An Online Course Review of TestDEN TOEFL

Taking the TOEFL test can be an extremely challenging experience. Most universities have a minimum entrance score of 550. The range of grammar, reading and listening skills required to do well is enormous. One of the biggest challenges for teachers and students is identifying the correct areas to focus on in the limited amount of time available for preparation. In this feature, it is my pleasure to review an online course that specifically addresses this need. TestDEN TOEFL Trainer is an online TOEFL course which invites you to: Join Meg and Max in the TOEFL Trainer. These two, upbeat and friendly personalities will find the areas you need to improve the most and create a special study program just for you! Your virtual trainers will also give you focused practice tests to strengthen your TOEFL skills, and send you daily test-taking tips. The course costs $69 for a 60 day entrance period to the site. During this 60 day period you can take advantage of: personalized study guidesfull-length practice exams16 hours of audioover 7,000 questionsfull explanationse-mail test tips TestDENs TOEFL Trainer credentials are also quite impressive: TestDEN TOEFL Trainer is produced by ACT360 Media, a leading provider of education content. Since 1994, this innovative Vancouver company has been producing quality CD-ROM titles and Internet sites to enhance learning. Among these is the award-winning Digital Education Network and online tutorials for Microsoft Corporation. The only flaw seems to be that: This program has not been reviewed or endorsed by ETS. During my test period, I found all of the above claims to be true. Most importantly, the course is extremely well-planned and helps test takers pinpoint exactly those areas which cause them the most difficulties. Overview The course begins by requiring test takers to take an entire TOEFL examination called the Pre-test Station. This examination is followed by another section entitled Evaluation Station, which requires participants to take further sections of the examination. Both of these steps are required for the test taker to reach the heart of the program. While some people might become impatient with these steps, they are required to help the program assess problem areas. One reservation is that the test is not timed as in an actual TOEFL test. This is a minor point, as students can time themselves. The listening sections are presented using RealAudio. If the Internet connection is slow it can take quite a while to finish sections that require the opening of each listening exercise separately. Once both of the above sections have been finished, the test taker arrives at the Practice Station. This section is by far the most impressive and important section of the program. The Practice Station takes the information gathered in the first two sections and prioritizes a learning program for the individual. The program is divided into three categories: Priority 1, Priority 2 and Priority 3. This section includes exercises as well as explanations and tips for the current task. In this manner, the student can focus on exactly what he/she needs to do well on the exam. The final section is a Post-test Station which gives the participant a final test of his/her improvement over the course of the program. Once this section of the program has been taken there is no going back to the practice section. Summary Lets face it, taking the TOEFL test and doing well can be a long, hard process. The test itself often seems to have little to do with actually being able to communicate in the language. Instead, it can seem like a test that only measures the ability to perform well in an extremely academic setting using very dry and formal English. TestDENs layout does a wonderful job of preparing test takers for the task while keeping the preparation rather enjoyable by its user interface. I would highly recommend TestDEN TOEFL Trainer to any student wanting to take the TOEFL. In fact, to be completely honest, I think this program may do a better job of addressing individual needs than many teachers can! Why is this? Based on in-depth pre-testing and statistical information, the program uses computer technology to find exactly those areas that need to be covered. Unfortunately, teachers are often not able to access student needs so quickly. This program is probably quite sufficient for any high-level English student preparing for the exam. The best solution for lower level students would be a combination of this program and a private teacher. TestDen can help identify and provide practice at home, and a private teacher can go into more detail when working on weak areas.

The Theory Of Utilitarianism By Jeremy Bentham And John...

Jeremy Bentham and John Stewart Mill both present great ideas towards Utilitarianism. Bentham on one hand came up with the theory of Utilitarianism, while Mill tried to build upon Bentham’s ideology, and make his own stronger. Bentham believed in one ultimate moral principle, the principle of utility. Bentham’s principle of utility is stated in chapter one of â€Å"Principles of Morals and Legislation†, â€Å"By utility is meant that property in any object, whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness, (all this in the present case comes to the same thing) or (what comes again to the same thing to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness to the party whose interest is considered† Which in short just means that the principle approves or disapproves of an action, based on whether or not happiness is augmented or diminished, and the interest of everyone(community) is considered. Bentham’s princi ple of utility is applied through what Bentham calls Felicity Calculus. Felicity Calculus is a set of seven questions that an individual should consider when evaluating the happiness an action will yield. The questions are: Intensity(How intense is the happiness?), Duration(How long will the happiness last?), Certainty(How sure is the individual that the action will make them happy?), Propinquity( How soon will the individual be happy?), Fecundity(Will the action produce even more pleasure?), Purity(How free from pain is theShow MoreRelatedAn Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation by Jeremey Bentham.1026 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is Utilitarianism? I believe that utilitarianism is the theory in which actions are right if they produce happiness and wrong if they don’t produce happiness. Happiness is what every human being look forward to. When making a decision, all possible outcomes must be ensured that it will lead to happiness. Utilitarianism is based o n the principle of utility .Utility is the ability to be useful while satisfying needs. Utilitarianism is generally considered a moral theory that was found by JeremeyRead MoreUtilitarianism, By Jeremy Bentham And John Stewart Mill s The Principle Of Utility868 Words   |  4 Pages1. Utilitarianism is a consequential theory by not only a matter of what we are capable of emotionally doing but to also do a matter of what we ought to do rationally. Actions to benefit the majority to maximize happiness for the greater of good of people and minimize unhappiness. Utilitarian is a hard universal theory for the universal moral code that applies to everyone to maximize happiness and minimize misery or unhappiness for the great of good. In the matter in which peoples consequences areRead MoreUtilitarianism : A Workable Moral Theory? Why Or Why Not?958 Words   |  4 PagesUtilitarianism: A Workable Moral Theory? Why or Why Not? Utilitarianism is one of the most commonly used ethical theories from the time it was formulated by Jeremy Bentham and John Stewart Mill in the nineteenth century. In his work, Utilitarianism, Bentham â€Å"sought to dispel misconceptions that morality has nothing to do with usefulness or utility or that morality is opposed to pleasure† (MacKinnon, 2012, p. 53). To simplify the utilitarian principle, which is one of utilityRead MoreJerry Springer : The Opera1572 Words   |  7 PagesIn this essay I will assess and explore the BBC’s decision to broadcast â€Å"Jerry Springer: The Opera† broadcasted on 8 January 2005, by drawing on Utilitarianism and Kantianism theories. Background â€Å"Jerry Springer : The Opera† is a British musical written by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas (Freud, 2003). The opera is based on the famous American chat show which has been running since 1991 and is still a very popular television show to this date (AE Television Networks, 2015). The first time theRead MoreEssay about Martha Stewart Ethics1436 Words   |  6 PagesMartha Stewart: Lemons into Lemonade Before one can make an informed decision as to whether Martha Stewarts handled the incident responsibly or whether or not her actions were moral or immoral, one must first understand the basics of ethics and understand whose rights are involved and how they were affected. Then one must also examine who will be helped and who will be hurt by her actions and then make a decision based on the information and personal values as they relate to the issue. MarthaRead MoreTest Bank For Ethics For The Information Age 5th Edition Mike Quinn4321 Words   |  18 PagesFriday-evening game-playing sessions d) Promoting a culture in which computer enthusiasts freely shared software e) Developing the world’s first graphical user interface 20. Who wrote â€Å"An Open Letter to Hobbyists,† complaining about software theft? a) Stewart Brand b) Bob Frankston c) Bill Gates d) Steve Jobs e) Steve Wozniak 21. A key application that first made personal computers more attractive to business was a) the spreadsheet program. b) the World Wide Web. c) desktop publishing. d) video editingRead MoreLying Is Considered An Immoral Act1441 Words   |  6 Pagesthey were preserving international relations; therefore, there actions were in the interest of the greatest number of people. As long as the society’s general happiness is higher than their pain, the act of lying is moral. The act utilitarian, Jeremy Bentham, believes that it is necessary to take actions that maximize utility in every situation (Justice What’s the Right Thing to Do 34). An act utilitarian judges the individual action according to its tendency to promote happiness (Justice a ReaderRead MoreCapital Punishment And Its Effect On Society2096 Words   |  9 Pagescontrast to Utilitarianism, many people oppose the death penalty due to its intrusive violation of human rights. The overpowering opposition against the death penalty has led to the moral debate on whether or not capital punishment results in the best possible outcome for everyone in society. Comparing and contrast ing Utilitarian views and the opposing views on capital punishment displays the lack of moral justification in criminal execution. Utilitarianism was originated by Jeremy Bentham, but furtherRead MoreJohn Stewart Mill s Theory Of Utility3157 Words   |  13 PagesJohn Stewart Mill formed his theory of utility in his essay Utilitarianism. His first principle was based on the notion mankind had no ultimate standard of morality; Thus, human beings have not agreed upon a universal code of behavior with which to examine and criticize laws imposed on a society. Mill stated his theory of utility could be used to judge the morality of all actions. Although the non-existence of an acknowledged first principle has made ethics not so much a guide as a consecrationRead MoreIs rule-utilitarianism preferable to act-utilitarianism Essay1772 Words   |  8 Pagesrule-utilitarianism preferable to act-utilitarianism? Classical utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory which holds that an action can only be considered as morally right where its consequences bring about the greatest amount of good to the greatest number (where good is equal to pleasure minus pain). Likewise, an action is morally wrong where it fails to maximise good. Since it was first articulated in the late 19th Century by the likes of Jeremy Bentham and later John Stewart Mill, the

Excitation Event Design and Accuracy †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Excitation Event Design and Accuracy. Answer: Introduction: This years annual general meeting of the National Congress of Australia First people to highlight on the activities and achievements of the organization in the past year and determine on the course of action in the next year. The event will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel in the capital of Australia, Sydney. The venue was selected by the congress because of its ease of access within the capitals CBD. The location has a historical significance to the aboriginal nations and therefore an indigenous inspirational speaker will be selected to motivate the organizations members and also allow the attendees of the Gala to enjoy and have fun to celebrate the achievements made in the last year. The event will be a two-day Gala taking place as from 14th October 2016 to 15th October 2016 starting from 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs on every day of the Gala. The venue was requested by the organization members and the committee and therefore it was necessary to fulfil the wishes of the stakeholders an d also ensure a value for the money in the budgetary allocation to ensure the organization members are treated to an event they can never forget, Wang Lemmon (2011). This years annual gala for the National Congress of Australia First people will adopt a historical event design and therefore the two-day event will implement the Great Gaspy theme. The Great Gaspy theme is suitable for the event because of its streaming and luxurious layout style that incorporates shading in colours of dark, gold and white with flowing gowns covering the neutral furnishing in spaces with clean lines and modern floral patterns comprising of bold, peppy designs that are fresh and adventurous. This alluring hues for the function will help guarantee that the occasion remains in the minds of the organization members by ensuring a sharp, warm and cheerful mood and environment that maintains the crisp ambiance of the Gala, Nelson (2009). In reference to Adema Roehl (2010). The decision for the Great Gaspy theme and dcor to be selected was to ensure a crisp, ambient and celebratory mood and style in a relaxing environment for the gala that ensures entertainment, fun and enjoyment of the organizations achievements. The theme and dcor is easily adaptable with a lower budget as allocated by the congress. The event from beginning to end will be developed and managed using event planning software programs, websites and mobile applications, Richards(2014). The following software tools are incorporated in the development of the event project: Cvent; the venue selected will be a hotel in Sydney, therefore, Cvent will be used as a software tool to source for the venue. The budgetary allocation for the Gala is enough to acquire and utilize the software tool and identify the best hotel in the capital to use for the venue. Eventbrite; to enable register all the attendees of the annual gala organized by the congress, Eventbrite will be customized to allow the organization members to register from their mobile phones. The tool will also be used to update the organization members on any emerging issues through emails and reminders. Eventbrite will be used to generate the ticket fee that is payable by the organization members to enable booking for housing using the Cvent tool. Etouches, will be used to design the floor plan of the venue. `the tool will also be customized to assign different tasks to the different stakeholders to enable a fluid and smooth development and event design. Social tables: with the floor plan designed and created by the Etouches, this tool will be used to design the seating charts and room layout design. Through the system, other groups tasked to ensure the success of the event such as caterers and venue provider will be integrated into the system to enable a smooth flow of guest check-ins. Live slideshow provided by Whova: provided by the Whova conference management tool, the live slideshow tool will help in displays the events on the projectors connected to the system such as schedule plans, 2017-2018 annual achievements in photos and graph formats, advertisements and live polls in determining the course to be followed in the 2018-2019 calendar year. ORDER NO. TASK. RESPONSIBILITY CONTACTS. START TIME. FINISH TIME. 14th October 2016. Day one XX1 Preparations of venue Venue providers. Social tables, profile XYZ. 0700 Hours 0830 hours. Arrangement of the conference hall. Setting up the display projector. XX2 Arrival of guests Organization members, congress committee Public profiles on Eventbrite. 0830 hours 0900 hours. Esteemed guests arrive and take their seats. XX3 Opening remarks Congress chairperson Chairperson on Eventbrite. 0900 hours 0930 hours The chairperson welcomes the members Introduces and hands over the mic to the CEO of the National Congress of Australia First people. XX4 2015-2016 achievements CEO CEO contact link on Eventbrite. 0930 hours 1200 hours. The CEO highlights the major organizational achievements of the year 2015-2016. XX5 Break, lunch and entertainment Caterers Venue providers Social tables profile XYZ. 1200 hours 1350 hours Organization members take lunch break. Advertisements, slideshows XX6 Settling in Organization members Public profiles on Eventbrite 1350 hours 1400 hours Distinguished guests take their seats for the second session of the day. XX7 2015-2016 Drawbacks CEO CEO contact link on Eventbrite 1400 hours 1600 hours 15th October 2016. Last day(two). XY1 Venue rearrangement. Venue providers Social tables profile XYZ. 0700 hours 0830 hours The venue providers clean up and rearrange the venue for the second day. XY2 Arrival of guests Organization members Congress committee Public profiles on Eventbrite. 0830 hours 0900 hours Guests take their seats. XY3 Opening remarks Congress chairperson Chairperson on Eventbrite 0900 hours 0930 hours The chairperson welcomes the guests and thanks them for their unremarkable support. Invites the indigenous speaker. XY4 Motivational speech from indigenous speaker Hon. Retired. Alfred Kolkata Reserved link on Eventbrite. 0930 hours 1100 hours. Promotion of diversity and the inclusion of aboriginals and the Torres Strait islanders. Respect and equality in all sectors of the government to Australian citizens irrespective of origin. XY5 2016-2017 target milestones CEO CEO link on Eventbrite. 1100 hours 1200 hours The CEO presents the targeted milestones The organization members suggest course of implementations. Organization members vote new chairperson and treasurer. XY6 LUNCH BREAK Caterers Venue providers Social tables XYZ profile. 1200 hours 1400 hours XY7 Get together and catch up Organizational members Public profiles on Eventbrite. 1400 hours 1530 hours XY8 Closing remarks Australian president Hon. Peter Wuondha 1530 hours 1400 hours Thanks giving speech Closing remarks References Wang, X., Lemmon, M. (2011). On event design in event-triggered feedback systems.Automatica,47(10), 2319-2322. Nelson, K. B. (2009, June). Enhancing the attendee's experience through creative design of the event environment: applying Goffman's dramaturgical perspective. InJournal of Convention Event Tourism(Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 120-133). Taylor Francis Group. Adema, K. L., Roehl, W. S. (2010). Environmental scanning the future of event design.International Journal of Hospitality Management,29(2), 199-207. Richards, G., Marques, L., Mein, K. (Eds.). (2014).Event design: Social perspectives and practices. Routledge. Bibliography Smith, H., Ferris, J. B. (2009, April). Excitation event design and accuracy verification procedure for high-fidelity terrain measurement systems. InModeling and Simulation for Military Operations IV(Vol. 7348, p. 73480M). International Society for Optics and Photonics. Richards, G. (2014). Imagineering events as interaction ritual chains. InEvent Design(pp. 30-40). Routledge.

Reflection of Appendix on Carmen free essay sample

In this essay, I will discuss how Prosper Merimee’s mode of thought in appendix is reflected and the way the characters are demonstrated according to appendix in â€Å"Carmen†. The final chapter of the story â€Å"Carmen†, which is about the history, life style, Romany language, exclusive relationship manners and physical characteristics of the race called Gypsies, is added later to the story depending upon the point of view of the narrator. Thus, an ethnographic research dimension was added to this literary work. The French historian, archaeologist and short story writer Prosper Merimee who knows the ways of the world in an academic sense, examines the world of Gypsies objectively through his travels and research in Spain. Merimee’s novel belongs to the realist genre and as a hopeless romantic; he has a propensity for exotic people and exotic lands. When we read the story, we learn the presentation of culture through the filter of anthropology. We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection of Appendix on Carmen or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This particular way of life describes Gypsies as free, rebellious, and marginal community. â€Å"Carmen† is based on the narrator’s experiences and the chain of events during his travel to the southern Spain. In the first chapter, Merimee himself as a narrator frames the story in Andalusia of 1830, and then he introduces the first oriental character, Basque Don Jose. When the narrator tells the physical appearance of Don Jose, according to appendix we notice that gypsies’ physical traits are different from the indigenous peoples of the same country such as dark skin, dark almond-shaped eyes, proud expression and so forth. Moreover, Don Jose grips his horse’s halter in his one hand, and in his other hand he holds a brass blunderbuss. Considering the sentence in appendix, â€Å"The men make a living as horse dealers, horse doctors, or mule clippers; they supplement this work by occupations such as repairing saucepans and copper utensils, to say nothing of smuggling and other illicit activities. †, we affirm that Don Jose has a relationship with gypsies as a Basque soldier. He is the naive victim of Gypsy treachery. Later on, the narrator’s first observation about Spanish culture was that the ritual exchange of cigars among men establishes relations of hospitality, â€Å"as does the sharing of bread and salt in the East†. Apart from this, Merimee’s guide Antonio tried to speak with the narrator in private. After some efforts he had a chance to tell that Don Jose is known as Jose Navarro, and he warned the narrator about Jose Navarro that he is the most notorious bandit, robber, brigand in Andalusia. Antonio runs away to report the place where Don Jose hides to get the big reward, but the narrator saved Don Jose. So, Antonio thinks that the narrator prevented him from earning the reward. Afterwards, Merimee meets Carmen in Cordoba. His encounter with Carmen is marked by a reciprocal case of mistaken ethnic identity. Firstly, he thought that Carmen is an Andalusian, and then he cannot tell whether she is Moorish or Jewish until Carmen explains to him her true identity as a Gypsy. Conversely, Carmen supposed Merimee as an Englishman whereas Merimee is a Frenchman. Carmen is a good looking woman with copper colored smooth skin, beautiful large dark eyes and delicate hands, lips and black hair. She had a strange wild beauty which makes her â€Å"femme fatale†. As a femme fatale, Carmen is seductive and cunning, dangerous and sweet, a loyal liar and a crook. According to appendix, in Germany the Gypsy girls are often very pretty, but in Andalusia a few of the girls are rather more attractive than the rest, and take greater care of their personal appearance. Carmen is one of the rare ones in Andalusia. Due to her free-spirited Gypsy personality, she cannot commit to anybody but herself. She uses her charm to seduce Don Jose at the tobacco factory. Don Jose gets close to her and becomes jealous as she attracts other men around her. In addition, Don Jose learns that Carmen was married. Carmen’s Rom Garcia the One-eyed was the ugliest, most ruthless, vilest, cruel and most wicked man Gypsy women ever gave birth to man alive. He joined the outlaw band of Carmen which also includes Don Jose; Don Jose agitates him with a knife and killed him. After the death of Garcia, Carmen becomes Don Jose’s wife according to Gypsy customs. Since Carmen is not a loyal wife, unlike the rest of Gypsy women, she is not able to give herself to Don Jose as a free spirited woman. After a while, she gets emotionally affected by an accomplished young picador called Lucas during the bullfight. Don Jose was not able to take this situation, he begged Carmen to leave all the men behind and start a new righteous life in America. Don Jose chose to replace his position in military with becoming an acculturated Gypsy for Carmen. Unfortunately, he could not convince her and stabbed her to death. In my opinion, Don Jose aims to exorcise his own demons by killing Carmen. Despite everything, Don Jose was a good man until he met Carmen; he fell from grace into hell and became a robber and a murderer because of Carmen. Don Jose became obsessive, jealous and destructive in which whole fault was Carmen’s. As we read the story, we see that Carmen takes Merimee to her home to tell his fortune. She is good at fortunetelling which had become a practice that Gypsy women engage in. In this regard, since they see this as a job, they sell charms and love philters, utter powerful spells, foresee the future successfully according to appendix. Furthermore, Carmen speaks many languages fluently. When she met Don Jose in the factory, she tried to pass herself off as Basque to Don Jose and talked him in Basque. Basques have an accent that makes them easily recognizable to Spaniards, but Carmen understood that Don Jose is Basque because she knows the language well. â€Å"Today there are almost as many different Romany dialects as there are separate bands of their race. Everywhere they speak the language of their adopted country in preference to their own, which they seldom use except in order to communicate freely in front of strangers. † by this statement in appendix, I infer that Gypsies don’t have a hard time adopting and speaking any language wherever they go. To sum up, Prosper Merimee wrote Carmen to tell the exemplary story of a Gypsy woman Carmen and a bandit soldier Don Jose. Story is told by the narrator and Don Jose himself while psychological conditions of the characters are not emphasized. Each character, which is observed objectively by the narrator, is emotionally discussed integrated with the story. Hence, the author added the appendix part at the end of the story as he shows the history and life style of Gypsies in a more comprehensive way. Reference: Merimee, P. (1845). Carmen.

Colon Paper essays

Colon Paper essays Colon cancer is a condition that affects thousands of people. About 140,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and it kills more than 56,000 people each year. This type of cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. The problem that surrounds this deadly disease is that half of this deaths could be prevented by screening, unfortunately the majority of people older than 50 do not undergo for colorectal cancer screening even though is recommended for all persons50 and over and for those with family history. Also many primary care physician do not screen for all the patients who meet the qualifications for colorectal screening. Screening can prevent colorectal cancer when detection and removal of precancerous polyps is done on time. Anther problem with colorectal cancer screening is the fact that many people feel uncomfortable having this part of the anatomy examined. The American Cancer Society recommends an annual digital rectal examination for people age 40, an a nnual fecal occult blood test for people age over 50 and flexible sigmoidoscopy every three to five years for people aged over 50. Cancer of the colon, a common form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the colon. The colon is part of the body's digestive system. The digestive system is made up of the esophagus, stomach, and the small and large intestines. The last 6 feet of intestine is called the large bowel or colon. After diagnosis and to fond out if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the doctor needs to identify the stage of the cancer to start the appropriate treatment. Stage 0. The cancer is very early. It is found only in the innermost lining of the colon or rectum. Stage I. The cancer involves more of the inner wall of the colon or rectum. Stage II. The cancer has spread outside the colon or rectum to ne ...

Critical Analysis in a Literature Review - Proofeds Writin Tips

Critical Analysis in a Literature Review - Proofeds Writin Tips Critical Analysis in a Literature Review A literature review is vital to any in-depth research, providing a foundation your work will build upon. Familiarizing yourself with the existing literature allows you to identify current debates in the field, ensuring that your work is up-to-date and addresses significant questions. But a good literature review will require reading critically. This means deciding whether you agree or disagree with certain viewpoints, arguments and theories, rather than simply describing them. It also requires being able to spot the flaws and strengths of particular studies, which can in turn help when developing your own ideas. To make sure you do this effectively, its worth looking for the following things. 1. Overgeneralizations One common issue in research is the scope of its application, especially when dealing with limited sample sizes or when a study is generalized too broadly. The conclusions of a psychological study conducted with all male participants, for instance, may not be applicable in the same way to female subjects. 2. Methodological Limitations When writing a literature review, ask yourself whether the methods used for particular studies were appropriate. For example, whether the study used a quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods research design can make a big difference to the conclusions reached. 3. How Well Explained is the Research? When reading for a critical literature review, it is important to consider how well written the studies you examine are. Does the author explain their methods? Is enough detail provided for any experiments to be replicated? Are sampling, data collection and analysis techniques clearly identified? Does the conclusion follow from the results? Asking these and similar questions will help you discern between good and bad research. 4. Identify Biases Another important factor is to consider whether implicit biases might have influenced the research. The term â€Å"confirmation bias,† for example, refers to the tendency to focus on evidence which supports one’s existing beliefs, which can lead to overlooking alternative hypotheses. 5. Challenge Your Own Assumptions If you come across a study which seems to oppose your hypothesis, consider whether it presents good counterarguments to your own position. If it does, ask yourself whether this affects how you conduct the rest of your research. The final point here is important because conducting a literature review serves two purposes. The finished literature review will help your reader to understand the background of your research, so critical analysis helps to clarify what your work contributes to the debate. But comparing different studies and theories for a literature review will also help you to develop a research approach. The better your critical analysis, then, the better prepared you’ll be.

Qatar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Qatar - Essay Example tructure that exists within many of Qatar’s main cities, the nation itself has chosen to build new cities and form entirely new residential and commercial areas where none previously existed. This growth plan is of course optimistic but presents unique opportunities for the development and consideration of green/renewable energy alternatives that this infrastructure and society can leverage. Due to the fact that these cities are truly being born from nothing, the potential for developing a renewable and green infrastructure base is perhaps higher as compared to any other region of the world. Yet, opportunity alone does not create a guarantee that green and renewable energy will be the locus of interest for the developers of these respective cities. Instead, the remainder of this chapter will reveal the way in which approach determines whether or not the renewable/green infrastructure and energy provision that Qatar will engage within its new and developing cities will ultimate ly be successful or not (Koch 2014; Alzubaidi2013). Whereas it is of course tempting to utilize Qatar’s mass levels of financial reserves as a means of purchasing the most advanced green and renewable energy systems that are currently available, this particular temptation must at least partially be resisted. The underlying reason for this has to do with the fact that Qatar is a unique nation within unique latitude that exhibits a litany of unique environmental challenges. First and foremost among these is of course the fact that Qatar is a relatively hot climate that has very little rainfall and must therefore be considerate of the overall cyber resources that are involved in any means of energy production. Accordingly, one of the most effective processes that can be pursued is to ensure that Qatar utilizes targeted metrics and goals with respect to what it envisions as the future of sustainable and green energy within the nation. As such, rather than merely leveraging the state

Scheduling Models for an Inpatient Nursing Unit Assignment

Scheduling Models for an Inpatient Nursing Unit - Assignment Example Below is a recommendation on the unit’s scheduling model. A flexible scheduling model is recommended for the unit because of its suitability for the unit’s environmental factors and because of its advantages relative to cyclical scheduling that the unit applies currently. One of the characteristics of flexible scheduling is its ability to adjust to changing environmental factors that are expected of the unit. Possible change from agency hiring identifies potential delay in filling vacancies and therefore temporary staff shortage. In addition, change implementation such as the introduction of a new electronic nursing documentation system and associated need for training induces temporary burden on personnel. The same effect is expected from the expected leave of an employee and a flexible scheduling approach would ensure ability to meet extra needs at minimum cost and efficiently. Being used to a flexible system, employees will likely accept changes for accommodating extra needs that if a cyclical system, which fixed, was in place. A ssociated resistance with cyclical system that would require temporary hiring of personnel or hiring of additional personnel o cover temporary shortages solves the cost problem. I addition to the cost and effectiveness advantages, flexible scheduling ensures personnel innovation, motivation, satisfaction, and unity and ensures that personnel work within their capacities. These also ensure sufficient coverage, quality, and stability. The scheduling approach requires coordination among personnel, who share patient, for quality output. Cyclical scheduling is not suitable for the unit’s dynamic environment, even though it has such benefits as â€Å"even coverage, high stability, and lower cost† (Ozcan, 2009, n,.p.). Interchanging shift patterns is also recommended because of the flexibility advantages. Implementing the change from

Injustice Anywhere Essay Example for Free

Injustice Anywhere Essay Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Hence injustice with one individual of a society can affect the life of other individuals of the society. Before we make society understand the need of justice in this essay lets first talk about what justice really is. Justice is the ideal, morally correct state of things and persons. Justice is action in accordance with the requirements of some law. Whether these rules are grounded in human consensus or societal norms, they are supposed to ensure that all members of society receive fair treatment. Justice is distinguished from other ethical standards as required and as, overwhelmingly important: justice can be thought of as distinct from, and more important than, benevolence, charity, mercy, generosity or compassion. All of these things may be valuable, but they are supererogatory rather than required. We need to know more than this: we need to know what justice is, not merely what it is not, and several answers to that problem have been proposed.. Justice is linked, both etymologically and conceptually, to the idea of justification: having and giving decisive reasons for ones beliefs and actions. So, attempts to understand justice are typically attempts to discover the justification the source or basis of justice, and therefore to account for (or disprove) its overwhelming importance. Justice becomes more essential for Islamic country like our due to the emphasis of Islamic teachings on justice. As it is said in Quran: God enjoins justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbids indecency and abomination and wickedness. [Surah Nahl; 16:90] Justice is perhaps the most important of the supreme values of Islam. In fact, it can be said that the main purpose of revelation and the tasks of Prophets (alayhum salam) has been to establish Justice. Thus, one of the early scholars of Islam has said that: Where the signs of Justice appear and its face is shown in any way that is where the Law of God and His religion are found. Justice is the first principle of social life. It can be shown to govern all relations in life: between ruler and ruled, rich and poor, husband and wife, parents and children. In all our dealings, we are required to stand firmly for justice even if it is against our own self and our kith and kin, for love too can lead to injustice. O you who believe! Be firm in justice as witnesses for God, even in cases against yourselves, your parents or your kin [Surah Nisa; 4: 135] And if you give your word, you must be just, even though it be against your kin, and fulfill the covenant of God. For that is what He has commanded you that you may remember. [Surah Anam; 6: 152] The fear of committing injustice may even prevent the doing of an act that is otherwise permissible. In fact one of the derived principles of the Shariah is that all permissible things are permissible provided that no damage or harm results to others from their practice and that in the event that such damage or harm is -suspected or confirmed, the permissible shall be prohibited to avert such damage or harm. Issues of justice arise in several different spheres and play a significant role in causing, perpetuating, and addressing conflict. Just institutions tend to instill a sense of stability, well-being, and satisfaction among society members, while perceived injustices can lead to dissatisfaction, rebellion, or revolution. Each of the different spheres expresses the principles of justice and fairness in its own way, resulting in different types and concepts of justice; distributive, procedural, retributive, and restorative. These types of justice have important implications for socio-economic, political, civil, and criminal justice at both the national and international level. Distributive justice, or economic justice, is concerned with giving all members of society a fair share of the benefits and resources available. Fair allocation of resources, or distributive justice, is crucial to the stability of a society and the well-being of its members. When issues of distributive justice are inadequately addressed and the item to be distributed is highly valued, intractable conflicts frequently result. Procedural justice is concerned with making and implementing decisions according to fair processes that ensure fair treatment. Rules must be impartially followed and consistently applied in order to generate an unbiased decision. If people believe procedures to be fair, they will be more likely to accept outcomes, even ones that they do not like. Implementing fair procedures is central to many dispute resolution procedures, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and adjudication. Retributive justice appeals to the notion of just dessert the idea that . people deserve to be treated in the same way they treat others. It is a retroactive approach that justifies punishment as a response to past injustice or wrongdoing. The central idea is that the offender has gained unfair advantages through his or her behavior, and that punishment will set this imbalance straight. While it is difficult to give a complete and adequate definition of justice, most observers can recognize clear examples of serious injustice when they arise. Such injustice comes in various forms, wherever the norms of distributive justice, procedural justice, or human rights are violated. Political injustice involves the violation of individual liberties, including the denial of voting rights or due process, infringements on rights to freedom of speech or religion, and inadequate protection from cruel and unusual punishment. Such injustice often stems from unfair procedures, and involves political systems in which some but not others are allowed to have voice and representation in the processes and decisions that affect them. This sort of procedural injustice can contribute to serious social problems as well as political ones. If voting or litigation procedures, for example, are perceived to be unjust, any outcome they produce is liable to be unstable and produce conflict. In addition,; any procedures that are carried out in a biased manner are likely to contribute to problems of religious, ethnic, gender, or race discrimination. When the procedure in question has to do with employment or wages, such issues can lead to serious economic and social problems. The highly-publicized rape case of Mukhtaran Mai, also referred to as Mukhtar Mai or Mukhtaran Bibi, highlights the Pakistani governments shortcomings in dealing with violence against women and its persecution of rape victims. In 2002, Mukhtaran was sentenced to be gang raped by a tribal council in the province of Punjab as punishment for her younger brothers alleged affair with a woman from a powerful clan. After the initial trial, six men were sentenced to death for the gang rape, while eight others were acquitted. However, last June, the Punjab High Court overturned five of the convictions and reduced the sixth to a life sentence. Mukhtaran Mai received donations adding up to $160,000 from New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff s coverage of the case. Mukhtaran has used the money to open two schools in her village, a shelter for abused women and provide her village with an ambulance. When Mukhtaran was invited to the United States to talk about her case, the Pakistani government fearing hat she would malign the countrys image abroad denied her travel visa to the United States, and placed her under house arrest. Only -fallowing great international attention and pressure was the travel ban lifted. While Pakistans High Court suspended the acquittals of Mukhtarans rapists and will be re-examining the case, the governments lassitude in amending the Hudood Ordinances which place insu rmountable obstacles for women to safely and successfully obtain justice in their rape cases foments an environment in which violence is perpetrated against women with virtual impunity. If women are unable to prove rape under the Hudood law, which requires four adult Muslim males to have witnessed the crime or the confession of the rapist himself, then the victims themselves may be tried for adultery or fornication. Mukhtaran is not the only victim of our political injustice. According to press reports cited by the Pakistan Human Rights Commission, a non-governmental organization, more than 10,000 women are raped every year in Pakistan, although the real figure is thought to be much higher. As in all countries, women are often reluctant to report rape, for social reasons as well as distrust of the judicial process. In Pakistan, there are additional legal barriers to pursuing a rape conviction. The rape law itself, one of the offenses of zina under the Hudood Ordinances, requires either the confession of the perpetrator or the eye-witness testimony of at least four Muslim adult male witnesses to the rape. If she is unable to prove rape, a woman who reports rape to the police is vulnerable to prosecution herself under the Hudood Ordinances for fornication if she is unmarried or adultery if she is married. In addition to these formidable legal barriers to the prosecution of rape, there have been several reports of police involvement in rapes and gang-rapes and of police protection of those accused of rape, particularly when they are from influential families. Women who have been raped are also at risk of honor killings, whereby a male relative kills them because they are thought to have dishonored the familys name in the community by transgressing social norms, which is seen to include having been raped. It has been estimated that on average one thousand honor killings take place each year in Pakistan. Even the Pakistan Governments National Commission on the Status of Women has recommended repeal of the Hudood Ordinances on the grounds that they are discriminatory towards women and not in accordance with Islamic injunctions. They are also contrary to the Convention on the Elimination of ; All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) , to which Pakistan is a party, and to the Constitution of Pakistan, which states at Article 25 that (1) All citizens are equal before law and are entitled for equal protection of law. (2) There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone. Crimes of honor are a pre-Islamic practice deeply rooted in the tribal societies of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where Upper Dir is located, Balochistan province, as well as those of Sindh and Punjab where they are called karo kari. In these rigidly patriarchal communities, wives, daughters, sisters and mothers are killed for the least sexual indiscretion and upon the slightest suspicion of ad ultery. Murders in the name of honor fall under the purview of the customary qisas and diyat law. Riddled with flaws, it makes prosecution extremely difficult. Activists have been urging the government to reform the law but a bill seeking to bolster secular law against honor killings, presented in parliament last year, was defeated as un-Islamic. Drastic changes are needed,† Rakshanda Naz, resident director of Aurat Foundation told IPS. The social mind-set, specially the attitude of the courts, needs to change. Often the courts adopt a lenient view towards an accused on the grounds of grave and sudden provocation† which is nowhere in the law,† she added. Sections of the qisas and diyat law work to the advantage of the accused in the trial and appellate stages. Under section 309 of the law, an adult wall (legal heir) of a deceased could use his right of qisas (to forgive the accused). Similarly, under section 310, the offence of murder is made a compoundable offence and any heir of a deceased could forgive an accused by compounding his right of qisas after receiving compensation.. Since in most honor-related murders, either a husband or parents are the heirs of the slain woman and as the murder takes place in connivance with almost all the family members, they prefer to waive their right of qisas and pardon the accused. Each time, the judicial response has appeared to violate the basic principles of justice, activists observed. Uzma Mehboob, a womens rights activist, said no FIR was registered in a recent case in a remote hamlet in NWFPs Mardan district where a powerful landowner sprayed his daughter and driver, who had eloped together, with bullets. Economic injustice involves the states failure to provide individuals with basic necessities of life, such as access to adequate food and housing, and its maintenance of huge discrepancies in wealth. In the most extreme cases of misdistribution, some individuals suffer from poverty while the elite of that society live in relative luxury. Such injustice can stem from unfair hiring procedures, lack of available jobs and education, and insufficient health care. All of these conditions may lead individuals to believe that they have not received a fair share of the benefits and resources available in that society. Many scholars and activists note that in order to truly address injustice internationally, we must strive to understand its underlying causes. These causes have to do with underdevelopment, economic pressures, various social problems, and international conditions. Indeed, the roots of repression, discrimination, and other injustice stem from deeper and more complex political, social, and economic problems. It is only by understanding and ameliorating these root causes and strengthening civil society that we can truly protect human rights. Addressing political injustice is often a matter of developing institutions of fair governance, such as a responsible police force and judiciary. Legislative action and executive decision-making should likewise be held accountable. Such measures are sometimes a matter of reforming state ;gt; institutions or revising state constitution. In cases where some groups are excluded from political participation, the state can remedy violations of political rights by promoting political inclusion and empowering subordinate groups. Public decision-making should respond to the will of the citizens, and members of the society should have the opportunity to participate in the formulation, execution, and monitoring of state policies. In other words, a culture of political involvement and public participation should be fostered. In addition, there are various social structural changes that might give groups more social, economic, and/or political power. This is often accomplished through the strengthening of the economy and civil society in conjunction with democratization efforts. In some cases countries require outside assistance for election monitoring, nation-building programs and the development of governmental infrastructure to make their political system more stable. Addressing systemic economic injustice is often a matter of economic reforms that give groups better access to jobs, health care, and education. In many cases, lack of access to basic services stems from enormous inequalities in resource distribution. Redistribution of benefits and resources can thus- be an important component of social structural changes to remedy injustice. There are various institutional and economic development reforms that might be put in place to raise living standards and boost economic growth. In addition, by creating social and economic safety nets, states can eliminate tension and instability caused by unfair resource allocation. A central goal of responding to injustice is paving the way for future peace. Once conflict has ended and policies of oppression have been repealed, society members face the task of rebuilding their society. Many believe that measures aimed at restorative justice are well-suited for this task. Restorative Justice is concerned with healing wounds of victims and repairing harm done to interpersonal relationships and the community. It can play a crucial role in responding to severe human rights violations or cases of genocide. Huge advances are made when governments tell the truth about past atrocities carried out by the state. It is thought that true healing equires remembering the atrocities committed, repenting, and forgiving. War crimes inquiries and truth commissions can aid in the process of memory and truth telling and help to make public the extent to which victims have/suffered. One of the tragic examples of restorative injustice in Pakistan is of the incident of taking away Masihs children away from him. According to the law, all parents in Pakistan in cluding Christian parents such as the Masihs have the right to raise their children in their own faith. But the law isnt always followed in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Particularly when it comes to Christians. The girls were taken Jan. 25 by the familys landlady and her husband with police escorts. The couple contended that the children had converted to Islam and should no longer remain in a Christian home. The Masihs maintain that their daughters are still Christians, no matter what anyone says, and that even if they did convert to Islam, they should stay with their parents. But 14-year-old Nadia, 11-year-old Nyla and 9-year-old Nabila are gone, and its unclear whether theyll ever be allowed to return home. The city magistrate overseeing the case admits he decided against the Christians not on the basis of law but on public sentiment and a concern that he could have a religious riot on his hands. Legally speaking, they should have been given to their parents, says Kamran? Abdullah Siddiqi, leaning back in a cushioned chair in his office, where two armed policeman sit against a wall. But Siddiqi says if he did that, Some crazy person would come and say these are the children of Islam. Theyd say were going to chop you. Were going to shoot you. Were going to what did the KKK used to say in America? lynch you. Article 36 of Pakistans Constitution promises to safeguard the rights and interests of religious minorities. But human rights organizations say thats not happening. The U. S. State Department agrees, citing a government-fostered atmosphere of religious intolerance that has led to violence against religious minorities. In Pakistan, 97 percent of the population is Muslim; the rest is made up mostly of Christians but also of Hindus, Buddhists and other groups. Partly at the prodding of concerned American Christian groups, the U. S. Congress earlier this month passed legislation requiring the president to take action against nations that engage in a pattern of religious persecution. In the 1980s, the United States gave Pakistan billions of dollars for economic development. But in recent years, concern that Pakistan was developing a nuclear bomb has prompted sanctions, slashing aid to the millions of dollars, most of it for humanitarian, food and counter narcotics efforts. Pakistans decision to test nuclear weapons in May further cooled US Pakistan relations. Pakistans pattern of religious persecution, documented for years in State Department reports, could lead to further sanctions. This is not the only case, there are still many stories but the need here is not just to highlight the stories but also to make sure these stories end up with the mess they have already poured in our Islamic society. Restoration often becomes a matter of restitution or war reparations. In cases where clear acts of injustice have taken place, some type of compensation package can help to meet the material and emotional needs of victims and remedy the injustice. Repentance can also help to re-establish relationships among the conflicting parties and help them to move toward reconciliation. In some cases, conflicts can end more peacefully when parties acknowledge their guilt and apologize than when formal war crimes adjudication or criminal proceedings are used. In cases of civil war, because the line between offenders and victims can become blurred, a central goal of peace building is to restore the community as a whole. Restoration often becomes tied to the transformation of the relationship between the conflicting parties. However, such restoration cannot take place unless it is supported by wider social conditions and unless the larger community makes restorative processes available. Many note that an adequate response to injustice must involve social structural changes, reconstruction programs to help communities ravaged by conflict, democratization and the creation of institutions of civil society. Only then can the underlying causes of injustice be remedied.

Religion in the World Today Essays -- Religious Religions Essays

Religion in the World Today Taking a look at world religion, we will look at different countries from different parts of the world; analyzing the different religious problems and human rights violations. The overall question that we propose is: is there a simple solution to these problems and what can be done about them? Throughout history, the lower class: those who are considered poor, minorities, and women, have been taken advantage of, denied their inalienable rights, and forced into unfavorable situations. Even in the United States within the last century, women have been denied the right to vote. Minorities, such as African Americans, were denied equal treatment. Blacks were legally obligated to separate themselves from places that were considered â€Å"white only.† Certain schools, restaurants, and other public places, were the locations for the cause of embarrassment and social inferiority. This discrimination and denial of inalienable rights, however, has not historically happened only in the United States. On the international level, many countries experience social animosity, specifically due to religious tensions. In Mexico and Central America, there is a long tradition of the non-cooperation of human rights, â€Å"human rights activism in these countries can be traced back to the first Indian freedom- fighters against Spanish rule, over five- hundred years ago.† (www.amnesty.org) Even during the past history of civil conflict in countries such as Guatemala and El Salvador, people have demonstrated for basic human rights and personal and religious freedoms. Among the religious conflicts between the nations and its people, there is also a long tradition of persecution of the autonomy of in... ...and Mexico: Human Rights defenders on the Line: Update.† 3/4/2003. http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/AMR020041996?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIESEL+SALVADOR 10/12/1996 â€Å"Center for Reduction of Religious-based conflict.†3/3/2003 aps.naples.net/community/NFNWebpages/storyboard.cfm?StoryBoardNum=142&PageNum=140 â€Å"Defining human rights: The nature of Human Rights: Commonly Accepted Postulates.† 2/24/2003. www.britanica.com â€Å"Human Right Violations-It's Happening Now and Most People Don't know about it or Don't Want To Know About It, But People Are Suffering So A Few People at the Top Can Have A Lot More Money Than They Deserve.† 3/5/2003. http://hometown.aol.com/violin39/opinions/index.htm â€Å"United States Policies in Support of Religious Freedom: Focus on Christians.† 2/16/2003. http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/970722_relig_rpt_christian.htm.

Edp250 Pt 4

Introduction The purpose of this easy is to compare and contrast two art lessons in relation to authentic arts learning and integration. The lessons will be sourced from the internet and both will be examples of using objects in the natural environment to create a painting. The lessons were designed for students in grades two to six. DiscussionAuthentic arts is as noted by Dinham,(2011) arts that incorporates learning involving integration necessitates, making connections across the curriculum between subject areas or disciplines and providing opportunities for students to witness and engage the relationships, transfer their knowledge and apply their learning through these connections. To make this happen there needs to be a move to prepare classroom teachers to become aware of art, and ways of delivering a successful lesson. Smilan and Marzilli miraglia (2009) notes, that â€Å"teachers need clarification about what art integration is and what it entails.We believe that true authen tic art- integrated learning places visual arts content at the centre of teaching and learning (p. 39)†. Meaning every teacher must continue to up skill their own knowledge of art and understands the elements to delivering an authentic art lesson requires(Dinham,2011). Art is more than painting, drawing and play dough; it is not merely a time filler at school, so teacher can have a break, or a bit of fun. Dinham, (2011) suggest that teachers need to understand what art gives their students, and how art provides a connectedness to society and their own identity and meaning.Art provides students the opportunities to problem solve, express their needs and emotion, be creative, try new experience and more importantly teachers need to appreciate authentic arts programmes as a significant importance in the curriculum. Lessons Lesson one demonstrates a well prepared art lesson and in lesson two, many elements of creating an effective authentic arts lesson are missing. Both lesson one and two require students to use natural items found in the environment to create a painting.Both lessons would be suited for students in grades two to six, and comprises elements of authentic arts. Below is a table that show what elements of authentic arts are essential when delivering an arts class. Required characteristics| Example| 1. Has connections across the curriculum| Lessons makes links to other curriculum such as maths, history etc. | 2. Uses understanding of multiple intelligences and different learning styles| Such as Howard Gardner concepts of multiple intelligence. | 3. Is themed and examines the theme in different areas| Such as dinosaurs, outdoor garden, countries. 4. Uses different modes of learning incorporated into different areas| Such as reading, singing, creating, comparing, contrasting, discussing. | 5. Lessons relate to real life tasks, that draw on a range of knowledge and skills across the curriculum| Lesson would encourage students to use prior knowledge of the task at hand. | 6. Learning’s provide opportunity for students to see relationships, transfer and apply learning and make connections across the curriculum| The lesson has been enriched with elements of real life experience and understanding. | 7.Activities are Instrumental and/or intrinsic| Instrumental, lessons that extend beyond the immediate lesson. Intrinsic lessons relates to the learning gained through the lesson Dinham,(2011). | Table is adapted from PowerPoint presentation Integration. Curtin University, (2012). Using this table as a guide the below lessons well be corresponded with the number from the above table showing which part of the lesson address each charatritcs. Lesson one: Retrieved from http://contemporaryartscenter. org/images/lessonplans/mughal-miniatures_natural-beauty. pdfMughal Miniature Paintings: Natural Beauty Grades: 2nd-7th Visual Arts Developed By: Kristen M. Woods Lesson Description: Mughal miniature painting originated during the 16th century in the Mughal Empire which spanned what are now India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. This art form is marked by careful attention of small detail, lush jewel tones, epic subject matter, and miniature scale. All of the Miniature artists that are participating in the Contemporary Arts Center’s exhibition Realms of Intimacy have studied at the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore, Pakistan.The NCA is renowned for its program dedicated to the centuriesold tradition of Mughal miniature painting which flourished from 1526 to 1857. The extremely selective school takes only a dozen of its accepted students to pursue the intensive major of miniature painting. This major at the NCA mimics a traditional eight year apprenticeship in two years of schooling. The meticulous technique begins with the posture of the students. The students are required to be seated on the floor for hours a day, hold their papers close to their eyes and brace their painting arms against their bod y.Their posture is essential to mastering the tiny brushstrokes needed to create pieces with such fine details. They spend their first year and a half copying historical works and learning to make their own tools. Only in the final half year are they allowed to explore their own creative devices. There is an extreme mental discipline that goes along with every aspect of being a miniature painter. The style is based on old traditions. One brush is still composed of a single squirrel hair. Mussel shells are used as mixing bowls for their organic paints.These natural paints are made from raw materials like vegetables, fruits, oil, soil, lime, indigo and lapis lazuli and on occasion eggs, gold powder, and silver foil. Through this program students must master ultra-fine figure drawing and brushwork, tea staining of page borders and burnishing of paper surfaces; all essential to practices that were used centuries ago. For this project, students will explore natural materials that can be used to dye paper and make paints then use their homemade materials to make their own versions of Mughal miniature paintings Objectives: ? Use problem solving to figure out natural materials they can use and combine to make paints and also dye paper Learn about the process that Mughal miniature painters go through when creating a piece Create their own composition based on Mughal miniature paintings Materials and Resources: Watercolor paper Tea, coffee, and cranberry juice Lard, Butter, Solid and liquid vegetable oil Spices, mustard, dirt, grass, fruits and vegetables, and other natural materials that can stain Paint brushes Small containers with lids (paint storage)Aprons/paint shirts Links and Books on natural paint mixing and Mughal Miniatures; http://www. hyoomik. com/images/egg. html http://www. sairawasim. com/ http://www. ambreenbutt. com/web/home. php http://www. ambreenbutt. com/web/works. php Whiles, Virginia. (2010). Art and Polemic in Pakistan: Cultural Politics a nd Tradition in Contemporary Miniature Painting. Edwards, Lynn. (2003). The Natural Paint Book. Critical Questions: How are cultural practices and traditions passed down and continued over time? Why are they important? Is process important in relation to product? What if miniaturist painters used synthetic materials? Would it change the look of the work? The Emotion? Activities: Preliminary Discussion: Discuss process with students; how artists begin a piece as opposed to showing them the finished product first. Then look through some images of contemporary Mughal Miniaturist paintings by Ambreen Butt and Saira Wasim whom still use tea staining and hand mixed pigments from natural materials. Discuss briefly the imagery and subject used in the works and the meanings behind them.With older students you may be able to get them to discuss some of the political satire seen in Saira Wasim’s work Art Activity: Start the project by dying paper. Using tea, coffee, or even fruit jui ce; have students dip a piece of watercolor paper into a large container full of the liquid of their choosing. Leave the paper in the liquid for at least 15 minutes and check on how well the liquid is dying the paper (don’t leave the paper in for too long because it will start disintegrating). Once the paper has a nice color all around, take it out and leave it to dry for about 24 hours. Next, have students mix their paints. Find some things either outside or maybe in the refrigerator that can stain. Things like grass, dirt, berries, flowers, mustard, and spices would work well. Have students use lard, solid or liquid vegetable oil, or butter to grind and mix their natural materials together making a thick paint. Have each student make at least three different color paints. They may share paints when it’s time to use them. Have students use a paint brush with their homemade paints to create their own miniature painting on their dyed paper. This project is more about p rocess and nderstanding materials so the composition can be very simple especially with younger students. You might suggest they do a composition showcasing the natural materials they use to make their materials like flowers, fruit, etc. Assessment: Students have dyed a piece of paper using tea, coffee, or fruit juice Students have mixed their own paints using fat and natural materials Students have used their paints and dyed paper to create their own miniature paintings Lesson two: Retrieved from http://www. kinderart. com/painting/plantdye. shtml PLANT DYE PAINTSGrade: 2-6    †¢    Age: 6-12 †¢Ã‚   Written by: Kim Swanger [Kim is a K-3 art teacher at Lakeview and Central Elementary Schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa. ] | Objectives: Students will learn that plants are a source of natural dyes and paints. This is a good lesson to show how pioneers or early civilizations may have used plant dyes to color cloth. What You Need: * crock pots * beets * spinach or kale * bl ack walnuts in the shell * dry onion skins * paint brushes * paper What You Do: 1. Discuss with the students that before we had synthetic dyes, people had to make their own paints and dyes using plants and other resources available.Show the students the nuts and vegetables you have and ask how the pioneers may have used these materials. 2. The night before the painting lesson, place beets, spinach or kale, walnuts, and onion skins in separate crock pots with enough water to barely cover them. Cook all night. The following morning, the water in each of these pots should have turned into natural dyes. The beet water will be magenta, the onion water will be amber, the spinach or kale water will be a light green and the black walnut water will be brown. 3.Pour a small amount of paint into bowls and ask students to smell them. Discuss which vegetable made which paint. 4. Provide brushes and paper (plain or coloring pages) and permit students to paint using the natural dyes. 5. After the painting experience, ask students what other natural materials might make dyes the pioneers could have used. Experiment with student suggestions. Note: If black walnuts are not available, VERY STRONG coffee or tea makes an adequate brown dye. Berries can also be used to make colorful dyes. Currently, red dye is commonly made from a parasite that lives on cacti.Both lessons are similar in terms of requiring students to use natural objects to create a painting; However a teacher using lesson one, their students would gain a deeper understanding of authentic art, and acquire skills that they can use across curriculum, as it demonstrates modes of learning and teaching strategies which enables each students to expression and understand what is required. It also uses scaffold learning, which enable students to see examples of what they could achieve, but also gives the history and reasoning behind why they are required to do this activity.This enables students to take an educational value from the lesson, rather than doing it just for merely fun (Dinham,2011). Although lesson two also has real world connection and can be intergraded into other curriculums it is its lack of depth to which it can do this that makes it the inferior of the two lessons. Lesson two can link to history whereas lesson one can relate to multiple curriculums, making this a more intergraded lesson to benefit student learning’s (Dinham, 2011).Lesson one has provided more elements of real life experience for students that they can compare contrast between a variety of objects they have used from the environment, from vegetables to plants and so forth. Whereas lesson two only focuses on one element. Both lesson one and two are instrumental meaning that they extend beyond the immediate arts experience (Dinham,2011) but again it would be lesson one that take this experience further as it looks at the impact the lesson has upon students learning as a whole.Overall, lesson two does not tick th e boxes for authentic arts integrated learning in the way that lesson one does. Lesson one provides a real and authentic learning experience that incorpatres connections to other areas of the curriculum, using modes of learning and teaching strategies which encourage and support every learner in the classroom regardless of skill or ability, all essential fact in delivering an authentic arts experience.References Curtin University, (2012). Course Notes. PP2 Integration. Retrieved fromhttps://lms. curtin. edu. au/webapps/portal/frameset. jsp? tab_tab_group_id=_4_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_47595_1%26url%3D Dinham, J. (2011). Delivering authentic arts education. South Melbourne, Victoria: Cengage Learning.

Life in the Slums Essay

Life is tough living in the slums, but I’m used to it now so it’s not as hard as it was when we first moved here. Especially considering we were looking to come to the city for a better lifestyle, and to have a better chance for my parents to get a job, and for my siblings and I to go to school. My name is Anikal and I’m 13, I have 3 older brothers, and one younger sister. Para 1: living conditions and hygiene and population density Moved to Mumbai 4 years ago looking for a better life- ended up in slums It is basically a tip where we live It’s so crowded- 56% of residences have 3 or more people living in a single room It’s so dirty, it smells (although we are used to it now) People evacuating their bowls in the middle of the streets- 5 million residents don’t have access to toilets We don’t have showers we have to find little pools to clean off in- they’re generally dirty water It is a tough life to get used to- nothing is easy We were playing cricket on a big stretch of concrete and the police came chasing after us- we had to run and weave through the slums Para 2: work and employment opportunities and school and exploitation of children We originally moved to the city for the reasons of work and schooling My siblings and I get to go to school twice a week as that’s all we can afford We all have to work to get enough money for our family to eat, and to go to school It can be tough labor a lot of the time for little amounts of money We are working towards starting a business selling stuff- we aren’t sure what yet There aren’t many opportunities in the slums for work, so you have to take anything you can get We thought there would be a lot of opportunities in Mumbai There are in the main city, but very few in the slums We have to go around asking everyone if there’s anything we can do for them to earn a little bit of money We don’t get to keep that money for ourselves, we give it to mum and dad, and they use it for all the things we need Para 3: buildings and structures and infrastructure and police and security There are so many buildings in a small area in our slum Over half the population lives on 12% of the land When you are walking around there is only a small gap for sunlight to get through All the buildings are right together and the roofs hang over the footpath- if you can even call it a foot path There are some buildings that are more than one story, but they aren’t very safe For some people it doesn’t matter how unsafe it is, they just need somewhere to live The security isn’t all that great in the slums The police are sort of against us, when ever we go places we aren’t supposed to they’re straight onto us and will chase us for ages With people in the main city, they will politely tell them off, but us, straight into a full chase. Our house is substandard When it rains torrentially it sometimes leak We have hardly any access to hospitals and medical attention Conclusion: Life in the slums is tough. We moved to the city with the intention of starting fresh, and having more opportunities but we ended up in the slums. We’ve been here for four years and it’s been hard. I’m used to it now though. It is very unhygienic and packed. The population density is ridiculous. It’s been a hard run in terms of work and school, we only get a small education, and don’t have a job, we just have to try help out with same labor work for some money. There are so many buildings in such a small area, and we don’t have any security, and the police are just out to catch us doing the wrong thing. Our house is very small and squishy, but it’s the life I’m now used to, whether I like it or not, it’s how it is. Essay Life is tough living in the slums, but I’m used to it now so it’s not as hard as it was when we first moved here. Especially considering we were looking to come to the city for a better lifestyle, a chance for my parents to get a job, and for my siblings and I to get an education. My name is Anikal, I’m 13, I have 3 older brothers, and one younger sister. I’m live in the slums of Mumbai. My family and I moved to Mumbai looking for a better lifestyle, but ended up in the slums pretty quickly. It is basically like a tip where we live, it’s terrible. It is so crowded, people everywhere, and in 56% of the residences there are three or more people living in just one room! It is all so dirty, and smells (although we are used to the smell now). People just go to the toilet in the streets, 5 million people don’t have access to toilets, and in Dharavi there is one toilet per 1440 people. We don’t have access to showers- not many people do, but we have to use the water we have, or find pools of water we can clean off in. It’s a tough life to get used to in the slums, nothing comes easy. We were just playing cricket out the back of the slums on the concrete on someone else’s land, but no one was there, we weren’t affecting anyone, and the police just chased us on motorbikes with sticks and all, and we had to run back into the slums, on the roofs trying to get away. We eventually got away then ran back the other way passed them on the roof, we saw them though the gap in between two houses. We originally moved to the city of Mumbai in search of better work and schooling opportunities. My siblings and I only get to go to school twice a week, and get a small education as that’s all we can afford on our very small budget. My whole family has to work as much as we can helping people out, doing laboring work just to get enough money for the things we need. We are working towards trying to start up our own small business, and hopefully then have a steady income that we can live off. There aren’t many opportunities in the slums of Mumbai, so we have to take any work we can get. There are many opportunities if you’re in the main part of Mumbai, but unfortunately we’re in the slums. My siblings and I don’t get any pocket money, any money we go out and earn goes straight to our parents so that they can buy all the things we need, like food. There are so many buildings and other structures in our small area of the slums. It is packed, over half of the population lives on only 12% of the land. When you are walking around through the slums, there is only a small gap for any sunlight to get through between the roofs of buildings, over the footpaths- if you can even call it a footpath. There are some buildings in our slum that are more than one story, they aren’t very safe though, but for some people, thats their only option. We don’t really have any security in our slums, and the police are just out to catch us, whenever we are doing anything wrong, even the smallest thing that would normally just be a warning for others, they chase us all through our slums trying to catch us. They’re just constantly out to get us. Our house is very substandard, it’s just like a little hut, with two rooms that we’re all squished into. When there is torrential rain it can sometimes get in, but it’s u sually pretty good. We have hardly any access to any sort of medical care, and hospitals, so when we get sick or injured, we just have to hope its not too bad and that we can get through and come out better in time. Life in the slums is tough. We moved to the city with the intention of starting fresh, and having more opportunities but we ended up in the slums. We’ve been here for four years and it’s been hard. I’m used to it now though. It is very unhygienic and packed. The population density is ridiculous. It’s been a hard run in terms of work and school, we only get a small education, and don’t have a job, we just have to try help out with same labor work for some money. There are so many buildings in such a small area, and we don’t have any security, and the police are just out to catch us doing the wrong thing. Our house is very small and squishy, but it’s the life I’m now used to, whether I like it or not, it’s how it is. Bibliography: â€Å"Living conditions in the slums.† Sites.google. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. . Marotta, Stephen. â€Å"Slums – mumbaiindias jimdo page!.† Introduction – mumbaiindias jimdo page!. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Aug. 2013. . Slumdog millionaire. Dir. Danny Boyle. Perf. Jamal Malik. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2009. DVD. hallam, james. â€Å"Dharavi – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.† Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Aug. 2013. .

Free Essays on Internet Freedom

Defining Our Rights Freedom of speech is a fight that has been going on for as long as the people have had the right. The Internet is just a new forum for waging this war. While people do have the right to post and say what they want, there is something to be said for protecting the youth, as well as easily impressionable minds. At this time the Internet is an ideal medium for the population to express what it wants at any time. This however may change soon, as international governments are discussing legislation and implementing censorship for the Internet. I think that we as a people need to address this issue now and fight to keep a right that has been a foundation for our culture. If we do nothing now, then laws will get passed that may very well infringe upon our right to freedom. Everybody is essentially for free speech. The issue is the limits and boundaries to that speech, and how we should enforce them. There are two sides to this issue and they make it extremely hard to distinguish right action from wrong. On one side you have parents protecting their kids from obscene material, and government protecting its people from terrorism. On the other side are groups and agencies fighting for every last ounce of free speech. Trying to empower the people by keeping them overly and completely informed. Both of these groups are entitled to the feelings they have and neither one of them are in the wrong. So the goal is to create legislation and law that conforms to all walks of life, and is non-bias towards any of our people. Freedom of expression has already faced tremendous judicial attention, and now that the Internet is involved there are even more difficulties to deal with. At this time attempts are being made to control two aspects of expression. Thes e aspects are obscene material such as pornography, and compelling government interest such as instructions on how to make a bomb. The Communication Decency Act is o... Free Essays on Internet Freedom Free Essays on Internet Freedom Defining Our Rights Freedom of speech is a fight that has been going on for as long as the people have had the right. The Internet is just a new forum for waging this war. While people do have the right to post and say what they want, there is something to be said for protecting the youth, as well as easily impressionable minds. At this time the Internet is an ideal medium for the population to express what it wants at any time. This however may change soon, as international governments are discussing legislation and implementing censorship for the Internet. I think that we as a people need to address this issue now and fight to keep a right that has been a foundation for our culture. If we do nothing now, then laws will get passed that may very well infringe upon our right to freedom. Everybody is essentially for free speech. The issue is the limits and boundaries to that speech, and how we should enforce them. There are two sides to this issue and they make it extremely hard to distinguish right action from wrong. On one side you have parents protecting their kids from obscene material, and government protecting its people from terrorism. On the other side are groups and agencies fighting for every last ounce of free speech. Trying to empower the people by keeping them overly and completely informed. Both of these groups are entitled to the feelings they have and neither one of them are in the wrong. So the goal is to create legislation and law that conforms to all walks of life, and is non-bias towards any of our people. Freedom of expression has already faced tremendous judicial attention, and now that the Internet is involved there are even more difficulties to deal with. At this time attempts are being made to control two aspects of expression. Thes e aspects are obscene material such as pornography, and compelling government interest such as instructions on how to make a bomb. The Communication Decency Act is o...

Josephine Cochran, Inventor of the Dishwasher

Josephine Cochran, Inventor of the Dishwasher Josephine Cochran, whose  grandfather  was also an inventor and was awarded a  steamboat  patent,  is best known as the inventor of the dishwasher. But the history of the appliance goes back a little further. Learn more about how the dishwasher came to be and Josephine Cochrans role in its development.   Invention of the Dishwasher In 1850, Joel Houghton patented a wooden machine with a hand-turned wheel that splashed water on dishes. It was hardly a workable machine, but it was the first patent. Then, in the 1860s, L. A. Alexander improved the device with a geared mechanism that allowed the user to spin racked dishes through a tub of water. Neither of these devices was particularly effective. In 1886, Cochran proclaimed in disgust, If nobody else is going to invent a dish washing machine, Ill do it myself. And she did. Cochran invented the first practical dishwasher.  She designed the first model in the shed behind her house in Shelbyville, Illinois.  Her dishwasher was the first to use water pressure instead of scrubbers to clean the dishes. She received a patent on December 28, 1886. Cochran had expected the public to welcome the new invention, which she unveiled at the 1893  Worlds Fair, but only hotels and large restaurants were buying her ideas. It was not until the 1950s that dishwashers caught on with the general public. Cochrans machine was a hand-operated mechanical dishwasher. She founded a company to manufacture these dishwashers, which eventually became KitchenAid. Biography of Josephine Cochran Cochran was born to John Garis, a civil engineer, and Irene Fitch Garis. She had one sister, Irene Garis Ransom. As mentioned above, her grandfather  John Fitch  (father of her mother Irene) was an inventor who was awarded a  steamboat  patent. She was raised in  Valparaiso, Indiana, where she went to private school until the school burned down. After moving in with her sister in  Shelbyville, Illinois,  she married William Cochran on October 13, 1858, who returned the year before from a disappointing try at the  California Gold Rush and went on to become a prosperous dry goods merchant and  Democratic Party  politician. They had two children, a son  Hallie Cochran who died at age 2, and a daughter Katharine Cochran. In 1870, they moved into a mansion and began throwing dinner parties using heirloom china allegedly dating from the 1600s. After one event, the servants carelessly chipped some of the dishes, causing Josephine Cochran to find a better alternative.  She also wanted to relieve tired housewives from the duty of washing dishes after a meal.  She is said to have run through the streets screaming with blood in her eyes, If nobody else is going to invent a dish washing machine, Ill do it myself! Her alcoholic husband died in 1883 when she was 45 years old, leaving her with numerous debts and very little cash, which motivated her to go through with developing the dishwasher. Her friends loved her invention and had her make dishwashing machines for them, calling them Cochrane Dishwashers, later founding the Garis-Cochran Manufacturing Company.

Systems Analysis and Design Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Systems Analysis and Design - Assignment Example In this scenario, given below are some of the important aspects which can have a significant influence on the system design: (Kirwan, et al., 1997; Kariuki & Lowe, 2010; HSE, 2011; Carayon & Wood, 2010) Interface design and workplace layout: it ensures a high-quality interface Environmental considerations: this factor involves consideration of illumination noise, thermal, and air conditioning factors Communications aspects: it involves making sure dependable communications Job and team design: making easy regarding high motivation and cooperation Selection, training and procedures: the exact person intended for the job, as well as appropriate training and aids Human error and recovery: checking and correcting or keeping away from the results due to human errors, and making sure the humans are able to detect and correct machine errors/breakdowns Explain why it is or is not important to test the system on users? System Testing on User It is really significant to test the system for use rs. Additionally, the most significant feature of some testing pays attention on the user experience as well as looks for the pinpoint issues for user interaction with the website. This testing outlines what issues exist, how to enhance and improve user’s level of confidence and utility and encourage return visits and circulation with system capabilities. For the majority powerful systems in the world, as well as for one of the majority strong resources exist on the planet, Google positively has a generic technique. In addition, this is a high-quality instance of tackling system usability from the users’ viewpoint and not from a design point of view. Moreover, Google could surely jazz up their system, however they keep it straightforward for the reason that users achieve utmost usefulness by using it. In this scenario, Google is an excellent instance of a website with an extremely high level functionality, however they uphold a clean and uncluttered appearance, as a re sult users are not overcrowded by tools as well as apps screaming for user attention (RankPay, 2010; Weakley, 2007; Wong, 2010). Question No 2 2. Explain why it is important to use frames. Frames allow us to place our navigation on each system page of a website without making changes on each page. In fact, if the system navigation is in a different frame, and we alter it, it will alter each page that makes use of that frameset. In addition, frames make an advertisement that is for all time available. Additionally, by placing our ads inside a frame at the peak of the page, we make sure that that ad is noticeable still when the reader scrolls the major content. In other words, frames permit us to "brand" our website. In this scenario, we can place our logo as well as website name in a separated frame to keep that information clear and center. Furthermore, frames cover the URLs. Thus, they are not very safe, however if we want our readers to not be familiar with the URL of our pages ro utinely, frames are able to hide it. As well, when people bookmark our web pages, the URL is the major web page, rather than a deep link, that a number of websites favor (Kyrnin, 2011; Kyrnin, Why should I use frames rather than CSS or CSS rather than frames?, 2011; Boutell, 2011; HTML Code Tutorial, 2011). Explain data capture and OMR. How is it different from OCR? Scanning

Wreiter choice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wreiter choice - Assignment Example What could be driving these consumerism tendencies? One apparent thing is the taste! The impulse buying nature of humans is not anything new in the current society. There is a ceaseless urge to buy goods regardless of the presence or absence of money. People tend to spend money on goods such as cars and flavours, the latter the leading in consumption rate. Compulsive buying has seen our stores stocked, credit card debts amounting and a remarkably depreciated health. One could then pose such question as to what the impact of materialism and consumerism bears on the American psyche. From a psychological point of view, the urge to acquire more goods or wealth is a perfect case of discontent. Prompts arguments as if, when one is rich then the money does not make them any comfortable. Leaving the weak discrediting the materialistic aspect of life, dismissing its importance altogether (Schlosser, 561). Consumerism is likened to a culture in that many a people have adopted it as the only practice they ever experienced throughout their lives and which they cannot part with given their relationship since the origin and its entirety. Notably, consumerism has created voids in people’s lives, rendering some emptiness within them subconsciously. The advent of McDonaldization and Americanization is a factor that has come into play in shaping the consumer behaviour of the US citizens. The McDonalds, with their influence across continents, have rocked the world with its myriad flavours. It has been demonstrated that 90 per cent of the money by Americans is spent on food alone. In â€Å"Why McDonald’s fries taste so good†, Schlosser notes that flavour is a critical component if one needed to realise large sale turnover. He adds that colour matters a lot as those that are brightly illuminated are tastier compared to the bland- looking foods. It not only applies to taste but also appealing factor among the eyes of the customer (Schlosser,

American Films in the 1970's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Films in the 1970's - Essay Example Their thematic and stylistic innovations represented a radical break from Hollywood's classic paradigms. The decade saw a revolutionary change in the outlook of film critism also. Films were now being perceived as personal art pieces rather than only commercial blockbusters. Films were no longer evaluated in terms of their stories, but as art works whose style and mise-en-scene were more important than their contents. The 70s witnessed the birth of some of the most inspiring and exhilirating films directed by the greatest of film makers of the era. Nashville a 1975 classic is arguably one of finest films of the century that can be regarded as one of the finest masterpieces of the film making wizard, Robert Atman. Written by Joan Tewkesbury and produced by Robert Atman himself, Nashville features Altman's trademark overlapping dialogue that depicts classic improvisation and film making brilliance. The 159 min overwhelming fantasy, deals beautifully with classical real country music, deftly touching gospel music businesses in Nashville Tennessee. The characters in te film, evolve from real country music figures that material on U.S presidential politics. The film craftilly weaves together multiple storylines that eventually coalesce in the final half-hour in a climactic sequence at the Parthenon in Nashville. The movie widely despised from the mainstream country-music community at the time of its release, with many artists believing it was ridiculing their talent and sincerity. Since then, however, the songs that were mostly composed by the film's actors themselves have achieved a certain popularity in alternative-country circles, well away from the world of the music establishment. Among its many musical sequences, the song "It Don't Worry Me" is the film's theme, heard sporadically throughout and then performed at the climax. The 70s also witnessed the emergence of class film makers such as John Cassavetes. His films such as A Woman under the Influence are hailed as masterpieces despite the fact that they are incorporated with superficiality, gasp, and an in-your-face self-indulgence kind of a feeling. They are also sometimes blamed to carry a blatant artificiality in them. A Woman Under the Influence is one of the most devastating films ever made and is arguably the masterpiece of John Cassavetes' lauded career. with a startling realism, the film depicts supremely the relationship between a housewife on the verge of a nervous breakdown and her blue collared worker husbend. It's a marriage unlike any other seen before on the American screen - Nick (Falk) and Mabel (Rowlands) love each other intensely but that's not enough to keep her from descending into madness. In this shockingly intimate drama, housewife Gena Rowlands suffers a nervous breakdown and Dixit Page 5 her blue-collar construction worker husband, Peter Falk, decides to have her committed.Despite a dramatic theme of insanity, the film doesn't make a melodrama out of Mabel's crazy moments. Instead, painfully long scenes are wittnessed o this family together and with their social circle (particularly his construction work

Choosing Between Debt And Equity Finance Essay

Choosing Between Debt And Equity Finance Essay In financial decisions, the choice between debt and equity financing is one of the most difficult ones. Both types of financing have its advantages and disadvantages. Debt financing is based on borrowing finance, and incurs debts that should be repaid in a certain time. The obligations of the company include repaying the loan and paying interest on the loan until its repaid. Debt financing does not impact the ownership of the business, but might cause high debt servicing costs. On the other hand, equity financing represents the exchange of finance to a part of business ownership; this is commonly done by issuing stocks. Equity financing allows to receive investments without additional payments and does not cause financial concern of investors, like debt financing does. However, since the ownership is shared, the owners have to dilute their decisive power (Grossman Livingstone, 2009), and might even lose control of the company. For the companies, the choice of debt or equity financing is based on many factors, such as size of the company, state and dynamics of the industry, perspectives of the company, debt-to-equity ratio, debt servicing costs etc. The purpose of this essay is to consider the decision of American Superconductor Corporation to shift to equity financing from debt financing, made in 2003. AMSC case American Superconductor Corporation is a company providing wind turbine design, electrical control systems, power systems and superconductive wires (Madura, 2008). It operates mostly in Europe, North America and Pacific Asia. Before 2003, the companys investment policy was based on debt financing; however, in 2003, the decision to forgo a secured debt financing and to adopt an equity financing strategy under current market conditions (Esposito, 2003) was made. The company experienced recession in 2003; in October 2002, its stock prices have fallen to the record level of $2.25, and in 2003, they constituted about $3.36, which was very low compared even to 2002 level of $12.26 (AMSC Stock, 2010). The company needed financing, and their choice was to issue a public equity offering instead of debt financing. This decision was explained as strategic solution based on the consequences of 2003 blackouts, and CEO of American Superconductor, Greg Yurek, forecasted an increased need for their power grids and public attention to better voltage support with dynamic reactive power compensation (Esposito, 2003). The results of first six months of fiscal 2004 year seemed to prove the efficient of the decision to pursue equity financing, since no long-term debt was reported, and $17.4 million revenue in the first two quarters of the year. The company also focused on wind turbines, which were gaining popularity. Wind power in 2007, for example, became the first $30B clean energy industry (Madura, 2008). Current financial position of AMSC shows that its total revenue and gross profit values have significantly increased during the last years (2008-2010 financial information available); the companys gross margin is 39.14% compared to 32.19% in the diversified electronics industry in general (AMSC Stock, 2010). The operating margin is also higher: 14.70% compared to 5.71% industrys operating margin, the EPS is also higher (0.64) than 0.08 average (AMSC Stock, 2010). Although the financial position of AMSC is weaker than that of main competitor, ABB. Ltd., the company managed to override another major competitor, SatCon Technology Corporation. The industry provides a significant development potential, and the stocks of the company were not priced less than $10 since 2007 (AMSC Stock, 2010). Analysis of financial decision The combination of debt and equity financing impacts the companys cost of capital. Debt financing is safer for investors, while equity financing is more risky for investors, but at the same time safer for the company (Grossman Livingstone, 2009). Since debt financing creates contractual obligations, the companies should carefully consider their ability to repay the debts. Debt servicing incurs higher costs than equity financing, and if the company experiences fast growth, it might suffer from high debt servicing expenses. It has also been shown that companies with consistent profit operating in low-risk and slowly growing industries more often opt for debt financing, while companies operating in risky and rapidly changing industries as well as in volatile ones, should choose equity financing since these companies have more opportunities for investments, and would not suffer from underinvestment (Grossman Livingstone, 2009). By 2003, AMSC experienced financial problems and its stocks have dropped in price, but the conditions of the environment indicated the quick growth of interest to AMSC production. It could be forecasted that in some time the company would need significant investments and 2003-2004 was the right time to expand. If AMSC continued debt financing, its growth would be hindered by debt servicing costs and worse stock dynamics. Thus, the decision of AMSC to replace debt financing with equity financing was very appropriate in this situation. Conclusion In order to perform the choice of business financing (debt versus equity), it is necessary to consider the perspectives of the company as well as the nature and dynamics of the industry. In 2003, AMSC was experiencing financial difficulties and its stocks have significantly fallen. However, there were many opportunities for development, and the 2003 blackouts increased the interest to AMSC production. Therefore, the company had strong potential for growth, and needed strong financing source without excess cost increase. Thus, American Superconductor Corporation performed a right decision to stop debt financing, and to issue a public equity offering. The correctness of the decision can be also traced looking at further financial development of the company: AMSC is stably growing, creates new products and shows good progress compared to its competitors.