this case. This is the regulatory described as the enforcement of a price point for a particular commodity which equals the entire costs sustained by monopoly providing or producing. Such an approach is used by the government to reduce the flexibility of the monopoly which makes sure that monopoly cannot capture the margins beyond and above what is reasonable (Train, 2011). In this way, the government is able to eliminate the threat that consolidating an industry into one single suppler pose to the free market along with their customers since it limits the manipulation of the price by monopolies through a comprehensive control of the supply. In this sense, the government will minimize monopolization alongside maintenance of competitive equality. Accordingly, the government will ensure that monopolies do not lower that economic output of a given society and hence its wealth by regulating the prices charged by the monopoly to a point whereby demand curve crisscross ATC curve to bar a natural monopoly from profit maximization rather than fair returns or normal profits (Posner, 2014). Price Regulation For a competitive firm, the profit maximization takes place where the MC is equals to price at the market. Nevertheless, because ATC of a natural monopoly drops repeatedly, the MC shall normally be smaller than ATC. This is because the ATC describes average entire costs encompassing vast fixed costs whereas MC is solely additional cost of generating an extra unit. Accordingly, a natural monopoly shall recurrently lose cash in case price charged is restricted to its MC (Loeb Magat, 2014). The government comes into play to dictate the better regulated price which would that which permits the monopoly to alter the price denoted as fair-return price sometimes which equates to the monopolys ATC or the normal profit as show in the diagram below. The above price would permit the natural monopoly to endure as a going concern. Nevertheless, it would fail to incentivize the monopoly firm owners to reduce costs. Therefore, this kind of the government regulation of monopolies could be improved by permitting a natural monopoly to maintain certain profits received by decreasing costs (Gmez-Ibez, 2013). It is acknowledged that not such a price is beneath price charged by monopoly which maximizes profits, which sets the price equivalent to level at which MC=MR Conclusion It is apparent from the deliberation above that certain commodities can be offered at a lower cost by natural monopolies than competing firms. The primary feature of a natural monopoly is that its ATC diminishes continually over any amount demanded by the market. In case the sector has a vast fixed cost, a single firm will offer commodity at a point far lesser cost compared to numerous firms. This is due to the fact that ATC of each firm will be much higher compared to when it is a natural monopoly. Therefore, a natural monopoly will provide a commodity for a lower price in absence of any competition. Certain examples of a natural monopoly encompass the distribution of landline phone, tap water, natural gas and electricity. The government regulation is, therefore, appropriate to make sure that a natural monopoly only charges the fair-return price or normal profit without reducing costs sat a point at which AR curve intersects ATC curve. References Berg, S. V., Tschirhart, J. (2010). Natural monopoly regulation: principles and practice. New York: Cambridge University Press. Braeutigam, R. R. (2015). Optimal policies for natural monopolies. Handbook of industrial organization, 2, 1289-1346. Gmez-Ibez, J. A. (2013). Regulating infrastructure: monopoly, contracts, and discretion. Loeb, M., Magat, W. A. (2014). A decentralized method for utility regulation. the Journal of Law and Economics, 22(2), 399-404. Posner, R. A. (2014). Natural monopoly and its regulation. Stanford Law Review, 548-643. Train, K. E. (2011). Optimal regulation: the economic theory of natural monopoly. MIT Press Books, 1.

Friday, November 29, 2019

10 qualities that will make you an excellent writer

10 Qualities that will make you an excellent writerWhilst people's definitions of what makes a good writer differ, there are certain qualities that they all share. So what does it take to be an excellent writer? Here are a few qualities to have that will make your writing more effective...Well Read:  You may notice that most famous writers are fond of reading books and novels, and this has a lot to say for the art of reading and how it can help the way you write. It's useful in that it can help your writing flow – how it is structured and so on. The more you read also means the more you are enlightened to; ideas, themes, arguments and facts. Frequent Writer:  If your aim is to be a great writer, you need to pursue it. Write as much as you can – daily, if possible. So many ideas and concepts will be running round your mind all day so write them down! That doesn't mean that every time you sit down you have to create an astonishing essay or novel, it doesn't need to be turned into something ‘whole' immediately. It's just a way to capture these creative thoughts so you can come back to them when you have more of a base to use. Developing the habit to write regularly will help you to excel. Disciplined:  When sitting down to write anything, you should set aside time to do just that – purely writing with no distractions. Good writing doesn't happen with Facebook on in the background. The best way forward is to schedule in times for writing (just writing), taking necessary breaks when needed, until it's completed. It's all about passion and devotion for what you're writing! Imaginative:  Something else is that is prompted by the art of reading and writing, among other things, is your imagination. However, to be imaginative, you must have the ability to pick up on things, feel inspired by it and expand on it. This quality will aid you in your writing and help you to create brilliant and stimulating things – watch this space! Observational:  One trait that every great writer must have is the skill of observation. They should have an attention to detail that can't be matched, both in their writing and around them in day-to-day life. On top of this, it helps to be a good listener. It's the combination of visual observation and oral observation that helps their writing to be full of different emotions and relatable to a variation of people, not just like the writer themselves. A Storyteller:  To write, you must be a good storyteller. That's not only if you want to write fiction, it counts for any kind of writing too. With storytelling, it's necessary to simplify everything down and formulate it well so that it's easily for the reader to digest. However, it only appears to be simple – it actually holds complex concepts that writers deconstruct to make it easier to take in. No one enjoys sitting and reading a convoluted essay or novel that just frazzles their brain, writers have got to express their ideas clearly! Critical:  A good writer must also be a good critic, of both their writing and other people's. Everything that has been written will always have some sort of critique, and that's the way it will always be. Not everyone's opinions and views are the same so it's incredibly difficult to please absolutely everyone with what you are saying. Provide evidence of your point and that's all that you can do. However, don't see any criticism as a negative. Being critical of your own ideas and others', forms new ideas for you to write about. Thick Skinned:  The things you write may not always be received by those who edit or read them as well as you would hope. This can obviously be disappointing, however remember that there will be a bunch of people that will entirely agree with what you are saying. Plus, you know that you can bounce off the criticism into a new pond of ideas, all without taking it to heart. Editor:  Every good writer should have a good editor, even if it is just you. You should be able to spot any grammatical errors a mile off, and proofreading and editing should all be scheduled into the work's progress and completion. Don't skimp on the time you need to proofread and edit because you never know how you re-reading it could change it for the better. These two things bring a lot to the whole process – they don't settle for second best, they tease the absolute best out of every writer. Patient:  Finally, every good writer must have patience. It's a virtue after all! Good writing takes time and it takes effort. If you're feeling jaded by the number of re-drafts you're doing, don't be – no renowned works came out perfectly the first time. As Mark Twain once said, â€Å"Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words†.

Monday, November 25, 2019

How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader

How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader And unfortunately, your first reader will be an agent or an editor. You can’t slip anything boring past them. Your job is to make every word count. That’s the way to keep your reader riveted until the final page- no small task. Making every word count is how to write compelling dialogue. Readers love dialogue because: It breaks up intimidating blocks of narrative summary. It differentiates (through dialect and word choice) and reveals characters. Done well, it can move the story without author intrusion. But, as you have likely discovered, writing great dialogue is hard. If yours is bloated or obvious or telling or is in any other way uninteresting, readers won’t stay with you long. So how about we leave them no choice? Need help writing your novel?  Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. How to Write Dialogue in 6 Steps Cut to the Bone Reveal Backstory Reveal Character Be Subtle Read Your Dialogue Out Loud Create a Make My Day Moment Step 1. Cut to the Bone Unless you need to reveal a character as a brainiac or a blowhard pretending to be one, omit needless words. Obviously, you wouldn’t render a conversation the way a court transcript includes repetition and even um, ah, uh, etc. But even beyond that, see how much you can chop without losing the point. Like this: â€Å"What do you want to do this  Sunday?  I thought wWe could go to the amusement park.† â€Å"I was thinking about renting a rowboat,† Vladimir said.  on one of the lakes.† â€Å"Oh, Vladimir, that sounds wonderful! I’ve never gone rowing  before.† That doesn’t mean all your dialogue has to be short and choppy- just that you’ll cut the dead wood to keep to the point. You’ll be surprised by how much power it adds to your prose. Step 2. Reveal Backstory Layering in backstory through dialogue is another way to keep your reader turning pages. Hinting at some incident for the first time is an automatic setup that demands a payoff. Example: As they headed toward the house, Janet whispered, â€Å"Can we not have a repeat of Cincinnati?† Jeanie shot her a double take. â€Å"Believe me, I don’t want that any more than you do.† â€Å"Good,† Janet said. â€Å"I mean- † â€Å"Can we not talk about it, please?† What normal reader wouldn’t assume they will talk about it at some point and stay with the story until they do? As the story progresses, you can reveal more and more about your protagonist’s past and have your story come full circle. This accomplishes two things: it offers a setup that should intrigue the reader, and it helps you avoid flashbacks. Need help writing your novel?  Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. Step 3. Reveal Character Your reader learns a lot about your characters through dialogue. You don’t have to TELL us they’re sarcastic, witty, narcissistic, kind, or anything else. You can SHOW us by how they interact and by what they say. Step 4. Be Subtle Dialogue can accomplish a number of tasks. Here are three: 1. Subtext- where people say other than what they mean. This can be fun. Example: My friend sold a short story to a general-market magazine years ago about a girl named Cindy who falls in love with the slightly older boy next door, who sees her as just a little sister type. When they get to high school, Tommy is the big man on campus, captain of the football team, dating the head cheerleader, and pretty much ignoring Cindy. She’s just his younger neighbor and friend. Tommy leaves for college and word soon gets back to Cindy during her senior year of high school that he and his girlfriend have broken up. So when he comes home after his freshman year of college and is changing a tire on his car, Cindy just happens to walk outside. She strikes up a conversation with Tommy, and he looks up, stunned. Who is this beautylittle Cindy from next door? She says, â€Å"Making a change, are you?† Tommy looks at the tire and back at her and says, â€Å"Yeah, I actually I am making a change.† Cindy says, â€Å"Well, I’ve heard that rotating can be a good thing.† And he says, â€Å"Yeah, I’ve heard that too.† That’s subtext. They’re not saying what they really mean. They’re not really talking about changing the tire, are they? 2. Sidestepping- when a character responds to a question without answering it. Instead, what the character says is so profound and unexpected that it offers a whole new understanding of what’s going on. Example: In the movie Patch Adams, the late Robin Williams played a brilliant young doctor who believes the Old Testament adage that â€Å"laughter is the best medicine.† He goes into the children’s cancer ward of a hospital wearing an inflated surgical glove on his head, making him look like a rooster. He wears bedpans for shoes and stomps about, flapping his arms and squawking. The children find it hilarious, but hospital directors consider it undignified and demand he stop. Patch Adams is trying to make one girl in particular- a hospital volunteer- laugh. But while everyone else thinks he’s funny, she never cracks a smile. Finally, Patch leaves the hospital to open a clinic in the country. Imagine his surprise when that humorless young lady appears to help him set up. At one point, she goes outside to rest, so Patch follows and sits opposite her. He says, â€Å"I’ve got to ask. Everybody thinks I’m hysterical, but you. I’ve tried everything. What is it with you? Why don’t you ever think anything I say is funny?† After several seconds of silence, she says, â€Å"Men have liked me all my lifeall my life† And we realize by the way she says it, she was abused as a child. Suddenly, we understand what this girl is all about. She doesn’t trust men, and she doesn’t laugh, because life isn’t funny. The way she responded did not answer his question. Her problem had nothing to do with him or his humor. Finally, Patch realizes that some things aren’t funny. Some things you just don’t make fun of. Sometimes, you need to quit cracking jokes and just listen. It’s a great turnaround in the story. And an example of sidestep dialogue. 3. Silence The old truism that silence can be golden rings true for our last technique. Many, including Abraham Lincoln, have been credited with the line: â€Å"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.† One of the toughest things to learn as a writer is to avoid filling silent gaps. Just like we shouldn’t tell what’s not happening in a story, neither do we need to write that someone didn’t respond or didn’t answer. If you don’t say they did, the reader will know they didn’t. Example: â€Å"Well John,† Linda said, â€Å"what do you have to say for yourself?† John set his jaw and stared out the window. â€Å"I’m waiting,† she said. He lit a cigarette. Linda shook her head. â€Å"I swear, John, honestly.† Now, too many writers feel the need to write here, â€Å"But he refused to say anything,† or â€Å"But he never responded.† Don’t! We know, we get it- and it’s loud, effective, silent dialogue. The reader knows because John is saying nothing, and yet saying everything. Silence is golden. Step 5. Read Your Dialogue Out Loud One way to be certain your dialogue flows is to read it aloud or even act it out. Anything that doesn’t sound right won’t read right either, so rewrite it until it does. Step 6. Create a â€Å"Make My Day† Moment Certain iconic lines of dialogue have become as legendary as the films and books they originate from: â€Å"Frankly my dear† â€Å"There’s no place like home.† â€Å"We’re not in Kansas anymore.† â€Å"To my big brother George, the richest man in town.† â€Å"What we have here is failure to communicate.† â€Å"Go ahead, make my day.† â€Å"May the force be with you.† â€Å"Houston, we have a problem.† â€Å"Run, Forrest, run!† â€Å"You had me at hello.† Most writers - even bestselling novelists - never create such an unforgettable line of dialogue. But striving to create one is a worthy effort. Ironically, it should fit so seamlessly it doesn’t draw attention to itself until fans begin quoting it. How to Use Dialogue Tags to Identify Speakers Dialogue attribution tags- he said, she said, etc.- indicate who is speaking. Resist the urge to get creative here. Said is almost always your best choice. Teachers who urge you to find alternatives are usually unpublished and believe agents and editors will be impressed. Trust me, they won’t be. Avoid mannerisms of attribution. People say things. They don’t wheeze, gasp, sigh, laugh, grunt or snort them. They might do any of those things while saying them, which might be worth mentioning, but the emphasis should be on what is said, and readers just need to know who is saying it. Keep it simple. All those other descriptors turn the spotlight on an intrusive writer. Sometimes people whisper or shout or mumble, but let their choice of words indicate they’re grumbling, etc. If it’s important that they sigh or laugh, separate that action from the dialogue. Jim sighed. â€Å"I can’t take this anymore.† Not: Jim sighed, â€Å"I can’t take this anymore.† Though you read them in school readers and classic fiction, attribution tags such as use of reply, retort, exclaim, and declare have become clicheÃŒ d and archaic. You’ll still see them occasionally, but I suggest not using them. Often no attribution is needed. Use dialogue tags only when the reader wouldn’t otherwise know who’s speaking. I once wrote an entire novel, The Last Operative, without attributing a single line of dialogue. Not a said, an asked, anything. I made clear through action who was speaking, and not one reader, even my editor, noticed. A common error is characters addressing each other by name too often. Real people rarely do this, and it often seems planted only to avoid a dialogue tag. Fictional dialogue should sound real. Don’t start your dialogue attribution tag with said. Rather, end with said. said Joe or said Mary, reads like a children’s book. Substitute he and she for the names and that will make it obvious. said he or said she just doesn’t sound right. Use said after the name for the best sound. Joe said or Mary said. Resist the urge to explain, and give the reader credit. The amateur writer often writes something like this: â€Å"I’m beat,† exclaimed John tiredly. Besides telling and not showing - violating a cardinal rule of writing - it uses the archaic exclaimed for said, misplaces that before the name rather than after, and adds the redundant tiredly. The pro would write: John dropped onto the couch. â€Å"I’m beat.† That shows rather than tells, and because John’s action has been described, we don’t need an attribution tag to know he’s speaking. How to Punctuate Dialogue Few things expose a beginner like incorrect punctuation, especially in dialogue. Agents and editors justifiably wonder if you read dialogue, let alone whether you can write it, if you write something like: â€Å"I don’t know.† she said. Or, â€Å"What do you think?† He said. To avoid common mistakes: Start a new paragraph for each speaker When one character’s dialogue extends to more than one paragraph, start each subsequent paragraph with a double quotation mark, and place your closing double quotation mark only at the end of the final paragraph. Place punctuation inside the quotation marks, the dialogue tag outside: â€Å"John was just here asking about you,† Jim said. The attribution tag goes after the first clause of a compound sentence: â€Å"Not tonight,† he said, â€Å"not in this weather.† When dialogue ends with a question or exclamation mark, the dialogue tag following the quotation marks should be lowercase:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’m glad you’re here!† she said. Action before dialogue takes a separate sentence: Anna shook her head. â€Å"I can’t believe she’s gone!† Quoting within a quote requires single quotation marks: â€Å"Lucy, Mom specifically said, ‘Do not cut your bangs,’ and you did it anyway!† When action or attribution interrupts dialogue, use lowercase as dialogue resumes: â€Å"That,† she said, â€Å"hurt bad.† Dialogue Examples If you’re old enough to remember the original Twilight Zone (hosted by Rod Serling) or Dragnet (starring and narrated by Jack Webb), you know how dialogue set the tone for their shows. Serling was sometimes whimsical, sometimes mysterious, but always provocative. â€Å"Consider one middle-aged adult, lost in space and time†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jack Webb, as L.A. police detective Sergeant Joe Friday, was always deadly serious and monotone. â€Å"Just the facts, ma’am.† Contrast those with the dialogue between Tom and his Aunt Polly in Tom Sawyer. If you’re anything like me, you were laughing from page 1. There! I mighta thought of that closet. What you been doing in there? Nothing. Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What IS that truck? I dont know, aunt. Well, I know. Its jam- thats what it is. Forty times Ive said if you didnt let that jam alone Id skin you. Hand me that switch. The switch hovered in the air- the peril was desperate- My! Look behind you, aunt! The old lady whirled round and snatched her skirts out of danger. The lad fled on the instant, scrambled up the highboard fence, and disappeared over it. Great dialogue can set the tone for your entire story and also differentiate characters, as we discussed earlier. In Huckleberry Finn,  Mark Twain delineates between Huck the Southern white boy and Jim the runaway slave by just hinting at their respective accents. Twain doesn’t use tags to tell who’s speaking, yet the reader never confuses the two. Huck says, â€Å"Jim, did y’all ever see a king?† Y’all is the only word in that sentence that implies a Southern accent, but it’s enough. Jim says, â€Å"I sho enough did.† Huck says, â€Å"You liar, Jim. You never seen no king.† Jim says, â€Å"I seen foh kings in a deck of cards.† Huck’s bad grammar and Jim’s sho and foh are the only hints of their dialects. Contrived phonetic spelling would slow the reading, but look what Twain accomplished with simple choices. The Cardinal Sin of Dialogue The last thing you want is to produce on-the-nose dialogue. Apply to your own work those principles and the tools I’ve outlined here, and I believe you’ll immediately see a huge difference. So will your reader. In the Comments, ask me any questions regarding how to write dialogue. Need help writing your novel?  Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Foreign Policy Analysis And Random Actor Model Essay

Foreign Policy Analysis And Random Actor Model - Essay Example Policies are value expressions or better still preferences that represent future preferences against others. However, a nation has her foreign policies as decisions that point to the future on accounts of other nations as against her internal decisions (Kent, 1969, 96). The analysis revolves aroundthe assessment of international as well as internal domestic political environment. It also entails setting goals and determining the options on foreign policies. Therefore, through foreign policies, a nation’s internal politics are linked to the external decisions made by other states or decision makers.Actor models are basic tools of applications that are used to evaluate the eventual performance or outcome by a specific policy decision taken by an individual or in this case a state. The applications are more relevant and dependent that manual analysis of the policy performance. The models are differentiated by the actor focus and specifications. In the Random Actor model, the two components that matter are the game and the decision. While in the decision aspect the model reasons and chooses among many available choices, the game aspect entails the logical evaluation of the decision adopted. Rational actor model involves the players taking decisions on policies based on thorough scrutiny as well as applying the notion that governments act from a rational perspectives. The illustration however reveals that it is not always the case that the two will act concurrently for the welfare for both concurrently. A repeat of the game reveals a inanimate change of decision s by the parties to maximize on their gains. Nevertheless, optimal gains are seen to be realized in the cooperation efforts as well as in the rational decision s that will benefit all. Rational analysis evaluates government’s decisions and policies on the available facts that were applied while adopting and designing the policies. It is a purposeful behavior which entails acting at the influenc e of reasoning (Kahler, 1998, 921-922). The objectives also are evaluated in analyzing what rational interested that the governments behavior imply. The model asks whether the government decisions were meant to maximize the benefits in comparison to the options forgone. Moreover, the model evaluates the nature of interactions based on strategic analysis. Rationality therefore implies that the actions of a player, in this case the government, are somehow connected to the intended goals or objectives. Ethical behavior in decision making may not necessarily imply rationality (Slantchev, 2005, 1). Whenever a government intends

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Congressional debates over budgets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Congressional debates over budgets - Essay Example Many Americans are beginning to get weary with the inability of Democratic and Republican parties to agree upon anything. It has gotten to a point where it is becoming astoundingly obvious that the two sides are determined to disagree with each other on purpose. This, of course, results in nothing getting done and little being accomplished. Unfortunately it can be rather difficult to really get a straight answer from political circles. The Republicans blame the Democrats who are intentionally â€Å"shooting down† their attempts at passing a budget. In fact, the Republican-Controlled House in 2011-2012 did submit a potential budget; however, because both houses must submit versions and the work to compromise to reach a final product. The Democratic-controlled Senate did not follow through with their part of the process, which meant another spring without a proper budget for the American government (Bremmer). There are many voices in Washington saying that a budget is not necessary, regardless of the fact that the Senate is legally obligated to produce one; however, failure to comply with that law, apparently, carries no legal consequences (Weiner 1). In the end, without a working budget the government keeps granting itself reprieves and extensions that do nothing to solve the problems in this country. It is treme ndously irresponsible and short-sighted to believe that the country can continue to spend when it sees fit when no budgeting has been put in place. It is a very bad idea and will no doubt continue to contribute to further problems in this country. Corker, Bob. "Bob Corker says Senate has not passed a budget in more than three years." PolitoFact. News Sentinel, 22 Dec 2012. Web. 23 Sep 2013. . Weiner , Rachel. "Why Senate Democrats haven’t passed a budge."

Monday, November 18, 2019

Managing Schools Corporate Image - a Case Study in University Essay

Managing Schools Corporate Image - a Case Study in University - Essay Example Just as any other corporations present in the community, pedagogical institutions are not exempted from this common situation in the community. It is necessary for educational institutions to project a good image and identity towards the community since they are considered responsible in shaping the future of every nation. As simple as these two ideas may seem yet in reality, this is one of the most difficult and the most complex challenges that a business may face that concerns management these days. In order to address this challenge, every organization must understand and recognize the importance of corporate image and identity. (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 4) In order to make sure that the company is developing the reputation it seeks from the community, the need for perfectly aligning these two elements - corporate image and corporate identity, is held necessary furthermore considered to be the only way of attaining such expectations. (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 2 & 5) "Identity goes to the heart of how a company creates value in the marketplace and in the financial markets. In a nutshell, that is the very essence of image management". This key element in building the reputation of the organization includes the organization's purpose, its vision, its strategy and its business objectives. " (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 2, 5 & 6) As a whole, corporate identity consists of all its products and services, as well as how its people behave that is projected through the shared values of the organization and its employees. Corporate identity digs deeper as to the process and the ways in which the company creates its own value in the community where it markets its products and services. (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 2, 5 & 6) On the other hand, corporate image has to do something with the people who had availed of the corporation's products and services, their impressions and associations towards the corporation as perceived through their experiences with the company. Generally, these impressions and association that the consumers have developed within themselves can however be controlled by the corporation. Everything that the consumers have to go through is capable of being controlled by the corporation to a greater or lesser degree. This "may include the tone and manner of its employees, its pricing structure, the quality of its customer service, the publicity it receives from the media, its social responsiveness and its activities in the community". (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 7) It is and has been conceptualized largely in terms of the visual aspect it projects to the people. In business management studies, they also suggest that image is determined mostly by the organization and is presented to the employees in both verbal and visual form. (qtd in Moffit & Williams, 1997) Managing effectively the corporate image and identity is considered as the only way of building the desired reputation of the corporation towards its target consumers. (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 7) Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) - A Case Study Pedagogical institutions, unlike any other corporations, have a more challenging management strategy

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Analyzing Protagonists Journey Towards Self Awareness English Literature Essay

Analyzing Protagonists Journey Towards Self Awareness English Literature Essay The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Emma by Jane Austen, and My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok are three novels that have come to be known as important literary works that share certain similarities in regard to the development of the characters over the course of the story. The three protagonists struggle with different issues that however all relate to their status in their respective society. Emma, Huckleberry Finn and Asher face similar emotional challenges as they grow and mature on a psychological level. In addition to this, the characters are also similar in their position towards their social positions and status within society. For instance, Emma is portrayed as a young, beautiful, smart, rich and widely adored young woman whose many blessings are however the main cause of her flawed character that develops and matures consequential to her interactions with others. Asher Lev is on the other hand from a strict Jewish community; a background that complicates hi s life as he is not able to find a balance between his love for art and his religious responsibilities. This inner conflict influences his journey towards self-awareness. Huckleberry Finns life is harsher and more challenging than the previously mentioned characters which makes him grow up to be cynical and suspicious of his society; an attitude that transforms him into both an independent person as well as a social outcast In short, the three novels share many similarities in regard to the growth of the characters. The theme of the protagonists journey towards self-awareness is especially brought to the foreground through the authors adoption of specific literary techniques such as characterization and setting. The understanding of the characters journey towards self-awareness is enabled through the setting. The setting of Huckleberry Finn is in the South during the period before the abolition of slavery. The protagonist grows to witness the harsh and brutal reality of slavery and the peoples reluctance to abandon it nevertheless which impacts his perception of morality and leads him to conclude that his own onions and ethical choices are what really matter. Emmas development is also influenced by her social setting. She is situated in a small town where everybody knows, respects and loves her. She is recognized as an important social figure which initially confined her and led her to rely on her imagination as a way of escaping her reality which explains her love for matchmaking. Matchmaking forced her however to become aware of the significance of her actions and their consequences and opened her eyes to reality. Last, Asher Levs setting is the most confined of all three. His Hasidic Jewi sh origins and his position within the upper class of the community place many responsibilities on his shoulders at a time when his love for art leads him to reject and neglect everything around him. This confinement motivates him to move to Paris where he is able to develop and become more perceptive as a result of the newly acquired independence. This is how the setting influences the transformation of the characters in the three novels. Characterization is another important literary technique used in the three literary works to illuminate the protagonists independent journey towards maturity. For example, Huckleberrys personality is presented as different from the beginning of the novel: The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would civilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied. (Twain, 2007, p. 2) This highlights how the protagonists thoughts and attitude were different from those of other children from a young age and lead him to grow up to be the independent and secluded man who rejects his societys perception of morality. This does without doubt influence his journey towards self-awareness. Emmas character is on the other hand full of contradictions. She is presented as charming and beautiful yet manages to appear arrogant and selfish at other moments which make her behave superior in regard to some people in her life. This contradiction in her personality is however what leads to her emotional and mental growth as she becomes aware of her shortcomings and attempts to correct them. Last, Asher Levs character is similar to Emmas in one regard: selfishness. He is presented as a character who is much more concerned with himself than the impact of his actions on others. This creates conflict between him and his family. Asher is not able to come to find a way to balance between his responsibilities and his love for art.(Potok,1972, chapter 6) His flawed character lead s him to make several mistakes that enable him to learn at the end how to balance between his loyalty to his community and his love for artistic expression. This is a sign of emotional growth and development towards self-awareness and is also reflected in his art. It can be therefore concluded that the personal characteristics of Asher and Emma are among the main reasons behind their growth as a result of the conflict they bring about which leads these characters to become more perceptive of their flaws. In conclusion, it is thus evident that the three characters of Huckleberry Finn, Emma and Asher Lev go through different stages of development as a result of their interactions and perception of their social reality or as a direct consequence of the conflict their personal characteristics bring about in their life and interactions with others. Setting and characterization are thus two important literary devices within the novels of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Emma, and My Name is Asher Lev. They simply enable the reader to grasp the personality and motivations of the three different characters which sheds light on their journey towards self-awareness.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

General Education Essay -- Economics

General Education Except for a brief contraction in the early 1990s, the higher education system in the United States has been growing steadily since the late 1970s. Roughly half of all Americans now have attended college at some point in their lives, and roughly a quarter hold a postsecondary degree.(In the United Kingdom, by contrast, less than 15 percent of the population goes to university.) There are 14.5 million students in American colleges and universities today. In 1975 there were a little over 11 million; in 1965 there were fewer than 6 million. And yet when a person in higher education talk about its conditions and its prospects, doom is often in their voices. There are three matters these people tend to worry about: the future of liberal arts college; the "collapse"(as its frequently termed) of the academic disciplines, particularly the humanities; and the seemingly intractable disparity between the supply of Ph.D.s and the demand for new faculty. There are more college student than ever. Why does the system feel to many of the people who work in it as though it is struggling? (Menand, Louis pg 219) Many people are flocking to college, but there not going there for a traditional liberal arts education. Liberal education is under siege. Critics, of whom there are many; call it an overpriced indulgence for the affluent few who do not have to worry about earning a living upon graduation. Fewer and fewer of today's undergraduates are pursuing the liberal arts, with most of them studying practical subjects like finance, marketing, real estate and pharmacy.(Rimer, Sara) Studying just the practical subjects makes very good sense to most people. Why bother studying things you won't use in your d... ...neral education classes for the most part are what people refer to as cake classes, which means easy grade. I personally like general education courses they help to round off a person's knowledge. It also serves as a break from your major courses. Some people may like to jump right into there major to make money fast; my personal preference is to become the most intelligent person I can in college so that I have more to offer later on in life.(This paragraph was taken from an earlier work of mine.) Works Cited Gould, Stephen Jay, ed. The Best American Essays 2002. NY: Houghton Muflin, 2002. Menand, Louis. "College: The End of the Golden Age." Ed. Stephen Jay Gould. 219-231. Rimer, Sara. "Justifying a Liberal Arts Education in Difficult Times." New York Times 19 Feb. 2003: B7 Vargas Llosa, Mario. "Why Literature?" Ed. Stephen Jay Gould. 295-308

Monday, November 11, 2019

Condom Availability in High Schools Essay

In 1991 the New York City Board of Education created a program to make condoms accessible to all high school students upon request. The program caused parental disagreement and the school board was taken to court. Parents claimed that making condoms available to students was a health service and could not be provided to students. The board argued that the condom plan was not a medical service. They explained it was one part of a comprehensive educational program that did not require direct parental consent. The school board lost the case. The program may have survived had the case been heard by the New York State Supreme Court â€Å"Massachusetts is the most significant, it is the highest court to address the issue, and it rejects,†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ the claim that condom availability interferes with parental liberties† (Karen Mahler). In 1977 the United States denied a New York State Law prohibiting the distribution or sale of non-prescription contraceptives to teens under the age of 16. The United States Supreme Court seems to have support for the condom availability program. With teen pregnancy rates and the number of STD’s reported in teens on the rise, schools are beginning to realize that the parents are not doing their job when it comes to sexual education. The school system already has classes on sexual education; these classes are based mainly on human anatomy. Most schools do not teach their students about relationships, morals, respect, self-discipline, self-respect, and most importantly contraceptives. Everyday students engage in sexual activity, many of them without condoms. This simple act jeopardizes these students’ futures and possibly their lives. An increasing amount of school systems are starting to combine messages involving abstinence from sexual activity, and expanding availability of contraceptives, especially condoms. Schools are now stepping in to further equip their students for life. The distribution of condoms in public high schools will lower the rate of pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers. Eighty percent of teen mothers end up in poverty for long periods of time due to the fact that they never finished high school. They become financially dependent on programs such as Welfare and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). Welfare provides money and food stamps for low-income families. WIC provides milk, cheese, eggs, cereals, fruit juices, dried beans or peas, peanut butter and infant formula for all participants. WIC also provides nutritional education and health care referrals at no cost. Programs such as these help millions of families every year. Considering the fact that the majority of teens will participate in sexual activity, Sex Ed should focus more on methods of contraception and less on abstinence. Giving adolescents more information about sex and making condoms more available are ways to cut the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The condom is the only type of birth control that protects against the transmission of STD’s when properly used. Experts say the lack of knowledge on how to use a condom correctly and the lack of motivation to use a condom every time means that condoms fail more often. This could result in pregnancy or the contraction of STD’s. Teenagers reuse condoms or they use it with a petroleum-based lubricant which can dissolve the condom’s latex. Birth control products are only effective if used properly. Rates of failure for condoms are between 2 percent and 14 percent. Inexperienced users make up a larger percentage of failure rates because of improper use. This failure rate is also due to inconsistent use among teenagers. With the proper knowledge and training students can effectively use a condom to protect themselves. Health Resource Centers, or HRC’s are centers located in middle and high schools promoting safe sex. HRC’s provide reproductive health inf ormation, condoms, and general health referrals to students. All students in the participating schools are taught about the importance of abstinence, but they are provided with condoms if they choose to be sexually active. Trained staff members and volunteers, including health professionals, educators, nurses, psychologists and graduate interns provide counseling for students upon request. Students attending the junior high school also have access to condoms; however; counseling is mandatory for these students before they can receive condoms. Informational brochures can be obtained in the nurses’ office. Students are also able purchase condoms from vending machines located in remote places throughout the school. The HRC’s have large levels of administrative and staff support for its objectives. Students who used the program generally viewed the services they received favorably. Expanded condom availability, when accompanied with the proper education and information about safer sex, will decrease the amount of unprotected sexual encounters and the spread of sexually transmitted disease. Making love is not something to play around with. When people decide to do it, they make a life and deat h decision. If they contract an STD they risk their life for death. And if a woman gets pregnant, the woman is not guaranteed to live through it (although chances are that she will), and the child is not guaranteed to live for many reasons including abortion. Shouldn’t steps be taken to educate teenagers about what they are getting into before schools start handing out condoms? This would be a better way to prevent the spread of pregnancies and of STD’s and H.I.V. If teenagers do not have sex to begin with the risk of infection goes down because, condoms are not 100% effective. However, it is known that regardless of the consequences or risks, teens will partake in sexual inter course, it is the teacher’s job to help educate how to have safer sex. If the students know more about the risks, then they can make an educated decision about sex, and then it will be very likely that they will use a condom if they do decide to have sex. Rather than having one year of Sex Ed in High School like the majority of schools do across the nation, students should have Sex Ed classes starting in junior high school. They should learn about pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and H.I.V. There would be a course or a section of a course dedicated to health where students learn about these subjects. Then in high school, students should do a more in-depth study of the consequences of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. This could be done as a part of a biology course or as a research project in an English class. Finally, students should learn about H.I.V. and AIDS, how it affects the lives of those who have it, and what can be done about it. Again, this could be a separate course that is required or a part of another required course. Then, pamphlets about all these things should be made available at the health (or nurse’s) office and suggested for the students to read before they receive condoms. If this is done, then teenage sex should become much less of a problem than it is now. Abstract Over the past twenty years, the number of teen, unplanned pregnancies has nearly doubles in size. This is a problem to all people that it affects because it hurts people financially, not to mention all of the unexpected stress that comes along with being pregnant. Making condoms available in High Schools would surely decrease this number to what it once was and hopefully drastically decrease the number of orphans and teen parents in debt that we have in this country. References Furstenburg, Frank , Mariarz, Geitz , Teitler, Julien , Weiss, Christopher â€Å"Does Condom Availability Make a Difference? An Evaluation of Philadelphia’s Health Resource Centers† Family Planning Perspective Volume 29, Issue 3 (May-Jun.,1997), 123-127. Kreiner, Anna Learning to Say No to Sexual Pressure New York: The Rosen Publishing Group Mahler, Karen â€Å"Condom Availability in the Schools: Lessons from the Courtroom† Sexuality Volume 4, Article 63 1993-1996 Natale, Jo Anna â€Å"The Hot New Word is Sex Ed† School Volume 5 Article 30, 1994-1996 â€Å"Sex education: Anything goes.† Washington Times 1 Nov. 2000 Stewart, Gail B. Teen Parenting. San Diego: Lucent Books 2000 â€Å"Teens Regret Having Sex.† Maryland Abstinence Education and Coordination Program. Summer 2000

Friday, November 8, 2019

The Definition of Atomic Mass or Weight in Chemistry

The Definition of Atomic Mass or Weight in Chemistry Atomic Mass or Weight Definition Atomic mass, which is also known as atomic weight, is the average mass of atoms of an element, calculated using the relative abundance of isotopes in a naturally-occurring element. Atomic mass indicates the size of an atom. Although technically the mass is the sum of the mass of all the protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom, the mass of an electron is so much less than that of the other particles, that mass is simply that of the nucleus (protons and neutrons). Examples of Atomic Mass The atomic mass of carbon is 12.011. Most carbon atoms consist of six protons and six neutrons.The atomic mass of hydrogen is 1.0079. Hydrogen (atomic number 1) is the element that has the lowest atomic mass. The most common isotope of hydrogen is protium, an atom that consists of a proton or a proton and an electron. Because of a small amount of deuterium (one proton and one neutron) and tritium (one proton and two neutrons), the atomic mass of hydrogen is slightly higher than 1. How To Calculate Atomic Mass

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Nichrome and constantan Essays

Nichrome and constantan Essays Nichrome and constantan Paper Nichrome and constantan Paper Resistance- Resistance is a force which opposes the flow of an electric current around a circuit so that energy is required to push the charged particles around the circuit. Resistance is measured in ohms. During this experiment I aim to research and plan an experiment to investigate a factor that affects the resistance in a piece of wire. The possible factors I could change in this investigation are: 1 Length of the wire, 2 Thickness of the wire, 3 Type of metal- Copper, Nichrome and constantan 4 Shape of the wire, 5 Temperature of the wire,6 Density of the metal. I have chosen to investigate the length of the wire because length is a continuous variable with a continuous range so I will be able to choose any lengths to investigate. I chose not to investigate thickness because although it is a continuous variable the wires available to me only come in set thickness that do not go up in regular intervals. I chose not to investigate type of metal because it is not a continuous variable so I would not be able to evaluate the investigation by linking two or more groups of data on a graph. I chose not to investigate the shape of the metal because it isnt a continuous range. I could only use two options bent or straight. I chose not to investigate the temperature because although it is a continuous range it is very difficult to maintain a temperature, as you couldnt use a water bath because of safety aspects. It is also difficult to measure the temperature of a piece of wire. I chose not to investigate the density of the metal because although it is a continuous variable I only have one set density available to me. Prediction A longer piece of wire has a higher resistance because in a longer piece of wire there are more collisions between the electrons and the metal ions so there will be more successful collisions. In every successful collision energy is lost from the electron to the wire ions. The result is the voltage of the wire increases. The equation for resistance is resistance = voltage / current and as the current stays the same in the circuit and the voltage increases, the resistance increases. 10cm 20cm Preliminary Plan. The aim of my preliminary work is to decide whether to use wire copper, constantan or Nichrome I will use and what thickness of either 32SWG, 38SWG or 26 SWG. I will need to use a wire with large resistance range that is a good conductor of electricity. The wire must not overheat easily. The apparatus I will need to perform the preliminary experiment will be:   Power pack (2volts) Ammeter   Voltmeter   Wires x 6   Crocodile clips x 2   Meter rule   Masking tape   Board marker Factors to control in preliminary experiment The independent variable will be:   The amount of resistance in different lengths of wire. The variables that I will keep the same will be:   Material of wire-either Copper, Constantan or Nichrome.   Density of wire   Temperature of wire   Shape of wire- straight Voltage- constant voltage of 2 volts. Circuit diagram for preliminary experiment Method 1 Set up the circuit as shown above with the power pack set at a constant voltage of 2 volts. 2 I will use 2 different lengths of wire in my preliminary, the largest 100cm and the smallest 10cm so I can find the material with the largest resistance range. Now 1 will make sure the power pack is off and insert the first wire at point x on the circuit diagram. Now I will turn on the voltmeter and ammeter. 3 Next I will turn on power pack and record the first ammeter and voltmeter readings. The results may change due to heating so I must record the very first results shown. 4 Switch off the power pack and insert next wire. 5 Now repeat the experiment using the different wires and thicknesses and recording each result. Preliminary results These results show me the resistance ranges for copper, Nichrome and constantan. Material Length/ cm Voltage/Volts Current/Amperes Resistance/? CopperConstantan . Copper resistance range = 0. 3 ? Nichrome resistance range = 15. 03 ? Constantan resistance range = 7. 42 ? These results show me the resistance ranges for copper, Nichrome and constantan in 3 different thicknesses of 26 SWG, 28 SWG and 32 SWG. Wire Width (swg) Length (cm) Voltage (Volts) Current (Amps) Resistance Nichrome 28 SWG = 13. 93 ? Nichrome 32 SWG = 16. 2 ? Constantan 26 SWG = 2. 75 ? Constantan 28 SWG = 3.97 ? Constantan 32 SWG = 7. 34 ? Preliminary Conclusion From my preliminary experiment I found that the material with the highest resistance range is Nichrome in a thickness of 32 SWG. Even though my results may not be very accurate because I did not take repeat readings and find an average, Nichrome 32 SWG had a much larger resistance range than the other materials and thicknesses. Nichrome had a resistance range of 15. 03 ? , Constantan had the second largest resistance range but was still only 7. 42 ?. Predicted results I have used resistivity to predict my resistance results in my final experiment.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Value Innovation at AMD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Value Innovation at AMD - Essay Example As of today, 99% of computers operate using 32-bits. As technology improves and software applications become more demanding there will be a transition to 64 bits. The K8 processor was a complete revamp of the x86 architecture for 64-bit processing, giving AMD a leadership position. Industry acceptance of the AMD64 standard has forced Intel to enter into an agreement with AMD to use the AMD64 standard on their own 64-bit based EMT64 processors. In their essay â€Å"Strategy, Value Innovation and the Knowledge Economy† Kim and Mauborgne characterize value innovators as ‘those who make their competition irrelevant by providing buyers with a quantum leap in value’. This description fits perfectly with AMD’s strategy for the K8. Until the release of the K7, AMD was a company that focused ‘on matching or beating’ Intel. They chose a ‘distinctive cost’ position and innovation was considered exogenous with cost and product performance trad eoffs. The new economics theory, which heralds the arrival of the knowledge economy, claims that ‘innovations are no longer exogenous and can be created with the ideas and knowledge within a system’. Again, a perfect match to AMD’s strategy of first giving the NexGen team their own building to develop the K6 and subsequently roping in a ‘world-class-enterprise-level processor design team’ for the K8. Admitted that Intel’s stumbles with their processor design and production yield have given AMD an opportunity window.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Discusstion Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discusstion - Case Study Example Most of the businesses these days are using information technology to expand their origins and this is where cyber crime comes into play. It has been found that cyber crime poses a threat of 2.4 billion to the businesses operating in the United Kingdom. Similarly it was also found that this crime brought upon a loss of $67.2 billion to the companies operating in the United States (Marsillac et al 2010). Considering the high numbers of these crimes, it is estimated that cyber crime is further increasing over time and it needs to curbed as soon as possible. Different regulatory organizations have been formed all over the world to overlook the issue of cyber crime. This essay revolves around the severity of cyber crime as it is found in the world and resorts to an option that would help to limit the crime in totality. It was found that Cyber Crime went up by 10.4 % in the year 2014 from the previous year which clearly shows a growth in the pattern of cyber crimes. In accordance to the costly cyber crimes it was found that insiders, service denials and internet attacks formed an important part of the paradigm (Kassner 2015). Discerning from the research it can be said that the most suitable policy to thwart cyber crime should revolve around the threat from the inside of the company. These insiders are the ones who know most about the company and they can easily access the information with the appropriate information. If these insiders are stopped from committing the crime, the rate can be drastically reduced. The role of managers in curbing the crimes cannot be emphasized enough but the organization should also make sure that they are following the principles of strategic survival in the market. The managers can make sure of this by affirming legitimacy to the firm which forms an utmost part of it s dealing with the competitors.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Compares and contrasts the interpretations of McClellans generalship Essay

Compares and contrasts the interpretations of McClellans generalship - Essay Example It is known that the common view in most books depict that the victory of the North in the Civil War is something inevitable due to mismanagement on the part of the South. Only few authors tackle the Civil War and the victory of the North in a perspective which emphasizes the North's dominance in terms of supplies, industrial infrastructure, and manpower. Thomas Rowland's George B. McClellan and Civil War History: In the Shadow of Grant and Sherman and James McPherson's Ordeal by Fire The Civil War and Reconstruction are two books which completely covers the Civil War and McClellan's generalship. Thus, it is interesting to know which information about George McClellan in the two books contradicts and which facts correspond with one another. Thomas Rowland's book revolves around George B. McClellan as a general and his contribution and role in the Civil War. Since the story revolves around him, the book covers his beginning--- from his previous work in the railroad to how he landed the position of a general in the Civil War. Initially, McClellan immediately attempted to get in touch with Winfield Scott, commander in chief of the American army, sending him several messages in which he suggested that the states between the Alleghenies and the Mississippi be organized as a military department under a head. On May 13, 1861, he received an order (dated May 3) appointing him to the command of the Department of the Ohio, consisting of Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, with later additions of western Pennsylvania and western Virginia. On the other hand, McPherson's book tackles the Civil War as the focal point of the story, discussing only McClellan as one of the major contributors in the battle and North's victory. It covers all the facets of the war itself. Hence, the story covers the start of the Civil War which depicts the philosophical, social, political and economic political arguments that lead to the battle. Also, the book includes post-war events which include reuniting the nation and specifying the rights of the slaves from the South who have just gained freedom. In conclusion, the major difference between the two books is its approach on discussing the Civil War and McClellan's generalship. Rowland's work utilizes the inductive method of discussion as it focuses on McClellan while broadening the topic to the Civil War as it tackles McClellan's contribution to it. On the other hand, McPherson's work uses the deductive method ofdiscussion as its central subject is the Civil War and discussions of McClellan's generalship were only emphasized as the story narrates deductively from the Civil War to the figures who played important roles in it. Concerning McClellan's generalship, there are several points of agreement in the two books. Most importantly, both books confirm McClellan;s position as a general of the Department of the Ohio, which consists of Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, Pennsylvania and Western Virginia and his contributions toward the Civil War. Also, the **other parts to follow Dec 31st, the

Monday, October 28, 2019

Teaching Essay Example for Free

Teaching Essay 1.1 How teaching assistant can support the teacher in planning, teaching and evaluation of learning activities. Prior to the lesson I requested a copy of the teachers’ plans and after discussions we were able to agree using a variety of lesson plans, teaching methods, and implement targets to provide the most effective support to pupils and their needs, this gave me a clearer understanding of the learning that was going to take place and allow me time to familiarising myself with the subject matter, learning objectives and outcomes, this would also assist me to prepare any resources required for the planned lesson ahead. After agreeing the objectives of the lesson ‘Drip Drop’, were to explore some of the properties of water, to explore absorbent and non-absorbent materials and to find out how water drops behave on different surfaces. By asking for copies of the teacher’s long, medium, short-term planning, this helped me to provide extra support in the classroom by developing my understanding of the weeks and daily planning process and to set learning objectives, preparing, assessing and recording pupils’ participation and progression allow the teacher to see how effective my teaching is and whether the pupils are making progress in their learning. The role of the teacher is to supply a safe and supervised classroom for the pupils to learn in, encourage pupil learning by planning, preparing and delivering lessons in relation to the National Curriculum and meet school target whilst maintain its policies. The teacher assesses records and report on pupil’s progress and achievements and liaise with parents, sometimes attending meetings or responsible for literacy or science. Preparing the classroom for the lesson, checking the correct materials available to carry out the activity helps the teacher. Observation and monitoring of pupils work during the task helps me to make assessments to see if the learning has been successful and give feedback to the pupil and teacher on individuals performance or responses, if they have any problems, by doing this it helps me to make well-informed judgements about a pupils learning and progress and make any changes necessary to the activity. 1.2 Information the teaching assistant would require before supporting learning activities From the daily lesson plan I am able to identify the materials required for the lesson to complete the task. After reading the pupil’s records and initial assessment a decision was made to put the more experienced pupils with the ones who were not as confident to enable them to assist, encourage, help and work together to complete the task successfully. A class discussion was held to see if the pupils could think of the materials which would be required to complete the task I then wrote the answers on the whiteboard. The materials were absorbent and non-absorbent materials like plastic, paper and cardboard etc and things with which to make water drops for example, straws, plastic pipettes, and clean eye droppers, as water was going to be used a non toxic coloured paint was required to put in the water to make it easier to see, because I used the last of the cardboard I wrote this down on the reorder list. I emphasised everyone needed to act sensibly because sharp items were going to be used. I showed the class how to make drops with the different kinds of objects and gave them time to practice making water drops and try to make drops of different sizes. When they had mastered this I asked the pupils to drip onto samples of different materials. I asked them to see what happened when two, or more, drops meet, on a hard and non-absorbent surface. Later I separate the pupils into pairs and asked them: Can they race their drop with a friend? 1.3 The sorts of problems that may occur when supporting learning activities Informing the teacher before removing unwanted chairs made sure there was sufficient space for the pupils and equipment to work safely prior to the learning activity and by placing four pupils on each table gave better access to the water tubs and avoiding pupils pushing each other. The pipettes and resources were placed safely in the middle of each table. Before the lesson it was explained to suck the water up the straw was dangerous and requested the pupils to just dip the straw in the water, I asked if they knew why and explained about choking and emphasised about being sensible, the pupils’ then put on their aprons to protect their clothing. The pupils who found listening difficult, I put the questions onto laminated cards for easy reference explaining that I was going to ask those questions about the information later. I also wrote down the key questions on the whiteboard. Can you make different size drop? What happens to the drops when you drip them onto different surfaces? Can you make two drops join? What Happens? Whilst monitoring I removed a pupil from the activity for putting the pipette in his ear. The child was placed away from the activity, asking the pupil if he understood why he had been separated it was explained if he wanted to rejoin the activity he would need to act sensibly, after 10 minutes the pupil calmed down, and was asked to rejoined the group, giving the pupil encouragement and praise for better behaviour enabled the pupil to complete the task successfully. When the activity had finished I discussed with the pupil his behaviour and found he was upset because his hamster had died, I later discussed this with the teacher. After shutting the windows I relocated a pupil to a quieter part of the classroom as the noise of grass cutting was causing a distraction. The hot weather made the room too warm, two pupils started to flick each other with water I opened the classroom door to reduce the temperature and with a direct look and raised eyebrow showed displeasure at the pupils then separated them. Noticing one of the cheerful pupils was rather withdrawn and after talking they revealed that their Nan had died that morning I reassured the pupil and asked if they would like to read a poem about water, I then informed the teacher. Encouragement by praising their progress was given to the pupils with low confidence and pupils who finished their task early were asked to write a poem about their observations or about the drop race. After the activity was complete we had a class discussion asking pupils, how do you think it went? What would you do differently? I then asked the pupils to write down their observations in their books with correct date. 1.4 Strategies a teaching assistant may use to support pupils learning By using questions ‘What we think will happen’?, and writing down all the key points this confirmed the pupils understood the instructions prior to the activity and helped the class know what was expected of them. Placing the low confident pupils at the front of the class and rephrasing questions enabled them to understand the instructions more clearly. After discussion with another teaching assistant it was decided to enlarge the worksheet to A3 size to make it easier for the pupils who were struggling, encouraging them to write down their ideas then stick them onto the worksheet later and giving praise when the task was completed. Separating pupils into groups allowed the development of peer support activities and cooperative learning, allowing the pupils to benefit by learning and supporting each other. The pupils with confidence worked on their own initiative were able to write their own ideas directly onto the worksheet. Bandura, Skinner, Piaget and Vygotsky discuss that cognitive development occurs at an individual rate and cultures teaches a person what to think as well as how to think. I agree that children are not just passive discovers, they are constantly trying to make sense of the information they see, hear, feel and discover enabling some children to develop quicker than others. At the end of the activity reward stickers were given for using the correctly vocabulary in their poems and a discussion was held by using open-ended questions of (how, what, why?) this provided me with more information to enable me to assess the pupils’ learning and understanding and provide me with the information required to feedback later to the teacher 1.5 Providing feedback on learning activities to the teacher Both during and after supporting the learning activity, I recorded the pupils’ participation and progression and met later with the teacher, to give feedback regarding the issues encountered during the activity, I discussed the pupil who’s relative died and about the pupil behaving inappropriately during the session and being separated from the group. I informed the teacher why the worksheet was enlarged and why the laminated card was useful. I also explained I gave out some stickers for correct spelling and punctuation.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Surveillance And Dataveillance in governments

Surveillance And Dataveillance in governments Introduction It has become very common practice for the Governments to keep and use public data for the betterment and quality of services provided. Different information systems are in custom which involve data about the people. For better use of public data, it is necessary to reliably associate the data with specific persons. An effective and efficient identification system should be established and maintained. Information technology has remarkably progressed in human identification system. It is very easy to identify and monitor a person with the help of modern IT tools. They key challenge for the supervising authorities is to develop identification and monitoring program which should be practicable and economic to address the issues. These programs should have high integrity to solve the problems faced by the governments regarding human identification and monitoring. The special concern in this regard is the threat to personal privacy that the human identification and monitoring programs presents. If these programmers are introduced energetically, the reaction of social fabric may be threatened. Surveillance and dataveillance What is surveillance? Surveillance involves keeping constant watch over individuals or a premise, the purpose of this activity can be to spy, supervise or to control. It assists in collecting information about the individuals movement, contacts and activities (Clarke 1988, p.499). The main form of surveillance is known as physical surveillance which is ultimately watching and listening. The current technologically advanced world assists greatly in surveillance, as it provides top monitoring devices such as infrared binoculars, field glasses, light amplifiers satellite cameras, and sound amplification devices like directional microphones to easily monitor from a greater distance and at any time of the day. There are also some well-known ways such as communications surveillance which involves taping the phone or bugging a premise, which allows you to listen and be aware of the individuals whereabouts and their associates and intended plans (Clarke 1988, p.499). Surveillance these days provide profound insight into ones life and by collecting data from other sources as well a complete history of past and present of that individual can be created. This gives the holder of this information such as the government or an agency great control over the individual (Clarke 1988, p.499). What is dataveillance? Surveillance involves the monitoring of an individual through watching and listening using modern technology. Dataveillance on the hand is monitoring by accessing and reading through personal and confidential data of an individual by using advanced information technology tools. This involves accessing their bank account details, credit card purchases, GPS on their cars and mobile, emails and internet browsing to get an insight into their personal lives. Dataveillance is the result of evolution of technology, as we become more and more dependent on technology it is creating an opportunity for others to invade our privacy and monitor our every move (Clarke 1988, p.499). Government agencies often use dataveillance to prevent terrorist attacks and other heinous crimes. There are two types of dataveillance that are common:ÂÂ   personal and mass dataveillance (Clarke 1988, p.499). Personal dataveillance its benefits and dangers Personal dataveillance is the monitoring of a targeted individual for a particular reason. This can involve monitoring by a government agency like the police or tax department to find evidence of crimes committed or where stolen money is hidden. This evidence can be then be used in court to prosecute the individual. This form of dataveillance is valuable to the authorities as it provides them with evidence and information that cannot be easily obtained through manual investigation and interrogation techniques. (Clarke 1988). Dataveillance is used heavily in chasing fugitives, prosecuting criminals and tracking terrorists. A current example is how dataveillance was used to eliminate Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden. While Osama Bin Laden was aware of dataveillance techniques and avoided all activities that wouldve led to him being tracked, his associates used technology and were able to be tracked. That is how one of his couriers was tracked when he made phone calls on behalf of the Al Qaida leader. This led to his demise and highlights the importance of dataveillance in tackling terrorism.ÂÂ   From identifying terrorist cells around the globe to using high tech drones to monitor Afghanistan for terrorist activities, it is a valuable ally to the government. It also helps local authorities hunt down cyber predators and bullies as well as identity fraud. This was the case in America when a high earning Wall Street employee was caught for insider trading. Dataveillance not only is used by authorities but also by businesses and individuals. Businesses can track employees activities such as internet usage and time checks to ensure employees are working efficiently. It can also be used in risk management to detect and prevent errors and fraud to better safeguard their business. Individuals can also use dataveillance to a degree such as using GPS on a car to see where a family member has travelled and what websites the kids are browsing. It offers families a form of security and control. Businesses and individuals will not all use the personal dataveillance in the right manner. Personal dataveillance is also a powerful weapon that can be used to gain power over another entity. Confidential secrets can be uncovered and be used to blackmail an individual. It can be used to stalk a particular person or locate someone to hurt physically. In the wrong hands it can becomes a great tool to continuously have access to the intended target and that thought alone is frightening (Clarke 1988). Since dataveillance is more in terms of monitoring data then the actual person, it provides room for wrong identification.ÂÂ   If wrong identification isnt detected then an innocent person may be prosecuted or much worse if there were bad intentions for monitoring that individual.ÂÂ   If there are errors in the personal dataveillance technique then it would lead to ill-informed decisions (Clarke 1988). Dataveillance can be used negatively by business in certain areas such as hiring employees. Sometimes to better know the candidate, they can view social network sites such as Facebook to understand the candidate. This can lead to a false reading of their character and can result in not being hired. Facebook is used by millions of people and it has access to each of their personal details and lives. If this database isnt protected someone can come in and access these valuable information and exploit them at will. (McIntosh et al). An example is that of Julian Asange who had used dataveillance techniques to monitor and retrieve high level government documents and made them public. Furthermore personal dataveillance of an individual without their consent is illegal. While the government agencies are excused as they perform these monitoring techniques to ensure our safety. However for businesses and individuals if caught tracking an individual without their consent, it can be punished by law as it is a breach of ones privacy. Mass dataveillance its benefits and dangers Mass dataveillance is monitoring of a certain large group in order to identify an individual who belongs to that certain group. It is controversial as it is a form of profiling based on race, gender and religion and all are targeted, even though there is no suspicion to justify monitoring them. It involves identifying members of the entire population that belong to a specified group and then using techniques similar to that of personal dataveillance except all data trails despite them being not important are followed up in the hope it could lead to someone of interest. (Clarke 1988). The benefits of this form of surveillance is that it is most likely that the person of interest will belong to that group hence monitoring just that group will be more efficient then looking through the entire population. It is used by authorities such as the government and police as well as some businesses. Mass dataveillance can be summed up as a witch hunt while personal dataveillance is more targeted to an individual and does not affect other people. Mass dataveillance leads to discrimination and false accusations. Businesses may target a certain group of their employees as they suspect they could be up to some wrongdoing. Individuals can be closely monitored simply for the fact they belong to certain group of people. This type of surveillance has been used heavily in certain eastern countries but now it is also seen in western countries as a result of increased terrorism. However this shows how ones privacy can be invaded if necessary by higher authorities even when they maybe innocent. Instead mass dataveillance is used to arise suspicion rather than monitor individuals of suspicion like personal dataveillance. (Clarke 1988). The first and far most threat of dataveillance is to the privacy and identity of individuals and as a society as a whole. Mass surveillance has been criticized on many grounds like violation of privacy rights, illegality and for prevention social and political freedom. Importance of Privacy Privacy can be defined as a persons right to be left alone and one of the most valued right by free people (Craig 2006). Privacy is peoples right to make their own decisions regarding private matters and it is peoples right to live their lives secluded from public inquiry (Craig 2006). Privacy is important for different perceptions. They are Philosophically This is the concept of human dignity and integrity, as well as the notions of individual autonomy and self-determination. This is the notion and importance of Human rights. Psychologically The peoples need for private space. Sociologically The peoples need to behave freely and to communicate with other people without having the threat of being observed. Economically The peoples need to invent without surveillance. Politically The peoples need to be free to act, think and argue without surveillance. (Clarke 2006) Broadly interpreted privacy is an individuals integrity and therefore includes every characteristics of an individuals social need (Clarke 2006). Using Maslows Hierarchy of Needs privacy can be illustrated in the following categories (Clarke 2006): Privacy of the person It is also known as ‘bodily privacy. It is the integrity of a persons body and comes under the Physiological and Safety needs in Maslowian Hierarchy. It is broadly known as a persons freedom from torture and his right to medical treatment. Privacy of personal behaviour It is also known as ‘media privacy and comes under belonging and self-esteem needs in Maslowian Hierarchy. It relates to peoples personal lives and not to be observed. Privacy of personal communications It is also known as ‘interception privacy and comes under belonging and self-esteem needs in Maslowian Hierarchy. It is an individuals right to communicate with other people without being observed. Privacy of personal data It is also known as ‘data privacy and comes under belonging, self-esteem and self-actualization needs in Maslowian Hierarchy. It is an individuals right to control over his data even in the hands of a third party. (Clarke 2006) All means of dataveillance deter the concept of privacy of individuals and society as a whole. One cannot perform well if he is being watched all the time. People do not feel themselves safe as this watch over can be used in a negative way. Dataveillance can harm the privacy and identity of the individuals and the society in the following ways 1. The main and direct threat of dataveillance is that no actual people are always observing our data. It is mostly computer systems that collect and link the relevant data. Also it is very likely that computer systems can make mistakes and give information that is incorrect. These mistakes are mostly overlooked as there are no people monitoring this data. This can create a range of other problems like identifying wrongly people into different categories according to his data collected. For example a person using his personal computer to research on terrorism for a project can be categorised into a group of highly watched individuals. In this example the individual is incorrectly identified and will have problems trying to oppose being branded as a terrorist. 2. The next threat of dataveillance is the quality of the data. Currently there are no standards concerning the quality of the data that are collected in the dataveillance systems. People or companies that collect data usually use cheap and easy forms dataveillance technology to reduce their costs. This is due no standards on the technology used for dataveillance. The data collected by these cheap technologies are usually low quality data and therefore may contain many errors and could put an individual in unnecessary dangers. Also most individuals are unaware that their data is collected and therefore will not be able to oppose these facts. 3. Another important threat is that the data collected on an individual can be misinterpreted and is more likely if all the relevant data is not thoroughly checked. People or a computer system is not going to do extensive research as to whether the data collected is correct in that circumstance and therefore will only show the immediate facts. These days online marketing technology instantaneously collects, enhance and aggregate the data. This creates lots of problems for consumer privacy. (Donahue, Whittemore, Heerman) Conclusion Dataveillance has two sides; on one side, it apparently offers speed, security, and safety; on the other, it unnecessarily exposes individuals to potential threats for privacy. Privacy is a privilege that most people take for granted. It is simply thought of as a source of God given right that we, as human being, are entitled to, the right to have our own space, to be safe, and to be left alone. The increased use of dataveillance has been found very useful on many occasions and no one regret the positive aspects of dataveillance. For example as mentioned above it was most probably dataveillance techniques that led to the killing of Osama Bin Laden which reflects the positive highlights of dataveillance. However the main concern for the use of dataveillance technology is that it has no standards or regulations. In addition, because of its perceived benefits, the worrisome aspects are usually overlooked. This perhaps sheds light on why resistance is often lacking or simply fails. It is important in the early stages of 21st century, for citizens to ask collectively whether the negative aspects of dataveillance are likely to be mitigated or eliminated if present trends continue. If as a concerned citizen, we feel the negative effects of dataveillance will not be mitigated if we continue on the current path; then we must move collectively away from trying to maintain an ever-weakening illusion of privacy, and shift to offensive, by demanding accountability of those whose power is enhanced by dataveillance. Therefore it is only when standards and regulations are adopted will individuals be able to enjoy privacy and freedom.