The Controversies in the Education System of US Free Essays

Consider an incredible amount is spent attempting to get familiar with everything you can and improve yourself arranged for the â€Å"real world. † We begin tutoring at age five or six. Kindergarten is about finger paints and learning the letter set. We will compose a custom paper test on The Controversies in the Education System of US or on the other hand any comparable point just for you Request Now Before we know it, we are remaining before our group and guardians tolerating a secondary school confirmation. That is thirteen years in that spot. At that point, on the off chance that we truly need to â€Å"succeed† we need to overcome another 4 to 6 years of school. That is right around 20 years aggregate in school. Are those 20 years all around spent? Is it accurate to say that we are totally happy with the instruction we gotten? The appropriate response is â€Å"no. † It is clear that today†s training framework in the United States isn't fulfilling the necessities surprisingly. One of the primary discussions in the instruction arrangement of the United States is the substance of what is educated. Everything that is educated in school is uniform for the whole evaluation. Be that as it may, few out of every odd individual understudy is uniform in what they definitely know and how competent they are of learning new things. That, yet in addition is every understudy keen on realizing what every other person is learning? Today there are numerous schools that have placed more accentuation in showing learning aptitudes as opposed to the information that is expected to proceed onward to the following level (Hirsch 129). A few schools have gone what exactly is known as â€Å"core knowledge† to ensure that every single understudy has a similar establishment whereupon to assemble the remainder of their training. They accept that through the strategy for â€Å"core knowledge†, everybody can profit together (Hirsch 129). Inverse that thought is the possibility that we shouldn†t be filling a child†s mind with â€Å"miscellaneous facts†, yet rather be attempting to separate the information that is inside each person†s mind (Harris). The principle contention with that assessment is that without some filling, there won†t be anything to extricate from an individual. One positive thing that our kids are learning is the capacity to think inventively and be imaginative. Numerous Americans ignore the way that in this nation, youngsters can explore different avenues regarding thoughts and figure out how to put stock in themselves and in their own innovativeness (Ho 126). Be that as it may, is negligible inventiveness enough to compensate for different shortages in instruction? Another huge discussion in instruction is the manner in which the youngsters are educated. A considerable lot of similar contentions that are made in regards to what is instructed, can be made with respect to how it is educated. The individuals who are normally skilled and scholarly state that filling a child†s head with different sorts of information isn't exceptionally profitable, yet shouldn't something be said about those kids that need that information just to be at an equivalent level with different understudies. Youngsters who have not learned particularly at home or outside of school won†t have especially to give mentally, so educating to draw out close to home information won't work. How would you reasonably show a class that will mean whether you will keep your activity? Numerous educators face this problem today as a result of the procedure of mysterious assessment. Instructors who get a terrible assessment could lose their positions as a result of it, accordingly there is an ever-developing issue of educators giving better evaluations to perhaps spare their activity. Shouldn't something be said about the evaluations that are given? For whatever length of time that there has been a school, there have been grades given to understudies to show how well they are getting along in school. Yet, are grades the best method to show a student†s progress and all the more critically, what they really realized? Some call evaluating â€Å"tyrannical and indefensible† and even go the extent that platitude the reviewing framework is â€Å"criminal† (Lean 131-32). Evaluating is likely the most investigated of all practices in training. It is anything but difficult to see the distinction between a â€Å"A† and a â€Å"F† in a subject like math where the appropriate response is either right or wrong. Yet, how would you give an evaluation in a subject like workmanship where each piece is something from an individual†s own inventive brain? There is no set in stone, or positive or negative. So how might anybody say that his composition is a â€Å"A†, while her figure is a â€Å"F†? For a situation like that, reviewing can be viewed as simply close to home inclination. So how does reviewing influence understudies and instructors? The evaluations given to understudies influence the students† lives, however the teachers† lives moreover. For understudies, awful evaluations mean not getting into their preferred school, and for the educators, awful evaluations mean conceivable awful assessments. Numerous individuals have reprimanded awful evaluations for giving a youngster low confidence, yet shouldn't something be said about those kids who have astounding evaluations and no public activities. Don†t they have low confidence? Building confidence in understudies shouldn†t be a replacement for essential tutoring (Moore 136). It has been contended that educators bring down their evaluating measures so as to raise the confidence of their understudies. Those instructors accept that a high confidence is vital for an understudy to learn well and have a high confidence (Moore 136). Genuine confidence doesn't originate from a high GPA, a bit of paper called a recognition, or even a high status socially; it originates from difficult work and significant achievements. Do you need youngsters to be loaded up with unimportant data or urged to think all alone and investigate their own knowledge? Would you like to get letter reviews simply like you or do would you rather get assessments on their advancement? Do you imagine that their confidence ought to be founded on their evaluations or something progressively significant? These are questions we should reply in new thousand years and as we become unexperienced parents. The instruction of our youngsters is something too imperative to even consider overlooking. Instructions to refer to The Controversies in the Education System of US, Papers

Current Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Current Issues - Essay Example Each organization’s primary concern is to make and keep up profitable work. While concerns have been expressed over sex issues, genuine change has not occurred. Hierarchical learning should assist associations with reacting better to the requests of nature. Today associations are relied upon to be more sex impartial and improve their ability to embrace advancement or human rights work that isn't sex one-sided (Kelleher, n.d.). This paper will distinguish the connection among sexual orientation and learning at work, lastly examine how associations, which neglect to consider sex issues, can't become successful learning associations. As indicated by Khandekar and Sharma (2005) organizations understand that the manner in which an association learns is the key determinant for reasonable upper hand. As indicated by Griego et al., (2000) today a learning association mirrors the goals of its pioneers. A learning associations centers around the qualities, standards and frameworks of an association that produces and adapts all in all. Learning associations lead to pivot examples of overcoming adversity in significant organizations. Through learning all the individuals persistently change themselves. It is better ready to gather, oversee and use information. Such associations permit their kin to extend and investigate their innovativeness, where new examples of reasoning are supported, and where individuals figure out how to learn together (Griego et al., 2000). As indicated by Griego et al., (2000) five HRD capacities have been arranged as key parts of a learning association. These incorporate preparing and training, prizes and acknowledgment, data stream, vision and methodology and individual group improvement. Preparing and instruction is an apparatus for learning and learning encourages execution improvement. Acknowledgment supports employees’ regard and gives them a more noteworthy feeling of possession in the association. This outcomes is diminished turnover and non-attendance, more prominent representative intrigue and

MIT Dorms Burton Conner House

MIT Dorms Burton Conner House So I suck at life and havent blogged in FOREVER. =( But! Im making up for it by putting tons of effort into this much-anticipated virtual tour of Burton-Conner. Seriously. I took literally about 70 pictures of the dorm before sorting, editing, and writing captions for them. So if you think the entry sucks, keep your mouth shut. =P First lets start with some dorm-wide facilties and common areas The first thing youll see when you walk into Burton-Conner is the front desk. The desk is staffed by BC residents who make sure anyone who doesnt actually live here checks in and out. The front desk is also where you can get your mail, find out if Mom sent you any care packages lately, check out a movie from the dorm collection, or borrow the pool cues/ping pong paddles/etc to use in the game and TV rooms. (More on those later.) The laundry room is conveniently labeled. Ta-da! The laundry room. Not much to say here, really, except that one use of a washer or dryer costs $0.75. And someone has an awful lot of clean socks they forgot to pick up. This is Burton-Conners newly painted spacious TV roomtheres a TV in there, I swear. On the other side of the room. Anyway, the TV room is a cool place to hang out with friends, watch TV or movies, or play on any of the game consoles the dorm has. I have no idea which ones they are, sorry. Seriously, the game room is a little sad and lonely looking these days. Not many people use it, but Ive definitely not studied for finals by playing game after game of pool down here. Any BC resident is free to use the weight room. Yay exercise! (Theres also a cardio room with a treadmill, exercise bike, and elliptical machine. But I couldnt remember the combo to unlock the door, so no pictures. But whatever, you probably already know what a treadmill looks like.) This is the Porter Room. Back in the day it used to be a dining hall, until the dorm got rid of it. Now were left with this big open, underused space. Dorm-wide meetings/social events/CPW stuff/Orientation parties are held here, and sometimes different groups and clubs (like small dance and theater groups) will request to use the space for practices or performances. My friend Becky 09 practices belly-dancing in there all the time. I know because she always has to borrow my CD player. This is the Burton-Conner library. Im not gonna lie, I dont think theres a single book in there that was published after 1962 or something. But theres a small Athena cluster and a study space with desks with those big anti-distraction walls. Its a good place to study without being tempted by your computer or TV or friends. Its also a good place to look for course bibles- collections of all the notes/psets/exams in a particular course from previous years. Plus, we recently elected two new library chairs who are going to try to breathe some life into that place. =) Not pictured: several music rooms for resident use. Im not remotely musical, so Ive never been in them. But I assure you they exist. Now, a little geography. All of these dorm-wide spaces I just showed you (except for the library) are on the ground floor. Above the ground floor is the first floor. Yeah, I know. This confuses a lot of people. There are no rooms on the ground floor of BC. So when someone says they live on Burton 1, they actually live on the second floor. Also, the dorm is split into two sides- Conner and Burton (big surprise). Theyre both in the same building, but arent directly connected- so Burton 2 and Conner 2 are technically on the same floor, but theres no way to get from one to the other without going down to the ground floor, over, and back up again. Also, there is no Conner 1. Conner 1 is taken up by the housemasters suite (a faculty member who lives in the dorm), a conference room, and the library- so no one actually lives there. And thats how Burton Conner has 6 floors and 9 living groups. =) If you end up living at BC next year (for real, after freshmen musical dorms), youll go through floor rush- each of the 9 floors will have free food and fun for you to enjoy. Its a chance to meet the upperclassmen and get to know each of the very different living groups before having to rank your preferences. Each floor has its own lounge and its own sense of style. Ive chosen some pictures to show off some of my favorite floor lounges and hallway decorations. The first picture in each set is the floors mural (each floor has one on its stairwell landing). Burton 4 Burton 4 has a pretty sweet entertainment system in their lounge, if you ask me. They also not only have a mural on their elevator doors, they have a punching bag in the main hallway so you can take out your pset frustrations in anon-violent way Burton Third. The Burton Third Bombers, as they call themselves, really like orange and black. Burton 1. Burton 1 has some pretty awesome murals in its hallways dont you think? Conner 4- my adopted hall. =) From the people who brought you toy gun fights and bicycle skiing the Conner 4 whiteboard always has a new, hilarious mad lib about C4 residents. Its probably good that you cant really read it. Im sure its not all entirely appropriate. Conner 3 Conner 3 has a huge projection screen instead of a TV in their lounge. They also decorate their hallways with collages of pictures from past years. Its a pretty neat look into the past. As for the actual living spaces themselves, the dorm is arranged in suites. Each suite consists of between 4 and 12 people (ish) who all share a suite lounge (separate from the floor lounge), a kitchen, and a bathroom. The 23 suite is the largest Conner-side suite. The 223 suite residents spruced up their lounge with some Christmas lights and a comic strip mural. The 224 suite has a huge dragon painted on their wall, and the 413 suite has decorated their walls with chalkboards they use to keep track of embarassing out-of-context quotes their friends make. In short, there are lots of ways to decorate your suite lounge. =) Meara 09 kindly poses for a photograph as she cooks dinner in her kitchen. Meara lives in the 12 suite, which is one of the smallest suites in the entire dorm. This kitchen is only shared by 4 people; all the other kitchens are larger than this. Id show you a picture of my kitchen butwell it needs to be cleaned. Plus, youve already seen them when I blogged about the freshman dinner. A bunch of 09s socialize in the 212 lounge while Meara cooks. This is my bathroom- which is shared by six people. On the opposite wall is a shelving unit for keeping all of our soaps/shampoos/miscellaneous hygeine products. Becky and Sam (both 09) have decorated their door with a pirate flag, which I think is cool enough to warrant a mention here. As for the rooms themselves- as a general rule, freshmen live in doubles and move into singles as sophomores. Of course, the number of rooms is set, but the number of people in the dorm changes, so sometimes it doesnt work out quite that nicely, but its a nice general rule. I wish I could show you more rooms, but there was barely anyone around when I was taking pictures. So youre stuck with all the old picures of my room- before and afer we painted it and before and after we got our futon. It looks pretty much the same as it did then, only messier. Hopefully Ill get some pictures of typical singles and post them. But mostly theyre just the like doublesonly smaller. So now that you know all about BC, go ahead and flood me with questions. Ill answer them all in my next entry (along with the old ones I havent answerd yet- I havent forgotten!) Edit: OK I lied. Im going to answer your questions in this entry as I get them. Here we go. Dima said: A few questions, because Im thinking this is where I want to live. Are there music practice rooms? Yup! I edited the entry just now to mention them. Also, do most entries have pool tables? And also, do the people in most entries cook dinner together? Youre confusing BC and MacGregor- were organized by floor, not entry. Also, all of the stuff I showed you on the ground floor- the TV room, the game room, etc- is shared by the entire dorm. None of the floors have their own pool tables, although I believe Burton 1 has their own air hockey table. Sometimes people will cook a big meal and share with the floor, and sometimes roommates shop/cook together, but in my experience most people dont cook in groups. And I know BC is probably really diverse as a whole, but what are some characterstics that the residents share, in general? I dont think theres an answer to that. Some other dorms have stereotypes attached to them- like thats where all the math majors/business majors/comp sci nerds/frat guys live, but BC is one big mix of everyone, which is why I like it so much. I dont think BC has much of a stereotype attached to it like other dorms, but maybe its just hard for me to notice because I live there. Id be interested to know what perceptions other MIT students have of the dorm- theyd probably be able to answer better than I can. And also, what dont you like about BC? Ill throw in a response to a question I got via email here- yes BC has mice, but theyre not any bigger or scarier than the mice in all the rest of the dorms. I think Ive seen one all year. They dont bother me so much. That said, we had tons of ants in the beginning of the year. Talk about gross. They went away for the winter and havent come back yet, so Im hopeful that the treatment they did over winter break is working. Post Tagged #Burton-Conner House

The Literary Representation Of History - 1982 Words

‘Le drame de l’Afrique, c’est que l’homme africain n’est pas assez entrà © dans l’histoire.’ (SARKOZY). Discuss the literary representation of history in relation to this controversial statement. Considered as ‘la parole officielle franà §aise la plus raciste depuis longtemps’, Nicholas Sarkozy’s 2007 speech in Dakar elicited widespread disapproval (Heams, 2007). In highlighting a binary opposition between France and Africa; the progressive and the stagnant, Sarkozy reinforced a euro-centric idea of progress whilst criticising the inadequate insertion of ‘l’homme africain’ into history (Sarkozy, 2007). In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Europeans similarly believed that Africa lacked a collective historical consciousness†¦show more content†¦Whilst the main body of the text serves to represent the history of the Baoulà © people and their leader, Queen Pokou; in constantly questioning and subverting the narrative, Tadjo constructs alternative endings to the well-known legend of the Ivory Coast (Ligaga, 2011: 488). One chapter that best exemplifies the dual meaning of ‘histoire’ is ‘La Trav ersà ©e de l’Atlantique’, where Tadjo rewrites the original legend in the context of the transatlantic slave trade. Here, the use of language is emotive, enabling Tadjo to stress the cruelty of the trade. For example, the use of metonymy when describing the captives on their passage is unsettling (Cazenave and Cà ©là ©rità ©, 2011: 75-76). ‘Corps contre corps, ballottà ©s par les vagues’ (Tadjo, 2005: 58). This dehumanises the slaves and parallels their worth with that of commodities, as subalterns, ‘corps’. Similarly, the repetition of ‘corps’, elicits a disturbing image of slaves, both alive and dead, in close proximity in the hold. In grounding this version of the narrative in fact, Tadjo intensifies the emotional impact on the reader. We thus sympathise with the victims on both a factual and fictional level. The use of three successive nouns, ‘ils avaient perdu leur visage, leur nom, leur lendemains’, enables Tadjo to further illustrate the process of dehumanisation during the journey across the Atlantic (Tadjo, 2005: 59). They

Understanding Different Types of Terrorism

A Student At Hampton University - 1190 Words

I wish I could say it still surprises me when I mentioned to people that I attended an HBCU (Historically Black College/University), some of them have no idea they exist. Often, it turns into a conversation starter, which usually evolves into a meaningful educational moment about the history of HBCU’s. However, occasionally I find myself becoming frustrated when ask the question â€Å"why† in a way that questions the validity and or need for HBCU’s in 2016. As a student at Hampton University I did not fully realize the impact it would have on me, but looking back, it is clear to me that those experiences have shaped who I’ve grown into today, and strongly influence to my desire to pursue a career in environmental science education. My first class in Marine and Environmental Science department at Hampton University turned out be different than I expected. Instead of a large lecture hall full of students, I entered a small classroom with approximately 15 students. It was a pleasant surprise to see the small group of students, who shared a cultural resemblance and has similar interests. Up until then, typically when I told someone I wanted to be a marine scientist, the response was â€Å"oh that nice† or â€Å"so you want to play with fish?† So being at Hampton with likeminded students that I could relate to made the transition form high school to college easier than I anticipated. There was a feeling of communities that allowed me to feel free to be myself. In contrast, my first dayShow MoreRelatedEssay on Discourse Community Analysis: Basketball1545 Words   |  7 PagesThe Height of Discourse After I watched two hours of intense play and the huddle split, I observed high fives and complex handshakes of some sort. â€Å"Hampton on three. Hampton on three. ONE, TWO, THREE, HAMPTON!† They started coming my way; as an ex-basketball player, deep down I yearned for a handshake or some kind of acknowledgment, but I sat there like a fork in the road. 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Newton also attended Merritt College, where he earned an Associate of Art degree in 1996. He then attended San Francisco Law School and the University of California at Santa Cruz, where he earned a bachelor s degree and in 1980, a Ph.D. After Newton taught himself to read , He started questioning everything. In his autobiography,he states community around me. This was the start of his involvementRead MoreLetter Of A Fraternity Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority946 Words   |  4 Pages What I have grown to understand an envision a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated to be, I accredit la rgely to the ladies of the Gamma Theta chapter. This has the result of attending many of the chapter’s events during my time at Hampton thus far. One of my favorite events was a screening of a documentary Girls Rising. I learned to appreciate every opportunity to learn and gain knowledge because in some parts of the world girls are restricted from receiving an education. A womanRead MoreThe Black Panthers By Huey Newton And Bobby Seale1007 Words   |  5 Pageswithout being able to read, although he later taught himself, The Republic by Plato was the first book he read. Newton also attended Merritt College, where he earned an Associate of Art degree in 1996. He then attended San Francisco Law School and the University of California at Santa Cruz, where he earned a bachelor s degree and in 1980, a Ph.D. AFter Newton taught himself to read , He started questioning everything. In his autobiography, Revolutionary suicide, he states community around me. This was

My National Hero free essay sample

Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio played some of the biggest roles in the revolution against Spain and are considered two of the biggest national heroes in the Philippines. But if we were to say who should be entitled as the country’s true national hero, in my opinion, it should be Jose Rizal because he paved the way for Andres Bonifacio and the people of the Philippines to push on and fight against Spain. He gave all of us the idea of fighting for a chance to win and grasp what is rightfully ours and our freedom. Jose Rizal’s works served as an inspiration to people. It sparked the flame that the Filipinos needed in order to attain their freedom and take back our homeland. There were some quotes in his most famous novel â€Å"Noli mi Tangere† which translates into â€Å"touch me not† that have been striking and really helped in inspiring people. We will write a custom essay sample on My National Hero or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One of the many quotes is â€Å"there are no tyrants if there are no slaves† which the Filipinos could relate very much at that time because the Spaniards ruled the Philippines. There were so many Filipinos who were enslaved and forced to obey Spanish rule weather they liked it or not. Another quote that made the Filipinos think about their honor and dignity is â€Å"cowardice rightfully understood begins with selfishness and ends with shame†. This meant that people should fight back. That they should stand for what’s right and not just watch their brethrens die the from the sidelines. That they should take back our country and end Spanish rule once and for all because freedom is everyone’s right. There are so many things to consider that why Jose Rizal is the true national hero of the Philippines but we should not forget what the others has done for the country as heroes as well but with the help and inspiration of Rizal, he was the light in the darkness which showed them where to go and why.

A Practical Approach To Television Violence Essays - Criminology

A Practical Approach To Television Violence As difficult as this issue is, I believe it can be addressed. My report shows that some progress has already begun in several areas. Attention needs to be focused on how and why some programming has begun to move in the right direction and why the rest has not. What this issue needs, more than anything else, is cool heads on all sides of the problem: the network executives, the creative community, the government, researchers and advocacy groups. All sides need to worry less about how each development affects only them and instead look at the needs of everyone.(U.C.L.A. 5) In the broadcast world, the four television networks, ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, have begun to get the message about television violence. The programming they completely control, series and television movies, has, for the most part shown some promising signs and now reflects, on the whole, relatively few issues of concern as compared to other network television formats. I contend that this is a result of consumer pressure, rather that governmental regulation. The violence contained in the most disturbing television series is minor in comparison to that contained in theatrical films shown on network television. And that violence, edited as it is, is tame compared to films shown in theaters, in home videos and on pay cable. Today, we see few programs with violence as their central theme. More programming uses violence well or does not use it at all. The public seems to be responding. Of the top 30 shows of the season, only two are listed as raising concerns about violence. It is possible to create popular programs that do not resort to inappropriate uses of violence. Advisories need to be more consistently applied here.(U.C.L.A. 13) Ultimately, however, it was the regulatory framework established by the Communications Act of 1934 and a belief and trust in the strong private broadcasting system that has been allowed to evolve within that framework that proved most crucial. Section 326 of the Communications Act provides the abiding standard. In matters of content, nothing in this chapter shall be understood or construed to give the [Federal Communications] Commission the power of censorship over the radio communications or signals transmitted by any radio [or television] station, and no regulation or condition shall be promulgated or fixed by the Commission which shall interfere with the right of free speech or radio communication.(U.S.C. 31) This body of laws clearly define any governmental involvement as a non-viable scenario. The only group involved in this volitile debate that feels otherwise is, ironically, the government. Must we, the people, obey the dictates of a government that refuses to obey those same dictates itself? The tension over potential content regulation that filled the air in the late 1960's and early 1970's, however, remains with us in the 1990s as we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Communications Act. While more hearings and reports littered the landscape throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, Congress assiduously avoided any acts that smacked of direct content regulation.(House 64) In 1990, however, this began to change as Congress took two significant steps that threaten to alter drastically the delicate balance previously maintained in this area. First, Congress passed the Children's Television Act of 1990, which not only sets advertising limits in children's programming but requires the FCC, for the first time, to consider the extent to which a TV licensee has served the educational and informational needs of children when reviewing that station's application for renewal of license. (Childrens 16) As the 1993 Senate hearings drew to a close, an illuminating exchange took place. The committee chairman, Senator Earnest Hollings (D,S.C.), after hearing witnesses from the major networks, sought to discredit their position by playing a video tape, in the hearing room, of a short clip from the half-hour situation comedy Love and War. The clip was from an episode in which the cast of male and female actors, departing from their usual comedic wit in a restaurant that serves as the show's regular set, engaged in a short slapstick barroom brawl scene. Senator Hollings seemed appalled, strongly suggesting that this type of prime-time violence was indefensible. Senator Conrad Burns

The DWT Freelance Writing Course Re-Opens Today

The DWT Freelance Writing Course Re-Opens Today The DWT Freelance Writing Course Re-Opens Today The DWT Freelance Writing Course Re-Opens Today By Daniel Scocco Today we are re-opening the doors of the DWT Freelance Writing Course. It runs for six weeks (this being the first one), covering a wide range of topics related to freelance writing and making money on the Internet. Over 1000 students took the course in previous editions, and the feedback we receive is always very positive. There are many students who started generating a side income right away, and even some who managed to become full time freelance writers. Below youll find the link where you can enroll: -> https://www.dailywritingtips.com/freelance-writing-course/ Heres a list of the modules youll go through (the modules are released weekly to avoid information overload): 1. Writing Productivity: If you want to make a living writing youll need to learn how to write efficiently and prolifically. This module gives you the tricks of the trade. 2. Building an Online Presence: If you want to freelance on the Internet, you’ll need to develop your online presence - setting up a website, learning how to promote it, and so on. 3. Writing for the Web: This module explains why the Web is different from other media (such as books or print magazines) and how you can adapt to the differences to produce top-notch work. 4. Finding Clients: A key aspect of making money with freelance writing is being able to find clients, and this module will help you with that. 5. Running a Writing Business: Running a business is tough, and this module aims to give you the tools and tactics you need to run yours efficiently. 6. Social Media: On the last module of the course youll learn how to leverage social networks like Facebook and Twitter to network with other freelancers and to find new clients. Enrollment will close this Friday, November 9, so you have only 72 hours to join. (The small registration window is to make sure students will follow the course at the same pace, since we have a private forum where they can ask questions and interact with other members.) Visit the official page to join, where you’ll find all the details (e.g., course structure, price, bonuses). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Religious Terms You Should KnowCapitalization Rules for the Names of GamesEducational vs. Educative

An analysis of the movie Somewhere between Essay

An analysis of the movie Somewhere between - Essay Example An analysis of the movie "Somewhere between" Jenni is 14 years old and she lives in Berkeley California. She was adopted at age five she speaks mandarin she knows she’s a stranger to either country. Jenna cook is 15 years old lives in Massachusetts, Newburyport. She is an over achiever and a top student at an academy in New Hampshire. Butler is 13 years old, she lives in Tennessee Nashville and she has the ambition to be the first Chinese person to play in the grand ‘ole opry’. Ann Boccuti is 14 years of age and she lives in Pennsylvania, Lansdale. The girls are highly articulate, personable and self-aware as they know they belong to two adversely different cultures. The young women allow the viewers to grasp the experience of coming of age in America as trans-racial adoptees. Through these young women experiences and their exploration the viewers are able to consider themselves as individuals and as a nation of immigrant. The films structure weaves back and forth between the girls individual threads making it hard for the viewers to distinct and separate their narratives. The characters also had confusing names, Jenni and Jenna this gives the audience a hard time to follow and distinguish the two characters. It would have helped if the director had established the individual girls more firmly before moving back and forth in their threads.The directors should ensure that the lighting is sufficient to reveal the characters’ faces. This makes the movie more real and revealing.

Payment for Ecological Services Lijiang, China Essay

Payment for Ecological Services Lijiang, China - Essay Example The major upper hand with the PES is hinged on its ability to offer short-term benefits that encourages conservation behavior. This prompts and facilitates collaborative participation of the residents in the management of the ecosystem and not being its worst enemy. In the region of Lijiang China, fundamental changes have been effected that include banishment on the inspection of fishing, poaching, hunting and a reduced potential threat upon the well being of the ecosystem. Pagiola, S. & Platais, G. (2003). To enhance sustainable Ecological and Environmental services, the PES scheme in Lijiang China has put more emphasis on comprehending the interlocks between human activities; mainly farming around the Lashihai Lake and the management of the biodiversity in terms of migratory bird's population and the preservation or improvement of water quality for landscape use in Lijiang old town. Rosales, M., & Ruis, J. P. (2004). Since Agriculture is the main activity dependent upon by inhabitants who live around Lashishi Nature reserve. Agriculture and livestock therefore constitutes for more than 70% of the entire economic system around this region. This has also been viewed as a major detriment that has greatly hampered and deteriorated the water flows into the lake. Rosales, M., & Ruis, J. P. (2004). ... (2003). Intercropping A mixed system of crops and fruits is already practiced in some areas around the Lashihai Nature Reserve, and thus can be further encouraged. To increase farmers' profits, one could also encourage the introduction of livestock husbandry, which should reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers. Rosales, M., & Ruis, J. P. (2004). Furthermore, in the last scenario, fodder crops intercropped under fruits may help reduce cost of feedstuff used, thus further increasing the attractiveness of this development scenario for individual farmers. One limitation of the model is that it assumes stable prices for the crops, even though, as shown in the figure below, there are some variations. Furthermore, in near the future prices of grain will slightly increase due to the limited cultivated land. Pagiola, S. & Platais, G. (2003). Changing farming Techniques around the lake The chief reason of changing the agricultural practices of farmers around the lake, however, is not to increase their profits, but rather to decrease the impacts that their activities have on the water quality of the lake - and, in turn, on the tourist city of Lijiang. It is thus obligatory to comprehend the stalemate in terms of agricultural production, application of chemical inputs, and water quality in the lake. Pagiola, S. & Platais, G. (2003). Evaluating of the current production data for the region, it appears that current agricultural sector in the Lashihai Nature Reserve is operating underneath competent levels. Pagiola, S. & Platais, G. (2003). Above all, the production of crops are low, even compared to the run of the mill for China, which compares aggregate production per hectare in the Lashihai Nature Reserve to the average for China for selected crops. The

Construction Budget Over Runs and Late Project Completion

Construction Budget Over Runs and Late Project Completion Construction projects are graded very successful if the work is completed within budget and to the deadlines agreed in the specification. However, the sad truth is that not all projects are guilty of being successful. Many projects experience failure due to the uncertainties associated with construction projects which include weather, materials, equipment, money and profitability, disagreements between clients, contractors and sub-contractors, statutory regulations, economic and political issues and functionality and purpose. To prevent these failures from constantly occurring, the types of failures need to be addressed so future construction projects do not fall into the same category of unsuccessful Civil Engineering construction projects. It is clear that some of these failures occur regardless of careful planning due to uncontrollable conditions such as climate change, recession, delayed deliveries etc. Therefore addressing the controllable issues, contractors can incorporate the se problems into their specification. By understanding the issues from previous unsuccessful construction projects and correlating the failures, it will be easy to identify the common errors and try to eliminate them from future projects. The research will be based on unsuccessful construction projects by using data from case studies, books, the internet and journals. The constraints and limitation of this paper will depend highly on the data received and analysed by previous sources and their opinion. The paper will also focus on two main factors, budget over runs and late completion. Examples of Budget Over-runs and Late Completion Projects There are many construction projects which have Budget Overruns and Late Completion. A few examples of budget over-run and late completion projects are: Wembley Stadium Sydney Opera House Tfls Jubilee Line Wembley Stadium The Wembley Stadium was a renovation construction project which required the old stadium to be demolished and rebuilt. The main purpose of the new stadium was to increase the capacity of the stadium, be the new home of English football and also host other sports and national events. The original estimated cost of the stadium was  £757m. This value at completion soared to about  £798m. Multiplex (main contractor) reported about  £45m losses in the construction of the New Wembley Stadium. These losses arose due to factors which include: Weather Sub-contractor walkouts (Cleveland Bridge steel company walkout) Sub-contractor disagreements (trade union of workers walkouts) and Changes in design due to failures. Due to the above factors the completion date of the project was pushed back by about three months. [1, 2] Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House was built as a performing arts centre and was designed by Jà ¸rn Utzon. The original estimated cost to build the Opera House was AUS $7m in 1957 and expected to be completed in five years. The project was started in 1959 and the value escalated to a massive AUS $102m and was completed in 1973. Not only did the budget over-run to 15 times the original estimate, but it also took 14 years to complete, which is a very late completion. The main factor which affected this project was insufficient planning during the design stage This led to a series of errors during construction, which effectively caused a domino effect. Hence, increasing the cost and pushing back the completion date [3, 4]. Tfls Jubilee Line The London Underground Jubilee Line extension was to link Stratford and the Docklands to Westminster. This project was planned in 1989 and estimated to cost  £1.2billion. The construction started 1993 and expected to take four years. This however was not the case due to a series of setbacks. There are four major causes for these delays: The project was put on hold for 18 months to find funding The movement of the block signalling system caused delays The location of the O2 Centre (Millennium Dome) had not been established and Due to the collapse of Heathrow Express Tunnel, work was put on hold again. This caused many changes to the original design therefore causing the project to be completed in early 1999, which was a twenty months late completion. The cost also increased to  £3.5billion, an astonishing 70% budget over-run [5]. What Are Budget Over-runs? Budget Overrun can be simply defined as when the final cost of the project exceeds the original estimates [6]. In terms of construction, this means the actual cost of the project at completion minus the original tendered cost during the tendering stage. This therefore creates either a positive value or a negative value. If the value is positive, the project is within budget and has created a profit, if the value is negative, the project has created a loss and is referred to as a Budget Over-run. Why Do Budget Over-runs Occur and What Are The Causes? Budget Over-runs occur constantly in construction projects around the world. The main aim of any business (Construction Company) is to make money, however, it is very common in construction to hear companies reporting losses due to budget over-runs. If the project is completed within the budget specified, it can be graded a success. Therefore this is an ideal factor to use, to rate the success of a project. Budget over-runs occur due to many factors, which are sometimes split into two groups, controllable and extent of damages. The types of budget over-runs are caused by: The cost variations between clients and contractors and sometimes a third party e.g. project manager, consultant etc [7]. Poor estimation during tendering process Disagreements with Trade Union of Workers Climate change Late completion Changes in design etc. This shows that the slightest mistake or changes made could increase the cost of the project dramatically. Research carried out around the world on construction projects has shown that: [8] 9 out of 10 projects over-run Between 50 and 100% over runs were common There was a constant correlation of over-run projects for 70 years in each of the 20 nations and 5 continents surveyed. Average construction project costs are about 33%[9] Another source of research carried out by Jahren, et al [10] predicted that the factors which increased the chances of a budget over-run are: Project size Method of delivery Amount of competition Quality of contract documents and Interpersonal relations There have been predictions published in the User Guide (2005), which outlines the common factors which cause budget overruns. These are: Poor Project Management The project manager/management team is employed to control the entire development to run smoothly and efficiently from start to finish for the project. They may or may not cover the costing depending on the clients preference. If the project management is poor, it will create an effect on the entire project and in the User Guide (2005) it is listed as: Lack of planning and co-ordination Poor communication between members of the project team and the project sponsor Failure to identify problems and institute necessary and timely design and programming changes Lack of control over time and cost inputs Lack of end user involvement. Unexpected Ground Conditions The ground conditions on any construction site are key, if the ground is not tested prior to tendering, the costs could escalate out of control, in order to put it right. This effectively will be the contractors responsibility. Although trial pits and bore holes are used to get an idea of the ground conditions, the true site condition will not be exposed until full excavation. From the time the trial pits and bore holes are carried out to the time of excavation, the ground conditions may have changed. Changes in ground condition may cause a redesign and also cause problems for any machines and materials ordered to site. This therefore should be taken into account as these could increase costs. Shortage of Construction Materials When construction is at its peak development stage in a certain areas, locally ordered materials could be in great demand. Some materials maybe required but cannot keep up with the demand, hence causing delays to the project. These materials might be ordered from other areas of the world, but may cost substantially more as it will need to be shipped in and pushing back the completion date due to delays in material deliveries. Therefore to prevent any shortages occurring this will need to be anticipated and added to the cost to prevent budget overruns. Change in Foreign Exchange Rates If specific materials are unavailable in the local market, it will then need to be imported from overseas. This can cause a problem to the budget if there are dramatic changes in exchange rates. This unexpected exchange rate should be taken into account during costing as it will cause an increase in the budget. Inappropriate and/or Inexperienced Contractors Selection of the right contractor is another key decision. The contractor must be suitable for the project as some projects use a wide range of tenders who price the job. Although, the cheapest tender may be very inviting, it does not guarantee quality. The decision should be made on contractors experience, the contractors successful history of completing jobs on time and within budget and also the most competitive price. Research carried out by Yates et al (2003), the contractors tender which is 15% less than the Engineer, it is very likely there will be a budget over-run. The tenders reputation should also be consider. This could be key as some companies may fall into hardship and bankruptcy. This will delay the project considerably and also increase costs as most contractors tend not to takeover other contractors jobs in case of any problems which could arise during later construction. Natural Disasters/Events These are disasters or events which cause inevitable delays and therefore budget issues to the project. The types of disasters/events which may cause delays and cost implications are wars, riots, earthquakes, landslide, fire, political and economic issues, types of projectile, contamination and many other disasters/events. Underestimations Deliberate cost underestimating occurs in order to gain the job. This will result in the project not being completed and the client having to either increase the budget or retender, hence, causing budget over-runs. Research carried out by Fllyvbjjerg showed that big construction projects were common culprits to underestimation and therefore led to the statement, whatever the cause, almost all large public projects contain initial cost estimating errors that result in the need for increased funding to complete the projects'[8]. The underestimation has been split into four major topics by Fllyvbjjerg: Technical These are known as forecasting errors which are errors requiring changes because of imperfect techniques, honest mistakes, inadequate data, inherited problems in predicting the future and lack of experience on the part of forecasters. In this case, the errors occur between the budgeted estimation and the actual cost of construction. [11] Economical The economical issues are split into two groups, public interest and economic self interest. Public interest is where there are promoters and forecasters who underestimate the cost of the project on purpose to give public officials an incentive to cut costs to save public money. Economical self interest is used to create jobs for Engineers and construction companies and shareholders also get involved to make more money. The fact that shareholders get involved tends to influence the forecasting process and therefore makes an impression on the result. [8] Psychological This is known as appraisal optimism. Promoters and forecasters are held to be overly optimistic about project outcomes in the appraisal phase, when projects are planned and decided. [12] By making the cost seem lower than it should be, will effectively cause the budget to over-run. Political Political explanations interpret cost underestimation in terms of interests and power. The political issue arises on the fact that whether forecasters are intentionally biased to serve the interests of project promoters in getting projects started. This is key in order to start a project quickly, however, there is a legal and moral deception attached this form of underestimation [13]. Change and Variation Orders These are changes to the project and are not part of the outlined work during the agreement of the project. In construction, changes tend to be inevitable and will cause a disruption to the project deadline and also budget. These decisions are therefore discussed prior to any changes being made as it may not suit the client or contractor. Inflation The general definition of inflation in economics is the increase in prices and fall in the purchasing the value of money [14]. This means that if there is an inflation increase, the value of all parts of the project will increase e.g. material costs, machinery hire, wages etc, which in turn increases the budget. To avoid these extra costs, predictions of the market should be checked during the tendering process, by both client and contractors. Acceleration This is where there is a delay but the client demands the project to be completed by the contractor on time, before the completion date or before the agreed extension completion date. Delays Of Completion Time and Payments Delays of completion tend to equal delays of payments, this will cause interest rate repayments to escalate causing the alleged interest trap for both client and contractor. What Are The Overall Effects From Budget Over-runs? It is clear that budget over-runs occur continuously in construction projects around the world. There are many causes for these extra costs which have not been considered during the tendering process. This has caused a bad impression not only on clients but also contractors and end users. The effects on each party is as follows: The client loses faith in the construction industry but in-particular their consultants who are unable to deliver the project on time. This also leads to higher investment being required from the client. The consultants reputation is ruined as they have an inability to control the project budget therefore leaving question marks for winning new projects. Contractors do not make the profits anticipated and failure to complete the jobs leaves their reputation in tatters. The end user will effectively be the one paying the highest price in terms of buying/renting/leasing in order for the shareholders to cover their costs. Overall, its the construction industry that suffers as it causes major headlines in the media for the wrong reasons. Clients will be more cautious before investing in large scale projects which will cause a drop in the construction industry projects due to its feeble reputation. Many construction projects which are accepted by the client will come with a greater risk to the contractor. How To Prevent Future Projects From Budget Over-runs? To prevent future projects from being unsuccessful in terms of budget, the management of costs need to be broken down to show exactly where costs will be greatest and smallest. The estimating, scheduling, accumulating and analyzing costs, and implementing measures to correct construction costing must be adhered to strictly. This will prevent any failures in terms of budget. There is a three step process which can be employed during the planning stage through to the construction stage: Identify the scale of the project (in terms of quality, completion time and budget), Ensure scope is adhered to strictly (in terms of time and budget) Monitor and control the above 2 steps constantly till the completion of the project. A successful project is based on the project manager and contractor working hand in hand to get the greatest efficiency from a project and tend to be based on time, performance and cost. There are many types of key principles and actions which should be followed for a project to be labelled successful and a few are listed below [15]: Good project definition and sound business case, Appropriate choice of project strategy, Strong support for the project and its manager from higher management, Availability of sufficient funds and other resources, Firm control of changes to the authorized project, Technical competence, A sound quality culture throughout the organization, A suitable organization structure, Appropriate regard for the health and safety of everyone connected with the project, Good project communications, Well-motivated staff, Quick and fair resolution of conflict. Risks and uncertainties increase the budget of any project. Therefore, a 10% of the estimated cost contingency plan is usually inputted into many projects to prevent the project from delays and going over budget. Although 10% sounds fairly small, by adding other control systems to the project performance, this value could increase dramatically. However, a good project management costing is more desirable and efficient than a contingency plan. What are Late Completions? In construction projects a late completion is commonly referred to as the time between the actual deadline agreed, to the time the project is completed. This is commonly called a delay in construction and tends to have a major effect on the client, end user, contractor and shareholders. If delays occur in construction projects, the contractor will be subjected to: Additional/Extension time of completion, Immediate termination of contract, Reduced profit or A mixture of the above. This is not always the case, as some delays are not the contractors fault. The other parties involved in the construction stage are, clients, consultants and external influences e.g. suppliers, machinery, mother nature etc. Any delay will create problems between all/some of the parties involved. Why Do Late Completions Occur and What Are The Causes? Delays can be split into three categories, these are: Excusable Delays These are delays which are not caused directly or indirectly by the contractor and in turn the contractor is allowed an extension of time. The excusable delay can also be split into two parts, Excusable With Compensation This is where the contractor is delayed due to the actions of the client, and is given and extension of time and compensated with money for wasted time. An example is if client cannot access the site after the client has approved for the work to start. Excusable Without Compensation This is where the client and contractor cannot be blamed for the delays caused and the contractor is only given an extension of time. An example would be Mother Nature. Non Excusable Delays These are delays caused by the contractor or sub contractor and the contractor is not given any extensions. But the client may get liquidated damages. Concurrent Delays These are delays which occur at the same time. If, and only if two delays or more occur at the same time, then the contractor is entitled to an extension. Delays are caused by the members directly involved in the project and also members indirectly involved in the project. Research was carried out by Odeh and Battaineh (2002) and their finding showed that [17], Client Delays The client caused delays in terms of: Finance and Payments, Constantly Interfering, Indecisive Decisions on Design and Requirements, Very Unrealistic Forced Time Schedule, Minimal Experience of Construction Projects, Minimal Experience of Co-ordination and Communication, Very Poor Employment of Representatives, Inappropriate Feasibility Study. Consultant Delays The consultant causes delays in terms of: Poor Management/Management Team in general, Poor Management of the Contract, Lack of Preparation and Poor Drawings leading to Slow Approval of Drawings, Quality Assurance and Control, Improper Site Investigations and Slow Approval of Tests and Inspections, Poor Consultant Team with Minimal Experience. Contractor Delays The contractor causes delays in terms of: Poor employment of Sub-contractors, Poor Site Management, Inappropriate Construction Methods, Poor Planning including costs, time, budget etc, Terrible Decision Making during Construction, Inadequate Contractor Experience. Material Delays Material cause delays in construction projects in terms of: Overall Quality, Its Demand and Supply, Importing Materials, Inflation Rate of Materials, Late Delivery and Unreliable Suppliers Labour and Equipment Delays Labour and Equipment cause delays in construction projects in terms of: Labour Availability and Productivity, Skilled Labour Availability, Low motivation and morale, Strike Action and Absent Labourers, Equipment Demand and Supply, Frequent Breakdown and Maintenance of Equipment, Improper and Inadequate Equipment. Contract Delays Contract cause delays in construction projects in terms of: Constant Changing of Design, Mistakes and Discrepancies in Contract Documents, Different Party Relationship Breakdowns e.g. disputes, negotiations, breakdown in communication, improper organisation. External Delays External influences cause delays in construction projects in terms of: Climate and Weather Changes, Unexpected Ground Condition Changes, Regular Changes e.g. security codes, I.D.s etc, Complaints and Problems from Neighbours, Inflation of All Materials, War, Riots, and Other Conflicts, Slow Clearance of Site. How To Prevent Future Projects From Late Completions? There are many factors which cause late completions of construction projects. The delays can be caused by direct or indirect actions. Direct actions are delays which can be avoided as these tend to be made by the parties involved. Indirect actions are uncontrollable and therefore by minimising the direct actions, the delay can be kept to a minimum. Research carried out by Nguyen, et al. (2004) on project success factors in large construction projects in Vietnam, Aibinu and Jagboro (2002) on acceleration of site activities and contingency allowances, Koushki, et al. (2005) on what the minimization of time delays and cost overruns would require, and Odeh and Battaineh (2002) on recommendations for improving the situation of construction projects allowed for a table of thirty five methods to be created. These methods would show how to minimise/eliminate delays from construction projects.   Conclusion From the research carried out, it appears that Budget Over-runs and Late Completions are a common aspect of the construction industry. However, it is clear that not all Budget Over-runs and Late Completions are controllable and some are fabricated to seem as over-run and completed late due to the process of tendering. In appears that there is a connection between late completion and budget over-runs hence, these are key factors which need addressing. The most influential effects for over-running and late completion are delays, insufficient finances, loss of reputations and controversial decision making from clients, consultants and shareholders. It is therefore compulsory that all the above measures should be followed, but a few major recommendations must be adhered to in order to make sure the project is always successful. The major recommendations for all parties involved are, Client The client should make sure all finances and payments are available and paid on time, the feasibility study is well planned and accurate as possible, the client should be proactive in decision making and understand what is feasible and what isnt, and the client should recommended a deadline but allow for any anticipated delays. Consultant The consultant should have good people skills, understand the projects objectives and the clients obligations, any misunderstood/discrepancies should be ironed out prior to construction and during the construction stages, this will prevent any major changes required during construction. The management team should be more than adequate and have a good history in the field of the construction project, quality control and assurance procedures should be put in place along with potential disagreement solutions which could arise. Contractor The contractor should tender based on the actual job costs and not the minimum tender in order to gain the contract. The contractor should employ reliable sub-contractors which have a good history in terms of completion and quality, the contractor should have a good management history as well as a good reputation in the type of construction project.

Melatonin :: Pharmacy Neurology Sleeping Papers

Melatonin: The Myths and Facts Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland. The pineal gland is about the size of a pea and is located in the center of the brain (http://www.milatonin.com/melfaq.htm). Melatonin is secreted at night or in the dark (http://www.ceri.com/melaton.htm). It is used to regulate the sleeping cycle. It is also found to correlate with a lot of other functions and problems in the body. Because of its many uses, melatonin is being manufactured by pharmaceutical companies as a dietary supplement. People are using it to treat everything from jet lag to cancer. There have been many studies done on the effects of melatonin. The bulk of the studies have been done on the effects of melatonin on sleep and on treating jet-lag. The findings show that melatonin is proven to be an effective sleep aid and also help alleviate jet lag. Melatonin is a substance that the public is taking without being knowledgeable about its benefits, side or dosage. Many companies manufacture melatonin. There are two kinds of melatonin available, synthetic or natural. It is recommended to take the synthetic time release formula. It is the closer to the molecular make-up of melatonin and is made with pharmaceutical grade ingredients. Natural melatonin may contain animal parts through which viruses and diseases can be carried (http://www.teleport.com/~jor/#1). What is being said about melatonin Melatonin and Sleep Melatonin is used most frequently for sleeping troubles and jet-lag. By differing the amount of exposure to lightness and darkness, there is a possibility of abrupting the sleep/wake cycle. It is believed this change results from varying levels of melatonin being produced. Taking melatonin is thought to induce sleep. It is found to work best when taken between twenty to forty minutes before bedtime. Low levels of melatonin seem to impede or disrupt sleep (http://www.readysorf.es/lifeplus/ingredients/p2.html). Without rising levels of melatonin in the evening, it is difficult to fall asleep (http://www.liberty.com/home/appaloosa/mel.htm). The peak of melatonin production appears to be at 2:00 a.m. Melatonin levels rise when the sun goes down and decrease after 2:00a.m. (http://www.ceri.com/melaton.htm). By taking melatonin tablets before bedtime, one can supplement their melatonin levels, making sleep come more easily and sleeping more consistently. Melatonin and Jet Lag Melatonin is also used to relieve jet-lag. Jet lag occurs after experiencing rapid, long distance travel through different time zones. Other behaviors that produce symptoms similar to jet lag are working all night shifts, staying up all night and working multiple shifts.

Tanglewood Stores Case Study

Current Environment Assessment Due to fast growth rate and purchasing of smaller companies, legacy procedures are still found in HR practices among stores. Current polices and procedures managing the human asset must resonant with original mission statement. Competitors The competitor list would be any company that does business in non-durable general retail industry. Specifically, listed in the case study has Kohl’s and Target as competitors but I think that Dillard’s and Saks should also be listed since they align with operating revenue, number of stores and employees.All of these businesses compete for middle to upper income customers. Structure The organization has a tiered hierarchy with multiple levels of management reporting upward while maintaining a participatory management style even down to the departmental managers having the ability to create methods for running the department. Employees There are approximately 215 employees per store. The employees are see n as an essential asset developing and maintaining the values and culture of the organization.Each employee is part of a team and encouraged to suggest operational improvements for the business. Financial rewards are provided to employees with improvements that are chosen for implementation. Leadership shows that every employee is seen as a member of the core work force by offering permanent positions over temporary. Culture and Values The philosophy of the founders is taught at orientation; â€Å"If you tell someone exactly what to do, you’re getting half an employee. If you give omeone the space to make their own decisions, you’re getting a whole person. †Through clear and honest communication (business health or otherwise) plus keeping performance and customer service in forefront, leadership has provided an avenue for employees to be engaged at every level. The process of hiring only dedicated employees on a permanent basis fosters the culture and value of t he company. Human Resource Function 2 level HR process; corporate and store: Corporate level ? analyses data received from individual stores, ? designs policies and programs, sends specific recommendations to the stores (not sure to whom this information flows – it should be the Assistant Manager of Operations and Human Resources) Store level: ? Assistant Manager for Operations and Human Resource staffs the store, trains new hires Recommendations Operations Staff should be consistently managed throughout all stores with a core value with specific policies and procedures with a balance of allowing the continued personalized involvement from the manager.Staff Levels Have a balance between developing current workforce while acquiring key personnel with needed skill set and experience to the higher level core positions. ? Outsource the recruiting and hiring of new employees; use their expertise and compliance tracking capabilities. ? Continue with internal hiring as you develop a nd train the next generation of employees and business success; an employee familiar with company policies is an asset to the company. If current business situations need â€Å"new eyes† look to hiring externally. More companies are catering to the flexible workforce. Provide an environment that has some flexibility as this adds to your benefits of keeping a quality and qualified workforce. ? Create a strategy of cross training using the team environment that is already in place; this will help with minimizing the impact of turnover plus provide a hiring pool as management can have performance evaluations on hand. ? Currently with the size of the business and managing multiple controls;I suggest looking into the benefits of outsourcing the IT department and data analysis locally. Attracting or relocating key personnel through the outsourcing of the potential hiring firm can validate the extent of this need. ? The current position of the business would be to overstaff until it has met the needed results. Once that has been achieved, the business has the ability to develop the extra employees for new roles or let them go. ? I suggest keeping the long-term goals in the forefront while continually measuring the short term goals. The short term goals are easier to reach but it takes focus to keep the business on the long term path. Staffing Quality Multiple levels of job requirements should be identified as minimal tasks to perform; this will aid in the person/job and person/organization match.While some positions may be less task oriented needs, more emphasis would be on necessary personality qualities that adhere to the organization culture and values. ? For your corporate structure I suggest you have specific KSAOs listed as these positions require specific knowledge, skills and abilities. The store manager, assistant store managers and departmental managers should have general KSAOs as their workforce and responsibilities are more apt to have changes on a regular basis. The base of your leadership and management workforce should be exceptional quality the store shift leaders and associates would be listed under the acceptable workforce quality. But with that being said, if you are looking to encourage your staff and have them suggest improvements, there will be some looking to make a career at your organization. You must not lose site that the associates are the first exposure to your customers – if they are not respected or treated well, that will show in their service.I did find a risk with the implementation of improvement suggestions as it is left up to the manager on how it is carried out. The improvement should have metrics assigned and a timeline established for follow up and results provided. ? Actively pursue diversity within your organization; the benefits to this organization will be a well rounded workforce ready to enter into more markets, a deeper understanding of customer needs and the ability to provide oppor tunities for all people.

Minimal Pairs Pronunciation Lesson

Minimal pairs are pairs of words that have one phonemic change between them. For example: let and lit. Using these pairs to help students recognize the minor differences between English muted vowel sounds can greatly help not only pronunciation skills, but also comprehension. Aim Improve pronunciation and recognition skills Activity The use of minimal pairs to help students distinguish minor differences between English vowel sounds Level Pre-intermediate to upper-intermediate depending on students capabilities Outline Introduce the idea of minimal pairs by writing a list on the board of a number of minimal pairs. For example: but - boot, sit - set, caught - cut, sing - song, etc.Practice comprehension skills by using the provided lists of minimal pairs. Each list contains one minimal pair with a number of examples.Once students are comfortable with the sounds, read sentence examples (for example: The call took a long time to go through - for the first pair) using one word of the pair provided. Ask students to identify which word of each pair was used.Continue using the list of pairs by asking students to practice the lists.Ask students to identify two vowel sounds which they want to focus on, for example: eh and uh, and have them create their own list of minimal pairs.Have pairs exchange lists and practice reading the others lists aloud.If appropriate, continue lesson by a more extended look into the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet, see IPA Lesson) Back to lessons resource page