Monday, September 30, 2019

The Effects Of Day Care Paper

Day care clearly has a significant impact on the health of young children. How many hours children spend in day care before they go to kindergarten plays a major role in how they develop later. According to thoughtful social scientists, â€Å"in teachers' reports of kindergà ¤rtners social behavior, the effect of hours spent in day care is greater than the effect of the quality of parenting, and comparable to the impact of poverty' (Jennet Jacob Erickson ). From personal observation, the negative effect of too much time spent away from the mothers is regrettably apparent, and even obvious.Unfortunately, oftentimes the mothers themselves do not recognize the negative effects of separation between mother and child. A low level of maternal sensitivity, paired with more time spent in day care, and/or a lower quality of day care, will cause undesirable results. Children will tend to feel more insecure and less attached to their mothers. Children need a significant amount of one-on- one time with their mothers in order to create a stable foundation for growth. If little children are deprived of that essential time, it is sure to show later in some way.Throughout the US and around the world, more and more mothers are starting careers. Therefore, more children are going to day care. In 201 0, one in four children with a working mother went to day care. These rates are increasing. Even though most people in the modern world would agree that it is admirable that so many women are becoming independent, it is unavoidable that there are consequences for the family. For children, more time in day care during early childhood results in a lowered social ability to be competent and cooperative with others, more problem behaviors, negative ND even depressed moods, as well as aggression and conflict.It is troubling to think that many young children are suffering unnecessarily. Regrettably, the role of stay-at-home-mom is becoming less and less desired as the world takes on a mo re prominent feminist view. Although it is understandable that some mothers are working to put food on the table, there are plenty who are simply trying to climb the corporate ladder. The neglected children Of these mothers are unfortunately often left wondering if they are as important to the mothers as the job. Mothers need to exhibit sensitivity throughout childhood.Many can agree it is the best way to ensure a healthy social-emotional development. It is proven that â€Å"children whose mothers exhibit low levels of sensitivity and who are in child care more than ten hours a week or in lower quality childcare are more likely to experience attachment insecurity' (Jennet Jacob Erickson). Attachment insecurity can lead to negative behavior outcomes. It is likely that neglect from mothers can even slow development. Research shows that â€Å"children who experienced more hours of child care had significantly fewer social skills ND poorer work habits in the third grade† Genet J acob Erickson).Preteens with extensive child care backgrounds continued to show similar results. What many mothers fail to realize is that the stability and quality of the where they are sending their children does not make up for the lost positive mother- child interactions. Whether an individual chooses motherhood or not, she must understand the importance of adapting to the role. To take on the responsibility of becoming a mother, she must understand that this is not a role that can be done carelessly in any way.The absence of quality mother- child time can result in bad behavior later, particularly in adolescent-teenage years. Children tend to have better social-emotional development when they have a healthy attachment to their mothers. It is proven that â€Å"at age 15, children who had experienced more non-relative (non-family) child care reported more risk-taking behaviors and impulsively, including using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs; behaving in ways that threatened saf ety; and not being able to control impulses appropriately' (Jennet Jacob Erickson).Clearly, children who do not have enough sufficient one-on-one time with their mothers are the ones who grow up to be â€Å"misguided teens. † Of course, this is not the only factor and not the only answer to every situation. But, statistics imply that many cases could be cured simply with some tender love and care. With an answer as straightforward as this, it is discouraging that many insensitive and uninvolved mothers are still left wondering later why their child has developed behavioral issues. Many could argue the fact that the ever-growing day care business across the country is a growing issue.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Failure of Reconstruction

Failure of Reconstruction Reconstruction is defined as a thing that has been rebuilt after being damaged or destroyed. Following the civil war the South was very much damaged both physically and emotionally. The radical republicans tried to reshape the south for their own benefit which was unsuccessful across the board for many reasons. Ultimately reconstruction failed to accomplish the goals of the free blacks and radical republicans because the radicals wanted a hard reconstruction of the south that was unrealistic because it neglected the life goals of the newly freed African Americans.Once the thirteenth amendment ended slavery the newly freed blacks of the south had some important goals in mind. In the source â€Å"Jourdon Anderson, Letter To P. H. Anderson† Jourdon discusses his objectives as a free man which included the wages he earned working for his former master, education and protection of his children, and to be treated with respect ( Reading, 159). It was not jus t Jordon who wished these things; all of the newly freed blacks were seeking these goals and other goals as well.Even though the radical republicans strongly opposed slavery, their goals during reconstruction did not exactly support the black’s goals. Radical republicans aimed for a hard reconstruction of the south that would erase the gross inequalities in wealth created by slavery. They believed the best way to accomplish this was by dividing up the land in the south. Taking the land away from the rebels and selling it to the freedmen. Radicals firmly believed the property of the rebels should pay for the national debt caused by the Civil War (Reading, 161). The southerners did not support this idea whatsoever.They are extremely angry with Thaddeus Stevens for wanting to divide up their land, land that has been in their families for generations, and give that land to black people (Reading, 161). Southerners tried to recruit former slaves back to their farms in order to keep a small part of slavery existing (Reading, 159). Ultimately the white southerners wanted to establish white supremacy. They did so with violence, enlisting fear in the blacks and interracial couples by lynching (Reading, 169). Georges Clemencau was a French physician and journalist, covered Washington politics for a French newspaper.In the source â€Å"U. S. Senate, Reports On ‘Outrages Committed By Disloyal Persons’† Clemencau talks about the double standard the U. S. government has for military and civil heads of the Confederate government. He talks about how the whites forcefully get what they want in any way they want weather it’s unconstitutional or not (Reading, 167). The goals of the radical republicans revolved around making the southerners pay for the war damages, giving blacks a chance to be free people, and eliminating the vas variations in wealth among the slave owners.While these goals seam realistic, the extent in which the radical republica ns wanted them done was not. As well as these goals could not be completed without support from others, and the white southerners did not support these goals. The free blacks reinforced these goals, but they were not at the top of their list of goals following the abolition of slavery. Thusly causing reconstruction to fail for lack of support and the vast amount of sacrifice they demanded from the southerners.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Dependency on Computers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dependency on Computers - Essay Example However, the question is whether or not it is feasible to post every daily action onto a computer, because after all, people are losing out on their identities as mentioned within the purview of this paper. There are various possible claims available for this paper; some might say that dependency on computers is valid because computers are the future of the world; they help in minimising manual work; gaining efficiency as well as assisting in executing new ideas. However, on the other hand, the other school of thought suggests that despite all the help that computers provide people with, they lead to a disintegration of society by slowly leading to the loss of personal identity – this means that with excessive dependency on computers, man will be losing out on his intelligence and brain power. Both these claims are discussed further within the purview of this essay, with valid examples. My position regarding the topic is that people are too dependent on computers even though i t helps them more than affects them in a negative manner. In today’s world, a computer is not just another inanimate object, but an animate one; it is literally like an individual’s slave and performs all the necessary functions for social and professional well being. No person is able to work without the help of a computer; for example in school and college life it involves submitting assignments and carrying out research work, in the work sphere it includes working on different types of software in order to achieve an organisation’s goals, at home, it provides for leisure time on various social networking websites through the internet and also helps a person to enjoy himself by playing games or writing. Today, most writers have also shunned the use of the pen and have taken to working with laptops and computers in order to get their work done. However, sometimes, this hampers the personal growth of an individual because it leads to them losing out on their wri ting skills and abilities. For example, when a person is using the computer to write, he has access to internet sources and pages as well as a dictionary and a thesaurus which makes him change his words every now and then. Thus, the end result so procured is hardly a personal thought and becomes a robotic one instead. However, with the help of the pen, one can easily write what he feels about the situation or circumstance instead of using help from other sources. Furthermore, the internet also makes people indulge in plagiarism or stealing of other people’s works for the purpose of completion of their projects and papers. This is almost like theft of intellectual property and thus should not be encouraged. Using a computer has become a reflex action in people’s lives; they cannot function without switching on their screens at least five times a day. In order to support this very claim, I would like to take the example of this very paper being written and read, which wa s done only with the help of a computer. Dependency is a good thing, especially if the object being used is helping a person rather than harming him. Every object has negative connotation attached to it however the point is to look at the positives. On the other hand, the computer facilitates networking and helps people to connect with each other via the internet; this is primarily one of the main reasons that people are so dependent on the computer. If they want to look up some information these days, books are barely opened because it is much easier to find information on the computer with the click of a mouse. The government also makes use of the computer in order to get its work done in a more

Friday, September 27, 2019

Populism vs. Progressivism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Populism vs. Progressivism - Essay Example emands of the populist movement were direct election of the senators, graduated income tax, Secret Australian ballot, regulation of the railroad and something to do with the ratio of gold and silver in currency notes. The movement failed and dispersed in 1896 when William Jennings Bryan lost the Presidential election. During the 1890s, novelists, journalists and critics investigated and voiced political and social corruption. The educated class of the urban population responded and it slowly grew into the Progressive era. The Progressive era significantly transformed the political structure of the country by bringing the urban population to the central attention of politicians. Reforms sought by the populist movement were attained during the Progressive era and a few other reforms took place too. The 16th Amendment to the constitution brought graduated income tax, 17th brought direct election of senators. Secret Australian ballot was also provisioned and railroads became more regulated. Other reforms include prohibition of alcohol and women’s suffrage by the 18th and 19th amendments respectively. (Hofstadter, 2011) The Progressive era was far more successful than the populist movement. A far better reach and deep penetration into the society are visible reasons behind this phenomenon. Populism was a movement backed by farmers while Progressive movement consisted of educated elites in cities. Internal divisions and divided factions was also a prominent reason why the populist movement did not last

Thursday, September 26, 2019

The film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow Essay

The film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow - Essay Example The motion picture comes into view in a stylized edition of the 1930s which is a plot where the entire world is on a big screen. The movie is about a person named Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan (Jude Law) who is a sturdy explorer and comes to save the city in his personal aircraft at the time when the people need him. Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) is an intrepid journalist for The Chronicle, as well as a Joe’s past lover. Dex Dearborn (Giovanni Ribisi) is Joe’s assistant and Franky Cook (Angelina Jolie), is the commander of British aircraft who provides a helping hand to Joe every time he needs it. The whole movie revolves around the good and the bad people fighting and the battle starts when an army of colossal robots attack in Manhattan and start trampling with things all over the place. And then the hero Sky Captain enters and saves the day. It turns out that the assaults of the robots are associated with the disappearance of six famous scientists, a story that Polly Perkins is scrutinizing into. All of the clues point to Dr. Totenkopf, but his place is unknown. When Dex is apprehended, Joe comes to a conclusion to go after him, and Polly makes a decision that she wont be left behind and goes along with Joe. Saving the world becomes an almost inferior thought then saving their friend. The opening scenes of the movie are very fascinating as advanced technology is used which makes the movie more interesting to watch and much has been said about how the chief part of the movie was acted in front of blue screens (computer generated backgrounds were later added).It is the first movie ever which is shot completely adjacent to a blue screen and the scenes were added later. The technology is used sensibly and in a positive way to make the movie more real to its viewers. Another very good way in using the technology and the best part of the movie is the additional digital improvement which permits the late Sir Laurence Olivier (who died in 1989) to give an

Food Law and Regulation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Food Law and Regulation - Term Paper Example According to Chinese scientists, consumption of bread that contains estrogen-like can lead to enlargement of breasts in male. Such enlargement of breasts would develop if the male consumed large amount of estrogen. It was concluded that male with large breasts must have consumed bread containing synthetic estrogen. Furthermore, traditional breads that contain dong quai are believed to constitute estrogen-like components. Specialists argue that people should consume traditional breads under strict supervision of a qualified herbalist to avoid any complications. In addition, they demanded that any bread that contains estrogen-like components should be indicated. Only those who want the component should purchase it. To maintain safe milk in Canada, any milk meant for human consumption must be subjected to various regulatory acts which are imposed by Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Canadian  Agriculture Products Act and Dairy Product Regulations. These organizations ensure that any milk meant for the human consumption is graded and packed in healthy containers to avoid any contamination. In addition, they collaborate with companies that produce livestock food to ensure they do not include large or harmful amount of estrogen. Lastly, before any dairy product is allowed to the market, it must be tested to ensure it does not contain any harmful estrogen-like components (Science.gov, 2013). Nutritionists in Canada and USA argued advised people to consume organically produced food most of the time. They also claimed that utilization of cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and kale are helpful as they contain substances that aid in elimination of harmful estrogens. Those who love fish and meat were encouraged to consume wild fish and hormone-free meat to avoid absorbing harmful estrogen in their body system. Farmers are encouraged to avoid using pesticides to control weeds. Instead, they were

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Play And Childrens Development Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Play And Childrens Development - Research Paper Example In a study that measured the rate of video game playing by students compared to their academic performance, video gaming or passive gaming was found to have negative effects on the cognitive ability of students. The study reported decreasing interest in academic work due to its strong addictive nature that ties the students’ mind to such video gaming. According to this study, teachers and policy makers in education have constantly voiced their concerns regarding the detrimental effects of video passive gaming and TV watching. The study found that video gaming was negatively correlated to academic performance among college students, with the variation being much higher in male students compared to females. This may be explained by the time displacement hypothesis where media consumption takes away most of time that would be used in the intellectually challenging academic activities. Shelving such intellectual challenging activities thus leads to lower cognitive development amon g such constant passive game players, resulting to lowered cognitive development. Thus as Kantor (259) asserts, physical or active play would lead to improvement in cognitive development due to the mental activities and body systems involved, all which work to improve healthy development of an individual. Russel and Newton (295) relate passive gaming to the acute increase in obesity cases among teenagers today. According to this study, child obesity increases due to lack of enough time for physical activities, and increase in passive gaming and watching screen content.TV watching and passive gaming are rapidly displacing children physical activities with more teenagers showing increased preference to passive gaming over physical activities. The... The self-efficacy of children becomes critical in social development. Increasing children efficacy can be enhanced through increased self-confidence, which is attained when children learn to do things alone. Independence can be developed by ensuring children plan their own games and are supported and not guided in such unstructured games, which improve a child’s efficacy. Structured games will, therefore, reduce the learning process in a child compared to unstructured games, which reduces their self-efficacy, and limits their social development. Some of the plays that children can use freely to express themselves and enhance development are drawing, collages, using paper mache and block games where children arrange blocks to form different patterns. Playing is not only beneficial in developing physical health and abilities but has a great impact on social and psychological attributes in children. To ensure the benefits of physical play among children for both psychological and physical health, child play should not be directed. Allowing children to design their games and construct meanings from such games leads to creativity and self-drive, which is critical in ensuring cognitive development in children. Therefore, active play in children has to be encouraged and facilitated in any way possible to avoid health complications in obesity and other negative behaviors related to passive gaming. Such an approach in a child’s play promotes major psychological, social and physical benefits involved in physical gaming.

Monday, September 23, 2019

The danger of smoking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The danger of smoking - Research Paper Example Therefore, it is extremely essential to increase the level of awareness of the general public regarding the ill effects and hazards of smoking. The cigarette smoking might immediately change the precious life of the human being into death through stroke or heart attack. According to Gary Ford, it is stated that habit of consuming tobacco is more influential rather than health consciousness. Therefore, these individual consider tobacco smoking to be a passion or relaxation from their mental tension and so, they consume tobacco without any distress for health. Moreover, most of the individual treat smoking as a sense of status and style and so do not believe in the statistics of deaths presented by WHO or National Health Service (NHS). But they always remain in the top-most position in the list of deaths caused for excessive smoking of tobacco. Therefore, in order to decrease the rate of deaths or health related disorders, the passion of tobacco smoking needs to be reduced significantly. Tobacco smoking is extremely dangerous as it means the inhalation of numerous harmful chemicals or by-products of smoke such as nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. Nicotine is the addictive constituent of tobacco (Ford 525). When nicotine is smoked, then immediately the molecules get inside the lungs of the individual. Then these nicotine molecules get absorbed by the blood stream and travel to the brain and lock the specific receptor regions. However by locking the specific receptor regions, the brain gets affected in a way that hinders the metabolism and appetite of the individual. Carbon monoxide is also another important ingredient of tobacco smokes. Carbon monoxide is also a poisonous gas inhaled into the lungs and absorbed by the blood cells of the body. After being inhaled, carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen present in blood cells and so numerous cells die, because of lack of oxygen supply. However,

Sunday, September 22, 2019

My Apllication form Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

My Apllication form - Assignment Example The employees bring the main problem on center stage, and we all find a solution to it. The other problem I faced was internal conflicts often in my organization. There were some employees with conflicting ideas. Furthermore, some employees in FORD felt they were left behind when it came to promotion. Some wanted transfers to big retails of the company. They are very simple issues that require the skills that I leant while in college, to sort them out (Senturia, 2013 pg 1). To solve a problem like this, I would understand deeply the problem. I would define the depth of team dynamics. After defining the depth, I would use my position as an IT expert to research on the possible causes of the problem. There are very broad causes that would come up, but I would specialize on the most likely causes (Darr, 2013 pg 8-22). I would then review each of the results and I plan the necessary recommendations to implement. I would prepare a tally sheet to conduct a survey to establish if my plans worked as planned (Maxwell, 2009 pg 25). There are times when I was part of a team and there was a difference of opinion. I viewed our competitors as lucky because they had no conflicts with their administration. My team lacked the skills of airing their views (Bondigas, 2014 pg 1). They opted for aggressive reactions when their issues did not take consideration. During ICT meetings, I could differ with certain opinions that looked oppressive. They were a situation where the Human Resource manager proposed that interns should work during the holidays. It was to keep the business running in any period. Some employees and I differed with this proposal. Furthermore, my team of IT experts differed on the opinion about installation of messaging software. The software was to assist in reducing time spent while passing information from one office to another. I had to find a quick solution (Kennett, 2011 pg 1). I took an emotional state when

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Impetus to Department of Homeland Security Essay Example for Free

Impetus to Department of Homeland Security Essay Abstract This is a case study into the impetus of The Department of Homeland Security due to the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the increase awareness of terrorist attacks. This study will also cover the Oklahoma City and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and why it did not have the full impact or awareness of the 9/11 attack. Also, the study will try inject ways that the two earlier kinds of attacks could have been prevented according to the protection strategy in place today. Title of Paper (Does not Count as Heading) The word terrorist and terrorism is synonymous in that they both are used as violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal. The 9/11 attack on The World Trade Center serves as a prime example to the type of terror that Americans have never witness before. It showed that our great nation was venerable to a new kind of attack where people do not value life but value their pursuit of life, liberty, and justice much more. These are the type of organization or people who will die for a justice cause. These very people lead to the Impetus of The Department of Homeland Security. The main reason the 9/11 attack was so gruesome was the fact that the organization did not need weapons of mass destruction to accomplish it goal. The organized group of the Taliban or Al Qaeda, as known by some, was able to commandeer two 747 planes and launch an attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This was a strategic threat that was well plan and the funding of it leader Osama bin Laden. These types of suicide missions that were televised to the nation through the media signified the dawn of a new kind of threat and that a new kind of organization or rational think had to be formed. This formidable threat lead to the formation of the Department of Homeland Security with the expressed mission of keeping our people, cyber, and critical infrastructure safe from terrorists and natural disasters. This is the third largest federal department that encompasses state, local, and the private sector. Of course this is not the first time that our soil has been threatened by extremist or terrorist groups. For example, on the morning of April 19, 1995, an ex-Army soldier and security guard named Timothy McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City(n.d.). He was about to commit mass murder. Inside the vehicle was a powerful bomb made out of a deadly cocktail of agricultural fertilizer, diesel fuel, and other chemicals(n.d.). McVeigh got out, locked the door, and headed towards his getaway car(n.d.). He ignited one timed fuse, then another. McVeigh’s anger with the federal government on how his colleagues was treated at the Waco incident cause massive destruction and the loss of 168 human beings lives. Although, this was one of the worst home grown act of terrorist it did not gain that much dramatic impact from society and politicians because it was small scale and did not appear to have the funding to escalate to large scale terrorism. It also did not have the mass appeal of the 9/11 incident that was broadcast to the nation. Only the after mass was on display. Plus the ingredients used in making the bomb were your everyday garden variety, not weapons of mass destruction. Another example of the destructive nature of a terrorist group was the bombing of the Epicenter Parking Center under the World Trade Center. On Friday, February 26, 1993, Middle Eastern terrorism had arrived on American soil with a bang(n.d.). A small group of Islamic terrorist detonated a bomb that caused a massive crater killing 6 people and injuring thousands of others. The intent was to topple one building into the other collapsing both. The Federal Bureau of Investigation had intelligence information on this group but did not foresee them as a threat. Again, this incident did not have the dramatic impact as the 9/11 attack because the group was small scale and did not have the funding to inflict the damage of weapons of mass destruction. There were no ties to a large terrorist group with unlimited funding and followers. In both of these examples as stated neither gain the grandeur nature of the 9/11 attack because of they were not televised live as the event occurred, they did not have the notoriety or followers as Taliban or Al Qaeda terrorist group, they not have the funding of group capable of amassing weapons of mass destruction, and they were not the all for nothing suicidal group that would have giving their life for a cause. What we have in place today that could have thwart the attacks in the examples are different agencies are task with investigating specific areas and that is what they specialize in. For example, if one department had the responsibility of investigating the intelligent on the Islamic terrorist group they would have been more inclined to have arrested the group before they did any damage. The deployment of explosive sniffing dogs at critical infrastructure sites may have been able to detect the bombs before they were detonated. Surveillance camera located at critical location may a detected the vans being abandon for an undetermined time and helped to identify those involved. Quotations (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/oklahoma-city-bombing (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/february/tradebom_022608 References http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/oklahoma-city-bombing http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/oklahoma-city-bombing Gaines, Larry K., and Victor E. Kappeler. Homeland security. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Design of Business Research Project

Design of Business Research Project The title of the event: Research workshop Questionnaire Design and Construction The date of the event: 10 /02 /2016. Description. Developing a good survey questionnaire is a helpful tool in business. Survey questionnaires are a simple method of obtaining market research data which you need in order to acquire relevant and accurate insight on your target market or responses to a particular product you introduce. Apart from knowing abstract concepts in class, I browse different sets of questionnaires and I can tell a good questionnaire from a bad one. I have had experience administering survey questionnaires for academic and professional purposes but I never had the opportunity to design or develop a questionnaire suited to my specific needs. From my point of view, the research workshop I attended provided me with the information I needed in order develop a questionnaire which will be helpful in obtaining perceptions data on what potential consumers need from a startup computer business. In a business, market research data involves a strategic process which will ensure that you know your audience and your data reflects objective reality (Webb, 2000). For this purpose, it is necessary to have the skill in developing an instrument which can inform me at the onset what the target market wants and what customers expect from an efficient computer company. In addition, it is also necessary to develop a questionnaire which can also gauge customer satisfaction so that I may be informed what makes customers happy and unhappy with the services my company intends to offer. In a way, designing a questionnaire can be used to jumpstart the communication process between the customers and the management and provide baseline data for a business relationship. Self-analysis. At first, I thought questionnaires were pro-forma documents that researchers distribute to people and that answering them was boring and tedious. I realized that the questionnaires which I have had the opportunity to answer may not have been constructed well. In my experience, some questionnaires have redundant items written and some items seem errant and off topic. Some questionnaires are really unnecessarily lengthy so that some items are left unanswered or unmarked. Some questionnaires become spoiled because the respondents ticked two answers for an item that required only one answer. Market research data is everything when you are trying to start a business. It provides you with legs to stand on by gathering data that can help you make sound business decisions (Miller Dickson, 2001). Hence, if the questionnaire does not collect the data you need to make those decisions, then the purpose is defeated (Canada Business Network, 2016). I began to appreciate that the design and constr uction of a good and reliable questionnaire must be a systematic process that requires skill and diligence in making. Analysis of learning. As a result of the research workshop and the subsequent further reading I made on design and construction of questionnaires, I gathered the important concepts on designing a good questionnaire. The design depends on what information you need. A questionnaires design depends on the research needs and specifications. If the researcher wishes to collect numerical data in order to determine the perceptions of a target market, then it will need to take the form of a standardized questionnaire (Webb, 2000). However, if the aim is also to explore in a more in-depth manner the perceptions and views of a target audience regarding a product, then a qualitative interview questionnaire will be suitable. Exploratory questionnaires will require only a brief guide with perhaps ten open-ended questions with prompts and probing questions per interview questions (Trochim, 2008). For the formal standardized questionnaire however, which is what I need, the task is lengthier and more tedious because it needs (FAO, 2012): Prescribed wording and ordering of questions in order to assure receipt of similar stimuli Variables need to be operationalized or defined clearly in order for respondents to answer consistently A prescribed response format in order to ensure fast completion of the questionnaire A good questionnaire meets research objectives. Designing a good questionnaire requires that it accomplishes the research objectives (Schonlau et al., 2001). This entails substantial preparatory work on my part. By preparatory work, this means that before I set out to design a questionnaire I need to do research on relevant literature on the topic or issue I want to solicit perceptions about. The workshop teacher reiterated that questionnaires fail due to poor understanding and research work on the issue or topic. Complete and accurate information makes a good questionnaire. If respondents do not understand the questions outlined in the questionnaire, then the more likely it will be that they do not answer or refuse to answer (Canada Business Network, 2016). The questionnaire should be simply and adequately worded so as to elicit the proper and accurate answer from the respondents. A well-arranged questionnaire is important. Questionnaires must not only be easily understood on the part of the respondents but it should be well-arranged and structured so that it will be easier to analyze and interpret (Trochim, 2008). It is also important to ensure that the questionnaire is short and it flows in a manner as to keep the respondent interested in answering. Unnecessary or irrelevant questions should be dealt away with. Response scale An important feature of a well-designed questionnaire is the selection of an appropriate response scale where respondents may rate their experience or perception on a scale of, for instance, one to five, one being lowest and five being the highest (Trochim, 2008). Ensure pre-testing of the questionnaire It is very important to pilot test your questionnaire in order to point out what changes need to be made and how the instrument can be improved. Finalization After pre-testing the questionnaire, a final version will be produced based on the feedback and evaluation. Application in context. Learning about questionnaire design and construction allowed me to make a strong connection on the importance of surveys in market research. Based on my actual circumstances, I am interested on starting up a digital marketing business and my target audience are individuals who are inclined to use the Internet and social media in their commercial transactions. When I visit social media websites, several short online questionnaires pop up and asks the user certain questions on website usage. These questions are meant to map the frequency of user engagement with a particular social media platform, in what I could hypothesize is an attempt by the company to pull out of a profile of their user base. User data will be extremely important in making market decisions and offering suitable product choices for users. I was also able to evaluate the online survey forms that some websites offer in order to get to know their customers better. Most just deal with demographic data which are actually boring and length. I was able to link the lessons I obtained from the research workshop to come up with an initial design for a questionnaire to determine user preferences in online shopping. Evaluation. Learning more about questionnaire design and construction has allowed me to appreciate the science of survey-making especially its relevance in market research (Brown, 2008). I was able to tie the connection between a good and well-design survey questionnaire to more sound decision-making process in marketing and management (Webb, 2000; Schonlau et al., 2001). Understanding the impact of surveys in ascertaining user perceptions and employee satisfaction provided better insight for me of its importance. Due to the additional insight I learned from the research workshop, I was able to evaluate with certainty and guidelines some of the previous questionnaires I had constructed in relation to my work and I was able to assess its strong and weak spots. Based on the learning outcomes of the research workshop, I can say with confidence that I now have a clear appreciation of the importance of a good questionnaire design. I now also have a newfound appreciation on how important preparatory work is in designing the questionnaire and identifying clear what your research objectives are. I am now more challenged to design future market survey questionnaires in the future for my own personal use as well as those related to the demands of my profession. Self-concept. There was a great deal of unlearning which occurred as a process of engaging in the research workshop. The difference between being a respondent in a survey questionnaire is immense compared to when you have to design the questionnaire yourself. You need to appreciate the relevance of the content in the questionnaire as well as the suitability of the design. In short, I now consider questionnaire design both a science and an art. It is a science because it needs to be systematic; on the other hand, it becomes an art because you need to be creative and innovative so that the questionnaire keeps the respondent engaged and interested. Action In light of the learning outcomes of the research workshop, I have undertaken the construction of a preliminary survey questionnaire to produce a demographic profile of the users of a website that I manage as well as to determine user satisfaction on the design, layout, and ease of use of the website. I have scheduled it to be pre-tested among a circle of my friends in order to determine what parts of the survey needs to be improved. References Brown, L. (2008). Market research and analysis. Chicago: Wildside Press. Canada Business Network. (2016). Conducting market research. Retrieved from http://canadabusiness.ca/business-planning/market-research-and-statistics/conducting-market-research/designing-a-questionnaire/ Food and Agriculture Organisation. (2012). Chapter 4: Questionnaire Design. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/w3241e/w3241e05.htm Miller, T. W. P. R. Dickson (2001). Online Market Research. International Journal of Electronic Commerce 5(3), 139-167. Schonlau, M., R. D. J. Fricher, et al. (2001). Conducting Research Surveys via E-mail and the Web. New York: RAND Publications. Trochim, W. M. K. (2008). Social research methods. Retrieved from: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/survwrit.php Webb, J. (2000). Questionnaires and their Design. The Marketing Review 1, 197-218.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Voodoo Essay -- Voudun Hoodoo Voo doo Religion

Voodoo Throughout history people have feared that which they do not understand. This is even more evident with the topic of witchcraft. With such events, as the Salem witch trials and the inquisition-like attacks on religions, not socially accepted by the majority, demonstrates what happens when intolerance and fear of beliefs not like any other take hold in a culture. Even in the 20th century, a religion exists in the southern United States that intimidates people through prayer, ceremonies, gris-gris, and superstition. This religion is known by names such as Voudun, Hoodoo, and most popular Voodoo The word Voodoo is an intimidating word to many because of the images it brings to the mind of black magic, evil, and death that are associated with it. Voodoo is a religion that is very unique and interesting to examine. The roots of Voodoo are traced back to West Africa, continues on to Haiti and other islands via the slaves and then brought to New Orleans also through slavery. There is a difference in the Voodoo of each of these locations due to peoples' influence on it and according to its need at each location. In West Africa, the people took the view that all things lived and died but when something did die its spirit would linger close to the loved ones to help them in this world. They believed in a spirit world that was ruled by a supreme God just as Catholicism believes in God and Heaven. The Voodoo culture took the view that the supreme God was busy doing the most important work and this resulted in the followers asking sub-deities (loas) to carry their message to God for them. Loas, similar to saints or angels, had unique powers but they also were associated with specific physical traits, favorite ... ... others not even within the rat it is no different from the major religions of the world. By looking more in depth at Voodoo, the ability to determine whether to use the religion for good or evil is a test in itself. Unless one has faith in the beliefs of a given religion, will be seen as a negative belief of evil by those who do not understand. As humans, a bias naturally exists for our own personal beliefs and traditions. Explore and understand what is against your own belief and what could be found may be a surprise. Bibliography and Footnotes: 4. Bodin, Ron, Voodoo: Past and Present.( Lafayette: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1990.) pp.39 3. Haskins, Jim, Voodoo and Hoodoo. (Lanham: Scarborough House, 1990.) pp.128 and 191 1 and 2. Hurbon, Laennec, Voodoo: Search for the Spirit. (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1995.) pp. 38-39

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Self-Inflicted Diseases :: Free Essays

Self-Inflicted Diseases Self-inflicted diseases are those in which a person's health is damaged by their own decisions and behaviour. These can be such things like smoking, alcohol, sunbathing, eating large quantities of fatty food. Also deliberate self-harm such as attempted suicide is classed as self-inflicted as it can cause major damage to body organs. Those who start smoking at a young age are highly likely to become addicted to nicotine. Smoking leads to a risk of developing mental and physical disease. This includes lung cancer, coronary heart disease and death through a stroke. Smoking also increases the chances of blood clotting. Nicotine also increases blood pressure and heart rate and thus the body's demand for oxygen, but carbon monoxide reduces the blood's ability to carry it. [IMAGE] Obesity can be self-inflicted by the following:  · Eating too many calories  · Lack of physical exercise  · Environmental factors  · Cultural factors  · Metabolism factors Obesity can cause heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, hernias, varicose veins and gallstones. Surgical operations are more risky for a patient with obesity because the amount of fat surrounding vital organs. [IMAGE] Self-Inflicted Sunbathing Sunbathing can cause blistering of the skin and increases the risk of developing skin cancer. This is self-inflicted if people do not take the precaution of sun cream, when in a hot climate. Heroin use [IMAGE] Heroin abuse can result in collapsed veins, bacterial infections of the blood vessels and heart valves, abscesses, other soft-tissue infections, and liver or kidney disease. Heroin is a self-inflicted disease because it is impossible to judge the purity of street heroin and death is caused through an overdose. Suicide Suicide is ranked the 10th most common form of death. There are around 40,000 suicides per year. [IMAGE] [IMAGE] Suicide is committed due to depressions, family or pet bereavement, divorce, social isolation or psychiatric illnesses. Suicide is self-inflicted because the person attempts to take his/her own life.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Advertising - Selling a Lot More than Just a Product Essay -- Adverts,

Advertisements for various products are seen everywhere — on billboards, in magazines, on television, and countless other places. What draws the consumer into the advertisement — the actual product, the display of the sensual woman as she drinks a glass of milk, or the muscular man sporting a Ralph Lauren blanket as a loincloth? These types of advertisements display unlikely depictions of men and women to society. Today, advertisers use the influence of gender and sex to sell various products to consumers, resulting in unrealistic expectations of men and women to society. According to Vernon Fryburger, author of the book The New Age of Advertising, â€Å"The most important job for advertising is to â€Å"make a sale† for a product or a service, and to do so it must clearly establish a rapport with its audience, which means that it must consciously stay within relatively narrow bounds of acceptability in terms of language, visualizations, and general background and frame of reference† (15). Advertisers use many different strategies to sell their products to consumers. They spend over 200 billion dollars per year attempting to get the attention of consumers and to influence their decisions. An average person views 250 advertisements every day and over two million advertisements by the time they are twenty-five years of age (Baran 278). When advertisers are working on campaigns, they think about what the consumer wants and needs to see in order to purchase the product. More often than not, attractive, seductive-looking individuals are chosen for ads (Percy and Rossiter 1-5). When advertisers are preparing ad campaigns, they will usually discuss women and men can be profitably pictured (Goffman 25). An example of how ad... ... World of Advertising. Chicago: Crain Books, 1975. Goffman, Erving. Gender Advertisements. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard U.P., 1979. Griffiths, Merris. â€Å"Craig, R. Stephen (1992): ‘The Effect of Television Day Part on Gender Portrayals in Television Commercials: A Content Analysis.’† Internet, 2001. http://www.aber.ac.uk/education/Resdeg/merris09.html. Kahle, Lynn R., Larry Chiagouris, editors. Values, Lifestyles, and Psychographics. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1997. Meyers, William. The Image-Makers: Power and Persuasion on Madison Avenue. New York: The New York Times Book, 1984. Moog, Carol, Ph. D. â€Å"Are They Selling Her Lips?†: Advertising and Identity. New York: William Morrow, 1990. Percy, Larry, John R. Rossiter. Advertising Strategy: A Communication Theory Approach. New York: Praeger, 1980.

First Day of School

First day of school When I woke up that morning I thought my life was going to end. The summer was over and it was the first day of school. I didn't go to sleep the night before because I had a lot on my mind, but I had to get my tired self up and get ready. I laid my clothes out the night before and I had out a cross necklace some cross earrings a blue shirt and some khaki shorts. So after I got dressed and got in the car I begged and pleaded with my mama not to make me go. But I still came, when I first got to school I was terrified I didn't know anybody and I was new.Not a good combination but I had to get out of the car so I did and I was lost for a while but I found my class shortly. I walked in to a room full of people and it was hot and dark the only light was from the colorful lamps and the computers,there were computers everywhere. I was the tallest one in the class like I always am I felt like people were talking about me I was scared and didn't want to be there at all I wa nted to call my mom and tell her that is was not going to work to come get me immediately. Before I got around to that the bell rung and it was time for class to start.So I sat down and in the comer where my seat was and just cried for almost the entire class. I didn't want to be there I felt like no body else wanted me to be there either. I had just went through a lot and I broke my wrist the week before so my heart and my and my mind was just not there. I couldn't stop crying I was depressed and lonely ,but class was about to end so I had to dry my tears up and keep it moving because I knew the day was almost over. I felt my day couldn't get any worse and it didn't. This time I ended up in a very bright room and all the people seemed really happy.It was bibles under the desks and posters talking about Jesus and encouragement all over the room. This lifted my sprit and I wasn't so sad anymore and people started to talk to me and wanted to know about who I was and they wanted to bec ome my friend. At first I was very reluctant to talk but I became comfortable and I made new friends. I was happy about this I had some good news to go home and tell my mom. But after getting to know my new friends I had to leave them and go to my last class of the day but I was happy that it was my last class.I walked in and it was math class. I hate math was never good at it but I was I'm there and I dreaded it but I found another new friend that became my best friend her name was sam and we clicked instantly we were both new and we didn't know any body. That made me the happiest of all I wasn't alone anymore there was someone just like me. So that made math not so bad. I got through it and it was time to go home. My day started out bad but it ended ok and I wanted to come back the next day because I knew it would only get better.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Advantages of Boarding School

Good evening, parents and students, and welcome to our school. I understand that many of you are considering joining our school and I would like to share my personal experience of studying at a boarding school. I spent six years studying at a non-residential school and the last three years at the boarding school. I have gained much from my days at a boarding school and I would like to share with you the advantages of studying at such a school. Boarding schools help students to learn to be independent. They learn to understand that they themselves are responsible for many thing that other students take for granted, such as waking up on time and finishing homework within a certain time frame. Boarding school also save time which is spent on travelling to and back from school, not to mention transport expenses. Students also benefit from having regular and nutritious meals provided to them. Staying at the school also makes it possible to have more times for extra-curricular activities. These activities are done on daily basic as opposed to non-residential schools where they are done twice or three times a week. Another benefit is that students have ample time to discuss their homework with their classmates and teachers during the common study periods. There is, therefore, no need to spend money on private tuition. Students and teachers enjoy a closer bond as a result of spending more time together. Teachers provide support and guidance so that students can derive maximum benefit from their schooling experience. I hope that you will join our big family here at this boarding school. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Chinese Labor and Employment Law Essay

In November 2001, China became a fully admitted member of the World Trade Organization and in n in international trade. China has not only become a major export power, but also an attractive investment target for world trade and investment continues to increase, its labor environment will likely attract more ? 2 1980. At least 130 million of these are migrant workers who move from relatively poor rural areas to urban and industrial centers to work. Many of these migrant workers remit portions of their earnings back to family members in their hometown. Until recently, China has typically had an oversupply of unskilled labor and a shortage of skilled and professional workers. However, in the past several years, some companies in the major industrial hubs have begun to complain about labor shortages. As a result, many companies now raise wages 10 percent or more annually to retain workers, while others have closed their doors and moved to poorer inland areas or countries with cheaper labor. Interestingly, salaries for new university graduates have stagnated university system. While university graduates start their careers with wages comparable to a factory worker, their salaries typically rise much more quickly than those factory workers. How have 35 years. Prior to the early 1980s, nearly all jobs were allocated to citizens through an administrative bureau. Employees could not choose their employer or terminate their employment. Further, regulations set an expectation that the employee would work for the same employer for her or his whole working life. Companies in this era could only terminate employees for gross misconduct. This type of labor market and social safety net was called the Iron Rice Bowl because the employer guaranteed job security and benefits to employees In other words, the benefits could not be taken away 3 In 1983, the government introduced a contract system that attempted to address the low productivity of the labor market by replacing the Iron Rice Bowl with short-term labor contracts. At first, state-owned companies resisted this trend and the government succeeded only in minimal reforms. In 1992, the N required all trade unions to be affiliated with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU). This effectively brought labor unions under greater control of the government. The Labor Law of 1994 liberalized the labor market. The labor law, when combined with economic reforms, resulted in more than 40 million lost jobs in government and state-owned enterprises. As a result of the reforms, the government shuttered inefficient businesses and the formerly economically dominant northeast turned into a rustbelt. Meanwhile, Chinese entrepreneurs and Hong Kong investors transformed the formerly weak southeast province of Guangdong into the largest center of manufacturing in the world. In 2008, the government introduced a Labor Contract Law that rolled back some of the laissez-faire approaches to the workforce that the government introduced in the 1990s. This new law abolished the system of at-will employment for most full-time employees and required employers to provide employees with written contracts. Since 2008, the government has also revisited its policy of tight control over the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU). While all unions must still be approved by and affiliated with ACFTU, it appears that the government is allowing the ACFTU greater authority to advocate for the rights of workers than it did just a few years ago. That said, the government continues to imprison workers who advocate for the formation of independent trade unions. W A G ES Does China have a minimum wage? 4 Yes. There are two standards of minimum wage: monthly and hourly. Minimum wages are set at the provincial and municipal level. The government prohibits employers from reaching an agreement with employees for wages that fall below the local minimum wage standard regardless of whether the employee is still in her or his probation period or internship. A probationary period occurs at the beginning of an employment relationship and allows employers to terminate employees without severance pay up to a maximum of six months, but usually just two months. The probation period allows the employer to make sure the employee is a good fit with the employer before being locked into the full term of the employment contract. Provincial and municipal governments frequently adjust statutory minimum wages. For example, many municipalities have raised their minimum wages twice in the past year alone. Ho It depends on the locality. -time employees is RMB 1,120/month, or roughly $165. However, in the poorer inland city of Chongqing, the minimum wage is RMB 870/month, or roughly $130. Of course, purchasing wages. The relative cost of living in China is lower than in many developed countries, but even when wages are adjusted for relative prices they remain much lower than in highly developed countries. How much do factory workers earn? It depends on the locality, industry, skill level, and a host of other factors. However, several sources keep broad indices of costs for general factory labor across many regions. Although the indices are only rough estimates, they are helpful in gauging wage differentials across the country. For example, a skilled manufacturing employee in Beijing can be hired for 5 RMB 3,000/month, or roughly $445. A similar worker in the poorer inland municipality of Chongqing can be hired for RMB 1,900/month, or roughly $280. To illustrate how important geographic location is in determining wage rates, the average employee salary in Beijing is nearly three times higher than in the poor inland province of Jiangxi. Do Chinese workers get overtime? T , an employer must pay overtime compensation to any employee who works more than 40 hours per week. As a general rule, an employer cannot require overtime of more than one hour per day, or three hours per day under special circumstances, and no more than 36 hours per month. As in many other countries, white collar workers like managers and sales staff are often exempt from the overtime pay rules. The following payment schedule illustrates the overtime pay requirements. E xtended Wor king Hours Typical working day Rest day (min. one per week) (i. e. , weekend) National holiday M inimum O vertime Pay (percent of regular wages) 150 percent 200 percent 300 percent Many migrant workers desperate to earn quick money agree with the employer to work beyond the maximum overtime requirements so they can send extra money home to their families. This type of overtime work is frequently found in industrial hubs and is a contributing cause of recent labor strikes because employees who agree to these arrangements place downward price pressure on wages and upward pressure on hours. Employers are also able to maneuver around overtime regulations by applying to the local labor authorities and asking for approval to use an alternative system of working hours. What are the wage levels for workers who are paid piece-rate? 6 Piece-rate is a compensation system where the employer pays the employee for each unit produced or action performed, not on the basis of time. Piece-rate wages are still a feature of to address the exploitation of employees through piece rates. For example, workers were exploited when employers paid workers at piece-rate, but then fined them for quality defects, tardiness, or no reason at all. These penalties effectively left workers with wages far below what the employer promised the workers during the hiring process. The first principle of piece-rate wages is that employers cannot set a work quota so high that it prevents an employee from completing the work within an eight-hour day or an average 40-hour week.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Mississippi’s school Essay

The SAGE program in partnership with John Hopkins University of Baltimore Maryland, invites, states or districts to become members in improving the student achievement in the potential members’ schools. Through the National Network of Partnership Schools, SAGE and others in the network will work states, districts and other educational organization members to form an Action Team for Partnership plan. Members follow the Six Types of Involvement format (NNPS online). Five years of NNPS surveys and result focused studies on member schools’ progress has been reported (2005). NNPS uses research results to develop practical tools, materials, and guidelines for schools and school districts. Presently, over 1000 schools, 100 districts, and 17 state departments of education are working with NNPS to use research-based approaches to establish and strengthen their programs of school, family, and community partnerships (2005). It is suggested that incorporating the following elements create better programs and outreaching to parents of the students and increased parental involvement (2005). 1. Leadership 2. Teamwork 3. Action plans 4. Implementation of plans 5. Funding 6. Collegial support 7. Evaluation 8. Networking Results from longitudinal studies showed that â€Å" a review of literature on family involvement with students on reading, indicated that, across the grades, subject specific interventions to involve families in reading and related language arts, positively affected students’ reading skills and scores (Sheldon & Epstein, 2005b). The original SAGE pilot program research involved participants of which fifty percent were below the poverty level (Vinson, 2002). Participating classes were reduced from average size to fifteen students per teacher. An evaluation by Molinar, Smith and Zahorik (1999) revealed that the first grade SAGE students demonstrated higher achievement when compared to nonparticipating schools in both language arts and math. Second and third graders were reported to follow the same pattern. The third study to be reviewed is the Prime Time (1984) project in Indiana. This was originally planned to be a two year project started in 1984 but it had such promising results that by 1988 all k-3 classes were reduced in Indiana. The average FTE was eighteen. In 1989, McGivern, Gilman and Tillitski compared samples of achievement levels of second graders from six districts with reduced class sizes and three districts that were not reduced and found significantly larger gains in reading and math among students of smaller classes. As with project STAR, SAGE has suffered criticism. Limitations mentioned were that â€Å"students were not assigned to experimental control groups on a random basis†, and that school policies were changed and implemented during the course of the study (Vinson, 2002). A widely criticized factor was the use of teacher incentives to motivate small classroom achievement. As mentioned previously, opinions on class size vary. Over the years several researchers have analyzed studies and evaluated the effectiveness of each. Glass and Smith (1979) found after analyzing seventy-seven empirical studies on class size versus student achievement, that small classes were associated with higher achievement at all grade levels. For greatest results in student achievement, students should attend small classes for over one-hundred hours (1979), with under twenty students. Small classes are beneficial because of 1) better student reaction 2) teacher morale and 3) quality of the teaching environment (Vinson, 2002). In a review of one-hundred relevant studies, small classes had been the most beneficial, during kindergarten and third grade, but only if teachers change their methods and procedures (Robinson and Wittebols, 1986). Slavin’s (1990) research of empirical studies, were chosen for analysis based on a three part criteria; 1) class size had been reduced for at least one year 2) twenty students were compared to substantially larger class sizes and 3) students in both class sizes were comparable (1990). Contrary to previously mentioned researchers, Slavin believed that smaller class size had minimal positive effects on students and those effects did not continue once students were returned to normal, larger classes (1990). A highly published researcher, Eric Hanushek has voiced his opposition to small classes benefiting student achievement since the mid-1980s. In all his reviews of class size studies, he’s always concluded that; â€Å"The evidence about improvements in student achievement that can be attributed to smaller classes turns out to be meager and unconvincing (Vinson, 2002)†. Johnson (2000), citing a study at the Heritage Foundation examining National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading data, asserted that the difference in reading assessment scores between students in small classes and students in large classes was insignificant. He criticized class size reduction programs citing California as example of how such programs exacerbate the problem of lack of qualified teachers to fill classrooms. His claim of the lack of association between class size and performance was consistent with Hanushek’s conclusions (1999). Studies of the effects of class size in secondary schools are much more rare and largely equivocal (Deutsch 2003; Grissmer 1999). Many of those who advocate for smaller class sizes at the secondary level argue that small classes positively impact the school environment, thus, improving performance indirectly. In her review of the literature of class size and secondary schools, Deutsch (2003) highlights studies that conclude small classes stimulate student engagement, allow more innovative instructional strategies, increase teacher-student interactions, reduce the amount of time teachers devote to discipline, improve teacher morale, and minimize feelings of isolation and alienation in adolescence that can come from anonymity. Another important process variable the researcher will investigate is the effects of school policy on student achievement. An influential policy becoming common in schools is that of parental support and teacher incentives. As with the other factors in this model, conclusions about the effects of both on student performance has been mixed, but recent studies seem to point to more positive correlations, particularly teacher experience (Hedges, Lane, and Greenwald 1994). Mississippi’s Department of Education’s Schools and Parents Partnering for Student Success is a brochure given to the parents of Mississippi public school students to educate them on what level of proficiency their child should be on in an attempt to form a relationship between school and home. Strategies for improving student achievement according to Mississippi’s School.

Friday, September 13, 2019

General Kantian Perspective on Punishment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

General Kantian Perspective on Punishment - Essay Example In this theory, punishment is not justified by any good results but by the guilt of the criminal and therefore, a criminal must pay for their misdoings in a way that is proportional to the harm inflicted by their wrongdoing. This was very common in many traditions and it is clearly seen in the Jewish tradition in the Bible specifically in the Law of Moses. In the event that a person is tried and found guilty and punishable of a crime, the individual automatically forfeits or suspends an equal value of his or her right to something. Kant contends that the punishment must fit the crime committed and argues that a crime committed to another person is a crime perpetrated to one self. He contends that the most appropriate punishment for a murderer is capital punishment (execution). If a person who has committed a murder is allowed to live, justice is not done and this exemplifies a subversion of justice and the very essence of humanity in the world. Punishment of an equal measure is in al l ways justified by the criminal act of the criminal, this is the right of retaliation and punishment in the mode of ‘like for like’. Retributive justice often faces a lot of criticism especially from human rights activists who say that it is a violation of the natural rights of the offender. Natural rights are the basic and fundamental rights to all human beings by virtue of being creatures of nature; these are the rights that every human being is born with and cannot be taken away by anyone or any government or society. These rights protect us against the deprivations that can be imposed by the interests of others on us. Chief among natural rights is the right to life and the right to own property. Other natural rights include the freedom of worship, right to participate in government and politics, and the freedom of expression. Natural rights are based on the assumption that human beings are naturally rational and good and thus enjoy certain rights that are absolute at all levels or stages of the human life. Punishment should not violate the natural rights that individuals are entitled to because this would cause more harm than good, â€Å"we ought not to impose such harm on anyone unless we have a very good reason for doing so† (Golash 1). In retributive justice, the punishment in most cases is seen to override and violate the natural rights of the culprits/offenders. It is seen to be very punitive and does no good to the society. Retributive punishment is in no way tied to the impact it might have on the society but in the punishment of the offender in a manner that is commensurate to the crime committed (Rosen 7). The only fit or rather reasonable punishment for a person who has killed another person is that he should die; therefore, in taking away another man’s life, which the offender cannot reinstate, he or she forfeits or suspends his/her natural right to life, this is the right punishment for like with like. Justice should never at any time be exercised for the encouraging another good either regarding to the unlawful or the society. Justice is administered because an individual has committed a crime and is solely responsible for his actions and should be subjected to a punishment of an equal measure to the crime committed. Matters of justice are therefore not in any way contingent with the natural rights of a guilty individual. According to the maxim of the Pharisees, it is better that one man is put to death than that all people should perish; in this regard if righteousness and justice perish then human life loses its value dignity and essence in the world. The idea of keeping a man who has been condemned to death alive is therefore a

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Should my profession get license Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Should my profession get license - Essay Example Hence, this is a high responsibility job. Therefore, should healthcare administration professionals get license? According to me, healthcare administration must be viewed as a managerial job equivalent to a managerial position in any other industry. Healthcare administration degree must be treated equivalent to a MBA degree. Yes, healthcare industry is dynamic and also sensitive due to its nature. But, healthcare administrators will not make an impact as that of a medical professional like a doctor or a nurse. Hence, a license must not be required to become a healthcare administration professional. A healthcare professional must have understanding of the law. Healthcare administrator with good understanding of the law will not only be able to protect himself but also their employers and even the patients (Gassiot et al., 2010). They must be tested to ensure that they are competent of doing the job and can handle the responsibility, But a license should not be mandatory to become a healthcare

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

How does the implementation of a quality managment system such as EFQM Research Paper

How does the implementation of a quality managment system such as EFQM or Six Sigma in the hospitality industry help improve th - Research Paper Example All the prominent organizations may have a well defined quality management system in order to ensure the quality of all the products or services offered to the customers by the organization. Earlier, in most of the organizations, a quality control (QC) division was functioning whereas at present instead of QC, Quality Assurance (QA) division is functioning. The change from QC to QA reflects the importance and changing concepts about the quality in organizational world. Service sector is one area in which quality plays a vital role in determining the success and failures of an organization. For example, in hospitality industry, the customers often compare the quality of services they received from different organizations before they select one organization. European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) and six sigma (Developed by Motorola Corporation) are the major quality management systems implemented in the hospitality industry at present. Both EFQM and Six Sigma have some meri ts and demerits. This paper briefly analyses how the implementation of a quality management system such as EFQM or Six Sigma helps the hospitality industry to improve the performance. ... â€Å"To achieve Six Sigma, a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects/ million opportunities. A Six Sigma defect is defined as anything outside of customer specifications†( What is six sigma, 2010) (Jkerrigan, n. d) The basic architecture of six sigma includes five aspects; define, measure, analyse, improve and control. The organization which implements six sigma should define its objectives at first. Then the organization measures the output with the help of statistical analysis. If the output does not reach the six sigma mark, the process should be improved further and further till it reaches that mark. Proper control should be exercised while the organization strives for better quality and management practices. â€Å"Six Sigma is driven by the customer and thus aims to achieve maximum customer satisfaction and minimizing the defects. It targets the customer delight and new innovative ways to exceed the customer expectations† (Advantages and Disadvantages of Si x Sigma, n. d).The focus of Six Sigma implementation is attached to the customer. In most of the modern quality management systems customers are at the central point. All the quality improvement activities are rotate around the customer since the customer is the one who is capable of making or breaking an organization. Starwood Hotels and Resorts have already implemented the Six Sigma approach. Six Sigma at Starwood has helped improve the financial performance of the group by ushering in the quality and consistency of the customers' experiences. Six Sigma has also provided the guidelines and tools to create a consistently superior guest experience at all properties, and simultaneously improve the bottom line. The Six Sigma organization in the group reports to

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Nursing Information Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing Information Technology - Essay Example None of which she expected (Turner, 2003). This paper will discuss whether the decision to outsource IT makes sense and whether it would meet the Porter Value Chain Model. Hoppszallern (2009) discusses the fact that according to her research savings for the average company through supply chain management that includes the process of outsourcing IT can be $50-100 million over the life of the project. In a clinical situation this includes such things as the business process areas of medical records, billing, revenue cycle, and supply chain. The process of outsourcing not only reduces cost for the business but also provides accountability from the CIO, provides a change agent that is not bogged down by day to day, and objectivity by lack of close involvement with the departments. It also provides a larger base of knowledge over IT software as well as hardware. However, there is also a down side. That includes the fact that the IT director is also not loyal to the business, he may be a poor cultural fit, and he is not a peer at the executive level. There is also a great chance that the outsourcing will end up abroad and this brings up Senator Turners larg est complaint is that the business of the US does not belong abroad and available for misuse (Turner, 2003). Many of the complaints from departments about outsourcing are related. For example, most department heads complain that it takes twice as long to fix a problem and that the person on the phone does not understand the needs of the department. Projects take longer. This brings up the question of real value and whether or not the lost value of time for the departments in project time outweighs the cost of keeping the IT department in house (Robbins, 2004). In this writers organization, all of the IT department is already outsourced and the complaints are much the same as documented in the articles read for this paper. This includes the length of time it takes to initiate and manage a project as well as getting someone to fix a problem along with many other issues. The majority of the department heads would say that it has not been worth it but the CFO says that it has definitely improved the bottom line. Using Porters value chain management model in healthcare would give a path similar to what follows: 1. Data/ information technology 2. Information generation 3. Analysis 4. Actionable customer plan 5. Program assessment/reassessment The data comes in from 1. Medical claims data 2. Pharmacy data 3. Health risk appraisals 4. Laboratory values 5. Eligibility files 6. Utilization files 7. Operating systems and other external data resources. Much of this data comes from various kinds of claim forms. As we look at this first step in Porters value chain, we realize that there is information here that is certainly not information that we would ever want to be exposed to other places. This makes one wonder if the reduction in cost by outsourcing is worth the possibility of this information leaving the system. Then there is the issue of whether failure to transmit the information where it needs to go in a timely manner is possible and sudden changes in the data such as emergent lab changes, are they getting there timely. Who is aware of how important subtle changes are in the data Then there is the problem of how important data quality

Monday, September 9, 2019

Should people in the military who are underage be allowed to drink Annotated Bibliography

Should people in the military who are underage be allowed to drink alcohol - Annotated Bibliography Example On the other hand, the opponents point out that the existing law prohibits underage drinking. Such division warrants a deeper examination of the issue from a multi-faceted approach. The US law espouses that the youth below the age of the twenty-one years should not take alcohol while serving in the military. Many states in the US have enforced the laws restrict the underage from drinking. Article XXI of the US Constitution bans the underage from possessing and consuming alcohol. Statistics indicate that heavy drinking and substance abuse is a huge problem that has plagued the military. The personnel use alcohol to relieve boredom, stress, loneliness, and lack of recreational activities. The US laws that control the underage drinking is applicable even on overseas deployments. Hence, the youths should comply with the US laws, even if the host country allows the underage use of alcohol. A good example of the application of the US law is evident at the US-Mexican border. The Mexico laws allow people less than twenty-one years to drink alcohol. However, the military ensured that the US youths did not take the alcohol by enforcing the existing laws that prohibit underage drinking. The people below the age of twenty-one years are not mature enough to exercise the responsibility of their lives. Hence, allowing the youths to drink alcohol can affect the delivery of duties in the military. The application of the law is on equal measure to all the US citizens. The laws are clear that people under the age of twenty-one years should not possess and consume alcohol. The choice to join the military does not imply that the youths are above the law. Joining the military is a choice that one makes. The fact that the youths have enlisted in the military does not mean their brains are mature enough to take alcohol responsibly. In fact, studies have shown the people under the age of twenty-one years cannot make conscious decisions. It is not advisable to

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Human Sleep-Wake Cycle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Sleep-Wake Cycle - Essay Example In the decrement of circadian processes, sleep homeostasis takes charge, allowing for sleep opportunities to dominate (Martinez-Rodriguez & Santamaria, 2005). As part of biological rhythm, patterns in sleep-wake cycle may vary, depending on developmental age, but some of its mechanisms remain the same. Anatomical Description Neurological in origin, sleep-wake cycle is governed by brain structures, which in turn regulates neurochemical mechanisms. On structural construct, hypothalamus in midbrain is home to suprachiasmatic nucleus, which primarily controls circadian patterns of being awake and asleep (Conn, 2006). Progressively, arousal states in consciously-aware individuals are governed by several neurological parts: â€Å"brainstem...thalamus, and basal forebrain.† These anatomic landmarks are sources for several neurotransmitters, which chemically influence the sleep-wake cycle--promoting active or passive stimulation. Specifically, wakefulness is generated by chemical reac tions with â€Å"hyprocretin and locus coeruleus in hypothalamus and dopamine in thalamus,† while sleepiness is induced by â€Å"serotonin in brainstem and prostaglandin in forebrain† (Stiller, & Postolache, 2005, p. 2008). Each is either inhibited or exploited in order to maintain balance between wakefulness and sleepiness. If a part malfunctions, other neurochemicals compensate, before disruptions in sleep-wake cycle manifest. ... In stage 1, there is initial drowsiness and progression towards light sleep. On the next stage, light sleep deepens into true sleep--consistently repeated at midnight. In the last two stages, 3 and 4, biologic functions are slower, and slow-wave category of sleep takes place. This frequently occurs early in sleeping episodes and account for less than a quarter of overall sleeping time. As NREM has been through, more active brain activity signals entry into REM. Brain stimulation is intensive compared to previous levels in NREM, with distinctive â€Å"rapid eye movement...muscle paralysis, and dreaming† (Davis & Parker, 2004). As NREM occupies earlier periods of sleeping time, REM is exhibited during early mornings. In cyclical manner, sleep levels must pass from phases in NREM to REM, and constantly repeated as the chain is through--to achieve restful sleep. Sleep-wake Changes in Age Development Between the lengths of staying awake and falling asleep, there is a supposed diffe rence in this aspect for young and older groups. Length of continuous sleep is shortest in newborns, with less than 4 hours, and increases by 2 hours as they get older--totaling to 14-16 hours per day. In adolescence stage, 10 to 12 hours of sleep is common (Davis & Parker, 2004). Nonetheless, shortened sleep in young children lengthens with age augmentation, and declines as old age approaches. Significantly, circadian wake indicator is an hour or two earlier in older ones; hence, the range between staying awake and falling asleep is no longer proportional to that of younger samples (Billiard & Kent, 2003). The source for such alteration is traced back to circadian rhythm, where diminished natural processes change the older generations’ ability to stay asleep. As circadian

Saturday, September 7, 2019

The Fall of the Roman Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Fall of the Roman Republic - Essay Example According to Polybius, a Greek aristocrat born in Achaea but banished to Rome, and source of the historical account in that city in the second century especially where the elites are concerned, the nobility of Rome put the greatest premium on courage. Although courage was as important is all other states as well, this was the most true in the Roman aristocracy value system. The emphasis on courage was illustrated most especially during the funeral rites of the deceased in which their acts of bravery would be eulogized. According to Polybius, a kin of the deceased would wear his mask, and some other men would wear masks of all the dead ancestors of the deceased. The relative wearing the mask of the deceased, dressed in robes preceded each by the symbol of the particular ancestor, would then deliver a speech glorifying his achievements, after which eulogies for each of the deceased ancestors would follow. These after-death honors given to deceased and his ancestors served to inspire th e young men in doing their best in their endeavors so as to earn the same honor in their deaths.

World War Holocaust Essay Example for Free

World War Holocaust Essay The Holocaust or The Shoah, as referred to by the Jews, was a systematic state-led persecution and genocide of the Jews and other minority groups of Europe and North Africa. It was committed during World War II by the Nazis of Germany and their collaborators (Wikipedia, â€Å"Holocaust†). This was what the Nazis considered as Endlà ¶sung der Judenfrage   or The Final Solution of the Jewish Question. Under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, about 9 to 11 million people were exterminated during this entire period. Other minorities (ie. Poles, Serbs, homosexuals, persons with mental illness, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc†¦) who the Nazis saw as inferior or undesirable were also killed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is considered by many experts as the most organized and systematic mass-killing in the history of mankind. Jews were herded into death camps and were allowed to suffer many indignities including torture and cruel medical experiments. Jews would be killed by the hundreds through poison gas, freezing or shooting. The women and the children were not spared. They were treated no less cruelly than the male adults. They were also sent to labor camps to serve as slaves to the Nazis. All these inhuman acts are based on the Anti-Semitism philosophy of Adolf Hilter. He laid down the foundations of this movement in his 1925 autobiography entitled Mein Kampf or My Struggle. According to Hitler, the Aryan race is the superior race of the world. Nazism, which followed his ideas, portrayed their interpretation of an Aryan race as the only race capable of, or with an interest in, creating and maintaining culture and civilizations, while other races are merely capable of conversion, or destruction of culture (Wikipedia, â€Å"Aryan†). Because of this belief in Aryan supremacy, the Nazis began by oppressing the Jews and other minorities through discrimination. Jews were not allowed to have jobs or were not given service in hospitals or government offices. These acts would worsen and escalate into an uncontrollable frenzy and would culminate in the infamous Final Solution. Bibliography Holocaust. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 8 June 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust. Aryan. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 8 June 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan.

Friday, September 6, 2019

Preparing For and Taking Exam Essay Example for Free

Preparing For and Taking Exam Essay One of the most fundamental things that students are supposed to always have in mind is that preparation for exams must start early. It is very recommendable that preparation for the next exam should start immediately after one is through with a prior one. If one keeps up in regard to studies, then the process will be a smooth sailing. Before embarking on the process, it is very advisable to plan and this mostly entails asking oneself some questions. Such questions may include; what is my schedule during exam? How much work do I need to review? How much time do I need and have to prepare for exams? All these questions will enable one to plan time well. After planning is over, it is time to get down working; preparation for exams (Study Skills for College). So what does preparation for and taking exam entail? This is what this essay seeks to find out. Developing a balanced lifestyle prior to testing your skills Enough rest prior to exams guarantees good performance, since rest and good performance go together. Preparation for exams can be compared to preparing for a race as one need to be fit for the race. An individual’s well being is very crucial for one to be successful and thus a student needs to treat oneself with respect, as mental and physical well being is the number one factor to consider if one is to perform well (Moira, nd). To have good rest prior to exams entails having a good sleep. If one does not have enough sleep, he or she will always feel tired and this will definitely impede concentration and focus and thus studies will be negatively affected leading to poor performance. â€Å"Good Sleep equals a functioning student† (Queens University, 2008). A good diet is also essential when preparing for exams. Good nutrition will always work well in fuelling the brain and this can be achieved by mostly eating energy giving foods (Briffa, 2010). Eating process should be a regular activity at this time. If it is possible, fresh fruits for breakfast are recommendable as well as drinking a lot of water and consuming a lot of vegetables. A lot of sugar and coffee is not recommended at this time and fast foods are not healthy for a student who is preparing for exams (Moira, nd). As the saying goes, ‘you are what you eat, ’a healthy meal will translate into a healthy brain. In addition, a complete diet for a student includes ‘brains foods’ (Queens University, 2008). Moreover, a student should always have time for meditation. This process entails directing concentration to one thing and focusing on one object. This improves the breathing system and since one is attentive to only one thing, a student will find his or her thoughts taken away from anxious thoughts. This rejuvenates one and improves his or her focus. This process also goes along way to reduce stress and anger. This is very good before engaging in a challenging task (Zinger, 2008). Polishing quiz and study habits One should always come up with ways that would help in remembering what one has learnt. However, before embarking on the process, the first thing that one needs to do at this stage is to write on a blank piece of paper what one wants to cover and remember. It is also good at this point to work with others so that they can clarify what one does not understand. Cramming has never been recommended when studying and thus one should try as much as possible to read and understand, and if one does not understand, it is advisable to involve other people who may be good at the subject or even the tutors. A student is also advised to employ flash cards when revising since they assist to memorize facts. Discussion groups also come in handy at this point (Study Skills for College, nd). Another thing is that one should read while making some summaries of the main points and supporting information. If it is possible, one should come up with his or her questions and at the same time answer them. Other strategies to be employed include; cue cards, reciting loudly, do some practice problems and if possible go through some old exam questions in order to find answers to the questions one failed (Queens University, 2008). This does not mean that one should strain oneself while doing all this. It is good for one to enjoy studying and not viewing it as a punishment. This is possible if only one rewards oneself. This can be achieved by having breaks while reading. Five to ten minutes are good enough. During those breaks, one should not engage in any academic activities. The recommended activities include listening to music and watching television. This is also the best time to engage in some meditation. A student may also decide to go out for fresh air. In other words, it is the best time to engage in an activity that one likes doing most (Moira, nd). How looking back on the last exam can prepare you for the next one It is very important while preparing for exams to analyze past exam papers or questions. This is very instrumental in trying to find out what went wrong and that led to an individual getting the scores that one got. It also helps one to analyze the pattern the errors took in order to avoid them in future or in the next exam. There are different errors which may come about while doing exams. These include error related to questions, answers, and subject test-making procedures. While looking at past exam papers, it helps in ‘celebrating’ the mistakes one did. Mistakes should never be taken negatively since they offer valuable feedback (Queens University, 2008). In this regard, it is good to look at the experience that one went through while doing the exam. This entails asking some questions such as: Did I go blank the other time or did I have difficulties in breathing? How did I feel while doing the exam? These questions will help one find answers to the problems one encountered then and thus it may be possible to avoid them in future (Queens University, 2008). How to let go of exam anxiety while preparing for and taking exams Good performance in any challenging task also requires the body to be calm. For the body to be calm, it calls for good breathing and having enough air in the body. A student should take time to concentrate on breathing, specifically on the air that gets in and out of the system. Moments of longer and deeper breathing are advisable at this time. Time should also be taken to scan the whole body in order to relax the tensed muscles. This calls for one to sit properly when reading. Exercise also helps in relaxing the body and reducing anxiety. This is because it helps in pumping blood all over the body (Queens University, 2008). Exercises that one may engage in may include playing football, tennis, cycling, among others and this should continue even during exam time. This does not mean that one should spend all the time excising but a little time for some physical activities will do (Moira, nd). In conclusion, preparing for exams is very important just like taking the exam itself. Good preparation will mean success in the exam and thus time should be taken for the process. One’s well being is very crucial in passing exams and thus good preparation will go a long way to ensure that. References Briffa, J. (May, 2010). Food for thought’- nutritional advice for those preparing for and taking exams. Retrieved from http://www. drbriffa. com/2010/05/28/%E2%80%98food-for-thought%E2%80%99-%E2%80%93-nutritional-advice-for-those-preparing-for-and-taking-exams/ Dr. Moira, P. (nd). Developing a balanced outlook about exams. SLDC. Retrieved 0 from http://www. google. co. ke/#hl=enq=developing+a+balanced+lifestyle+while+preparing+for+and+taking+examsaq=aqi=aql=oq=developing+a+balanced+lifestyle+while+preparing+for+and+taking+examsgs_rfai=fp=545d1e31c800a3f3 Queens University. Learning strategies and development: Preparing for and taking exams at university. Retrieved from http://www. bewell-dowell. org/sos/pdf_files/Preparing%20for%20Tests/Exam%20Module%20DEC%202009. pdf Study Skills for College. (nd). How to prepare for exams. Retrieved from http://www. bmb. psu. edu/courses/psu16/troyan/studyskills/examprep. htm Zinger, L. (April, 2008). †Educating for tolerance and compassion: Is there a place for meditation in a college classroom? † College Teaching Methods and Styles Journal, 4 (4), pp. 25-28

Thursday, September 5, 2019

The Importance Of Accurate Financial Statements

The Importance Of Accurate Financial Statements The role of financial accounting is not to show the value of a company, but rather it provides enough information for others outside the company to determine the value of the company for themselves. Financial Statements according to Oxford Online Dictionary are annual statements summarizing a companys activity over the last year. They consist of    the profit and loss account, balance sheet,    statement of total recognized gains and losses    and, if required, the cash flow statement    together with supporting notes.    Proper financial statements are crucial for a companys success. Bad financial management can quickly lead to a companys downfall. Income statements, also known as PLs or profit and losses are a basic account of the companys profits, expenses and sales. These reports will give insight into the finances of a company in the immediate and distant future.    Balance sheets are the assets, liabilities and the equity of a company. This sheet is simply the statement of a companys financial position. The balance sheet does not apply to the future only to the present point in time. Retained earnings statements are forms that show the balance of initial earnings, any changes that took place and the resulting balance of that.    Lastly, when discussing financial statements comes the cash flow statement. This is basically a statement that contains information about a companys cash flow for the short term. This statement will break down all investing, financial and operations activity.    Companys use all of these statements to determine current financial profitability and potential future growth. Without accurate financial statements, and owners and managers ability to correctly understand them, any company is fated to failure. A company could track previous growth and then make an estimate on possible future growth of the company.    Liabilities are any debts, claims, obligations or potential losses a company may have. An example of a liability is an account payable. Accounts payable is simply money that a company owes but has yet to pay. This could be tracked to help reduce future expenses that have ended up costing more than they should have. Businesses have two primary objectives: to remain solvent and to earn a profit.    A companys solvency is the ability of the business to pay its bills and service its debt. The better their solvency, the better they are financially. This is different from a company being profitable.    There are four financial reports that show business owners their profitability: the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement, the Statement of Owners Equity, and the Statement of Cash Flows.    These reports are also the financial product of an accountants analysis of the transactions of the business. A lot of effort goes into preparing these financial statements.    The Balance Sheet shows a particular point in time.    It highlights what resources are owned by a business and what it owes to other parties.    It also shows how much has been invested in the business and what the sources of that investment were.    The balance sheet is often referred to as the snap shot of the business, or a picture of the financial position at that specific point.    In contrast, the Income Statement, also known as the profit and loss statement, provides a perspective on a longer time period. If the balance sheet is a snap shot, think of an income statement like a photo album of the business activities. That photo album is like a story of what financial transactions took place in a particular time frame, and what the overall results of the transactions actually were. The Statement of Cash Flows explains the change in the companys cash during the time interval indicated in the heading of the statement. It is meant to help managers and investors understand the relationship of net income to change in cash balances.(Holmgren, Sundem, Elliott, Philbrick, 2006, pg.185) This report is split into three sections: Operating activities, which explains how a companys cash has changed due to operations; investing activities, refers to amounts spent or received in transactions involving long-term assets; and financing activity, which shows such things as cash received from long term debt, or most commonly through the issuance of stock. All of this reporting shows company information.    It explains where a companys money came from, where it is now, and where it is going, but the root of it all begins with bookkeeping. Basic bookkeeping monitors what the companys check book looks like and what their reoccurring expenses are like payroll, rent, along with any other operating expenses. Every business needs some sort of process to track their expenses and their income without any analysis of their in-and-out flows.    This is where the accountants come in the picture. They evaluate and analyze the information making sense out of the numbers to explain the bigger picture.    For any of the above reports to be useful to an owner or investor, they need to be understandable, timely, relevant and free from bias.