Does Parental Involvement and Poverty affect Childrens Education and their overall Performance

Abstract The purpose of this study will be to address the question of whether poverty and the involvement of parents in the education of their children will affect their overall performance.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Does Parental Involvement and Poverty affect Children’s Education and their overall Performance? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The discussion will look at the various ways in which parents are involved in the academic performance of children and also whether poverty affects the involvement of parents in the academic performance of their children. The various types of parental involvement will be examined as well how the measurement of children’s performance is based on this involvement. Introduction Various researchers have concluded that the involvement of parents in the education of children usually has a positive influence on their academic performance. Epstein et al (1 997) for example noted that the consistent effort of parents in the various stages of their children’s education had a positive effect on their overall performance. The researchers developed a model that would be used to explain the overlapping spheres of influence in a child’s education which included the family, the school and the society at large. Epstein et al (1997) noted that all these spheres had to have a relationship for them to meet the educational needs of the child. With regards to the types of involvement needed from the parents, Epstein et al identified six types of involvement that were based on the partnerships that the parents had with the school and the community. The six types of involvement included parenting where the skills used to raise children were used to enhance their learning abilities, communication where well maintained communication channels within the home improved the child’s performance in school, volunteering where parents who voluntarily participated in their children’s education improved their performance, learning from home where children were homeschooled by their parents, decision making and collaboration with the community where the society’s members were involved in the education of the child like for example neighbours participating in the tutoring of the child during school breaks while the parents are at work. Epstein et al (1997) noted that all of these types of involvement needed to be included in the education of the child so that there could be successful partnerships between the various stakeholders involved in the child’s education.Advertising Looking for coursework on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Coleman (1993) noted in his study that parental involvement acted as an intervening variable between the family background of the child and their academic performance in school. Other researchers that con ducted studies on parental involvement in children’s education were Hong and Ho (2005), Baker and Wiseman (2006) and Englund et al (2004) who all agreed that the involvement of parents in the education of the children had a positive influence on their overall academic performance. Children who experienced parent involvement in the school work and homework recorded higher grades than those who had little or no involvement from their parents. Jeynes (2005: 2011) in his meta-analysis of the topic concluded that parental involvement in the education of children had a positive influence on their academic performance and other educational outcomes. In terms of poverty, Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler (1997) noted that most low-income parents were reluctant to be involved in the education of their children as they were more concerned with providing food, clothing and shelter for their children. They identified three psychological factors which contributed to their lack of involvement in their children’s education and these were the family perceptions of the role of parents in their children’s education where low-income families viewed the school to have the primary role and responsibility when it came to their children’s education. The second psychological factor was that parents who were low-income earners had lower feelings of efficacy when compared to high or middle income earners and this translated into their belief of whether they had any impact on their children’s education. The third psychological factor according to Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler (1997) was that schools which served low-income families lacked the necessary efforts to involve parents in the education of their children.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Does Parental Involvement and Poverty affect Children’s Education and their overall Performance? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This l ead to lower parental involvement as most parents felt like they were being excluded from school and educational activities. Apart from these psychological factors, other reasons that were given as to why low-income parents were not involved in the education of their children included the communication styles used by school teachers and instructors, the amount of respect that teachers offered low-income parents and the recognition of diversity in the school setting where children from low-income families are treated the same as children from middle and high income societies (McDermott and Rothenberg 2000). Much of the research that has been conducted on whether parental involvement and poverty affects children’s education has examined various aspects such as the number of parents that volunteer in their children’s tutoring, the income-levels of the parents, the perceptions of low-income parents on educational involvement, the number of parents that attend school meetin gs and the characteristics of parents who are low-income earners and how these characteristics affect the educational achievement of their children (Baker and Soden 1997: Senechal and LeFevre 2002). Other researchers such as Cooper (2006) noted that the development of human beings within the family context acted as a mediation in the association that existed between poverty, the involvement of parents and the academic achievement of children. References Baker, A.J.L., Soden, L.M. (1997). Parent involvement in children’s education: A  critical assessment of the knowledge base Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, Illinois: ERICDocument Reproduction Service Baker, D., and Wiseman, A.W., (2006) The impact of comparative educational research  on institutional theory. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Coleman, J.S., (1993) Parents, their children and schools. Boulder: Westview PressAdvertising Looking for coursework on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Cooper, C.E., (2006) Family poverty, parental involvement in education and the  transition to elementary school. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Englund, M., Luckner, A., Whaley, G., and Egeland, B., (2004) Children’s achievement in early elementary school. Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 94, No. 4, pp 723-730 Epstein, J.L., Coates, L., Salinas, K.C., Sanders, M.G., Simon, B.S. (1997). School,  family and community partnerships: Your handbook for action. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press. Hong, S., and Ho, H., (2005) Direct and indirect longitudinal effects of parental involvement on student achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 97, No.1, pp 32- 42 Jeynes, W., (2005) The effects of parental involvement on the academic achievement of African American Youth. The Journal of Negro Education, Vol. 74, No.3, pp 260- 274 Jeynes, W.H., (2011) Parental involvement and academic success. Oxford, UK: Routledge McDermott, P., and Rothenberg, J., (2000) . Why urban parents resist involvement in their children’s elementary education. The Qualitative Report, Vol.5, No.3 Senechal, M., and LeFevre, J., (2002) Parental involvement in the development of children’s reading skills: a five-year longitudinal study. Child Development,  Vol. 73, No. 2, pp 445-460 This coursework on Does Parental Involvement and Poverty affect Children’s Education and their overall Performance? was written and submitted by user Giselle Daniels to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Green Research Within The Hospitality Industry Tourism Essays

Green Research Within The Hospitality Industry Tourism Essays Green Research Within The Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay Green Research Within The Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay Tourism is regarded as one of the fastest turning industry in the universe, transforming into a mean of development for several states, including many Small Island Developing states ( SIDS ) like Mauritius ( UNWTO, 2011 ) . Indeed has the Travel and Tourism industry brings many positive impacts in Mauritius but the fact that alongside with these advantages, other factors like clime alteration, Pollution and effects of touristry patterns have besides created a hot issue in the Tourism sphere today. The negative impacts of touristry activities has resulted in an increasing demand of green finish, intending finish where there are seeable attempts of protecting and prolonging the environment by covering with issues like C emanations, bio diverseness preservation, resources use, H2O supply and waste direction. It can be said that the touristry and the environment sustainability construct are visibly going natural spouses. The Hotel industry in peculiar has late received much attending, with consciousness of the negative impact that are holding on the environment ( Kasim, 2004 ) . Negative impacts include the extended sum of wash that hotels do on a day-to-day footing, the usage of disposable merchandises, heated swimming pools, and the usage of strong cleansing merchandises by housekeeping sections ( Gustin A ; Weaver, 1996 ) . Some negative impacts include the extended sum of wash that hotels do on a day-to-day footing, the usage of disposable merchandises, heated swimming pools, and the usage of strong cleansing merchandises by housekeeping sections ( Gustin A ; Weaver, 1996 ) . These impacts have urged many hotels to alter or modify their patterns so they are cognizant that this will non merely assist to prolong the environment but will besides be advantageous to the hotel besides in the long tally. By making and practising environment friendly patterns, hotels gain positive promotion, client tru eness, therefore a definite competitory border over rivals. ( Guskin A ; Weaver, 1996 ) : The addition concern of environment issues is surely holding an impact of hotel choice by visitants. A study by the U.K. s Devon County Council in 2009 shows that 54 % of respondents truly see environment issues before they book a trip to a peculiar finish. Further the study besides shows that 82 % of them were willing to paid more to remain in a green hotel which provides green services and cordial reception. Indeed therefore study gives an thought of tourer s attitude about green hotel and green patterns. In Mauritius many hotels like Beachcomber in Trou aux biches are traveling green. Although there have been research workers in green hotel in Mauritius, one major spread exists in respects to green hotel. researches have been largely carried out at organisational degree. However, there has non been any research yet so as to enable us to cognize what attitude the visitants are holding about these green hotels in our island. The chief intent of this survey is therefore to research the point of positions and attitude of foreign visitants towards the green hotels in Mauritius. The aims of the survey therefore encompass: To measure the visitant s attitude towards green hotels To measure of import factors taking into consideration by green visitants To place factors that visitants would hold like to see in Mauritius green hotels Literature Review Hotel Choice Nowadays clients no longer accept merely linen and towel reuse plans as being adequate green patterns in the green hotel construct. They expect more from green hotels and required their patterns to be even more socio-environmentally responsible. They consider factors that are taking to energy efficiency, a proper waste division, procurance, and H2O preservation ( Heisterkamp, 2009 ; Wolff, 2008 ) . Several researches have been conducted by utilizing several methods to analyze hotel choice and attributes that considered by travellers ( Dolnicar, 2002 ) . Past research has focused on the importance of properties in choosing a hotel ( Ananth, DeMicco, Moreo, A ; Howey, 1992 ; Callan A ; Bowman, 2000 ; Clow, Garretson, A ; Kurtz, 1994 ; Cobanoglu, Corbaci, Moreo, A ; Ekinci, 2003 ; Dolnicar, 2002 ; Griffen, Shea A ; Weaver, 1996 ; Lewis, 1984 ; Lewis, 1985 ; Lockyer, 2002 ; Lockyer, 2005 ; McCleary, Weaver A ; Hutchinson, 1993 ; Saleh A ; Ryan, 1992 ; Schaefer, Selum A ; Margavio , 1995 ; Tsaur A ; Tzend, 1995 ; Weaver A ; Oh, 1993 ) Green Research within the Hospitality Industry To understand who stays at green hotels every bit good as the beliefs consumers have about what a green hotel is and what they offer ; a definition of what a green hotel must foremost be discussed. Green hotels are environmentally friendly housing installations which employ direction that participate in and originate environmentally sustainable 10 plans. Plans such as watersaving techniques, energy decrease, and waste consolidation are often used within green hotels ( Green Hotel Association [ GHA ] , 2008 ) Reasons Hotels go Green Operating costs. A major ground as to why many hotels are traveling green is that environmental patterns can well cut down the operating costs of the hotel. It has been good documented in several surveies that economic benefits can be gained through implementing environmental enterprises ( Graci A ; Dodds, 2008 ) . For illustration, New Zealand s Hyatt Regency International Hotel installed an energy salvaging plan based on room tenancy. In many hotels, when a invitee leaves their room, all energy utilizing contraptions shut off, excepting necessary contraptions such as iceboxs and dismay redstem storksbills. This pattern entirely saves the hotel batch of money each twelvemonth ( Alexander, 2002 ) . Another benefit to cut downing operating costs is gaining a higher output per client. The Marriott located in College Park, Maryland is grounds of this as it uses 30 % less electricity than a comparable belongings ( DeLollis, 2007 ) . The College Park Marriott can therefore salvage 30 p er centum on its energy measures, every bit good as output a higher return per client than their rivals who charge similar rates and do non hold energy salvaging techniques in topographic point ( DeLollis, 2007 ) . Using statistics provided by the United States Green Building Council ( USGBC ) Butler ( 2008 ) was able to cipher how much hotels would hold to raise their mean day-to-day rate ( ADR ) to reflect a comparable underside line when compared to hotels energy nest eggs Harmonizing to Butler ( 2008 ) a limited service hotel that employed energy salvaging techniques that resulted in 30-50 per centum energy nest eggs. Competitive advantage It is going really hard to cover with ferocious competition presents. Green hotels create a competitory advantage for themselves by pulling and retaining their employees. Employee turnover is one of the biggest jobs and disbursals within the hotel industry. However, surveies have shown that environmentally witting hotels have greater employee trueness. A Canadian survey reported that employees are far more likely to place with an employer whose rules and patterns are in melody with current tendencies ( Graci A ; Dodds, 2008 ) . Environmental enterprises have shown to be a valuable manner to make passion and promote squad work to accomplish a cardinal end ( Graci A ; Dodds, 2008 ) . Team work must be inspired from the top down in a hotel. The Orchard Garden s general director, Stefan Muhle, said you merely ca nt direct out a memo, ( Dicum, 2007 ) All the staff have to be included forepart to endorse. Their bosom has to be in it ( Dicum, 2007 ) . Each staff member needs to be educ ated in what the hotel is making to accomplish sustainability ends so they can non merely take part, but besides answer guest inquiries ( Dicum, 2007 ) . By educating staff members, including them, maintaining them informed and disputing them to accomplish ends, direction of green hotels excites their staff and allows them to place with their organisation ; which leads to take down turnover rates. Lower turnover rates in bend save the hotel disbursals involved with recruiting, hiring, and developing new employees. The competitory advantages realized by green hotels do non halt with retaining employees ; consumers do seek out green hotels. Green hotels are going progressively popular due to the current environmental crisis that is happening worldwide. Green hotels are few and far between across non merely the United States, but besides the universe. Therefore, traveling green makes each belongings unique, and moreover creates a competitory advantage. Sustainable competitory advantag e exists with the ownership or a valuable resource that allows the organisations to execute better or more efficient than their rivals ( Graci A ; Dodds, 2008, p. 256 ) . The Cedar House Sport Hotel, for illustration, has gardens on the roof of their hotel. The gardens pull local birds and insects for invitees to detect, which in bend attracts more invitees. However, the gardens besides serve another intent, as they cool the hotel during the summer months ( Dicum, 2007 ) . In a survey of 445 travellers surveyed in three U.S. airdromes ( Atlanta, Dulles, and National ) , Gustin and Weaver ( 1996 ) found the bulk of their survey s respondents displayed positive attitudes towards hotels offering environmental schemes. Respondents were asked to bespeak how the offering of assorted environmental schemes would impact their determination to remain at a peculiar hotel offering the enterprises. Schemes examined included: recycling bins, shampoo dispensers, soap dispensers, efficient visible radiations, ice chest temperature in the corridors, warmer temperature in the corridors, visible radiations off, non altering sheets, non altering towels, no polystyrene froth, automatic spigots, low flow showerheads, recycled paper booklets, recycled paper for in room shows, and environmental schemes. Three variables, non altering towels daily, the installing of automatic spigots, and the installing of low flow showerheads, were the lone three environmental enterprises that did non derive a bulk feeling from respondents in respects to the likelihood they would remain in a hotel offering such environmental schemes. Seventy-one per centum of respondents besides stated that they would be highly likely or likely ( Gustin A ; Weaver,2008 ) to remain in a hotel supplying environmental enterprises ( Gustin A ; Weaver, 1996 ) . By take parting in green attempts, single hotels can make a positive company image that can besides ensue in a competitory advantage for non merely their hotel but besides the parent trade name ( Graci A ; Dodds, 2008 ) . For illustration, invitees who frequent Starwood s Element in America hotel may seek out other Starwood belongingss in other locations because they appreciate their environmental attempt put away with the Element. In Europe, there is strong g rounds that consumers consider the environment in taking a vacation location harmonizing to the consequences of the 2000 FEMATOUR ( Honey, 2002 ) . The FEMATOUR, or feasibleness and market survey for a European Eco-label for tourer adjustments, was used to find if a market existed for eco-labeled tourer adjustments and how executable the market was to entree ( Consultancy and Research for Environmental Management, 2000 ) . Consumer demand The demand for green hotels across the universe proves to be reasonably consistent as shown in a figure of surveies. The figure of people willing to seek out environmentally friendly hotels is comparatively low in comparing to the hotel industry as whole. However, environmentally witting consumers create an increasing demand for the green hotel niche. A survey conducted in India which surveyed Indian housing consumers about their attitudes towards green patterns in the housing industry showed that 22 per centum of the respondents seek out environmental belongingss ( Manaktola A ; Jauhari, 2007 ) . In the United States, 43,000,000 travellers are environmentally concerned ( Greening your travel experience, 1998 ) . Gustin and Weaver ( 1996 ) found that 73.7 per centum of respondents considered themselves environmentally witting consumers ; while 54.3 per centum idea of themselves as environmentally witting travellers. In a survey of Swedish and Polish hotelkeepers and the influence of geo-political, economic, and socio-cultural contexts of their states on environmental attitudes, in both Sweden and Poland, client demand ranked 2nd among seven classs as grounds hotels implement environmental patterns ( Bohdanowicz, 2006 ) . The hotel s principle for using environmental patterns were: cut downing operating costs, increased consumer demand for environmental patterns, decreasing environmental impacts of the hotel, bettering the image of the hotel, environmental patterns could be used as a selling plus, recommendations from direction and handiness of professional advice was increasing ( Bohdanowicz, 2006 ) .The consumer involvement in environmental enterprises creates a sensible mark market and a niche for hotels to carry through. For illustration, the Colony Hotel located in Maine found that their tenancy increased by one 4th when they began positioning themselves as a green hotel ( Shaw, 2000 ) . Barriers to Environmental Commitment in the Hotel Industry The words sustainability green and environmental have been attached to several touristry merchandises and finishs, particularly as portion of selling schemes and enfranchisement plans, nevertheless how sustainable or green or environmentally committed a touristry merchandise or finish is has non ever been clear. Sustainability is now seen as a cant, instead than an action program ( Henderson 2007 ) . In the last decennary, a figure of environmental enterprises have been implemented by enlightened touristry industry associations, hotel companies and single installations. A figure of environmental guidelines have been developed by assorted touristry organisations, such as the International Hotel and Restaurant Association, the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the International Hotel Environment Initiative ( IHEI ) ( Bohdanowicz, 2005 ) . Hotel companies are besides fixing their ain action programs and developing plans in environmental protection ( Bohdanowicz 2005 ) . T he Inter-Continental Hotels Group and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts have been noted as leaders in environmental committedness in the touristry industry. Yet despite the fact that most operators acknowledge the importance of the environment to their concern, environmental patterns are non widespread in this industry ( Anguera et al. 2000 ; Pryce 2001 ) . This can be aoˆ„?ributed to a figure of grounds. The construct of a green hotel is non easy grasped by many installation operators, as this industry bases its concern on sensed luxury, luxury and magnificence ( Iwanowski and Rushmore 1994 ) . There are besides hindering factors such as cost and the complex, varied construction of the industry that hinder the ability of single companies to do paces towards being environmentally commioˆ„?ed ( Graci 2008 ; Henderson 2007 ; Anguera et al. 2000 ; Pryce 2001 ) . Not to advert that the deficiency of information and the demand to portion best patterns have besides acted as an hindrance ( Graci 2008 ) . The deficiency of authorities ordinances on the touristry industry and the focal point on voluntary enterprises have resulted in low regulative force per unit areas ( Anguera et al. 2000 ; Pryce 2001 ) . In this industry, there is besides a important figure of little and medium- sized hotels that do non see the benefit, cost or otherwise of implementing environmental enterprises ( Pryce 2001 ) . Finally, client demand for green hotel installations has non been strong plenty ( Pryce 2001 ) . For these grounds, there is a spread between aoˆ„?itude and action in the hotel industry ( Iwanowski and Rushmore 1994 ; Anguera et al. 2000 ; Pryce 2001 ) . Research Methodology Customers perceptual experience on Green hotel has non truly beeen studien in the past until late ( Lee et al. 2010 ) . This chapter therefore lays accent on research instrument design, trying technique, pilot survey and aggregation. Sample size This survey focuses on researching tourer attitudes and behavior towards green hotels in Mauritius. Original paper study A paper study, that is a questionnaire, was set up and which were further divided into seven subdivisions. Section A

American study final paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

American study final paper - Assignment Example His essay is a detailed analysis of the many examples of advertisements to support this claim. In this essay, the main aim is to show how these different facets of the American culture influence the nature of advertisements. America is considered the most egalitarian society of past and present age. In fact, it is the world’s largest democracy and, therefore, advocates for social equality of its citizens, a populist view. This is one of the two faces of the American dream, the other being an elitist view. This view of the American dream is widely exploited by manufacturers as a way of manipulating consumers to buy their products (Solomon, 543). The status of Americans’ fears, hopes, beliefs, and even desires provide a necessary opportunity for advertisers to make their advertisements appealing to the American people. The desire of the people to feel accepted in society is particularly exploited in such a way that consumers will want to identify with the product to ‘qualify’ as due citizens of the country. These advertisements are specially designed to create a symbolic association between the product and what the target consumers most covet. Manufacturers are, therefore, quick to point out that their products are made, or designed on American soil. One aspect of the American dream is that it encourages the desire to belong and feel part of the country’s culture. This aspect has been the subject of many advertisements that transform economic products into signs of belonging. The incorporation of such common icons of American culture as country music, farmyards and family picnics in an advert makes it more appealing to a broader audience. For instance, a Jack Daniel’s advertisement emphasizes the egalitarian and down-home nature of its product. The feeling of belonging to that culture can influence a buyer

BUS599 MoD 1 Case Assign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

BUS599 MoD 1 Case Assign - Essay Example Whole Foods Market tangible resources are categorized into the three dimensions: organizational resources, the financial resources, physical resources, and technological resources. Its core values include selling of the highest organic and natural products, satisfaction of the customers, support of the team member excellence and happiness, caring about the environment and our communities, and creation of wealth through growth and profits. Through the core values, the company has developed aids through core competencies, which give them a competitive advantage among its competitors. Whole Food Market’s strategy goals is based on supply and demand and placement. The company is actively determined to meet supply and demand by investing a great amount of resources into political reform in regard to organic farming, carrying out R&D to provide high quality products & services, & engagement in outsourcing to ensure efficient production of its products and services (Harasta and Hoffman, 2007). On the side, placement acts as a guidance for setting strategic goals such as; development of the supportive nutritional, investment in the sales and financial research, etc. (wholefoodsmarket.com, n.d.: 2011) Based on the financial reports from the fiscal years, 2005 to date, the profit margin for Whole Food Market has been generally decreasing (United Natural Foods, 2011; UNFI, 2011). The decrease has been largely attributed to the rising costs of goods and increased debts. In addition, compared to its competitors, Whole Foods Market has recorded low EPS and extremely low revenues (McLindon, et al., 2012). According to Yahoo Financials, Whole Foods Market capitalization has increased. The marketing of Whole Foods Market is not that effective as compared to its competitors hence necessitating the need for R&D to help it maintain a steady and upward market capitalization, which is essential in

Reality Television shows Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reality Television shows - Essay Example Reality television began back in the 1950s. The show that is dubbed as â€Å"the granddaddy of reality TV† was a show known as Candid Camera. This show aired in 1948, and it was basically centered on taping how people would react to pranks, much like Punk’d. This show was responsible for placing hidden cameras or microphones in backyards or households, they were already there in the eyes and ears of concerned and vigilant citizens encouraged by government propaganda to report any signs of â€Å"un-American† activity (Holmes and Jermyn, 35). The very first Miss America pageant was aired in 1954, making the winner an instant celebrity. Since then, there have been many reality shows that have taken the nation by storm. Shows such as The Dating Game, An American Family, Big Brother, The Real World, American Idol, and so much more. People keep coming back to the show because they can associate to it, they fact that it’s unscripted makes the characters on the sh ow more relatable, and it offers you an inside view to almost anywhere. The hidden camera could document the world of institutions, from the judiciary system to the mental hospital (Oullette and Murray, 25) There are many genres on the reality TV front; one that is picking a lot of fans is the Reality competition genre. These shows follow the format of non-tournament elimination contests. The common scenario is the participants are filmed competing to win a prize, often living together in a confined environment. Usually, it goes on until only one person or one team is left, and they’re declared the winner/s. The elimination can be done either by voting, or by judges selecting who passes through. Examples of such shows are Big Brother, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, Star Search, etc. These shows don’t just come to mind. Social scientists continue to serve as consultants in reality TV to this day, screening contestants for shows and helping to design situati ons and guidelines for interaction (Oullette and Murray, 26). One show that has captivated is Survivor. This show was created in 1997 by Charlie Parsons. It premiered on May 31, 2000 on CBS. It was hosted by Jeff Probst and produced by Mark Burnett. As a result of the show, the latter has a second career as a management consultant, serving as motivational speaker and helping executives develop skills to compete effectively in the corporate â€Å"jungle† (Oullette and Murray, 27). The show centers on a group of castaways in different tribes left out in the middle of nowhere, and they must search and provide their own food, shelter, water, fire and they must look out for themselves. There are weekly challenges where rewards such as fine food, or much-needed rest is offered. The last three or two that are left standing are usually left at the mercy of the other eliminated contestants. They vote for who should win, and the winner gets one million dollars. This show has experience d a lot of success. It is commonly considered the â€Å"mother of American reality TV† because it experienced high ratings and was very profitable. It’s currently had twenty-two seasons and three-hundred and two episodes. Over the years, Survivor has been set in many different places such as Thailand, Polynesia, Australia, Malaysia, Vanuatu, Panama, to name a few. The most recent season is based in the beach of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.

The Hurt Locker Analysis Film Studies Essay

The Hurt Locker Analysis Film Studies Essay The Hurt Locker is a movie written by Mark Boal and directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It displays combat at its best in Iraq. The movie reflects on the celebrated life of a soldier and is entitled, war is a drug. The soldier vividly displays war as a drug that needs to be taken by all soldiers at all times of their lives for their survival. The writer depicts this through the display of the paralyzing life of a soldier in war. She emphasizes this through the main character whose daring nature puts him at loggerheads with his colleagues (Eldridge and Sanborn) (Olsen, 2008).This paper analyze critically, the Hurt Locker with a specific focus on conflicts, symbols as well as irony presented in the movie. Various conflicts are displayed in the movie, first, when James is hired to replace the previous team leader, Sergeant Thompson. With his experience in war, he conflicts with the rest of the soldiers owing to his aggressive nature and failure to follow protocol. The soldiers find James ways reckless and disturbing but his spontaneity is seen to assist them soldier on to the end. Further James conflicts with Sanborn while trying to pursue the suspects of a petrol oil tanker that had exploded. Sanborn argues that the work should be left to the three platoons in the area. James however wins him over (Ressner, 2008). Again, an external conflict is encountered while driving back to their camp, the three soldiers, Eldridge, Sanborn and James come into conflict with five mercenaries who engage them in battle but they manage to kill after a long struggle. In another scene, the James teams set out to plant an explosion in a desert and they leave. James returns to the site, where the explosive s are already rigged to detonate, to pick up his gloves, which he had forgotten. Sanborn loudly ponders about killing James by deliberately making the explosion explode on him. Eldridge is does not concur with him and is hence unhappy. The theme most featured in the video is that of soldiers dying for their country in patriotism. This is cleared portrayed in the sacrifices made by leaving their families to fight for their countries. At the end of the movie features James with his little son, he recalls the war and contemplates going back to the battlefield. Later he goes back to the battlefield portraying his addiction to war. Other subthemes include violence and war seen in the encounters of the soldiers dismantling bombs and fighting enemies who attack. The filming of the movie in Iraq explains this theme clearly since it is known as a war country (Nott, 2009). The director of the movie integrates principally very shaky and obscure scenes in the movie to portray the uncertainty that hits the soldiers in addition to the danger they face. Iraqis are seen peeping through cracks of buildings, fences and on balconies; this isolates the American soldiers (James, Sanborn, and Eldridge) as being in a suspicious territory. This indirectly portrays these people watching from afar, as people who could set up an explosion on the US soldiers. The stereotype surrounding the towel headed terrorist is personified within the hurt locker. It is implied in the sniper scene at the UN building and depicted by the group of men and women pushing the cart after learning of the body bomb. This denotes the Iraqi as untrustworthy (Tobias, 2009). The American soldiers tend to sympathize with a 12 year old boy, Beckham who displays a flawed character resembling an American teenager. Despite his character, James sympathizes with him and attempts to befriend him. Beckam symbolizes the American culture. Later on Beckams body is found with a bomb implanted in his chest. This makes James go in pursuit of the assailants who did the deadly act. The scenes of a body bomb discovered put the Iraqi citizens in bad light through stereotypes (Olsen, 2008). This symbolizes the American foreign policy. As James dislodges the bomb in the boys chest this symbolizes Americas efforts to liberate and bring democracy in Iraq, the body bomb being a product of the Iraqis. This also serves the purpose of cleansing the view of American soldiers universally as connecting with the locals to help them. This is depicted clearly by James mistaken identity of the body bomb. The setting greatly influences the featured characters. Arid desert scenes and streets with small tunnel like alleyways with debris allover signify the battlefield. Chaos and disorganization is portrayed by explosions at every instance. The only orderly and peaceful place is the US camp victory .These two conflicting images reflect the US foreign policy of bringing forth order and liberation to the Iraq citizen. Dialogue in the movie depicts stereotypes of various kinds. The US soldiers are seen in engaging in slang talk throughout the radio communications. This portrays the superiority complex of the US soldiers with regard to the foreign policy. This is also a depiction of how the US soldiers carry themselves in the battlefield (Ressner, 2008). Bigelow, constructs the movie without favoring any side, this puts him in a state of political balance rather than politically driven level. This he does by balancing the preconception of the audience about Iraq and loose truth about the same. The use of camera angles and dialogue instigates suspense and represent the stress intensity by highlighting the suspicions and insecurity of the setting. The scene before the colonel Cambridges death where he speaks in a demining tone attempting to dismiss the group of Iraq citizens who leave an explosive device close to him. This scene degrades the intelligence of the Iraqi citizens and instigates in the viewers a terrorist image due to the bombing that results. The figure colonel Cambridges reflects the inability of the US forces to adequately understand the people of Iraq. Cambridge is the most intelligent man within the soldiers and the only US casualty expressing the notion that intelligence does not equal to superiority in a dangerous en vironment (Nott, 2009). Inhumanity of the war is depicted when Reed, a colonel congratulates James for his brevity. This shows the Americas brutality when he further claims that James will not make it after which follows gunshots. This clearly portrays a balance in the political sides of Iraq and America as this shows the brutality of the American side. The presence of British mercenary dressed in hajji clothing depicts the inability of the Americans to know the difference. This shows the Americans as being human in a variety of ways (Tobias, 2009). Irony is clearly displayed by the title of the movie whereby the war is depicted as a drug. This is an ironical of the normal situation where human beings like peaceful engagement with each other. At the end of the movie, James is seen as an addict of war. He misses life in war and finally goes back to war, depicting an irony (Olsen, 2008). In sum, the hurt locker depicts the title war is a drug. This is shown in its main character, James whose addiction to war leads him to going back to war each time. This title is ironical since in normal situations, a human being may never crave for war. Various conflicts are displayed especially concerning James spontaneous behavior. At some instance, Sanborn reflects accidentally killing James. The colleagues also fall into conflict with a group of Arab mercenaries but they emerge victorious after numerous confrontation. The movie is symbolic in most instances, first the setting of the movie is in a desert with scenes depicting disorganization and chaos with a touch of Iraq. The only orderly and organized place is the victory camp of the US reflecting the efforts of the united states of liberating Iraq. Their friendliness to the 12-year-old boy shows the effort of the Americans at interacting with the Iraq to solve their indifference. American soldiers are depicted as having a supe riority complex in their dialogue with each other and in their belittling of the hajji soldiers. There is however a balance of political sides where the director portrays the Americans brutality in addition to showing the ruthlessness of the Iraq people. This way he wins in his depiction of lack of favoritism. In totality this movie portrays the title war is a drug.

The Wasp Factory Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"A Gothic horror story of quite exceptional quality...macabre, bizarre and...quite impossible to put down.† The above quote is the response of the Financial Times to the best-selling novel, â€Å"The Wasp Factory†, and in my opinion, truer words were never spoken. I myself had to force the book out of my hands in the early hours of the morning on several occasions. This clearly says something about the sheer power of Iain Bank’s debut novel. Whether you love it or hate it, once you have read the first page you are instantly struck by it’s brilliance. Throughout this essay, I intend to explore the mind and characteristics of the main character, Frank Cauldhame. Throughout the story, Frank’s character is brought out through his experiences, of which the most important are possibly the three murders he commits. I am not going to explore how he commits these terrible crimes, but rather why. Frank’s first victim is his cousin Blyth. He kills Blyth for a relatively simple reason, revenge. Blyth killed Frank and his brother Eric’s rabbits using a makeshift flame-thrower, which Eric had built himself. Eric is completely destroyed by this. So, a year later, Frank decides to settle the score with his cousin. Blyth had an artificial leg, and this was what gave Frank the chance to get even. One day, Frank and Eric, their younger brother Paul ( who is later killed ) and Blyth are lying in the sand. Frank goes for a walk to the Bunker and inside the dark, cold concrete pillbox , he finds an adder. He decides what he is going to do almost instantly. He catches the snake and bundles it into an old tin can. He then returns to the place where he left his cousin and brothers, and puts the snake into the artificial leg. Blyth’s death is slow and painful, and to Frank, this seems very appropriate. The way he sees it, Blyth deserves to die feeling similar agony to th at which his rabbits must have felt, and Frank feels no remorse. He tells Eric that he â€Å"thought it was a judgement from God that Blyth had first lost his leg and then had the replacement become the instrument of his downfall.† Frank then proceeds to name the area where Blyth was killed as â€Å"The Snake Park† This statement is an early indicator of an essential feature of Frank’s character, and that is his belief in symbolism and destiny. We find another example of this when we analyse the death of Frank’s younger brother,... ...ncredible atmosphere around you as a reader. You feel as if you are right beside Frank throughout his incredible adventures, and this is a very important part of a story about a young mans life and experiences. It is not enough to simply read â€Å"The Wasp Factory,† you have to feel it and be a part of it. It is more than just a novel, it is a journey through the mind of an obsessive sixteen year old boy, where you learn to look at the world in a different light. This experience is especially profound for a Scottish reader because of the incredible perceptive use of dialect and setting. I will conclude with a powerful quote from the novel: â€Å"All our lives are symbols. Everything we do is part of a pattern we have at least some say in. The strong make their own patterns and influence other people’s, the weak have their courses mapped out for them. The weak and the unlucky, and the stupid. The Wasp Factory is part of the pattern because it is part of life and-even more so-part of death. Like life it is complicated, so all the components are there† I hope that this has provided you with a final insight into the twistedly genius mind that belongs to Frank Cauldhame, and also, Iain Banks.

Disease trends of the delivery healthcare systems Essay

Advances in global health and science have assisted the disease trends. It has become a never ending mission to protect public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease as well as injury and disability. There have been noted demographic changes in the past 50 years that have resulted from changing trends in child, maternal, and adult death rates (CDC, 2011). Among these are rises in obesity and aging. As these health concerns continue to climb we will have a greater impact on the delivery of services from health care. The importance of these trends assists in prevention and protecting one’s self from new diseases and illnesses as well as old ones. One of the noted trends in healthcare is aging. Focusing on the world’s age composition is one way to understand the impacts and changes in further years to come. According to the US Census Bureau (2013), the elderly population age 65 and older during the twentieth century composed one in every twenty five individuals. In the twenty first century, this same population composed one in every 8 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2013). This showed that the life expectancy of humans has become longer. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2013), the population in the United States in the year of 2010 was 308.7 million. This indicated a near 10 percent increase over the past ten years. This same 2010 census showed that the elderly population composed 13 percent as opposed to only being 9 percent in the year of 2000. The notable change was determined that there were fewer people in the 65-75 age range but there were more individuals in the 75-85 age ranges. It proved that there were more increasingly elderly individuals reaching into their seventies and even eighties. This increase in age showed that life expectancy and advances in medicine have contributed to individuals living longer lives. This would indicate that as long as medicines and healthcare continued to advance, so would the elderly population in growth. Environmental factors directly contribute to population growth. For one, as the population continues to grow in size, the  natural resources and undeveloped land becomes utilized to accommodate this expansion. Clearing the land and making it more desirable offers more room to continue additions in the population. This in turn offers an increase in the resources that can be utilized for healthcare and science in the creation of vaccines and medications. This increased development has also led to the finding of new resources such as unknown species of plants and animals. These newer found resources can be tested to see if they offer any properties in the expansion of healthcare and medications. The Medical Plant Consortium (2013) states, â€Å"Our major goal in this project has been to capture blue prints of medicinal plants for the advancement of drug discovery and development.† The medical plant consortium further adds well known medicines such as digoxin used for cardiac muscle stimulation comes from the fox glove plant and some of the chemotherapy medications such as vinchristine come from the periwinkle plant. Another noted environmental factor is that the population density has grown over the years. In addition to the population growth, land clearing has been increasing for the purpose of crops farmed for human consumption. The combination of needed developed land for farm crops and the growing population has only contributed to more land being cleared for further discoveries. Some of the changing demographics have been an increase in the population density. Over the years due to advancements in medications and healthcare improving the human life expectancy, th ere is an indicated increase of individuals per square mile than years prior. This is due to the slow development of land but also human life expectancy increasing. January 2011 ushered in the first of approximately 77 million baby boomers born from 1946 through 1964 and surging towards the gates of retirement. Each year 3.5 baby boomers turn 55.† This increase indicates that by 2030 there will be more than twice in the elderly population that in the year 2000 (Transgenerational, 2009). The aging trend is likely to experience an increase in the health issues of today. As we live longer there is more wear and tear to our bodies that developed the need for further medical assistance. As we age our blood vessels and arteries become stiffer causing the heart to have to work harder to function. The longer the heart has to function under this strain, the more likely complications will occur. These factors are directly linked to high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. In addition with aging,  ones bones tend to lose bone mass. This not only weakens t hem increasing the risk for fracture but effects muscle function. Over time muscles lose flexibility and strength. These factors contribute to arthritis. According to the CDC (2013), one of ever two persons will knee arthritis and one in every four will develop hip arthritis. This clearly supports that disease and illness will become more likely as we age. In order to reduce health related problems in aging one should remain fit and incorporate an exercise regimen into their daily life. In addition eating a healthy diet, not smoking, managing stress and taking a daily supplement can help prolong age related diseases (CDC, 2013). Currently the obesity rate in the United States is nearly two of every three persons (Surgeon general, 2009). Research has shown that the united states have the highest population of obesity. A report done from July 2013 shown that the united stated passed the obesity rates of Mexico (Medical News Today, 2013). The U.S. obesity rate has grown from 13 percent in 1960 to 32 percent in 2004 (surgeon general, 2009). References: 1- Centers of Disease Control (CDC), 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/distrnds.html 2- Department of Health and Human services, 2012. http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Aging_Statistics/index.aspx 3- U.S. Census Bureau, 2013. http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html 4- U.S. Census Bureau, 2011. http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf 5- PHYS.org, 2013. http://phys.org/news/2011-12-medicinal-benefits.html 6- Transgenerational- design matters, 2009. http://transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.htm 7- Mayo clinic, 2013. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aging/HA00040 8- Surgeon general, 2009. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/testimony/obesity07162003.html 9- Medical News Today, 2013. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265556.php

Word Lab 2 Ch 3

————————————————- Jonner Public Library Jonner Public Library 4992 Surrey Court, Jonner, MA 02198 ? 291-555-9454 ? Web Address: www. jpl. net March 10, 2012 Mr. Brent Jackson 5153 Anlyn Drive Jonner, MA 02198 Dear Mr. Jackson: Thank you for registering online for our spring classes. As a library patron, you are aware that we offer a great deal more than books and magazines. The table below outlines the classes for which you have registered, along with the dates and locations: Class| Date| Location|Intro to Windows 7| April 10| Room 10B| eBay Basics| April 18| Room 24C| Genealogy Searches| April 24| Room 10B| Overview of Office 2010| April 28| Room 22A| Note that all classes, regardless of date, begin at 10:00 a. m. and last four hours. Although no materials or textbooks are required for the classes, you are strongly encouraged to bring the following items: * Pens, pencils, or other writing implements * Blank CD or DVD to store documents and notes created during class * Notebook or loose-leaf binder for handwritten notes Your valid library card to verify enrollment eligibility Please note that no food or drinks are allowed in any of our computer facilities. If you have any questions or would like to register for additional courses, please contact me at (291) 555-9454 or via e-mail at [email  protected] net. Again, thank you for your interest in and continued patronage of Jonner Public Library. We look forward to seeing you when your first class begins. Sincerely, Marcia Lawrence Head Librarian

Anne Hutchinson essays

Anne Hutchinson essays Was Anne Hutchinson such a threat to the Massachusetts Bay Colony? Anne Hutchinson was a middle aged house wife who in 1638 was forced to leave her town and her life behind her, as she was excommunicated and banished from the puritan community. Like many religious zealots Anne and her family had fled from the unjust rule of the English church and boldly set forth to the new world. Anne and her family where prominent members of the puritan church and where widely respected in Boston Massachusetts. Anne was an educated, enlightened and an opinionated woman. Because of this free-thinking nature Anne was open to sharing her knowledge and did so by inviting people to here home on a set day every week. (page20) Here guests would be introduced to a variety of liberal and reformist views regarding many facets of the Puritan Church. At these meetings Anne was very informal and spread Antinomian beliefs that imbued a radical philosophy that Christians are not bound by established laws, especially moral laws, but should rely on faith and divine grace for sa lvation. (Confession page 26-27) Anne Hutchinson posed no physical danger to the citizens of the Massachusetts Bay area. However in a time when religious extremism was the backbone of society, Anne Hutchinsons extremist views threatened the puritan lifestyle by disregarding the foundations of the conservative puritan church. This kind of activity was considered unlawful in that the New World puritan settlement was though of as a grand holy mission (page 13) the success of which would provide a template for reforming religious world order. The Clerical as well as judicial bodies of Massachusetts recognized Anne as an antagonist to the Puritan mission. They quickly formulated a case to condemn Anne Hutchinson, thus making a statement to all other Antinomians that liberal ideology was not to be condoned. The case against Anne was loosely constructed and relied upon...

Epigenetic Modification in Human Thyroid Cancer Essay

Epigenetic Modification in Human Thyroid Cancer - Essay Example Neo-Darwinism, has been stretched to incorporate epigenetics from an evolutionary perspective and even from a Non-Lamarckian viewpoint, epigenetics does have an important role in evolution. Epigenetic changes are heritable in nature and in some cases large unexplained heritance of certain characters does take place yet this is important to maintain both genotypic and phenotypic variability. Epigenetic modifications are extremely crucial to maintain human body functions and improper functioning of these modifications can cause adverse health effects and lead to major diseases of the human body. Epigenetic events include modifications of the histone proteins and leads to regulation of chromatin structure and subsequently lead to alteration of the gene function. Researchers have identified deficiency of biotin as one of the major regulatory factors in modifying the chromatin structure. In fact, epigenetics involves the transgenerational transmittance of phenotypic characters which previously solely attributed to genetics. Transgeneration epigenetics refers to the inheritance of information from one organism to another. The transfer of certain characters for example maternal care have been studied. According to a study conducted by Champagne in 2008, epigenetic alterations helps in transferring of traits such as maternal care form the mother to the female off-spring, post-partum. Such transfers have mostly been attributed to epigenetics change sin neuronal and endocrine processes on the body.

How Reflective Practice Promotes Personal And Professional Development Essay

How Reflective Practice Promotes Personal And Professional Development of Teachers - Essay Example ing nature of the basic learning needs of children, youth and adults requires a broadening of the scope of basic education and redefining it to meet the needs of changing times. The changing dynamics of the social fabric in multicultural societies across the globe have increasingly become major challenges within the education system, especially in UK secondary school system. 2. Need for teacher development The quality and standard of teaching considerably influences students’ performance. The teachers need to evolve and develop appropriate skills to suit the changing needs of the pupils and raise their achievement level. It is important to understand the nature of teachers’ learning in order to exploit their competencies and promote new initiatives in teaching methodologies. Moreover, the key objective of a teachers’ development program is to challenge the status quo of existing knowledge to evolve a more creative way of teaching effectively (Craft, 1996). Teache rs’ teaching is also influenced by their beliefs, ideas and their life experience (Borko, 2004). Moreover, teachers should also be able to communicate effectively to transfer knowledge. Their ability to communicate and their expertise in the subject are a critical paradigm that must be constantly updated to include new approaches and ideas. Effective communication promotes the retention of knowledge and the development of a critical outlook amongst the students. Effective teaching is contextual as its efficacy can only be tested in the context of learning and the environment and support within which it is imparted. Thus, environmental changes vis-a-vis advancing technology, globalization, demographic changes etc. become challenging issues for teachers that significantly impact teaching. Though,... This paper approves that the need to identify and evaluate various parameters of reflective practices becomes an essential ingredient for teacher development. At the same time, many other issues like socio-psychological factors have significant impact on the metacognitive responses of the teachers. Thus, the behaviour, attitude, beliefs, value system etc. of the teachers have increasingly emerged as crucial elements within teaching process for eliciting positive responses from the students. Teachers learn what type of behaviour and attitude motivates students for higher achievement. When they change their behaviour to suit the needs of the students, they improve their teaching. This report makes a conclusion that the role of teachers is important within the field of education as they are proactively involved in the development of children and students into responsible citizens. Their professional development becomes necessary due to the evolving dynamics of the external environment. Reflective practices in the professional development of teachers help to identify shortcomings and promote wider understanding of the various methodologies that can be used to enable teachers to become more articulate and effective in teaching. Reflective practices therefore have gained popularity due to their active learning processes that constantly motivate teachers to improve. The various facets of reflective practice as discussed, reveal their importance in the overall development of teachers and how they contribute in adding value to the teaching.