Public Health and Health Advocacy Project Essay - 2201 Words

University of Phoenix Material Weekly Guide Community Health Advocacy Project Overview Each week you will use the Weekly Guide to guide you through the process of creating a hypothetical, community health advocacy project due in Week Six. The following breakdown represents each weeks part: †¢ In Week One, you select an aggregate and write questions to help you identify areas of strength and of need. †¢ In Week Two, you focus on describing the characteristics of your aggregate and writing an action plan on how you would apply each of Christoffel’s three stages as an advocate for the aggregate. †¢ In Week Three, you apply the three levels of prevention to your aggregate’s health concern and select†¦show more content†¦Stage Three: Action Activities may include raising funds, join the local or state government to encourage education in school, and join organizations who are already addressing the issue of teen pregnancy. Such organizations are the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and community-based programs. CDC is expanding prevention resources through the presidents teen pregnancy initiative, which involves the office of adolescent health, administration for children and families, and office of population affairs. CDC is also working to reach the Healthy People 2020 national objectives to reduce unintended teen pregnancy and improve adolescent health as well as recommending programs that reach teens that have been demonstrated to work, help parents communicate with their teens, and improve sexual and reproductive health service (CDC, 2012). Week Three Part Three The levels of prevention in epidemiology help provide a framework for health professionals to intervene and prevent disease, injury, or disability. Write a short description of the three levels of prevention. †¢ Primary prevention is directed at preventing a problem before it occurs. †¢ Secondary prevention refers to early detection and prompt intervention during the period of early diseaseShow MoreRelatedThe American Nurses Association ( Ana ) And The Health Ministries Association1272 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Health Ministries Association (HMA) have described Faith Community Nursing (FCN) as a form of a specialized nursing practice carried out by a nurse within a faith community (American Nurses Association Health Ministries Association, 2012). The role played by the FCN is to protect, promote, and optimize health and abilities, prevent illness and injury, and respond to distress regarding the practice beliefs and the values of a faith community. The FCNRead MoreThe American Nurses Association ( Ana ) And Health Ministries Association1364 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Nurses Association (ANA) and Health Ministries Association (HM A) have described Faith Community Nursing (FCN) as a form of a specialized nursing practice carried out by a nurse within a faith community (American Nurses Association Health Ministries Association, 2012). The role played by the FCN is to protect, promote, and optimize health and abilities, prevent illness and injury, and respond to distress regarding the practice beliefs and the values of a faith community. The FCN emphasesRead MoreThe International Council Of Nurses1144 Words   |  5 Pagesthe more than 13 million nurses worldwide (ICN, 2012). Founded in 1899, the ICN was the world’s first and widest reaching international organization for health care professionals (Wikipedia, 2015). The ICN’s activities are guided by its goals, which are to bring nurses together worldwide, advance nurses and nursing worldwide, and influence health policy. The ICN’s priorities have four (4) interconnected themes which are follows; to be a global voice across the profession in collaboration with otherRead MoreSexually Transmitted Infections ( Stis )1615 Words   |  7 PagesSexually transmitted infections (STIs) are one of the most concerning health problems in the United States. It is a serious threat to the health of the population which could lead to severe complications if left untreated. According to the CDC, approximately 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted disease are reported throughout the nation. â€Å"Though constituting 25% of the sexually active population, youth account for nearly half of new STI cases which makes them the at-risk population† (â€Å"2014Read MoreThe Illinois Caucus For Adolescent Health (Icah) Is An1314 Words   |  6 PagesThe Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH) is an organization that aims to empower youth and allies to transform public consciousness and capacity building within various systems (family, school, and healthcare) to support the sexual health, identities, and rights of youth t hrough education, organization, and advocacy. ICAH offers sexuality education courses in varied facets. Through peer education, performance based education, adult sexuality education and adult ally training, ICAH utilizesRead MoreThe Treatment Of Alzheimer s Disease Essay1345 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States federal legislation. According to its website, the Alzheimer’s Association’s specific goal encompasses around three specific points: advance scientific research for the disease; enhance care for diagnosed patients; advocate for brain health education to reduce the risk of dementia in the future. Therefore, the specific actions taken to reach the goal differ based on which of the three points are being focused on. Advancing research is accomplished through both promoting a research grantRead MoreSolving the Problem of Homeless Veterans680 Words   |  3 Pagespercent decline compared to the 2009 estimate (Veterans, 2013). Although progress is being made, there is much to be done. There are veterans with the same needs as the general homeless population, but also veterans with severe physical and mental health disabilities, related to their service, that necessitate permanent housing with supportive services. Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center, Inc. (MVOC), is a non-profit organized under tax code 501(c)(3), located in north central Massachusetts. ItRead MoreCommunity Based Nursing : The Collaboration Of Healthcare Providers With The Communities And The Populations Essay1052 Words   |  5 Pagesat large with the aim of promoting health and preventing diseases. Community health nurses provide care to groups, individuals, and families at an outside hospital setting with the aim of improving the communities health outcomes. A major aim in community heath nursing notices the healthy twenty-twenty objectives and that they have bearing on decreasing health disparities and lowering the overall cost of healthcare in the future. A goal of Advantage Health is to reach the healthy twenty-twentyRead MoreEvaluation Of A Powerpoint Video Essay838 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction The artifact I am reflecting on is a voice project, which is a PowerPoint video that I developed during the Health Education Methods and Materials (HLED 558) course, that held on the Summer of 2015 semester at Eastern Michigan University. The PowerPoint video was made as a part of the plan to advocate the EMU Tobacco Free Policy that went on effect July 1st, 2015. Also, it was made to market the STOP cessation program that will be implemented later to help student quitting smoking. ThisRead MoreNon-Profit Organization Analysis: World Vision Essay1174 Words   |  5 Pageslarger issues of community development and advocacy for the poor towards the end of helping poor children and their families build a sustainable future. * Matching Values World Vision has established values that appeal to the morality of the society’s majority. As a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization, its mission is to dedicate themselves to work with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Through its public commitment to serve all people regardless

Bivariate Application And Interpretation Assignment

DL Applied Statistics Spring 2016 Bivariate Application and Interpretation Assignment FILL IN YOUR NAME IN THE SPACE BELOW TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT: Samantha Jo Ursua Due: By Saturday night, April 16 at 11:59 pm (Eastern Time). Let’s use what you learned not only earlier in the class but also information from Module 7 for this assignment. Answer the following questions using your newfound knowledge about applying bivariate statistics and their p values to published results. Make sure you answer all parts of the question to get full credit. Empirical evidence includes descriptive statistics such as a percentages or a mean, or bivariate statistics such as a correlation coefficient. Evidence from the statistical test refers to the p value from any statistical test such as χ2 , t test, etc.). Sometimes the latter is reported in table footnotes. 1. Table 1 (see below) is from an article by Batiuk, Lahm, McKeever, Wilcox, and Wilcox (2005) entitled, â€Å"Disentangling the effects of correctional education: Are current policies misguided? An event history analysis,† published in Criminal Justice, 5(1): 55-74. In this table, the authors are describing the characteristics (gender, race, age, priors, offense, and education) of the sample of Ohio inmates who completed the various correctional educational programs included in their study (college, GED, vocational, and high school) and those who did not participate in correlational educational programs (non-education).Show MoreRelatedRingworm1178 Words   |  5 PagesDescription: This course is designed to give students the basic skills to organize and summarize data, as well as an introduction to the fundamental principles and application of statistical inference. The course emphasizes an understanding of statistical concepts, and interpretation of descriptive statistics along with application of basic (bivariate) analysis methods (e.g., t-test, chi square, ANOVA). Competencies: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Describe the role of biostatisticsRead MoreNormal Distribution and Khan Academy Website2679 Words   |  11 PagesApplied Statistics for Health Care Professionals Details Credit Hours PreRequisites coRequisites Course Add-Ons This introductory course on statistical concepts emphasizes applications to health care professions. The course is designed to prepare students to interpret and evaluate statistics and statistical methods used in published research papers and to make decisions about the appropriateness of specific statistical methods in a variety of settings. Areas of emphasis include Read MoreQuantitative Analysis in the Health Sciences8114 Words   |  33 Pagesin a statistics course because it is very difficult for me to separate the issues of research from the issues involved in statistics. Statistics, after all, simply represent tools used in research of one type or another and the selection and interpretation of statistics is the meat of quantitative research decision-making. An understanding, therefore, of the purposes and conceptual underpinnings of statistics requires at least a working knowledge of research and research terminology. The logicRead MoreSampling and Research8917 Words   |  36 PagesDesign the sample A fundamental step in planning the design is to identify the target population and select the sample (probability vs non-probability) STEP 5 – Data collection Usually done by field research services STEP 6 – Data analysis and interpretation To interpret and draw conclusions from the data Involves reducing accumulated data to manageable size, develop summaries, look for patterns, and apply statistical techniques. Should test the objectives of the study and provide insight intoRead MoreA Concise Guide to Market Research Using Spss71933 Words   |  288 Pagesreaders can also easily grasp the data analysis methods. Each chapter on research methods includes simple examples to help the reader get a hands-on feel for the technique. Each chapter concludes with an illustrated real-life case, demonstrating the application of a quantitative method. We also provide a second, real-life case with an accompanying dataset, thus allowing readers to practice what they have learnt. Other pedagogical features such as key words, examples, and end-of-chapter questions supportRead More THE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES65118 Words   |  261 Pagesstandards (James et al., 2002). Most knowledge management technologies focus on the actionable application of knowledge (Sallis Jones, 2002). This notion of knowledge for action directly applies to curriculum development and assessment. The knowledge gained from assessment is used to create and improve upon the curriculum which is comprised of courses, topics, instructional materials, presentations, assignments, etc. The association between knowledge management and assessment is also evident in learningRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 PagesDisplaying Categorical Data: Comparative Bar Charts and Pie Charts 76 3.2 Displaying Numerical Data: Stem-and-Leaf Displays 87 vii viii ââ€"   Contents 3.3 Displaying Numerical Data: Frequency Distributions and Histograms 97 3.4 Displaying Bivariate Numerical Data 117 3.5 Interpreting and Communicating the Results of Statistical Analyses 127 Activity 3.1 Locating States 134 Activity 3.2 Bean Counters! 134 Graphing Calculator Explorations 141 4 Numerical Methods for Describing Data 4.1 DescribingRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency And The Nature Of Police Juvenile9755 Words   |  40 Pagescustody than majority citizens suspected of legal infractions. It is therefore fair to conclude like Black (1976) that the police response to conflict is influenced largely by the social environment rather than by departmental policies given the application of discretion. The extant literature on the subject suggest that legal and extralegal factors influence the police decision one way or the other when encountering juveniles in the streets. Legal factors are the seriousness of the offense, theRead MoreEffect of Socil Media on Nigeria Youth7426 Words   |  30 Pagessocial support by tracking students across their rst semester at college. Reports of optimism obtained at the beginning of the semester predicted perceived social support at the end of the semester. Overall, the ndings were consistent with the interpretation that increases in optimism led to greater perceived social support, which in turn, improved the psychological adjustment of students (less stress and depression). Most notably, the actual self-reported sizes of students social networks did notRead MoreMonte Carlo Simulation218872 Words   |  876 PagesPreface This is a book about Monte Carlo methods from the perspective of ï ¬ nancial engineering. Monte Carlo simulation has become an essential tool in the pricing of derivative securities and in risk management; these applications have, in turn, stimulated research into new Monte Carlo techniques and renewed interest in some old techniques. This is also a book about ï ¬ nancial engineering from the perspective of Monte Carlo methods. One of the best ways to develop an understanding of a model of

Internal and External Sources of Finance free essay sample

Tesco used all types of internal sources. But firstly Im going to explain what a internal source is and what are advantages and disadvantages of this sources.Internal source are funds that are found inside of the business. Such as profits can be held back for the finance expansion. Furthermore other sources of the finance are mostly long term and it can be paid back over the years that pass. There are many advantages of the internal source such as the morale of promotee. Also things such as better assessment of abilities or another advantage is that it make the promotions more successful and the cost for some jobs decrease. Lastly for the advantage is the employee and the employers relation improves and develops. But however the disadvantages are thing inbreeding, any kind of morale problems of those that are not promoted . Another disadvantage of the internal source is the need for a management for programs such as the development programs. We will write a custom essay sample on Internal and External Sources of Finance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There many more disadvantages like missing good talent that are outside and no more new ideas.The first internal source of finance that Tesco has used could be the retained earnings. Retained earning mention the percentage of the net earnings that are not being paid. But however retained by the company so it can be used to reinvested into the core of the business or pay the debts off. It is also recorded under the shareholders equity on the balance sheet. The advantage of this method is that it is cheap, its very flexible and it does not dilute the ownership of the company. But the disadvantage of retained earnings can be things such as the danger of hoarding the cash and also the shareholders may prefer dividends if the organisation isnt earning a good amount to return onto the investment. Tesco used this method is to reinvest into a specific percentage of their end of year profits back into their organisation. So then they can try and improve it and each year Tesco decides how much money are they willing to re-invest on. But this all would depend on how much profits they actually make.Another type of internal source that Tesco uses is the fixed assets source.

War and Violence predisposition in human beings

Introduction We can trace war and violence from the beginning of recorded history of human beings. Even before then, humans have always been violent and at war for various reasons.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on War and Violence: predisposition in human beings specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Today, many people still prefer war and violence as means of solving some issues or world affairs. Human beings have perpetuated war and violence due to their greed, pride, and hatred. People kill one another because of hatred or the need to acquire what others possess. Nations arm themselves and opt for wars because they need world respect or resources from other nations. Violent men have ascended to power through bloody wars and violence in order to satisfy their desires. Others have used religion to justify killings of others or themselves. It is obvious that men have used wars and violence to end wars. However, this has not been an effective solution because there are new realities of wars and potential war threats. This observation has led some scholars to conclude that wars and violence are unavoidable and basic realities of human cultures. We can understand wars and violence from various perspectives. In this essay, we look at war and violence from the point of view of Oroonoko by Behn. War and Violence: predisposition in human beings From Oroonoko, we can understand that the text presents anti-colonial ideas. It shows slavery in its worst form. In other words, the text associated slavery with greed, brutality, and dishonesty. Behn’s text expresses great dissatisfaction with the beheading of King Charles I and several attempts to assassinate Charles II. Behn attempted to show that violence and greed were predisposition in the Britons. The author also notes betrayal and dishonesty that come with violence. For instance, â€Å"the British captain wins trust of Oroonoko† (Behn 28) by befriending him. However, the captain betrays and lies to Oroonoko by selling him to Trefry. These acts of betrayal and lies are also present in other people of authority Oroonoko interacts with like Surinam. Behn also reflects Byam as a person who greed as consumed by writing, â€Å"he was one who loved to live at others’ expense† (Behn 70). Majorities agree that the main causes of wars are greed, economic issues, and inequality in society. This argument posits that we engage in wars and violence in order to progress their economic aims. Such engagements may aim at previously denied resources or attempts to gain access and control of resources.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this context, greed has been the main force behind wars and violence. For instance, the ability of people to gain access to resources that they can loot enhances conflict. This conflict emanates f rom greed because of the possible gains in terms of profits or other tangible or intangible gains. War, Violence, and Resources We need to understand that people engage in wars for various reasons. It is important to draw a distinction between wars for resources and amassing of resources for other purposes. We understand that warring factions may need an adequate supply of resources to keep them in the battlefield. However, problems emerge when people fight to accumulate resources for the sake it. This is because resource accumulation and support to warring factions differ. It is difficult to identify distinctions between conflict for resources and conflict to accumulate resources because courses of wars often change before completion of wars. Initial causes of wars may be genuine. However, as conflicts advance, greed may become a new defining factor in conflicts. This is usually evident from a change from a collective objective to privileged objective of the few. Therefore, wars an d violence when viewed under economic rationale depict various reasons for engaging in them. In this context, we have to understand how people use wars to pursue economic agendas. British developed their economies by using slaves from Africa. They had to capture and sale slaves for economic gains. Behn’s work promoted the need to eradicate slavery. The author depicts wars and violence of slavery as evil. This is because whites used cruel acts against slaves. For instance, the author notes: â€Å"when they thought they were sufficiently revenged on him, they untied him as he almost fainted due to the loss of blood, from a thousand wounds all over his body and led him bleeding and naked as he was, and loaded him all over with irons and then rubbed his wounds, to complete their cruelty, with Indian pepper† (Behn 67). Such acts only depicted violence against slaves, which British exploited to create fear among slaves.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on War and Violence: predisposition in human beings specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Behn notes, â€Å"those who want slaves make a bargain with a master or a captain of a ship, and contract to pay him so much apiece, a matter of twenty pound a head, for as many as he agrees for, and to pay for ’em when they shall be delivered on such a plantation† (Behn 3). For the British, the option of economic success depended on exploiting African slaves. However, such economic gain came with considerable wars and violence at the expense of slaves. The British became profit-seeking people in their own ways as Behn noted, â€Å"those whom we make use of in our plantations of sugar are Negroes, black slaves altogether† (Behn 3). The British had to control territories and monopolize slave trade. They also derived huge profits due to constant demands. Slaves were the main economic drivers of wars and conflicts. Past wars and violenc e have shown that most wars emanated out of the need to accumulate resources. For instant, Charles Taylor managed to get millions of dollars from Liberia every year by focusing on the country’s main resources like diamond, iron ore, and timber among others. In Cambodia, Khmer Rouge also plundered the country’s resources like timber and gems with the help of his Thai associates. Wars and conflicts in Africa usually revolve around resources like diamonds and oils. These minerals are lucrative commodities of facilitating wars. Wars and conflicts manifested themselves in different ways against slaves. Violence in society manifests itself in a number of ways. These include murder, assault, rape, war, slander, betrayal, massacre, and execution among others. Behn’s book depicts the worst form of execution ever by stating â€Å"so inhuman were the justices who stood by to see the execution, who after paid dearly enough for their insolence. They cut Caesar in quarters, and sent them to several of the chief plantations† (Behn 63). The execution of Caesar shows how people can turn aggressive based on the prevailing circumstance. Human beings tend to learn aggression from others. There is a notion that the use of violence and aggressive tendencies guarantee the desired results regardless of suffering people endure during the course. This is the belief that people have used to be aggressive and promote violence for the sake of achieving resources or power they desire. The use of wars strengthened obedience among slaves while physical coercion ensured that slave masters had absolute control over slaves. However, usages of wars and violence only provide temporary solutions. This is because when violence ends, subjects also reduce their levels of obedience to authorities. This is why slave masters used constant vigilance to watch slaves. However, slaves had to revolt against their masters because of excessive violence and threats.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Most people argue that their wars and violence have credible cause. This is not true because negative effects of wars are devastating in society. This means we cannot use either religion or any other way to justify acts of wars and violence. Slave masters turned to violence because they felt that they could not control slaves due to the decline of their power. The use of violence against subjects may reveal weaknesses among rulers. Countries may engage in wars and acts of violence to test their power and control over others. Protracted wars only enhance further usage violence. Wars and violence enhance superiority of people. For instance, Behn shows that Britons were superior over natives. On the other hand, she portrays native people as savages who also engaged in acts of atrocities and violence. Conclusion Wars and violence have consumed values of the world. People have adopted ways that fit their desired outcomes. This means that people resort to violence and wars that only creat e chaotic societies. People create wars and violence based on their greed, pride, and hatred. Different economic and political reasons have fueled wars. People have blamed inequalities in allocations of resources or a lack of taking part in decision-making processes as the main causes of conflicts. Serious arguments have concentrated on the real factors that result into conflicts. Others have concluded that wars and violence take place due to economic inequalities. This argument originates from the idea that many people want more resources than they have. However, such people resort to force because they cannot gain access to such resources with ease. In this sense, we can conclude that greed is responsible for wars and violence in society. However, we also have needy people who need to gain access to resources for potential benefits. Greed reflects the idea of craving for more resources than needed. Therefore, people who fight for noble problems are not acting in the interest of gr eed. However, if this war aims to support privileged class, then greed undermines the noble fight. Some scholars have concluded that wars and violence are reactions to a number of problems people face in society such as scarcity of resources, violations of individuals’ rights, inequalities in power and resources distribution among others. War factors usually take racial or ethnic aspects as Behn shows in the book. The British used wars and violence against slaves to advance their economic agendas. Some forms of wars and violence are irrational because they lack worthwhile motives since most of them may originate from earlier hatred or vengeance. When we understand economic issues, then we have crucial factors that can help us formulate effective interventions for wars and violence. This suggests that we have to comprehend war economies and the role of greed in perpetuating violence. Works Cited Behn, Aphra. Oroonoko; or, the Royal Slave. London: W.W Norton Company, 2010. Pri nt. This essay on War and Violence: predisposition in human beings was written and submitted by user Braeden Snyder to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Village to City essays

Village to City essays From Village to City Over the years of history, there have been many civilizations. We will look at the earliest of all civilizations known to man. From Village to City began in 8000BC and spanned all the way into 3000BC. Throughout this report we will look at the 6 key features of this civilization as outlined in our classroom discussions, and hope to convey what we have learned in a useful, and interesting way. The development of a city: The first city to be built was Jericho, in the Middle East Map: This map is a picture of what the division of land would have looked like in those times. Clearly identified here, it is possible to see Babylon, Ur, and Eridu. Â © Microsoft Encarta 95. (Appendix 1). Sumer at this time evolved into the largest city-state, established by a people known as the Ubaidians. The development of the city, allowed for rapid population growth due to the abundance of food. Sheep, goat and pigs had been originally domesticated for use as food, not as sources of clothing. The main economic activity during this time was trade and barter. Obsidian, a volcanic glass was fashioned into razor sharp tools and weapons. It was also used as trade. People who lived near Obsidian deposits often risked their lives to collect it and eventually barter it off for food or money. Obsidian comes from volcanoes and was a kind of glass, the only of the times. The value of Obsidian was great, and so therefore was the supply and demand. Salt, ore, copper, and soapstone were accepted trade materials around 8000BC. Most of the Village to City civilization took place during the copper age, when copper was mined and used for many purposes. Trade developed between different cities, Jericho, Sumer, Adab, Eridu, Isin, Kish, Kullab, Lagash, Larsa, Nippur and Ur. Most of the trade consisted of livestock and other things such as weapons and food. Sumerians constructed large temples called Ziggurats. These temple...

15 Influential People You Should be Following on Social Media

15 Influential People You Should be Following on Social Media You’re on the job hunt, doing all the things you’re supposed to be doing. Updating your resume, writing cover letters, doing interview prep, and working on your network. That’s all great, but can sometimes be frustrating- not to mention lonely. If you start to feel like you’re stuck in your own echo chamber and need a fresh perspective, why not tune into some of the best movers and shakers of career development and inspiration?Here are 15 people to follow when you need a job hunting boost.1. Kathryn Minshew (Twitter)Minshew founded The Muse and gives great general career/job search advice as well as news briefs in the career world.2. Simon Sinek (Twitter)Sinek is a motivational speaker and writer who has made a successful living analyzing the communication habits of successful leaders. Check out his books (Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action  and  Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Some Don’t) and hi s social media.3. Hannah Morgan (Twitter)Morgan founded CareerSherpa and is an expert job search/career guru who doles out great advice on â€Å"solopreneurship† as well as self-branding and finding your next big opportunity.4. Abby Kohut (Twitter)Kohut founded Absolutely Abby, and is a career coach and recruiter. She got named among the â€Å"Top 25 Women To Follow On Twitter For Your Job Search† by CEO World and also tours the country in her career advice RV. She’s also great at what she does.5. Guy Kawaski (Twitter)Kawaski is the former â€Å"chief evangelist† of Apple. He’s one of the best speakers out there- about career, business, and leadership- and super motivational. His feed is full of advice and sometimes even a cute animal clip.6. Adam Toren (Twitter)Toren founded Young Entrepreneur and is an author and an entrepreneur himself. He’s great because he doesn’t just focus on young job seekers. He has advice for those of any ag e wishing to turn to entrepreneurship and make a career/branding leap.7. Seth Godin (Twitter)Godin is the quintessential career coach. He’s the bestselling author of 14 books about leadership, marketing, branding, and personal growth. Read his feed for links to his blog and get insights straight from the guru.8. Women 2.0 (Twitter)Women 2.0 actually offers good advice for any gender, though it is a media company specializing in education/innovation and business opportunities for women. Gain great insights into diversity and learn about opportunities for any entrepreneur starting out.9. Randi Zuckerberg (Twitter)Zuckerberg is the other Zuckerberg’s sister, and the author of Dot Complicated. She’s a social media legend, with great insights on how to use the internet to brand yourself personally and professionally and follow in her excellent footsteps to social media domination.10. Elon Musk (Twitter)Musk is a tech innovator extraordinaire. He’s also a CEO a nd overall â€Å"it† influencer in the executive world. Follow him for insights on how to redefine leadership and innovation in the science and business worlds.11. Laszlo Block (LinkedIn)Block wrote Work Rules! and is a senior adviser at Google. He also publishes a lot of excellent content on LinkedIn, about his work at Google as well as his leadership experience.12. Lisa Gates (LinkedIn)Gates founded She Negotiates, and is a killer career coach. She offers tons of great tips on how to negotiate successfully- and nearly all of us could use some work in that department. Learn how to be your best advocate when asking for a raise or a promotion, or even a starting salary.13. Meg Guiseppi (LinkedIn)Giuseppi is a branding guru, career and personal branding coach. She writes articles that have great strategies and tips for taking yourself to the next level.14. Heather Huhman (LinkedIn)Huhman is a digital marketing specialist and career coach who focuses on Gen Y (pre-Millenials). I f you’re not Gen X and not quite a Millenial, then she has great career advice for you to help you build, or rebuild, your career and negotiate changes over the course of your working life.15. Paul Freiberger (LinkedIn)Freiberger is a job search consultant and resume writer who doesn’t post terribly often, but the articles he does post are extremely worthwhile- often covering topics that don’t tend to be discussed as much.Remember, following folks on Twitter and LinkedIn gets you tons of free advice. You can decide how involved to get, but it’s always good to get a sense of what’s available out there. The resources are out there for you to find (and follow)!

Research proposal on how maternal incarceration affects children's Article

Research proposal on how maternal incarceration affects children's academic performance in the Bronx - Article Example The ordinary and average mom wakes up early in the morning to make breakfast for the schooling kids, prepare their things before the yellow bus arrives and send them off to safety. Owing to the dynamics of the strength of this bind, separating the child from the mommy will devastate, dislocate and disorient the life of the former while causing pain and unbearable sorrow to the latter. Incarceration is among the causes of the split. In the instant study and research proposal, the principal object of the undertaking is the case of schoolchildren from the Bronx of New York City whose mothers are behind bars. Several studies have indicated that the academic performance of those children is adversely affected by the separation. Special emphasis is had on African-American incarcerated mothers. Kids are deeply affected by the traumatic experience of their mothers being sent to jail. They feel left out or develop that frame of mind where they blame themselves for the unfortunate and sorry plight of the parent. The embarrassment and stigma brought about by the jailing of their mothers are significantly imprinted on the minds of these young people. Resultant of these circumstances, the subject children tend to have emotional and behavioral predicaments including poor showing in school. They are also vulnerable to becoming juvenile delinquents or drug addicts or both. They become figures themselves in the criminal justice system just like their parents who are mostly black or Latino. (Edelman, Marian Wright: Mothers Rocking the Prison Cradle. Politics. The Huffington Post. June 23, 2008. All Bronx News, All the Time! [internet]. Accessed on July 29, 2009. Available at: http://bronxnews.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/mothers-rocking-the-prison-cradle/) Disconnected from their mothers due to detention or imprisonment, the usual scenario for the abandoned children is that they are entrusted to the custody of a foster care of the government or of their kin. This situation results to these kids having difficulties in focusing to their studies in school. They find it hard to relate to their classmates and develop a sense of isolation. They also tend to have emotional shortcomings. (Nyary, Sasha. Foster Children With Mothers In Jail. March 2004. Children. Gotham Gazette. New York City News and Policy. [internet]. Accessed on July 29, 2009. Available at: http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/children/20040303/2/901) One child who had experienced getting removed from his family as a toddler when his mother was sent to jail would always be haunted by the dark past. Even when already living with a new family, he could not shrug off the sad memories indelibly marked in his recollections. He could not grow out of the ordeal. He would remember his mother reeling deeper into addiction and financial hardships. He would not forget her going to and fro jail times and rehabilitations processes. There was once instance when they had a brief reunion. It gave him the feeling of himself having a life of hell. It was as if he was likewise going to the same direction of

Modern Database Managment Assignment Three Essay

Modern Database Managment Assignment Three - Essay Example Furthermore, the volume/size of a database can differ extensively from a few megabytes for personal databases to huge terabytes of large business databases. The data and information of a business or personal database is stored on a nonvolatile medium that can hold huge amounts of data. However, the most frequently utilized storage mediums are magnetic disks. Magnetic disks are capable to store huge amount of data as compared to computer memory, at a great deal lower cost per unit of data. For data organization, logically data in RDBMS are structured like a group of relations/tables, each table/relation composed of a group of records (Hoffer, Prescot, & Topi, 2009; Shelly, Cashman, & Vermaat, 2005). DDC (Data Definition Command) is utilized to describe the database as well as other linked functions similar to creating views, tables, indexes etc. Below I will outline some data definition commands (Hoffer, Prescot, & Topi, 2009): Data control commands in SQL allow us to control access to data inside the database. These data control commands are usually employed to create objects and to control the allocation of privileges among users. A number of data control commands are (Hoffer, Prescot, & Topi, 2009): A View contains a stored query which is accessible like a virtual table composed of resultant group of a query. As compared to ordinary tables in a RDBMS a view is not a structured part of the physical representation. It is a dynamic, virtual table calculated or gathered from data in the database. Altering the data in a table changes the data represented in subsequent invocations of the view. Security in views can be applied for the users as the underlying tables are not straightly accessible. Thus, it helps DBA present users simply the data they require, as protecting additional data in the same table (Hoffer, Prescot, & Topi, 2009). To create a view

The Need for Privatization Essay Example for Free

The Need for Privatization Essay Every paycheck 7.65 percent is taken out for a retirement program, after the employer kicks in, a total of 12.4 percent of what you earn goes to the government to fund your retirement. The government system offers minuscule returns by anyones measure and the system is expected to go bankrupt as soon as 2014. If a private company had these problems, no one would invest. But, this is a mandatory program, Americans have to stay in this system and are forced to invest in its fated future. Social Security is one of the biggest disasters of American history. In a country that was founded on the principles of Capitalism and free markets, this socialist program limits peoples pursuit of happiness. Percent Who Believe Social Security Will Not Be There When They Retire All under 6560% Generation X70% Baby Boomers69% Social Security is an un-funded pay-as-you-go system. The idea is fundamentally flawed and follows the design of the famous illegal pyramid schemes. Many people claim that the constitution provides a social safety net, because the preamble of the constitution states that the government should promote the general welfare of the people. The constitution then goes on to list the enumerated powers of the state. Nowhere in the list does it say that the government should provide a retirement of healthcare for the people. If the founding fathers wanted these programs, they would have provided a way to pay for them. The rate of savings in the United States is 26 percent of Gross National Product; the country of Chile saves 30 percent of their GNP. With these two countries saving close to the same amount for their future, you would expect both to have similar results for retirees. The United States Government run pay-as-you-go system provides meager results as compared to even the least progressive private investment. The  Country of Chile used to have the same system the US currently uses, but decided to let people invest their own money how they choose in the open market. Chileans pensions are 70 to 100 percent higher than under the old government system since the switch to a private solution. The Chile system says that a person must contribute at least ten percent of their wages to the retirement program. Many workers contribute more than the ten percent that is required. In a private retirement system, people are free to choose what is best for them. Josà © Pià ±era, who is Chiles minister of labor, says: A worker can contribute more than 10 percent if he wants a higher pension or if he wants to retire early. Individuals have different preferences: some want to work until they are 85; others want to go fishing at 55, or 50, or 45, if they can. The uniform pay-as-you-go social security system does not recognize differences in individual preferences. In my country, those differences had led to pressure on the congress to legislate different retirement ages for different groups. As a result, we had a discriminatory retirement-age system. Blue-collar workers could retire at 65; white-collar workers could retire more or less at 55; bank employees could retire after 25 years of work; and the most powerful group of all, those who make the laws, the congressmen, were able to retire after 15 years of work. Opinion of Social Security Reforms The privatized Chilean system is obviously working better than the current US system. Many critics claim that the switch to a private system would be difficult to do. Chile, Mexico, Britain, and Australia have all successfully made the switch to a non-government system. All four of these countries are now striving under their new private retirement systems. The main problem cited in privatizing social security is how to pay the people that have paid into the program their whole life. There is an easy solution to this. The American Government has many programs that it does not have to provide under the Constitution. The government could easily abolish unnecessary arms such as the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Education. The government  also has excess assets that could be sold to support the people who have been forced to be dependent on Social Security. Social Securitys website lists the number of agency field offices at 1,300; thats a lot of office space, and a lot of bureaucrats that wouldnt need to be paid. If countries like Mexico and Chile can change over to privatized retirement systems, the United States will have no problem replicating their success. Josà © Pià ±era, Chiles minister of labor, described how the transition to a private system was made: The real transition cost of the system is the money the government ceases to obtain from the workers who moved to the new system, because the government is committed to pay the pensions of the people already retired and of those who will retire in the future. That transition cost can be calculated. In Chile it was around 3 percent of gross national product. How we financed it is another story. It will be done differently in each country. Suffice it to say that even though governments have enormous pension liabilities, they also have enormous assets. In Chile we had state-owned enterprises. In America I understand that the federal government owns a third of the land. I dont know why the government owns land, and I dont know the value. Nor am I saying that you should sell the land tomorrow. What I am saying is that when you consider privatizing Social Security, you must look at assets as well as liabilities. I am sure that the U.S. government has gigantic assets. Are they more or less than the liabilities of the Social Security system? I dont know, but the Cato project on privatizing Social Security will study that. In Chile we calculated the real balance sheet and, knowing there were enough assets, financed the transition without raising tax rates, generating inflation, or pressuring interest rates upward. In the last several years we have had a fiscal surplus of 1 to 2 percent of GNP. Opinion of Privatization Plan Strongly Favor38% Somewhat in Favor31% Lean in Favor4% No Opinion12% Lean Opposed2% Somewhat Opposed6% Strongly Opposed6% DK2% The future for Social Security looks grim, but there is some hope for privatization. The Republicans currently want private Social Security, and George Bush said Dont treat Social Security like its a federal program. In February of 1997 the Oregon state senate passed a resolution requesting that the state be allowed to opt out of the Federal Social Security program to start their own private retirement system. As people begin to see that the national program is going bankrupt, there will be great political pressure on congressmen to enact a new program. Medicare/Medicaid is another Federal program that is in great need of reform. Medical costs account for fourteen percent of our Gross Domestic Product. The current system decreases competition and skyrockets prices for medical care. The heavily regulated heath care business is restricted in not only getting cutting edge treatments to patients, but also in how they see patients. The American Medical Association limits the number of medical students accepted to Universities and decrease competition. There is never an ad in the help wanted section of the newspaper looking for doctors. When was the last time you heard of a doctor collecting unemployment? Government regulations also limit what non-doctors can do. Its easy to see that its doesnt take a PHD to do an annual checkup or to fix a broken bone. Regulations hurt Americans and drive up healthcare. With Medicare, there is a price put on procedures. An experienced doctor gets just as much as the recent med school graduate for doing open-heart surgery. The experienced  doctor is unable to make his own prices. These practices discourage competition and are bad for America. Canada and Britain both have socialized health care systems. The programs cost more than the semi-capitalist American system, but polls seem to show that citizens in those countries enjoy them. The care in these countries is mediocre and there is not much cutting edge medicine being done because there is no incentive to. There is also no incentive for doctors to perform to the best of their ability. Canadian patients cross the boarder to seek care at the Cleveland Clinic and when Margaret Thatcher needed surgery, she crossed the Atlantic to get help. The wait for cancer radiation in Canada is three to six months, twelve to twenty two months for a new plastic hip. Federally run programs will never be as cost effective or efficient as those run in the private sector. Time will tell as to whether Social Security and Medicare will fall out of Federal hands, but common knowledge of Economics shows that more competition breeds more innovative and less expensive solutions.

Extreme Sports Essay -- Skydiving Snowboarding Sporting Essays

Extreme Sports Works Cited Missing â€Å"Extreme sports have boomed since the early '90s† (Petrecca 16). It is hard to believe that such activities as sky diving, snowboarding, bungee jumping, and the up and coming razor scooter have been labeled as so-called â€Å"extreme sports†. What characteristics must a sport have to labeled extreme? Perhaps it is the lack of safety, or the inability to create specific rules for these sports. Maybe it is the fact that these sports are just recently becoming mainstream so there is no other classification other than extreme sports. In any case, these activities are definitely something new and interesting to sprawl out in the mainstream of sports, which will do nothing except become larger and more popular. â€Å"Man, I shouldn’t be here† (McClearn 165). Looking down at the earth from 1,200 meters up, through an open airplane’s door, anyone will probably feel the same way. The thrill and the risk of jumping out of a plane sends shivers down some person’s backs, however there are also those who it makes want to live even more. â€Å"Some are drawn to the sphincter-wrenching terror of free fall† (McClearn 165). The excitement of jumping out of plane may be enjoyable for the person, but not for the wallet. For the first year of sky diving, a person can expect to pay up to $7000; however the price does decrease as more equipment and experienced is accumulated. The price, although expensive, is worth it, â€Å"And the feeling of cheating death is simply pric... Extreme Sports Essay -- Skydiving Snowboarding Sporting Essays Extreme Sports Works Cited Missing â€Å"Extreme sports have boomed since the early '90s† (Petrecca 16). It is hard to believe that such activities as sky diving, snowboarding, bungee jumping, and the up and coming razor scooter have been labeled as so-called â€Å"extreme sports†. What characteristics must a sport have to labeled extreme? Perhaps it is the lack of safety, or the inability to create specific rules for these sports. Maybe it is the fact that these sports are just recently becoming mainstream so there is no other classification other than extreme sports. In any case, these activities are definitely something new and interesting to sprawl out in the mainstream of sports, which will do nothing except become larger and more popular. â€Å"Man, I shouldn’t be here† (McClearn 165). Looking down at the earth from 1,200 meters up, through an open airplane’s door, anyone will probably feel the same way. The thrill and the risk of jumping out of a plane sends shivers down some person’s backs, however there are also those who it makes want to live even more. â€Å"Some are drawn to the sphincter-wrenching terror of free fall† (McClearn 165). The excitement of jumping out of plane may be enjoyable for the person, but not for the wallet. For the first year of sky diving, a person can expect to pay up to $7000; however the price does decrease as more equipment and experienced is accumulated. The price, although expensive, is worth it, â€Å"And the feeling of cheating death is simply pric...

How Montessori Environmet Differs Than Traditional Setup

Montessori environment differs from traditional education in many ways. Only a few of them are discussed below: In a Montessori environment the support is given to the natural development of the human being. The emphasis is on cognitive (the emergence of the ability to think and understand) and social development. Whereas in a traditional classroom, prescribed or arranged blocks of knowledge are transmitted into the child. The areas to focus on are rote (memorization technique based on repetition) knowledge.It is as if the information is poured into the brain of a child without much understanding of the process. In Montessori setup the child is not just there in the classroom to listen and receive whatever the teacher is â€Å"lecturing† him about (without even understanding a word). But he is there to think and ponder upon the work that is presented to him. Why and how the child arrives at what he knows is just as important as what he knows. In a Montessori classroom, the ind ependent activity is 80 % of the work, and the teacher directed activity accounts for the remaining 20 %.The reverse is true for the traditional setup. When the child is in a Montessori class, he has shown the activity once (if needed it can be presented again) and then it is up to him to choose from variety of activities that he was shown earlier. The child is allowed to choose his work, take it to his work space and repeat it as much as he wants. This whole process calls for independence. In a traditional classroom, the teacher is the one who decides what the child has to learn, also the pace of the learning process as well as how the learning will take place.The teacher is in control of the whole scenario so most of the activity takes place through her. Self corrected materials are used in a Montessori environment. A child relies on impersonal judgement that comes from his senses. Each material is prepared with control of error. Whereas an external force, means a teacher, is the one who corrects in a traditional way of learning. By using the self corrected materials the child acquires independence. If he makes a mistake, he can correct himself without any help from an adult. In a traditional classroom, the child always depends on the teacher to correct his mistakes nd to tell him if he has done his work correctly or not. This way the child looks for appraisal and always asks for teacher’s approval. The child does not do his work for his own inner satisfaction but he is always looking for outward reward or punishment. The Montessori way of learning puts emphasis on (self) discipline and freedom (within bounds). On the other hand, the point of view in a traditional setting is that children are inherently disorderly and that their willfulness and impulses must b inhibited by an external discipline.Montessori educators believe that children cannot develop a sense of inner discipline if all of the control comes from the outside. In a Montessori classroom, the child is free to choose his work (freedom of choice) but at the same time, he can only choose out of those activities that are already presented to him (freedom within bounds). He is free to do any work he wants or wishes to do but he has to follow an order in which the work was presented to him by the directress. In a Montessori environment the teacher’s role is that of a facilitator and guide while the role of the child is an active one.In a traditional classroom, the teacher plays a very dominant role in the classroom while the child is passive. The teacher, in a Montessori classroom, is mostly in the background. She just steps in when she feels that there is a need. She does not teach, in fact she directs and makes learning smooth and enjoyable, as compared to the traditional setup where the teacher mostly talks and the child just listens. Mix age group is one of the most important aspects of a Montessori environment. Same age group is the norm of a traditional educa tion. Mix age group in the Montessori classroom helps the teacher as well as the students.The elder children act as role models, direct the younger ones, and feel the sense of responsibility whereas the younger children look at the older ones with fascination. This sort of collaboration can be a helping hand for the teacher. The environment, in a Montessori classroom, is tailored according to the child. On the other hand, in a traditional classroom, the child has to adapt according to the environment. One of the main purposes of the Montessori education is to make the child independent and this can only be achieved if we cater to the needs of the child.Montessori classroom belongs to the child and that’s why the whole setup is child sized. The child in the Montessori environment is the center of everything. Montessori environment emphasizes that learning should be done through all five senses. Whereas, in a traditional setup, learning takes place mostly through listening, rea ding and watching. In a Montessori classroom hands on activities are used so that the child can use his senses to absorb the information (this way the information that is absorbed is long lasting) as compared to the traditional set up where the child sits passively, and listens to the teacher.

Best practices in project quality management/leadership for IT Essay

1. 0 Introduction Most people simply accept low quality from many information technology (IT) products. So what if ones laptop crashes a couple of times a week? Just ensure there is back up for data. So what if one cannot log in to the business intranet or the internet right now? Just attempt a little later when it is less busy. So what if the latest version of word-processing software was shipped with several bugs? One may like the software’s new features, and all new software has bugs. Is quality a real problem with information technology projects? Yes, it is! IT is not just a luxury available in some offices, homes, or schools. Firms throughout the world provide employees with access to computers. The majority of people in the US use the internet, and usage in other countries continues to expand rapidly. It took only six years for 60 million people to use the internet compared to 20 years for 60 million to use cell phones (Kathy, 2008, p. 292). Many issues of individual and or group lives depend on high-quality IT products. Food is produced and distributed with the help of computers; vehicles have computer chips to monitor performance; students use computers to aid them learn in school; organizations depend on technology for many business functions; and millions of people depend on technology for entertainment and individual communications (Kathy, 2008). Many IT projects develop mission-critical systems that are utilized in life-and-death circumstances. Such as navigation systems on aircraft and computer components built into medical equipment. Financial institutions and their clients also depend on high-quality information systems. Clients get very upset when systems present inaccurate data or display information to unauthorized people that could result to identity theft. When any of these systems fails, it is much more than a mere inconvenience (Taguchi, 2004). 1. 1 Definitions Before one can enhance the quality of IT projects, it is good to understand the fundamental concepts of project quality management. Indeed, it is hard to define project quality management. According to the international organization for standardization (ISO) quality can be defined as the totality of features of an organization that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied requirements (Kathy, 2008). It can also be defined as the extent to which a set of inherent features fulfils needs (ISO9000). Other professionals define quality based on adherence to needs and fitness for use. Adherence to needs means project’s products and processes meet laid down specifications. Fitness for use implies a product can be used as it was intended. The purpose of project quality management is to make sure that the project will fulfill the requirements for which it was undertaken. Project management involves among others things meeting or surpassing stakeholder requirements and anticipations. The project group must initiate good relationships with core stakeholders, especially the primary client for the project, to comprehend what quality implies to them. Many technical projects fail because the project management group aims only at meeting the written requirements for the project (Juran and Frank, 2002). Quality, therefore, must be on an equal basis with project scope, cost, and time. If the project’s stakeholders are dissatisfied with the quality of the project management or the end products of the project, the management group will require adjusting time, cost, and scope to fulfill stakeholder needs. In which case meeting only documented requirements for time, cost, and scope is not sufficient. To attain stakeholder fulfillment, the project group must come up with a good working relationship with all stakeholders and comprehend their implied or stated requirements. Best practices: over the years, organizations have become mesmerized with the term-best practice-but after continued use, experts began scrutinizing the expression and now better definitions exist. A best practice starts simply with an idea. Knowing that there is a process, tool, activity, or method that can deliver results effectively than any other method and provides one with the desired results with less barriers and predictable complexities is a welcome. As a result, one apparently ends up with an efficient way of completing a task by use of a repeatable procedure that has stood the test of time for quite a large number of IT projects (Kathy, 2008). As project quality management evolved, so did the meanings of best practices. Some definitions of best practices are complicated while others are somehow simple. Yet, they both address the same aim of encouraging project quality management throughout the organization. Firms must decide on the depth and extent of their best practices. Must it be at high level and generic or at a low level and detailed? A generic best practice may not attain the desired efficiencies whereas a detailed one may not have unlimited applicability. Basically, any firm can decide to have own definition of best practices and there might even be company quality requirements on the definition of such best practices. For example, a best practice can be defined as something that: works, works well, works well on a repetitive basis, leads to a competitive advantage, can be identified in quest to improve business, and prevents the firm from problems.

WOMENS RIGHT TO VOTE essays

WOMENS RIGHT TO VOTE essays In the 1900s, there was a constant struggle for women in society. The right to vote had become a major issue in England and eventually migrated its way over to the United States. Women had to deal with difficult social condition in order to achieve their goal of obtaining the right to vote. The vote was more then simply what it states it is. To women, the vote represents a symbol, of citizenship, liberty, and freedom, a safeguard, of these liberties, and most of all an instrument which encourages the people for more than what the forefathers had gotten. At this time, women had a lot of strife to cope with, especially in regards to family life. Marriage was a influential issue in the argument over the right to vote. This act was said to be unjust and unequal and women believed that their right to vote could make it fair and wise. It has been said that marriage was made for women by men. Women believe that they should have a point of view which matters in the subject matter of marriage. If a woman was to be wed, she would have to give up her economic independence and employment for his security. The married man had last say in every aspect of life, even in the decision of the future for his child, including religion, education and everything in between. The wife has no legal voice, no claim on income and is forced to be content whether she is starving or not. The man decides how much food, shelter, money and clothes he provides her with. Also expanding on the same idea of inequality, after all the training women from schools, almost all posts and professorships are given to men. Women believed that the Parliamentary vote will eventually make life easier for women. Political equality is the key which is needed to unlock the door. Home is an important part of society in which everyone in the nation has. Home is a place where every child can be a happy and useful member of society and women feel like their contri...

Overcoming Math Anxiety

Overcoming Math Anxiety Math anxiety or fear of math is actually quite common. Math anxiety, like test anxiety is quite similar to stage fright. Why does someone suffer stage fright? Fear of something going wrong in front of a crowd? Fear of forgetting the lines? Fear of being judged poorly? Fear of going completely blank? Math anxiety conjures up fear of some type. The fear that one wont be able to do the math or the fear that its too hard or the fear of failure which often stems from having a lack of confidence. For the most part, math anxiety is the fear about doing the math right, our minds draw a blank and we think well fail and of course the more frustrated and anxious our minds become, the greater the chance for drawing blanks. Added pressure of having time limits on math tests and exams also cause the levels of anxiety grow for many students. Where Does Math Anxiety Come From? Usually math anxiety stems from unpleasant experiences in mathematics. Typically math phobics have had math presented in such a fashion that it led to limited understanding. Unfortunately, math anxiety is often due to poor teaching and poor experiences in math which typically leads to math anxiety. Many of the students Ive encountered with math anxiety have demonstrated an over reliance on procedures in math as opposed to actually understanding the math. When one tries to memorize procedures, rules and routines without much understanding, the math is quickly forgotten and panic soon sets in. Think about your experiences with one concept - the division of fractions. You probably learned about reciprocals and inverses. In other words, Its not yours to reason why, just invert and multiply. Well, you memorized the rule and it works. Why does it work? Do you really understand why it works? Did anyone every use pizzas or math manipulatives to show you why it works? If not, you simply memo rized the procedure and that was that. Think of math as memorizing all the procedures - what if you forget a few? Therefore, with this type of strategy, a good memory will help, but, what if you dont have a good memory. Understanding the math is critical. Once students realize they can do the math, the whole notion of math anxiety can be overcome. Teachers and parents have an important role to ensure students understand the math being presented to them. Myths and Misconceptions None of the following is  true! Youre born with a math gene, either you get it or you dont.Math is for males, females never get math!Its hopeless, and much too hard for average people.If the logical side of your brain isnt your strength, youll never do well in math.Math is a cultural thing, my culture never got it!Theres only one right way to do math. Overcoming Math Anxiety A positive attitude will help. However, positive attitudes come with quality teaching for understanding which often isnt the case with many traditional approaches to teaching mathematics.Ask questions, be determined to understand the math. Dont settle for anything less during instruction. Ask for clear illustrations and or demonstrations or simulations.Practice regularly, especially when youre having difficulty. Take good notes  or use journals effectively.When total understanding escapes you, hire a tutor or work with peers that understand the math. You can do the math, sometimes it just take a different approach for you to understand some of the concepts.Dont just read over your notes - do the math. Practice the math and make sure you can honestly state that you understand what you are doing.Be persistent and dont over emphasize the fact that we all make mistakes. Remember, some of the most powerful learning stems from making a mistake. Learn from mistakes. Find out more about the myths of doing math and you too will overcome math anxiety. And, if you think making mistakes is a bad thing, look again. Sometimes the most powerful learning stems from making mistakes. Find out how to learn from your mistakes. You might also want to find out what the 3 most common errors in math are and review the remedies to overcome them.

John Wayne Gacy Murder Trial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

John Wayne Gacy Murder Trial - Essay Example John Wayne Gacy was an American who was convicted of murder and sexual assaults. Evidence indicated that between 1972 and 1978, he murdered and sexually assaulted at least 33 young men and teenage boys. Due to his serial killing, he earned the tag â€Å"Killer Clown†. Also, evidence indicates that the defendant was living a double life; that of committing murders and that of engaging in political and charitable activities. Murder trials show that he was convicted of more murders than any other person in the American history. Based upon this historic murder trial, therefore, this paper will analyze the case and document and respond to a number of issues relating to the case (Mendenhall, 1996).   Since the offenses that the defendant committed were â€Å"unusual†, it is important to understand the specific psychological characteristics and patterns that might be inferred from him. The testimony that was made during the trial indicated that Gacy had psychological characteristics and patterns that to a greater extent depicted his atrocious actions. Those who worked for him testified that he was violent and in most cases showed an intention to commit sexual assaults; actually, they testified that they had survived sexual and violent encounters with him (Amirante and Broderick, 2011). Friends, family and his former employees also testified that Gacy had mood swings and was â€Å"awfully tricky†, a trait he used to succeed in handcuffing them. Most of the sixty witnesses who testified during trial took notice of these characteristics and patterns. Since such characteristics are often associated with the insane, this was not the case with Gacy as psychologists had confirmed that he was sane, and he committed the offenses while in sound mind. Psychologists and medical experts who testified for the defense agreed that he was very intelligent and generous.

Research Paper on Steroids in Sports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Research Paper on Steroids in Sports - Essay Example Needless to say, there is tremendous ground breaking pressure on athletes and sports representatives to make sure they bring home the gold; otherwise they might have to suffer dire consequences. With all the stakes that are involved, it is only prudent from the athlete’s point of view to make sure that they are the best in their competitive lot by hook or by crook. This is where the abuse of medicine to enhance their performance comes in; with evidently positive intentions, sports are now infiltrated with infamous scandals relating to doping and usage of steroids to enhance performance. The essay primarily discusses a brief history of the usage of steroids in sports, followed by an analysis of the reasons for the increase and the repercussions that athletes face after failing the test. This essay also analyzes if the repercussions are barring the use of steroids or if there is a need of a stricter policy to ensure that steroids are not abused in sports. Steroids: Steroids are similar to certain hormones present in our body and they act like those hormones and sometimes are introduced artificially in our body. The body in itself is able to produce this hormone to fight stress and helps in promoting growth and development. Therefore, they are a very important part of human body. Introduction of these hormones in the human body will help in increasing the development and stamina of athletes. Especially when people are injured, steroids can help in increase the speed of growth and development of the human body. Therefore, they are a complete hit in the sports arena and are allegedly used by athletes to increase man power and stamina to endure the immense physical strain they put their body through. History: One of the first cases of the usage of steroids in sports was reported in 1954. The Soviets, in the World Weightlifting championship, dominated more than anybody and it was revealed that they were given testosterone injections to enhance their sports perf ormance. However, enhancements had been tried before too; citations go back to Greece. It has been observed that athletes have taken extreme measures and followed stringent regimes in order to increase their physical efficiency and fitness nearing a tournament. Although, one might not want to judge the motives behind this action of theirs, it has been observed that more and more corruption came into sports are the financial stakes of the tournaments were increased. The more the prize money was, the more there was a chance for the athletes to experiment with medicine. Therefore, many athletes from as far as Greek times have been known to take extreme measures like eating meat for months before a tournament, in order to increase the presence of testosterone in their body. The story is not very different today; it might actually feel pretty similar to many of us. We are bombarded with dope tests and other kinds of drug tests that are found negative in players from all kinds of sports, from all over the world. The stakes are so high that even after extreme punishments, sportsmen and sportswomen still find the idea of pushing their body to a new level artificially through medicine. Steroids in High School Sports: The use of drugs that enhance physical capabilities is not only restricted to international sports. At the high school level sports, this problem is increasing, or so is quoted by the

Two Methods for teaching Third Grade students to appreciate Art Essay

Two Methods for teaching Third Grade students to appreciate Art - Essay Example This will enable kinesthetic learning which is so essential for this age-group. A hands-on approach to art in which the students not only look at different forms of art but also take part in creating them will enable the imagination of the children to be captured. The use of water to thin paint can introduce various elements of the basic science curriculum to the children. How water flows, what happens to it when other materials are put in it and what happens to it and other materials when it dries can be made an integral part of this learning experience. This will not only enable the students to understand how paint works but also that "science" is in fact fun and relevant to their actual lives. In the context of third-graders, this can be presented to them as how they can use the water in so many different ways. A second technique for the teaching of art is to introduce the children to the art of many different cultures, and have them try to create their own versions of it. Thus children may be encouraged to bring in pictures from their own culture if the classroom is diverse enough to enable this exercise. The third-graders will learn about other cultures (an essential element of the wider curriculum) and also be self-empowered through discovering that they can produce their own versions of that culture's art. As Gelineau (2003) suggests, the arts can provide opportunities for creative expression and self-fulfillment. The arts can and should be taught for their own sake as legitimate areas of study, but their link within the wider curriculum can also be stressed. Thus, as has been shown in this brief discussion, areas of the curriculum as diverse as science and cultural studies can be brought into the study of art. Most of all, the children should be taught that the appreciation of art is enjoyable, hopefully a lesson that will bring them a lifetime of pleasure in discovering the arts. _______________________________________ Works Cited Gelineau, Phyllis. Integrating the Arts Across the Elementary School Curriculum. Wadsworth, New York: 2003.

Are Ghosts An Illusion Of The Mind Philosophy Essay

Are Ghosts An Illusion Of The Mind Philosophy Essay Ghosts are just one of the many subtopics that reside within the topic of paranormal. Paranormal experiences are studied using parapsychology: a scientific approach to supposedly paranormal experiences. With the use of H. J. Irwins brilliant book called, An Introduction to Parapsychology Third Edition, and Bobby Elgees article called, Evidence of the Paranormal and Ghosts, we are able to deduce a theoretically sound explanation of what is paranormal and since when has the topic been studied. Then, we analyze the survival hypothesis and the ability of a soul to live outside the body. After, we proceed to the definition of ghosts and their usual whereabouts while setting the conditions that they usually appear in as well as to who they appear. Finally, we go on to claiming that these experiences are not really ghosts, but either hallucinations or just simply paranormal due to the witnesses wild conclusion that it couldnt be anything other than a ghost. Ghosts: An Illusion of the Mind Ghosts are not what you think they are, far from it. They arent the friendly little ghost you see in Casper, nor are they the Bloody Baron from SpongeBob Squarepants who haunts the ocean for eternity. They might not even be anything at all, just a word people exploit to an unknown object which might have a logical explanation. Yet, most cultures in the world believe in the body having a soul which like the heart, can exist and survive in another body. Yet, even if such an idea is generally believe by a large population of the world, it may not be true. Thought or belief proves nothing, for if it were, then a group could believe in radioactive helicopter bunnies and it would be fact. Yet, people need proof, therefore, to believe ghosts, we need proof that they exist. Life isnt neither what people see in movies, read in books nor see in pictures. Therefore, neither are ghosts. In order to prove ghosts dont exist, we have to analyze the parapsychological and the paranormal, the survival theory, the situations in which ghost usually appear and how most experiences are most likely fakes. According to Bobby Elgee, the word paranormal simply means not scientifically explainable.' (Elgee, 2009, pg 1) Meanwhile, parapsychology is known as the study of apparent anomalies of behavior and experience that exist apart from currently known explanatory mechanisms that account for organism-environment and organism-organism information and influence flow (Irwin, 1999, pg 1). Therefore, it is the commutation of a being to another, or a being to a surrounding. In other words, parapsychology is using a scientific approach to study experiences that may be paranormal and to determine whether or not the evident paranormal quality of a given class of parapsychological experience is authentic or ontologically real. (Irwin, 1999, pg 9) According to Irwin, recorded instances of parapsychological experiences of course may be found among all cultures and in all historic periods. (Irwin, 1999, pg 13) Yet, the testing of such experiences for accuracy and authenticity was slower to emerge. Some, such as Henry More and Joseph Glanvill showed themselves alert to the possibility of fraud, delusion, and unreliable observation, but their views more religious than scientific as they were endeavoring to ascertain the earthly presence of the devil and diabolical forces. (Irwin, 1999, pg 14) It was later that Francis Bacon made a call for objective scrutiny of parapsychological experiences (Irwin, 1999, pg 14) which was more scientific than More and Glanvill, but at the time society was not receptive to such a view and Bacons arguments went unheeded. (Irwin, 1999, pg 14) Then, a center in England called the Society for Psychical Research where parapsychologists are united in their conviction that the objective investigation of pa rapsychological phenomena was called for, despite the prevailing disinterest in such research among the established divisions of science. (Irwin, 1999, pg 13) Even today, most of society disregards the subject as scientific, yet parapsychology is under taken as a scientific endeavor regardless of its subject matter, flaws in any of its research procedures, and the skeptical rhetoric of its critics. (Irwin, 1999, pg 2) Therefore, Irwin states that, All ESP experiences thus are parapsychological, but we require proof that any of them could be paranormal. (Irwin, 1999, pg 2) How do parapsychologists know that an experience is truly paranormal? According the Elgee, Competent paranormal investigators will attempt to rule out the anomaly (Elgee, 2009, pg 1) or anything that seems abnormal or irregular. If someone captures a photo of a strange orb or mist, parapsychologists would ask all questions possible in order to rule out irregularities such as: is it a reflection? Is it a bug? Is it dust? Is it condensation on the lens of the camera? Is it a problem with the developing and/or printing process? (Elgee, 2009, pg 1) Yet, according to Irwin, parapsychologists focus of study is purely a matter of appearance, of how an experience seems to be. (Irwin, 1999, pg 2) Therefore, even if the survival hypothesis proves not to provide a legitimate basis for their conceptual integration, each of these experiences appears to entail the existence of a nonphysical or spiritual self (Irwin, 1999, pg 9) thereby, the experience is parapsychological. The authenticity of the experience relates to the question of whether the issue of underlying processes concerns the question of how? (Irwin, 1999, pg 9) For it to be paranormal, the question of must be raised. How is this possible? How did this come here? How did it happen? If the question of how cannot be answered, it is hence called paranormal. Yet, there are groups today that are causing a steadfast declination in the belief of the paranormal. They are damaging the credibility of legitimate and accomplished paranormal researchers and parapsychologists by posting photographs that are easily dismissed as well-known and easily identifiable camera malfunctions and other artifacts of the photographic process. (Elgee, 2009) If people keep on claiming that every small malfunction is an apparition or paranormal experience, then nobody would believe if a true paranormal experience emerged. It would be the boy who called wolf all over again, except with ghosts, orbs, mists and many other strange paranormals. According to Irwin, the survival hypothesis concerns the notion of postmortem survival, that is, that a disembodied consciousness or some such discarnate element of human personality might survive bodily death at least for a time. (Irwin, 1999, pg 175) Simply stated, the survival hypothesis is the notion that there is some element of human existence that survives death. (Irwin, 1999, pg 8) For an apparition or spirit to appear, it has to be able to survive outside the body. Due to the fact that apparitions, ghosts as a matter of fact, can be of the living, we can assume that survival does not necessarily imply immortality or eternal existence (Irwin, 1999, pg 175) after death of the body, but more of the soul being able to survive outside the body for a limited time. Therefore, when comprehending an experience in which an apparition is involved, parapsychologists must be able to believe that a disembodied consciousness or some such discarnate element of human personality might surviv e bodily death at least for a time. (Irwin, 1999, pg 175) Due to implications of an existence after death, the survival hypothesis has obvious religious connotations. (Irwin, 1999, pg 175) Yet, since the topic is being studied from a scientific point of view, these are of no concern. Therefore, when looking at the topic from a scientific point of view, we ask questions. In order to analyze, the first step is to ask questions in order to be able to understand all aspects of the situation. Becker asks, is there a nonphysical element of human existence that can separate from the physical body, can survive organic death, can reattach its organization as an integral personality after death, can appear before and haunt the living, [and] can be born again in another body? (Becker, 1993, pg 9) Yet, it cannot be scientifically proven that there is a life after death since there is no evidence. That is a question of faith at this point in time since there is no scientific evidence of the exis tence of ghosts or an afterlife. (Elgee, 2009) Therefore, we have to assume accordingly that in case of a life after death, we could thereby presume a ghost to be real. Yet, until then, all suggestions are merely that and nothing else. A ghost is a type of apparition. According to Irwin, an apparition is encountered in a perceptual-like experience and relates to a person or animal that is not physically present, with physical means of communication being ruled out. (Irwin, 1999, pg 243) Therefore, for it to be an apparition there has to be evidence that the figure is not there and has no possible means of a connection to the witness. Yet, Irwin states that it is held to be pointless to speak of apparitions unless we mean this term to refer to the hypothesis of an objective entity. (Irwin, 1999, pg 243) He goes on to say the having defined the term thus, it is up to parapsychologists to ascertain if these hypothesized objective entities actually exist. (Irwin, 1999, pg 243) Therefore, it is up to parapsychologists to study all rational explanations until there are no explanations, naming the experience as paranormal, but not necessarily an apparition. As Eglee states, If weve done a good job ruling out everything, w e may just be left with something paranormal. Thats it. (Elgee, 2009) We cannot call something unexplainable by a name other than paranormal, or seemingly an apparition. Otherwise, it would be metaphorical to calling someone you dont know Bob. You may assume it to be Bob, but he is just an unknown somebody until evidence proves otherwise. One problem that could be raised against any definition of the apparition (Irwin, 1999, pg 243) is that it could be a hallucination. Unless witnesses by more than one sanitary person, an apparition could be a persons mind playing tricks on the so-called experient. Therefore, parapsychologists have gone from studying the apparition to studying the apparitional experience in order to adopt a phenomenological approach (Irwin, 1999, pg 244) in the field of study. According to Irwin, so-called ghosts are recurrent haunting apparitions, that is, the same figure is witnessed in the same location on a number of occasions often by a number of different experients. (Irwin, 1999, 250) Here, we witness Irwin suggesting that for the figure to be a ghost, it has to be seen in the same location, more than once and by different witnesses. He also adds that some ghosts reportedly perform the same actions in the same location on each occasion they are experienced. (Irwin, 1999, pg 244) He states that they appear real and solid as well as that their appearance changes as the experient moves around it. They occlude objects they move in front of and are occluded by objects they move behind. (Irwin, 1999, pg 244) He also includes instances in which they may cast a shadow or when the experient may perceive their reflection in a mirror. (Irwin, 1999, 244) This disproves the transparent misty forms popularized in fiction (Irwin, 1999, 244) Irwin states that most figures are experienced within 10 feet of the subject and in the majority of cases (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) the figure is not recognized by the experient. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) If an experience is defined as paranormal, is truly justifiable to be able to call the irregularity a ghost? Even Elgee proclaims, To take the next step and call a possibly paranormal photograph a picture of a ghost is a leap of faith that I, personally, cant swallow. A person can certainly make that statement, but at that point it becomes an opinion, a statement based on belief and faith. (Elgee, 2009) He goes on to proclaim that, At that point, I can choose what I believe. Theres simply no evidence backing it up. (Elgee, 2009) Even in spirit communication there are points where the truth simply depends on faith. The medium could be lying, unless it is one of the rare instances where the medium received some skill the personality demonstrably possessed while alive but which the medium himself/herself does not have. (Irwin, 1999, pg 177) Ghost recognition is simply to irrational to be studied scientifically. As Elgee proclaims, ghost hunting doesnt lend itself to a well-controlled scientific experiment. (Elgee, 2009) He goes on to state that, The methodologies are weak, the equipment used was never originally designed to detect ghosts, and it is nearly impossible to replicate the results. (Elgee, 2009) Therefore, how can it be proved that ghosts exist with the use of insufficient methods and equipment that was not made for ghost hunting? Even Irwin states that, in no way is there any presumption here of the existence of the paranormal even though many contemporary parapsychologists (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) actually regard parapsychology as the study of the paranormal. (Irwin, 1999, pg 1) If someone who has spent most of his life studying the paranormal refuses to proclaim the existence of it, then how can we believe the many who claim without proof that a minor irregularity is something major such as the ghost of dead perso n? Are there really such things as ghosts due to the fact that most of the apparitions seen are dead? According to Irwin, about 70% of recognized apparitions are of people whom the experient knew to be dead. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) He goes on to proclaim that the number of ghost an experient witnesses may vary with the age of the individual or more precisely, with the number of deceased persons the individual knew. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) Therefore, it assumed that the more dead people you know, the more likely you are able to see ghosts. Is it truly ghosts? Or is it the mind playing memories of actions you have seen the diseased performing in a certain place every time you pass by. For example, you see your dead grandmother planting flowers in the garden every time you walk by on a visit. Most experients are likely to lie or jump to conclusions, therefore, we can presume that the operation of fraud (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) remain potential interpretations (Irwin, 1999, pg 177) of such proclamations as the sightings of ghosts or other apparitions. It might even be a story used to increase the experients reputation in order to make him/her more interesting. One of Irwins students reported the experience of strolling along a deserted beach and feeling someone walking beside her. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) Most of humanity gets the same feeling while walking alone, especially in the dark, yet, usually, there is no one there and it is a trick of the mind. The student goes on to proclaim, that she did not see or hear anything to indicate there was something there (Irwin, 1999, pg 247), yet, the sense of a presence was very strong and she felt very comfortable with it. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) Could it not have been a cool breeze that caused the student to feel comfortable and, assuming it was warm since she was on the beach, the breeze was strong due to the oceans current? No, the student jumped to the conclusion that it was an apparition or spirit, but unfortunately, the student has no proof. Another experience is of one totally deaf man described hearing the rustle of an apparitional figures dress. (Irwin, 1999, pg 247) Is it really true, or is it the yearning of the man to actually hear something, that his mind played tricks on him? Since most experients whom are able to witness many ghosts or apparitions have known many deceased, could it not be assumed that it is just the mind projecting an image of that we wish to see? A similar analogy would be that of a man trapped in a desert seeing a mirage of a lake. What we see, is simply what we wish to see and nothing more. By analyzing the parapsychological and the paranormal, the survival theory, the situations in which ghosts usually appear and how most of those experiences are easily proven fakes, we have come to the conclusion that it is impossible for ghosts to truly exist unless evidence prove otherwise. Even if, later on, experients actually turn out to have a sixth sense that could perceive the dead, could it not be just that: a sixth sense?

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz :: essays research papers

Question #3: Duddy hides his insecurities from himself and others. He is afraid to ask his father if his mother had liked him. What does this reveal about Duddy? Why do we often hide our fears? Two thousand years ago, Jesus had said,"Man does not live by bread alone." This is true, for other than physiological needs, man also has other basic necessities. As outlined in an article written by Professor A. H. Maslow called "A Theory of Human Motivation", these basic necessities include a person’s desire for security, love, esteem and self-actualization. Thus, when Duddy hides his fears from others and himself, he is only pursuing a sense of safety, which is one of the human fundamental needs. A person’s self-projected image is very important. We often hide our own fears because we do not want to acknowledge our dreads. We are afraid that if we show our dreads, our images as great persons will be ruined. People want to feel important, significant and superior; people do not want to feel inferior, subordinate and insignificant. We are afraid that if we concede our fears, others will dismiss us as unimportant. This is even more true for an ambitious young man like Duddy. He springs from humble beginnings, but clearly, he is very eager to become a successful and powerful man. "...his bony cheeks were criss-crossed with scratches as he shaved twice daily in his attempt to encourage a beard." This clearly indicates to the readers that Duddy wants and tries to be someone that he is not. He wants himself and others to think that he is of great significance. The fact that his friends, family and others reject him make his self-projected image even more preponderan t. He must convince himself and others that he is a very important figure and he does this by denying his insecurities. Duddy is not a very well-liked figure in the novel. He arouses readers’ sympathy because his family and friends do not appreciate him. There is much evidence of this throughout the novel. Perhaps the best illustration of this is when Duddy returns from St. Agathe with six expensive sport shirts for Max as a gift, but only to find out that his father is not interested in the gift. Duddy is not loved in his family, yet he needs love desperately. Since his father, uncle and brother do not love him, his desire for love is projected onto his dead mother. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz :: essays research papers Question #3: Duddy hides his insecurities from himself and others. He is afraid to ask his father if his mother had liked him. What does this reveal about Duddy? Why do we often hide our fears? Two thousand years ago, Jesus had said,"Man does not live by bread alone." This is true, for other than physiological needs, man also has other basic necessities. As outlined in an article written by Professor A. H. Maslow called "A Theory of Human Motivation", these basic necessities include a person’s desire for security, love, esteem and self-actualization. Thus, when Duddy hides his fears from others and himself, he is only pursuing a sense of safety, which is one of the human fundamental needs. A person’s self-projected image is very important. We often hide our own fears because we do not want to acknowledge our dreads. We are afraid that if we show our dreads, our images as great persons will be ruined. People want to feel important, significant and superior; people do not want to feel inferior, subordinate and insignificant. We are afraid that if we concede our fears, others will dismiss us as unimportant. This is even more true for an ambitious young man like Duddy. He springs from humble beginnings, but clearly, he is very eager to become a successful and powerful man. "...his bony cheeks were criss-crossed with scratches as he shaved twice daily in his attempt to encourage a beard." This clearly indicates to the readers that Duddy wants and tries to be someone that he is not. He wants himself and others to think that he is of great significance. The fact that his friends, family and others reject him make his self-projected image even more preponderan t. He must convince himself and others that he is a very important figure and he does this by denying his insecurities. Duddy is not a very well-liked figure in the novel. He arouses readers’ sympathy because his family and friends do not appreciate him. There is much evidence of this throughout the novel. Perhaps the best illustration of this is when Duddy returns from St. Agathe with six expensive sport shirts for Max as a gift, but only to find out that his father is not interested in the gift. Duddy is not loved in his family, yet he needs love desperately. Since his father, uncle and brother do not love him, his desire for love is projected onto his dead mother.

Literary Device Essay

Bianca Lynch Literary device essay In the novel At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks He uses mood to help you understand the main character, this also helps you to empathize with his problems and correlate to how they may feel. Another literary device he uses to help you connect to the novel is imagery; he paints an elaborated picture of the town Jeremy Marsh now lives in with his new wife Lexi. The Author describes Boone Creek, a small town in NC Jeremy Marsh has recently moved to for his fiance Lexi Darnell, as a small country hick town that anyone coming from NYC would be ashamed to call home. As Jeremy starts to feel more at home, His perspective of the town is changed. It changes from being a hick town to somewhere refreshing where he could see himself settling down with Lexi and their Daughter to come he expresses this early on in ch. Four of the novel, â€Å"The last month in Boone creek, boring as it had been, was actually†¦refreshing† (Jeremy pg 52). In fact he gets so used to the town that when he went back home to NY for his bachelor party he felt out of place, as if something just didn’t fit. His brothers and best friend Alvin criticized his clothes, the â€Å"lumberjack† shirt Lexi bought him. Although Jeremy always did consider himself a somewhat â€Å"stylish† man and if he was still living in NY would have never been seen in those clothes by wearing it made him feel somehow connected to Lexi and his new home Boone Creek. As I read this novel I pictured a clean cut New Yorker moving so a small country town and becoming lost in all the small town gossip and unfamiliar country ways. † They’ll talk behind our backs, they’ll gossip, and it’ll take folks along time to forget that we ‘lived in sin’† (Lexi pg. 4) Lexi told Jeremy when trying to explain to him why they couldn’t live together before getting married. What Jeremy could not become accustomed to was the constant gossip about other people’s lives, although this did go on in the city it wasn’t as bad because new Yorkers don’t have enough time in the day to just sit around and talk about other people’s lives. Another literary device Nicholas Sparks used to absorb the readers attention is mood. Throughout the whole first half of the novel I was left in suspense s to how Jeremy and Lexis relationship would turn out. In the first four chapters the author tries to get the reader to think that there may be some kind of unfaithfulness going on between Lexi and Jeremy on Lexi’s part. Jeremy goes to Lexis job early one day to surprise her and she wasn’t there and did not mention getting off early to him beforehand. When he went to look for her he found her on the bench that overlooked the river with Rodney, her childhood love,† until , that is they shifted on the bench, and he then realized they were holding hands. (Jeremy pg. 73), this along with many other unexplained disappearances by Lexi leads to the suspense in the novel. As I read the end when lexi dies after labor it puts me in a doleful mood. With Jeremy mourning his wife’s death and the thought of their baby girl not having a mother in her life, he refuses to go see his daughter; in fact he said he never wanted to see her. Since Lexi died during Claries birth Jeremy feels animosity towards her, when asked if he saw her yet he said no. â€Å"Jeremy turned away. He didn’t want to heart that, didn’t want to hear anything about the baby†¦would he ever be happy again? †(Jeremy pg 258) Doris, Lexi’s grandmother finally convinces him to go see her, â€Å"And in that instance, while staring at his daughter through a thousand tears, he fell in love and wanted nothing more than to hold Claire forever. † (Narrator pg 263). Jeremy learns to accept Lexis death and accept the gift she left behind, Claire. Although the novel jumps from suspense to love to distressing times Nicholas Sparks still manages to consume the readers attention by using mood and imajery.