Real Property

Question # 1 – What were Birdwell’s options on July 5? Doctrine of Equitable Conversion – once a contract is signed, equity regards the buyer as the owner of the property. The seller’s interest is looked at as personal property. The legal title of the property remains with the seller and is considered to in trust and the risk is on the seller. The right of possession follows the legal title; the seller is entitled to possession until closing.Risk of Loss – there is a split of authority on risk of loss when a contract is signed, equity is passed to buyer through escrow and the risk of loss is on buyer. If property is destroyed before closing, the majority rule places the risk on the buyer. If the property is damaged or destroyed, the seller is to credit any monies from the insurance against the purchase price the buyer is required to pay. Because Birdwell did not rescind the contract he will be required to pay the $90,000 because he did not consult a n attorney and because the real estate agent put a new price on the property of $50,000.However, since the contract was silent at risk, the Uniform Vender and Purchaser Risk Act, Birdwell could request this option. However, neither party had insurance on the property. Here, no one had insurance on the property. If property is destroyed and the seller has insurance, the seller will be required to reduce the sale price by the amount of damage. Because there was no insurance on the property, and the agreement was silent, the risk of loss would be on the buyer and Birdwell’s option would have to be under contract law or marketable title.Statute of Frauds (SOF)– The terms of a land contract must be in writing and signed by the parties, including full names of the parties, words showing intent, a meeting of the minds for the transaction to buy or sell property, the price, and sufficient description of the property. Astor and Birdwell entered into a contract for the sale of R oseacre, which was for $100,000 with a down payment of $10,000 and $90,000 at closing set for August 1. Under the SOF, Roseacre must have a description of the land that is sufficient for identification.Here, there was no description that sufficiently described the land for sale and this would violate the SOF. Because there is no description another option would be to allow extrinsic evidence of property to allow for the description of the land to be added to the contract regarding Roseacre. Here, Birdwell is to be the equitable owner of the land beginning with and during the period between forming the contract and closing. Question #2 –Assuming a Uniform Vendor and Purchaser Risk Act jurisdiction what were Birdwell’s options on August 2 when he finally gets around to consulting an attorney? Marketable TitleBreach of covenant of marketable title and breach of covenants of title is determined by which jurisdiction it follows on equitable conversion or the Uniform Vendor and Purchaser Risk. Under the equitable conversion, equity title and risk of loss passes to buyer as soon as the contract is signed. Seller could force buyer to pay and take titled to the damaged property. Under the Uniform Act, seller retains the risk of loss until title or possession passes. Buyer can rescind and sue for restitution of the deposit. On August 2, Birdwell cannot rescind the contract because he can only sue for breach of warranty of marketable title.Because closing is done and completed under the Uniform Vendor and Purchaser Risk jurisdiction, Birdwell’s attorney would advise that he has taken legal title or possession of the property and would not be cleared from his contractual duty. Here, because, Birdwell has the deed and because of an accident and the property was completely destroyed and a new value placed on the property, this would be a loss and Birdwell would have to sue under covenant of title. Question #3 – When Birdwell discovers the gas bil l August 15 what are his options? Usual Covenants in General Warranty DeedA general warranty deed contains covenants of title warranting against defect in title, including defects by predecessors. A general warrant deed contains three present covenants and three future covenants. The present covenants are breach if all at the time of the delivery of the deed. The future covenants run after closing. If one of the covenants is breached Birdwell may recover damages from Astor. A. Present covenants are breached if at the moment the deed is delivered and personal covenants are personal and do not run with the land for the benefit of the successor.Seisin the present covenant warrants that the seller of the property owns the property that they claim to convey. Right to convey warrants that the grantor has the power to convey the property and that there are no restrictions on the power of the seller to convey power. Against Encumbrances warrants that there are no easements, servitudes, or m ortgages on the land. Here, Astor breached the present covenants when the deed was passed and he knew that the property had a lien against it. Because of these facts there is an amount owed of $1500 and $750.B. Future Covenants are breach if after the grantee’s possession of the land is disturbed, and then the future covenants may not be breached at the moment of the conversion and can be breached later. Future covenants run with the land and can be enforced by purchasers. Because Astor broke Birdwell’s future covenant when he shows the property to Clifford, this would breach Birdwell’s covenant of quiet enjoyment. Quite enjoyment warrants that the grantee will not be disturbed in the possession by a third party’s lawful claim of title.Here, Birdwell’s deed is defective and damages are recoverable for breach of covenant against encumbrance, which is the difference in value between the land without these encumbrances and land with encumbrances. The lesser amount would have to be paid by Astor. Question #4 – On September 1 Birdwell has still not been unable to successfully get a resolution on the dispute over Roseacre. What are the chances of claiming his deed valid and Clifford is not a Bonafide Purchaser? Bona Fide Purchaser is someone who pays for the value for property and takes title of property without notice of any preceding claims.The notice statute requirement is that the party must be a bona fide purchaser and that party takes their interest without the notice. Here, the subsequent purchaser Clifford’s deed will prevail. Taking without Notice – Clifford inquired if about if there were any liens and he was told there were none by Astor. Therefore, he did not get actual notice and the deed was not recorded, unless there was inquiry, constructive notice will prevail. Constructive Notice exists if a prior claim was properly recorded within the chain of title so that a subsequent purchaser will be char ged with notice of claim.A reasonable search is required of the purchaser of records such as the tool Tract Index or the Grantor-Grantee index. Here, constructive notice would exist because Birdwell did not record his deed, this show Clifford did not get proper notice. Inquiry notice is something that arises that could cause a reasonable person to be on notice and the Grantee is responsible to know if anything that a reasonable person would reveal. Even though during the inspection of the property, Clifford noticed different signs that stated â€Å"sold† and he also saw a construction crew working.This was observed prior to Clifford making an offer. Quiet title – Birdwell has two options one a title dispute, therefore in a quiet title action, a court proceeding removes any clouds or encumbrances on the title to real property to establish new ownership of the property. Here, Birdwell did not record the quiet title and there was a failure to clear title after making paym ent to Astor. Because Astor did not convey a deed to Clifford, the court will have to decide the recording based on the recording statutes above.

Christianity and mathematics Essay

This paper deals with interrelation between Christianity and mathematics. It has been observed that God is the creator of this universe and He is also the creator of our various mathematical formulae and deductions. Like Universe and God, they are also eternal and cannot be ever destroyed. The paper has also described how Christianity has described the relation between God and our numeric system, which is the basic foundation of Mathematics. Christianity and mathematics 3 Link between Christianity and mathematics – philosophical aspect Let us consider the formulae for earth’s mass distribution, orbital path of celestial bodies and population fluctuation. They are simple mathematical formulae that describe the creation of this universe and humanity. According to Christianity, who is the creator of this Earth? It is none than the God himself. Jonathan Zderad (2003) has stated in the article written in the website http://www. acmsonline. org/Zderad-creationism. pdf that universe, that is the creation of God is hardwired by the laws of mathematics. If one have a look at the theorems of mathematics, it seemed that they were true before time began and will continue to be true after time lapses. Jonathan has mentioned this in his article in the above mentioned website. Mathematics exists beyond human thought and logic. Christianity believes that only God can create such things which are eternal and divine. Jonathan (2003) has mentioned in his article that mathematics existed beyond time and space. According to Christianity, only God, the supreme power behind this human existence can exist beyond time and space. It is very much clear from the Biblical records that god gives value to numbers. To quote from the above mentioned website, â€Å"For Christians, God’s counting is what gives the believer a place in heaven. Jesus compared himself to a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to rescue one sheep that is lost. He values each and every one of us. † (p. 6). Jonathan Zderad (2003). The Holy Bible has drawn many references from the numeric system of mathematics. How Christianity is linked to basic numeric system of mathematics Jonathan (2003) has also described in the above mentioned article how Christianity is Christianity and mathematics 4 related to our numeric system. The author has described that while the Number represents unity, number 2 is the symbol of fellowship and number 3 representing the community. The author states that these numbers represent spiritual qualities. The author has stated in the article that Bible has enough indications that it is God who has created the series of integers, rational and irrational numbers and real numbers. Jonathan has argued in the article that Bible has strong reference to the concept of counting. Numbers were generally used to describe dimension while building a place of worship. How Creation of God is linked with creation of mathematics The author has also suggested in the above article that there is a clear view of Christian view of Mathematics, which is described as creationism. Creationism has got four aspects. The first one is continuity. God makes his own creation in such a way that it is continuous. The second aspect is activity. The author has stated that he has created all these mathematical entities out of his own mental divine activities. The third one has been described as the abstract object inclusive. To quote, â€Å"As a general rule, theists would include mental objects and spiritual objects in the list of God’s invisible creation. Creationism also includes abstract objects like propositions, relations, and universals in this list of God’s invisible creation†. (p7). Jonathan Zderad (2003). The fourth one is that it is mathematically inclusive. It believes that Mathematical objects are created by God and they have an eternal quality, which can only proceed from the mind of God. Christianity and mathematics 5 Reference Zderad, Jonathan. (2003) Creationism – A Viable Philosophy of Mathematics. www. acms. org. Retrieved on 15th December, 2008, from http://www. acmsonline. org/Zderad-creationism. pdf

Applied Concept Paper Essay

Executive Summary The purpose of this paper is to help me to fully understand and expand my knowledge of the concepts four in our textbook. By performing research about recent business world activities, I will be able to link the terms learned in the lecture in order to get the full picture. Although I chose terms that are found in both chapter 6 and chapter 7, most of my terms come from chapter 7, which talks about corporate strategy. Our textbook Strategic Management and Business Policy textbook by Thomas L. Wheelen and J. David Hunger is a great source of information for anyone interested in learning more about business. According to our textbook, the three key issues that corporate strategy deals with are: 1. Directional Strategy – The firm’s overall orientation toward growth, stability, or retrenchment. 2. Portfolio analysis – The industries or markets in which the firm competes through its products and business units. 3. Parenting strategy – The manner in which management coordinates activities and transfers resources and cultivates capabilities among product lines and business units. From the readings, I chose the terms that I found most interesting. The concepts that I chose from my readings are acquisition, joint venture, licensing agreements, long-term contracts, and strategic alliance. After doing extensive research, I came upon recent articles that have helped me to understand the book and help me to incorporate the knowledge that I have gained in this class with the real world. In this paper I fully explain how the terms learned in the textbook relate to recent articles. Abstracts 1. Delphi Automotive closes on FCI unit acquisition, by the Associated Press, Published on Friday October 26, 2012 This article announces the completion of an acquisition deal that was announced in May of 2012 by the company Delphi Automotive. This deal was for the acquisition of FCI motorized vehicles unit, which manufactures auto connection systems. The deal cost Delphi Automotive 765 million euros ($987.5 million). Delphi Automotive has its headquarters in Troy, Michigan. It was saved by the United States Government in 2005. Since then, the company has recuperated; however, it has done so by decreasing its costs, such as, massive layoffs and downsizing its manufacturing business. With this merger, Delphi expects to increase its future earnings gain an approximate $0.24 per share. 2. Clariant AG : Clariant and Wilmar establish Joint Venture for amines and selected amines derivatives, by Thompson Reuters ONE, Published on Friday, October 26, 2012 This article announces the joint ven ture between two well established companies: Clariant Ltd. and Wilmar International Limited. Clariant Ltd. is a specialty Chemicals Company based out of Swtizerland. It is the parent company to over 100 companies worldwide. As of December 2011, the company had an approximate 22,100 employees. Clariant specializes in growing its business by partnering or acquiring a variety of firms that will help the company maintain profitability and create a steady growth. Wilmar International Limited is a leading competitor in the agribusiness field of Asia. The company was formed in 1991 and it is based out of Singapore. Some of Wilmar’s business activities include, oil palm cultivation, oilseeds crushing, edible oils. In addition, the article goes into detail of how the companies will both benefit from this joint venture. Further detail will be discussed later in this paper. 3. Hyrax Energy and WARF enter into licensing agreement, by Bret Williams, Published on October 26, 2012. This article explains the licensing agreement deal between Hyrax Energy and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). This licensing agreement is geared toward finding alternative fuel choices for consumers. Researchers from both Hyrax Energy and WARF have already found new technology that can be used to produce alternative clean fuels and plastic materials. Furthermore, this licensing agreement allows WARF and Hyrax Energy to commercialize the new alternative fuel and generate profits not only domestically but also in the global market in the near future. In addition, the development of this new technology shows that the economy of the United States can be affected positively with the creation of new jobs and also with increased consumer demand for clean biofuels. 4. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Healthways Announce Extension of Contract for Disease Management Services Through 2015, by Business Wire, Published on October 17, 2012 This article is in regards to the extension of a long-term contract between the companies CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield and Healthways. The companies have been working together for a few years and they have been serving about 600,000 members. The extension of this contract signifies that together these two companies are able to partner to offer their clients better healthcare services and preventative disease solutions. CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield has been in business for 75 years and Healthways is a company dedicated to create healthier human beings. It also serves about 40 million customers in four continents. 5. PepsiCo and Suntory Agree to Form Strategic Beverage Alliance in Vietnam, by Pepsi Co., Published on October 22, 2012 This article discusses the strategic alliance formed by PepsiCo and Suntory Holdings Limited. This strategic alliance will help PepsiCo increase its business in Vietnam. Although both companies have both experienced success in this country, their strategic alliance will catapult both companies to new heights. PepsiCo will be in charge of marketing its strong products which include Pepsi-Cola, 7-UP, Sting, Mirinda, Tropicana Twister, Lipton and Aquafina. At the same time, Suntory will be in charge of bringing its ability to successfully meet the demands of its Asian customers. These companies have successfully worked in the past in other countries, such as, the United States, Japan, and New Zealand. PepsiCo has been able to grow in the Vietnamese market since entering it in 1994. For Suntory, it is hoping to achieve one of its long-range plans, which is to expand in to Vietnam. Concepts 1. Acquisition According to Wheelen and Hunger an acquisition is a growth strategy that occurs when a company absorbs another (usually smaller) company as an operating subsidiary or division of the acquiring corporation. Acquisitions usually take place with companies of different sizes and they can be hostile or friendly. Acquisitions can also be a good way to grow into an international market. For example, a domestic company can purchase another company that is already established and operating in a different country. This benefits the purchasing company by reducing the amount of time and money it needs to spend on acquiring documentation to enter into such country. 2. Joint Venture A joint venture is one type of horizontal growth strategy that companies use in order to penetrate international markets. This usually takes place between a domestic company and a foreign corporation. Joint ventures are created when companies wish to combine their resources in order to create new products and/or technologies. Joint ventures can be made among companies or companies with a government agency. By forming a joint venture, companies usually save themselves the possibility of expropriation in a new country by its government. In addition, a joint venture can also help companies penetrate countries that do not allow foreign vendors. (Wheelen & Hunger, 2012) . 3. Licensing agreements A licensing agreement is another growth strategy that companies use in order to increase their profitability. According to Wheelen, under a licensing agreement, the licensing firm grants rights to another firm in the host country to produce and/or sell a certain product. The licensee pays the licensing firm in return for technical expertise. This strategy is particularly beneficial when the licensing company is well-established but lacks the resources to enter a new market in a different country. 4. Long-term contracts According to our textbook, long-term contracts are a type of vertical integration strategy by the formation of agreements between two firms to provide agreed-upon goods and services to each other for a specified period of time. In order to be considered a type of vertical integration, long-term contracts must specify that the contract is mutually exclusive and that neither firm can enter into the same or a similar contract with a third party. 5. Strategic Alliance Long-term cooperative arrangements between two or more independent firms or business units that engage in business activities for mutual economic gain. In order to keep up with the continuing growth and demand from consumers, strategic alliances have become a part of modern business. The length of strategic alliances may vary from a few months to a few years. Although companies benefit mutually from these alliances, conflicts often arise over the companies’ objectives and control issues. This conflict therefore leads for about 50% of strategic alliances to fail in both domestic and international markets (Wheelen & Hunger, 2012). Analysis 1. Acquisition In the article â€Å"Delphi Automotive closes on FCI unit acquisition,† I learned how an actual acquisition takes place in the business world. One company, in this case Delphi Automotive, which is larger than FCI Group, acquired and completely absorbed FCI Group’s motorized vehicle unit. This friendly takeover will allow Delphi to expand its global reach and its ability to make electronic connectors for vehicles. In addition, this acquisition will also help Delphi Automotive increase its earnings per share in the coming year. 2. Joint Venture In the article â€Å"Clariant AG: Clariant and Wilmar establish Joint Venture for amines and selected amines derivatives,† we see an example of a joint venture. From our textbook we have learned that a joint venture is a type of international entry option for horizontal growth of a company. Both Clariant and Wilmar are well established companies. With the formation of this joint venture, they will influence each other with each company’s individual strengths in order to increase their growth opportunites. Furthermore, the benefits that Clariant will bring to the joint venture are: â€Å"its Industrial & Consumer Specialties (ICS) Business Unit’s sales activities of relevant amines and defined derivatives to the joint venture as well as its amines plant in Germany and production output from its amines plant in Brazil.† At the same time, Wilmar will contribute the venture with the use of its plant in China and also the company’s expertise in oleochemicals and renewable raw materials. The article ends by stating the following: â€Å"Due to its strong roots in Asia combined with plans to expand the business globally, Wilmar is an excellent partner for Clariant to support our customer base in all parts of the world†, said Michael Willome, Head of Business Unit ICS. 3. Licensing agreements This article explains that the companies Hyrax Energy and WARF have entered into a licensing agreement. According to our textbook, companies enter into licensing agreements both domestically and internationally. In this case, the licensing agreement is domestically. Hyrax is a company that emerged from Department of Energy funded Great Lakes BioEnergy Research Center (GLBRC) and has now entered into a licensing agreement with Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) (Hyrax Energy, Inc., 2012). Hyrax’s strategy is to be able to use the latest technologies in order to develop alternative biofuels. In addition, Hyrax hopes that the licensing agreement helps it commercialize its biofuels in the United States and with the long term goal of expansion into the global markets. 4. Long-term contracts According to the article â€Å"CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Healthways Announce Extension of Contract for Disease Management Services Through 2015,† the companies mentioned decided to extend their already prosperous long-term contract. This was an agreement previously made by both firms. This allowed them to provide each company’s goods and services to their customers. This way, the companies are successful at reaching more customers and providing better services while reducing their costs. Since the cost of healthcare is rising, the companies are interested in offering preventative solutions in order to minimize future high healthcare costs. Although our book states that recently, companies have moved away from long-term contracts, which is a form of vertical growth strategy, in this case both companies benefit from having contracts since they offer different services to their customers, however, such services complement one another. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield offers health insurance while Healthways offers its consumers preventative ways to stay healthy and thus helps keep the costs minimum for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield . 5. Strategic Alliance In the article, â€Å"PepsiCo and Suntory Agree to Form Strategic Beverage Alliance in Vietnam,† we learn how two successful companies decide to join their resources to form a strategic alliance in order to gain market share and mutual economic gain. This strategic alliance will help PepsiCo build on its current position in the Vietnam market, while utilizing Suntory’s strong brands and recognizable ability to cater to the Asian market. The strategic alliance by these two companies in Vietnam is expected to have a positive effect for both companies and will help them increase their profits. Alone each company is already successful; however, together they expect to grow their business exponentially. Conclusion Research and reading the book have taught me to better understand strategies and different techniques that companies use in order to expand their businesses. Companies are in business to create profits; they do this by thinking outside the box. Through the articles, I learned that a variety of companies in today’s market are constantly searching for ways to succeed. In addition, they must seek new ventures in order to enter both domestic and international markets. Where companies choose to join their competitors in a strategic alliance, or a joint venture, long-term contract, or simply by signing a licensing agreement, these are good options for companies to try in order to succeed in the market and avoid a potential acquisition by their biggest competitor. References Associated Press. (2012, October 26). News. Retrieved from Yahoo Finance: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/delphi-automotive-closes-fci-unit-123219090.html Business Wire. (2012, October 17). CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Healthways Announce Extension of Contract for Disease Management Services Through 2015. Rock Hill, South Carolina, Unite States. Hyrax Energy, Inc. (2012, October 27). About. Retrieved from Hyrax Energy: http://hyraxenergy.com/ Pepsi Co., I. (2012, October 22). Media – Press Release. Retrieved from Pepsico: http://www.pepsico.com/PressRelease/PepsiCo-and-Suntory-Agree-to-Form-Strategic-Beverage-Alliance-in-Vietnam10222012.html Press Release. (2012, October 26). Clariant AG : Clariant and Wilmar establish Joint Venture for amines and selected amines derivatives. Muttenz, Singapore. Wheelen, T., & Hunger, D. (2012). Strategic Management and Business Policy Toward Global Sustainability. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson. Williams, B. (2012, October 26). Alte rnative Energy. Retrieved from Hydrogen Fuel News: http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/hyrax-energy-and-warf-enter-into-licensing-agreement/856496/

Financial Analysis of Dell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Financial Analysis of Dell - Essay Example Dell, Inc. is a leading supplier of information technology equipment and peripherals such as printers, music players, mobile phones, laptop and desktop computers and software, and servers and storage systems. Founded in 1984 by Michael Dell, currently the Chairman of the Board, it generated total sales of $55.9 billion and profits of $3.6 billion in 2006 on the basis of a direct-selling business model to a growing global corporate and consumer market. Customers place orders over the phone or the Internet, pay for purchases up front, and wait for on-time delivery. Its business model allows Dell to sell computers at a lower price and that are tailor-fit to each customer's needs. Although it began by selling to individual consumers, the company now generates over 75% of its sales from large corporate accounts. Using a supply chain and financial management system that it innovated and successfully continues to improve, the company keeps spare parts and finished products inventories low, its cash volumes high, and net profits optimized to drive phenomenal corporate growth. In the task of managing a 65,000-strong global workforce spread in seven manufacturing sites in the U.S., Brazil, Malaysia, China, and Ireland, Dell is assisted by President/CEO Kevin Rollins and a team of directors and professional managers from its Austin, Texas headquarters and five regional offices (Dell, 2006e, p. 22-24). The company belongs to the highly competitive technology sector populated by established companies. It competes for global market share in computer hardware sales with IBM, HP, Xerox, and Apple of the U.S., and with NEC, Fujitsu, and Canon of Japan. Due to the effects of global competition on operating margins, Dell has evolved from a mere assembler and seller of products developed by other companies - such as Intel that supplies computer chips and Taiwanese companies supplying wires and other parts - into a designer of its own products like PDAs and PCs. The first half of 2006 was good for Dell. Fortune ranked the company 25th among the 500 Largest U.S. Corporations; 23rd in annual profit growth measured in Earnings per Share over the last ten years hitting 33.1%; and 2nd in Ten-Year Total Return to Shareholders with 39.4%, making it the second best investment in the list (McGirt, 2006). Its revenues made it the 88th largest company and the third largest supplier of computers and office equipment in the world after IBM and Hewlett-Packard (Lustgarten, 2006). However, the second half of the year has been brutal for the company. First, a battery in a Dell laptop exploded in the U.S., which turned out not to be an isolated case, leading Dell to recall and replace 4.1 million batteries, the largest such order in the history of American business, opening the company to embarrassment and potential lawsuits. Second, Dell made public that in August 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched an investigation of its accounting practices. This double trouble

American Presidency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Presidency - Essay Example An interrelated program of domestic-policy reforms characterized the Reagan policy agenda. We see this in the administrations work to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, which entailed lowering federal taxation and domestic spending as well as the deregulation and returning of the power to the states.i The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 was the first of changes that Reagan launched in his pursuit of his domestic policy. This legislation brought about far-reaching budget cuts and policy shifts and is considered to be one of Reagan’s major achievements in domestic policymaking. Besides significantly trimming domestic spending and trimming the federal government’s role in domestic program areas, the legislation had two other significant effects: first, it substantially changed welfare programs, and second, it increased the proportion of federal grant funds that are channeled to the states and reduced the share paid to local units of government.i i Reagan’s experience as governor of California, prior to his election as President, influenced his attitude toward domestic policy. As governor, Reagan became convinced that the states could play the major role in running domestic programs such as welfare. He saw in this experience that domestic policy choices are best made at the state level and that this philosophy became the foundation of his New Federalism. Reagan emphasized this in his 1982 State of the Union address: Our citizens feel they have lost control of even the most basic decisions made about the essential services of government, such as schools, welfare, roads, and even garbage collection. They are right. A maze of interlocking jurisdictions and levels of government confronts the average citizen in trying to solve even the simplest of problems. They do not know where to turn to†¦ who to hold accountable.iii For Reagan

Management accounting and financial accounting Essay - 1

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The Decameron Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Decameron - Essay Example The book shows that even the most noble or holy people in title are still prone to sin and vice. Living the best life possible, according to The Decameron, is a personal endeavor which can best be undertaken by fortifying one's mind with tales of the moral shortfalls of others. The story begins with a narrator discussing the various ways in which the people of Florence were coping with the overwhelming death toll and destruction of social order brought about by the bubonic plague. Some people chose to behave "as though each day was to be their last" (16). The narrator notes that "nowadays, laws relating to pleasure are somewhat restrictive, whereas at that timethey were exceptionally lax." In contrast, however, the seven ladies of our story are found "more or less in a circle, in one part of the church, reciting their paternosters" (17). The eldest of the women, Pampinea, determines it is in their best interests to leave town to protect their lives and virtue. She states that the townspeople, "prompted by their appetites, they will do whatever affords them the greatest pleasureIt is not only of lay people I speak, but also of those enclosed in monasteries[that have] given themselves over to carnal pleasures" (18-19) She asks the other six women, "If this b e so (and we plainly perceive that it is), what are we doing here" (19). In this manner, the seven women decided to leave town, asking "three young men of courage and intelligence" to accompany them as "guides and servants" (21). In this manner, the group sets itself apart from the others in Florence that are just interested in fulfilling sinful desires before their imminent demise. Upon arriving at a well-appointed and vacant country villa, the group and their accompanying servants set up camp. To provide entertainment, they decide they will appoint a group leader each day that will determine how they will pass their time (24). For each of the ten days they are in the villa, they end up telling stories - both lighthearted and tragic - that convey different moral shortcomings of men, women and clergy alike. They each usually preface each tale with a comment on how to avoid the same wretched and sinful natures of the people in the stories, thus making the collection of tales a type of instruction manual on the devious temptations one should avoid in life. For instance, the third story on the first day tells the tale of Saladen, a sultan from Egypt, and "a rich Jew, Melchizedek by name." Saladen asks Melchizedek to choose which religion is authentic, the "Jewish, the Saracen, or the Christian" (42). Because Melchizedek wisely sidesteps Saladen's wicked trap, he avoids giving an answer that would lose him money and possibly his life. He states that he could not choose among them, just like he could not choose among three children. Saladen only asked this question because he coveted Melchizedek's money. Because his wisdom and prudence inspired Saladen, the sultan borrowed money from the man instead of entrapping him as he had originally intended ( 43-44). Many stories in The Decameron point out the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church of plague-era Europe. In this manner, the stories show that even church leaders are not without sinful temptation. In the sixth story, a money-hungry friar comes after "people with bulging purseswhom he deemed to be lacking in faith" (50-51). At the end of the story, the money-hungry friar

Performance-Based, Portfolio, Nonverbal Assessment Strategies Essay

Performance-Based, Portfolio, Nonverbal Assessment Strategies - Essay Example By utilizing informal assessments, educators can target learners’ precise problem areas, adjust instruction, and intercede earlier before it is too late. Constant assessments are mainly significant for English language learners (ELLs). Regular tests in English do not normally echo ELLs' true content abilities or knowledge. However, informal assessments can offer a better-rounded image of their abilities, skills and ongoing progress. The No Child Left Behind act agitates that thorough records should be maintained on the growth of ELLs (Colorado, 2007). Storing these records will make it much easier when questions of grading, program placement and special services arise. There are two normally used informal techniques: portfolio assessment and performance-based assessment. Both techniques make use of typical classroom events to measure growth towards curricular objectives and goals. These actions can be witnessed and recorded by educator observation, as well as student self-asse ssment. This paper will explain at least three informal language proficiency instruments an educator can use in his/her classroom to determine Maria’s level of comprehension.d in classroom instructions, as well as everyday tasks (Tannenbaum, 2009). An educator can utilize performance-based assessments to evaluate ELLs' language proficiency, as well as academic success, through presentations, oral reports, written assignments, demonstrations, as well as portfolios. These assessments can comprise of both products (e.g., group projects) and processes (e.g., numerous drafts of a writing sample). An educator can use observation checklists and scoring rubrics to assess and grade his/her students. These tools can help in aiding ELLs' growth over a short period of time (Colorado, 2007). When using performance-based assessments, it is vital to set up clear and fair criteria from the start. It may be useful to develop these criteria together with other specialists or teachers at the sc hool (Colorado, 2007). Performance-based assessments encourage a broad range of responses. They normally do not generate one single, accurate answer. Hence, evaluation of learner performances and products should be rooted in a teacher’s judgment, using the criteria set for each and every task. An educator can develop assessment actions, which are specified to his/her ELLs' level of English understanding. Performance-based assessment actions can center on reading or oral communication. Some of the activities comprise of: reading in groups, narrating tales, role playing, providing descriptions using visual prompts, telling a tale through a sequence of a couple of pictures, completing dialogue through visual prompts, debating, brainstorming, playing games and completing incomplete stories. When using performance-based assessments with intermediate and beginner English proficiency level, it is advisable to assess less than three items at a time (Tannenbaum, 2009). For instance, d uring role play, an educator might assess the learner’s abilities to reply to "where" and "what" questions; respond to clarification and read telephone numbers or addresses. Portfolio Assessments Portfolios are convenient ways of evaluating student work all through the academic year. With this method, an educator can thoroughly collect evocative

Homeland Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Homeland Security - Essay Example The suddenness of the attacks on September 11, 2001, and the manner in which America was caught off guard, would shape our perception of the war on terror and frame America's response. Previous wars had unfolded methodically in the public's eye, such as the extended debate that preceded the Civil War. However, the War on Terror had no such incubation period to give the American public time to orient themselves to the new face of war. America was thrust into war "without any troops or plans in place to confront this particular enemy. Just as important, it occurred in a context of public indifference to or ignorance of the threat posed by terrorists" (Callahan, Dubnick, and Olshfski 555). The US had made few, if any, plans to deal with a terrorist arrack on US soil, and the discussion of terrorism was largely restricted to the law enforcement, investigators, and prosecutors that had confronted domestic terrorism such as the Unabomber and the attack on the Murrah Federal Building (Calla han, Dubnick, and Olshfski 555). The Congress took aggressive action and on October 4, 2001 introduced HR 3026 "To establish an Office of Homeland Security within the Executive Office of the President to lead, oversee, and coordinate a comprehensive national homeland security strategy to safeguard the Nation" (HR 3026). On November 25, 2002 George Bush signed into law PL 107-296, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which established the Department of Homeland Security (Gressle CRS-2, CRS-6). ... The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would consolidate intelligence efforts, provide for broad powers of investigation, and limit specific legal standards in regards to terrorism. The Homeland Security Act and the formation of the DHS gave the government sweeping new powers to patrol the US borders and took a more liberal approach toward domestic surveillance. The DHS was formed to consolidate intelligence and investigations when "The establishment of the Department of Homeland Security brought under one authority 22 federal entities with vital roles to play in protecting our Nation and preventing terrorist attacks within the United States (The National Security Strategy). Border patrol and customs has been especially challenged with 500 million people crossing our borders each year, and 21,000 containers entering the US through 350 commercial ports of entry every day (Bodenheimer). Bender reports that, "The Secure Border Initiative, costing more than $2 billion this year alone, is a major effort to increase Customs and Border Protection personnel, introduce detection technologies, and construct a fence along the border with Mexico". The DHS has also placed sp ecific priority on the increased use of 'tamper-evident' containers, biometric identification technology, and radiation, chemical, and biological threat detection equipment (Bodenheimer). In addition, there has been an increased level of domestic intelligence activity designed to weed out suspected terrorist cells. Marrin describes these increased efforts as: Additional controversial domestic intelligence programs include the Justice Department's proposed Operation TIPS for public reporting of suspicious activity, the modification of

Business Execution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Execution - Essay Example Thus, execution is a key to organizational success. Without a careful, planned approach to execution, strategic goals cannot be attained. I believe that business execution is one of the cornerstones of a business organization's success. Business plans and strategies are useless unless they are executed. The realization of the company's goals is almost fully dependent on the execution of its plans. However, it should also be noted that execution in business is often tedious and complicated. For one, the plans being executed should always be modified in order to cope with the changes and developments in the environment. Execution is also a matter of coordinating everyone in the company to carry out their specific functions as planned. I would also like to stress that execution is only as good as the plan and strategy created. Even if the firm has been very good in putting its plan into action if the plan is not efficient, it will still be far from realizing its goals and objectives.

Friends or Family Essay Example for Free

Friends or Family Essay When you have friends and family, you have those who care for you. When you have them, you don’t really need anything else. When you have a family and some really good friends, you know that they will always be there for you. You know that you can always count on them, and you definitely know that you can trust them with a secret or anything personal. When you are surrounded by them, you realize that nothing in the world can ever replace them. Nothing can ever replace the memories that you have. No matter how much money, or how famous, or how glamorous you are, it wouldn’t be that great if you didn’t have friends or a family. I would never trade them in for anything. I would like to be rich, have pretty shoes, expensive purses, own a ton of make-up, and have a whole closet full of clothes. But my family and my friends are much more important. They don’t even care about what I look like or what I wear. I could come to school in pajamas or wake up looking like a freak, and it wouldn’t matter. They don’t care about looks. And, they really don’t care that I’m NOT perfect. I don’t have to put on an act like I’m all that just to hang out with them. I could act like a total loser and dress up in weird stuff a target holding a mop or a huge crown at the mall and they would start laughing. People would be looking at us like we wear crazy. But we would just laugh knowing that we look retarded. They wouldn’t say, â€Å"I don’t know her† or something like that. Okay, maybe they would, but that is the fun part. Sometimes I might do another goofy thing like ride a small bike down the street or dance like a maniac. Sometimes, I’ll get bored and say something random like â€Å"I like eggs† and my friends wouldn’t make a face. My family would start laughing instead. I remember this one time, my friends little brother through my cell phone at my head. It hurt but it was really funny. And then another time, my friends came over and we made dinner for my brother. We mad a whole buffet of Mac and Cheese. Even though nobody ate it, it was still fun. We would have a billion memories we can laugh about from a year from now. If you have only money, you will be lonely and the only thing you can do is buy things that don’t really have any value if you have no one to share it with. Being lonely in a huge house and with lots of stuff just lying around might be great for show and all, but when it comes to things that truly matter, friends and family, are what’s really important. If I were rich, I would like it at first, but then it would get annoying. Not really knowing who your friends are or not knowing who is using you and who is really there for you. Then, only having some friends, only because they were as rich as you. I’m not saying you don’t need money, because everybody needs some. But it’s not the most important thing.

Of Mice And Men coursework (Theme Of Loneliness And Friendship) Essay Example for Free

Of Mice And Men coursework (Theme Of Loneliness And Friendship) Essay Consider the theme of loneliness in Of Mice and Men. How does it affect the friendships and relationships in the novel? This novel was written by John Steinbeck which was set in the 1930s in Salinas Soledad which is in California. The novel consists of many historical factors which have affected the characters in this novel and one of them includes, The great depression Which leads the novels inspiration for the famous writer John Steinbeck which he mainly based on his own experience. In those days people travelled a lot differently to how we travel now. In those days migrant workers travelled extravagant distances looking for a job. There are many different themes in which are based throughout the whole book, such as loneliness, happiness, nature, dreams and reality: Which even lead to catastrophe. Many of the people in this novel have very lonely lives mainly because they are migrant workers and as we know they dont have time to make any friends or have any time to spend with their families. There are many characters that are lonely due to age, sex, and race. Two good examples would be Candy because of his age and Crooks because of his race. This novel consists of two main characters George and Lennie, who are an anomalous pair of migrant workers that look after each other. They are completely the reverse of each other. George is the one who has the communicative face and thinks of all of their problems and ideas and tells the other one what to do. Being like this all of the time, in what ever the story it is, always pictures that you would be the small quick one with sharp features. Lennie is the guy that is tall and always does what he is told and has an ill-defined, solid, and powerful body and does not know his own strength. Steinbeck describes him as the one with no shape in his face and his body. Lennie drags his feet when he walks and acts like an animal. In the descriptions of these two men their appearance is completely different. George dresses neat and tidy, while Lennie dresses very scruffy. Just by the description of George and Lennie, you can clearly see that Lennie is the child out of the two men, as you can tell how he talks and acts around George and throughout the whole book. Being a man Lennie lacks a lot of language, which I think that he never attended a lot of school. Examples look George, look what I done! this is immature language. This kind of behaviour makes George the father type figure, so he would be the defender. John Steinbeck relates to Lennie, in the theme of nature, by describing his walk, and some of the things he does in relation to the animals like the way he drinks from the lake as Steinbeck describes him as a horse that puts its whole head into the water and slurps. This links in to the theme of natures, because of the use of animal descriptions that Steinbeck uses throughout the book, which is very important to this novel because in the beginning of the book, Nature was introduced straight away. Steinbecks describes the surroundings in such detail, that he uses a whole page to describe the forest (which is in the beginning of the book) which gives the readers a good imaginative view of what Steinbeck is writing. George and Lennie have an abnormal relationship. They are two friends, one needs the other more .George often gets very frustrated towards Lennie, which also shows that George cares. George loves Lennie very much and will always be a friend to him and so does Lennie. Lennie could not live without him because George does everything for him. Between George and Lennie, George is the one that is mainly in control, he cooks, finds them jobs finds them a place to sleep and because of this, they always travel together, where one goes, the other one follows like a duck and her ducklings. George travels with Lennie because Lennie would not be able to survive on his own. These two men share the same dreams but George knows in reality, it is not going to happen. Later on in the story Candy has now been introduced to the book as the old swapper. He is tall, stooped shoulders and has white whiskers. When you first see him, he is very friendly, although he is a little weary of newcomers. His only friend is his dog that he has had since he was a little boy which symbolises that he is very lonely which refers to the theme of loneliness. When he gets to know people, he begins to trust them; he opens up and strikes a conversation with his new friends just as he did with Lennie. A little further on in the story as they become very close together and even share each others dream. In the future he looses both his dog and Lennie and cant really prevent Lennies death but tries to prevent his dogs death, but this fails. This shatters Candys dreams because he cannot share his dream with his long companion. In Chapter 4, Crooks is introduced. He is the only coloured (black) person on the ranch and this is where the theme of loneliness comes into play. Crooks is a stable buck. He has a crooked spine, and his eyes lay deep in his head, he is lined with deep black wrinkles and has thin tightened lips. Again relating to the theme of loneliness, Crooks lives by himself in a shed because he is the only Black man, this is why he can afford to leave all of his belongings lying around. He has got his own collection of items like books, shoes and his own copy for the California civil code which indicates that he knows his rights and does not want to be taken advantage of. Eventually Crooks and Lennie are talking about if Lennie could live without George and about crooks childhood explaining why his father never let him play with other kids and why he is so lonely. When he is speaking with Lennie about his childhood, he is speaking like it is still happening or it has recently happened. This is a very similar story to his life at that present time. Being the only coloured man, Crooks is treated as an outcast, as racism was very high in those days which forces him to spend his time reading while the others are playing card games. Crooks become very bitter due to the fact that everyone ill treats him which makes him feel hurt. In the next chapter Curley is introduced to the story. He is the bosss son, he has a wife, she has dark hair that reaches down to her shoulders, her eyes are quiet close together and has pink small lips with very pale skin. The book does not mention anything about her name which suggests that she does not know who her parents are and does not have an identity. She behaves like she is not Curleys wife and that she is single so she flirts with a lot of the men behind Curlys back. She would say things like now that were alone what do you want to do. To try and tempt the man. In doing this, all the men try as hard as they can to stay away from her because they know that she is trouble and know how Curley feels about his wife. Curleys wife does this because she wants attention, again, related to the theme of loneliness. All the farmers speak really bad of her because of her being flirtatious they also are frightened to talk to her because they fear Curley, and he would think that something is going on; plus he has the authority to get them fired or to shoot them. She married Curly to get some sort of status and to have an identity but she never liked him anyway. When she describes her life on the ranch, she says that her life is boring, that no one pays any attention to her and that she gets treated like a little girl. Curleys wife often dreams about herself becoming an actress. At the end of the novel, her loneliness causes Lennies death. Before Lennies death, Curleys wife and Lennie were talking in the barn whilst everyone else was playing games. They began talking to each other about each others dreams. They both talked about each others dreams and what they wanted to do in their life. Lennie has a fascination of stroking things. He was stroking Curleys wifes hair, he began to stroke her hair so hard, that he lost control and broke her neck. This has a big impact on George, Lennie and Candys relationship, as Curley wants to kill Lennie. As a result to this, George has to kill Lennie before he gets killed by Curly. Loneliness will always end in tragedy and dreams will rarely become reality. True Friendship never ends.

Role of a Mentor in Barriers to Learning

Role of a Mentor in Barriers to Learning Critically analyse and discuss the role of the mentor in managing a student who is not achieving competence in some of their practice outcomes and is not demonstrating an appropriate knowledge base. Within this assignment I will endeavour to explain the role of the mentor and student highlight the different barriers to learning, critically analyse different theoretical practices to enable learning and be able to theoretically underpin the strategies that I hope to put into practice as a mentor should I encounter a problem with a student being unable to underpin their knowledge with practice, Duffy and Hardicre (2007), suggests that mentors find that one of the most challenging aspects of the mentoring role, is when students are not achieving the expected level of performance. This essay is not concentrating of how to fail a student from the nursing course, but to discuss why a student may be having difficulty in showing the mentor that they are competent with some of their practice outcomes and the student being unable to show the mentor that they can relate their theoretical knowledge to the practice. The mentor is pivotal in being one of the first to usually recognise struggli ng students, and need to assess, plan, and evaluate how these obstacles can be removed, overcome, compensated for, or managed. This should be, documented, the form of an action plan devised by the student and the mentor perhaps with advice from sign-off mentors on the ward, or if required outside sources such as the disability adviser, or the educational link lecturer for the placement. Arguably the three main areas that can impede a student ability to learn are the mentor, the student and the placement environment. The placement itself has may have some fixed constraints in terms of environment, room size, as well as some dynamic concerns such as learning opportunities, work load, time restraints, noise, temperature. The term mentor is derived from a character in an ancient Greek play, The Odyssey. Back in 1978 Levinson et al described the core components of the mentor not only as an exemplar and counsellor but also as a teacher, sponsor, developer of skills, developer of intellect and host, (cited in Oliver and Endersby 1999). The NMC (2006) described a mentor as an individual who has achieved the knowledge, skills and competence required to meet the defined outcome in stage 2 of the developmental framework to support learning and assessment in practice, cited RCN toolkit (2007), therefore the mentor has the shared enhanced knowledge base and key skills which is pivotal in supporting the student in achieving competence in the required skills of a nursing, this is reflected in the amount of classroom theory, and ward based learning being a 50% split, of the students time for the three years pre-registration. Policy documents such as Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice (NMC, 2 008a) show the capabilities that a professional needs to demonstrate and the criteria that a professional should work to achieve the status of mentor. Lloyd Jones et al (2001) have suggested three core reasons for providing ward based learning for student nurses are: The acquisition of skills and knowledge Application of theory to practice Professional identify formulation and ‘enculturisation’ Mentorship therefore has came to mean, Haggard et al, cited Nick et al (2012), a one to one reciprocal relationship between more experienced and knowledgeable faculty member and a less experienced one. According to Cahill (1996), cited in Morton-cooper and Palmer (2000), the student mentor relationship moves through three different phases during the duration of a placement these are: Initiation phase Working phase Termination phase One of the numerous things to consider during this essay will be the assessment process and how this needs to be fair and consistent for the student and allow them to develop individually to achieve a level of competence in the skills required to become a professional nurse. Before a student even starts on a ward the mentor should prepare for the students arrival reviewing the wards welcome pack, ensuring that it is up to date and that the information held within it continues to be valid and relevant. The welcome pack should include the placement ethos, aims, learning outcomes content, and how these are to be assessed. In addition the welcome pack identifies all the processes that take place whilst the student is undertaking the placement and support mechanisms available to the student. This should allow the student to undertake any pre placement reading, and demonstrates to all students that the placement takes educating students seriously from the beginning. The mentor should also prepare their shift pattern to accommodate the student. Mayall et al (2008) undertook a study exploring the experiences of student nurses and practice mentors and discovered that 10% of student nurses felt that during some of their placements they had ‘never’ bee n allocated a mentor, and of those who had been allocated a named mentor, 24% felt that they would have liked to spend more time with them. Therefore ensuring that the preparation work for the placement is in place, assists the student to form a positive opinion for the learning environment, and relationship with the mentor, from the beginning improving the chances for lack of competency to be addressed early. During the first interview that the mentor has with the student, in the first week of placement, the mentor should review the progress of the student from any previous placements and experience that they have gained. The mentor also has an opportunity to review the feedback given to the student from the previous mentor. The mentor can review the skills book to find competencies not achieved in previous placements, and highlight learning opportunities within the placement that the student may be lacking at this stage of their study that the student can gain during the placement. This could simply be due to the previous placement not being able to provide a learning opportunity due to case load, time, and type of placement, or this could have been because of the previous mentor’s attitude. Darling (1986), cited in Walsh (2010), described four types of toxic mentors that can negatively affect a student’s ability to achieve competence these are Avoiders Blockers Destroyers Dumpers The student has a responsibility set out by the guidance on professional conduct for nursing and midwifery students to take responsibility for their own learning, working safely for the people they care for, under the supervision and support of a qualified nurse NMC (2010). This duty should allow the student to openly communicate with the mentor highlighting any deficit in their practice or their under pinning theory which needs to be concentrated on in order to become competent, these learning needs could be communication difficulties and educational requirements such as should a student has English as a second language, dyslexia, dyscalculia or hearing issues can be a huge barrier as it can lead to misinterpretation of core theories, or feedback from the mentor. This ideally should be discussed at the initial interview; however the student may not feel confident within the relationship to reveal minor issues at this time but the mentor may have an instinctive feeling from the evide nce provided by the student from their previous placement which could restrict the student’s capability for achieving competency in their theory or practice. The mentor should have prepared for the initial interview and take control of the continuous assessment of the student’s practical learning and be able to link this to underpinning theory, by creating a placement plan for the student to review. The student and the mentor should both contribute to a learning contract to which they both sign up to what the student and the mentor expect to realistically achieve by the end of the placement. Indicating how this is to happen and any learning needs of the student, and when the practical and theoretical evidence should be formatively reviewed and assessed. Once the foundations of the placement expectations have been agreed then the formative part of the student’s placement during which the mentor should be formulating an opinion of the student’s competency practically and theoretically, based upon evidence either witnessed learning, discussions, spoke feedback forms etc. During the ‘initial phase’ of the placement the mentor has a duty to foster a professional relationship with the student. It is important that when the student is in the ward with their mentor that they feel a sense of belongingness as recognised by Levett-Jones Lathlean (2007) as this can ‘enhance a students’ potential for learning and influenced their future career decisions.’ The relationship can there for move from the ‘initiation phase’ to the ‘working phase’, Cahill, (1996). During the ‘working phase’ feedback is an important factor for both the student and the mentor. The mentor may get feedback from colleagues, spoke placements, previous placements or the student which will assist them in forming an opinion of the student’s competency to the required level of study. The student, themselves, needs to receive frequent, clear constructive feedback, on their progress, from their mentor. It is one of the NMC requirements that the mentor provides feedback to a student as often as it is needed to guide performance (NMC 2008). Accurate feedback will encourage students to reflect on their learning and provides an opportunity to identify how they can improve their performance (Elcock and Sharples 2011). This should take place away from patients or other colleagues’, and ideally this should be given as soon after a positive or a negative incident. The feedback should be non judgemental and form the basis of a discussion. This should be given when both the student and the mentor is calm and should be specific on the strengths and weaknesses. Duffy (2013) gives five principles for providing constructive feedback Set realistic goals Gage student expectations of feedback Gather information on student practice Act immediately Be specific The feedback sandwich where the mentor gives praise, criticism followed by praise, that the student has brought to an incident is an effective feedback theory which can assist with giving criticism of a student’s failings, while still motivating them, however this needs to be done effectively. Belludi (2008) illustrates how a mentor can use this technique incorrectly, giving too much weight to the praise compared to the criticism by the praise being trivial and having no function By overusing the sandwich feedback style to a point where the student recognises that the mentor uses this all the time and waits for the criticism whenever the mentor gives praise. The feedback sessions should allow the student to reflect on the incident and allow the student to ask questions. The feedback should highlight any further learning required and solutions to address these shortfalls in knowledge. This could be backed up in writing up of the feedback as a discussion or planned subsequent leaning requirements to develop themselves, this written feedback will provide evidence for the student’s competence and development during the placements assessment. The mid-point interview is the formative interview. Up to this point the student’s relationship with the mentor has hopefully developed, as long as the mentor has not been a toxic mentor, Darling (1986), to the point where, previously, undeclared learning needs of the student may be revealed. The formative interview allows the student and the mentor to assess the progress so far and formatively assess the student’s competency and attitude. This is the point at which deficits in learning should be formatively addressed. Duffy (2003) recognised that â€Å"Failing to tell students that they have not reached the required standards does not protect the interests of the public or professions and puts the patients who will be under their care at risk†. The mentor may have doubts as to the students practice or theory demonstrated but is unsure how to deal with this, the mentor may need to liaise with another mentor, or a sign-off mentor for their opinion as they may have more, or different experience in mentoring and be able to advise the student’s mentor as to a strategy to introduce to encourage competency. The student should bring with them the evidence of their competence gathered throughout the placement. The mentor needs to highlight to the student where they are lacking competence and an action plan should be written up describing how the issues are to be addressed. If the mentor has not already highlighted concerns that they have with the student’s competency with the academic establishment then there may be an opportunity to invite them to attend this meeting. The student’s academic advisor, or the link lecturer, may assist in the formulation of the action plan and be supportive of both the student and the mentor. This input by the academic establishment is essential at an early stage should the student continue to not demonstrate competency either practically or theoretically and go on to fail the summative part of th e placement. The action plan, however, should identify clearly learning outcomes detailing how these can be achieved during the placement, list the evidence required for achievement and indicate by when the evidence is required to be provided. This needs to be agreed by both the mentor and the student. The final part of the placement, the termination phase, concludes with the final interview this is summatively assessed and if a student has not been showing competency previously may also be attended by the link lecturer or another academic member, and should review the whole development of the student during the placement. Evaluating the evidence that the student has provided and all being well the student, with the mentor, should have responded positively to the feedback provided during the placement and address any the action plan put in place at the mid-interview. Meaning that by this point the student should be able to demonstrate competency both practically and theoretically having evidence to underpin this. The attitude of the student, during the time of the placement, to absorbing knowledge is affected by many factors. The background experience that the student has experienced such as, prior work experience or learning experience from a mentor, be that positive or negative. Personal life matters i.e. house moving, child care. Financial stress can impact the student’s receptiveness to learning. Academic pressures based on the student can distract the student from gaining an outcome in the ward based placement. As eluded to earlier a student also needs to feel a sense of belonging within the placement team, when students are secure in the knowledge that the nursing staff are supportive of their learning needs and committed to their professional development they can focus on learning rather than being preoccupied with interpersonal relationships, (Levett-Jones and Lathlean 2007). Student nurses have had their learning styles categorised into different types by various authors, a commonly used classification of learning styles is Flemmings VAK model which he later expanded on to VARK. These acronyms stand for Visual -students give better results in pictures, graphs, diagrams Auditory- students learn better with listening to lectures, or discussing learning opportunities Reading and writing-learn better with word learning i.e. Reading journals, reports Kinesthetic/tactile learners learn best through demonstrations, practice experience. This highlights the need for being able to adapt the teaching style of the mentor to that of the student, and should be taken into account during the placement when learning, participating or reviewing learning opportunities, or by the mentor while developing a lesson plan. Honey and Munford 1986 cited in Brown and Plant 2013 suggested that a student can be classified into more than one of the following four styles Activists -these students need to experience situations and can become disheartened should they not be allowed the opportunity to undertake skills Pragmatists-these students like to have a go but need to see how the learning opportunity fits into the final outcome. Reflectors-these students will welcome the opportunity to observe and reflect on a given learning outcome prior to undertaking it but may require encouragement to practically undertaking a learning opportunity. Theorists-these students want to explore and understand learning opportunities probing questions to uncover reasons and concepts and do very well with structures pathways and systematic approach to nursing but can find it difficult to transcend that knowledge in light of swift changing learning opportunities Getting the mentoring style wrong when teaching the student, will have a negative effect on the student’s ability to achieve competence in a learning opportunity. If a visual pragmatists learner is given a verbal lecture about a learning objective and not shown how the opportunity fits into the wider care of the patient care, then the student may have a lower understanding of the learning opportunities, and objectives asked of them at that time and would need longer time and further investment by the mentor with a different approach being used to become competent. The role of a mentor is diverse, in their responsibilities, and requires the professional to be self aware of all the factors that can impede the student manage their expectations, and gain competence in a given area. The mentor needs to follow the assessment process to provide consistent assessments which will indicate areas of learning and allow the student to engage. As well as expanding a relationship with a student, the mentor needs to be able to consider many factors that inhibit learning, recognising that each student, is an individual with their own learning styles and needs. The mentor needs to feedback to the student regularly, motivating them to improve upon their current accomplishments. It should not be forgotten by the mentor that there are various resources available, with improving competency in practice and/or theory, to support both the mentor and the student through what could be a stressful experience in the form of literature, e-learning, other mentors or link le cturers. All the written documentation, skills book, learning contract, student handbook, placement plan, feedback forms, discussion sheets, lesson plans should provide an accurate record of the student’s development and enhancement as a student, throughout the placement. Not addressing a short fall in a students learning, early could make it difficult to evaluate the practical or theological practice of student’s summatively and not following a clear assessment process means that the student could appeal any decisions made at the final meeting. Students often pass placements despite there being serious concerns from mentors. Gainsbury (2010).

An Essay on The Withered Arm, by Thomas Hardy -- English Literature

An Essay on The Withered Arm, by Thomas Hardy ‘The past is a foreign country. They did things differently there.’ ‘The Go Between’ by L.P. Hartley. Thomas Hardy, a Victorian novelist, based his stories on experience of growing up in rural Dorset. Growing up there, he became familiar with the language, customs, practises and stories of the country folk. These stories draw up on his experiences enabling him to write ‘Wessex Tales’. Among many pieces of work is ‘The Withered Arm’. ‘The Withered Arm’ is a well-crafted short story written in the prose format. The quote above portrays what pre-twentieth century literature should embrace; good literature should be insightable, realistic and significant to all people from any era. In this essay I am going to describe the ways in which Thomas Hardy has made his short story, ‘The Withered Arm’ interesting to the modern reader. ‘The Withered Arm’ is about Rhoda Brook, a dark milkmaid who retaliates on her lovers beautiful new wife, Gertrude, after her lover, Farmer Lodge abandons her and their illigimate son. Hardy has carefully structured all the elements of a short story making ‘The Withered Arm’ interesting and perennial to the modern reader. Farmer Lodge’s denial of the affair with Rhoda and the neglection of his son causes Rhoda’s plotting revenge. Employing the character, Conjuror Trendle, brings the involvement of witchcraft and supernatural powers, giving the plot a paranormal twist. The public execution of The Boy immediately grasps the interest of the reader because we learn that in the Victorian times, committing such a petty crime, there is a massive penalty. We also learn that the lives of the people were so habitual, that they thought of executio... ...led and brings out the best in his stories, yet his language maybe a little hard to understand for a modern reader. I do not find the character in ‘The Withered Arm’ a problem at all because although some of those characters no longer exist, Rhoda, Conjuror Trendle, Hangman, it is still interesting to read about their daily lives and how things were for them; after all good literature should be giving the reader and insight on how things were. Even though the reader may not always agree to the philosophies hidden in his themes, it is captivating to imagine how a Victorian writer can relate to such things. I think that ‘The Withered Arm’ is a fantastic example of pre-twentieth century literature because not only is it interesting, but it gives us an insight on the different lives of the different characters and yet is still interesting to the modern reader.

Directing a Scene from Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay -- William

Directing a Scene from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ In this essay I will imagine that I am directing a scene from Romeo and Juliet. I will be discussing how I would stage this scene in both modern and Shakespearean times. Throughout the play there are strong scenes of violence between the two warring families (the Capulets and the Montagues) and the scene I have chosen to base my essay on is a prime example of this. The scene I have chosen to discuss is act three scene one. This is an extremely powerful scene and is one of the most pivotal points in the play as it shows us the deaths of both Mercutio and Tybalt while also showing us the banishment of Romeo. It also portrays the characters deepest feeling towards the family grudge. Staging the play in Shakespearean times will obviously be a lot different to a modern day production. To show this I will be looking at cast, costumes, sets, props, lighting, the most important points in the scene and how imperative the audience are to the play. I will start by discussing whom I would cast in the roles of the main characters. Casting roles in Shakespearean times would be a lot more difficult because of the fact that in those times only males were allowed to perform on stage. This would obviously cause problems when casting roles such as Juliet, Juliet’s nurse, Lady Montague and Capulet and other female parts. I will be discussing whom I would cast as Romeo, Tybalt, Benvolio, Mercutio and Prince Escales for both modern day and Shakespearean times. I will not be looking at Juliet for the simple reason that she is not in this scene. For a modern day Romeo I would choose someone like Elijah Wood. This is because he is handsome, he is an average height and he gives of a great impression of innocence through his boyish facial features. I would want a handsome Romeo because I believe that today’s audiences are more likely to enjoy a love story with someone who is attractive and someone they could imagine themselves falling in love with rather than someone who an audience couldn’t stand the sight of. I believe he should have an innocent look because the character of Romeo does not wish to fight, but is more concerned about falling in love. â€Å"Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!† (Romeo, Act three scene one, line eighty-six.) In Shakespearean times I would want to convey the innocence ... ...rcutio makes as he is dying would be essential to maintain the audiences interest. As I have noted before what the play is trying to tell the audience does not change but the way it tells the audience does. In my opinion the play is trying to inform the audience that love is the deepest and most complex of human emotions and that if it takes hold of you it can evoke all sorts of other emotions like hatred (Romeo’s hatred towards Tybalt significantly escalated after he found love with Juliet), sadness (when Romeo returns to Verona to find Juliet pretending to be dead), vengefulness (Romeo had eventually decided that he was going to avenge Mercutio or die trying) and many others. Romeo portrayed all of these emotions I have listed throughout the play mainly after he found love with Juliet. Even before he fell in love with Juliet Romeo felt sadness and loneliness because he was in love with Rosaline, something she did not return. This is what the play is tying to tell the audience and while how that is done may differ from one generation to the other I believe I have created two versions of the story that are exciting and interesting for their respective targets. Directing a Scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Essay -- William Directing a Scene from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ In this essay I will imagine that I am directing a scene from Romeo and Juliet. I will be discussing how I would stage this scene in both modern and Shakespearean times. Throughout the play there are strong scenes of violence between the two warring families (the Capulets and the Montagues) and the scene I have chosen to base my essay on is a prime example of this. The scene I have chosen to discuss is act three scene one. This is an extremely powerful scene and is one of the most pivotal points in the play as it shows us the deaths of both Mercutio and Tybalt while also showing us the banishment of Romeo. It also portrays the characters deepest feeling towards the family grudge. Staging the play in Shakespearean times will obviously be a lot different to a modern day production. To show this I will be looking at cast, costumes, sets, props, lighting, the most important points in the scene and how imperative the audience are to the play. I will start by discussing whom I would cast in the roles of the main characters. Casting roles in Shakespearean times would be a lot more difficult because of the fact that in those times only males were allowed to perform on stage. This would obviously cause problems when casting roles such as Juliet, Juliet’s nurse, Lady Montague and Capulet and other female parts. I will be discussing whom I would cast as Romeo, Tybalt, Benvolio, Mercutio and Prince Escales for both modern day and Shakespearean times. I will not be looking at Juliet for the simple reason that she is not in this scene. For a modern day Romeo I would choose someone like Elijah Wood. This is because he is handsome, he is an average height and he gives of a great impression of innocence through his boyish facial features. I would want a handsome Romeo because I believe that today’s audiences are more likely to enjoy a love story with someone who is attractive and someone they could imagine themselves falling in love with rather than someone who an audience couldn’t stand the sight of. I believe he should have an innocent look because the character of Romeo does not wish to fight, but is more concerned about falling in love. â€Å"Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!† (Romeo, Act three scene one, line eighty-six.) In Shakespearean times I would want to convey the innocence ... ...rcutio makes as he is dying would be essential to maintain the audiences interest. As I have noted before what the play is trying to tell the audience does not change but the way it tells the audience does. In my opinion the play is trying to inform the audience that love is the deepest and most complex of human emotions and that if it takes hold of you it can evoke all sorts of other emotions like hatred (Romeo’s hatred towards Tybalt significantly escalated after he found love with Juliet), sadness (when Romeo returns to Verona to find Juliet pretending to be dead), vengefulness (Romeo had eventually decided that he was going to avenge Mercutio or die trying) and many others. Romeo portrayed all of these emotions I have listed throughout the play mainly after he found love with Juliet. Even before he fell in love with Juliet Romeo felt sadness and loneliness because he was in love with Rosaline, something she did not return. This is what the play is tying to tell the audience and while how that is done may differ from one generation to the other I believe I have created two versions of the story that are exciting and interesting for their respective targets.

Langston Hughes Poem, Without Benefit of Declaration :: Without Benefit Declaration Essays

Langston Hughes' Poem, Without Benefit of Declaration "BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE." This phrase is run on commercials in an attempt to try and recruit men and women to enlist in the United States Army. The commercial shows men and women completing obstacles and high tech training. Some other commercials for the United States Armed Forces use tactics, such as; awarding money for college after the recruit has spent a given amount of time in their Army, Navy, or Air Force. But, what the commercials fail to do is to depict the reality of any soldier's life post war. These commercials are not alone with false advertisement of war; Hollywood movies and books have also contributed. Society has come to glorify war and have forgotten the consequences of the men and women who went to fight for their country. In movies, a soldier's homecoming is depicted as one of honor and courage. Hollywood tends to glamorize war and not show the true effects of the mentality of a woman or man who have just returned home after the war. In the poem, "Homespace", by Anthony Grooms, the psychological state of the soldier's return home is displayed more true to that of Hollywood's. The boy returns home and is embraced by his mother. The family has a barbeque for the boy's homecoming. Even though he is at home, where he should feel safe and secure, the boy remains in war-like state of mind. He isolates himself from everyone else, "I made myself busy with the fire/ So I wouldn't have to talk," (Line 7-8). The young man, "heard screams" (Line 9), when fuel was added to the coals. Men and women of war are tormented by the images they seen and heard. No one person at this gathering seemed to take notice of the impression that the war left on this boy, mentally. It seems as though, because the boy was home and no physical evidence appeared on his body, they assumed everything was in good condition. Not noticing the boy's problem, "Women and children laughed from the porch/ Men sat under the elms" (Line 11-12). All the while these ignorant people sat enjoying themselves, the boy, "watched the sky for the enemy" (Line 13). This last line adequately describes the mind frame of the boy and in all probability many of men and women who fight in wars for their countries. Hollywood movies and book tend to also ignore the negative aspect of veteran's who come home to no family or a home to live in.

Effect of the Nature of Different Substrates on the Rate

Cellular respiration is defined as an enzyme mediated process in which organic compounds such as glucose is broken down into simpler products with the release of energy (Duka, Diaz and Villa, 2009). It is a series of metabolic processes and oxidation-reduction reactions. Oxidation of substrates, such as glucose, is a fundamental part of cellular respiration (Mader, 2009). As a catabolic process, it may or may not require the presence of oxygen. The process that requires oxygen is called aerobic respiration while the process that does not require the presence of oxygen is called anaerobic respiration. Duka, et. al. 2007) Despite of its low yield of only two ATP (energy used by the cells to perform its duties), anaerobic respiration is essential because it continuously synthesizes ATP albeit oxygen is temporarily in short supply. Although anaerobic respiration synthesizes a low yield of ATP (which is the energy used by the cell enables it to perform its duties), it is essential because it is a way to produce ATP even though oxygen is temporarily in short supply. Though this process brings benefits usually, these are accompanied by drawbacks.One of these downsides is the formation of lactate in the muscles because of â€Å"oxygen debt†, causing it to â€Å"burn† and eventually fatigue, until pyruvate is reduced from lactate (Madur, 2009). Anaerobic respiration can be further divided into two types; namely, alcohol fermentation and lactic acid fermentation. In alcohol fermentation, pyruvate (product of glucose in glycolysis) is converted to 2 molecules of ethanol (C2H5OH) and 2 molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2) while in lactic acid fermentation, pyruvate is reduced directly into lactic acid (Campbell and Reece, 2008).A good example of organism which produces ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide through the process of alcohol fermentation is yeast (Madur, 2009). As a unicellular fungus, yeast is also an example of a facultative anaerobe, which depicts an o rganism with metabolic versatility to harvest food energy by either respiration or fermentation (Campbell and Reece, 2001). Baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), is an important example of yeast for its practical uses and applications in the industry.The cells release carbon dioxide which leavens the dough that is used to make bread or crackers. The ethyl alcohol produced by fermenting yeast evaporates during baking. Saccharomyces also ferments sugars to alcohol. Wine is produced then yeasts ferment the carbohydrates of fruits, while beer is resulted from the fermentation of grains. Furthermore, the carbon dioxide produced explains why beer and champagne are bubbly when opened (Madur, 2009). As enzymes are needed to be activated in cellular respiration, several factors can affect cellular respiration.These factors are namely; the presence of co-factors, temperature, and substrate concentration. Cofactors are required by the enzymes so as to activate them, thus, speeding u p the rate of the reaction. Also, the temperature affects the rate of the reaction in cellular respiration in a way that if the temperature increases, enzyme activity also increases. Lastly, if the substrate concentration is increased, enzyme activity is also increased because as more substrate molecules fill active sites, more product results per unit time. Madur, 2009) A substrate may be defined as the fuel of cellular respiration, wherein it is the organic substance broken down to generate energy. Macromolecules such as carbohydrates, fats, or proteins may serve as substrates. However, in yeast, carbohydrates are opted primarily as substrates. Carbohydrates may be classifies according to the number of sugars or its complexity such as monosaccharaides, disaccharides and polysaccharides (Duka, et. al. , 2009).In order to formulate a hypothesis regarding cellular respiration, yeast was used as the tested substance in the absence of oxygen or anaerobically. Factors such as temperatur e, substrate concentration and also the amount of distilled water were held constant. The nature of substrate, however, was altered and different substrates were used for the experimentation. Therefore, a hypothesis was formed that if the nature of different substrates affect the rate of cellular respiration in yeast, then the simpler the substrate, the faster the rate of cellular respiration.The effect of the nature of different substrates on the rate of cellular respiration of yeast can be further studied and examined using the Smith fermentation tube method wherein different substrates were used with the constant amount of concentration, distilled water and yeast suspension. Starch (polysaccharide), lactose and sucrose (disaccharide), glucose and fructose (monosaccharide), and distilled water, which are the variable factors, were used as different substrates, because they differ in structure and nature.The study was designed to determine the effect of the nature of different subs trates on the cellular respiration of yeast. The chief objectives were: 1. to describe the effect of the nature of different substrates on the rate of cellular respiration of yeast; 2. to expound the possible explanations and concepts behind the observed effect of the nature of different substrates on the rate of cellular respiration of yeast; and 3. to determine the significance of using different substrates. The study was conducted at the Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Laguna, last September 12, 2011.

Bed Wetting in School Children Essay

Bedwetting (also referred to as nocturnal enuresis) is the involuntary passing of urine during sleep after the age at which bladder control usually occurs. It can be an embarrassing, frustrating and distressing problem that affects millions of children. It is more common than most parents think. Many children are dry at night by the time they reach the age of 5 but others take longer to become dry. When children still wet the bed when they are 6 or older, parents usually start to become concerned that their child may have some kind of physical or emotional problem. Some decide not to stress about it and give it time; others will seek medical advice, take their child to counselling or use alternative therapies. Once children go to Primary School and become aware that other kids of their age are dry at night they become embarrassed about it. Some children avoid going to sleepovers and school camps because of the fear of other kids discovering their problem. Teenagers are usually even more distressed by the bedwetting and many worry the problem will never go away. It often has a significant impact on their self-esteem. I decided to choose Bowen Therapy for Bedwetting as the subject for my Research Project because I have always had a passion for working with children. As a mother of two daughters and having dealt with toilet training issues I have experienced how upsetting and frustrating bedwetting can be for a child and their family. As Bowen Therapy is a wonderful holistic technique to promote physical and emotional balance, it is an ideal way to help children gain control of this problem. This research task explores the different causes and methods of treatment of nocturnal enuresis. It also outlines the anatomy of the urinary system and the nerves and muscles involved in micturition to gain a better understanding of how Bowen Therapy addresses this condition. I evaluated the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy on nocturnal enuresis in combination with dietary modifications as recommended by Mr. Bowen. The therapeutic value of omega-3 fatty acids is also mentioned (which have been proven to be effective in treating nocturnal enuresis) and the benefits of Neuro-Developmental reflex integration exercises.

Aluminum smelter in South Africa Essay

We recommend you do not build this new Greenfield primary aluminum smelter in South Africa. In order to achieve a 15% ROI on your investment, you require a long-term average price of $1500 for aluminum. We have estimated that demand for primary aluminum in 5 years will be at $20bn, which will support a market price of around $1490. This heavily builds on the assumption that aluminum inventories will be zero by that time, which depends on a successful implementation of the international Memorandum of Understanding. Historically these non-binding agreements have been very hard to enforce, and so a scenario where supply is far greater than demand is likely, leading to large inventories and lower prices. It is because of this uncertainty that we recommend you do not build the plant. Back-up calculations: 1.ROI calculation: Given investment costs of $1.6bn, full capacity of 466,000 t/year and an ROI requirement of 15%, we calculated that you require a price of $1,500 per ton of aluminum. 2.In the short run, all smelters need to cover variable costs, which include electricity, alumina, other material costs and freight cost. In the long-run, they need to cover total costs. a.The current price ($1,100) covers variable costs for 20 million tons of capacity; the long-run price will have to be higher. b.Smelters may hesitate to scale down production of individual pots, as this will still incur costs of labour or other non-material costs, as well as additional costs in having to rebuild and reline the pots. c.Not all producers are subject to the same pressures, e.g., variable costs differ significantly between different smelters (different size, efficiency, tax breaks, power agreements). Government-run facilities may have more financial support due to their social role in addition to pure production, such as securing raw materials supply for domestic industries, as well as providing jobs for local communities. 3.Given a CAGR of 2% per year, we estimate total aluminum demand to be 27 million tons in 1998. Assuming that inventories are zero, and primary demand accounts for 74% of total supply, this would imply primary demand of 20 million tons. 4.To produce 20 million tons, the price would be around $1,490 per ton. 5.The reduction in inventories and stabilization of the price level depends on the success of the MoU. Other producers may not look favorably on you opening a new smelter when they have had to cut down on production.