Reflection on skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Reflection on skills - Essay Example Humans gain different types of skills and knowledge in their courses of life experiences and formal learning. What is most important is what remains and is retained for purposes of applying it in the workplace. This essay is an explanation of the skills and knowledge I have acquired before and currently as a human resource student in our university class and an application of all these in workplace. An important knowledge I have acquired in the university is an understanding of leadership dynamics in the context of an organisation. Many other things in an organisation undergo change over time and so are the organisation’s leadership expected to change. Â  The shift from being static to dynamic/changeable is motivated by the need to achieve better performance whereas the push for better performance in many organisations is driven by the existing competition. This calls for the delivery of very quality services or production of quality products. This objective is normally well achieved through continuous innovation and creativity in the organisation. Agbor (2008) explains that leaders in organisations are sources and catalysts to innovation and creativity. An organisation’s leadership can be able to drive creativity by encouraging and managing diversity. This means the leaders should initiate a change in the organisation’s culture. According to Zaccaro (2001), the leadership structure of an organisation should be one that can support and sustain innovation process in the organisation. This means that necessary changes should be made to this structure. According to Zaccaro (2001), the factor of time is very important for leaders and this means leaders of an organisation have to choose wisely their time-orientation. This decision is very important considering the limited resource in many organisations. For example, long-term leadership perspectives are aimed at long term prosperity. Short-term orientation is important when aiming at immediate results and pay-offs. This usually becomes a good option if the organisation operates under social systems that are complex and insecure. However, leadership dynamics requires that organisation’s leaders should be able to adapt to the two perspectives because one perspective exploits the resources of the organisation. As an assistant manager, I was able to use time orientation skill in making long-term and short term decisions in the shoe company in response to existing organisation’s needs. I had to make a consideration of the available resources. According to Dyer (1999) competencies refer to context-specific behaviours that define success in a particular setting. I have come to acquire knowledge on diverse professional and personal HR competencies through this course. These competencies are grouped into core, role-specific and role leadership and management competencies, and personal attributes. The core HR professional competencies include compliance, stewardship, coaching and consulting , customer focus, technology expertise, talent, vendor and knowledge management, virtual teamwork, employee advocacy and , assessment and measuring skills (Brockbank and Ulrich, 2003). Â   According to Ramlall, (2006), personal attributes/competencies include result orientation, continuous leadership, commitment, and honesty and integrity. Leadership and management competencies include vision alignment, strategic thinking, resource management, networking, process excellence, teamwork, goal setting and performance development (Brockbank and Ulrich, 2003). Â  As an administrator in a beer factory, I utilised the HR competencies I had acquired during my past learning and online research to respond to customer needs. I did this in a way that adds value to the organisation while developing significant customer satisfaction. I also made sure that I handled employee issues in a way that it kept or increased their motivation no matter the situation. I am also knowl edgeable on the importance of practical and creative thinking skills in relation to HR. HR require

All About Controlled Drugs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

All About Controlled Drugs - Assignment Example 4. Intra-spinal: provides direct access to the spinal cord for the administration of specific drugs such as anesthetics. Requires trained staff and damage to the cord or hemorrhage are the disadvantages. (Howland, 2006) 6. Inhalational: main advantage is its use in the administration of anesthetic drugs as well as drugs for respiratory diseases since it provides easy access to lungs. Also, quick action because of extensive blood supply of lungs is another advantage. The short duration of action due to less partial pressure and exhalation of the inspired drug is a major disadvantage. Another disadvantage is a short list drug that can be administered by this route. (Howland, 2006) The major drug interactions and actions in the body include: Durg-Drug interaction i.e. addition of another drug might enhance or lower the activity of the drug. First Pass metabolism i.e. Drugs have taken through oral route undergo a process of activation and metabolism. This decreases their decreases their bioavailability and provides the bloodstream with the active metabolite of the drug. Drug-Enzyme interaction i.e. several enzymes in the body act on drugs to release their active metabolites. Drug-Receptor Interaction i.e. Final action of the drugs takes place when they bind to their specific receptors and cause either activation or deactivation of the receptor to produce the desired effect. (Katzung, 2009) Antidepressants: these drugs include Diazepam, Verapamil and Lorazepam etc. the generic names are Xanax etc. These drugs more commonly known as sleeping pills inhibit Gaba receptor and lower the levels of stress. Opioids: These drugs have a specific action of painkillers. They act on their specific opioid receptors in the body namely alpha, beta, and mu. They bind to these receptors and inhibit the transmission of pain sensation or alteration of brain’s perception of pain. (Howland, 2006)

In What Ways did Deterrence Work and Fail in the Cold War?

In What Ways did Deterrence Work and Fail in the Cold War? Deterrence, a form of coercive diplomacy or the use of threat of force to achieve goals, had been of extensive use in the history of mankind. However, the creation of the destructively powerful nuclear weapons seemed to add substance to deterrence and made it one of the core elements in international relations and security during the Cold War. Though, the question of whether nuclear deterrence worked or not still divides the politician, academia and the public opinion (Lee, 1988; Lebow and Stein, 1995). Proponents argue that nuclear deterrence did save human beings from the World War III (Record, 2004) while critics label deterrence, among other things, as a faulty, inconsistent, heavily value-laden, and immoral theory (Kennedy, 1983). Focusing on the aspect of general nuclear deterrence (not extended or immediate nuclear deterrence), this essay elaborate why the notion of the effective nuclear deterrence during the Cold War period seems not convincing by determining the factors for deterrence to work, providing alternative motives for maintaining peace rather than deterrence, and finally reviewing some actual cases of crisis. To supporters of nuclear weapons, the strongest and most convincing piece of evidence for the successful deterrence theory is that there has been no case of resort to the use nuclear weapon since the United States dropped two nuclear bombs on the two Japanese cities of Okinawa and Hiroshima in 1945 (Berry et al., 2010). The overwhelmingly destructive power of nuclear weapons, coupled with a certain capability of each side to carry out the threat, made the mutual destructive outcome of nuclear war clearly visible in the so-called crystal ball effect (Blight, 1992; Lee, 1988). Thus, nuclear weapons not only made leaders of both the United States and the Soviet Union in particular, NATO and Warsaw Pact in general, refrain from uncalculated moves but also eliminate the possibility of the pre-emption (Record, 2004). The other argument proponents often made to defense the success of nuclear deterrence in the Cold War is: deterrence is only considered to be a failure when the threatening na tion must resort to the use of force (nuclear weapons) or do not obtain its policy. It is the reality that both the United States and the Soviet Union did not use nuclear weapons and succeeded in preventing each other from using them (MccGwire; Huth, 1999). All these helped the Cold War remains cold and thus nuclear deterrence is very likely a success. (Gaddis, 2005; Berry et al., 2010). However, a further analysis shows that the claims of effective deterrence in the Cold War seem far from convincible. First and foremost, to assess nuclear deterrence, it is essential to answer the question of what does it take to deter? Nuclear deterrence means the deterred country will not attack because of the threat and the capability of the deterring country to survive the first strike and then retaliate with destructive power. So, in order to be sure that nuclear deterrence works, you have to verify that your adversary does intend to attack you and then restraint from carrying it out because of your threat (Wilson, 2008: 432). Proving other countrys intentions is problematic because of the lack of data on the policy calculations of potential initiators who were presumably deterred (Wilson, 2008). In addition, it was a popular belief in the West during the Cold War that the Soviet Union is a revisionist and needed to be deterred but there seems not enough evidence to uphold that point of view, either (Cohen, 2017; Mueller, 1988). This was admitted by former United States secretary of state Henry Kissinger, one of the prominent figures during the Cold War: Perhaps deterrence was even unnecessary because it was impossible to prove whether the adversary ever intended to attack in the first place (Record, 2004: 5). Moreover, nuclear weapons seemed to matter in political rhetoric, public discourse, and defense budgets and planning (Mueller, 2009) during the Cold War, it can be contended that nuclear deterrence is unlikely the sole contributor to the long peace that human being enjoyed nor the absence of nuclear war. This is due to proof by absence, which means your assumption could only be correct if there exist no other alternative explanations for the end result. In this case, the absence of war between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War could be the outcome of many other factors, not only nuclear deterrence. For example, it is worthy to note that nuclear bombs came into being in 1945, at the same time with the establishment of the very important global organization, United Nations. Hence, it could be assumed that it is the United Nations that helped maintain the status quo during the Cold War. In the same fashion, John Mueller (1998) criticized the efficiency of deterr ence and attributed the long peace after World War II to such reasons other than nuclear deterrence as the memory of WWII; the post-war contentment (both the United States and the Soviet Union were happy with the status quo), the non-aggressive Soviet ideology, and the believe in escalation of war (the lessons learned from WWI, WWII). According to Former United States secretary of state Henry Kissinger, one of the insiders of the nuclear game theory during the Cold War, the attribution of the absence of nuclear war between NATO and Warsaw Pact since 1946 to the success of nuclear deterrence seems problematic when he later admitted that it is possible that nuclear weapons had little or nothing to do with the absence of a NATO-Warsaw Pact war (Record, 2004). Lastly, some case studies which were usually cited as the success stories of nuclear deterrence seem unconvincing, too. In the first instance, at the height of the Berlin Crisis 1948-1949 when the Soviet Union blocked Western Allies access to Berlin, decision by United States President Harry S. Truman to deploy B-29 bombers capable of carrying nuclear bombs to Europe did result in the end of the blockade by the Soviet Union (Arnold and Wiener, 2012). However, some unanswered questions remain: Why it took ten months for the threat to be effective and why the Soviet Union dared to provoke the atomic bomb monopoly United States (the first nuclear test by the Soviet Union did not happen until one year later). In the same fashion, the world was actually on the brink of the outbreak of a nuclear war after the United States discovered the Soviet Unions secret deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba in 1962 and delivered an ultimate for the withdrawal of the missiles (Cohen, 2017). Facing the threat from the United States, Soviet leaders ordered to withdraw the missiles from Cuba thus de-escalated the situation (George and Smoke, 1974). But general nuclear deterrence once again failed to prevent the the Soviet Union from deploying nuclear weapons in Cuba in the first place and also failed to restrain the United States from instigating a quarantine (Wilson, 2013) which escalated the situation to the level that, in the word of the then United States President John F. Kennedy, the odds of a nuclear war were about one in three (McMahon and Zeiler, 2012: 305) or secretary of defense Robert McNamara, It was luck that prevented nuclear war (Blight and Lang, 2005: 60). In conclusion, nuclear weapons with their unprecedented destructive power did play a role in international relations during the Cold War. However, attributing the absence of large-scale wars between Warsaw Pact and the West led by the United States to the nuclear deterrence seems far from convincing. The debate on whether nuclear deterrence work or fail is unlikely to subside in the foreseeable future but it is noteworthy to there seem to be a mutual concern of famous policy makers of both the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Henry Kissinger, Bill Perry that nuclear weapons have become a more risky factor than ever before with more countries joining the nuclear club (Shultz et al., 2007; Gorbachev, 2011), not to mention the ambition of countries like North Korea and Iran, the increasing threat of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorist organizations, non-state actors. So, it is high time for the international community to a bolish nuclear weapons with a serious program of universal nuclear disarmament (Gorbachev, 2011). This would be an interesting topic for future research./. REFERENCE LIST Arnold JR and Wiener R. (2012) Cold War: The Essential Reference Guide: The Essential Reference Guide: ABC-CLIO. Berry K, Lewis P, PÃ ©lopidas B, et al. (2010) Delegitimizing Nuclear Weapons. Monterey, California: Center for Nonproliferation Studies, the Monterey Institute of International Studies, forthcoming. Blight JG. (1992) The shattered crystal ball: Fear and learning in the Cuban Missile Crisis: Rowman Littlefield. Blight JG and Lang JM. (2005) The fog of war: Lessons from the life of Robert S. McNamara: Rowman Littlefield. Cohen M. (2017) Nuclear Weapons, Deterrence and the Cold War. Lecture. MacQuarie University, Australia. Gaddis JL. (2005) Strategies of containment: a critical appraisal of American national security policy during the Cold War: Oxford University Press. George AL and Smoke R. (1974) Deterrence in American foreign policy: Theory and practice: Columbia University Press. Gorbachev M. (2011) A Farewell to Nuclear Arms. Project Syndicate. Huth PK. (1999) Deterrence and international conflict: Empirical findings and theoretical debates. Annual Review of Political Science 2: 25-48. Kennedy KC. (1983) A Critique of United States Nuclear Deterrence Theory. Brook. J. Intl L. 9: 35. Lebow RN and Stein JG. (1995) Deterrence and the Cold War. Political Science Quarterly 110: 157-181. Lee S. (1988) Does Nuclear Deterrence Work? Philosophy Public Policy Quarterly 8: 9-12. MccGwire M. Appendix 2: Nuclear Deterrence. International Affairs 82. McMahon RJ and Zeiler TW. (2012) Guide to US Foreign Policy: A diplomatic history: CQ Press. Mueller J. (1988) The essential irrelevance of nuclear weapons: Stability in the postwar world. International Security 13: 55-79. Mueller J. (2009) Atomic obsession: nuclear alarmism from Hiroshima to al-Qaeda: Oxford University Press. Record J. (2004) Nuclear Deterrence, Preventive War, and Counterproliferation: Cato Institute. Shultz GP, Perry WJ, Kissinger HA, et al. (2007) A world free of nuclear weapons. Wall Street Journal 4: 2007. Wilson W. (2008) The myth of nuclear deterrence. Nonproliferation Review 15: 421-439. Wilson W. (2013) Five myths about nuclear weapons: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Alternative Sentencing: Money Well Spent Essay -- Criminal Justice

Florida is losing the war on drugs though financial attrition. The economic impact of substance abuse in Florida is estimated to be roughly 6% of the state’s gross domestic product (Miami 20). One contributor is the myopic view by a judicial system that chooses to impose harsh criminal penalties, including incarceration, on non-violent offenders with minor possession charges. Increasing budgetary constraints, leading to fewer available resources, contrast harshly with the rapidly growing substance abuse. In 2009, statewide drug convictions increased by 5.9%, while state and federal funding towards alternative-sentencing programs decreased by 5.8% (Families 3; National Center). Currently Florida has more than 20,000 inmates in prison and an additional 60,000 in jail for assorted drug charges, a large portion for crimes involving minor possession or simple purchasing (Families 2). The fiscally intelligent response to non-violent offenders charged with minor possession is not the judicial system’s traditional approach, but rather utilizing alternative-sentencing programs such as drug court. In 1982, as a result of pressure to avoid federal sanctions, Florida enacted mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenders (TASC 4). Within 18 months, as thousands of offenders were charged with simple purchasing or possession of controlled substances, federal and state courts were quickly overwhelmed. The growing number of incarcerated drug offenders tripled over the next decade causing prisons and jails to suffer from overcrowding (National TASC 6). With federal and state budgets stretched dangerously thin, Florida legislature quickly passed state statutes allowing judges to discharge simple purchase and possession charges after th... ... 03 April 2012. Florida. Executive Office of the Governor. Directory of DCF Funded Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Programs. Tallahassee: Executive Office of the Governor, 2009. Print. Florida. Supreme Court Task Force on Treatment-Based Drug Courts. Report on Florida’s Drug Courts. Tallahassee: Office of the State Courts Administrator, 2009. Print. Miami Behavioral Health Center. The Annual Economic Impact of Alcohol and Drug Use in Florida. Miami: Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, 2009. Print. National Center for State Courts. â€Å"Budget Resource Center.† www.ncsconline.org. National Center for State Courts, n.d. Web. 03 April 2012 National TASC. Considering Public Safety: The TASC Abilities. Alexandria: Office of Justice, Programs, n.d. Print. TASC. Clinical Case Management Model. Washington D.C. N.p. n.p. 2011. Print.

Leadership Structure in the Local Church

Structure for Church Ministry By Geraldine Rowe A Paper Presented to Professor Dr. Epps In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For Research for Scholarly Writing College of Biblical Studies Houston, Texas October 14, 2010 ? Leadership Structure for Church Ministry The local church has not exhibited consistent patterns of lay leadership. Most denominations articulate the Reformation principle of a universal priesthood, while vacillating with changing times and pressures.At both the local and denominational levels organizations have expanded the role of lay persons which may or may not require them to be educated clergy. Organization structure of the local church whether modern or traditional empowers themselves to announce the word, administer the sacraments and to call and discipline ministers and laity. Believers in Christ connect simultaneously as a congregation to manage the work that Jesus requested. The general values that can be acclimatized to fit the features of â€Å"th e local church† were established by the early church to do ministry.These values can be directed to the constitution or bylaws of a localized place of worship in modern times. Concentration should be given to the reason and objective of the local church preventing them from dropping into the complacency of just â€Å"doing church. † In architecture, one of the most significant notions is that the church balances between covenant theology and proliferated leadership roles. To explore this notion a closer look is given to church models and their leadership philosophies, beginning with the authority or â€Å"head† of the church.The first and most significant part of the church’s structure is the Head Shepherd who is Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:15-16). Underneath the Head Shepherd, there is an assembly of under shepherds (overseers, elders or pastors). Historically, from the perspective of Anglicans, Puritans, and Presbyterians all early Baptist preache rs were lay, meaning they did not receive Episcopal or Presbyterian ordination. One example was Thomas Collier, who joined one of the seven London churches and served as an itinerant evangelist.He, through the use of the press gained great influence of Particular Baptists. Lay preachers were the chief means for the advancement of Baptist in the American frontier. Today, however the Pastor no longer functions merely as preachers, chief administrators or ordinances, counselors, and general leaders. They have become executives or administrators who perform numerous functions. They interface disillusionment when they discover that it requires something very different. They become the â€Å"hired hands† instead of God-called ministers.The common options for handling this issue seems to be emphasize the equipping role of the pastor and other professionals while seeking to acknowledge an array of functions and leadership in the churches today. The leadership of the church depends la rgely upon its doctrine and how closely the pastor is to follow its bylaws. One view is that of the church as a covenant community which has deep roots in biblical as well as free-church traditions. Max Stackhouse wrote on â€Å"free church Calvinism† which had a strong influence on the Puritans who left the Church of England.He describes it like this: â€Å"A covenantal people live under the law of God, and find themselves empowered to live together by the love of God. God is the source and sustainer of the covenant ecclesia. Though the initiator of the covenant of God, the church also in a sense a voluntary community. The covenant is voluntary in the sense that it is not a community given by birth in a family, class or nation. People must choose to be an active member. This is so even if, in another sense, it is not voluntary at all. God initiates the covenant, humans only receive it, as signified by baptism. This doctrine if properly adopted eliminates the temptation of s elf-interest, isolation and the disregard for the claims of others. Statistic show however that among Southern Baptist Churches the denomination has been restricted by geography and economist to the South, and by racism. Additionally, many southern Baptist have embraced the pluralistic value of urban life and advance education. Covenantalism, in its original intent could guide a system which recognizes different influences and authorities, and to give a voice to diverse groups and individuals.A church is both an organism and an organization. According to New Testament writers the church is defined as the â€Å"body of Christ† (1 Corinthians 12) also â€Å"the bride of Christ† (Revelation 19). These scriptures personify the church as a living organism. This organism lives under the leadership of the spirit of Christ as it works in the life of believers which prompts them to begin a congregation. An effective leader strives to keep the congregation attached to its source of energy thereby keeping people focused on the One who corporately gives them strength and direction.This organism can be dynamic or it can become weak and sickly. As an organism its life and energy must be cared for much liken to one who would care for a living being. The Church is also an organization as defined by Webster. It is â€Å"any unified, consolidated group of elements; systematized whole; a) a body of persons organized for some specific purpose†. As an organization the Church has form, structure, a mission to perform, clientele, constituents, programs, a way of doing business, financial systems, a corporate culture, and many other attributes of any other organization whether secular or sacred.The effective leader needs to understand the nature of its organization and attempt to lead the church carrying out its mission. Leaders of the Bible like Moses, Joshua, David, Nehemiah, Jesus, Paul and others had goals and envisioned the end results as they pushed themsel ves and led others. Any effective leader can enlist people around them to commit to common purpose. They motivate others to dream the dreams, see the visions, and work toward the goals that have been set. This servant leader strives to build trust between leader and effective balance so that leadership compliments one another.This frees him up to preach the gospel. When a leader is overly task oriented he will do whatever it takes to accomplish the task at hand. People are not very important. The danger here is that the leader directs more attention to the organization than the organism. The most consistent lay leadership role in ministry in Baptist Churches has been that of Deacon. The work of the Deacon is to serve tables, providing the Lord Supper. They are to partner with the Pastor as bond servants and overseers according to Phil 1:1.Likewise his attributes should reconcile with the description of overseer given in 1Tim 3:1-13. The position of Deacon and other church officers a nd ministries are accountable when heading up a successful church organization. Patterson makes this point clear in his writings about leading from the second chair. A second chair leader may be defined as â€Å"anyone in a subordinate whole whose influence with others adds value throughout the organization. It could refer to the second or the fourth or fifth person of the organization chart.According to this writer the second chair leader should learn from the paradoxes from the reflection on the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis. If the overseers are out of order and dysfunctional, the entire congregation suffers from confusion and strife that eventually weakens the church preventing it to function according to its original purpose. The biblical purpose of the church is the Great Commission as stated in Matthew 28:19-20. Its mission, or the way in which its purpose is carried out, is stated in Acts 2:42-47 as evangelism, discipleship, worship, ministry, prayer, and fellowship .The leader of the second chair understands the mission of the church and has developed a vision of what the purpose of the church is and is committed to that mission and vision. In conclusion, many changes have taken place in the local church since its Reformation principals. Some of these changes have raised the awareness of social injustices and much progress has been made in the areas of diversity. Many of the post modern adjustments that were made in order to accommodate a diverse society however have proven to weaken its effectiveness in a dying world.Over a period of time the church has become stagnate and content with the way things are being done been under the umbrella of â€Å"the church†. Distractions such as church membership, financial budgets, and annual programs have taken the forefront of too many local congregations. They exist to survive or survive to exist and totally lose sight of its mandate to teach the Word of God, win people to a saving knowledge of C hrist, grow people in Christ- likeness, and minister to one another.The Leaders and Overseers should re-evaluate their agenda. They should nurture the passion for work to which they have been called and keep their eyes on the mission and purpose of the church or whatever group/organization they are leading. This will eradicate confusion, hostility, misunderstandings, controversy and selfish agendas. They should be determined to lead the church to develop strong, positive Kingdom agendas that clearly contributes to the advancement of the cause of Christ in the world.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Essay

First published in England in 1997 as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the book quickly became wildly popular. The next year saw its publication in the United States, this time titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, receiving critical acclaim and several awards. I would rate this book 9 on a scale of 10. Both the Carnegie Medal and the Newberry Medal awards consider plot and character development when judging books. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone clearly meets those criteria. As the novel unfolds, the reader discovers the information about the wizarding world along with Harry. Characters grow and become more than flat stereotypes – Hermione’s change from bossy know-it-all to genuine friend and partner-in-crime is just one example. The dialogue between characters is believable and Harry’s inner thoughts serve as further exposition without slowing down the action. The novel is long in getting started, which makes sense because the author has to set up a story that will continue over six more books. New readers just have to make sure they keep reading and not quit out of boredom. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are good for prompting the reader’s imagination. I would have liked to have seen a few more scenes with illustrations, however. Among them would be a drawing of the Sorting Hat, perhaps as it sat on Harry’s head; an illustration of the dead unicorn in the forest with the frightening creature drinking the blood; and a picture of at least one of the scenes of the children getting past the spells guarding the stone. The chess game would have made an interesting illustration. Besides Mary Grandpre, I think Ludwig Bemelmans, who wrote and illustrated the Madeline books, would have done a good job with Harry Potter. His style of pen and ink drawings are simple yet contain a lot of detail and would fit the tone of J. K. Rowling’s books. The first Harry Potter book as well as all the subsequent books were huge best-sellers. In fact, it was this series that prompted the New York Times to create a separate list for children’s books since Harry Potter monopolized space on the existing top-ten list. But beyond popularity, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a classic children’s book because of its story. The book incorporates a common theme of good vs.  evil with humor, fast-paced action and relatable characters. Fantasy and magic also resonate with children, and Rowling’s books will surely join those of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkein as favorites for generations of children. This book makes reference to numerous other works. Dumbledore is a member of the Order of Merlin, an allusion to the King Arthur myth. Goblins and trolls populate the folk and fairy tales of many cultures. The vampire that Professor Quirrell comes from Dracula and werewolves go all the way back to Ovid. Fluffy, the three-headed dog is based upon Cerberus in Greek mythology. The mirror of Erised is similar to the magic mirror in Snow White or the titular looking-glass that Alice stumbles through. Finally, of course, is the medieval legend of the philosopher’s stone and the French alchemist, Nicolas Flamel. Although the U. S. publisher changed the name of the book thinking that American readers would be unfamiliar with the philosopher’s stone, the book kept most of its English-ness. Foremost is the concept of boarding school, which is much less common in the U.  S. Along with that, Hogwarts has houses, prefects and Head Boys, all similar to Eton College and other British public schools. The robes that Harry and his friends wear are like the robes worn at Oxford and Cambridge. But what makes Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone quintessentially British is the lack of teenage drama found in most American books for children and young adults. Harry and his friends face challenges from , but they never have to deal with underage drinking, teen pregnancy, drugs or gangs.

Fuel Hedging a Strategy for Air Carriers to Combat Fuel Hike Essays

Fuel Hedging a Strategy for Air Carriers to Combat Fuel Hike Essays Fuel Hedging a Strategy for Air Carriers to Combat Fuel Hike Essay Fuel Hedging a Strategy for Air Carriers to Combat Fuel Hike Essay Fuel Hedging A Strategy for Air Carriers to Combat Fuel Hike Index Jet Fuel – The Nemesis of Airlines In the year 2008, the growth of global aviation industry received a major bolt from the fear of global economic slowdown and the rise in crude oil prices. Though the global economic uncertainties impacted the business of airlines, but the steep surge in crude prices has changed the financial equations of the airline across the world, with India being no exception. In fact over the previous ten months crude prices have increased over 80 percent, from nearly $80 per barrel in October, 2007 to $147 per barrel in June, 2008. A similar increase was seen in the case of Arabian Gulf Jet prices. As per the figures released by IATA (International Air Transport Association), fig. 1, the price of Jet Fuel, as on 1st Aug’07, has increased by 314. 5% since 2000, and almost 70% since August last year. IATA has forecast the loss in aviation sector to be nearly USD 2. 3 billion (more than 9500 crores) in 2008. |1-Aug-08 | Fig. 1 Aviation Turbine Fuel more popularly known as ATF or Jet Fuel, continues to be the single largest cost factor for airlines constituting nearly 40 per cent of the total operating costs. Hence as ATF prices start to increase, airlines typically respond by raising fuel surcharges. Only Rs. 225 of the surcharge is payable to AAI (Airports Authority of India); the balance goes to the airlines. In the past six months alone, fuel surcharge has increased from nearly Rs 950 to Rs 2,350. That’s nearly an increase of 150%. Considering a basic fare of Rs 1,000(say) and other charges being constant, cost of flying has nearly doubled. : That is deterring the low and middle income group travelers who were beginning to switch to air travel mode from traveling by railways. The rise in crude prices is hurting both high end carriers and low cost carriers as the decline in the number of passengers has affected the load factor. The load factor for Indian carriers has come down during June-July period. Further increase in ticket prices, which is inevitable if the fuel prices rise further, can devastate the future plans of airlines. Reasons for Rise in Fuel Prices Demand Outstrips Supply According to the experts, the demand for crude oil is directly related to the world GDP growth. During the last few years, the developing countries like India and China have seen tremendous growth, and hence accelerated the demand for crude oil. Though the developed countries have also seen growth, but the increase in the buying power of people is higher in developing countries. Although the demand has surged but the supply side has not seen much change. The oil reserves are more or less same and producing same amount of oil. This mismatch in demand and supply has been the most prominent factor behind the crude prices rally. OPEC Control The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is an organization of eleven developing countries that are the major exporter of crude oil across the globe. OPEC controls almost 40% of the world’s crude oil. It accounts for almost 75% of the world proven oil reserves. OPEC yields power to disturb the supply-demand equation by squeezing the supply side, and it has even been observed in the past that OPEC countries have reduced the supply of oil to increase the prices. Speculative Buying and Selling A lot has been debated over the trading of oil futures in the commodity exchanges around the world. The OPEC countries, to shift the blame, criticize that speculation causes the prices of commodities like fuel to rise beyond expectation. Cartelization and hoarding of oil are said to be responsible for such irrational increase in the crude prices. Possible Measures The factors that control the prices of crude oil are all external to aviation industry. The airlines can’t just wait and watch their profits dwindling. They need to pull out some strategy to safeguard itself against the nemesis. Globally the strategists in aviation are evaluating two options: Alternate Fuel – With the surge in fuel prices, the demand for an alternate fuel is all time high. Airlines and aero plane manufactures like Boeing and Airbus are spending millions on the research of technologies and alternatives to jet fuel. Recently Virgin Atlantic’s Richard Branson has allocated 3 Billion dollars to Virgin Green Fund to be spent on alternative fuel and solar technologies over the next decade. In the recent past several test flights have been made using the alternatives like bio fuel. Virgin Atlantic flew an experimental flight on a Boeing 747 using a blend babassu palm oil and coconut oil. The thrust is on the research of fuel which is environmentally safe and can be produced without putting stress on arable land. The aircraft manufactures are promoting research on fuel which can be drop-in replacement which should not require change in air frame, air engine as very expensive investment would be required then. Fuel Hedging Fuel hedging is the practice, often employed by airline companies, of making advance purchases of fuel at a fixed price for future delivery to protect against the shock of anticipated rises in price. Fuel hedging is a risk mitigating strategy. It doesn’t add to the profits but protects against any future losses due to rise in fuel prices beyond the expectations. Hedging is a popular tool used by the airlines globally to insure themselves during the fuel crisis situations. Fuel hedging is done in the commodities market either directly using the ATF/Jet Fuel futures or by surrogate means using crude oil futures or heating oil futures due to a very high degree of correlation between the prices of ATF and crude/heating oil. Since fuel has become the major component of expenses of airlines, many airlines like Lufthansa have created a separate department to devise strategies on oil. It has been observed that the strategies of such airlines have been predominated by fuel hedging. Hedging- A Lone Rescuer With relentless oil price fluctuations, and uncertainty of the results of bio fuel, the only answer for Indian Airline companies is to take a leaf out of the book of their global counterparts and incorporate a sustained hedging programme to maintain fuel cost as a percentage of total expenditure. Fuel Hedging and Global Carriers Fuel hedging is best exemplified by Southwest Airlines, a low cost American carrier, whose hedging against rising fuel costs has helped the discount carrier soar high above its competitors. Southwest treasurer Scott Topping mentioned in an interview that with their hedging advantage, they have enjoyed more flexibility in managing revenues. Southwest locked in oil at $51 a barrel prior to crudes yearlong run-up in the year 2007. For the first nine months of 07, the Dallas-based carrier realized gains of $427 million. Those hedging profits, a result of a shrewd call by Southwest CEO Gary Kelly, have kept costs down. To have a better understanding of the standing of airlines in term of hedging, let’s look at the Air Fuel Expense and hedging Summary for major airlines of US for the year 2003-04. Fig. 3 summarizes the fuel expense and hedging strategies for the 13 US airlines included in this analysis. [pic] Fig. 3 It can be seen in the figure the low cost carriers like Southwest and JetBlue are the major hedging airlines. Because of its hedging strategy, Southwest Airlines is termed as a hedging firm instead of an airline. However, the financial results of these airlines show that hedging has helped them to sail across in trouble water. Further, In addition to the obvious importance of controlling such a significant operating expense for an airline, numerous academic studies have demonstrated that measurable fuel hedging can increase the value of the firm. While there are a number of factors that influence an airlines valuation, the valuations of the airlines (as measured by the firm’s price to revenue ratio) do have a positive correlation coefficient with the airlines level of fuel hedging, as shown in Fig. 4. Price/revenue ratio is presented rather than price to earnings because many of the airlines have negative earnings. [pic]LUV – Southwest, JBLU- JetBlue, AMR- American, AAI – Airtran Holdings, FRNT – Frontier, MEH – Midwest Air, NWAC – Northwest, CAL – Continental, DAL – Delta, UALAQ- United, ATAH – ATA, UAIR – US Airways Fig. 4 Fig. 4 clearly shows that Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue, the airlines which hedge most, are valued proportionately higher than other airlines. The confidence of investors is higher in these airlines because their hedging strategies cover them against any fluctuation in fuel prices. Hedging is not only common among US carriers, the European carriers like Lufthansa and Air France-KLM have also shielded themselves from fuel fluctuations by locking into fuel hedging. Lufthansa hedge almost 85% of its fuel consumption and has increased its operating profit by 63% for fiscal year 2007-08. Airlines from Asia Pacific region such as Malaysian Airlines and Singapore Airlines have also used hedging during the fuel fluctuation. Fuel Hedging and Indian Carriers While aviation firms around the world have taken to hedging to insulate themselves from the high oil prices, Indian carriers have generally shied away from it. In 2007 when the government allowed hedging, Air India was the first airline in the county to hedge but soon backed out after it saw losses. Air India did hedging of 10% of its fuel consumption on NYMEX. A senior Air India executive told that the airline initially made money through hedging. But after a round of losses when oil came below the hedged prices, it discontinued the practice as no one wanted to take the risk. Unfortunately, such past experiences are still discouraging airlines from adopting a hedging strategy. Hedging is also considered to be a specialist domain which has resulted in some airlines staying away from it. A Raghunathan, CFO, Kingfisher Airlines, in his interview to DNA Money said, Because it was not allowed in India earlier, the expertise required for it is not available. However, airlines are waking up to the profits of hedging. â€Å"Hedging has not been traditionally done in India. In hindsight, it sounds wise today to have done that,† GoAir spokesperson Neeraj Kapoor quoted in a DNA Money. The company is evaluating the process of hedging. Fuel hedging is only allowed in India in 2007 by RBI. Earlier if an airline wanted to mitigate the risk of fuel prices; it could only hedge in foreign markets. This has also discouraged carriers as trading in foreign markets expose them to the problem of currency fluctuation. It’s like evading one problem to accept other. As an effect of RBI orders, MCX (Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Limited) has introduced ATF futures and crude oil futures. Fuel Hedging – Available Hedging Options in India ATF Futures Airlines in India can do hedging in both domestic and international markets. MCX has been given nod by the Forward Market Commission, the commodity markets regulator, in April to offer ATF futures. ATF futures are now available in futures market for trading. Appendix 1 details the different ATF futures contracts available for trading on MCX. Appendix 2 shows the month wise turnover for ATF futures as compared to other commodities futures on MCX. Since the trading of ATF futures has only started in July, figures are only available for the month of July. ATF futures can also be traded on JPTC. Airlines are a little suspicious of the hedging of ATF futures because the volume available for hedging is small and lack of availability of past trends. Crude Oil Futures ATF is only traded on only two commodity exchanges around the world – MCX and JPTC. So, airlines around the world, especially American and European carriers use surrogate hedging which basically means use of alternate commodity which has a high degree of price correlation with the original commodity. In the case of ATF, Crude oil and heating oil are the alternatives for ATF. As can be seen the figure below, there is a high degree of correlation between the price of Brent crude oil and Jet fuel. In the surrogate trading the actual transfer of commodity doesn’t take place. If the prices go up then profit earned in futures market can be used to buy Jet fuel in the spot market. [pic] Same holds true for heating oil (refer figure below) which is the main commodity of hedging by the airlines. In the US primarily airlines prefer heating oil for hedging. The number of contracts purchased depends on the correlation between the prices of the commodities. pic] Preferred Option in India – Brent Crude Oil Hedging For the quarter ending June’08, ATF futures were not available for trading. First future contract on MCX has expiry of July’08. So, Brent Crude oil (BRCRUDEOIL) futures traded over MCX are preferred to construct the model. Moreover, the ATF futures contracts volume is low which is deterring investors from investing. It has also be en noticed that ATF futures are 6 months contracts while the Brent Crude oil contracts are 3 months contract, so in the scenario like present days the short duration derivatives are preferred. In addition, the movement of the prices of both commodities is similar (refer Appendix 3). Hedging for Jet Airways Jet Airways along with Jet Lite is the largest carrier in India. It has the fleet of more than 100 aircrafts used for both domestic and international operations. For the two consecutive years, it has generated significant operating profit, but for the quarter ending June’08, it suffered an operational loss of Rs. 3950 millions (refer Appendix 4). The Fuel expenses, which used to constitute 25-30% of total expenses, were Rs. 3040 millions; approximately 40% of Jet Airways’ total expenses (refer Appendix 4) because of soaring Jet fuel prices. Jet Airways had hedged once on foreign bourses when fuel hedging was not allowed in India. However, due to the impact of currency fluctuation on the returns from hedging, the experience wasn’t satisfactory. Based on this experience, it didn’t opt for hedging during the recent times. But, according to Jet Ai rways’ Saroj Dutta, Jet Airways is now contemplating to enter into hedging and is evaluating various options. It would be prudent to use Jet Airways example to understand the intricacies of Fuel hedging. The analysis of the quarterly results, for the quarter ending June’08, shows that the operating losses that Jet Airways incur were almost 30% of the total fuel expenses. If we assume that the quantity of fuel required for the entire quarter was constant, then the 30% reduction in fuel expenses can flatten the operating losses to zero. Let’s use hedging to analyze the scenario. The prices of crude oil have seen unexpected surge in the first of quarter of the year2008-09, so the importance of hedging can be best demonstrated for the data pertaining to this quarter. Since surrogate hedging is done, Jet Airways will take only position, and will not take actual delivery of the Brent Crude. The futures contracts available on MCX have a period of 3 months. To hedge for the month of April, the airline can start hedging in Jan. It is assumed Recommendations The analysis of the contemporary position of airlines with respect to surge in fuel prices suggests fuel hedging is the call of the situation and air carriers should start evaluating it as a potential strategy against the fuel spikes. Hedging can help airlines generate stable cash flows. In an uncertain environment hedging airlines are able to predict future cash flows and earnings and make investment during the high stages of the price cycle; such a strategy is valued higher by the investors. Secondly, hedging allows airlines to take advantage of investment opportunities in times of high commodity prices. It is more likely that airlines will go bankrupt when fuel prices are very high, and in such cases they are often forced to sell planes and other assets at substantially below-market prices. Airlines that are hedged against higher prices will have more resources available to invest and are therefore the only ones able to purchase these discounted assets, thus strengthening their competitive position and growing value. Hedging is not believed to be a long term solution to the fear of fuel hike. It flattens the spikes for a small duration. The airlines should really start looking for alternate fuel for sustainability in the future. A few millions spend now on technology upgradation and on research of alternatives can earn billions for the industry in the future. The aircraft manufactures should be encouraged to innovate to decrease the dependency on the nemesis. Airlines also need to evaluate other options to reduce the expenses. The complete operational model should be reviewed to take care of different scenarios. Airlines should look for lighter aircrafts as the fuel consumption is directly proportional to the weight of an aircraft. Other methods like revision of wage structure, scrutinization of non-profitable routes and optimum utilization of aircrafts should be incorporated by carriers. Hedging, however, comes with a word of precaution. Airlines in the wake of saving themselves from future crisis after seeing the sudden surge of crude in the recent past, should not indulge themselves in over-hedging, hedging more than expected to be consumed. Fuel hedging can also result in losses if the prediction goes wrong and prices come down. If, for example, an airline forecasts that it will burn 100,000 gallons of jet fuel in a given month, hedges 100% of this usage, and then uses only 80,000 gallons, it calls into question the company’s ability to hedge. Therefore, it should be a common practice for firms to hedge up to the level they are certain to use, and remain unhedged for any additional consumption. Airlines should always devise a strategy by understanding the recent trends how much short and how much long it should go. Hedging with an Example Over hedging should be avoided Other alternatives should be analyzed at regular interval Other startegies like reduction in the weight of an aircraft Wage structure should be revised Portfolio should be preapred for hedging pic] Source: www. iata. org Fig. 2 What is more disturbing to the airlines than the rise in fuel prices is the drop in Consumer Confidence Index as can be seen in, Fig. 2 which is released IATA in financial forecast statement, June’08. The figure is depiction of Confidence Index of US consumers. The 2. 5x rise in fuel prices from 2003 to 2007 was survived by the industry because during that same period consumer confidence rose, the world economy experienced exce ptionally strong growth, and airline revenues boomed.

Free Essays on Addictions

In this research paper I am asked to identify a social problem that is of interest to me. A social problem refers to a group of people, or a practice, that is considered deviant or contrary to what constitutes a â€Å"normal† or â€Å"valid† society. It is created with the assumption that the behaviour or group is universally considered problematic, or different from the norms of society. The word â€Å"problem† must be placed in context with a dichotomy of non-problem, or â€Å"right†. One can not define what is wrong with out having a comparable situation from which to draw conclusions. It is therefore the people within society who wield power who define this problem. They create the discourse of social problems, and then label what they see. This paper will focus on the social problem, labelled as addictions. I will not focus on any particular type of addiction, but will reference from the two major groups: substance abuse, and behavioural addiction. By referencing several types of addiction, I will establish that addiction stems from more than the current consensus to genetic predisposition. Recent research on the effects of drugs points us toward the conclusion that addiction is something very different from what we have thought it to be. To begin with, there is no necessary connection between addiction and drugs, or, more especially, the opiates (opium, heroin, and morphine). More precisely, addiction has little to do with what drugs contain, although it has a lot to do with what we think drugs can do to us. People often react physically to a placebo- a chemically neutral substance that is presented as being, say, morphine or some powerful medication- just as though it were the real thing. Psychological studies have shown that the way people react to drugs in general is as much a function of their cultural background, expectations, and emotional involvement in the situation as of the chemistry of the drug. T... Free Essays on Addictions Free Essays on Addictions In this research paper I am asked to identify a social problem that is of interest to me. A social problem refers to a group of people, or a practice, that is considered deviant or contrary to what constitutes a â€Å"normal† or â€Å"valid† society. It is created with the assumption that the behaviour or group is universally considered problematic, or different from the norms of society. The word â€Å"problem† must be placed in context with a dichotomy of non-problem, or â€Å"right†. One can not define what is wrong with out having a comparable situation from which to draw conclusions. It is therefore the people within society who wield power who define this problem. They create the discourse of social problems, and then label what they see. This paper will focus on the social problem, labelled as addictions. I will not focus on any particular type of addiction, but will reference from the two major groups: substance abuse, and behavioural addiction. By referencing several types of addiction, I will establish that addiction stems from more than the current consensus to genetic predisposition. Recent research on the effects of drugs points us toward the conclusion that addiction is something very different from what we have thought it to be. To begin with, there is no necessary connection between addiction and drugs, or, more especially, the opiates (opium, heroin, and morphine). More precisely, addiction has little to do with what drugs contain, although it has a lot to do with what we think drugs can do to us. People often react physically to a placebo- a chemically neutral substance that is presented as being, say, morphine or some powerful medication- just as though it were the real thing. Psychological studies have shown that the way people react to drugs in general is as much a function of their cultural background, expectations, and emotional involvement in the situation as of the chemistry of the drug. T... Free Essays on Addictions In this research paper I am asked to identify a social problem that is of interest to me. A social problem refers to a group of people, or a practice, that is considered deviant or contrary to what constitutes a â€Å"normal† or â€Å"valid† society. It is created with the assumption that the behaviour or group is universally considered problematic, or different from the norms of society. The word â€Å"problem† must be placed in context with a dichotomy of non-problem, or â€Å"right†. One can not define what is wrong with out having a comparable situation from which to draw conclusions. It is therefore the people within society who wield power who define this problem. They create the discourse of social problems, and then label what they see. This paper will focus on the social problem, labelled as addictions. I will not focus on any particular type of addiction, but will reference from the two major groups: substance abuse, and behavioural addiction. By referencing several types of addiction, I will establish that addiction stems from more than the current consensus to genetic predisposition. Recent research on the effects of drugs points us toward the conclusion that addiction is something very different from what we have thought it to be. To begin with, there is no necessary connection between addiction and drugs, or, more especially, the opiates (opium, heroin, and morphine). More precisely, addiction has little to do with what drugs contain, although it has a lot to do with what we think drugs can do to us. People often react physically to a placebo- a chemically neutral substance that is presented as being, say, morphine or some powerful medication- just as though it were the real thing. Psychological studies have shown that the way people react to drugs in general is as much a function of their cultural background, expectations, and emotional involvement in the situation as of the chemistry of the drug. T... Free Essays on Addictions Physical and psychological addictions are very alike and very different at the same time. Addiction means that the person addicted thrives on the substance or action. Physical addictions like alcoholism and heroin are sometimes very noticeable yet, psychological addictions like gambling are very hard to diagnose. A similarity between the two types of addictions are the stages that lead up to a full blown addiction. Addictions go through many stages before reaching the pinnacle of an addiction. For example, a gambler will first start off betting a dollar, then two, then ten, then a hundred until finally the gambler is broke. An example for a physical addiction would be the stages that lead to becoming a true alcoholic. It will all start with one beer, , then Jell-O shooters, then a margarita, then just drinking liquor straight up out of the bottle, then who knows what the drinker will turn to next. After going through all of these stages the term used for the addiction is usually dise ase because the addiction is going to slowly kill the person addicted. Though the term addiction is usually thought of as someone on drugs or drinking, many normal everyday people are addicted to the one thing everyone has a little of everyday, caffeine. Caffeine is one of North America’s leading addictions prevalent amongst teenagers. Caffeine is found in chocolate, soda, coffee, and tea. In conclusion, this shows that many things can become addictive. No matter what the addiction it is not good. If more people would realize this there would be less of an addiction crisis than there is today....

The Harmful Effects of Red Tides

The Harmful Effects of Red Tides â€Å"Red tide† is the common name for what scientists now prefer to call â€Å"harmful algae blooms.† Harmful algae blooms (HAB) are the sudden proliferation of one or more species of microscopic plants (algae or phytoplankton), which live in the ocean and produce neurotoxins that can cause negative and sometimes fatal effects in fish, birds, marine mammals, and even humans. There are approximately 85 species of aquatic plants that can cause harmful algae blooms. In high concentrations, some HAB species can turn the water a reddish color, which is the source of the name red tide. Other species can turn the water green, brown, or purple, while others, although highly toxic, do not discolor the water at all. Most species of algae or phytoplankton are beneficial, not harmful. They are essential elements in the foundation of the global food chain. Without them, higher life forms, including humans, would not exist and could not survive. Causes Red tides are caused by the rapid multiplication of dinoflagellates, a type of phytoplankton. There is no single cause of red tides or other harmful algae blooms, though abundant nutrients must be present in sea water to support the explosive growth of dinoflagellates. A common source of nutrients is water pollution. Scientists generally believe that coastal pollution from human sewage, agricultural runoff, and other sources contributes to red tides, along with rising ocean temperatures. On the Pacific coast of the United States, for example, red tide occurrences have been increasing since about 1991. Scientists have correlated the increase of Pacific red tides, and other harmful algae blooms with a rise in ocean temperature of approximately one degree Celsius as well as increased nutrients in coastal waters from sewage and fertilizers. On the other hand, red tides and harmful algae blooms sometimes occur where there is no apparent link to human activity. Another way nutrients are brought to surface waters is by powerful, deep currents along coastlines. These currents, called upwellings, come from nutrient-rich bottom layers of the ocean and bring to the surface massive amounts of deep-water minerals and other nutrients. It appears that wind-driven, near-coast upwelling events are more likely to bring the right types of nutrients to cause large-scale harmful blooms, while current-generated, offshore upwellings seem to lack some necessary elements. Some red tides and harmful algae blooms along the Pacific coast also have been associated with cyclical El Nino weather patterns, which are influenced by global climate change. Interestingly, it appears that iron deficiencies in sea water may limit the ability of dinoflagellates to take advantage of the abundant nutrients present. In the eastern Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida, and probably elsewhere, large amounts of dust blown west from Africas Sahara Desert, thousands of miles away, settle on the water during rain events. This dust is believed to contain significant amounts of iron, enough to trigger large red tide events. Effects on Human Health Most people who become ill from exposure to the toxins in harmful algae do so by eating contaminated seafood, particularly shellfish. However, toxins from some harmful algae can also infect people by spreading through the air. The most common human health problems associated with red tides and other harmful algae blooms are various types of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and neurological disorders. The natural toxins in harmful algae can cause a variety of illnesses. Most develop rapidly after exposure occurs and are characterized by severe symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches. Most people recover within a few days, though some illnesses linked to harmful algae blooms can be fatal. Effects on Animal Populations Most shellfish filter seawater to collect their food. As they eat, they may consume toxic phytoplankton and accumulate toxins in their flesh, eventually becoming dangerous, even deadly, to fish, birds, animals, and humans. The shellfish themselves are unaffected by the toxins. Harmful algae blooms and subsequent shellfish contamination can cause massive fish kills. The dead fish continue to be health hazards because of the risk that they will be eaten by birds or marine mammals. Economic Impacts Red tides and other harmful algae blooms have serious economic as well as health impacts. Coastal communities that rely heavily on tourism often lose millions of dollars when dead fish wash up on beaches, tourists fall ill, or shellfish warnings are issued because of harmful algae blooms. Commercial fishing and shellfish businesses lose income when shellfish beds are closed, or harmful algae toxins contaminate their fish. Charter boat operators are also affected, receiving numerous cancellations even when the waters they typically fish are not affected by the harmful algae blooms. Likewise, tourism, recreation, and other industries may be adversely affected even though they are not directly hurt by the algae. When a bloom is reported, many people grow cautious, even though most water activities are safe during red tides and other harmful algae blooms. Calculating the actual economic cost of red tides and other harmful algae blooms is difficult, and not many figures exist. One study of three harmful algae blooms that took place in the 1970s and 1980s estimated losses of $15 million to $25 million for each of the three red tides. Given the inflation that has occurred in the decades since the cost in today’s dollars would be significantly higher.

I will argue that demographic is imbalanced in the UAE because of the Essay

I will argue that demographic is imbalanced in the UAE because of the amount of foreign labor - Essay Example wing the start of this development, the UAE saw large numbers of foreign workers start to pour into the country and has steadily kept coming into the country to date, lured by the numerous prospects available to them. Along with this foreign workforce, a number of changes started to occur in the social structure, a primary one being a shift in population structure. The rest of this essay will focus on the impact this foreign workforce has had on population growth in the UAE. Population data is very difficult to come by for many Middle Eastern countries with high immigration rates and the UAE is no exception. Best efforts were made to ensure the population data is accurate for this essay. The main topics dealt with from now on will be a discussion of the issues faced by the government of the UAE in the present day to deal with this massive influx of people and finally will attempt to provide justification as to the notion that the demographics presented by the governments are inaccura te due to such severe population changes occurring in such a short period of time. The UAE takes the approach of estimating its population according to whether a person is a permanent resident of the country. People who are away from the family home for some reason are also included where as people on visit visas are excluded. This method of evaluation is accepted by the United Nations (UAE Plans Ahead). According to a census carried out in 2005 by the Ministry of Economy, the population of the UAE was estimated to be at 4,104,695, as compared with 2,411,041 in a previous census which took place in 1995 (UAE Plans Ahead†. Census 2005 UAE). The initial influx of foreign workers, also referred to as expatriates, stemmed from the rapid development that took place following the discovery of oil revenue. There was a shortage of national labor and to sustain growth, scores of foreign workers came to the UAE (Randeree,2009 from Halliday, 1977). Over the past three decades, the UAE has

Government HRD Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Government HRD Practice - Essay Example Todd discovered that participants reply positively to any adviser effort for acknowledgement of their Culture in evolving and applying programs to evolve human resources (Klass 2007). With The Persevering, And Tolerance for Ambiguity Facing the inescapable tension cross-cultural context is difficult. But the proficiency to reply to the proximity of distinct and unpredictable positions with little evident discomfort or irritation is wholeheartedly essential for HRD professionals worldwide. In numerous heritages, the ambiguity can change for the poorer, in some it's kind that permits you to present a kind of convictions and opinions. In some Culture, believing that only divine power can understand any thing for certain. In Japan, the ambiguity presents a structure inside which agreement can be satisfied. In the Middle East, it permits for negotiating and explaining problems. In Latin America, it was often the ground on which the business and it is improbable political alliances can be developed. In latest years, even in the U.S., where the ambiguity is not highly regarded, he performed a function in household and foreign policy. In periods of his 40 years of human asset development in the world, Len Nadler proposes that endurance was the ambiguity of its most precious connection he has discussed agreements, conceived programs, therapy, and suggested training. Commitment to the Values and Perform of HRD Healthy esteem for the occupation of HRD and anxiety for his expert likeness are significant relationships. They boost the practitioner should be well arranged for all undertakings for human asset development to take individual blame for his efforts, and care about value and improvement (Budhwar Schuler and... In latest years, even in the U.S., where the ambiguity is not highly regarded, he performed a function in household and foreign policy. In periods of his 40 years of human asset development in the world, Len Nadler proposes that endurance was the ambiguity of its most precious connection he has discussed agreements, conceived programs, therapy, and suggested training.Commitment to the Values and Perform of HRDHealthy esteem for the occupation of HRD and anxiety for his expert likeness are significant relationships. They boost the practitioner should be well arranged for all undertakings for human asset development to take individual blame for his efforts, and care about value and improvement (Budhwar Schuler and Sparrow 2009). Global HRD professionals are often inquired to work in tough situation, and odd, and often the things are insufficient and insufficient equipment. These situations are better than the firm promise and conviction in paid work and a good dose of flexibility in ho w work is done.Initiative and ResolveGlobal HR practices may be far from the head agency of support in positions where they require supplying any authority and management. Program participants may not have concern in the work, they desire the adviser can rest, relish the climate, and chat. There are even situations where scholars glimpse the teacher to enforce business standards and demeanour at work (such as administration by objectives and participative management), which contradicts their convictions and Culture practices.

Student profile Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Student profile - Essay Example I am an honest individual who is ambitious and committed to work. Most of paramedic work involves working under pressure and over the years, I have proved that I can handle the pressure through commitment and self-sacrifice. I am full of empathy and sympathy for injured patients in my community, which inspires me to work harder towards improving my expertise. My first course to undertake was Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Then I proceeded to get an ACLS and BLS certificates at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and research centre. For the last thirteen years, I have worked as an EMT with Saudi Red Crescent Authority. In addition, I have worked in relief camps for two months in 2006 after the Lebanon-Israel war. Effective career calls for synergistic integration of professionalism and moments of relaxation. Therefore, I spend my free time fishing, visiting my family members, and playing with my kids in the house. I usually play table tennis with my friends. I always take a walk to relieve my mind when I am extremely tired after work. The future in paramedics is overwhelmingly promising. I expect to shift from dealing with emergencies as a caretaker to a decision marker. In five years’ time, I expect to attain a degree in health science of paramedic. I only expect to practise when employed for the next two years to add to my thirteen years’ experience. Bachelor of health sciences-paramedic at Flinders University has curriculum that equips students with knowledge about medical legal implications of clinical practice. For instance, this curriculum is in line with the current clinicians guidelines, demonstrate patient assessment skills, and demonstrate safety and proficiency in the delivery of services In addition, It includes knowledge assessment skills such as assignments, oral presentation, exam, and group assignment that come in handy in ensuring course content is well delivered. Particularly, oral presentations

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489 - Assignment Example kills was but the only choice available for me not only to add value to my career as an accountant, but to be able to meet the modern error challenges head-on. I went back to class to be able to unravel what I was not able to do, and so exploit my potential to the bream, for nothing is degrading as using borrowed skills again and again, yet it is within reach. Uncle Sam: Well, I am an accountant, and it would not make sense to deviate that much at stage of my career. I am taking advanced accounting mathematics applications using modern computing technology. It is rigorous, serious, and more importantly, transformative to what I have. I simply love it. Uncle Sam: Adult Education is but a discipline in its own right, and that its methodology is perfectly befitting for adult learners only. I am a professional with unique set of skills, and so whatever information received is but an add-on to those in stock. It is different and unique because unlike a child, I know for sure that my learning must to be meaningful, and complementary to the numerous experiences I have had so far. To reiterate, my learning is well informed with a transitory need to perform certain, specific tasks in furtherance to the information already in stock. The skills passed on to us are basically tailored on solving problems, and real problems for that matter, and not necessarily on content per se. It is also important to note that unlike it was in childhood, I am intrinsically motivated to learn, and that my participation in learning activities are basically voluntary. No one pushes me to go to school. I get it from my inner self, and so largely self-directed. I have a specific mission to achieve, with past experiences coming in handy at certain crucial times. Accordingly, there is always that capacity to think critically and/or transform ideas into workable solutions. A child basically copies what adults do, and so are my children as I was then. Their personalities hinges on mine and/or any

Australian Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Australian Business Law - Essay Example Hence, the provisions of the TPA likewise applies to the given problem. Section 53 specifically prohibits the use of false representations about the standard, quality, grade, composition, style, model or history or particular previous use of goods: ACCC v Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd (2004) FCA 516. Moreover, Section 58 specifically prohibits the use of false representations about the standard, quality, value or grade of services. Furthermore, the TPA and FTA likewise prohibits the use of false representations about the the sponsorship, approval, performance characteristics, accessories, uses or benefits of goods and services (Pinetrees Lodge Pty Ltd v Atlas International Travel Pty Ltd(1981) ATPR 40-248); the sponsorship, approval or affiliation of the corporation; and the price of goods or services: ACCC v Allens Music Group Pty Ltd (2002) FCA 1552; TPC v Cue Design Pty Ltd (1996) ATPR 41-475); the existence, exclusion or effect of any condition, warranty, guarantee, right or remedy; the place of origin of goods: ACCC V GIA Pty Ltd (2002) FCA 1298; TPC v QDSV Holdings Pty Ltd (1995) ATPR 41-371. Moreover, it violated Sections 54 of TPA and 62 of the FTA for falsely offering gifts or prizes because a corporation should not offer gifts, prizes or other free items to people buying its goods and services if it does not intend to provide them. It is also violated Sections 55A of the TPA and 64 of FTA for engaging in misleading conduct regarding the services it offers by misleading the public as to the nature, the characteristics, the suitability for their purpose or the quantity of any service: Doherty v Traveland Pty Ltd (1982) 4 ATPR 40-323. It also violated Section 56 of TPA and Section 65 of FTA as a corporation under the said Sections are prohibited from engaging in trade or commerce or advertise goods or services at a specified price where it has reasonable grounds to expect that it will not be able to comply with the advertisement. Finally and in addition to that, the corporation violated the prohibition on accepting payment without intention to supply under Sections 58 of TPA and Sections 67 of FTA specifically prohibiting a corporation from accepting payment or other consideration for the goods if at the time of acceptance it intends not to supply the goods or services or to supply goods and services materially different from the goods and services in respect of which the payment is made. It is clear from the facts that the corporation contravened Section 58 reasonable grounds exists to show that it is aware that it would not be able to supply the goods when accepting payment: Dawson v World Travel Headquarters Pty Ltd (1981) ATPR 40-240. These foregoing provisions of the TPA and the FTA as illustrated in the above- mentioned case were clearly violated because first, contrary to what was stated in its brochure, the Happiest Kangaroo was not really located in bushland but was in the centre of Kingscote, the main town on Kangaroo Island. Second, Ariel had a ground floor room which opened on to the main street and was very noisy. Third, there were no live Australian animals in the grounds of the hotel. Fourth, when Ariel complained, the staff directed her to the many cement statues of kangaroos and wallabies in the back garden of the hotel and soft toy kangaroos and koalas used in the decoration of her room.

Code of Professional Conduct Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Code of Professional Conduct - Case Study Example These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An Audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. The company recorded land purchased at $100,000 at appraiser's value of $700,000 in violation of generally accepted accounting principles that such land should be recorded at historical cost of $100,000 only. In our opinion, except for the violation of the generally accepted accounting principles on proper recording of land, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position of Graham Company as of December 31, 20XY, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. W... January 10, 20XY ADVERSE OPINION AUDITOR'S REPORT Scope Section We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Graham Company as of December 31, 20XY, and the related statements of income, retained earnings, and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An Audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Middle Section The company recorded land purchased at $100,000 at appraiser's value of $700,000 in violation of generally accepted accounting principles that such land should be recorded at historical cost of $100,000 only.Opinion sectionIn our opinion, because of the material effects of the violation of generally accepted accounting principles in the recording of land, the financial statements referred to above do not present fairly the financial position of Graham Company as of December 31, 20XY, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended. Los Angeles, California

Australian Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Australian Business Law - Essay Example Hence, the provisions of the TPA likewise applies to the given problem. Section 53 specifically prohibits the use of false representations about the standard, quality, grade, composition, style, model or history or particular previous use of goods: ACCC v Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd (2004) FCA 516. Moreover, Section 58 specifically prohibits the use of false representations about the standard, quality, value or grade of services. Furthermore, the TPA and FTA likewise prohibits the use of false representations about the the sponsorship, approval, performance characteristics, accessories, uses or benefits of goods and services (Pinetrees Lodge Pty Ltd v Atlas International Travel Pty Ltd(1981) ATPR 40-248); the sponsorship, approval or affiliation of the corporation; and the price of goods or services: ACCC v Allens Music Group Pty Ltd (2002) FCA 1552; TPC v Cue Design Pty Ltd (1996) ATPR 41-475); the existence, exclusion or effect of any condition, warranty, guarantee, right or remedy; the place of origin of goods: ACCC V GIA Pty Ltd (2002) FCA 1298; TPC v QDSV Holdings Pty Ltd (1995) ATPR 41-371. Moreover, it violated Sections 54 of TPA and 62 of the FTA for falsely offering gifts or prizes because a corporation should not offer gifts, prizes or other free items to people buying its goods and services if it does not intend to provide them. It is also violated Sections 55A of the TPA and 64 of FTA for engaging in misleading conduct regarding the services it offers by misleading the public as to the nature, the characteristics, the suitability for their purpose or the quantity of any service: Doherty v Traveland Pty Ltd (1982) 4 ATPR 40-323. It also violated Section 56 of TPA and Section 65 of FTA as a corporation under the said Sections are prohibited from engaging in trade or commerce or advertise goods or services at a specified price where it has reasonable grounds to expect that it will not be able to comply with the advertisement. Finally and in addition to that, the corporation violated the prohibition on accepting payment without intention to supply under Sections 58 of TPA and Sections 67 of FTA specifically prohibiting a corporation from accepting payment or other consideration for the goods if at the time of acceptance it intends not to supply the goods or services or to supply goods and services materially different from the goods and services in respect of which the payment is made. It is clear from the facts that the corporation contravened Section 58 reasonable grounds exists to show that it is aware that it would not be able to supply the goods when accepting payment: Dawson v World Travel Headquarters Pty Ltd (1981) ATPR 40-240. These foregoing provisions of the TPA and the FTA as illustrated in the above- mentioned case were clearly violated because first, contrary to what was stated in its brochure, the Happiest Kangaroo was not really located in bushland but was in the centre of Kingscote, the main town on Kangaroo Island. Second, Ariel had a ground floor room which opened on to the main street and was very noisy. Third, there were no live Australian animals in the grounds of the hotel. Fourth, when Ariel complained, the staff directed her to the many cement statues of kangaroos and wallabies in the back garden of the hotel and soft toy kangaroos and koalas used in the decoration of her room.

Macbet Act II Scene II Essay Example for Free

Macbet Act II Scene II Essay This scene was one of the most significant, as it the scene where Macbeth murders Duncan, but feels remorse and guilt afterwards. The murder is not shown so that it is left to the audiences imagination. Also, to signify that the murder has taken place, an owl shrieks. This was thought to be a sign of a bad omen, and it suggests that it is upsetting the natural balance of things (at that time people believed that everything had a natural order and to change this would change other things), as even the natural world knows that Duncan has been murdered. Shakespeare creates tension by setting the scene at night so that when Macbeth returned, Lady Macbeth did not know who it was at first and for a moment she thinks that Macbeth had not succeeded in killing Duncan and the attendants had woken up, and she says; thattempt and not the deed confounds us meaning that if Macbeth only tried to murder Duncan and did not succeed then they would be ruined. Macbeths character so far is shown as noble and loyal, as in act 1 scene 2 Macbeth is talked about as being; A good and hardy soldier (line 4). In reward for his greatness, Duncan awards Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor (as the witches predicted). Macbeth does have some ambition, because when the witches tell him he is going to be king, he wants to speak more to Banquo about it. However, in his letter to Lady Macbeth, he says; Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it meaning that he would like to be king but not attain it by bad deeds. Lady Macbeths thoughts are that she wants Duncan to be killed. She calls on evil spirits to give her the strength to do it; Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to toe topfull of direst cruelty; make thick my blood, stop thaccess and passage to remorse (Act 1 scene 5, lines 39-43) which means evil spirits- make me as strong willed as a man and fill me with cruelty, and make me have no remorse. The setting of act 2 scene 2 is Macbeths castle. This is shown as quit an eerie setting, as you can hear noises from the outside, and it very dark. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are on stage. In lines 1-8, Lady Macbeth is feeling bold, from line 1; That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold. She comments on how she had drugged the attendants, and she says in lines 7-8; That death and nature do contend about them, whether they live, or die. This shows that she is not really concerned whether they live or die. However, in line 9 she begins to worry that they have been caught, and also says; Had he [Duncan] not resembled my father as he slept, I had donet, showing that she is not completely evil, as she could not murder Duncan as he resembled her father. At the end of the scene she becomes strong, as she takes the daggers from Macbeth (as he brought them back) and goes and puts them back. Macbeths mood is that of distress and remorse. This is shown by the fact that he accidentally brings back the daggers when he was supposed to place the by the attendants. This creates dramatic tension, as this would incriminate Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. At he end of the scene, Macbeth feels he cant live with himself, and says in line 76; To know my deed, twere best not know my self meaning that if he is to acknowledge what he has done, he must assume a new identity, as a murderer, and forget who he really is. Dialogue on and off the stage is that of death. Lady Macbeth tries to reassure Macbeth that he has he has done the right thing, as he is very disturbed about what he has done. The dialogue also shows how the outside and natural world is reacting to what has been done; the owl hooting, the crickets crying, the knocking and also when someone laughed in their sleep and one cried Murder! (Line 25) The effect of these noises reflects the beliefs of that time that to change the natural order of things (how things naturally turn out) is to affect everything. It creates tension by suggesting that the outside world will find out and Macbeth will be punished. The audiences response is that they feel that something supernatural is happening, due to the noises, and to the images Macbeth sees and sounds he hears, like the voice he hears (lines 44-46) saying he will sleep no more. When Macbeth first appears on the scene, his first words are (line 14); I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? The words I have done the deed suggest that he cannot bring himself to admit what he has done. The words didst thou not hear a noise? suggest that he expected to be caught, and that someone would have heard and come after him. His conversation with Lady Macbeth is that he is in some way shocked about what has happened. He says what he heard, and in lines 38-39, and 33-34, Lady Macbeth talks to him but he doesnt hear her as he is too deep in his own thoughts. Macbeth uses short, sharp sentences; like when?As I descended?Hark, who lies ithsecond chamber?This is a sorry sight (lines 17, 19, 21 and 23), because he is repeating what happened, and he is very distraught about what he has done. This effects the audience by creating tension, as Macbeth seems to have gone mad. In lines 29-36 Macbeth says how he could not pronounce Amen after someone cried God bless us. This shows that Macbeth does not feel he deserves Gods blessings, as he is too evil. In lines 38-46, Macbeth says that he heard a voice saying that he had murdered sleep. This shows his guilt that he will never be able to sleep again, and his remorse, as he shall never have peace from what he has done. Lady Macbeths reaction is to tell him not to keep thinking about these thoughts, and to reassure him. She is aware that they must put the daggers back, so at this point she has no guilt or remorse. When Macbeth comes back after murdering Duncan, he is carrying the daggers he used. This suggests to the audience that he is not in a proper frame of mind, and is still shocked by what he has done. It also suggests that he is not in control. Lady Macbeth had told him to leave them by the attendants to incriminate them. When he comes back, Lady Macbeth tells him to go and put them, back, but when he wont, she does it. This shows that she does not mind blaming innocent people. The audiences reaction is that she is very much in control, and knows what both of them must do. Macbeth will not go back because he says; Ill go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; look ont again, I dare not. This reveals his guilt because he can hardly comprehend that he has done something so awful. This also shows his conscience, as he says I dare not, showing he does not know what his reaction would be, so knows he is not in control of himself. When Macbeth returns, his hands are red with Duncans blood. Once Lady Macbeth puts the daggers back, her hands are also red. Macbeth says in lines 63-65; Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No: this my hand will rather the multitudinous sea incarnadine. This means that he feels that all the seas in the world could not ash the blood off his hands, and that instead his hands would turn all the oceans red, and also that it will never wash off the blood stain on his conscience, so he feels that he will never be as innocent as he was before the murder. Lady Macbeth says in lines 67-68; My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white. The words my hands are of your colour mean that her hands are red, but also that she is now as guilty of the murder as Macbeth is. The words but I shame to wear a heart so white means that she is criticising her husband, by saying that she would not want to be so cold and heartless. The washing of the hands is significant later because Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and washes her hands in her sleep. Macbeths feelings are of extreme guilt and in line 62 he says; What hands are here? Ha: they pluck out mine eyes. This means that he wishes he did not have any eyes so he did not have to see the blood of the man he murdered. At the end of the scene, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hear knocking. Lady Macbeth does not show any guilt or conscience, as she is only concerned with them getting back to their rooms to not seem suspicious and to get rid of the blood on their hands. Macbeth says how he cannot carry on if he does not forget who he is as he has a bas conscience, and in line 77 he says; Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou couldst. This shows that he wishes Duncan was still alive, so feels guilty about him being dead. The audiences reaction is that they feel slightly sorry for Macbeth, as he was pressured into the murder by Lady Macbeth and know has to live with his guilt. This scene is the turning point of the play, because it is the point of no return; after Duncan is murdered there is no way Macbeth can go back. It is also the start of Macbeths journey from good to evil. At this point his guilt is at its highest, and later he is a bloody tyrant. This is because Lady Macbeth reassures him that once this is done everything will be fine, so he kills because he feels he has to, but later he kills because he is angry (act 4 scene 2). Lady Macbeth also changes. In the beginning, she is in control and has no conscience, but in the end, she is so out of control and so guilty that she kills herself. Her change is also shown by her speech, as in act 2, scene 2, line 70, she says; a little water clears us of this deed, whereas in act 5, scene 1, lines 44-45, she says: all the perfumes in Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Also, she begins to sleepwalk and acts out washing her hands. Finally, in act 5, scene 9, lines 37-38, Malcolm says about Lady Macbeth; by self and violent hands took off her life. This has a double meaning for the audience, as it means Lady Macbeth killed herself, but it could also be interpreted and by her violence and her guilt (of her blood-stained hands) she killed her soul. The ending of act 2 scene 2 creates dramatic tension by ending with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both in different frames of mind; Lady Macbeth making sure they dont get caught and Macbeth lost in thought and guilty over what he has done.

Educational Action Research

Educational Action Research Action Research Insights How have you seen or experienced traditional educational research conducted in the past? Traditional research is conducted by outside professional who have limited stakes in achievement and meeting academic standards. Over the years, many different methods of instruction have been introduced and these methods have been the product of outsider research. Dana Yendol-Hoppey (2009) state that teachers voices have typically been absent from discussions about education change and reform (p.1). Who leads educational research? Where, when, and why is it conducted? Those who lead education research consist of business leaders, governmental groups, college groups, and others that are outsiders to education and have limited ideas of what a classroom teachers needs on a daily basis (Dana Yendol-Hoppey, 2009). These researcher use data review, surveys, and process oriented methods to conduct research. Based on Dana Yendol-Hoppey(2009). There are two paradigms that are mostly responsible for educational research. The first in process-product oriented method with the teacher as technician in the classroom (p.2-3). The research is linear in scope and the researcher is an outsider to the classroom. The second paradigm is qualitative or interpretive (p.3). This requires the teacher as active participant, discussion on the focus, and interpretation (p.3). Outsider researcher will conduct the research. Both Paradigms have as a reason why to do the research the concept of identifying problems to improve performance within the classroom and education. What is the difference between teacher inquiry/action research and educational research? Essentially, there is no difference between educational research and teacher inquiry/action research. Educational research is the big umbrella that encompasses all research in the education area. Dana Yendol-Hoppey (2009) states that â€Å"Teacher inquiry highlights the roll of teachers as knowledge generator, researcher, and participant. It focuses on the concerns of teachers and engages teachers in the design, data collection, and interpretation of data around a question†( p. 4). After studying your completed comparison chart, in what ways are these action research studies the same as traditional educational research studies? In what ways are they different? What are the strengths and weaknesses of them both? Action research studies are similar to other traditional educational research studies. Both types of research pose questions about education that will solve a problem, create a vehicle for change and educational reform, and generate valuable insights into the teaching and learning process. The differences in the action research model is that Action Research includes the teacher as a participant, leader, and implementer of change. The weaknesses of the process-product model and the interpretive is its single focused question. Describe which action research study promoted teaching practices that resulted in more culturally responsive teaching. How was it different from the others? â€Å"Mother Tongue: The role of parent teacher communication in helping students reach new standards† by Lara Goldstein (2003) promotes teaching practices that resulted in more culturally responsive teaching. The purpose of this study was to help students achieve standards at high levels focusing on language standards. Assessments of student achievement, communication with parents, and reflections from students and parents were collected. Three problems were obvious from the study: Lack of confidence Cultural values Shy and introverted. Identified need for more translators, translated materials, and overcoming cultural barriers(Goldstein, 2003). Primarily, English as Second Language students were impacted or affected. Asian-American cultural barriers were pointed out as a factor contributing to these student not participating in classroom discussions. Identified need for more translators, translated materials, and overcoming cultural barriers(Goldstein, 2003). Primarily, English as Second Language students were impacted or affected. Describe the teacher action research study that most influenced the teaching and students learning. How was it influential? Drexler, Dawson, and Ferdig (2007) wrote â€Å"Collaborative Blogging as a Means to Develop Elementary Expository Writing Skills.† In this article, the purpose of the study was to show that collaborative blogging would improve student’s motivation to write. Students attitude via surveys were used to assess before and after attitudes toward writing(Drexler, Dawson and Ferdig, 2007). A four-step systematic data analysis process was used to conduct, collect, and analyze data. Diversity was addressed as an unintentional result. The major finding indicated that collaboration with college/third grade students increased positive attitudes and motivation towards writing at school(Drexler, Dawson and Ferdig, 2007). Blogging and the use of technology should be used more to help student gather, retain, and assimilate knowledge. Students would benefit from more use of interactive tools to help them learn and retain concepts. Describe the action research study that encouraged equity in teaching practices to meet the needs of a diverse student body. â€Å"Understanding High School Black Male Student’s Achievement and School Experience† written by Q. T. Nguyen (2007) is the action research study that encouraged equity in teaching practices. . The purpose of the study is to identify what factors contribute to achievement levels of minorities, black males in particular. This was the inquiry question: â€Å" What are the factors that support Black male student’s achievement in MMSD?† (Nguyen,2007). Reviewing current data and interviewing high school students was used as data and for review. The group being studied was a minority which constitutes a diverse population. â€Å"Disconnectedness with teachers, low expectations, and irrelevant classes, peer pressure, and family issues were factors that affected high achievement in the population of student?† (Nguyen,2007).. Shared information and realization that more student subjects were needed to further assess. Basically, this topic is needed with a bigger, more focused group of students and needed to include parents and teachers in the next research. Based on all of this weeks Resources, what is the most important thing you learned about the action research process? What questions do you still have about teacher inquiry/action research? Do you think traditional educational research can positively influence your teaching practice? Why or why not? Based on all the week’s resources, the most important thing I learned about the action research process was it was conducted and lead by classroom teachers, and this process has relevance to the classroom and to the curriculum being taught in that particular class. One question I have about action research is how individualized can it be to reflect impact in special education classes. Traditional educational research has uses in education. These practices are good for identifying processes and for interpreting data for academic success. One research method is not going to serve all facets of the education climate. Action Research Comparison Chart Directions: One of the goals of this week’s learning is to become familiar with various action research scenarios that are classroom and student based and see how different they are from traditional-based research studies. Complete the chart below. This exercise will help you compare and contrast the action research studies and better prepare you in responding to the Application questions. Note: You will submit the completed chart as an Appendix to the Application assignment. Questions Action Research Study #1 Action Research Study #2 Action Research Study #3 Who is the author of the study (i.e., insider or outsider, researcher or teacher)? Insider and researcher Researcher Insider, teacher What is the title of the action research study? Understanding High School Black Male Student’s Achievement and School Experience. Collaborative Blogging as a Means to Develop Elementary Expository Writing Skills Mother Tongue: The role of parent teacher communication in helping students reach new standards. What is the purpose of the study? Why is it important to the author? The purpose of the study is to identify what factors contribute to achievement levels of minorities, black males in particular The purpose of the the study was to show that collaborative blogging would improve student’s motivation to write. The purpose of this study was to help students achieve standards What is the research question, and what is its focus (i.e., to predict, make an impact, control, explain a phenomenon or a process, or provide insight into a teacher’s practice to make change)? What are the factors that support Black male student’s achievement in MMSD? How can technology be effectively integrated with an expository writing project? Will blogging improve third grade students’ attitude toward writing? Will blogging improve the quality of writing? Will third grade students be further motivated to learn about a topic if they are teamed with college partners for guidance? What are the limitations of blogging in the third grade classroom? What happens when I communicate explicitly with parents about standards and what is the impact of parental understanding of LA standards of achievement? Which data are collected? How are data collected and analyzed? Reviewing current data and interviewing high school students, Students attitude via surveys were used to assess before and after attitudes toward writing. A four-step systematic data analysis process Assessments of student achievement, communication with parents, and reflections from students and parents were collected. Is diversity addressed? If so, how? The group being studied was a minority which constitutes a diverse population. Diversity was addressed as an unintentional result. Asian students were addressed and culturally linguistics was mentioned in study. What were the major findings of the action research study? Disconnectednes with teachers, low expectatins, and irrelevant classes, peer pressure, and family issues were factors that affected high achievement in the population of student s The major finding indicated that collaboration with college/third grade students increased positive attitudes and motivation towards writing at school Three problems were obvious from the study: 1. Lack of confidence 2.Cultural values 3.Shy and introverted What actions or changes resulted from the study? Whom did the changes impact? Shared information and realization that more student on this topic is needed with a bigger, more focused group of students. Include parents and teachers in the next research. Blogging and the use of technology should be used more to help student gather, retain, and assimilate knowledge. Students would benefit from more use of interactive tools to help them learn and retain concepts. Identified need for more translators, translated materials, and overcoming cultural barriers. Primarily, English as Second Language students were impacted or affected. References Dana, N. F., Yendol-Hoppey, D. (2009). The reflective educators guide to classroom  research: Learning to teach and teaching to learn through practitioner inquiry (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Drexler, W., Dawson, K., Ferdig, R. E. (2007). Collaborative blogging as a means to  develop elementary expository writing skills. Electronic Journal for the  Integration ofTechnology in Education, 6, 140–160. Goldstone, L. (2003). The mother tongue: The role of parent-teacher communication in  helping students meet new standards. In E. Meyers, F. Rust (Eds.), Taking  action with teacher research (pp. 63–78). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Action research for educators:  Student course introduction. Baltimore, MD: Author. Nguyen, Q. T. (2007). Understanding high school black male students achievement and  school experience. In C. Caro-Bruce, R. Flessner, M. Klehr, K. Zeichner (Eds.), Creating equitable classrooms through action research (pp. 78–99). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Walden University M.S. in Education Program Formative Evaluative Criteria for Applications and Reflective Essays Quality of Work Submitted Work reflects graduate-level critical, analytical thinking. A: Exemplary Work A = 4.00; A- = 3.75 All of the previous, in addition to the following: B: Graduate Level Work B+ = 3.50; B = 3.00; B- = 2.75 All of the previous, in addition to the following: C: Minimal Work C+ = 2.50; C = 2.00; C- = 1.75 F: Work Submitted but Unacceptable F = 1.00 Adherence to Assignment Expectations The extent to which work meets the assigned criteria. Assignment exceeds expectations, integrating additional material and/or information. Assignment demonstrates exceptional breadth and depth. All parts of the assignment are completed, with fully developed topics. The work is presented in a thorough and detailed manner. Assignment demonstrates appropriate breadth and depth. Most parts of assignment are completed. Topics are not fully developed. Assignment demonstrates minimal depth and breadth. Does not fulfill the expectations of the assignment. Key components are not included Assignment lacks breadth and depth. Assimilation and Synthesis of Ideas The extent to which the work reflects the student’s ability to- Understand the assignment’s purpose; Understand and analyze material in videos, readings, and discussions; Apply presented strategies **May include, but are not limited to, scholarly articles, collegial discussions; information from conferences, in service, faculty development, and/or meetings. Outside sources also may include materials from previous Walden MSED courses, videos, and readings. (but aren’t currently being used in this course)In addition, students may refer to the course Webliography, course reference list (Bibliography), and the theoretical foundations, all of which are located on â€Å"Course Home† in BlackBoard.. Demonstrates the ability intellectually to explore and/or implement key instructional concepts. Demonstrates exceptional inclusion of major points, using creditable sources**, in addition to course videos or required readings. Demonstrates insightful reflection and/or critical thinking. Demonstrates a clear understanding of the assignment’s purpose. Includes specific information from course videos or required readings to support major points. Provides careful consideration of key instructional concepts. Shows some degree of understanding of the assignment’s purpose. Generally applies theories, concepts, and/or strategies correctly, with ideas unclear and/or underdeveloped Minimally includes specific information from course videos or required readings. Shows a lack of understanding of the assignment’s purpose. Does not apply theories, concepts, and/or strategies Does not include specific information from course videos or required readings. Written Expression and Formatting The extent to which scholarly, critical, analytical writing is presented in APA format; Standard Edited English ( i.e. correct grammar, mechanics). Represents scholarly writing in a correct APA format. Work is unified around a central purpose with well-developed ideas, logically organized in paragraph structure with clear transitions. Effective sentence variety; clear, concise, and powerful expression are evident. Work is written in Standard Edited English. No prominent errors interfere with reading. Work is well organized with correct APA formatting throughout. Ideas are clearly and concisely expressed. Elements of effective communication such as an introduction and conclusion are included. Work is written in Standard Edited English with few, if any, grammatical or mechanical errors Somewhat represents mature, scholarly, graduate-level writing, with APA generally followed. Ideas are not clearly and concisely expressed. Elements of effective communication such as an introduction and conclusion are not included. Work contains more than a few grammatical, or mechanical errors. The quality of writing and/or APA formatting are not acceptable for graduate level work. Major points do not reflect appropriate elements of communication. No effort to express ideas clearly and concisely. Work is not written in Standard Edited English. Contains many grammatical or mechanical errors A: Exemplary Work A = 4.00; A- = 3.75 All of the previous, in addition to the following: B: Graduate Level Work B+ = 3.50; B = 3.00; B- = 2.75 All of the previous, in addition to the following: C: Minimal Work C+ = 2.50; C = 2.00; C- = 1.75 F: Work Submitted but Unacceptable F = 1.00 It is expected that all applications and reflective essays will be submitted according to the assignment due dates indicated. Exceptions may be made  at the discretion of the faculty member if contacted by the student prior to the due date describing extenuating circumstances. Updated: 7-3-2012