Review & Critical Thinking: Music of the World Essay

1. What are the Hurrian songs? Why are they important? The Hurrian songs are a set of fragmentary relics as well as a nearly complete example of notated music from around 1400 BCE. They are important because it was the first piece of evidence that there was written musical pieces and these songs were played during important life events such that as marriages and royal family births. 2. What is the Natya Shastra? Why is it important? The Natya Shastra is a written discourse on the performing arts, including music, dance, stage performances, and that alike. The importance of music to ancient India is best seen through Natya Shastra. It was also important because it gave quite detailed information on the types of instruments that were used at the time and forms of music that was popular. 3. Who were troubadours? What was their music like? Troubadours were traveling poet-musicians who traveled from place to place, singing and performing for the upper class. Their music was generally monophonic and accompanied themselves with an instrument like the lyre or drums. 4. What are the modes in Western music? Describe at least one mode in Western music. There are seven different modes: Dorian, Ionian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian. Dorian mode in C begins and ends on D. 5. What is polyphonic music? How does it differ from monophonic music? Polyphonic music uses two or more independent melodies; whereas monophonic music has only one independent melody. Critical Thinking Questions 1. Why did early humans develop music? What are some of the ways that they were thought to create music? Some scholars believe that music developed from natural sounds and rhythms and humans mimicked these sounds, as they are known to mimic the noises they hear. Therefore early music was likely simple sounds repeated for enjoyment and to create reactions from animals during hunting. Some of the ways they were thought to create music was through their own voices and created instruments. 2. Why is the study of  prehistoric and ancient music important? What can we learn from it? The study of prehistoric and ancient music is important because it gives us insight and understanding of where we evolved from and how we advanced in music up until this very day, and we wouldn’t know just how well we advanced if we did not study prehistoric and ancient music. From this we can learn how the musical instruments in both time periods were used and what use they may have had. 3. What roles did music play in the life of prehistoric and ancient people? Are the roles similar to or different from the roles that it plays today? In the past music was not as big of a deal as it is today. Some individuals may have used music for entertainment but the main use of music in prehistoric and ancient times was for religious reasons such that of ceremonies. The roles are different in that we use music for a multitude of reasons, whether it be to wake us up for school or aid us in sleeping; or even when we need something to cheer us up after a long and hard day or maybe something to calm us down after a heated argument. We use music today for our enjoyment as well as for our emotions. 4. What were the effects of musical notation on music, society, and composers? Music notation allows for multiple people to be able to learn to play an instrument without hearing it as well as having written documents of composers long after they have passed. It also allows a composer to create music without always having to remember it at the top of their head. 5. Describe medieval music’s relationship with the Catholic Church. How was the music influenced by the Church? The Catholic Church influenced medieval music during the Middle Ages through chanting and performances by monks but soon developed melodic sounds which were harmonized together. The Catholic Church did not use musical instruments and those who attended their performances liked the noise that was being produced by the church.

Learning And Teaching In The Inner City Education Essay

Teaching and larning in any school can hold both benefits and jobs. Those advantages and issues tend to be magnified in the interior metropolis school environment. However, staff members including the caput instructor, instructors and learning helpers can hold an impact upon a kid ‘s acquisition in all schools, particularly those in the interior metropolis. If staff members are competent and capable of learning efficaciously, the challenges of an interior metropolis school environment can be overcome to let students to boom and accomplish, and exceed, their possible. A figure of jobs, with a assortment of solutions, affect interior metropolis schools ; a figure of which are discussed below: Immigration addition in interior metropoliss has increased the figure of kids in school with English as a 2nd linguistic communication. â€Å" The steep rise of in-migration into Britain has been demonstrated by new figures that show more than 1,500 schools are dominated by students who speak English as a 2nd linguistic communication. † ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1265342/Immigration-rise-means-1-500-schools-dominated-pupils-speak-English-second-language.html ) As linguistic communication forms the footing for the instruction of any topic, these kids begin their instruction at a disadvantage and have to give their attempt in first understanding instructions, so set abouting those undertakings. Transient student populations cause issues for those students because they are ever traveling place and schools. This affects their instruction as different categories will be at different phases in the course of study ; doing the kid to lose out on immense subdivisions of the course of study or repeat of the same content. Furthermore, each instructor will hold their ain instruction manners intending that the transient student will hold to go adaptative to different ways of being taught and different methods of larning. This becomes particularly debatable as the instructor can non immediately and efficaciously measure the learning manner of the student to supply learning which suits their single demands. Whilst this assortment for the student encourages adaptability, it can be nerve-racking for the student to be under changeless alteration. By virtuousness of their location, interior metropolis schools are frequently greatly affected by poorness which frequently contributes to underachievement. Poverty can besides take to hapless nutrition which has been shown to negatively impact attainment ( Haddad, 2002 ) . Furthermore, with poorness it becomes more hard to supply quiet infinite to ease effectual place acquisition as free infinite is minimum. Children from hapless households frequently do non hold entree to learning resources either. Poverty is a peculiar job in the UK as celebrated below ; â€Å" The UK has a higher proportion of its kids populating in workless families than any other EU country.A It is about twice that of both the EU norm and that in France and Germany. † ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.poverty.org.uk/18/index.shtml? 2 ) Parents ‘ working forms ( eg casual or switch work ) mean that parents are non ever show to assist with home-work, frequently the kids are looked after by a figure of other carers, and as mentioned above household repasts are irregular taking to hapless diet in kids from those households. This can impact the kid ‘s wellness and slumber which influence concentration and acquisition. In some households with these jobs older kids frequently have to assist with younger siblings which means that their learning outside of school e.g. prep undertakings will non ever be completed/receive full attending. Some households may delegate a low precedence to instruction ; this is usually due to parental influence and is cyclical. In interior metropolis schools there is frequently a low turnout at parents ‘ eventide or parents ‘ audiences intending that instructors and parents can non work in a close partnership to better the educational opportunities for the student. Teaching staff in weakness schools are frequently non every bit stable as staff in outstanding schools. This can do the same job as the transeunt population of students e.g. issues of learning manners, working relationships with students etc. Many of the above factors generate a deficiency of assurance among students, negatively act uponing attainment and motive. This rhythm can be exacerbated by inconsistent instruction and continues, particularly if the kid feels a deficiency of support. The job may besides get down to impact other students when the un-motivated student begins to deflect others. This rhythm will go on until the affected student is assisted, for which resources must be available. Possession of good behavior direction accomplishments is indispensable to be able to cover with any schoolroom. Inner metropolis schoolrooms can hold extra challenges which act as barriers to larning such as linguistic communication and particular demands. A good behavior direction technique will assist liberate up clip to concentrate on larning instead than covering with behavioral issues. As noted above, school staff obviously play a critical function in guaranting that students achieve their possible, particularly if parent and student portion this purpose. I believe that most success for a instructor comes from being able to prosecute good with kids, maintaining their involvement in the topic and as such give them the gift of desiring to larn more. Committedness of a instructor to an interior metropolis learning place can be a existent advantage for students ‘ instruction and possible to accomplish. However, hapless quality instructors remaining in station can be merely every bit bad as good instructors altering every term. The Conservative party believes that giving schools more power to pay good interior metropolis instructors extra will help the keeping of staff. I think this could assist but if the instructors feels supported, see countries for publicity, see the students increasing in assurance and making good I believe these factors are merely as of import. Any school needs fiscal support ; the authorities has been supplying money for bettering schools, here are some illustrations ; The ‘Specialist-schools ‘ programme provides authorities funding for schools which choose a specializer topic and achieve the marks set to raise criterions. These schools aim to develop countries of course of study excellence, assisting better the criterions for all pupils. Ian Turner, Director of Strategy, Programmes and Networks, at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust ( SSAT ) , which finds sponsorship for specializer primaries said: â€Å" [ Specialist position ] provides schools with a strong focal point, an single individuality, [ and ] the chance to construct links with concern and the local community. † . ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article1975188.ece ) ‘Golden-hellos ‘ are portion of a authorities enterprise to promote more people to learn, by offering a payment of between ?2,500 and ?5,000 after the first twelvemonth as a instructor. However, it is merely available to instructors of certain nucleus secondary topics. Ed Balls announced in 2009 that the LA and schools will be acquiring excess steps to better primary schools as a agency to guarantee that every schools and kid can win. Ed Balls is composing to every LA and has asked them to demo how they are traveling to better schools to be the best primary schools in the universe. He is besides traveling to compose to the LA with the schools that are having the worse tonss and inquire them to better and rapidly. Charity support which assist schools in priceless besides. The Fischer household trust is an independent non net income charity which provides this sort of support ; the trust provides aid for undertakings aimed at the development of instruction in the UK. These are some of the literacy programmes that they have available: ‘Wave 3 ‘ , is a programme where KS1 kids who are reading or composing at a low degree are provided with excess aid to raise their attainment degree. ‘Hi-Five ‘ , has similar purposes for Year 5 pupils ( and upwards ) who are working at Level 2c in reading and authorship. ‘Write Away Together ‘ , is aimed at spread outing twelvemonth 1 to 6 authorship accomplishments through treatment of their independent authorship. The trust besides operates a new literacy preparation programme for supply instructors and coachs who do n't usually work with KS2 or have low English topic cognition. They besides provide information to LAs and schools to let them to do better determinations sing future marks with the usage of the pupil public presentation informations. Every Child Matters is another authorities enterprise that aims to implement five cardinal results for co-operation between all kids ‘s services, following a study published by the authorities in 2003 ( following the tragic decease of Victoria Climbie ) . Every Child Matters is an advanced attack to the wellbeing of kids and immature people until they are 19 old ages of age. The authoritiess ‘ 5 purposes for Every Child Matters are applicable for every kid, wherever they come from. These are to let entree to the support needed to ; be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, do a positive part, and achieve economic wellbeing. The purpose of ‘be healthy ‘ has been implemented by strategies such as breakfast nines so the kids gets right nutrition at the start of the twenty-four hours to be able to be productive, free fruit is provided for kids to seek assist them acquire some of their five a twenty-four hours, plus doing certain that the bites and repasts given by schools are healthier. â€Å" Healthier kids do better in larning and in life. By enabling kids and immature people to do positive alterations to their behaviors sing wellness and wellbeing, schools can assist them make their full potency in footings of accomplishment and fulfillment. † ( hypertext transfer protocol: //resources.healthyschools.gov.uk/p/Static/AboutUs/why-get-involved ) Similarly, supplying free schools repasts is good for student and parent as some parents can non afford to give their kids a healthy tiffin. Besides, the instruction of kids into the dangers of smoke has lead to a lessening in 11 to 16 twelvemonth old kids that fume. Widening schooling and services offers other possibilities to efficaciously present Every Child Matters purposes. By offering a big scope of different activities, such as after school nines, wellness, wellbeing and stimulation can be obtained. By doing targeted and specialist services accessible such as grownup and household acquisition, ICT and athleticss installations, it is possible to raise both parental and pupil attainment. This is peculiarly effectual as parents can help schools in the home-education of the kid. It is of import for the school to work with the local community to supply the correct services harmonizing to demand and demand. The stay safe enterprise focuses upon forestalling and/or supplying solutions to any experience which makes a child feel insecure. Obviously, bar is better than remedy and as such schools may choose to learn programmes sing behavioral, strong-arming and/or favoritism issues. By supplying a safe environment, a kid can experience confident and unafraid leting them to larn more efficaciously. Therefore it is critical for school staff to go on educating immature people of the benefits of co-operation in making a safe environment during schooling and maturity. Educational staff must possess good interpersonal accomplishments and be sensitive to the kid ‘s demands and confidentiality to successfully guarantee safety and public assistance. A kid who does non bask their schooling is likely to under-achieve and may develop a more easy than their equals, doing these kids farther jobs. As such it is indispensable for instructors to present the course of study in a stimulating mode, in a stimulating environment, to increase the appetency to go to school and be unfastened to new acquisition. By guaranting that the kid enjoys school, it is possible to guarantee that they achieve to their full potency in footings of attainment. If this is successful in the Early Old ages puting with support of parents/carers it is likely to go on through adolescent old ages and positively impact maturity, and coevalss to come. As highlighted above, kids should be encouraged to act in ways which have a positive impact on themselves and, more significantly, others around them both in and out of school. This is most likely to go on when the kid is stimulated and entertained by an effectual teaching method. Encouraging opinion/debate, job resolution and positive attitudes and hence societal accomplishments in the Early Old ages, allows the kid to follow assurance and do a positive part throughout their lives. This impacts positively upon the community. Furthermore, maximizing attainment additions employment, net incomes potency and life chances in maturity. If childhood experience is effectual, the immature grownup will be ready for employment and farther preparation, leting them to obtain and better their net incomes. Subsequently this allows them to shack in good adjustment and raise a household without the negative effects of poorness. It is clearly of import for educational establishments to increase this focal point for kids from low-income households to interrupt the poorness rhythm. As demonstrated above, implementing every kid affairs schemes in schools has been successful in ways but as with most issues, demands to be on a regular basis reviewed and updated to modify, or happen new ways of, presenting the purposes to outdo benefit kids. It is of import that instruction besides focuses on back uping households and carers ( who are the most influential factor on a kid ‘s development ) and if necessary provide remedial action the kid reaches crisis point. This requires educational establishments to hold a degree of answerability and duty to guarantee the demands of their students are met, and exceeded. This can be facilitated by guaranting that the people who work with kids are valued, rewarded and trained. The head-teacher, school direction and – most particularly – instructors can be influential here, back uping kids to maximize their possible.

Analysis of Barbara Kruger

Analysis of Barbara Kruger For this short essay writing I get an example of single contemporary artist Barbara Kruger. Barbara Kruger is an American conceptual artist. A lot of her effort consists of black and white photographs overlaid with declarative captions-in white-on-red Futura Bold Oblique. The phrases in her works frequently consist of use of pronouns such as â€Å"you†, â€Å"your†, â€Å"I†, â€Å"we†, and â€Å"they†. I begin my essay with the retort how Barbara Kruger be considered illustrative of Baudrillard’s or Barthes’ theories. Postmodernism was born out of a response in opposition to the policy of Modernism. Most particularly, Postmodern artists discarded the Modernist obsession with the aesthetic and began by questioning the recognized qualities tied to this aesthetic. As the Postmodern movement progressed, this critique intensified and moved beyond simply formal concerns; artists also began criticizing many underlying notions of Modernism, together with ideas about creativity and authority. Simultaneously, French philosophers Roland Barthes and Jean Baudrillard introduced theories concerning the rising artistic practices of appropriation and simulation. Barthes, in his elaboration on the theory of appropriation, described principles and practices that a lot of artists were employing in their critiques on Modernism. The work of American artist Barbara Kruger gives the most powerful embodiment of Barthes’ theories of appropriation. Roland Barthes, in his 1967 essay â€Å"The Death of the Author,† stripped mutually authority and authorship from artists and writers, declaring, â€Å"A text is not a line of words releasing a single ‘theological’ meaning (the ‘message’ of the Author-God), but a multi-dimensional space in which a variety of writings, none of them new, blend and collide.† This theory not only described the postmodern artistic practices of the time, but it undermi ned Modernism’s lofty goals and claims of creating original artwork. According to Barthes, no author or artist creates something new and unique. Instead, every formed thing is a recycled regurgitation of that which preceded it. As Postmodernism continued to develop, many artists not only acknowledged Barthes’s denouncement of originality but also embraced it as a means through which to further critique the works and tenets of Modernism. These artists favored the readymade object as more powerful than the supposedly new crafted objects shaped by Modernist artists. By openly acknowledging the process of appropriation that occurs within the manufacture of all art, these artists leveraged the power of pre-existing imagery and signs to produce â€Å"new† works with multiple layers and multiple meanings. Barbara Kruger began her career as a graphic designer and commercial artist for publications and magazines such as Mademoiselle. Her work as a postmodern artist began to garner attention in the early 1980s; about fifteen years later than Barthes published â€Å"The Death of the Author.† Kruger’s experience in the profitable design world greatly influenced her work both officially and philosophically. She embraced both the imagery and language of advertising, combining black and white photographs with ambiguous but accusatory statements in collage-like presentations. But she concurrently rejected the philosophies of commercial advertising and the majority, by raising questions concerning gender equality, consumerism, and stereotypes.

Healthcare Administration Issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Healthcare Administration Issues - Research Paper Example This will include scrutinizing and evaluating the nursing shortage in the facilities and how this affects service delivery (Rouse, 2006). Similarly, the research will also have to be based on the availability of resources in employing nurses. There are a number of factors that are considered vital when employing nurses. The demand for nurses is, therefore, affected with changes in the wage rate, training and training facilities, the working environment, education of health workers and the management in the workplace. These are issues that will have a direct impact on the nursing profession, which could create a shortage. For example, the retention of nurses is low in many parts, which shows that the management is not apt in executing its duties. Therefore, researching on all these factors would give the reasons behind the shortage of nurses. Research questions will be vital as they are likely to offer critical information in regards to the issue. For example, research questions will be asked concerning the staffing process, retention rate and nursing turnover. With such information, the research will gather information on how nursing facilities employ nurses and how they replace them in case of retirement or quitting. Similarly, the research questions will also reflect on the acceptable nurse-to-patient ratio and nurse-to-general population ratio (Kelly, 2011). These are crucial figures that will enlighten on the extent of the shortage of nurses and the acceptable ratio in the medical facilities. Apparently, when there is an influx of patients, it is obvious that there should be a corresponding number of nurses. However, limiting the number of nurses to a manageable level will almost certainly lead to poor service deliver as the few available nurses will be overworked. In addition, the research questions will also be us ed to gather information on the potential factors that have

International Business Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International Business Article - Essay Example t needs to be solved that what should Brazil do to save the natural environment and also maintain sovereignty over the exploitation of its natural resources. The best and possible to this will be systematic deforestation. Timber for construction is extremely important. But with systematic deforestation trees can be cut down in patches or partially cut down. This may hamper the economic activity by slowing it down but in the long run the industries will get habitual. Also a reforestation procedure should be implemented simultaneously so that in the long run the natural habitat of the Amazon rainforest may be retained. Another effective solution would be that Brazil can yet exploit the resources in a more sustainable way. Organizations have portrayed that medicinal plants, fruits, gum, chocolate and rubber can be harvested sustainably without much harm to the habitat. Also this has much economic value than the timber and cattle grazing. In this way Brazil will also be able to maintain sovereignty over its

Non-current assets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Non-current assets - Essay Example The effective date on the basis of IASB was the fiscal periods on or after the financial year ending on 2004. Differences in accounting treatment The accounting standard of IAS 16 refers to the tangible noncurrent assets as property, plant and equipment and identifies that they hold a physical substance which can be used for delivery of goods or services or for purposes of administration. The physical substances are expected to be in use for more than a single accounting period. There are some problems accrued to the definition (Friedrich and Friedrich, 2009). Freehold as well as leasehold land, plants and machinery and buildings are included in the PPE. The aim of the accounting standard is to lay down the treatment for accounting relating to recognition of assets, the willpower of the carrying amounts and the charges of depreciation as well as the loses that relates to them. The accounting standard should be followed in the accounting process for PPE as using another PPE requires t he use of different treatment. A business should have the capability to recognize the associated risks and rewards correlated with the asset (Kelly, n.d. p. 1-3). The business controls the asset. The rewards are the custodies. The cost of risk and repairs are treated as costs. Any loss emerging from the assets are treated as costs as well. Under the accounting standard it is expected that the future anticipated economic benefit will find the way to the owner and the associated costs can be measured reliably. IAS 16 accounts for two models namely the cost model and the revaluation model for measuring PPE. In the first model, an item under PPE is carried at the cost which is less than the accumulated depreciation as well as less than any accumulated impairment losses. In the second model, the item in PPE is carried at fair value less than accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. The standard is in line with the definition of the asset set in IASB. It is possible to have a relia ble cost of PPE by the transaction cost of the market in cases where the asset has been acquired. The incidental acquisition cost includes the attributed cost of carrying the asset to the site (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, n.d.). The import duties, the cost of preparation of the sites and the fess of professionals are included in the incidental cost of acquisition. The inclusion ceases once the asset is made ready to use. The asset may not be brought into use but it should to ready to use. The costs that are excluded from the standard are cost of generating a new facility, overhead costs of the administration and the cost associated with introducing the new produced product. An obligation often arises to dismantle the product after the life cycle and the obligation is recorded s the liability at the time the asset is recognized. In the cases where the assets are self constructed the costs of the materials that were acquired, the costs related to labour and the other associated costs must be recognized. IAS 38 provides the definition of asset recognition and specifies the ways the carrying amounts should be measured in the following periods as well as guides on the disclosures. The accounting standard can be applied to all intangible assets except the assets that are within the scope of another standard. It is inapplicable to the intangible assets held by someone

MEASURES OF THE ECONOMY- U.S. International Trade In Goods And Research Paper

MEASURES OF THE ECONOMY- U.S. International Trade In Goods And Services - Research Paper Example To calculate the gross domestic product, one adds the components of the economy which include the measure of all the goods and services produced in that nation. Most of the goods and services produced in a nation are purchased locally by consumers. This makes the largest component and most stable of the economy as it is the consumer spending (C) in the United States (Brezine 168). Obtaining of consumer spending is by adding together non-durable for instance foods and durable for instance automobiles goods. The services will include mechanic, barber and medical services. The next component is the investments made by industries and businesses (I). When calculating the GPD, investment refers to purchases made by the industries in new production facilities or also the processes of buying new capital and putting it into use e.g. building of new factories, buying of a new truck and purchasing new software (Mankiw 201). In essence, this means that the factories reproduce as they buy new goods and services that will lead to production of more goods and services. The next component for calculating the GDP is calculating the net export which is the difference between all values of exports and the values of all imports. Exports are the goods and services that are produced internally in a nation but are sold to the foreigners. Imports are services and goods that have been produced by foreigners but are sold domestically (Mankiw 203). If the exports of a certain year exceed the imports then the GPD will increase, and if this is the opposite, the GPD will decrease. The final component used is the government expenditure. The government buys goods and services using the tax money. The goods and services purchases are a measure of the goods and services produced. Examples of government expenditure will include hiring of the civil servants and construction of roads and public buildings (Sugimoto 225). Government expenditure does not incorporate any transfer payments such

Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr's powerful Speech Essay

Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr's powerful Speech - Essay Example This gave the black people of America the courage to stand up for themselves and to do what is right. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lit a fire in the hearts and souls of those people and it gave many of them the hope that they needed to continue to find equality. While he had a dream, he needed to use his speech to encourage others to also envision the goals he had and to not give up. His speech was powerful, had a motive and was memorable. It also became a major piece in history in the civil rights movement for black people, giving the people the same belief he had that they would one day become liberated from the injustices that black people in America were facing. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote this speech with the intention to inspire people within his own specific race though it could be applied to other non-Caucasians to seek the same rights. He had a motive to inspire and provide courage to the people for whom he was representing to hop on the bandwagon and no longer be suppr essed by the laws that were wrongly enforced against those people of race. His powerful remarks in his â€Å"I have a dream,† speech were meant to give these people something to look forward to from the perspective that what he was doing would encourage others to also fight with him to take a stand on civil rights. He had an image of what he wanted to see done in America, he let his listeners know what that vision was and he gave the truth all within a short speech that he probably had no idea would change the course of history forever. To write this speech and then to deliver it with such intensity was what helped gain the numbers of people that he knew would help his race on their fight toward equal rights. It was not just the language but the way he said the words with such passion that would create this difference. Dr. King even started his message talking about how things were in the present day, how they had been and how they should be in accordance with civil rights an d the same rights for Negros as white people. He knew when he first began his speech, addressing his crowd with the information that he knew would be one of the greatest demonstrations ever and knowing that it would in some ways be historical. According to writer Amy Tan, she discusses in her â€Å"Mother Tongue† essay that language can be powerful. In some ways, when she delivered a speech, she found herself using monumental style phrases as well and they could be interpreted in many different ways. The phrases were not simple, using English dialect that she had learned in her English classes. She found that when she was talking to her own mother, she was using a different style of language to speak to her mother. Her family was of Asian descent and her mother spoke in incomplete sentences and broken English. These sentences were short and to the point and uses dialect that Tan calls â€Å"expressive command.† Tan grew up with her mother’s style of speaking and though many of Tan’s own friends could not understand what her mother was saying, Tan did (Tan, 77-78). King, to get his message out, had to speak in ways that did use words creatively. His speech is almost poetic. Others needed to understand what he was

University Convenience Store Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

University Convenience Store - Essay Example Strength can be used to overcome the weakness experienced by firm. The location of the convenience stores in the university of New Brunswick Saint John campus is the biggest strength. The location of the store is easily traceable and hence approached by the students. Also the availability of wide range of products both for national and international students adds on to the strength. Weaknesses: The strength of its competitors might result in the greatest weakness for the convenience store. This is because of the fact that the competitor’s of the convenience store, the university cafeteria, the Chinese golden leaf market, the circle K market at Irving gas station, and Saputo Inc have already made its presence in the university making it difficult for the convenience store to acquire the position. Opportunity: The steady growth rate for convenience stores act as an opportunity for the university. Also with the introduction of new products catering mostly the international studen ts, the convenience stores have the opportunity to grow in the near future. Threats: Major threat lies from the competitors of the convenience stores which are located in the university. The major competitors include the university cafeteria, the Chinese golden leaf market, the circle K market at Irving gas station, and Saputo Inc. The University’s Cafeteria had a proper location and has helped to served it to be the main attraction. Market-Product Grid The market product grid is a useful tool used in targeting the customers; it is an instrument which addresses specifically the segmentation and targeting aspect. The market product grid which was depicted by Eric Berkowitz, Roger Kerin, William Rudelius and Steven Hartley consists of a matrix where markets represent vertical axis and products on the horizontal axis (Fortenberry & Fortenberry, 2009, p. 102). The Market-Product grid of the convenience stores is as follows, Market-Product Grid for Convenience store Markets/products Grocery items Stationary Items Toiletry Items Others Students 1 3 2 2 Othe r staffs and outsiders 3 2 3 2 3- Large market; 2-medium market; 1-small market; 0-nil The above grid shows the market product grid for the convenience store. It can be seen that the market for the convenience stores has been divided into two parts one is for the students and the other for the other members residing near the university. Accordingly the demand for the products have been categorized where 3 represents large market, 2 represents medium market, 1 small market and 0 nil. In case of university convenience store, the demand for stationery items seems to higher in demand each representing 3; grocery items represented 1 in case of students but 3 in case of other staffs and other member’s residing on or near the university. The demand for toiletry seems to be high in case on non students and medium for student’s category. However this can be concluded that the demand for the convenience store, both for the markets seems to be high throughout the year resulting i n higher profits and more customers. Product (features) The opening of convenience store in the university campus will be of a great deal because the campus is located in the out strikes of the city and there is no convenient availability of groceries and other products available to students. The store will be of a great convenience to the student community as there is a high need of such store in the area. The store will provide a hassle free experience of shopping (Targeting

Assessment Methods Essay Example for Free

Assessment Methods Essay What is assessment? Black and William (1998) declare that the term assessment is generally used to refer to all activities teachers use to help students learn and to gauge student progress. There are many different forms of assessment, however they can generally be divided into two main categories; formative and summative which can be formal or informal. Formative assessment focuses on the gap between where a learner is in their learning, and where they need to be. Marshall (2006) states that formative assessment gives you more flexibility, your assessments can focus on the individual needs of your learners. Formative assessment is usually carried out during the learning process and is a form of giving feedback to the learner, in order for them to understand how they are progressing and to identify areas that may require further attention and what they need to do to achieve the learning outcome. Summative Assessment on the other hand tends to be a formal measuring of the learning and focuses on the achievements of the learner at a particular time. This could be at the end of a term or at the end of a particular program of study. It is generally used to identify if the learner has achieved a level of competence and/or knowledge. Summative assessments can take the form of test, exams Practical, oral or written, the individual is usually given a score which can result in a pass or fail. Assessments can be Objective or Subjective. When assessments are objective, the questions asked have a single correct answer; these questions can take the form of multiple choice or true and false answers. When assessments are subjective, the questions asked may have more than one answer and can take the form of a written response such as an essay. There are also criterion-referenced and norm-referenced assessments. A criteria-referenced assessment measures what a learner can actually do (their competence) and it is measured against a set standard, an example of this is the current driving test. Whereas, norm-measured assessment compares learners one against each other, an example being the IQ test. As a teacher in my teaching practice I use a variety of assessment processes. I use criteria based formative assessment in the skills-based Basic First Aid course; learners are expected to be able to perform effective CPR and to be deemed competent they are measured against a set criteria defined by the Resuscitation council and Health Safety Executive regulations. I use observation to measure whether they meet these criteria. However the assessment required for the First Aid at Work course, which is more in depth, requires a summative assessment, which takes the form of objective questioning to ascertain if the learner has gained clearly defined knowledge base and a practical skill test to ascertain if the learner is able to perform effective first aid. This assessment is a defined pass or fail. All learners on our NVQ program are measured by performance criteria which define the context for assessment laid down by the accrediting bodies, and both formative and summative criteria-based assessments are used. This allows the assessor to give students feedback on their development and on areas that may require further attention and also to observe when they have reached occupational competency. All assessment processes must first start with an initial assessment. Black and William (1998) suggest that this initial assessment (for learning) focuses on the gap between where a learner is in their learning, and where they need to be. This assessment is a good starting point to discover what skills your learner has and to direct them to the next stage. I carry out an initial assessment on candidates undertaking NVQ training. This is used as a tool to develop an individual learning plan for them. During this assessment process we would ask the candidates to complete different forms and questionnaires in order to gather the information for their plan. This would include a numeracy and literacy test to judge their level of skills and to ascertain if they will need to be referred for extra help and a learning styles questionnaire so that we can tailor any training towards their preferred learning style. Initial assessment can also be used informally at the beginning of a course as a tool to establish learners existing knowledge and expectations. This information can be used to bias the teaching towards the needs of the learners and also focus the learning towards the learners’ expectations. Other types of assessment can be used to judge whether a learner has made progress such as self-assessment. This is where the student reflects upon their own progress and assesses their own development and achievements made during their learning journey; or it can be a peer-assessment, where the learners peers (who are on the same learning journey) assess the learners developments and achievements through observation of their practice during the journey; or third party, which is where another person not on the learning journey, assesses the learners progress by examining how they have put the knowledge/ skills they have learnt into practice, (these would be a supervisor or manager). Assessment can occur in a number of ways including observation, watching and evaluating the learners progress which works well for practical skills-based courses; written questions to gain an understanding of the learners knowledge in their own words, although this can discriminate against those whose written English skills are less developed; Multiple Choice questionnaires, again this is to assess their understanding of the taught material, and ensures equal opportunities for everyone as it is suitable for those who may be concerned about their writing / spelling or who may be nervous. Please see assignment 8. 3. 6 record keeping in regard to assessment record keeping. REFERENCES Black, Paul, William, Dylan (October 1998). Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment. Phi Beta Kappan. Available at http://www. pdkintl. org/kappan/kbla9810. htm. Marshall B. (2006) Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector BTEC Level 3 Edexcel Limited London (page 81) Wikipedia (2009) Assessment (online) available at http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Assessment accessed on 11/12 Oct 09Ã'Ž

Childrens Rights Of Protection And Participation Young People Essay

Childrens Rights Of Protection And Participation Young People Essay This research paper focuses on the childrens rights and the participation that the children have in their implementation. It is every childs right to have a say on the things that affects its life. However, some children are either too young or too truant to make solid decisions. This research paper discusses on these rights and to what extent that the children can decide on their way of life. Child Rights on decision making Children have the same rights as adults. As a vulnerable group, children have particular rights that recognize their special need for protection and also that help them develop their full potential. Children are not helpless objects of charity or a property of their parents. They are recognized as human beings and the subjects of their own rights. A child is an individual, a family and community member with rights and appropriate responsibilities for his or her age and development stage. Children should enjoy the basic qualities of life as rights rather than privileges accorded to them (CRC, 2006) Every child whether a boy or girl irrespective of age is unique and has value importance as a person with a right for their human dignity to be respected. It has a right to have a say in all decisions and matters that concern him or her, to be listened to and his or her opinion taken seriously (CRIN, 2002). This will enhance understanding and mutual respect between children and adults. The participation of children protects them more effectively from abuse and exploitation. When we understand and respect childrens own experiences, we are able to create better protection mechanisms and the children themselves can act as active agents in their own protection. This helps to develop and build recognition of children as independent bearers of rights with a sense of identity and a positive implication for their self esteem (CRIN, 2002). Childrens rights are defined in a wide spectrum of economic, civil, political and social rights. These rights have been labeled as the right to protection and right to empowerment. Some of these rights are: Right to provision: Children have a right to be provided with a good standard of living, education and services, health care and a right to play. These include access to schooling, a balanced diet and a warm bed to sleep in. They also have a right to be protected from neglect, abuse, discrimination and exploitation (CRC, 2006) Children also have a right to participation. They have a right to their own programs and services and to take part in them. This includes decision making and involvement in libraries. Some rights allow children to grow up healthy and free. This include; Freedom of speech, Freedom of thought, Freedom from fear, Freedom of choice and to make decisions and Ownership over ones body. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) provides a framework for addressing not only rights to child protection care and adequate provision, but also for participation. A child who is capable of making his or her own views shall be assured by the parties of the state a right to express them freely (CRC, 2006) The views of the child are given weight according to the maturity and age of the child. A child can participate in the sense of taking part or being present or participate in the sense of knowing that ones actions are taken note of and may be acted upon. The extent to childrens participation will vary between and within societies (CRC, 2006) There has been a clash between the childrens protection and participation rights. Protection rights protect the children against exploitation and abuse for the best interest of the child while in participatory rights; children take part in decisions concerning their lives and a right to freedom of conscious and to hold an opinion. Adults and their childrens views may not always coincide. Many childrens wishes and views are ignored by the adults for the best interest of the child. For instance; (CRC) Every child is entitled to acquire a name and a nationality. All children registration should be upon birth. The childs name, birth date and parents names are recorded. When a child is given a name at birth, he or she is not given an opportunity to choose a name for himself or herself. The parents do this for the best interests of the child (CRC). The child may however, decide to change its name upon reaching the age of maturity. In this case the child is denied a right to participate in choosing its name at first but at later stages of development; the same child can participate in the same by changing to its desired name (CRC). A child has a right to be protected from all forms of punishment or discrimination regardless of their age, race, sex, religion, status, their expressed opinions, activities and beliefs of the family members. As much as a child has a right to religion, to express their opinion, or equality regardless of their age, these are sometimes restricted by their parents or legal guardians. For instance, a child is not at liberty to join a religion cult without the parents interference. It is not because the child is denied its freedom to worship but its for the best interest of the child (CRC). Children also have a right to get and share information and to express them. In exercising this right, they are supposed to be careful not to damage themselves or the freedoms, rights and reputations of others. They may share information through talking, writing or drawing. A childs wishes may be ignored if it is for the best of the child. For instance, a child may be denied the right to express dislike or hatred towards a particular person by hauling insults at the person. On the same, the child may be restricted on the manner of expression. For instance through shouting or screaming or demanding instead of asking politely (CRC). Children have a right of association. They have a right to meet and to join groups and organizations. Not all groups joined by children are acceptable by their parents or guardians; this brings a clash between the childrens right of association and prevention of joining them. Children are also restricted from joining into these groups if they stop other people from enjoying their rights. For instance a rioting group which will probably cause peace disturbance to others, or an outlawed group will not be acceptable that the children join (CRC). Children have a right to privacy. They are protected from attacks in their way of life, their name, families and homes. However, their way of life can be invaded by their parents or guardians if its for their best interests, for instance, when parents suspect that the child may be involved in drugs or other unlawful activities they may be forced to ransack the childs room or personal effects (CRC). Its a right for the children to access information. This they get through the radio, newspapers, television, internet and childrens books. They have a right to choose what kind of information they would like to access and in which manner. However, not all information is suitable or helpful to them (CRC). Most of the information provided by the mass media especially the radio, television and internet is unsuitable to children. It may contain violence, obscenity or strong language. Since these are harmful to the children they dont have a right over them and so their parents or guardians have to protect the children from such by deciding on what is good or bad for them. The parents also have to protect on what their children browse on the internet since they can access pornography or sites with violence which are harmful to the child (CRC). It is a childs right to live with its parents. The child can however be separated from the parents when the conditions are not favorable for the child. Such conditions may be neglect or abuse by the parents or separation by the parents hence the state has to decide on which parent has to live with the child. If the child has no parents the state decides on a home or an institution for the child to live. In this case the child may not have much of a say in the choice of who to live with. Sometimes children run away from their birth homes to live with their relatives or even live on the streets. This may be as a result of poverty or rebellion. The best interests of the child are considered first before the child is taken back to its parents home (CRC). Conclusion Children have a right to participate in decisions that shape their life and therefore should be given a chance to express their own opinion. However, this right is only exercised considering the maturity and the best interest of the child. Not all decisions that a child makes will be supported by their parents or guardians. For instance, a child cannot make a decision not to go school. For the best interests of the child the child will be forced to attend school.

Teen Alcohol Abuse Essay -- essays research papers

Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are not only adult problems. They also affect many teens between the ages of 12 and 18, even though drinking under the age of 19 is illegal. The topic of alcohol first came up when I was in grade 8 and became even more popular in high school. In high school alcohol was more readily available thanks to absent-minded parents who didn’t hide their alcohol and older students willing to make some quick cash by selling to minors. While some parents may feel relieved that their teen is â€Å"only† drinking, it is important to remember that alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug. Not only does alcohol affect the mind and body in unpredictable ways, but teens lack the judgment and coping skills to handle alcohol wisely. Some teenagers are brought up with the attitude that drinking is pure evil. But most of the time this just causes rebellious behavior and makes them want to try it even more, and once they try it they could possibly get addicted. According to associate professor Deborah Deas and assistant professor Suzanne Thomas from the Medical University of South Carolina, more senior high school students use alcohol than any other drug. Once a teenager gets completely smashed they are likely to do it again. Why? Well they will tell you that it’s fun, unless of course they had a really bad experience while drunk. The teens that do have fun will most likely continue drinking. Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others will develop a dependency, possibly moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others. Sometimes drinking once a week can lead to 4 times a week or more, as I have witnessed wi... ...anti-social personality disorder. These problems can make a person very addicted to drinking because they already have an imbalance of chemicals in their brain. This is especially true for teens because they are still developing and are prone to chemical imbalances. Teens should realize that drinking does not make them cool or help them fit in. Alcohol use is associated with a variety of negative consequences, including increased risk of serious drug use later in life, school failure, and poor judgment puts teens at risk for accidents, violence, unplanned and unsafe sex, and suicide. So what can be done The message is clear: The longer children and teens delay alcohol use, the less likely they are to develop any problems associated with it. That’s why it is so important for parents to inform their children about alcohol and to discuss the topic frequently.

Rin Tin Tin :: essays research papers

The Dynasty and Legacy of Rin Tin Tin Some twelve thousand years ago, in what is now the Jordan Valley of Israel, a middle-aged man of the Natufian civilization died. When modern archaeologists excavated his tomb, they found that he had been buried with one hand lying on a puppy that had been buried with him. According to the archaeologists, that tomb shows that the very first animal domesticated by the human race was the dog, which was mankind's hunting companion and pet since ancient times (Edelson, 28). In the catacombs of Hollywood we uncover another representative of this great canine legacy – a dog named Rin Tin Tin. He was one of the first animal â€Å"stars† beloved to not one man but to millions of fans around the world. This entertainment great changed Hollywood and acted as a guide and example for successive animal celebrities. Rin Tin Tin showed the world that an animal could be just as big of a star as a human. This was one of the ironic truths for those working with â€Å"Rinty† as they used to call him. He would always steal the show from his human counterparts. Rinty was a strong influence to many future animal stars such as Lassie and Bengi. Rinty made dogs and other animals hero’s in the hearts of the people. He gave people an appreciation for animals all over the world. Even though Rinty helped other species of animal actors break through he was the biggest influence on other dogs in the film industry. Rin Tin Tin did have a predecessor. One of the greatest of those before Rin Tin Tin was a German shepherd named Strongheart. Director Larry Trimble decided in 1920 that a series of films starring a heroic dog would be a profitable venture and so the first dog star was made (Rothel, 152). A three-year-old German shepherd named Etzel von Oeringen, born of champion stock in Germany and trained to kill for military purposes was trained to be an actor in American motion pictures. Etzel von Oeringen, soon named Strongheart, became a star in a 1921 epic titled â€Å"The Silent Call†. Strongheart played a dog that was half wolf and that was more intelligent than its human owners. In this film Strongheart saved the life of a woman and managed to get her married, all while raising a family of his own.

The Juxtaposition of the Normal and the Abominable How do the Authors :: English Literature

The Juxtaposition of the Normal and the Abominable How do the Authors illustrate this description of World War One? Pay Particular attention to the Details they Highlight and the Methods and Language they Used to do so? 'The Juxtaposition of the Normal and the Abominable' How do the Authors illustrate this description of World War One? Pay Particular attention to the Details they Highlight and the Methods and Language they Used to do so? 'In the trenches behind the lines, men and women struggled to hold on or recreate fragments of an ordinary life - a letter from home, a pot of jam, a kiss - to remind them of their own humanity'à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Today I saw pictures of Britain's brave soldiers leave for war in Iraq. As a nation we are able to watch a war unfold before us in a way never experienced before. The constant pictures of the death, destruction and disgraceful nature of war help people to see the atrocities of war. In many wars of the past the horrors of war have not been available to the public due to censorship and less communication; I draw a contrast to the British people in World War One who also watched their soldiers leave in glory to fight a war with a dream of seeing the world and the glory of war, armed with little more than the old lie 'Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori'. Whilst with such vivid images of 'our boys' it is hard for us to forget about the men who are fighting, in World War One so many soldiers left with aspirations to see the world and got as far as France - their destiny to die in a muddy field. The Iraqi people today are experiencing a new and dangerous life as their nation is gripped with war. One thing often forgotten about as we watch on BBC News24 is that people are still living in Baghdad and life goes on for Iraqi people. Ben Macintyre in 'A Foreign Field' depicts how the lives of the peoples of France continued as their nation, like Iraq, was ravaged by war: Ben Macintyre cleverly highlights the way that, whilst the war brought such horror to the people of Villeret, life still continued and there was some form of normality. Normally Macintyre uses a quote from a diary or record to bring meaning to help his audience understand how people felt. The book has a journalistic style and, as with journalism, the author tends to stick to facts; for most of the book Macintyre's style is descriptive but largely unromantic.

Education and its effect on Life

Geting instruction is one of the most critical facets of a individuals life. It should be seen every bit critical as the air we breathe. The root to keeping a strong wisdom and being an extraordinary individual is larning. â€Å" Without instruction, you ‘re non traveling anyplace in this universe † is a celebrated quotation mark by Malcolm X. His quotation mark reiterates that the competitory universe makes it indispensable for us to hold a proper instruction since it will function as our arm to suppress the universe. Education will assist a individual grow as an person because a extremely knowing individual will hold a better clasp on managing any job that comes his or her manner. Literacy is the foundation of what we are as persons. Every determination we make, every bit good as our idea procedure, is the footing of what we know. Deriving cognition gives us pleasance every bit good as encouragements our morale. Education should be portion of everyone ‘s life bec ause it is one of the most cherished ownerships a individual could of all time hold since that can open doors and ease the tract for future accomplishment and economic successes. However, many Americans are faced with many hurdlings along the manner that they need to get the better of. One of the hurdlings that we encounter with instruction is the manner school is perceived by people. Americans have lost their desire to larn ; really frequently we hear phrases like, â€Å" school is tiring † or â€Å" school is a batch of work, † among pupils. Children in school today would much prefer to be someplace else. These pupils would instead be out with their friends or cavort around their place or anyplace but be in school. Now, when in school, they fail to retrieve the chief ground why they are at that place. Thus, many pupils avoid school and sometimes do non trouble oneself to demo up at all. Harmonizing to the U. S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics, for every twenty nine seconds, another pupil bails out on school. This comes to over one million American high school pupils ‘ retreating from school every twelvemonth. The deficiency of motive and household values, every bit good as pupil duty, has created this crisis in the instruction system. In add-on, deficient support of schools along with quality instructors that are retiring are some of the jobs we encounter in the instruction system. In some parts of the United States, there is a deficiency of equal entree to stuffs for reading and composing due to budget restraints. In Allen D. Kanner ‘s article, â€Å" Today ‘s Class Brought to You ByaˆÂ ¦ † he mentioned that with the babe boomers retiring, and a high turnover among new pedagogues, who are ordered to give direction on topics they are non decently trained for, are doing hard schoolroom state of affairss ( 280 ) . Similarly, Governor Jerry Brown ‘s statement last January 11 pointed out that K-12 instruction has ‘borne the brunt ‘ of the province ‘s budget cuts with more than $ 18 billion in cuts over the last three old ages. This resulted in larger category sizes, plans are cut, and over 30,000 pedagogues were laid away. These pedagogues are genuinely valuable to our c ommunity since they supply our kids with the information and the know-how that they can work with to better their fate and the fate of the whole existence. As a pupil, I have suffered the effects of ternary digit fee additions and the deficiency of available categories offered. The high cost of instruction has put the load non merely on the pupils, and many of their parents, but pedagogues, every bit good. Another major determiner that is partially responsible to the rational problems of Americans is poorness. Poverty is considered to be a serious at-risk factor, with more of the state ‘s kids confronting this quandary. Other determiners that may set these juvenile at-risk are unreliable vicinities, immature nonreader parents, unemployment along with deficient educational background. The phrase, â€Å" at-risk, † describes those kids, who are without a uncertainty, will neglect whether at school or life as a whole when sing their single state of affairss. In my experience while turning up, I noticed that pupils, who passed the fifth class and discontinue school to back up their household financially, are making a big uneducated labour force. Unfortunately, hapless households are more concerned with the basic necessities in life such as money and nutrient, instead than books to assist their head grow. Without money and resources needed, kids will go on to turn up to go anot her statistic of poorness. However, the fluctuation in the quality of instruction should non be dependent upon the wealth or deficiency thereof. Helping those destitute pupils will raise the degree of instruction available to them which in bend will let them to acquire a better paying occupation to better back up their households. On the other manus, it could be argued that Americans are non in serious rational problem because of the impact that engineering is making in our instruction system. If we take a expression at the history of instruction for the past 1000s of old ages, we may merely conceive of how personal computing machines could hold impacted the educational system. When proficient cognition and right acquisition constructions are combined, proficient cognition will construct up their scholastic accomplishment. One manner that proficient cognition can assist pupils larn is by maintaining more pupils interested in the capable affair for longer periods of clip. Teenss and their parents believe that entree to the Internet improves the societal life and academic work of adolescents. For them, the usage of the Internet, for case, plays a cardinal function in their bonding with their friends, their households and their schools. Many younger people today are hooked to computing machines and advanced engin eering. This captivation may maintain them at a computing machine terminus larning about some topic instead than staying interested in a book or a talk. Technology in the instruction system has shaped the pupils and pedagogues in several practical techniques, among other things ocular field trips, proving tips, teacher resources, category web sites, and lesson programs. Adoption of engineering in schoolrooms should be foreseen as an plus instead than as a liability. Furthermore, state-of-the-art engineering must be available at schools in destitute vicinities since engineering can assist better their instruction system. Therefore, the significance of larning should ne'er be taken for granted. For illustration, an attention-getting definition of instruction in Wikipedia provinces, â€Å" Education encompasses both the instruction and acquisition of cognition, proper behavior, and proficient competence. † The higher the instruction a individual has, the greater opportunities of that individual set downing a better-paying occupation. With instruction, a individual can hold a successful life. It can supply people with information and cognition for acquiring a occupation and pursing their dreams. â€Å" Knowledge is power † says the famed painter Francis Bacon. Although, knowledge entirely is non plenty for person to win in life ; a individual should besides hold the accomplishments to be a leader, to be extremely educated and ne'er leave at the sight of a job. Educated people are looked upon for counsel. Education is besides your manner to your success. An ideal instruction will non be pos sible if one of these three constituents is losing ; they are: parents, pedagogues and pupils. The pupil, the parent, and the pedagogue should ever cabal to develop and set up a unflawed academic program. I genuinely believe that my success is dependent on the picks that I make in life and the people that influence me turning up.

Addiction as A Lifestyle

For several decades, health issues have increased by more than 8.5% each year. According to a recent study conducted by the center for Disease Control and Prevention, 65% of US adults are either overweight or obese. The rate of diabetes are increasing in the United States, with a 27 percent increase seen in the last five years. The high cost of health care also poses a major threat to the nation's economy. However, health problems can be prevented to a large extent by controlling people's lifestyle. Group discussions and conversations may help people to adopt a healthy way of living. Therefore, Cybernetics which is the study of conversation/communication and control/regulation can be used to help solve this problems. This study aims at using cybernetics as a model for controlling health problems.AddictionIn developed countries of the world like USA, where the literacy rate is above 95%, people know that leading a healthy lifestyle removes the risk of chronic health issues to a considerable margin. However they most times do not adopt a healthy way of living.   Why? Addiction has ruined the healthy life style of people. For example- people may be addicted to sleeping and do not exercise, addicted to eating foods with high calories that causes them obesity and make them prone to heart problems. Addiction is a condition in which a consistent desire/craving to repeat an addicted behavior exceeds the ability to rationally stop doing so. When the more you have, the more you seem to need to achieve the same effect or result. This effect can be displayed as a positive feedback loop where the want continues expanding within the loop.Some background about feedback loops – Feedback loops are of two forms: negative feedback loop and positive feedback loop. Negative feedback loops strives towards balance and stasis by subtracting error with each cycle. A good example of negative feedback loop is homeostasis, the body's system for keeping itself chemically and temperature balanced. Positive feedback loops, by comparison, add the variations of each cycle. As a result they can become potentially dangerous as their effect mount with each event. Hypothermia, shock, heatstroke are examples of positive feedback.Figure-1 models addiction (nicotine addiction) as a positive feedback. The desire for smoking continues to increase in the loop for achieving the same level of satisfaction. The first day, Bob needs to smoke once and get satisfied. The second day, he needs to smoke twice to get the same level of satisfaction. Gradually, his cravings and urge to smoke increases along with the frequency.Controlling the Uncontrollable(addiction)The graph above (Figure-1) indicates how the addiction continue to expand in a positive feedback loop. Also, Bateson's examination of alcohol addiction contended that the very attempt to regain discretion, to be a â€Å"commander of one's own spirit†, added to the heightening of the alcoholism. Moreover, the Twelve Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous-which has been effectively adjusted to a huge number of addictive practices, offers recuperation by â€Å"surrendering† that is, by stopping to deliberately try to stop the addiction. Subsequently, the person who is addicted does not have an essential variety to control addiction. At the point when Addiction becomes uncontrollable, how can it be controlled? Ludwig's research on Alcoholics mind demonstrates that â€Å"developing the right mind frame† (sufficient inspiration) for sobriety improves the probability that an individual can figure out how to resist his addiction .Sufficient inspiration or adequate motivation can solve the puzzle of addiction as an uncontrollable event. The diagram beneath demonstrates the cybernetic approach to deal with controlling health issues by inspiring individuals to follow a sound way of life (work out, yoga, healthy food and so on.), that is abstaining from an unhealthy way of life. Reward/Incentive SystemPeople have various needs including monetary needs, physiological needs, safety needs and esteem needs. An individual can be motivated for performing an activity using proper incentives which may help in fulfilling some of his needs. A reward system could be a web application like Weight Watchers or an organization such as a health club. Below is a model of an incentive system used in motivating a person to exercise regularly. The model also shows that the system can keep refining or modifying the incentive system to make sure that the user is always motivated.Group Affiliation/FriendsGroups, friends and circle of relatives assist in controlling addictions and regulating the manner people live. People develop trust, care and similarity in a group that offer intellectual strength for controlling their cravings. It has additionally been proved that the group association programs offer long- term remedy for addiction in comparison to short-term remedy provided through medication therapy. Self-assist programs like Alcoholics anonymous, rational healing or women for Sobriety, assist in gaining control over addiction through assisting the affected person to integrate into a self-assist group. TrustTrust is a system-related concept and that is a constantly evolving state of information acquisition, processing and feedback. Figure-4 demonstrates the system model of trust between two actors (trustor and trustee). The trustor continually accesses the behavior of the trustee against his mental model of trustworthiness, which results in increased trust if the behavior matches with his mental model otherwise decreased trust. Trustworthiness relies on three variables which relate to perception about the person to be relied on: competence, integrity and benevolence. ‘Competence' is the perceived potential of the trustee, as measured through indicators which includes training or credentials, experience, and reliable past performance. ‘Integrity' is the degree to which the trustee is considered to perform with honesty, fairness, and consistency of actions and words. ‘Benevolence' concerns the extent to which the trustee demonstrates care and consideration for people he or she interacts directly or indirectly.In addition to the above-recognized antecedent variables, trust also relies on the ‘context' within which the trustor and trustee are embedded. It could affect the extent to which the trustee is rated on antecedent variables particularly competence. For instance, a person may be perceived as competent in one context but no longer in another. Furthermore, it is essential to differe ntiate between Interactions among unfamiliar others and ongoing interactions among familiar others for trust. In a social system, trust could be unidirectional or bi-directional. Also, trust may be commutative.After the developement of trust, the trustor (Alice) feels confident and becomes willing to take actions based on the suggestions, actions and decisions of the trustee (Bob) to an extent proportional to the trust level in the trustee. Now, when Bob says that he controlled his blood sugar level by following the recipes from the diabetic cook-book, Alice feels confident the same recipes in the diabetic cook-book works and she is now motivated to follow them too. It also gives her a social proof of the reliability of the recipes from the diabetic cook-book. Figure-6 is the conversation model of this trust and social proof scenario between Alice and Bob.CareCare is also a continously evolving state of information aquisition, processing and feedback.Similarity, trust, understanding and reciprocity make the important variables. It is also dependent on context and familiarity/relationship between individuals. Below is a figure which shows a model of care between Alice and Bob and how care helps them for abstinence. Bob's behavior is matched to Alice's mental model of a person she would like to care for. If there is a positive match,then the care for Bob increases otherwise it decreases. When there is a match, she cares about what Bob's expectations are from her. She feels a sense of responsibility/accountability for Bob's expectations because she does not want to disappoint him. Similarly, Bob also does a behavior assessment of Alice against a mental model of a person she would like to care for. Its also important to note that both may have different perceptions or mental models of the persons they may like to care for. Also, care may be unidirectional as well. Now when Bob makes a suggestion to Alice about losing weight, she feels responsible/ accountable for losing weight as she cares about Bob. Similarly, Bob feels responsible/accountable for not smoking when Alice asks him to quit smoking.

Exploratory essay

There are many students that excel in reading and writing but moieties there are writing challenges that even they come upon on. And with approaching them, are their minds in the most activeness that they can be in? This begins a question of if students were to emphasize all these habits they already have, will that achieve themselves a fuller active mind with greater flexibility in their reading and writing? And is this an idea that all students should be taking an advantage of.Every year we have all these new students entering into their college lives ready to stretch their knowledge and learn all these new techniques in school. Taking with them, everything that have learned in high school and beginning to build more on those things. Learning how to approach all these different challenges and growing towards becoming more intellectual in their writings. But before they can begin to approach these things, they need to find where they stand in reading and writing.To know how well the ir abilities are and what is it that they need to begin working on so that they are ready for the bigger writing challenges that will come before them. Knowing the habits of mind is what is going to help them understand here they stand it will help them improve and position themselves for every new writing assignment they encounter. In high school these habits of mind criteria helped me understand more about where I stand in reading and writing.The habits of mind include things like curiosity and openness where you want to know more and begin to approach things in different ways. This helps me understand that in high school, curiosity and openness is what helped motivated me to seek for answers and explore new ways to find the connections and information I needed. Having engagement and creativity is what gave me that sense to build on the new things I learned and begin to approach things differently.My ability in high school with persistence and responsibility gave me a constant nee d to keep on trying and share my ideas with others and acted upon them. And lastly, the habits of mind include habits of flexibility and metrification. Flexibility helped me recognize different situations and helped me learn how to approach them and metrification is what helped me reflect on everything to improve on the newer things. Knowing these habits of mind criteria has helped me understand what my threaten are and what are the things I need more strength in.We all have different abilities in reading and writing and there are always certain areas that we can improve in. After learning what these habits of minds are, it has shown me that I can become a great writer and I know the places I need to improve on. I do believe that these habits are the pinpoints of becoming a great writer and if we emphasize these points, then it can only bring a bigger improvement for every student in college. It's a foundation that can help people improve in their reading and writing skills and help them have a broaden mind.

Belonging †The crucible and Mean Girls Essay

Belonging has a very strong impact on not only yourself but the people surrounding you. Some people feel the need to belong so strongly because of the attitudes of others and as a result people can change in negative ways driving them into negative situations. ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller and ‘Mean girls’ by Mark Waters, both explore the negative impacts caused by the need to belong so strongly. In ‘The Crucible’, Arthur Miller explores the key idea of belonging through the characters and the community of Salem. Salem was a community of a very religious upbringing and a very strict standard of living. This play was set in the 1950s and during this period there was a lot of talk and rumour about witchcraft. Arthur Miller used this play as a hidden irony of the cold war that was happening around the same time Arthur constructed this play. He wanted people to be aware of the cold war and McCarthysim, so he used this play. Proctor is a character that is highly respected by the community, but his choices led him into a negative situation, such as the affair with Abigail and because of this he had to fight against the court and the community for what he believed. He gets so angry and fustarted with Abigail accusing him and his wife Elizebeth of witchcraft that he takes her to court and fights against her. â€Å"It (Abigail) is a whore!† The dialog here symbolises proctors frustration towards Abigail by calling her a whore. Beacause of Abigials decision to sleep with proctor just to feel the need to belong had impacted on Proctor so negatively, therefore the need to belong can have a negative impact on others.   

The Excellent Consuting Group Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Excellent Consuting Group - Coursework Example The revenue of product X5 was fairly stable but low, while that of X7 was extremely low but exceptionally stable for the year 2011 and would be low up to 2015. Profit Like the revenue performance, X5 and X6 products meet the profit threshold while X7 continue to make losses. It is below bar to a tune of -$31million dollars. Total Income The breakeven point for the three products is determined by the fixed costs, selling price and the number of units sold. The total sales in 2015 reduced compared to sales realized in 2015. Similarly, the total revenue reduced. Since the fixed and R&D costs remained constant, the average profitability reduced from 10% to 4%. X5 income The sales and revenue reduced in 2015 as compared to 2014 showing a great reduction from 3% to 1% profitability. The fixed and R&D costs remained high. X6 income The revenue and sales reduced by almost half in 2015 as compared to 2014. The profits also reduced from 16% to 10%. R&D costs were higher compared to the other p roducts. X7 income This product realized increased revenues since sales went up. In contrast to the other products, variable costs increased while the total profits went up. The product was making losses but well performing when compared to Product X5 and X6. Market Information Sales The sales for product X6 was exceptionally on the rise from the year 2011 and 2013 but gradually reduced from the 2013 to 2015. ... Product Performance X6 is highly performing in the market when compared to X5and X7. However, X5 is reducing in performance while X7 has stable performance. Market Report 2011 X5 Market Report The installed customer base of product X5 shows an increase from 2014 to 2015. The number of remaining customers has reduced while market saturation increased from 37% to 41%. First time customers reduced while repeat sales increased. X6 Market Report The installed customer base of product X6 shows an increase from 2014 to 2015. The number of remaining customers was exhausted while market saturation increased from 90% to 100%. First time customers reduced to zero while repeat sales increased. X7 Market Report The installed customer base of product X7 shows an increase from 2014 to 2015. The number of remaining customers has reduced while market saturation remained at 3%. First time customers and repeat sales increased. Proposed Alternative Strategy Suppose the prices of X5, X6 and X7 products a re set at price $400, $360 and $200 respectively. Also by apportioning the research and development (R&D) allocations as follows; X5(25%), X6(40%), and X7(30%). The cumulative profits for 2012 will be 192,479,522. The X5 is less expensive than other similar products in the market. X6 sales are in the growth phase of the product lifecycle. The majority of X6 customers have not yet purchased the product. The X5 compares more favorably with other tablets in the category. The cumulative profits for 2013 are 463,673, 489. The decisions for 2014 will be effective if X7 handheld is priced higher than competing products and is in the growth phase. There are many X7 customers remaining in the market. Most of the customers for the X7

MAE504case3 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MAE504case3 - Research Paper Example This is identical to theory derived deductively from grand theory, without assistance of data. This could end up fitting no data at all. Grounded theory addresses the controversies brought about by other theories especially the grand theory, which people claim, is identical to grounded theory. While grand theory may end up fitting no data especially if it does not gain data assistance, grounded theory depends on nothing and assures a complete dataset (Bryant & Charmaz, 2007). All research theories support grounded theory because they all fall under the same category. For example, grounded theory and grand theory are more or less the same because both of them address the issue of data. Both of them are employed in filling the databases from the outcomes established on the ground after an extensive research. Just, like the other research theories such as labeling and professionalism theories, grounded, theory takes a case other than viable perspective (Bryant & Charmaz, 2007). This makes differentiation of this perspective almost impossible. This shows that the researcher takes distinct cases to be complete, in which the variables interact as a unit to generate some outcomes. All the research theories employ case-oriented perspective in examining how variables interact. The primary notion of the grounded theory approach is to read a textual database like a corpus of field notes. This is done to identify or label variables mostly referred to as concepts, categories, and properties, as well as, their interrelationships (Bryant & Charmaz, 2007). The capability to distinguish variables and associations is called â€Å"theoretical sensitivity†. This is influenced by the numeral of things engrossing a person’s reading of literature and his employment of techniques structured to facilitate compassion. This means that the methodological approach to grounded theory is through theoretical sensitivity. It is

Use of Robot in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Use of Robot in Business - Essay Example From this paper it is clear that robots are performing task allocation and bridge building work which can be compared with the algorithms of ants. For this purpose swarm bot has been implemented in the business industry. Swarm bot is nothing but the collection of simple robots which are using to carry heavy weighted objects and these are also helpful in planetary exploration and search & rescue operations. This essay outlines that robots are used in manufacturing cars. Apart from that it is used in many other types of electronic goods which are used for domestic purposes. For example this is used in vacuum cleaner which is required to clean the rooms. Now the automobile manufacturing companies and the vacuum cleaner manufacturing companies are using these robotic equipments in a wide range so that they can provide improved item to its customers. In the hospital business and in the medicine field robot plays a very important role. For example – Neuro Arm is such kind of robotic equipment which can do both biopsy-stereotaxy and micro surgery. This will bring success to generate more business in a modern hospita. Foxconn, the famous i-phone manufacturing company in Taiwan expanded the automation in its manufacturing plants and is going to implement more than one million robots in next three years for improving the productivity. There are so many benefits for using robot in the busi ness activities. Robot can increase the quality of products and services. It can improve the standard of supplier materials; create more efficient and effective manufacturing units and plants.

Employees' Access to the Internet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Employees' Access to the Internet - Essay Example It is clear from the discussion, an organization must allow its employees to use the Internet freely but it must implement strict measures to deal with security issues. According to Australia’s one of the major communications companies, Telstra, there has been a three-fold increase in Australian employers limiting the access of their workers to social network sites in the space of 10 months. In fact, throughout the same duration the total number of URLs usually permissible while working has reduced by approximately 60%. (Davidsson) gives an interesting response to the facts by saying that â€Å"organizations should not block their employee’s Internet usage, not even social networking sites.† No doubt, limiting the employee’s access to the Internet can bring in full of nasty worms and a wide variety of security threats. In view of the fact that the needs of a professional workforce can cause anger and augment valuable turnovers however, limiting the employe es’ access to the Internet access can also decrease efficiency by making difficult or interrupting execution as well as completion of organizational activities. In fact, companies restricting employees’ access to the Internet specifically social networking sites will also cause a risk of preceding online networking chances, identifying critical agreements, leads and take delivery of appropriate industry news (Davidsson). In addition, (Davidsson) discusses the viewpoints of various researchers such as the research carried out by Dr Brent Coker while working at the University of Melbourne showed that employees who make use of the Internet just for enjoyment and entertainment at work within a realistic limit of approximately 20% of their total time they spent in the office are more fruitful and active by approximately 9% as compared to those who don’t have these facilities. Additionally, Coker also says that employees need to zone out for a bit to retrieve their at tention. In this scenario, small and self-effacing breaks for instance a rapid surf of the Internet, allows the brain to rest itself, and as a result leading to a higher total net attentiveness for a days’ work, and consequently, greater than before output.† Certainly, companies must take care of their resources and confirm that their employees make use of the Internet for work as intended. In fact, an organization does not just permit its workers to have full Internet access, close its eyes and hope for the best. According (Davidsson), â€Å"an organization must put into practice formal policies on the use of social networking sites in the place of work and the suitable and efficient software tools that help maintain those policies† (Davidsson). Many researches show that if organizations do not stop their employees from using the Internet, employees with unlimited and unnecessary Internet access will misuse their lots of precious time and open the network to vir uses, spyware and a wide variety of other security threats. On the other hand, an organization cannot just disconnect from the world. In this scenario, there is need to implement a set of rules and regulations in order to ensure effective use of the Internet. In addition, it must establish suitable use strategies, choosing and implementing security technology, and finding the way to deal with ethical and legal concerns.  

W11DBBCCDiscDQ1 and DQ2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

W11DBBCCDiscDQ1 and DQ2 - Essay Example The CAPM can be calculated using the following formula: Risk and return have a positive relationship. Securities that have higher risks will generate higher profits. Risk adverse investors prefer investment options with low or cero risk such as Treasury bills. The rate of return of common stocks is higher than Treasury bills due to the higher risks associated with common stocks. The value of a firm can be estimated using financial models such as the dividend discount model (Nyu). There are various factors that determine the risks of a project. Three of those factors are location of the project, timeline requirements, and quality of the labor provided by the project manager and team members. The funding available for a project is another variable that influences the success of a project. Projects that have unlimited funding have a greater chance of success than under funded projects. A major financial decision companies make is deciding the composition of the capital structure of the firm. Accountingformanagement.com (2011). The Use of Net Present Value (NPV) Method in Capital Budgeting Decisions – Discounted Cash Flows. Retrieved September 3, 2011 from

Market governmnet and orgainzations Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Market governmnet and orgainzations - Article Example The company’s board of directors’ decision to fire the CEO was not prudent since it led to the disintegrating of the entire board team. Merging with another firm and coming up with unique services would an ideal way out for the beta corp. company. The radical approach is quite pragmatic. The government’s decision to keep the company afloat is important in ensuring that all the obligations of the company are met. In the event f failure to meet such obligations, normally, the citizens that had subscribed to the insurance scheme would suffer losses. This would increase lead to depreciation in the economic growth, as the citizens would be struggling to bear the loss of insurance investment. The mixed liberal theoretical dimension also offers a good perspective of the situation. The government needs to keep the company afloat to ensure that all the company obligations are met. However, on the same note, the company ought to put in place a good and compete team of board of governors to oversee the management process of the company. Firing of the company’s CEO may not have been a prudent idea, but it offered a perfect chance for the government to appoint new members into the team of the board of directors. Such a team would develop a strategy to efficiently maintain the company and keep things working perfectly. According to this perspective, the board of directors appointed for this company ought to competent and capable of critically analyzing a situation in place. The board members should be people with experience and skills on the management of companies of this nature. The members should be professionals capable of making independent decisions. Ideally, the board must fulfill its primary role of strategic planning for the company. Such plans should be made on long term basis, and should be aimed at uplifting the company and making it emerge among the topmost companies. The radical approach may also adopt a

What are the main differences between contract and tort Essay

What are the main differences between contract and tort - Essay Example A contract can be in verbal or written form but the most important thing is that there would be an agreement especially between two parties. On the other hand, a tort law can be described as a civil wrong not arising from a contract and in the case of negligence, one should owe due consideration to one’s neighbour (Capiro Industries vs. Dickman 1990). According to the European labour laws, both the worker and the employee are bound by certain statutory regulations that would ensure that no party will breach the agreed contract. With regards to employment contracts, there ought to be written agreement which binds the two parties to honour their contractual obligations which can be enforceable in the court of law should one party defaults. Thus, as noted, a contract can be loosely defined as an agreement between two parties and these can be individuals or even organisations. One peculiar aspect of a contract is that one party offers to do In a contract, there is an agreement of offer and acceptance between two parties concerned and should any party defaults, then it is called breach of contract. It is against this background that the court of law intervenes to ensure that justice prevails so as to avoid unfavorable gain by another party on behalf of the other. Basically, the court would come in so as to protect the interests of the consumer or the second party especially in the case where there is bargaining of powers. Consumers in most cases are not choosers of the terms by which they would be bound in a contract hence the intervention of the courts. Thus, it can be noted that contracts are especially concerned with the enforcement of bargains. This is aptly shown in the case of Williams v Roffey Bros & Nicholls Contractors Ltd [1990] 1 All ER 512. Whilst Williams has been subcontracted and a payment of 20 000 pounds promised to be paid in installments, the contract was however silent on the period and

Ford vertical integration 2013 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ford vertical integration 2013 - Article Example The California based Automakers feels that it is an inevitable necessity for the company to supply its own batteries if it has to remain on track with its much aggressive long-term strategic objectives. Mr. Musk told the analysts about the company’s ambitious plans of selling approximately 500000 units annually when it begins selling Generation III cars (White, 2013). However their biggest concern was lack of steady supply of batteries which could meet this demand. There is no doubt that Mr. Musk’s idea emulates the one time vertical integration idea of Henry Ford which saw the birth of Ford Rouge factory complex which ensured steady supply of steal which was one of the raw materials for the giant automaker in the 20th century. White (2013) assert that Despites its current ebb state the Rouge complex has been instrumental to the company for several years. If Telsa will realize its dream of backward vertical integration whereby it could convert raw materials into finished battery packs for its automobiles then the company will be in a position to compete effectively through cost control and scheduled production. White, J. (2013). An Idea Henry Ford Would Be Proud Of: Tesla’s ‘Giga Factory’. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 11, 2013 from:

The Texas Rangers and the Mexican Revolution Essay Example for Free

The Texas Rangers and the Mexican Revolution Essay This is the most comprehensive collection of The Texas Rangers during the Mexican revolution that has been published. Charles Harris III and Louis Sadler share the details behind this unstable period by uncovering the views and actions of the Rangers during the highest point of border violence up until that time. The Rangers remain as one of the most recognized law enforcement agencies in the United States. In the ten year span of 1910-1920, Texas was involved in a lot of turmoil around the border of The United States and Mexico. These were the years of the Mexican revolution and the increasing racial tensions between Anglos and Hispanics often resulted in bloodshed. They played important roles at various battles and established a fearsome reputation. The Texas Rangers are often portrayed as the last stand of defense between the good and the bad; rugged men with enough ice water in their veins to fuel their souls. After reading this book, one’s perspective of the Texas Rangers, and the myths that surround them, may soon change. Rangers were also cold-hearted angry law men who seemed to have a serious grudge against Hispanics and Mexicans who resided in Texas. They appeared to possess a â€Å"what are you going to do about it† mentality. Harris and Sadler are faithful to history and attempt to stick to the facts by being informative as they review the disorder and terror of the Mexican revolution. They suggest that men who joined the Rangers did not change as a whole, but the public’s perception of them did. The Texas Rangers were first called into service as the governor’s personal bodyguards and would remain answerable to the head of the state. The relationship between the two entities resulted in a history infused with politics. Every new administration would lead to a shift in leadership and Ranger personnel. It was near impossible for a man to rise through the ranks of the organization without having an alliance with the current party in office. It was the governor who ultimately determined how The Rangers would function. The Force continued to be dominated by politics until 1935, when The Department of Public Safety was created, taking the Rangers away from the governor. Ironically, Harris and Sadler suggest it was the Mexican Revolution that ultimately saved the Texas Rangers. Between 1910 and 1920, the strain between the United States and Mexico was explosive and despite their affiliation with the governor’s office, legislators were reluctant to spend large amounts of money on the organization, meaning Ranger pay was poor. They had to furnish their own weapons, horses, and saddle. The low salaries dissuaded many quality men from enlisting and even fewer from making it a career. The Mexican Revolution helped usher in a new era for the Rangers. It reinvigorated their numbers. By 1918 the Force reached a high of one thousand men. The Mexican Revolution enabled them to continue as an independent agency. It also resulted in the most controversial event in the history of the Texas State Ranger Force known as the â€Å"Bandit War† of 1915 which resulted in a series of deadly executions. The two authors bring their extensive knowledge of the revolution to the forefront, detailing the events that led up to the conflict. Their discussion of the Plan de San Diego, an attempted revolt by Mexicans across the border, was truly terrifying. Rebels essentially wanted to ignite a race war. They encouraged Mexican nationals, Native Americans, Mexican-Americans, and African-Americans who were residing along the border to kill every white male sixteen years and older. The drastic move was seen as a â€Å"Hispanic struggle for social justice† (p. 212). Texas would become the primary focus of the rebels, and the Rangers were recruited after the plan was seized during the arrest of Plan de San Diego organizer Basilo Ramos, Jr. , in McAllen, Texas. The retaliation that followed resulted in a number of bloody shootouts, both just and unjust alike. The Plan de San Diego provided an excuse to both Anglos and Hispanics to settle scores and seize opportunities. The authors unveil how the backlash resulted in a wave of racism and the deaths of some three hundred Mexican nationals. Harris and Sadler bring light to little known historical events which seem to still affect relationships and feelings between both sides of the warring parties. For example, they suggest The Plan de San Diego was probably devised by supporters of Mexican rebel, Venustiano Carranza, in his homeland and not the town of San Diego, Texas. His motive was to divert the attention away from his rival Pancho Villa. In their attempts to maintain an accurate depiction of the organization, the authors do not cloud details to try and uphold any political or social agenda. They show how Mexicans felt justified in their struggle and how the Texas Rangers often misrepresented their own actions. One incident revolved around Captain William Warren Sterling of Hidalgo County. In his own memoirs, he made claims that he never shot, or even pistol-whipped a man. He wrote, â€Å"Throughout my lifetime, I have held a high regard and deep esteem for Latin Americans. Some of my best friends are members of that important segment of our citizenship† (p. 270). Yet, the writers published a claim that Sterling shot and killed, among others, an innocent Mexican boy accused of rape. They support the assertion with an article reported in the Brownsville Daily Herald in 1914. In fact, the authors claim it was common practice for the Rangers to mislead the media. They even refused to comment publicly about the killing of Mexican bandits, forcing newspapers to rely on second and third hand sources. The conflict between Anglos and Mexicans along the border continues to be mirrored in current events such as the debate over immigration reform. Many people fear Texans of Mexican descent still maintain an allegiance to their native country and seek retribution for past atrocities. As the writers put it, â€Å"Militant Hispanics were outraged that the Americans stole Texas from the Mexicans-who stole it from the Spaniards, who stole it from the Indians, who stole it from each other. † The tension between the races is deep rooted and heavily tied to claims over territory. The brutality of the war and the extensive causalities along the Texas/Mexico border led the Texas Legislature to take action against The Rangers. Many of their war-crimes were revealed after a thorough investigation was made into the claims made by dozens of victims. The organization was restructured and their numbers were reduced. The Texas Rangers have spent a large part of the post revolutionary period to re-establish their dignity and make over their image. Like all stereotypes, the image of The Texas Rangers holds some truth to it. This was a group of ordinary men facing extraordinary circumstances. On the surface their achievements might appear minimal, but the fact that they were able to achieve anything of significance without the proper guidance and resources is quite extraordinary. Harris and Sadler are not attempting to be revisionists, instead, they present both the positive and negative elements of The Texas Ranger Force and encourage readers to form their own opinions based on the available evidence. Works Cited Harris, Charles Houston. , and Louis R. Sadler. The Texas Rangers and the Mexican Revolution: the Bloodiest Decade, 1910 1920. Albuquerque: Univ. of New Mexico, 2007. Print.